TRWSB – Chapter 26 Zhuang Linyuan’s Plea for Help

In Zhuang Linyuan’s villa, Zhuang Linmu was tightly bound with ropes.

Zhuang Linmu looked at the people across from him and sneered maliciously. “Big brother, you’re truly lucky! Even after decades without advancing in power, when things go south, you have people helping you. I can’t help but envy that.”

“Enough of your nonsense. Tell me how to cure the poison in Linger,” Zhuang Linyuan demanded.

Zhuang Linmu chuckled coldly. “Who told you that Zhuang Ling was poisoned? Why don’t you ask them?”

“Answer me, or I’ll make sure you suffer,” Zhuang Linyuan threatened.

Narrowing his eyes, Zhuang Linmu said, “Brother, don’t waste your time. I only know how to administer the poison, not how to cure it. Actually, Linger is a potent elixir in herself. If you were to refine her into a potion, you’d regain all those wasted years in no time.”

“Shut up! I’m not as heartless as you are,” Zhuang Linyuan retorted angrily.

Zhuang Linmu turned his gaze toward Zhuang Renxian and Zhuang Renquan. “Gentlemen, if my brother isn’t interested, perhaps you are. Instead of working with my stubborn brother, why not join forces with me? If you refine Zhuang Ling into an elixir, it would be immensely beneficial for both of you.”

Zhuang Renquan punched Zhuang Linmu in the stomach, making him spit out a mouthful of blood. “You lunatic!” he yelled in rage.

Qi Heng opened the door to find Zhuang Linyuan and Zhuang Hao standing there.

“Is the ‘Evil Doctor’ here? I’d like to meet him,” Zhuang Hao said.

“My master is currently unavailable,” Qi Heng replied.

Zhuang Hao frowned. “Unavailable?”

Qi Heng nodded. “Yes. My master is performing a cosmetic procedure, and many people prefer their cosmetic surgeries kept private.”

“I came seeking the Evil Doctor’s assistance,” Zhuang Hao insisted.

“For Miss Zhuang Ling?” Qi Heng asked.

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yes.”

“You should leave, then. My master has already seen through the issue but is not adept in sorcery. Finding the source of the problem was already a stroke of luck. You’d be better off finding someone else for the cure,” Qi Heng replied.

Zhuang Hao frowned. “I’m sorry, but I still want to meet the Evil Doctor.”

“I’ve already told you, my master is unavailable,” Qi Heng said, eyeing him.

“Can I wait inside?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Qi Heng tilted his head, staring at Zhuang Hao for a moment. “If I say no, would you break in?”

“No, I’ll wait outside then.”

“Come in. Otherwise, you’ll soon have admirers banging down the door,” Qi Heng said.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Following Zhuang Hao, Zhuang Linyuan looked puzzled. “Ah Hao, it seems this servant of the Evil Doctor doesn’t like you very much.”

Zhuang Hao smiled awkwardly. “Actually, it’s not just his servant. The Evil Doctor himself isn’t too fond of me either.”

Zhuang Linyuan looked surprised. “I thought you were friends with the Evil Doctor.”

Zhuang Hao sighed. “I’m not sure if we’re friends, but I know he has a much closer relationship with Qi Shaorong.”

“Qi Shaorong? Isn’t that your former fiancée? I heard you called off the engagement.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yes, and ever since I did, the Evil Doctor has been rather displeased with me.”

Zhuang Linyuan: “…”

Qi Heng let them inside, where they waited for several hours.

Eventually, Zhuang Linyuan asked Qi Heng, “How much longer will the Evil Doctor be?”

“Oh, this client is a full-service job, so it will take a while,” Qi Heng replied.

Zhuang Linyuan looked confused. “Full-service?”

“Yes, full-service. This client is having a nose job, double eyelid surgery, liposuction, cheekbone reduction, and even a smile-lift. It’s a big ticket—costs thousands of gold coins,” Qi Heng explained.

“Thousands? That’s quite a lot,” Zhuang Hao managed a forced smile.

“Oh, by the way, Young Master Zhuang Hao, you might consider a smile-lift yourself,” Qi Heng suggested.

“What’s a smile-lift?” Zhuang Hao asked, curious.

“It’s quite impressive. It makes you look like you’re smiling even when you’re not. Some people are so happy with it they forget how to cry,” Qi Heng said with a chuckle.

Zhuang Linyuan: “…”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“My master says your cold expression wastes such a handsome face, Young Master Zhuang. With a smile-lift, you’d seem much more approachable,” Qi Heng said.

Zhuang Linyuan: “…”

After a long wait, Qi Shaorong finally emerged from the procedure room. Zhuang Hao immediately stood up.

“Young Master Zhuang, my apologies for the wait,” Qi Shaorong said indifferently.

“Evil Doctor, we interrogated Zhuang Linmu, but he only knows how to administer the poison, not how to cure it. I wanted to ask if you know of any solutions,” Zhuang Hao said directly.

Qi Shaorong glanced at Qi Heng. “Did you tell them?”

Qi Heng nodded. “Yes, but Young Master Zhuang refused to leave.”

Looking at Zhuang Hao, Qi Shaorong said, “As Qi Heng mentioned, I’ve identified Miss Zhuang’s condition but have no means to cure it. You should seek someone more skilled.”

“We’ve already consulted numerous doctors, but none could help,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Qi Shaorong sighed. “I see. That’s unfortunate.”

At this point, Zhuang Linyuan knelt down in front of Qi Shaorong.

Qi Shaorong was taken aback.

“Evil Doctor, I’ve failed Linger. For over a decade, I thought her weakness was due to some innate condition. I never considered that the suffering she’s endured was due to my negligence. Please, help her,” Zhuang Linyuan pleaded.

Qi Shaorong took a deep breath. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to help; I genuinely don’t have a solution.”

Zhuang Linyuan looked up at him. “I’ve consulted every reputable doctor, but only you identified her condition. I don’t know who else to turn to. Please, just try.”

After a pause, Qi Shaorong said, “I’ll contact someone who might know more. If they can’t help, then kneeling won’t change anything.”

“Thank you, Evil Doctor,” Zhuang Linyuan said gratefully.

After Zhuang Linyuan left, Qi Shaorong sighed in relief.

“He’s gone. Why are you still here?” he asked, noticing Zhuang Hao.

Sensing Qi Shaorong’s frustration, Zhuang Hao apologized. “Sorry.”

Qi Shaorong looked at him. “Young Master Zhuang, why do you trust me so much? Have you ever thought that we might be enemies?”

“Are we?” Zhuang Hao asked, a bit flustered.

“Just a joke,” Qi Shaorong replied.

“Evil Doctor, how long will it take to find this person? Are they in the capital? Do you need me to send someone to fetch them?” Zhuang Hao inquired.

Qi Shaorong stared at him. “I’ll handle it. Since I agreed to help, I’ll arrange everything myself.”

Zhuang Hao, noticing Qi Shaorong’s sour expression, said, “Then I’ll leave you to rest.”

“Then go,” Qi Shaorong said tersely.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

After Zhuang Hao left, Qi Heng remarked, “Young Master, you truly have a big heart, helping like this.”

Rubbing his temples, Qi Shaorong replied, “I couldn’t say no after he knelt. If he ever learns my true identity, he might find it so humiliating that he’d want to kill me.”

Qi Heng squinted. “Zhuang Linyuan is a devoted father.”

“Yes,” Qi Shaorong sighed.

Having seen Zhuang Linyuan’s dedication, Qi Shaorong felt a strange pang. Born into a loveless life himself, his own father had never shown such care.

“Notify Yi Fan and ask him to come when he’s free,” Qi Shaorong said.

“He should be free; he just separated from that beauty,” Qi Heng replied.

When Qi Heng contacted Yi Fan, he arrived the same evening.

“Yi Fan, how have you been?” Qi Heng asked.

“Couldn’t be better,” Yi Fan replied.

“You look well—seems like you’re quite content being single,” Qi Heng teased.

Yi Fan: “…”

“My master wants me to examine Miss Zhuang Ling. She’s affected by the ‘Blood Spirit Gu,’ right?” Yi Fan asked.

Qi Shaorong looked up. “Did Qi Heng tell you?”

Yi Fan shook his head. “No, I suspected as much a few years ago when Zhuang’s family sought out various doctors.”

“Why didn’t you help?” Qi Shaorong asked, taking a sip of tea.

Yi Fan smiled. “Master, I’m not like you. You’re known to the Zhuang family as the doctor who healed Zhuang Renquan. I’m just a nobody—if I had gone to say Miss Zhuang was poisoned, they’d have thrown me out.”

“They would,” Qi Shaorong agreed.

Yi Fan nodded and said, “That’s what I thought too. In fact, I once suspected that the Gu worm was from Zhuang Linyuan. If someone really saw the clue, it would be a sheep in the tiger’s mouth. However, the matter was not as cruel as I imagined. Ah! My uncle’s attack is much easier to accept than my father’s attack.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Yi Fan and said, “Are you sure you can solve the blood spirit, Gu?”

Yi Fan raised his chin and asked, “Can you solve it?” I also need to look at Miss Zhuang’s physical condition. Master, do you know? If the poisonous insects in Miss Yi can be drawn out and treated with special methods, then the poisonous insects can be a very tonic medicinal material. If treated, it can greatly increase one’s skill. However, the blood spirit Gu has been living in Zhuang Ling’s body for many years, so I’m afraid it will be difficult to draw it out.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”