Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âIt seems like I should take another look at it,â Zhou Xiong said after hearing that. A novice at fist martial arts could throw out a punch with such force and technique. It was something that he had not managed to do even with his twenty years of practice. That put him to shame.
âDad, are you alright?â
âIâm fine,â Zhou Xiong said after getting up, rubbing his sonâs head.
âIâm sorry,â Wang Yao said. He could throw out the punch earlier but could not take it back, and he nearly injured Zhou Xiong in front of his child.
âItâs really alright.â
âLetâs go inside to rest for a bit.â
âOkay.â
âIâll help you check your injuries.â
âItâs not really necessary.â
âJust let me see,â Wang Yao insisted, determined. He thoroughly checked Zhou Xiongâs body.
âThereâs no serious injury, just that your Qi circulation is a bit messy. Iâll help you with a massage,â Wang Yao said, after ensuring that Zhou Xiong did not suffer any internal injuries. He breathed a sigh of relief, and then he used his massage technique to help Zhou Xiong regulate his Qi circulation.
After letting them rest for a while, he saw the father-son pair off.
Cough cough. On the way down the hill, Zhou Xiong suddenly started coughing.
âDad, are you really okay?â His son asked, worried.
âIâm fine,â Zhou Xiong said. He spat out some phlegm at the side of the road. The phlegm contained traces of blood, and this showed how powerful Wang Yaoâs punch earlier was. Even after dissipating most of the force from the punch, Zhou Xiong still got hurt from it. Of course, it wasnât anything serious, but his internal organs felt shaken up, and his blood flow disrupted. Fortunately, Wang Yao had treated him with massage therapy, opening his acupuncture points.
How is his air-splitting fist so powerful? Zhou Xiong thought.
After Zhou Xiong had left the hill, Wang Yao began to brew the decoction.
Bug-removal soup was an absolute cure for many harmful bacteria.
This medicine was for Wei Hai. After yesterdayâs check-up, he found that Wei Haiâs body condition had improved. However, the parasites in his organs had buried themselves deeper. To continue treatment, he had to increase the dosage to thoroughly flush out the bugs.
After taking this medicine, Iâll need to do some massages to help spread out the medicinal strength, Wang Yao thought.
Ancient spring water, multifunctional pot for herbs, licorice...
...
The weather was getting colder. However, besides that, all other conditions were optimal. Sometimes, Wang Yao wondered whether the herbs decocted within the Hallucination Array were influenced such that the medicinal properties came not only from the herbs but also from the energy between heaven and earth.
In the cottage, the fragrance of herbs filled the air.
Just as the medicine was about to be completed, he received a call.
âWhy havenât you come back? Didnât we say we were going to Grandmaâs place?â The call was from his mother.
âI got it. Iâll be down soon.â
Wang Yao quickly took the decoction off the fire and packed it up. After that, he quickly exited the cottage, activated the array, and then he descended down the hill.
After descending from the hill, he went to pick up his parents and headed to his grandmaâs house. There, his second and third aunt, as well as his uncles were all gathered already.
âWhat took you so long?â
âSorry Grandma, I was held up by some business,â Wang Yao said.
âThatâs fine.â Grandma doted on Wang Yao the most. âQuick, come in.â
The whole family was gathered in the house talking, and the atmosphere was very warm.
âYao, help us look,â his uncle said, smiling.
âLook at what?â
âSee if itâs a boy or a girl!â
âThatâs beyond me,â Wang Yao declined, laughing.
âDonât listen to your uncle talking nonsense. I just feel like vomiting every time I eat something. Iâve got no appetite,â his uncleâs wife said.
âLet me check.â
This was Wang Yaoâs first time making a diagnosis in front of all his relatives.
âAre you taking the pulse?â a relative asked.
After a moment, Wang Yao removed his finger.
âThereâs no problem. This is a normal reaction from your pregnancy; there are no problems. Try to eat plain foods, and you will be fine after a while,â Wang Yao explained. Actually, he chose not to mention one thing. His auntâs age was a little old, and she was almost thirty-six. At this age, the body was naturally declining, so its natural reaction would be more severe.
âDoes she need any medicine?â
âNope,â Wang Yao said, waving his hand. âThe baby is fine; why would it need medicine?!â
âThatâs great, as long as there are no problems,â Wang Yaoâs mother said. âMom, everyoneâs here, how about we bring out the dishes?â
âRight. The food!â
In a short while, the food was served. Everyone was seated around a big round table, talking while they ate. It was a very lively atmosphere.
Time flies when youâre having fun.
âWhen will you guys be leaving?â Wang Yaoâs grandma asked his second aunt.
âWeâll be going back tomorrow.â
âSo quickly?â
âYeah. My husband needs to work, and Li Na also needs to go to school,â Wang Yaoâs second aunt said.
âHave you got your train tickets?â
âWe do.â
On the way here, they took the plane with Wang Yao. Originally, Wang Yao wanted to buy them return tickets to Beijing, but no matter what he said, his uncle refused to agree. Eventually, they bought tickets for the night train. This made Wang Yao a little exasperated as he was concerned about his second aunt.
âShould I give you a lift to the station?â Wang Yao offered.
âNo thanks, weâve already arranged with Li Naâs grandfather. He also has plans in Huaicheng, so weâll board the train from there.â
âOkay.â
Wang Yao was rather familiar with his uncle. He knew from his mother that this uncle of his was proud, and image conscious. He would sometimes overthink things. Not wanting to put his uncle in a spot, Wang Yao did not insist.
After dinner, the family once again asked about Wang Yaoâs girlfriend, as well as Wang Ruâs boyfriend. Wang Yaoâs side seemed to be making progress recently. On the other hand, his pretty sister was making progress on the road to being left on the shelf. Furthermore, she seemed to be quite proud of it. The family started to lecture her, giving her advice. However, she cheerfully took it in her stride and treated their criticism like delicious food, eating it all up.
...
Many miles away, in a villa on the Island.
âSorry to trouble you, Master Sang.â
âCough cough, itâs no trouble. Furthermore, Iâm good friends with your father. Let me first take a look?â
âPlease.â
Sang Guzi had been invited by Mr. Sun all the way from Cangzhou to look at his sonâs illness.
âThis is...a condition of extreme Yang energy?â
Itâs said that experts will notice immediately when there is a problem. Upon seeing the gaunt young man in from him, Sang Guzi could determine what illness he had contracted. Sang Guzi frowned, shaking his head.
âThis disease, Iâm unable to cure it.â
Mr. Sun sighed as though he had predicted this outcome.
âIâve long heard that sirâs acupuncture technique was outstanding. Would you be able to do anything to help my son?â
âUsing acupuncture to extend life is a technique based on stimulating the bodyâs own potential to help a person live longer. This is just like drinking poison to quench oneâs thirst. Looking at Young Master Sunâs condition, his body is already burning, and itâs already at its lowest condition. To use these needles would be akin to killing him,â Sang Guzi explained.
âThank you, Master Sang.â Mr. Sun waved his hand, and someone came up to him with a small box.
âHereâs a small token of appreciation; I hope Master Sang will accept it.â
âI canât accept this. I didnât even manage to cure the patient,â Master Sang waved his hand, vehemently refusing to accept it.
âLooking at this child, he doesnât seem like one with an ill fate. This should be a hurdle for him to cross, donât give up.â
âI understand, Master,â Mr. Sun replied respectfully.
âGood.â After walking for a few steps, Sang Guzi suddenly paused as though wanting to say something. After some hesitation, however, he decided not to say anything.
After he left, the stiff-faced man beside Mr. Sun commented, âMaster Sang seemed to want to say something but didnât say it in the end.â
âHe said that Yunsheng didnât seem to be one with an ill fate.â
âYeah, the Zen Master you visited the previous time, didnât he say that this month would be a turning point?â
âTurning point, from the southwest direction? Where exactly could that be?â
âThese monks and priests, they love being cryptic.â
âHelp me make an appointment with the Zen master again. Also, make more offerings to the temple.â
âOkay, Iâll go settle it right now,â the stiff-faced man said.
Back in the house, there was only the man looking at his son tied on the bed. At this moment, the young man was like a burning piece of wood, and he would soon be burnt into a pile of ashes.
âTurning point?!â He looked outside.
âCome, bring her in.â
âYes.â
A young woman was brought into the room.
The middle-aged man walked out, with a pained expression on his face.
Why?!
...
In Lianshan County, there was also a man dressed in bright clothes asking the same question. However, he wasnât talking to the heavens, but talking into the phone. More accurately, he was talking with the person on the other side of the line.
âWhy?!â
âWeâre not suitable.â
It was a simple answer that could not be any simpler.
Bang! Yang Ming threw his phone to the ground in anger. His facial expression was completely stiff.
âWang Yao. It has to be Wang Yao.â
Achoo!
Wang Yao suddenly sneezed.
What a strange feeling, he thought. He hadnât sneezed for a few months.
...
âYour uncle is drunk again, and heâs talking nonsense. He said that he had someone check it out and that your aunt is pregnant with another manâs child.â After returning home, Wang Yao was stuck listening to his mother nagging.
âDidnât he already know this long ago?â Wang Yao asked. He recalled that his mum had once mentioned this before. At that time, they mentioned getting an abortion.
âYes, but heâs still not at ease!â
âWhat does that even mean? If out of ten things, seven things go well, then we should be happy already. No one can have everything go according to their wishes!â Wang Yao laughed as he said.
âDonât people always desire to be happy?â
âOkay, Mom, itâs just uncle being foolish again. Donât follow him and make yourself angry. If thereâs nothing else, Iâm going up the hill.â
âYouâre still going up the hill? Didnât you say youâd bring Tong Wei home for dinner?â Zhang Xiuying said unhappily.
âWhat time is it now?â
âItâs already 3 pm. Go quickly, if you need to go up the hill.â
âUnderstood, my dear Mom. Iâm leaving now.â
At this moment, there was an uninvited guest at Tong Weiâs house, a handsome young man wearing a western suit.