Volume 1, Chapter 18: Ruan Shanhe Awakens

As Xu Ruoyun had been his close friend for many years, he was naturally well aware of his extraordinary medical skills.

“Mr. Li, regarding this matter…”

Seeing the situation, Li Ya didn’t argue but simply crossed his arms and stood aside.

After all, he didn’t even know this Ruan Shanhe and felt he had already shown plenty of respect to Ruan Yunlong.

Xu Ruoyun glanced at Li Ya before stepping forward to take Ruan Shanhe’s pulse. But in the next moment, his expression darkened instantly.

“Divine Doctor Xu, how is my son’s condition?”

“Brother Yunlong, the situation is critical. Shanhe has been poisoned with a deadly toxin and must be treated immediately.”

“If delayed, his life could be in danger. However, this toxin is like maggots gnawing at the bone—it will be extremely difficult to eradicate. Even I cannot guarantee success…”

Hearing this, Ruan Yunlong’s face turned grim, and Ruan Mei’s delicate face went pale as she begged urgently, “Grandpa Xu, you must save my father.”

In her anxiety, proud Ruan Mei’s voice wavered with tears, completely losing her previous strength.

Xu Ruoyun nodded, then opened his bag and took out thirteen silver needles.

Under the lamp light, these silver needles gleamed brightly, almost dazzling.

Li Ya lightly sniffed; the moment the needles were taken out, he detected a strong medicinal fragrance.

Clearly, these thirteen silver needles were used frequently and soaked in various medicines.

Li Ya knew Xu Ruoyun was no mere charlatan, yet today’s case involving Ruan Shanhe was not simply about poisoning…

After heating the needles in the flame, Xu Ruoyun swiftly and precisely pierced thirteen vital points on Ruan Shanhe’s body.

The needles turned pitch black at a visible speed.

Xu Ruoyun’s hands moved like a dance of bees and butterflies, and soon black toxic blood was forced out from Ruan Shanhe’s body.

At the same time, a strong, pungent stench of fishy decay filled the air, making everyone dizzy, nauseous, and repulsed.

After some time, Xu Ruoyun was sweating heavily and gasping for breath.

However, thanks to his treatment, Ruan Shanhe’s complexion improved considerably, and his body no longer trembled uncontrollably as before.

Seeing this, Xu Ruoyun finally straightened up, exhaled slowly, and began to withdraw the silver needles embedded in Ruan Shanhe.

“Grandpa Xu, how is my father? Is he out of danger?”

Ruan Mei hurriedly stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency.

Xu Ruoyun nodded. “Luckily, I arrived in time and didn’t delay further. Also, I kept unrelated people from interfering, so he’s out of the immediate danger zone.”

As he spoke, Xu Ruoyun casually glanced at Li Ya.

Ruan Mei’s face instantly hardened with frost; the Divine Doctor’s expression clearly implied that Li Ya, the charlatan, had nearly cost Ruan Shanhe his life.

“Grandpa, didn’t I tell you he was a fraud? You didn’t believe me, and look, my father almost ended up dead!”

“You charlatan, what are you still standing here for? Get lost!”

Ruan Mei was now completely convinced that Li Ya had deliberately poisoned a member of the Ruan family. A murderous aura radiated from her.

Li Ya ignored her and merely crossed his arms with a cold sneer. “I’m not leaving yet. I want to see how you all manage to kill Ruan Shanhe yourselves.”

The room fell into sudden silence.

The medical staff from Luocheng First Hospital were stunned.

To them, Li Ya must be mad to say such things in front of the Ruan family and Divine Doctor Xu, offending two powerful figures at once. Was he courting death?

“Kid, are you crazy? Do you even know what you’re saying?!”

“How dare you curse the head of the Ruan family? Do you want to die?!”

“When Divine Doctor Xu was healing patients, you were probably nowhere to be found, yet you speak so arrogantly!”

Seeing Xu Ruoyun’s grim expression, the medical workers shouted angrily.

Ruan Mei trembled with rage—if Ruan Yunlong hadn’t stopped her, she might have attacked.

Ruan Yunlong’s face showed displeasure, but after consideration, he suppressed his anger and said sternly, “Mr. Li, what do you mean by that?”

Seeing that Ruan Yunlong had not lost his temper, Li Ya admired the war god’s composure.

According to usual scripts, Ruan Yunlong would have already acted against him by now.

“Old man, as I said before, the head of the Ruan family isn’t simply poisoned—he’s been cursed with a gu toxin.”

“Divine Doctor Xu’s acupuncture is indeed unique; by stimulating the acupoints, it forces out the toxins.”

“But the problem is that within Ruan Shanhe’s body are not only gu toxins but also gu insects. His true threat to life comes from these gu insects.”

“Though many toxins have been forced out and the insects temporarily suppressed by the silver needles, a severe rebound will come soon. At that time, even a celestial immortal could not save him…”

Before Li Ya finished, several doctors in white coats interrupted him.

“Pah! Where did you get this nonsense, from some street stall literature?”

“What era do you think this is? It’s pathetic to have such backward thinking.”

“You’ve been brainwashed by online fiction, and you dare to question Divine Doctor Xu? Get out now!”

What Li Ya said clashed completely with modern medical science as understood by these Luocheng doctors.

Moreover, Xu Ruoyun was their medical god; how could they allow this reckless youth to challenge him?

Xu Ruoyun merely snorted disdainfully and continued removing the silver needles from Ruan Shanhe’s body.

As the needles were pulled out, Ruan Shanhe’s complexion continued to improve.

When the last needle, positioned over the heart, was being withdrawn, Ruan Shanhe’s eyelids twitched, and he suddenly woke up.

“What… happened to me?”

Lying on the hospital bed, Ruan Shanhe looked around at everyone in confusion.

“Divine Doctor! As expected of Divine Doctor Xu!”

“This is true healing—the pinnacle of medical skill, worthy of being the foremost authority in Long Kingdom’s medicine!”

“Kid, what do you have to say now?!”

Everyone inside sneered coldly at Li Ya; Ruan Shanhe’s awakening was the greatest slap in the face.

Even Ruan Yunlong furrowed his brows, his gaze filled with displeasure.

Yet Li Ya remained calm and unmoved despite the accusations.

Ruan Mei explained the entire ordeal to Ruan Shanhe.

At once, Ruan Shanhe’s face darkened, and his eyes blazed with murderous intent.

He hadn’t expected that a simple meal back in Luocheng would nearly lead to his assassination!

“Guards! Seize him!”

With a furious roar from Ruan Shanhe, bodyguards rushed in, aiming their guns directly at Li Ya.