Chapter 92: The "Fake" Divine Healer

But these three assassins—under whose orders had they gone to kill such a formidable target? Not only had they failed to eliminate their prey, but they had also lost their own lives in the process.

For a time, the city of Fan was abuzz with speculation. Even though O Xinlai had never once made a public appearance, he suddenly rose to fame overnight due to the deaths of these three killers.

The Shan family, of course, had heard the news as well. Yet neither Shan Yuanxi nor Lady Shan suspected any connection between Shan Qing’er and O Xinlai. After all, they only knew that O Xinlai was a skilled doctor; they had never imagined he possessed the ability to take lives.

In truth, Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan observed O Xinlai’s spotless, youthful face and noted that they had never seen him blush in anger or passion. They never gave it much thought. Since ancient times, healers have always had the capacity to end lives when necessary.

The revered doctor who had treated Shan Ziyao since childhood was finally summoned today. Upon hearing this, Shan Qing’er was momentarily stunned. Recently, she had heard no news of Shan Ziyao’s relapse, so why had her father and mother called the esteemed physician again?

However, the doctor himself did not overthink the matter. The Shan couple’s anxiety over their precious daughter was well known; inviting him over two or three times a day was not unusual. More importantly, the frequency of his visits had actually decreased of late.

Because of the loss of business from the Shan family, Doctor Li’s smile had faded somewhat compared to before.

“Master Shan,” Li Yinxin greeted with a smile as soon as he entered the Shan residence and saw Shan Yuanxi. “It’s been many days. I suppose Miss Shan’s health has improved significantly. Your constant concern for her well-being has not been in vain.”

Though praising Shan Yuanxi’s care for Shan Ziyao, Li Yinxin was subtly seeking credit for himself, for he had been the one overseeing Shan Ziyao’s treatment all along. Her improvement was naturally his achievement.

“Heh, thanks to having Doctor Li here. Today, we have asked Doctor Li to examine our daughter,” Shan Yuanxi replied, pleased to attribute the credit to Li Yinxin. Meanwhile, Shan Yuanxi carefully observed the doctor’s reactions and expressions.

Shan Yuanxi led Li Yinxin into his study, where Shan Ziyao was already waiting.

Li Yinxin immediately took Shan Ziyao’s pulse, squinting his eyes and shaking his head in a knowing manner. “Master Shan, please rest assured. Miss Shan’s symptoms are merely a relapse of an old ailment, nothing serious. With some treatment, she will naturally feel much better.”

As he spoke, Li Yinxin grasped Shan Ziyao’s hand and began channeling a steady flow of qi into her body.

As usual, Shan Yuanxi asked Shan Ziyao, “Ziyao, how do you feel now?”

Shan Ziyao glanced at O Xinlai before honestly replying, “I feel a warm current flowing continuously inside me. It’s very comfortable.” Every time the revered doctor treated her, she truly felt comforted. Yet Caicai had told her that this doctor was merely putting on a show and had never genuinely cured her.

Doctor Li Yinxin was renowned in Fan City, having healed thousands, so there was no doubt about his competence. But Caicai’s words seemed accurate, and Shan Ziyao’s own feelings were clear. What was really going on?

Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan shared their doubts silently but, seeing O Xinlai’s composed demeanor, chose to keep their suspicions to themselves.

Not only did Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan harbor questions, but O Xinlai himself was no wiser. Fortunately, he possessed a secret advantage: a little white snake that claimed to be a dragon.

The little white snake detected a kind of mineral energy on Li Yinxin’s person. This mineral, occasionally carried nearby, could transmit energy beneficial to the human body. However, prolonged exposure could cause harm. The snake explained that the warmth Shan Ziyao felt was likely due to this mineral.

After hearing this, O Xinlai finally relaxed.

“Well then!” Li Yinxin, having shown off a bit, mock-wiped his brow, pretending to be exhausted from treating Shan Ziyao.

Unlike before, Shan Yuanxi’s attitude was now more measured and he did not snub Li Yinxin, though the difference from previous warmth was glaring. Li Yinxin, puzzled by the change, eventually reasoned that since Shan Ziyao was growing up, her father might be worried about how such a frail body would fare in marriage and childbirth.

With this in mind, Li Yinxin felt reassured and cared little about Shan Yuanxi’s attitude, focusing instead on how much silver he might receive.

Shan Yuanxi smiled formally. “Thank you, Doctor Li.” If before he had placed seventy percent trust in O Xinlai, now it was at least ninety-nine percent—save for a tiny sliver of doubt about Shan Ziyao’s persistent sensations.

Shan Ziyao’s old illness had clearly been treated, though eradicating its root was more troublesome. Yet Li Yinxin had found nothing upon taking her pulse, which meant what exactly?

It meant Li Yinxin had been perfunctory all along, perhaps not even taking her pulse seriously.

This thought made Shan Yuanxi laugh bitterly. Li Yinxin’s hand had been on Shan Ziyao’s wrist; a quick, thorough pulse check would have revealed her true condition. For him not to do even this simple act spoke volumes about his attitude toward her illness.

“Doctor Li, this way please,” O Xinlai followed the Shan family’s lead in addressing the man. As they crossed the threshold together, O Xinlai executed a subtle move against Li Yinxin.

Though steady initially, Li Yinxin suddenly felt a weakness in his knees, nearly falling. Luckily, a nearby maid caught him.

Li Yinxin found himself acting oddly today. Smiling at O Xinlai, he said, “You’re quite impressive. Consider this a reward.” Because O Xinlai was plain-looking and simply dressed, Li Yinxin instinctively categorized him as a newly hired maid by the Shan family.

O Xinlai did not mind the misunderstanding in the slightest. As for the heavy little sachet he had received, he was quite pleased—his efforts had not been in vain.

“Caicai, how is it?” After sending Li Yinxin off, Shan Ziyao anxiously looked at O Xinlai. She could hardly believe she had been treated by such a shameless man all this time. Truly, it was a miracle she had survived.

“See for yourself,” O Xinlai said, handing Shan Ziyao the piece of stone he had discreetly taken from Li Yinxin. Shan Ziyao’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“What’s wrong, Ziyao?” Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan approached. Shan Yuanxi took the stone, holding it in his hand. Sure enough, a pleasant warmth flowed steadily into his body—identical to what Shan Ziyao had described.

So, after spending a fortune on her treatment, this unassuming little stone was the true source of healing?

Shan Ziyao snatched the stone from her father’s hand and presented it to O Xinlai. “Caicai, what is this exactly? Is it good for my illness?”

O Xinlai took the stone and explained, “This stone is probably not of this world.” To put it simply, it was a meteorite. Though he doubted such a term existed in this world.

“An extraterrestrial stone?” Shan Ziyao looked at it with even greater astonishment.

“Yes.” O Xinlai nodded. This meteorite likely contained radiation, which caused the warm, pleasant sensation. But too much radiation turns beneficial effects into harm. That’s why the little white snake said prolonged contact with such stones causes problems.

“This stone carries an energy that makes you feel comfortable,” O Xinlai finished.

Shan Ziyao immediately reclaimed the stone. It was truly beautiful in her hand. “In that case, I’ll make a pretty little pouch to carry it with me all the time. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Lady Shan quickly took the stone and handed it back to O Xinlai, knowing that if the stone genuinely benefited Shan Ziyao, O Xinlai’s nature would have already prompted him to mention it.

“Caier, this stone?” Lady Shan looked at O Xinlai worriedly. Unless O Xinlai spoke up, she would find it hard to believe the stone’s significance. After all, if this stone explained the comfort Shan Ziyao felt all along, then Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan would trust O Xinlai’s words entirely.

“This stone is beneficial to the body in short-term contact. But long-term exposure will harm the body,” O Xinlai shook his head, indicating Shan Ziyao should not carry it. “Just now, I not only felt a stone on Doctor Li’s person but also a box of similar size. It seems Doctor Li is aware of this matter and usually keeps the stone sealed in that box, only taking it out when treating Shan Ziyao.”

O Xinlai’s guess was spot on.

Originally, the meteorite was not Doctor Li’s but his junior apprentice’s. The junior, believing he had found a treasure, was ecstatic. Unbeknownst to him, Doctor Li learned of it and grew envious.

But strange things soon happened.

Within a month, the junior’s hair fell out strand by strand until he was bald. Even worse, his health deteriorated rapidly until he became emaciated and died.

Before his death, Doctor Li’s master attempted to save him, but the decay progressed faster than the healing could act. In the end, the junior perished.

Afterward, Doctor Li seized the meteorite. Though it initially made him feel comfortable, he did not forget his junior’s tragic fate.

Therefore, most of the time, Doctor Li kept the meteorite safely stored, never carrying it constantly like his junior had.

After consulting numerous medical texts, he found references to similar stones in a volume of strange tales.

It mentioned that brief exposure was beneficial, but prolonged contact was harmful. The stone should be sealed in a special container, kept closed most of the time.

Hence, Doctor Li would only take it out roughly once every ten days, playing with it no more than the time of a tea cup.

Besides that, he only took it out during treatments for Shan Ziyao, keeping it tucked in his sleeve and hiding it as soon as he left the Shan residence.

“This stone is like that?!” Shan Ziyao was shocked. She had thought it was a treasure that could cure her, but it might actually endanger her life.

Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan, though not as dramatic, were also alarmed. Truly, matters of medicine were complicated and could easily bring disaster without proper understanding.

“Caier, what do you think we should do with this stone?” Shan Yuanxi asked, clearly displeased by the stone’s complexities.

“I will eradicate Shan Ziyao’s illness soon enough. I will keep the stone,” O Xinlai said firmly. Others might find it troublesome, but he was different. The little white snake had explained it could control the stone, ensuring it helped his health without harm.

Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan agreed, regardless of whether the stone truly posed a risk. Since O Xinlai was confident he could cure Shan Ziyao, whether she kept the stone was irrelevant. They did not care whether O Xinlai’s words were true or not.

“The medicine is ready. Drink it,” O Xinlai said, adding the final ingredient and pouring the steaming decoction before Shan Ziyao.

She frowned, blew on it to cool, and downed the bitter medicine with a gulp.

“This formula is potent. You might taste some bitterness. After a few doses, we can begin your treatment in earnest.”

From then on, O Xinlai prepared a new batch every half hour, matching the time it took to brew each. One followed seamlessly after another. Shan Ziyao grew weary and fearful of the medicine.

Yet with each cup, she felt a burning fire flare up in her stomach, growing fiercer. After the fifth dose, she felt as if her insides were ablaze, the fire threatening to consume her, burning through her belly.

“Fetch a bowl of water from the century-old well,” O Xinlai instructed as the moment approached.

Lady Shan was momentarily stunned before realizing they had such a well at home. She immediately sent a maid to draw a bowl of water.

O Xinlai sliced a small cut on Shan Ziyao’s right index finger, but peculiarly, no blood flowed.

Then, he placed the wounded finger into the well water. Both sat cross-legged, O Xinlai behind her, channeling qi.

To O Xinlai, Shan Ziyao appeared like a human-shaped heat map of reds and blues. He skillfully shifted the coldest, most yin energies inside her body, moving the chill away.

At each movement, Shan Ziyao shivered and broke into cold sweat.

Just as she thought she could no longer endure the pain, a sudden wave of warmth spread through the previously aching area, soothing her. But then the pain shifted elsewhere.

Caught between agony and relief, her face twisted in torment, nearly feeling as if she was losing her mind.

Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan watched anxiously.

After about the time it takes for incense to burn, Shan Yuanxi noticed the water in the bowl changing.

He tapped Lady Shan’s shoulder and nodded toward the bowl. The once-normal well water now exuded cold mist and had begun freezing over halfway, even forming ice above the rim.

Only when the water had completely frozen, with ice rising beyond the bowl’s edge, did O Xinlai cease his treatment.

Shan Ziyao opened her eyes, feeling as light as a swallow, bursting with vitality and health, filled with immense joy.

“Father, Mother, my illness is truly gone! I feel so light and comfortable—I feel like I could fly!” she exclaimed, bouncing excitedly around the room.

Shan Yuanxi and Lady Shan saw that she was far livelier than before. Though they could not pinpoint precisely where the change lay, her newfound joy was unmistakable.

“Caier, what shall we do with this bowl?” Lady Shan asked, now shivering at the sight of the ice. This very substance had tormented her beloved daughter for over a decade.

“First, we must seal it tightly and soak it in well water. Then, at noon tomorrow, when the sun is highest and strongest, we will bring it out to dry in the sunlight. People nearby should avoid touching it directly—better to shield their hands.”

Though appearing as mere ice, this substance in ancient medicine was regarded as pathogenic wind and evil energy. Anyone exposed could become afflicted with lingering illnesses.

The burden of such mysterious forces weighed heavy on their hearts, but with O Xinlai’s intervention, hope now gleamed on the horizon.