Chapter Six: Could He Have Run Away?

"You—how do you know?"
The words slipped from An Heilong's lips, hitting a sore spot.
But as soon as he spoke, regret washed over him!
His father had always told him he was to be the heir of the An family. Because of that, he had been cautious in everything, always presenting himself as proper and dignified.
Now, however, everyone knew about his penchant for women. Seeing the astonished looks around him, he wished he could vanish into thin air!
How did this kid know about his problem?
He had kept it a secret so well. As the eldest son of the An family, what doctor would dare gossip about him?
Did this mean the guy really had medical skills?
"As a doctor, I can tell at a glance if you're unwell."
"Is that so strange?"
Ye Wushang spoke with calm indifference.
"Cousin, what do you think—can Mr. Ye see Grandfather now?"
An Lan teased lightly.
To be honest, she had been anxious just moments before.
But Ye Wushang's performance was flawless.
With a single glance, he had pinpointed her cousin's ailment. That could only be the work of a master!
From the moment they'd met, she had sensed something extraordinary about him.
Now, it seemed her intuition was right.
"Hmph, a secret can never be kept forever. Isn't it normal for rumors to spread?"
"These charlatans just play tricks and put on airs. He can't fool me."
"Let me ask you again—you said the medicine I take is fake. What proof do you have?"
Ye Wushang gave a bitter smile and replied calmly:
"When you spoke just now, I not only smelled your bad breath but also the residue of medicine."
"Take too much of that fake medicine, and you’ll develop abdominal bloating and purple bruises."
"Prolonged use will accumulate fat around your waist, and once it covers your navel, it will cause renal decline."
"If you don’t believe me, lift your shirt and see for yourself."
With that, he turned to An Lan. "Miss An, time is short. When may I treat the patient?"
"Right now," An Lan replied with a smile, ignoring An Heilong as she led Ye Wushang inside.
An Heilong hesitated, then instinctively lifted his shirt!
His waist was swollen.
There were purple bruises as well.
And a layer of fat had long since hidden his navel!
“It’s—it's true.”
One of the servants couldn't help but exclaim.
“Incredible! He saw through the symptoms through the clothes—this man is amazing.”
"Young Master Long, maybe you should stop taking that medicine for now..."
"Out! All of you, get out!!"
An Heilong was mortified.
Nearly frantic, he roared, sending the servants scurrying in terror.
…
Upstairs in the sickroom.
On An Heilong’s orders, the curtains were drawn, and the air was thick with an acrid mist.
Ye Wushang frowned but concealed his discomfort, moving straight to the bedside to examine Old Master An.
Having taken his pulse, he quickly understood the situation.
Though the old man was advanced in age, his body was sturdy; his ailments were minor and not life-threatening.
His coma was due to blocked meridians, resulting in insufficient blood flow—clearly, someone had interfered.
When Ye Wushang noticed the medicine bowl nearby, his relaxed expression tightened into a frown.
"Mr. Ye, how is it? Can you cure my grandfather?"
Seeing Ye Wushang’s strange expression, An Lan asked anxiously.
"It’s not a major problem."
He glanced around, then pointed to a potted plant not far away. "Miss An, could you please take the bamboo from that pot, cut it into fifty acupuncture-thin slivers, and bring them to me? I need them for acupuncture."
An Lan frowned.
She knew little of medicine, but even she understood that acupuncture was done with silver needles, not bamboo slivers.
Still, though puzzled, she complied, ordering the bamboo cut and handed over to Ye Wushang.
Without another word, Ye Wushang took the bamboo and began.
His movements were fluid and rhythmic, like a musician playing a swift, seamless melody.
The entire process was mesmerizing.
Especially for An Lan, who, though ignorant of acupuncture, was entranced by Ye Wushang’s speed and precision.
Ten minutes later,
He finished inserting forty-nine bamboo slivers, then placed the last one at the corner of Old Master An’s mouth, tilting it toward the medicine bowl, and stood up.
"It—it’s done?"
An Lan was incredulous.
A doctor in a white coat hurried over to check the monitors, sneering, "The readings haven’t changed at all. Is this what you call a cure?"
"What a showman."
"He made such a fuss, and now look—nothing."
"Are you just here to entertain us?"
The crowd snickered.
An Lan herself began to doubt.
"If this were an ordinary patient, Old Master An would have woken as soon as I finished the acupuncture."
"But someone has tampered with his condition. The process is more complicated—he requires medicine as well."
With that, Ye Wushang turned to An Lan, "Miss An, where is your kitchen?"
"Downstairs," An Lan replied, confused. "Are you hungry? I’ll have food prepared…"
"No, I need to decoct medicine for Old Master An."
He took up pen and paper, scribbled a prescription, and handed it to her. "Please have these ingredients brought to the kitchen."
"Of course."
An Lan passed the prescription to a servant, then asked curiously, "Earlier, you said someone interfered with my grandfather’s health. What did you mean?"
"I’ll explain later."
Ye Wushang turned to leave, and at the door, he added,
"By the way, don’t touch the bamboo at Old Master An’s mouth—just let the fluid flow naturally."
"No one is to move Old Master An until I return."
"Understood."
An Lan nodded, watching him go, her mind a swirl of confusion.
Why did he speak in such riddles? Nothing made sense.
Especially since her grandfather had not awoken after the acupuncture—her doubts grew.
"Hurry, Doctor Xu, please come in."
At that moment,
An Heilong entered, leading a scholarly-looking middle-aged man in a tai chi uniform.
"Doctor Xu, please see my grandfather. The rest of these people are useless—it’s all up to you!"
"My father said, as long as you can cure my grandfather, you can name your price!"
"Very well."
Xu Lang nodded, approaching the bed. But when he saw Old Master An covered in bamboo needles, his expression darkened.
"Who did this?"
"Mr. Ye," An Lan answered truthfully.
"Absurd!"
Xu Lang barked, reaching to pull out the bamboo. But An Lan stopped him, "Doctor Xu, you mustn't remove the bamboo."
"Mr. Ye instructed us—no one is to touch my grandfather until he returns."
"I trust Mr. Ye. He will cure him…"
"And the result?"
An Heilong interrupted with a mocking sneer. "He treated Grandfather, and Grandfather still hasn’t woken up."
Looking around, he asked, "Where is that guy anyway?"
"He said Grandfather needed medicine to wake up. He should be…"
"On the run by now, I suppose?"
An Heilong scoffed.
As he expected, the guy was a fraud.
His earlier confidence must have come from eavesdropping somewhere.
And to claim his medicine was fake—he’d almost called his girlfriend to complain!
They’d been together for four or five years; he’d always been fine. No way she’d cheat him.
"Doctor Xu, don’t bother with that charlatan."
"My cousin is too kind and was taken in, but I won’t be fooled."
"In my mind, only you can cure my grandfather."
Xu Lang’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing more. He reached for the bamboo, but An Lan shouted,
"Stop!"
"Mr. Ye said not to remove the needles—my grandfather’s life is at stake."
"If anything happens to him because you pull them out, who will be responsible?"
…