Chapter 127: Sudden Deterioration

Doctor Liao carefully chose his words. He had to praise the Liu Family's generosity, express that he was more than satisfied, and imply that any further payment would be excessive.

All three were essential.

He had years of experience making house calls and knew the score. These wealthy people feared being looked down on more than anything and were often willing to throw money at their problems.

But if the price was too high, they'd get buyer's remorse, leaving them in a constant state of conflict.

The slightest dissatisfaction could lead them to bad-mouth you everywhere, completely ruining your reputation.

It was a fine line to walk.

Doctor Liao prided himself on being the type of renowned physician who had mastered this delicate balance.

It was why his reputation had yet to falter.

"I am so grateful! But healing the sick and saving lives is my calling; there's truly no need for such thanks," Doctor Liao said earnestly, bowing repeatedly to Liu Yiming.

"The consultation fee you've already paid is more than enough for me to live comfortably! Master Liu, if you truly feel so grateful, perhaps you could channel that into compassion by performing more good deeds and charitable acts to benefit the world."

Liu Yiming was greatly pleased by this and bowed in return. "You are truly worthy of Mayor Hu's personal praise, Doctor Liao. Your character is noble indeed. I'm deeply impressed."

Doctor Liao let out a long sigh of relief. 'Finally got that sorted.'

Liu Qizhou rushed to Liu Yifang's side, grinning. "Fangfang, how do you feel?"

"There's a pleasant warmth spreading through my legs. It feels so good!" Liu Yifang said excitedly. "Doctor Liao, do you think I can really walk now?"

Doctor Liao smiled. "Of course. However, please try not to get too excited, Miss Liu. It can affect your recovery and lead to complications. It's best to rest quietly for now; that will be better for your body."

Liu Yifang nodded, her mind racing with all sorts of ideas.

'So many things I can do!'

'Once I'm back on my feet, I can do so many things, go to all sorts of places, wear pretty clothes again…'

Lost in these daydreams, Liu Yifang felt an overwhelming sleepiness wash over her, and she drifted off before she knew it.

Liu Qizhou grew a little worried. "Doctor Liao, look at Fangfang..."

Doctor Liao smiled. "This means the illness has subsided. The pain that has tormented her for so long is gone, so she has fallen asleep."

"I see! Someone, take the young miss to her room to rest!"

Liu Yifang didn't know how long she had slept. She was woken by a violent, churning pain in her abdomen that felt like it was going to tear her apart.

'What's happening?'

The pain sapped all her strength, her Qi and Blood roiled, and veins bulged on her skin.

"It hurts! It hurts!" she couldn't help but cry out, but the pain was so intense that even screaming was difficult.

A servant bringing a basin of water to wash her face discovered her condition and rushed out in a panic to get help.

Liu Qizhou immediately slapped the servant who brought the news.

"Son, what did you hit her for! She came to report immediately. If anything, she should be commended!" Liu Yiming said.

Liu Qizhou roared, "It's a good thing she came immediately! If she'd delayed even for a second, I'd have killed her!"

Liu Yiming shook his head, his voice heavy. 'This son of mine is hopeless!'

"Hurry and get Doctor Liao!" Liu Yiming roared.

Doctor Liao rushed over to find Liu Yifang's body contorted in agony.

A huge, purplish-red patch covered her body, and she was clearly in unbearable pain.

It started from her thigh, spreading up to her neck, across her shoulder, and down to her left forearm.

"This... H-How can this be!" Doctor Liao's eyes went wide. He never imagined he would encounter such a situation.

Liu Qizhou, already in a foul mood, snapped, "You're the doctor, and you're asking me?"

Seeing how angry Liu Qizhou was, Doctor Liao quickly said, "Patriarch Liu, please don't worry. Let me take a look first."

"Miss Liu? Please give me your hand," Doctor Liao said, wanting to take her pulse, but Liu Yifang was no longer responsive.

Liu Qizhou was going mad with fury. 'Yesterday, he was the picture of confidence, and now, just one night later, this happens?'

'Is this some kind of joke?'

"Liao Yuliang, I'm warning you! If anything happens to Fangfang, you won't make it out of here alive today!"

Doctor Liao swallowed hard. 'I don't understand what went wrong either!'

'I've already done everything I can.'

Doctor Liao reached out, forcibly took Liu Yifang's wrist, and pressed two fingers against it to feel for her pulse.

He glanced apologetically at Liu Yiming and Liu Qizhou. "Forgive the impertinence!"

Neither of them cared in the slightest. As long as Liu Yifang could be saved, they wouldn't care what he did.

'How can her pulse be this chaotic? I've never seen such turbulent Qi and Blood.'

"This level of turbulence... you should only see it in a corpse!" Doctor Liao knew saying this would infuriate the Liu Family father and son, but it was the only way to describe it. "It's too violent! An ordinary person's meridians could never withstand this!"

'And yet, not only has Miss Liu endured it, her condition has somehow worsened...'

He was truly out of options.

Doctor Liao said, his shoulders slumping in defeat, "I'm sorry. There's nothing more I can do."

The Liu father and son looked at each other, their eyes filled with despair.

"Why... Why did this happen?" Liu Yiming wondered. 'What could have gone so wrong?'

Suddenly, he recalled his encounter with Mu Lin in the mountain forest. The moment that young man saw the Celestial Sunflower, he'd said it was useless and that insisting on using it would surely lead to disaster.

He never thought the boy's prediction would come true so perfectly.

"Doctor Liao, I have to ask... is there a problem with the Celestial Sunflower?"

Liu Yiming stared at Doctor Liao, his gaze earnest, desperate to see the truth in the doctor's eyes.

But what truth was there to be found?

Liu Yiming said slowly, "Yesterday, when I was gathering the herb, I met a young man. He told me the Celestial Sunflower was useless."

Doctor Liao retorted, "That person clearly knows nothing of medicine and is just spouting nonsense. Master Liu, you're not actually going to believe him, are you?"

A bitter expression crossed Liu Yiming's face.

He didn't want to, but what if he was right? 'That young man was strong enough to kill Chen Zhengyang. Maybe he knew what he was talking about.'

Suddenly, a drop of purplish-black blood trickled from the corner of Liu Yifang's mouth, and Liu Yiming's mind went blank with panic.

Doctor Liao felt his own vision go dark. 'My god, what is happening?'

Gritting his teeth, Liu Yiming swept Liu Yifang up into his arms and charged out the door.

"Dad, where are you going?"

"To the Holy Medicine Hall! We're finding Zhao Yang!"

Liu Qizhou let out a long sigh. "Dad, Zhao Yang already said he couldn't do anything! Going to him is just a waste of time!"

"But who cured Yifang's best friend? We're going to him!"

It dawned on Liu Qizhou. 'Right, there's still that option.'

How had he not thought of that!

'We paid a fortune for Doctor Liao, only to end up with this result. It's insane.'

"I get it!" Liu Qizhou rushed to drive the car himself. His daughter's safety was too important; he couldn't trust anyone else.

As the car was about to pull away, Doctor Liao shouted, "Wait, I'm coming too!"

Liu Qizhou pointed at Doctor Liao and roared, "Get the hell out of here, you quack! You almost killed my daughter! Scram now, before I decide to kill you!"

Doctor Liao's face was deathly pale. He hung his head, not daring to say another word.

'I did everything I could,' he thought. 'But a man's abilities have their limits. What else could I have done?'

"Enough! Qizhou, let him in. As the Patriarch, you must learn to be more magnanimous!"

"But—!" Liu Qizhou cried out desperately.

"And what were you saying about Doctor Liao just yesterday?" Liu Yiming's words shut Liu Qizhou up. In Liu Qizhou's eyes, yesterday's Doctor Liao was the number one Divine Doctor in all of Nanjiang, while Zhao Yang was nothing but a clown.

He never imagined that in the end, he'd have to go crawling back to Zhao Yang to save the day.

Liu Qizhou looked at Doctor Liao with an awkward expression. "Get in."

Doctor Liao scrambled into the car, cradling Liu Yifang, who was lying in the back, and letting her head rest on his lap.

They tore through the streets like a bolt of lightning. Liu Qizhou ignored all traffic laws, relying on the superhuman reflexes of a martial artist to weave recklessly through traffic, his only goal to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

In just over ten minutes, the car screeched to a halt in front of the Holy Medicine Hall.

"Help! Help us!"

Without even getting out of the car, Liu Qizhou rolled down the window and screamed desperately, startling the patients who were already lining up outside the still-closed Holy Medicine Hall.

"If you need help, go to the emergency room, you moron!"

Liu Yiming couldn't be bothered with the peanut gallery. He and Doctor Liao carefully lifted Liu Yifang from the car and rushed inside.

"Zhao Yang, get out here! You have to save my granddaughter!"

Liu Yiming swallowed his pride and bellowed.

The waiting patients thought, 'Does this guy have any shame?' But one look at Liu Yifang's condition left them stunned.

Half of her body was a dark, purplish-black, a stark contrast to her otherwise flawless, pale skin.

They had nothing more to say.

'Okay, you're clearly in a bigger emergency. You go first!'