Chapter 348 347: In the Spotlight

What Mu Lin proposed was, in reality, a huge gamble.

If they won the bet, the Holy Medicine Hall would gain the recognition of Martial Artists, who were willing to spend a fortune to heal their injuries.

But did he, Zhao Yang, have that kind of skill? Unless Mu Lin were to stay and preside over the Holy Medicine Hall permanently, the outcome probably wouldn't be very good.

Just as Divine Doctor Zhao was hesitating, a middle-aged man walked over.

"Mr. Hu!" Divine Doctor Zhao quickly sidestepped and hurried over.

Mu Lin wasn't sure who this person was, but from Divine Doctor Zhao's reaction, he could tell that the man's background was anything but simple.

Divine Doctor Zhao exchanged a few pleasantries with the newcomer, then said to Mu Lin, "Mu Lin, this is the mayor of our Anhua, Mr. Hu."

Mu Lin was quite surprised. 'What's Mayor Hu doing here? Is there really anything that would require his personal attention?'

Nevertheless, he stood up politely and greeted Mayor Hu.

"Hello, Mayor Hu!"

Mayor Hu chuckled and said, "Divine Doctor Zhao, you're too kind. And Divine Doctor Mu, you as well. I've heard your name mentioned several times! Meeting you today, it feels like we're old friends already!"

Mu Lin thought to himself, 'This old fellow is laying it on a bit thick. When have I ever had any contact with him? How could we be like old friends at first sight out of nowhere?'

'It's probably just polite talk.'

"Team Leader Jiang's injuries are all in your hands, Divine Doctor Mu. Team Leader Jiang has paid an extremely painful price for the stability of the Divine Land. I'm begging you, you must do everything in your power to treat him!"

Mu Lin said, "Mayor Hu, you're putting me in a difficult position. Whether he can be cured or not actually depends entirely on the patient's foundation. What a doctor can do is very limited. At most, I can only provide a treatment plan. Team Leader Jiang's strength is a given; all I can do is help him see what's happened. The actual recovery is all up to his own efforts."

Mayor Hu smiled.

"As long as you have a plan, that's what matters. I was just speaking casually, please don't mind me."

Mu Lin said, "I understand. Where's the patient? Weren't they supposed to be here already?"

Just as he spoke, a gaunt and pale middle-aged man walked in from outside, carefully supported by Wu Henghai, who didn't dare let the man go for even a second.

Mu Lin was a little stunned as he watched the scene.

'It can even be like this.'

'He's actually injured so badly he can't even walk.'

Supported by Wu Henghai, Team Leader Jiang walked toward Mu Lin. "Jiang Long, deputy head of the Sixth Group of the Military Suppression Bureau, at your service, Divine Doctor Mu!"

Mu Lin quickly returned the courtesy. "Team Leader Jiang, you're being too kind!"

"Not at all. I've heard all about your deeds, Divine Doctor Mu. You truly deserve this bow of respect!" Team Leader Jiang said enthusiastically, but because of his weakness, everything he said sounded exceptionally cold.

At the side, Divine Doctor Zhao and Zhao Ling'er were dumbfounded. 'Team Leader Jiang is being so humble in front of Mu Lin? What's going on here?'

'Hey, you're from the Military Suppression Bureau! What happened to the unreasonable attitude the Military Suppression Bureau has always been known for?'

Mu Lin said, "Team Leader Jiang, please have a seat."

Wu Henghai helped Jiang Long sit on the solid mahogany sofa in the reception area, only letting go after making sure he was seated steadily.

Mu Lin sat down next to Jiang Long and reached out to take his pulse.

Jiang Long was very cooperative, watching Mu Lin in silence.

At first, Mu Lin's expression was relaxed, thinking there was nothing to it, but then his brow suddenly furrowed.

After a moment, he slowly released his hand. Jiang Long had already become nervous when he saw Mu Lin frown.

"Mr. Mu, what's my condition? Is there any hope?"

Mu Lin said, "There's hope, but not that much hope. I'm not very confident. Unless I have the support of certain medicinal herbs, it will be very troublesome."

Mr. Hu waved his hand and said, "Divine Doctor Mu, just tell us what you need. Whatever medicinal herbs are required, I'll have my people prepare them for you."

Mu Lin said, "The Infinite Thunder Fruit. Team Leader Jiang is practically a provincial governor; he should be able to get his hands on it."

But Jiang Long was stunned. "What's that?"

Mu Lin was also exasperated. "Go look it up, go find it! I'd imagine the Military Suppression Bureau, with its profound resources, can surely find it."

"Er..." Jiang Long hadn't expected to be jabbed at like this by Mu Lin, but there was nothing he could do. He had no choice. It was true that he was ignorant, so what could he do about it?

"Team Leader Jiang, you must have fought against three supreme-level masters, specializing in fists, swords, and poison, respectively?"

Jiang Long's mouth hung open, speechless for a long moment. 'Mu Lin is just too incredible. He summed it all up in a single sentence.'

'Very few people knew about this incident. Although there were quite a few insiders, the matter had never even been mentioned at an official level.'

"Divine Doctor Mu, how did you know? Could it be that you know someone in the Military Suppression Bureau who told you?"

"I deduced it. It's not that difficult," Mu Lin said flatly. "Your meridians are covered in wounds. These are the traces."

Jiang Long came to a sudden realization. "So that's how it is... A Divine Doctor's reputation is truly well-deserved!"

Mu Lin said flatly, "You might not like what I'm about to say next, but I have to say it."

Jiang Long quickly said, "Mr. Mu, please speak freely! Don't worry about my feelings!"

Mu Lin said, "You probably should have died two years ago. You were saved by a famous doctor, weren't you?"

"Yes, that's right! I was indeed saved by a famous doctor. It was that elusive Divine Doctor Hua. I was critically injured and near death back then. He saved me, but it only extended my life by two years."

"Two years is a long time," Mu Lin said nonchalantly. "I suppose Team Leader Jiang has lived long enough, right?"

Jiang Long's face fell in despair upon hearing this. 'If even Mu Lin is saying this, am I really beyond saving?'

"It's not that I'm afraid of death, it's just that the Military Suppression Bureau hasn't found a suitable successor to replace me. If I'm gone, it won't be long before the Nanjiang branch of the Military Suppression Bureau loses its leadership and descends into infighting."

Mu Lin couldn't help but snicker inwardly. 'Does he really think he's done a great job managing things? With all the bullshit that's gone down in Nanjiang one after another, how could he not know?'

'Just... sigh...'

Mu Lin couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on a man who didn't have long to live.

"Did I say you were going to die?" Mu Lin said. "I can help you resolve the effects of the poison's power. That will extend your life by another three or four years. But if we can't find the Infinite Thunder Fruit, I won't be able to remove the thunder power, and your condition will only continue to worsen. Comparatively, it's not that severe a situation, understand?"

Hearing this, Jiang Long let out a long sigh of relief, and hope ignited in his heart once more.

"Thank you for your immense kindness, Divine Doctor Mu! I, Jiang Long, am eternally grateful!"

Mu Lin was already numb to such words. He beckoned to Divine Doctor Zhao and pointed toward the dining room.

Divine Doctor Zhao understood that Mu Lin wanted to speak with him alone, so he went over.

"Grandmaster Zhao, I can't handle this alone. I'll need your assistance," Mu Lin said.

"Of course. Just tell me how I can help."

Mu Lin said, "I will teach you a new Acupuncture Technique. It's much simpler than the Five-Heart Rejuvenation Needle. The mnemonic is easy to memorize, and once you've memorized it, you can use it. You will assist me by applying the needles to open the gates of his meridians, while I use my Profound Thunder True Qi to dispel the poison's power. This way, Team Leader Jiang's meridians can be restored."

Divine Doctor Zhao was silent for a moment. "Alright."

'Plus, I get to learn a new Acupuncture Technique for free. What a treat.'

Mu Lin taught him quickly. After hearing the mnemonic, Divine Doctor Zhao practiced it once and was overjoyed by Mu Lin's approving gaze.

"Divine Doctor Zhao, your skill is truly remarkable. You learned it in one go," Mu Lin said happily.

Divine Doctor Zhao waved his hand. "This Acupuncture Technique shares the same principles as the Five-Heart Rejuvenation Needle. I could borrow from its theory, so it was very easy to pick up."

Mu Lin was very satisfied. He turned and asked Jiang Long to go to the treatment room.

As planned, Divine Doctor Zhao went first, and in a flash, he had placed several needles in their target locations.

While Divine Doctor Zhao was busy, Mu Lin placed a sharp needle on the center of Jiang Long's brow.

Jiang Long's entire body shuddered uncontrollably. He had already lost consciousness when Divine Doctor Zhao was applying the needles, so he didn't know what was happening.

SSSSS...

A stream of purple, poisonous gas billowed out from his pores.

"This is the poison's power," Mu Lin said. He reached out and made a grasping motion, slowly gathering the poisonous power in his palm before taking out a jade bottle to store it.

This was yet another technique that only a supreme master could perform. Divine Doctor Zhao's eyes lit up when he saw it, but then he thought, 'I could never learn that,' so he decided not to say anything.

With a gentle nudge of his power, Mu Lin woke Jiang Long, who came to with a bewildered expression. "What happened to me? Why am I like this?"