Chapter 90: Let's be together

The bedroom was quite large, but the light was very dim; thick curtains blocked the outside sun completely. Su Zhenhai lay on the bed, covered with a thick quilt, his complexion ashen, lips bluish, his breathing so weak it was almost inaudible, his whole body exuding a… rotting chill.

Zhang Jun took just a glance, and his brow tightened.

He walked over; beside him stood a family doctor in a white coat, looking grim, but he didn't even glance at him, directly placing his hand on Su Zhenhai's wrist.

The skin his fingers touched was icy to the point of fright, colder than ice lumps on a snow mountain.

That warm current flowed in along his fingertips.

Zhang Jun's heart gave a thump; he 'felt' Su Zhenhai's condition clearly—the meridians were dark and sluggish, his qi and blood as if frozen, a mass of yin-cold, still-living toxin coiled over his chest like a sleeping poisonous snake, slowly, bit by bit, gnawing at his vital energy.

This isn't illness, it's poison, and poison administered by someone with especially vicious methods.

"How is he?" Su Muqing's voice was tense.

"Poisoned." Zhang Jun withdrew his hand and threw out two words.

"Nonsense!" the family doctor beside him exploded, "The old master has undergone the most thorough toxicology tests; there's absolutely no sign of poisoning!"

Su Ming also shouted, "Young man, you can't just spout nonsense! My father's illness has stumped countless experts, and you come here and say it's poisoning?"

Zhang Jun gave him a sideways glance; that chill made Su Ming's neck shrink. "Just because you can't find it doesn't mean it isn't there." He turned to Su Muqing, "I need to treat him alone; no one may enter."

Su Muqing hesitated, glanced at her father on the bed, barely breathing, then gritted her teeth: "Alright, we'll do as Doctor Zhang says." She turned to the others, "Please all go out first."

Su Ming's face turned ashen, he still wanted to say something, but Su Muqing's gesture cut him off.

The door shut, shutting out the clamor outside.

Zhang Jun walked to the bedside. He held his hand above Su Zhenhai's chest; that scorching force began to gather in his palm. This time it flowed more smoothly than before, but it also drained him more. He had to control that overbearing heat down to the fineness of a hair, so as to burn away the yin toxin without damaging Su Zhenhai's already-failing heart meridians.

The warm current slowly seeped in, like spring sunshine melting ice.

The coiled yin-cold toxin instantly bristled, like a poisonous snake whose tail had been stepped on, frantically struggling and lashing out. Su Zhenhai's body trembled slightly, his face showing suppressed pain.

Sweat beaded on Zhang Jun's forehead, his teeth clenched tight; he increased the output of heat, while carefully guiding that warmth to envelop and wear away the toxin.

He 'saw' more clearly that this poison wasn't inert; it possessed a hint of vitality, obviously concocted by a person.

Time passed bit by bit, and Zhang Jun's complexion began to pale as well.

Finally, the core of that yin-cold toxin was completely dispersed by the heat, turning into a few wisps of black vapor that vanished. The frozen qi and blood in Su Zhenhai's body began to flow slowly again, and his icy hands and feet gradually grew warm.

"Cough… cough cough…" Su Zhenhai burst into coughing, slowly opening his eyes. His gaze was still a bit cloudy, but could focus.

"Water…" his voice hoarse badly.

Su Muqing hurried over, helped her father up, and fed him a few sips of water.

"Dad, how do you feel?"

Su Zhenhai caught his breath; the long-lost warmth and ease in his body lifted his spirits a little. He looked at Zhang Jun standing beside him, his eyes gaining something. "It's poison… someone wants my life…"

Zhang Jun said nothing, just looked at him.

Su Zhenhai closed his eyes, his mind racing through recent events, especially the odd behavior of certain people. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was like a blade. "Su Ming…" he almost squeezed the name from between his teeth, "Call him in for me!"

When Su Ming was called in, his face bore a feigned show of concern. But upon meeting his father's icy, sharp gaze, his heart lurched, and a bad feeling instantly overwhelmed him.

"Dad, you're awake! Great!"

"You did this." Su Zhenhai's voice wasn't loud, but it struck Su Ming's heart like a blow.

Su Ming's face turned white instantly; he instinctively stepped back: "Dad, you… what are you saying? I don't understand…"

"You don't understand?" Su Zhenhai sneered, "My good son, for this family estate, you've really gone to great lengths!"

Just then, something small in Su Ming's pocket suddenly vibrated; his face completely changed, he knew it was all over. A flash of madness and ruthlessness crossed his eyes, and he turned sharply, intending to rush out.

At the doorway, two sturdy bodyguards had appeared at some point, blocking the exit tightly.

"Seize him!" Su Zhenhai shouted sternly.

Su Ming was utterly desperate, letting out a beast-like howl.

Almost at the same moment, several muffled sounds came from the window side!

Crash! The glass shattered!

Several black shadows burst in like ghosts! Each person emanated a chill, moved with terrifying speed, their target unmistakable: they lunged straight for Su Zhenhai on the bed, as well as Zhang Jun and Su Muqing beside him.

"Protect the master!" The bodyguards reacted instantly, lunging forward.

But the attackers were clearly far more skilled, striking with vicious, poisonous blows, every move aimed at vital points, employing some unorthodox martial art. The two bodyguards were instantly beaten back, retreating repeatedly.

One black shadow darted past the bodyguards, fingers crooked into claws, bringing a foul, yin wind as it grabbed for Su Muqing!

"Watch out!" Zhang Jun grabbed Su Muqing and pulled her behind him; the heat inside his body exploded instantly!

He didn't dodge or evade, but launched a straight punch at that ghostly claw!

"Bang!"

Fist and claw collided, emitting a dull thud.

Scorching Pure Yang Power clashed fiercely with the yin chill's evil force; the black-clad attacker felt a stream of red-hot molten iron surge up his arm into his body, threatening to burn his meridians apart. He cried out, staggered backward, his arm hissing and smoking black.

Pure Yang Power is naturally the bane of such yin evils!

Zhang Jun wouldn't miss this chance; he stamped his foot and surged forward, fists swinging, waves of heat rolling out, forcing those evil sect masters into frantic disarray. His strikes were fierce and overpowering, so fast they dazzled the eye; each punch threw the air into explosive bursts.

The evil sect masters grew more panicked the longer they fought; their yin-cold techniques could not be unleashed against Zhang Jun's sun-like Pure Yang Power, their power greatly diminished.

Before long, several black-clad fighters were left by Zhang Jun with either broken hands or broken feet, screaming incessantly.

Those remaining, seeing the situation turn bad, feinted a move and turned to flee.

Zhang Jun's form flickered, he cut off their escape route, and with a few heavy punches knocked the last few to the ground.

The room was in chaos; Su Ming lay collapsed on the floor, his face as white as a corpse's.

The matter was settled.

The Su family dealt with Su Ming and the captured evil sect martial artists swiftly, decisively, and ruthlessly. Su Zhenhai sat in the main seat of the living room; though still weak, his aura of authority was stronger than before. Looking at Zhang Jun, his gratitude and admiration could not be concealed.

A blank check and a heavy-looking gold-embossed card were pushed before Zhang Jun.

"Doctor Zhang, great kindness needs no thanks. Please don't spurn this token. In Binhai City, if you ever need anything, the Su family will see to it."

Zhang Jun picked up the check and card, stuffed them into his pocket, just like taking his own stuff. "That's right."

The sky was completely dark, and Zhang Jun returned to that rundown clinic.

He pushed the door open, and a mix of medicinal herb smell and mold hit him.

The rear hall had its light on, Lin Xue sat quietly beside that old wooden table, as if waiting for him.

She raised her head, looking at Zhang Jun as he walked in. He still had a whiff of wealthy people's scent on him, and… the killing intent from the fight that hadn't dissipated.

Zhang Jun walked over, sat opposite her, poured himself a cup of cold water, and drank it in one gulp.

Neither spoke; the only sound in the room was the ticking of the broken clock on the wall.

Lin Xue looked at him, noticing the added fatigue on his face, and his eyes that seemed to hold more things. The mutual support on the snow mountain, the silent understanding in the clinic, and just now at the Su family… he had stood in front of her.

One scene after another flashed through her mind.

The hand she had placed under the table clenched slightly, her fingertips a bit cold.

"Zhang Jun."

She spoke, her voice soft but clear.

Zhang Jun raised his head and looked at her.

"We…" Lin Xue paused, as if using all her strength, then she looked straight at him, "Let's be together."