Chapter 96: Murderous Intent Lurks

Mo Tianhe coughed, pulling their attention back: "I have a suggestion. This matter today shows your situation is dangerous. The Mo family has taken root in Bin Hai for several generations, still having some foundation. Why don't you temporarily move to live at the Mo family's place? First, it would be convenient for my continued treatment; second, you could also rely on the Mo family's strength to deal with the present troubles."

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue exchanged a glance.

"Old Mo's kindness, I appreciate it." Zhang Jun still refused, "The matter isn't clear yet; I don't want to drag the Mo family down as well."

Mo Tianhe nodded approvingly: "Good lad, you have responsibility! Since it's like that, I won't insist. However, the Mo family's assistance is always available."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of ancient-looking jade pendant, handing it to Zhang Jun: "This is the Mo family's token; when you encounter something you can't solve, use this to contact the Mo family."

Zhang Jun took the jade pendant and gave a solemn thanks.

"There's another matter." Mo Tianhe's voice dropped extremely low, almost only the three of them could hear: "I've received news that in three days, there will be a very secretive ancient martial arts gathering at the Spirit Mountain Temple in the suburbs. It's said that important information about special bloodlines may be revealed there."

Zhang Jun's spirits lifted: "Thank you for the heads-up, Old Mo; I'll definitely go check it out."

"Be extremely careful." Mo Tianhe cautioned, "The people behind that gathering have unknown identities and unclear motives; don't expose yourself lightly."

After seeing Mo Tianhe off, the clinic finally regained its calm.

Su Muqing also took her leave, promising before departing to strengthen security at Positive Yang Technology.

Night had deepened; Zhang Jun sat before the treatment table, rubbing the Mo family jade pendant in his hand.

His mind was a tangled mess.

Lin Xue walked over and sat opposite him.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I can't figure out why it has to be us." Zhang Jun lifted his head, "Pure Yang body, Profound Yin body, the snow mountain cave, the 'Blood Lineage,' the Night Watch... it all seems to have been arranged."

His voice held confusion and reluctance.

"Do you believe in fate?" Lin Xue suddenly asked.

Zhang Jun shook his head: "No. Even if fate really exists, I'll bend it out of shape!"

Lin Xue's mouth twitched, as if she wanted to laugh but held it back.

She reached out and pulled something from her collar.

It was a slender ice-blue crystal pendant strung on a black cord of indeterminate material.

"I've worn this since I was little. I never knew what it was for. But now... I suspect it might be related to my constitution."

Zhang Jun took it.

The pendant felt ice-cold and piercing to the touch, yet strangely, his internal pure yang heat flow did not produce the usual repulsion when encountering cold; instead, it faintly transmitted a peculiar sense of resonance.

That chill, passing through his skin, not only failed to discomfort him but actually calmed his restless mind somewhat.

"This..." Zhang Jun looked at the crystal in his hand, astonished.

Only see that the ice-blue crystal, in his warm palm, gradually gave rise to a soft, water-like blue glow.

Lin Xue also leaned in, her face likewise showing surprise.

"It's never been like this before."

Lin Xue's fingertip glided over the glowing ice-blue crystal, the chill seeping through her skin.

The crystal jumped in Zhang Jun's palm, its light brighter than ever before, with an odd frequency that faintly resonated with the heat within his body.

"Never before." Lin Xue withdrew her hand, her face taking on an uncommon hue, "I used to just feel it cold; wearing it keeps one clear-headed."

Zhang Jun turned the crystal over and over under the light; inside, there seemed to be fine patterns, like symbols, but not clearly discernible.

"This thing is definitely related to both of us." He returned the crystal to Lin Xue, "Night Watch, Blood Lineage, Cold Poison Sect, and now some nonsense gathering at Spirit Mountain Temple... things are getting more and more fucked up."

Lin Xue took it back, slipped it into her collar: "Get some sleep, you're tired. There are still patients tomorrow."

Zhang Jun rubbed his temples, stood up, took two steps then stopped, turned to look at her: "That gathering, I'm going. You're coming too."

Lin Xue's motion paused, then she nodded.

"Mm."

——

Three months passed in a flash.

Positive Yang Technology Building.

Downstairs, nice cars came one after another, like an auto show. Today was the day of Positive Yang Technology's new product launch, and just about everyone of note in Bin Hai had shown up.

In the top-floor office, before the floor-to-ceiling window.

Zhang Jun overlooked the flow of cars and people below.

Dressed in a crisp dark-blue suit, he looked the part, a far cry from the "barefoot doctor" of that rundown clinic. That stubborn streak of his couldn't be hidden; if anything, it stood out even more.

Su Muqing pushed the door open and entered: "Doctor Zhang, everything's set; we can head down anytime."

Zhang Jun turned around: "Any movement on the Su family's side?"

"After the Spirit Mountain Temple matter Old Mo mentioned, those few ancient martial families are indeed restless." Su Muqing handed over a document, "Especially the Hall of Hundred Herbs; over the past two months, they've quietly acquired three biotech firms researching ancient medicinal herbs."

Zhang Jun took it, glanced a few times: "What about Zhou Mu? Has that brat settled down?"

"On the surface he's fine." Su Muqing's words had hidden meaning, "But he got a ticket to today's launch yesterday; he should show up."

Zhang Jun's mouth twitched without humor: "Perfect, saves me the trouble of seeking him out specially."

Lin Xue was waiting in the conference room.

Over these three months, she's changed a lot too. Previously she wore whatever was comfortable; now she's in a professional suit, appearing colder. Her finger unconsciously touches the blue crystal at her throat, a habit she can't break.

Zhang Jun and Su Muqing entered; the three touched heads, then went together to the launch site.

The venue was packed, lights blazing. On stage, Positive Yang Technology's new emblem—a golden sun, shining brightly, exuding a pure yang vigor.

Zhang Jun stood on stage, spitting as he introduced the "Meridian Regulator."

Modern technology combined with the ancients' methods, claimed to locate where a person's qi and blood are blocked and help adjust them.

"Today, please have a few friends come up to try it out." Zhang Jun's gaze swept the audience, finally landing on a young man, "Manager Zhou, would you mind coming up to give it a try?"

From below came a buzzing sound.

Zhou Mu — the young master of the Hall of a Hundred Herbs, the arch‑rival of Positive Yang Technology, actually showed up!

Zhou Mu raised his eyebrows, stood up, and the smile on his face looked a bit off: "Doctor Zhang, you're being so polite—I'd feel bad not coming."

He strode onto the stage, tall and broad‑shouldered, wearing an impeccable dark‑gray suit; his bearing showed he was raised in an aristocratic family.

The audience below grew even more excited— the two family heads were facing off directly; this showdown was far more stimulating than listening to a dry product presentation.

Zhang Jun gestured for Zhou Mu to sit in the specially made chair, then started the machine.

"Manager Zhou, I heard you've practiced the family's martial arts?" Zhang Jun asked casually while fiddling with the equipment.

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhou Mu's face, then he suppressed it: "I dabbled in it as a kid, just for fitness. Doctor Zhang, you're well‑informed."

"Patients always ask about the root cause." Zhang Jun stared at the numbers on the screen, then shifted the topic: "Your right shoulder and left waist—have they been bothering you lately, especially around dawn?"