Chapter 97: Medical Path Duel

Zhou Mu's pupils contracted a bit: "Doctor Zhang... your eyesight is really sharp."

"It's not my eyesight," Zhang Jun pointed at the screen, "it's this machine's accuracy. I was just guessing from the data. The technique Zhou Zong practices is the 'Azure Dragon Coiling Body Skill', right? This art emphasizes Qi sinking to the dantian, the dragon moving in all directions, but there's that one step—passed down for generations—that's easy to go astray."

Zhou Mu's breathing became a bit erratic, his complexion darkened: "Doctor Zhang also knows ancient martial arts?"

"Somewhat." Zhang Jun placed his hand on a certain acupoint on Zhou Mu's right shoulder, his fingertips letting a faint heat flow pass, "Your problem, Zhou Zong, is here—Azure Dragon entering the acupoint, the Qi went the wrong way and got blocked. Keep training like this, and in less than three years you'll ruin yourself."

Zhou Mu's pupils shrank to needle‑point size, sweat beading on his forehead.

This is exactly the dilemma he's been unable to get past lately; the old men at home just stare helplessly. Zhang Jun's single remark cracked it—could he stay calm?

"Doctor Zhang is being modest." Zhou Mu forced the raging turmoil in his heart down, a smile returning to his face, "It seems I need to find a chance to properly ask you for guidance."

The audience below didn't grasp the nuance, thinking it was just industry big‑wigs praising each other, and applause cracked like fireworks.

Lin Xue stood at the side of the stage, expressionless. When Zhou Mu felt Zhang Jun's hand on his shoulder, his right index finger twitched involuntarily—a reflex of a cultivator meeting a stronger opponent.

The press conference ended, and Zhang Jun socialized in the VIP lounge.

Zhou Mu came over, his earlier stage arrogance gone, considerably more courteous.

"Doctor Zhang, those few words just now enlightened me," Zhou Mu handed Zhang a business card, "I wonder if you could spare some time for a visit, to teach me a thing or two?"

Zhang Jun took the card, his tone neutral: "Zhou Zong, you're too kind. I'm a physician; when I see a problem I speak up."

Zhou Mu stared at him for a few seconds: "Doctor Zhang, you're not just a physician, are you? Your understanding of ancient martial arts must be far deeper than we think."

Zhang Jun gave no reply: "Zhou Zong, you flatter me."

"I heard..." Zhou Mu leaned in, his voice dropping low, "Doctor Zhang, a while back, did you go to the Mo Clan?"

"The old Master Mo wasn't feeling well, so he asked me to check on him," Zhang Jun's guard rose, "Zhou Zong, you're quite concerned about where I go?"

Zhou Mu smiled: "In our line of work, ears have to be sharp—please understand. However, there's something I need to warn Doctor Zhang about."

He leaned even closer, his voice as light as a mosquito's buzz: "'Blood Record' people have set their sights on you, especially after the Ling Mountain Temple incident."

Zhang Jun twitched his fingers, tension rising: "Zhou Zong, you know the Blood Record?"

"Heard a little," Zhou Mu sat upright as if nothing had been said, "I heard they're especially interested in people with unique constitutions, like... Pure Yang Body."

The air in the room grew stiff.

The two locked eyes—one with a deadpan face, the other with a forced smile—both sensing the powdery tension.

Lin Xue pushed the door open, holding a document: "Doctor Zhang, there's an agreement for you to review."

Her arrival perfectly broke the stalemate.

Zhou Mu looked at Lin Xue, as if only now noticing the cold, icy woman.

"Zhou Zong," Lin Xue nodded.

"Miss Lin," Zhou Mu returned the courtesy, then asked abruptly, "I heard Miss Lin once served in Special Forces? Your skills must be extraordinary."

Lin Xue's face didn't change: "I know a bit of self‑defense."

Zhou Mu's smile deepened: "If the chance arises, I'd truly like to learn from you."

He had just finished speaking when Lin Xue's phone rang.

She glanced at it, her expression shifting: "Doctor Zhang, Miss Su is urgently looking for you."

Zhang Jun nodded: "Zhou Zong, I'll take my leave."

Zhou Mu made a polite gesture, watching them depart, a smile still on his face while his eyes were as cold as ice.

The moment they left the lounge, Lin Xue whispered, "Someone from the Mo Clan arrived, saying it's urgent."

The two hurried toward the elevator.

The elevator was empty; Zhang Jun asked, "What's wrong?"

"Mo Tianhe discovered that recently several cultivators vanished mysteriously along the coast; when the corpses were found, the blood was almost drained, and..." Lin Xue paused, "the dead all bore a strange symbol, much like what we saw on Snow Mountain."

Zhang Jun's complexion darkened completely: "Blood Record."

The elevator doors opened; a young man stood outside, a disciple of the Mo Clan.

He saw the two, hurried over, handing an envelope: "Master Mo asked me to deliver this."

Zhang Jun opened it; inside were several photos and a note.

The photos were close‑ups of corpse fragments, each chest branded with a sinister symbol identical to the one in the Snow Mountain cave.

The note, scrawled hastily by Mo Tianhe, read: "Beware Zhou Mu; his Hundred Herbs Hall is colluding with the Blood Record. Come to the Mo Clan quickly!"

Lin Xue, after reading, grew even paler: "Zhou Mu coming over just now wasn't a coincidence."

Zhang Jun tucked the envelope away: "First to the Mo Clan, figure it out before anything else. Damn, this rain is really coming down."

They were just about to go downstairs when Su Muqing rushed over: "Doctor Zhang, someone downstairs is helping strangers I don't know; it doesn't look like a good situation."

The three walked to the window.

Below, several black cars were parked, a group in suits lingering there.

At the front was Liu Zong of Heng Rui, and behind him were a few uniformed "law enforcement officers."

Zhang Jun sneered: "These flies really are damn relentless."

Lin Xue, leaning against the window, felt the blue crystal even colder than usual, a chill piercing her heart: "Trouble, they came knocking themselves."

Zhang Jun turned and headed for the elevator: "Then we'll open their eyes—show them what real trouble really is."

The Mo Clan's grand mansion, front hall.

The scent of tea wafted.

Mo Tianhe tapped his finger lightly on the table, his voice even: "Hundred Herbs Hall, the waters run deep."

He took a sip of tea: "The Zhou family has been fiddling with herbs for seven hundred years, a tradition passed down since the Tang dynasty. On the surface they claim to heal the world, but deep down they've long been corrupt. It's the bizarre poisons and strange medicines they truly care about."

Zhang Jun leaned slightly forward: "Three mysterious patients, a medical duel... this game, is it aimed at me?"

"Who else could it be aimed at?" Mo Tianhe put down his teacup, a soft clink sounded, "Since Zhou Mu took over Hundred Herbs Hall, his methods have become wilder, secretly gathering forbidden formulae. Three months ago, an old alchemist named Huang vanished in Jiangnan. Some say the last place he was seen was near Hundred Herbs Hall."

Lin Xue fiddled with the empty cup, her fingertips icy: "Three patients, delivered for a test at this moment—how coincidental."

"That's just too coincidental," Mo Tianhe sighed, "Zhou Mu, that kid, is clearly using the pretext of a duel to get at you. The only question is whether he simply wants your life, or… is after your pure yang body."

Zhang Jun stood up, walked to the window, and outside was the Mo family's meticulously kept courtyard.

"Whatever he wants, he'll have to reveal it first. As it happens, I also want to see how much weight this young master of Hundred Herb Hall actually carries."