Chapter 113

Le Yao heard the words and stared blankly; Hu Xiaotian then briefly explained how he had entered the Wan mansion today and how he had treated Wan Ting Sheng's illness. Everything he said seemed utterly unbelievable to Le Yao, but the facts lay before her eyes, leaving her no choice but to believe. After listening, Le Yao looked at Hu Xiaotian in astonishment and said, "Are you a doctor?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I only know a little medicine; I'm not a doctor." This guy is obviously being overly modest.

Le Yao asked, "Is the second young master alright?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "His life should be fine."

Le Yao said, "But you also said you would summon his soul?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a sly smile: "If I didn't say that, how could I deceive the Wan family and come here openly to meet you?"

That sentence made Le Yao's pretty face flush crimson; his words were too blunt. They had only met yesterday, yet he spoke so flirtatiously. Yet in Le Yao's memory, this was the first time someone had braved danger for her; though shy, she was already moved by him.

Le Yao asked, "Do you really know how to summon souls?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; where in this world could there be a soul?"

Upon hearing this, Le Yao grew afraid again—wasn't the second young master then surely doomed?

Hu Xiaotian said, "People like that, once dead, are just dead; there's nothing to regret."

"But..."

Seeing Le Yao's frightened expression, Hu Xiaotian already understood that she definitely blamed the serious injury of Wan Ting Sheng on both of them. Hu Xiaotian said: "I examined the wound on his head; it should have nothing to do with that blow of mine. After I left last night, what exactly happened?"

Le Yao hesitated a moment then finally answered: "I estimate after you walked away, I originally wanted to shout that there was a thief, but before I could call out, someone else had already shouted. Afterwards everyone in the manor woke up; I dared not go out until this morning when they came to ask me about Cai Ping's whereabouts. I only said I didn't know, and later hearing the news that the Second Young Master had fallen and was at death's door, I thought…"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "You think it's because of me that he ended up like this."

Le Yao bit her cherry lips, neither admitting nor denying, and whispered: "Rest assured, I will not reveal your affairs." Her gaze fell on the puddle of poison on the ground, and her heart felt sad again; two lines of clear tears fell like beads.

Hu Xiaotian reached out his hand, boldly caressing Le Yao's pretty face, wiping away her tears: "Don't cry; I hate seeing girls cry."

Le Yao was obviously startled by Hu Xiaotian's action, standing there dazed.

Hu Xiaotian withdrew his hand and smiled: "Rest assured, I mean no harm."

Le Yao nodded, her pretty face reddening further; for some reason she felt no guard toward this young man she had only met twice. Perhaps it was because Hu Xiaotian had saved her from danger the previous night, preserving her purity; with Hu Xiaotian nearby, her fear unexpectedly faded away.

Hu Xiaotian's gaze fell again on the medicine bowl and white silk: "Madam Wan, you are truly ruthless."

Le Yao let out a faint sigh and said: "What she said is correct; I am a jinx, and all the misfortunes of the Wan family are because of me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "All the Wan family's misfortunes are self-inflicted; what does it have to do with you? Le Yao, promise me you will not become discouraged, nor blame yourself entirely; in short, trust me—I will surely save you from suffering."

Le Yao finally gathered courage, lifted her starry eyes to Hu Xiaotian. From his gaze full of conviction she found long-lost warmth and a sense of security she had never felt; she said nothing, but her expression already explained everything.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have to go; staying too long will raise suspicion."

Le Yao, at the instant he turned to leave, suddenly thought of something: "Young Master Hu…"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and turned around, only to see Le Yao take out the coiling dragon jade pendant—the very one he had lost the previous night. Hu Xiaotian took the jade pendant, looked at it, then took Le Yao's hand and gently placed the pendant in her palm; with anyone else she would have already broken free, but before Hu Xiaotian she felt her mind not under her own control, foolishly yielding to his manipulation.

"This jade pendant I leave with you; believe it can protect your safety."

Hu Xiaotian turned and left, but upon reaching the door he remembered something, turned back and said: "When no one is around, you may call me Xiao Tian."

Le Yao watched Hu Xiaotian's back disappear into the night, repeatedly murmuring the name Xiao Tian in her heart, as if she were intoxicated.

Hu Xiaotian came outside and shouted: "Wan steward, seize that soul!"

Wan Changchun was completely bewildered, "Seize a fart? I didn't see a hair, yet you talk about red, yellow, blue, green—I've been staring blankly for half a day and haven't even seen a star." Hu Xiaotian had already briskly run past him, shouting loudly: "Chase!"

Although Wan Changchun said he saw nothing, Hu Xiaotian started running, and he could only follow behind; Hu Xiaotian headed straight for the estate of the Eldest Young Master Wan Ting Chang, while Wan Changchun thought to himself, "Wasn't I just there?"

Hu Xiaotian arrived at Wan Ting Chang's door; he did not push it at first, but the door had been bolted from inside, and he clenched his fist and pounded heavily on the door.

After a while, a maid came to open the door; her hair was slightly disheveled and her eyes were heavy with sleep, obviously still not awake. Hu Xiaotian angrily said: "Didn't I say tonight no one is to bolt the doors? Why did you bolt the door?"

Wan Ting Chang yawned as he came out of the room; seeing Hu Xiaotian again causing trouble in the deep night, he instantly flared with anger and snapped: "Surname Hu, have you caused enough trouble? Disturbing my sweet dream at three watches in the night—what is your intention?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Make way, the Second Young Master's soul has gone to your chamber." He pushed Wan Ting Chang aside and rushed into the room.

Wan Ting Chang, furious, stepped forward and grabbed Hu Xiaotian: "Stand still! This is my private residence; how can an outsider like you barge about recklessly?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Young Master Wan, delaying my soul-summoning for the Second Young Master—can you bear the responsibility?"

Wan Ting Chang angrily said: "What soul-summoning? What medical treatment? You, a martial-world quack, can only deceive the old, weak, women, and children; I will not fall for your tricks." He grabbed Hu Xiaotian intending to shove him out.

Behind them suddenly came an angry shout: "Unfilial wretch, release Master Hu!" It was Wan Ber Ping who had heard the news and rushed over; in fact Wan Ber Ping had not slept all night, his second son's life or death unknown, how could a father rest?

Wan Ting Chang exclaimed excitedly: "Father! Why do you believe him? He isn't even a doctor; my second brother is beyond saving…" Before he finished, Wan Ber Ping rushed forward and gave him a hard slap. The slap was crisp, silencing all the onlookers.

Hu Xiaotian's purpose in coming to Wan Ting Chang's side was twofold: first, to conceal the fact that he had just gone to Le Yao's room; second, because Wan Ting Chang had offended him and was the Wan family member most suspicious of him, Hu Xiaotian naturally took the opportunity to give him a hard time.

Wan Ting Chang, enraged by his father's slap, shouted: "Father, in your heart you have never considered me your son; Wan Ting Sheng and Wan Tingguang are your biological children—am I not?"

"You…" Wan Ber Ping trembled all over with anger.

Suddenly a meow came from the roof; it was a stray cat passing by. Hu Xiaotian pointed at the cat and said: "Catch that cat; the Second Young Master's soul has been sucked away by it."

Hearing Hu Xiaotian say that, the entire Wan household exploded in commotion, gathering everyone's strength to go after that wild cat. Although they were many, the poor cat, seeing so many people rush to catch it, was frightened and let out a meow before turning and fleeing; relying on its extremely agile body, it leapt up and down, and finally actually escaped into the courtyard of the Second Young Master Wan Ting Sheng.

When everyone went to the west wing to intercept the wild cat, suddenly news arrived that thrilled everyone—Second Young Master Wan Ting Sheng had just woken up at this very moment.

Hu Xiaotian realized that since arriving on this continent his luck had been extraordinarily good—truly blessed with great fortune and destiny. Although the surgery he performed on Wan Ting Sheng this time was quite successful, he could not determine when Wan Ting Sheng would wake up. Judging from the postoperative outcomes of the several surgeries, people on this continent possess far greater vitality than before, with far fewer postoperative infections and remarkably strong resistance.

Fact speaks louder than argument; Wan Ting Sheng's awakening became clear proof of Hu Xiaotian's superb medical skill. Now everyone in the Wan mansion was utterly convinced of his medical art, and Wan Bo Ping even revered him as a deity.

Hu Xiaotian examined Wan Ting Sheng briefly, felt confident that his condition was fairly good, and then agreed to let Wan Bo Ping and his wife meet him for a short while.

Murong Feiyan, who had been secretly protecting from the shadows, quietly pulled Hu Xiaotian aside and whispered, "Two servants came by tonight; their movements are highly suspicious." She pointed those two servants out to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian firmly memorized the appearances of those two servants.

Not long after Wan Ting Sheng woke up, he fell asleep again. At this moment, the Wan family's gaze toward Hu Xiaotian had shifted from suspicion to reverence; even Madame Wan, who had always been doubtful of him, now thanked him profusely, completely changing her former aloof attitude. Hu Xiaotian, however, showed her no pleasant expression—had he arrived a step later, the stunningly beautiful young widow would have died at the hands of this ruthless mother-in-law.

Wan Bo Ping came before Hu Xiaotian to inquire about his son's condition; his greatest worry was whether his son's soul had been summoned back.

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Second Young Master should be fine; he merely needs some time to return to his former state."

Wan Bo Ping nodded repeatedly, then could not help asking about the Wan family's feng shui; Hu Xiaotian's marvels had been verified time and again, and now Wan Bo Ping was utterly convinced of his abilities.

Hu Xiaotian smiled calmly and said, "Nothing should be rushed; while I was just summoning the soul of the Second Young Master, I inadvertently discovered something strange."

Please subscribe, please vote for the Monthly Ticket!