Chapter 295: The Strange Gate Master

Chi Nan Yi, having seen the smug expressions on their faces, set down her teacup and said lightly, "The Gate Master's tea is fine, but it contains insect‑corpse powder; the original tea's fragrant freshness now has a slight sourness, losing its taste."

The previously self‑satisfied crowd heard this and their faces changed abruptly.

She had already sensed it; then why still drink?

The white‑robed man turned his head toward her, and from beneath his hat a cold gaze sent a chill down people's spines.

"You are indeed different from other healers."

"Is that so?" Chi Nan Yi nodded, "The Gate Master is overpraised."

The white‑robed man extended his arm again: "If so, then let me take the Gate Master's pulse!"

"The consultation fee is ten thousand taels of gold; does the Gate Master have it ready?"

"Audacious! Being allowed to treat the Gate Master is already supreme honor, and you still dare to charge a fee? Ten thousand taels of gold—don't even consider whether you have a life to spare." One of the protectors shouted loudly, "I've disliked you from the start; disrespecting the Gate Master warrants immediate death."

"Ah, still calling it supreme honor—those who don't know might think Seek Dragon Gate is a super sect above the four nations. Not to mention your Gate Master, even an emperor would have to pay this fee, indeed." Chi Nan Yi gave Fen Tian a half‑smile and glanced, "Fenteng City Lord still owes me ten thousand taels of gold; I'm here to collect from the Gate Master. How will the Gate Master pay? Gold, silver notes, either is fine."

"You…"

At that moment, the white‑robed man waved his hand slightly, and the few behind him reluctantly halted.

"If you truly have ability, ten thousand or even a hundred thousand taels of gold, this Gate Master can afford, but if you are a fraud who deceives the world, once you enter Seek Dragon Gate, leaving again is utterly impossible."

Chi Nan Yi walked slowly to the white‑robed man's front, took out a cloth and placed it on their wrist.

"At least you have self‑awareness; if your finger touches the Gate Master, that finger would become unnecessary."

Chi Nan Yi turned her head and glanced at him: "Seems the earlier wound wasn't severe enough; next time I'll remember to fling the teacup at your mouth."

"You!"

"You'd better stop talking; your mouth is foul, stinking enough to make people want to vomit, your voice is too loud, it's irritating."

"You… "

Before he could finish, a black pill was shot into his mouth.

Lie Qiong widened his eyes; just as he was about to ask what she had given him, he realized his throat could not produce even a single sound.

"Clamorous."

"Silencing medicine!"

She had actually given herself the silencing medicine!

Cang Ming frowned and glared at him coldly: "Gate Master is taking a pulse; close your mouth quickly."

Chi Nan Yi's fingertips kept pressing on her wrist, alternately heavy and light.

After a while, she released her hand, tossed the cloth onto the table, with obvious disdain.

"The pulse is steady and solid, internal force profound, the body has no major issues, very healthy."

"Nonsense! Not long ago the Gate Master suffered a serious injury."

"Oh? Is that so?" Chi Nan Yi said with a half‑smile, "If what you say is true, then the one sitting here is not your Gate Master at all."

"The consultation fee is ten thousand taels of gold, plus the portion owed by the Fenteng City Lord, right." She turned to the screen behind, "The one hiding behind it, your aura is feeble, breathing heavy, external wounds unhealed; it seems your organs are severely damaged. If untreated, you may not have much time left to live."

Her words fell, and the main hall fell silent.

"Even though you deliberately lower your voice, as long as you're alive the surrounding aura will flow; it seems the wound on your body has already rotted, and you burned such strong incense in the hall to mask the foul smell."

As soon as the words ended, several guards stepped forward, moved the ebony screen, revealing a man in white seated there, a hint of crimson in his eyes, blood vessels spidering his pupils, jaw clenched, he coldly asked, "How did you know?"

"The healer values observation, listening, questioning, and pulse taking." She pointed to her nose and eyes: "Besides my hands, these are my diagnostic skills. Will the Gate Master allow me to treat properly?"

"Fine. If you can cure me, ask for anything, just speak up; but if you fail… don't blame the Gate Master for being unkind."

"Heh, you villains only say such things."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Since I dared to come, I have the ability to get out; if the Gate Master wants to keep me, it won't be that easy."

Regardless of how ugly the man's face looked, she picked up the cloth, tossed it onto his wrist, and began taking his pulse.

The man's face was ghastly pale; his eyes coldly surveyed her, as if whenever she said she couldn't cure him, he would reach out to snap her neck.

This time, while taking the pulse, no one spoke to disturb.

Earlier she had already felt something odd.

The protectors were actually arguing with her in front of their Gate Master, and even when she moved to act, there was little response.

This was already off.

The only explanation is that the person before us is not the Gate Master of Seek Dragon Gate, so they dare act so recklessly.

After a while, Chi Nan Yi withdrew her hand; the man asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"

"The external injuries are just as I described earlier, the internal injuries are also severe, but the most fatal is the gu poison on you; it has penetrated deep into your lungs and is extremely hard to cure."

Chi Nan Yi's tone was calm yet each word struck like ice, crushing everyone's hearts.

"Really?" the man's voice was slightly low, with a hint of barely concealed panic. "Has it reached the point where no medicine or stone can heal?"

"Not exactly; the gu poison has seeped into the lungs. Though the gu insects are tiny, they have already gnawed away most of the tendons and vessels. The Gate Master appears no different from an ordinary person, yet now even breathing agitates the afflicted area within, like a blade cutting waste, causing excruciating pain. If it continues, even I will find it impossible to save."

The few protectors standing respectfully behind her shouted, "Do not spread such alarmist words here! Our Gate Master is blessed with abundant fortune, how could he be so fragile as you claim?"

"Heh, laughable. Being mortal flesh, we all face birth, aging, illness, death. If you think your Gate Master can live as long as heaven and earth, why did you even come to me?"

"You… "

The man waved his hand, stopping the few Cang Ming from continuing.

"You just said if it's later you can't treat, meaning now you can cure?"

"Indeed, though difficult, there's still a sliver of hope." She gave the Cang Ming group a half‑smile, "If you weren't the Gate Master, you'd be just a bit smarter than those idiots."

Cang Ming's complexion changed; Fen Tian, seeing this, hurriedly said, "Now curing the Gate Master is the priority." His gaze swept over the silent Bai father and son; several guards understood, slowly approached the two, and enclosed them together.

"What are you doing?" Chi Nan Yi, seeing their actions, said calmly, "Is the Fenteng City Lord threatening me?"