Chapter 660: Surely Not a Quack Doctor?

"You all stop interfering; whether this prescription was written by my master or not, even if it wasn't, so what? The most important thing right now is whether this prescription is effective!"

Wang Ping'an couldn't help but mutter behind the scenes, glancing at Zhao Kangtai as if he were seriously listening to Gu Lianggong, not focusing on the prescription in his hand, and slandered:

"It can't be that you, old man, can't see the power of this prescription, don't know that this prescription could completely cure the old master Gu's problem, so you shift the topic and babble on, right?"

He didn't want to think ill of Zhao Kangtai; after all, the old saying goes: a doctor has the heart of parents!

Although.

In his previous life he had often heard of quack doctors who harmed lives, doctors who wouldn't give red envelopes and were hard to look at, or surgeons who hiked fees on the operating table, yet he still believed that most physicians in the world are good, and the bad ones are only a tiny fraction.

After all.

There are many good people in this world, but still inevitably there will be good people.

He shouldn't think badly of Zhao Kangtai, but Zhao Kangtai's current behavior makes it hard for him to think well of Zhao Kangtai.

"Gu Lianggong, what you say makes sense; this prescription you stealthily hide in your pocket is not like the way the second‑generation Kumu Daozhang would do!"

Zhao Kangtai listened attentively to Gu Lianggong's explanation; as soon as he opened his mouth, he saw Gu Lianggong nod in agreement, and before the expression of agreement lingered on his face, he spoke again:

"But this prescription might indeed be the one left by the Kumu Daozhang you thought impossible!"

Gu Lianggong wanted to curse out loud—Zhao Kangtai was still agreeing with his method, so why the sudden change of tone, as if treating him like a monkey—but he believed Zhao Kangtai wouldn't be bored enough to joke about this with him.

Since Zhao Kangtai says so, there must be some reason.

He actually wants to see whether Zhao Kangtai's reasoning can also convince him.

Gu Lianggong let out a cold snort and asked, "Zhao Kangtai, I just gave a reason why this matter wasn't done by Kumu Daozhang. Since you now agree that this matter was done by Kumu Daozhang, can you likewise give a reason explaining why this prescription was stealthily hidden in my pocket by Kumu Daozhang?"

"If I say the prescription he left in your pocket was actually aimed at me, would you believe it?"

Zhao Kangtai seemed to recall something; his expression grew complex, his aura weakened, as if he suddenly aged a dozen or twenty years. He looked at Zhao Derun, Zhao Huai, and the others' worried gazes, pretended to be indifferent, and then said:

"Of course, the genuine purpose is to save you; after all, you just said you were busy before and after Le Wenmao's funeral—though you earned no merit, you still labored. I think that second‑generation Kumu Daozhang must know that!"

"Save my life?"

Gu Lianggong thought for a moment and did believe that if Xuanqing Daozhang truly had the ability to cure his illness, he would certainly do so, but he was still very curious about Zhao Kangtai's initial answer, puzzled:

"Zhao Kangtai, you say Kumu Daozhang is targeting you; I recall you never had any conflict with Kumu Daozhang before, so how could he inexplicably be after you?"

Zhao Kangtai self‑mocked, "Of course it's to see how my skill is, whether I have the heart when treating that old thing Le Wenmao!"

"Father, why would he doubt you? If it weren't you, there would be no hesitation about the overt threat from Cui Ji and the covert threat from the Zhu Clan, risking danger to treat Uncle Le, who likely passed away over a decade ago!"

Gu Lianggong hadn't spoken yet when Zhao Derun couldn't help but complain, "Not to mention, that kid Le Zhuang gets injured every few days, all from being bitten by vicious dogs. If you, Father, hadn't stepped in, not only Uncle Le but even Le Zhuang would be gone. How could Kumu Daozhang doubt whether you treated Uncle Le with sincerity?" Le Wenmao had originally been paralyzed in bed; Le Zhuang hurriedly ran to find him, asked him to go over, he examined once, realized he was unable, was helpless regarding Le Wenmao's illness, prepared to go back to ask his father, and on the way encountered members of the Cui family, threatening them not to meddle,

If his father hadn't taken Cui Ji's threat lightly, the Cui Clan would also have been wary of his father's might. After all, his father and the Zhao family have been in Liangshui Town for countless years, often rescuing people; they could be called the patron of ten thousand families' salvation. Regardless of the three teachings or the nine streams, everyone must give their family, especially his father, a share of respect.

Perhaps if his father refused, the Cui family would resort to underhanded tactics.

To put it bluntly.

Their family owes a favor to the Le family!

No one ever thought of it.

A relative of the Le family—the Kumu Daozhang—actually doubts his father's sincerity in treating Le Wenmao.

"Where is that a doubt? It's outright trampling the reputation his father and the old Zhao family have built over generations."

Zhao Kangtai scolded, "I only voiced my suspicion, which may not be true. Why are you so impatient? You're now a consulting physician; I've taught you this many years, yet you've become like this?"

Gu Lianggong gave an awkward smile; he didn't want to get entangled in the conflict between Zhao Kangtai and Kumu Daozhang. Neither of them was someone he could afford to provoke, so he hurriedly changed the subject, saying:

"Zhao Kangtai, you say this prescription was specially prescribed by Kumu Daozhang for my illness; then tell me, how effective is this prescription, can it cure my disease?"

Zhao Kangtai didn't rush to answer Gu Lianggong's question; instead, he slid the prescription in his hand backward.

This novel you…

Zhao Derun subconsciously took it, puzzled, "Father?"

"Take a look at this prescription!"

Zhao Kangtai said casually.

Zhao Derun didn't waste time; he picked up the prescription and examined it carefully, his expression shifting from initial displeasure to increasingly solemn. If observed closely, one could still see flashes of astonishment and even horror in his eyes.

After a long while, Zhao Derun exhaled a heavy puff of foul air, wiped the sweat covering his forehead, glanced at the prescription in his hand and then at Gu Lianggong, his face full of unmistakable horror.

Zhao Kangtai asked, "How is it? What do you see?"

"This prescription, this prescription…"

Zhao Derun stammered, swallowed, and after a long pause declared firmly, "It can cure Uncle Gu's illness!"

"What joke are you making?"

Zhao Kangtai hadn't spoken yet when Gu Lianggong exclaimed, questioning, "Derun, whether you or your father, you are both helpless against my illness; you can only alleviate it, letting me live another year or two, maybe three to five years. How could Kumu Daozhang possibly cure my disease?"

(End of chapter)