Chapter 661: You Keep Wanting to Die—Who Do You Want to Kill?

Zhao Kangtai ignored Gu Liangong's doubts, and instead looked up, gazing deeply at Zhao Derun, who was holding in both hands the slip of paper that had fallen from Gu Liangong's pocket, staring intently at the words on it, his face and eyes filled with unmistakable horror.

As for the medicine pouch and the other prescription he had been holding, he had already handed them to Zhao Huai.

At this moment.

Zhao Huai also stood stealthily behind Zhao Derun, on tiptoe, looking up at the paper in Zhao Derun's hand, but whereas Zhao Derun's face showed palpable horror, Zhao Huai, that little rabbit‑kid, wore a look of bewildered incomprehension.

Obviously, regarding this prescription, Zhao Huai, that little rabbit‑kid, was still vague; if Zhao Derun hadn't mentioned it, he might not have believed that the slip of paper that fell from Gu Liangong's pocket could actually be a formula capable of saving Gu Liangong's life.

Zhao Kangtai asked solemnly, "Derun, are you sure this prescription can cure Gu Liangong's illness?"

"Zhao Kangtai, you don't believe this prescription can cure my illness either, do you?"

Gu Liangong's face was filled with unmistakable delight, as if this prescription were not to cure his own ailment but to deal with his enemy—the kind of foe who murdered his father and would not rest until death.

He had lived a whole life, having seen many storms; regarding this world, he could not claim to have no attachment—what he cared about most were the descendants of the old Gu family, yet he knew clearly that everything he ate and used now was earned by his family's children, and each extra year he lived consumed what those children earned.

At this moment, he felt he could offer no help to the Gu family, like a mascot—no, perhaps even less than a mascot.

This is not what he wants!

No matter how much he longs for his descendants, he can still not help, and merely wastes the money his own children earned; it would be better to die early and be reborn, which is why, from Zhao Derun's side, he could live another year or two, and from Zhao Kangtai's side, another three to five years.

He felt not a hint of happiness, only disappointment.

Now.

Whether or not this prescription was authored by Xuanqing Daozhang, if it truly could cure his illness, I dare not claim much, but at least it could grant him another seven or eight years.

Seven or eight years is neither too many nor too few.

Only.

Inevitably, some things he would not wish to accept will occur!

He does not want any mishap at his funeral, cannot invite Xuanqing Daozhang to preside over his rites, perform Soul Salvation for his departed soul, summon Guimen Guan so he can pass through Guimen Guan and be reborn as a rich heir in the next life.

Therefore.

Upon hearing Zhao Derun say that the prescription recorded on the slip could cure his illness, he became especially uneasy; until then Zhao Kangtai did not respond but asked, apparently not believing the prescription could cure him, which allowed him to reluctantly sigh in relief.

Nevertheless his heart remained tense, his pulse racing to his throat! He knew Zhao Kangtai's skill; despite his age, in the medical profession the older one is, the greater the ability—at least Zhao Kangtai's skill surpasses Zhao Derun's. Zhao Kangtai does not think the prescription can cure his illness, yet no one can guarantee whether it might let him live another five or six years.

If he were not worried that dying now would reflect poorly on Xuanqing Daozhang, causing Xuanqing Daozhang to refuse to preside over his funeral, he would find any excuse, and ending his own life sooner would be better.

Zhao Kangtai ignored the seemingly relieved Gu Liangong; he could read the old man's thoughts at a glance. Regarding the old man's intentions, he neither supported nor opposed them—everyone has their own choice, and as long as one's choice does not harm others, it can be deemed a correct choice.

He gazed deeply at Zhao Derun, as if waiting for Zhao Derun's reply.

"Father, this prescription was just in your hand, your eyes almost saw it; what problem does this prescription have? I think you understand it better than I do!"

Zhao Derun gave a wry smile, realizing his father was testing him, and did not get angry; at his age, having a father willing to test him was, without exaggeration, a tremendous blessing, though a blessing he did not truly desire. He took a deep breath, exhaled a heavy gust of foul air, and sighed:

"Father, although my skill is lacking—I can only discern Uncle Gu's issue—no, from this prescription I see Uncle Gu has additional problems, deeply hidden; without this prescription I might not have noticed. I lack the ability to cure Uncle Gu's illness, but my eyesight is still sharp enough to see that this prescription can indeed cure Uncle Gu's disease!"

"What you say is correct; your skill is insufficient—no, not only yours, even my skill is still lacking, but your eyesight is fairly good..."

Zhao Kangtai let out a slight sigh; before he could finish speaking, Gu Liangong, his heart racing to his throat, cried out in disbelief, "Zhao Kangtai, don't tell me this prescription can cure my illness?"

"Uncle Gu, the fact that your illness can be cured is a tremendous good thing; aren't you happy?"

Zhuo Tie chuckled, understanding why Gu Liangong displayed such reluctance; after all, Gu Liangong's thoughts were crystal clear to him.

"Happy? I'm truly overjoyed!"

You have reached this novel.

Gu Liangong gritted his teeth and glared at Zhuo Tie, as if he wanted to devour him whole; he knew Zhuo Tie meant well, but could he think that dying early and being reborn is a bad thing? Suppressing his inner anger, he turned to Zhao Kangtai, speaking harshly: "Zhao Kangtai, tell me honestly, if this prescription can cure my illness, how many more years could I live?"

"Given your condition, once the disease is cured, living another ten or twenty years would not be a problem..."

Zhao Kangtai had not finished speaking when Gu Liangong went "Thump!" and collapsed softly to the ground; startled, Zhuo Tie rushed forward, embraced Gu Liangong, and seeing him unconscious, exclaimed anxiously, "Uncle Gu, Uncle Gu, are you alright?"

Zhao Derun also jumped in shock, quickly secured the prescription, hurried forward, felt Gu Liangong's pulse to assess the situation, then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's fine, he just fainted; after some rest he'll be fine!"

"That old fool has envied wealthy families since childhood, countless times fantasizing about being reborn as a rich heir in a noble household; does he ever consider whether becoming a rich heir is that easy to be reborn as?"

Yet, thanks to the good deeds this old man has done over the years, his next life is destined for happiness; why worry about passing through Guimen Guan? Even without Guimen Guan, given his merits, does he still need to fear that he cannot be reborn as a rich heir?

Zhao Kangtai sneered sarcastically, yet regarding the good deeds Gu Liangong has performed these years, he expressed approval and even support; though his good deeds have motives, how many people live without purpose? He said:

"Zhuo Tie, later bring this old man back, let his son and daughter‑in‑law give him a proper admonition; why does he keep thinking 'die early, be reborn early'? Could it be that his son and daughter‑in‑law treat him poorly?"

"If he repeatedly seeks death over and over, perhaps his goal is achieved, but how can his son and daughter‑in‑law continue to live?"

(End of chapter)