From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Che Shixiong comforted Jin Xin Hui, saying, "Xinhui, you don’t need to worry. If worst comes to worst, we can consider a lung transplant; there’s always a solution."

Jin Xin Hui shook her head and coughed twice. "No need to trouble yourself over my matters."

Che Shixiong had joined Mingde Group entirely because of Jin Xin Hui. By nature, he didn’t like living under someone else’s roof and being subject to their whims. But Jin Xin Hui had sought medical treatment everywhere with no results, and Mingde Han Hospital had become their last hope. Huang Youlong also promised to do his best to help them, yet the reality was that he had no good solutions for Jin Xin Hui’s illness either.

Jin Xin Hui wanted to stand up but her legs were weak and powerless. She looked up at Xu Chunliang and said, "Sorry for embarrassing you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Everyone eats grains and cereals and no one can avoid getting sick, you don’t need to say that."

Jin Xin Hui said, "Thank you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Your illness has already consumed a large amount of innate kidney energy. I just noticed in the store that, although you’ve used a lot of foundation, you couldn’t hide the pallor of your face when speaking, you raise your shoulders when you breathe—this is due to a lack of strength. Do you usually feel cold in your limbs? Are your hands colder than your elbows, feet colder than your knees? Does heart palpitations often occur?"

Jin Xin Hui was somewhat surprised and asked, "How do you know?" She had opened this barbecue restaurant partly to seek out renowned doctors. After being here for so long and consulting many famous doctors, none had a solution for her illness.

Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Madam, if you are willing, I can help you by checking your pulse and diagnosing your illness."

Che Shixiong doubted Xu Chunliang’s motives and said coldly, "No need!" He also didn’t believe this young man would have superior medical skills.

Xu Chunliang said, "Are you going to miss a chance to treat the illness because of your preconceived notions about me? It seems the position of the Madam isn’t that important in your heart after all."

Che Shixiong angrily said, "What rubbish are you saying?"

Jin Xin Hui said, "Shixiong, do not be rude to the guest."

Xu Chunliang said, "I almost forgot, you’re Mingde Group’s top enforcer, Huang Youlong treasures you so much, why hasn’t he helped? Is it because he doesn’t have the ability, or he has the capability but doesn’t want to help?"

Che Shixiong wanted to stand up and argue with Xu Chunliang but was held back by Jin Xin Hui. Although she was physically weak, Che Shixiong dared not break free.

Xu Chunliang came next to Jin Xin Hui and took her right wrist, Che Shixiong, though displeased with Xu Chunliang, could see he meant no harm.

Jin Xin Hui’s hand was as cold as ice. The Taichong and Taixi pulses were still able to respond without chaos, there was still stomach energy remaining, although symptoms of extreme yang deficiency were already present, there was still hope for remedy.

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s lighter than I expected, not terminal illness. If medication is administered in time to rescue yang and consolidate deficiency, rerouting energy back to kidneys, it should alleviate the lung substantial syndrome. Chinese medicine has a method called ’reverse flow back to berth,’ it may help cure the lung substantial syndrome and achieve an effect of restoring yang and regulating qi."

Che Shixiong thought to himself that Huang Youlong and Lu Taiyin had diagnosed Jin Xin Hui, both are regarded as top Korean medical experts and had said there was no solution, yet Xu Chunliang was just in his twenties, even if from a traditional medical family, his skills couldn’t surpass those two, could they?

Although Che Shixiong was suspicious, Jin Xin Hui had essentially been declared incurable elsewhere, the only remaining treatment option was a lung transplant, now Xu Chunliang claimed he could save her, Che Shixiong was somewhat tempted.

Jin Xin Hui asked, "May I know your surname, sir?"

"My surname is Xu."

Jin Xin Hui said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu, for your concern. My illness isn’t that easy to treat. Shixiong, let’s go."

Che Shixiong helped her up, with Xu Chunliang also assisting, deliberately asking, "Huang Youlong and Lu Taiyin must have looked at your illness, what did they say?"

Jin Xin Hui truthfully said, "Mr. Huang said my illness should be treated by nourishing yin and clearing the lungs to rescue the lungs from withering, I’ve taken medications for a while, but they didn’t work well."

Xu Chunliang laughed and said, "Nourishing yin and clearing lungs? It seems Huang Youlong’s medical skills are no more than that. Your illness is lung wilt due to damaged lung fluids. Should choose neutral items like lily and raw yam to nourish lung and kidney yin, however, solely nourishing yin won’t treat the condition, instead, it may cause cold and cooling wounds to the center, before lung yin is restored, spleen yang is damaged, leading the condition to worsen. For your great deficiency great substantial syndrome, attack and supplement must both be used together, with blood and flesh emotional items, strongly replenish innate kidney energy."

Che Shixiong, hearing him speak so coherently, couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked, "What are blood and flesh emotional items?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Deer antler powder, leeches, cordyceps, centipedes, gecko, musk, placenta, etc., even if I tell you, you won’t understand. To tackle this stubborn illness, you must support the vitality to solidify the foundation, advance gradually, unwind the cocoons, search the network meticulously, apply gradual attack methods to resolve stagnation while not harming the right. Among them, one crucial medicine must be used."

Che Shixiong listened intently.

Xu Chunliang said, "Aconite!"

Che Shixiong said, "Isn’t Aconite poisonous?" Recently, the issue of toxins in Huiren Hall’s Aconite had been heatedly discussed, how could Che Shixiong not know.

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re hearing from Lu Taiyin, right? He’s been making a big fuss about using Aconite. Based on his perspective, how could he grasp the intricacies within? Aconite, by its pungency, moisturizes, generates fluid, facilitates breathing, disperses, can make the kidney’s five fluids steam and spread, yang generates yin, integrates, creating endless phenomena. Reverse flow back to berth, it is Aconite that carries the vessel."

Water can carry a boat, yet also capsize it, the key lies in how you utilize it; once you understand the nature of water, you can navigate rivers and oceans, use medicine in the same way.

Che Shixiong is very aware of the recent condemnation regarding the toxicity of aconite in several Huiren Hall medications. Xu Chunliang now wants to use a prescription containing aconite ingredients to treat Jin Xin Hui, which cannot rule out the possibility that he has malicious intentions to harm Jin Xin Hui.

Before leaving, Xu Chunliang left a business card with Che Shixiong.

Watching Xu Chunliang drive away, Che Shixiong was still bewildered.

Jin Xin Hui took the business card from his hand and looked at it: "Shixiong, you’ve known this Mr. Xu for a long time, right?"

Che Shixiong nodded.

Jin Xin Hui said: "From the moment he entered the shop, I knew he was coming for you."

Che Shixiong didn’t speak.

Jin Xin Hui said: "He doesn’t seem like a bad person."

Che Shixiong said: "Good and bad people aren’t so easily distinguished by appearance."

Jin Xin Hui said: "But they are distinguishable. Shixiong, you joined Mingde Group for me, I know you haven’t been happy these past years."

Che Shixiong furrowed his brows and said: "Xinhui, why are you saying this?"

Jin Xin Hui said: "Although I acquired Korean nationality, to them, I’ve always been a Northerner. They’ve never considered us as compatriots, and I’ve never felt a sense of belonging with them. You are of the Xian Clan; if not for me, you wouldn’t bear such burden."

"Stop talking!" Che Shixiong held Jin Xin Hui in his arms, stopping her from saying more.

Jin Xin Hui’s petite body snuggled in Che Shixiong’s embrace: "Shixiong, I don’t fear death, I just can’t bear to leave you. If I were gone, you’d be so lonely in the world." Getting emotional, Jin Xin Hui started to shed tears.

Che Shixiong embraced her trembling delicate body, feeling deeply moved. Despite being a man of great stature, he hadn’t found a solution for Jin Xin Hui’s illness. Over the years, he earned countless merits for Mingde Group and did some things against his will, hoping Huang Youlong would intervene to help Jin Xin Hui.

Initially, Huang Youlong sounded confident in resolving the issue, but as time passed, he couldn’t find a better solution. Now, he clearly informed Che Shixiong that the only option left for Jin Xin Hui’s illness is a lung transplant.

Jin Xin Hui’s emotional fluctuation triggered another coughing fit. Che Shixiong gently massaged her back and said, "You won’t die, I will find a way."

Huang Gongxian was released at ten o’clock that evening, although this didn’t mean he was completely free. He went to the hospital first to visit his father, mainly to reassure him.

Seeing his son return safely, Huang Wanglin also felt a deep sense of relief.

Huang Gongxian said: "Dad, I’m sorry for making you worry about me."

Huang Wanglin said: "Natural disasters are unavoidable. Our Fire God Sect’s prescriptions have been passed down from ancient times, with the toxicity of aconite well documented. This situation was maliciously amplified."

Huang Gongxian said: "Dad, I am ashamed to have let you down. I didn’t expect the century-old reputation of Huiren Hall to be ruined by me."

Huang Wanglin instead comforted his son: "Wealth is but dung, reputation is fleeting. As a medical practitioner, staying true to your conscience is paramount. If necessary, Huiren Hall can cease operations. You can come over to manage Linzheng Hall, allowing me to retire completely and enjoy some leisure."

Huang Gongxian nodded, but he wasn’t as optimistic as his father. The crisis Huiren Hall is facing isn’t trivial. If the regulatory authority decides that their traditional medicine products have issues, the consequences won’t be merely closure, fines, or compensation; there is a high chance he could end up in jail. If that happens, he wonders if his father can withstand such a blow.

Huang Wanglin said: "I initially thought they wouldn’t release you these two days."

Huang Gongxian said: "It was Xu Chunliang who sought help from a leader for bail." Before leaving, he specifically asked the head of the investigation team. The answer was explicit, although the specific leader who provided bail wasn’t mentioned. It was made clear that the favor belonged to Xu Chunliang.

Huang Wanglin was quite touched: "Chunliang is sincere and loyal, someone we can associate with! After this incident, we must thank him properly."

Huang Gongxian said: "Dad, this matter should remain between us; it shouldn’t be spread."

Huang Wanglin nodded: "Understood."

Huang Gongxian still had many matters to address. He stayed in the ward for half an hour before bidding farewell. Outside, he encountered his senior brother, Zhang Boxu.

Zhang Boxu came after hearing about his release. They passed each other face-to-face. Zhang Boxu said: "Already leaving?"

Huang Gongxian said: "I need to sort through some materials. The investigation on Huiren Hall isn’t over. Senior brother, please take care of the matters concerning the old master here."