Chapter 217: Bait
The crowd gathered closer, their eyes widening as they looked. Sure enough, they could see tiny bone fragments on the blade’s edge.
This time, everyone was convinced!
Especially Divine Doctor Xue.
"Divine Doctor Cheng, how did you discover the bone fragments? You’d need a magnifying glass to see those, wouldn’t you? You only glanced at it just now; you didn’t feel the bone."
Cheng Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He’d been a bit careless, forgetting there was another Divine Doctor right next to him. How was he supposed to explain this?
He couldn’t just say he had Double Pupil and could use X-ray Vision, could he?
Cheng Yuan opened his mouth and started spinning a tale: "In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we have observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation. ’Observation Examination’ is ranked first for a reason. Once your medical skills reach a certain realm, ’Observation Examination’ alone is enough to confirm a diagnosis. And to master ’Observation Examination’, Spiritual Power is of the utmost importance."
Divine Doctor Xue was completely taken in by Cheng Yuan’s bluff, mainly because Cheng Yuan’s Spiritual Power was indeed far beyond his own.
Divine Doctor Xue gave Cheng Yuan a deep bow. "Thank you for clearing my confusion, Divine Doctor Cheng. I have learned a great deal."
Seeing Divine Doctor Xue bow to Cheng Yuan like a schoolboy, He Hongting felt a great sense of relief. ’It seems my daughter really can be saved!’
"Divine Doctor Cheng, could we move to treat Xiaojing now?"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly.
Ten minutes later, Cheng Yuan followed He Hongting into an inner hall.
Elder He personally came forward to greet them, extending a hand to Cheng Yuan. "You must be Divine Doctor Cheng? We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Cheng Yuan was a bit overwhelmed by the honor. He grasped Elder He’s large hand with both of his own. This respectable old man was one of the guardian gods of Dragon Country, one of the few remaining old marshals!
"Elder He, you flatter me."
"Divine Doctor Cheng, please, take a look at Xiaojing. Is there still hope?"
Elder He took Cheng Yuan by the arm and led him to the bedside.
Cheng Yuan fixed his gaze on the bed and saw a girl lying quietly there.
The girl was stunningly beautiful. Even with her current poor complexion, her looks could rival Hu Shishi’s.
One could only imagine what an absolute beauty He Jing must be when her complexion was good.
He Jing’s aura was completely different from Hu Shishi’s.
Hu Shishi had a heroic and valiant air, while He Jing was the type who seemed incredibly delicate, making one want to protect her at first glance.
Cheng Yuan finally understood why the He Family was so tormented.
He understood why He Zhendong had suddenly had such a drastic change in attitude, kneeling and slapping his own face to beg for forgiveness.
If He Jing were his sister, he too would use all his strength to protect her.
Cheng Yuan raised a hand and placed it on He Jing’s pulse point. His brow twitched slightly as he sensed a very kindred aura.
The Yin Curse lying dormant inside He Jing sensed the pure Celestial Witch True Essence within Cheng Yuan. Like zealous followers who had finally met their god, it grew somewhat excited!
For a split second, the Yin Curse even broke through the suppression of the Dragon Qi, trying to shatter its restraints and pay homage to Cheng Yuan.
Everyone in the room shivered involuntarily, their expressions changing drastically.
"So cold! Is the Yin Curse about to erupt?"
"Why did the Yin Curse suddenly fluctuate? Divine Doctor Cheng, is there still hope for Xiaojing?"
Everyone was on edge.
Even Divine Doctor Xue was a little nervous, saying with great self-reproach, "It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have had Elder He temporarily block the Dragon Qi just now. It caused the Yin Curse’s power to strengthen significantly, and it might erupt prematurely."
Elder He gave a bitter smile. "This isn’t your fault, Divine Doctor Xue. We of the He Family didn’t believe in this talk of a Yin Curse. You were forced to have me temporarily shield the Dragon Qi just to prove the curse’s existence."
Cheng Yuan was very calm. In a gentle voice, he said, "Everyone, don’t panic. With me here, the Yin Curse won’t erupt. I was the one who just provoked it to investigate its origin and attributes. I have a clear understanding of it now."
Seeing Cheng Yuan so composed, the crowd relaxed.
Zhao Min said in admiration, "Divine Doctor Cheng is truly incredible! Divine Doctor Xue needed Elder He to block the Dragon Qi just to make the Yin Curse manifest, but Divine Doctor Cheng made it manifest directly while it was still being suppressed by the Dragon Qi! It seems there’s hope for Xiaojing after all!"
Everyone nodded one after another, agreeing with Zhao Min’s point.
Cheng Yuan laughed inwardly. ’This lady really has an overactive imagination. The Yin Curse just got excited on its own; what does that have to do with me?’
Of course, Cheng Yuan had no intention of explaining.
Cheng Yuan turned his head and looked at Divine Doctor Xue with a gentle smile. "Divine Doctor Xue, I need your assistance."
Divine Doctor Xue nodded quickly. "It is my honor to assist you, Divine Doctor Cheng. Please, just give the order!"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly. "Please act as the attending physician for now, Divine Doctor Xue, and dispel the Yin Curse on Miss He."
Huh?
Everyone was stunned.
’What’s with Divine Doctor Cheng?’
’Why is he making Divine Doctor Xue the attending physician?’
’Why is he having Divine Doctor Xue dispel the Yin Curse?’
’Then what was the point of inviting Divine Doctor Cheng here?’
’Could it be that Divine Doctor Cheng is just an embroidered pillow—all flash and no substance?’
However, Elder He hadn’t spoken yet, so no one dared to question it.
Divine Doctor Xue was in a tight spot. He gave an awkward laugh. "Divine Doctor Cheng, with you here, how could this old one dare to be the attending physician? How could I dare to dispel the Yin Curse on Miss He? You should be the one to do it. It’s enough for this old one to be your assistant."
Cheng Yuan explained, "I can take action to dispel the Yin Curse, but it would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. If you want to treat the root cause, Divine Doctor Xue must be the one to dispel the curse."
The crowd was still completely baffled.
He Zhendong asked hesitantly, "Divine Doctor Cheng, your medical skills are better than Divine Doctor Xue’s. Why is it that if you dispel the curse, it would only treat the symptoms and not the root? I don’t understand."
The members of the He Family all had question marks floating over their heads.
Divine Doctor Xue’s pupils flickered. A flash of insight went through his mind, and he understood Cheng Yuan’s meaning.
"I understand! I understand!!"
This only confused the crowd more. They looked at Divine Doctor Xue with baffled expressions.
Elder He was a pure Martial Artist and a bit impatient by nature. "Divine Doctor Xue, can you stop speaking in riddles? You’re killing me here! What is it you understand?"
Divine Doctor Xue explained, "Elder He, do you remember? This Xue just said that if I were to try to break the Yin Curse, I would only have a thirty percent chance of success because I would be very worried about being disturbed by the person who cast the curse! But Divine Doctor Cheng’s Mystical Technique is over a hundred times stronger than mine. The cursecaster wouldn’t even have time to interfere before he broke the curse! Therefore, to find the cursecaster, Divine Doctor Cheng is using me as bait! He’s luring the cursecaster into showing themselves!"
Expressions of sudden realization dawned on everyone’s faces. Their gazes toward Cheng Yuan now carried a hint of apprehension.
Not only were Divine Doctor Cheng’s medical skills superb, but his strategic mind was equally brilliant!
Cheng Yuan smiled and added an explanation, "Actually, my Mystical Technique isn’t that strong. It’s not that the cursecaster wouldn’t have time to interfere, but that the cursecaster wouldn’t *dare* to interfere."
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath!
’Wouldn’t dare to interfere?’
’What does that imply?’
’That the cursecaster’s power is vastly inferior to Divine Doctor Cheng’s!’
’If Divine Doctor Cheng wanted to harm them, they would be utterly defenseless!’
Cheng Yuan’s attempt at an explanation had the opposite effect; the crowd now looked at him with even greater reverence!
Alarm bells rang in the hearts of everyone in the He Family. They had just classified Cheng Yuan as someone they absolutely, under no circumstances, could ever afford to offend!
This was especially true for He Zhendong. He was incredibly relieved that he had taken the initiative to kneel and beg for mercy, earning Divine Doctor Cheng’s forgiveness!
He Zhendong secretly resolved that from this day forward, he had to latch onto Divine Doctor Cheng’s thick thigh and never let go!