Chapter 94: Old Master Hu’s Mind
Cheng Yuan glanced coolly at Gu Chen. "Young Master Gu, what’s wrong? Old Master Hu has made a full recovery, but you don’t seem very happy about it."
Gu Chen’s expression changed. He quickly scrambled to his feet and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than a grimace. "Cheng Yuan, you can’t just say things like that! I’m happy—so happy I can barely stand! Congratulations, Old Master Hu! Congratulations, Uncle Hu and Third Uncle Hu!"
Hu Yidao and Hu Sanqiang shot Gu Chen a cold glare. ’It was all because this brat had stirred up trouble, nearly causing them to offend Divine Doctor Cheng!’
Fortunately, Divine Doctor Cheng hadn’t held it against them and had cured the Old Master.
Otherwise, they would have regretted it for the rest of their lives.
Xue Mowen was now in absolute awe of Cheng Yuan, completely won over. He bowed deeply and sincerely to him.
"Divine Doctor Cheng, your medical skills are profound and unfathomable. I am humbled by my own inferiority. I sincerely invite you to join the Dragon Country’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. I am even willing to give you my position as vice president!"
Gu Chen nearly pissed himself. ’If Cheng Yuan becomes the vice president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, countless influential figures will be begging him for treatment. When that happens, crushing me would be as easy as squashing a bug!’
Fortunately, Cheng Yuan just smiled and shook his head.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Divine Doctor Xue, but I’m used to my freedom and don’t wish to be restricted by any organization. I just want to focus on improving my medical arts and martial skills, so I can one day master the true Divine Needle Control."
Xue Mowen cupped his hands, his face filled with admiration. "Now I finally understand how you’ve achieved such superb medical skill at such a young age, Divine Doctor Cheng. Your pursuit of the Medical Dao is truly pure!"
Cheng Yuan felt a little embarrassed by the praise. ’In truth, his medical skills were this advanced purely because of the Celestial Witch Inheritance. In total, he had only been studying medicine for two years.’
"Divine Doctor Xue, you are an admirable physician. However, your judgment of character isn’t the best. I hope you won’t be unwittingly dragged into the abyss by others."
Xue Mowen knew exactly what Cheng Yuan meant and replied gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder, Divine Doctor Cheng. My connection to the Gu Family isn’t deep; it’s a favor owed from the previous generation. I’ve already helped the Gu Family with two matters, so the debt is paid. From this day forward, I have no further ties to the Gu Family."
With that said, Xue Mowen turned to Gu Chen and cupped his hands. "Young Master Gu, do me a favor and tell Old Gu that from now on, we’ll go our separate ways. Tell him not to call me again. Let us part ways here, and may we never cross paths again."
Xue Mowen left with a cool and carefree air, making a clean break.
Gu Chen stood frozen, staring blankly at Xue Mowen’s back as despair washed over him.
’He had thought he could earn a favor from the head of the Hu Family today. Instead, not only did he fail, but he’d nearly offended them. To top it all off, Divine Doctor Xue had now severed all ties with his family!’
’It was a total disaster, suffering a loss on all fronts.’
Hu Yidao nudged Hu Sanqiang’s arm and glanced at Gu Chen. Understanding his elder brother’s unspoken command, Hu Sanqiang clapped a hand on Gu Chen’s shoulder. "Ah Chen, it’s almost dinnertime. Why don’t you stay and eat with us?"
Though he issued an invitation, Hu Sanqiang’s face was a mask of cold indifference, without a shred of sincerity.
Gu Chen could take a hint. He quickly forced a smile. "Thank you for the invitation, Third Uncle Hu, but I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll take my leave now."
"Not so fast. Aren’t you forgetting something?"
Gu Chen’s heart sank, and he nearly wet himself again. ’Is Third Uncle Hu going to stand up for Cheng Yuan? Am I a dead man?’
Gu Chen asked in a trembling voice, "Please... please enlighten me, Third Uncle Hu."
"You were disrespectful to Divine Doctor Cheng multiple times just now. Don’t you think you should apologize?"
"Right, right, you’re right! Third Uncle Hu is right. I absolutely must apologize to Divine Doctor Cheng!"
With that, Gu Chen turned to Cheng Yuan and gave him a deep bow.
"Divine Doctor Cheng, I was insolent to you just now. It was my fault. I beg you, please don’t lower yourself to the level of a nobody like me. Please forgive me this once."
’If he could, Cheng Yuan would love to get rid of Gu Chen. But he didn’t want to waste the favor he was owed by Hu Yidao so casually.’
’A blade hanging over one’s head is the most effective deterrent.’
’Hu Yidao was that very blade, and Cheng Yuan had no intention of letting it fall easily—not unless he himself gained the power to fight an Innate Grandmaster!’
"Today is a joyous day for Old Master Hu, and I don’t want to spoil his mood. Consider yourself lucky. Now, get lost."
"Thank you, Divine Doctor Cheng!"
Gu Chen scurried away with his tail between his legs. ’He was already calculating. Should he go abroad and lay low for a while?’
In a world where the winner takes all, no one paid any mind to Gu Chen’s departure.
Hu Yidao gave an order. "Duoduo, go to the reception hall and tell those famous physicians and divine doctors they can leave. Give each of them one hundred thousand as compensation for their trouble."
"Yes, Uncle!"
Hu Yidao turned to Hu Sandao. "The Third, have the kitchen prepare a feast immediately. I want to give Divine Doctor Cheng a proper reception!"
"Yes, Big Brother!"
Cheng Yuan smiled. "Master Dao, please don’t call me Divine Doctor. If you don’t mind, just call me Xiaocheng or Xiaoyuan."
Hu Yidao replied in a warm, friendly tone, "Then I’ll take the liberty of calling you Xiaoyuan! And you shouldn’t call me Master Dao, either. If you think well of me, call me Uncle, just like Manwen does."
"Alright, Uncle."
Hu Yidao laughed heartily, taking Cheng Yuan’s hand in a warm, familiar grasp.
"Hahaha, splendid! I love how straightforward you are, Xiaoyuan! Young man, you have to have a few drinks with me later. We’re not stopping until we’re both drunk!"
All the while, Old Master Hu had been watching Cheng Yuan with a wide, beaming smile. The more he looked, the more pleased he became. ’It would be wonderful if we could keep such an outstanding young man in the Hu Family!’
Old Master Hu cleared his throat. "Ah Dao, have Shishi, Duoduo, and Jingjing join us for drinks. With just a bunch of old men here, Xiaoyuan might feel out of place."
Hu Yidao knew his father all too well. ’The moment the old man wags his tail, you know exactly what he’s planning.’
Hu Yidao secretly gave his father a mental thumbs-up. ’You can always count on the Old Master. He thinks so much further ahead than I do!’
’He just wanted to build a good relationship with Cheng Yuan. The Old Master, on the other hand, was playing on another level—he was trying to recruit a son-in-law!’
Hu Yidao carefully sized up Cheng Yuan again. The more he looked, the more satisfied he felt. ’A young man this handsome and this capable... he was practically born to be a son-in-law of the Hu Family!’
However, Hu Yidao didn’t make a move directly. Instead, he pulled Shen Manwen aside. He had watched her grow up, and he couldn’t just poach her boyfriend.
"Manwen, what’s the relationship between you and Cheng Yuan? Is he your boyfriend?"
Shen Manwen quickly waved her hands. "No, no, not at all. Brother Cheng isn’t my boyfriend."
"Perfect."
Hu Yidao pulled out his phone and dialed his daughter, Hu Shishi. The call connected quickly, and a pleasant female voice came through the line. "Dad, what’s up?"
Hu Yidao lowered his voice. "Shishi, I don’t care what you’re doing, get home right now. Your grandpa found you a potential match, your dad approves of him too, and you absolutely must win him over!"
Hu Shishi giggled. "Dad, you and Grandpa have impossibly high standards. If you both approve of him, he must be truly outstanding. I have to come back and take a look. If I like what I see, I might just give him a chance."