With a muffled groan, Chu Jingtian retreated three steps, finding it even more unbelievable that Lu Fan's displayed strength far surpassed his own.
Cultivating both medicine and martial arts required immense perseverance and talent. Few achieved success, and those who did were always exceptional.
"You overestimate yourself!" Lu Fan said coldly. "Practicing medicine like this will only lead to trouble. I advise you not to harm yourself and others."
The employees of Shenyi Medical Hall sensed something was amiss and hurried towards the back.
Lu Fan and Lin Ke, along with others, had already departed. Only Chu Jingtian remained, his heart filled with considerable discontent.
In both art and martial arts, he couldn't compare to Lu Fan, which made his teeth itch with hatred. After all, in his social circle, he was considered top-tier, with no one surpassing him. He was even called a divine doctor at such a young age.
"Xiao Tian, what happened?" Chu Guodong arrived in the hall. "What was all that commotion just now?"
"Someone challenged the establishment!" Chu Jingtian replied. "They were overconfident and I sent them packing. However, their medical skills were indeed impressive, and their leader had some substance."
"Was it one man and two women?" Chu Guodong frowned.
"Dad, how did you know?" Chu Jingtian was surprised. "Did you send those people to test me?"
"That man's medical skills are extraordinary; even I might not be able to surpass him!" Chu Guodong stated directly. "I suffered a disadvantage in his hands!"
"There's such a thing!" Chu Jingtian exclaimed, astonished. "That person looks young. How could his medical skills be superior to yours?"
"There's always someone better," Chu Guodong sighed. "I wonder whose disciple that person is. It's a pity I have a past grievance with him, otherwise, we could have sparred."
"If that person's medical skills are truly remarkable, then what he said must be true!" Chu Jingtian was surprised. "Am I truly a dying person?"
Chu Guodong trembled violently. "Tian'er, don't speak nonsense!"
"I'm not speaking nonsense. That's exactly what he said," Chu Jingtian nodded. "But I suppose he was just trying to trick me, to scare me."
"Did that person really say that?" Chu Guodong trembled. "What else did he say?"
"He didn't say much specifically, just that I am a dying person," Chu Jingtian chuckled. "If that were true, how could I not know? It's laughable!"
Chu Guodong remained silent, his face growing more somber. He never imagined that a secret held for over a decade would be so easily revealed by Lu Fan.
"Old man, what if what he said is true? Look at your serious expression," Chu Jingtian glanced at him. "If that's the case, then my time is short!"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Chu Guodong said firmly. "I will handle this matter for you. You don't need to worry too much about it. Since that person could diagnose your condition, he must have a cure!"
"Dad, what do you mean?" Chu Jingtian frowned. "Am I really a dying person?"
"More than ten years ago, I discovered your constitution was special, with a mysterious cold energy that has always resided within your body," Chu Guodong explained. "For the past decade, I've been continuously seeking a cure, and even the headquarters of Shenyi Medical Hall was helpless!"
"Dad, are you saying this cold energy could be fatal?" Chu Jingtian took three steps back. "Since I was a child, you've said I have a cold constitution and made me take medicine. Is it to suppress this cold energy?"
"This cold energy is no small matter. As you've grown, it's no longer suppressible by medication," Chu Guodong said helplessly. "I didn't want to tell you this, wishing for you to live a happy life. But since someone has exposed it, I will tell you everything! Your time is limited. If the cold energy isn't expelled from your body soon, your blood vessels will stagnate, and there will be no cure."
Chu Jingtian was filled with disbelief. He was a young man with a bright future, and receiving this news was like a bolt from the blue, making him restless.
After all, he was a proud prodigy, someone who cultivated both medicine and martial arts, and now he had to face death. How could he accept it calmly?
"I don't believe any of this is true," Chu Jingtian said repeatedly. "Dad, you must be lying to me, deliberately fabricating a story to make me study medicine diligently."
"If it were possible, I would gladly use any other lie," Chu Guodong said with a bitter smile. "To prolong your life, I've tried every method, but now I'm helpless, watching the cold energy within you rage and eventually cause your meridians to stagnate."
Chu Jingtian refused to believe it, but the facts were laid out before him, and he couldn't help but believe. If Chu Guodong said so, it meant everything.
"Originally, I was helpless. However, since the gentleman just now could see your condition at a glance, he likely has a cure," Chu Guodong stated. "This might be our only chance, and we must not let it slip away."
"But I have already offended him, and Dad, you also mentioned earlier that you had some past grievances with him," Chu Jingtian shook his head. "How will he help us then?"
"Even if I have to swallow my pride, I will save your life!" Chu Guodong's eyes were serious. "Even if it means I have to beg for forgiveness, even if I feel ashamed!"
"Dad!" Chu Jingtian's eyes welled up with tears. He had never felt so emotional before.
Meanwhile, Lu Fan and his group had arrived at another herbal medicine shop. After purchasing the herbs, they began heading back to their residence, as Lu Fan would not go back on his promise to Yang Xiaofei.
Besides refining ordinary healing herbs, Lu Fan also bought other medicinal ingredients. He wanted to prepare some pills to send to Uncle Fu. After all, Uncle Fu had toiled for the Lu family his entire life, and now his lifespan was nearing its end. Lu Fan certainly wouldn't stand by and watch Uncle Fu pass away.
However, they hadn't walked far when an old man ran down from a car, looking breathless. "Mr. Lu, we finally found you. I thought we had missed you!"
"Isn't this Divine Doctor Chu?" Lu Fan smiled. "You seem to be in a hurry. Is there something important?"
"Xiao Tian was wrong before, offending Mr. Lu," Chu Guodong said with a conciliatory smile. "I apologize on his behalf. I hope Mr. Lu can be magnanimous!"
"It's alright, I don't mind!" Lu Fan adjusted the herbs he was carrying. "If there's nothing else, we'll be going now. I'm in a hurry to get back and stew the medicine!"
Chu Guodong looked embarrassed. He knew that Chu Jingtian had driven Lu Fan and his group out of the medical hall. Lu Fan's current behavior suggested he was still harboring resentment.
"Mr. Lu, it's all my fault!" Chu Guodong said repeatedly. "As long as you can cure Xiao Tian's illness, I am willing to hand over the branch of Shenyi Medical Hall and let you be the master! What do you think, Mr. Lu?"