Chapter 124: Again?

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Zhongtao’s expression turned solemn in an instant.

He was all too familiar with that name. Clearly, he had never expected Ye Cheng to bring it up. The smile on his face froze, gradually replaced by a look of grave seriousness.

"I mean no offense. I simply wish to understand more. This person, truth be told, is very important to me."

Jiang Zhongtao frowned. Xiao Ye was important? What was that supposed to mean? Observing Jiang’s reaction, Ye Cheng’s expression grew colder.

"This man severely injured my son—nearly took his life. I must have my revenge!"

Hearing Ye Cheng’s resolute declaration, Jiang Zhongtao nodded and began to explain. "This Xiao Ye is the sole survivor of the Xiao family in Jianghai City. I have crossed paths with him a few times, but I am no match for him. Furthermore, he holds an even more formidable title: a King of a Different Surname."

At first, Ye Cheng hadn’t paid much heed to the name, but upon hearing those final three words, his eyes widened in shock.

"What did you say he is?"

Ye Cheng’s face turned pale. He never imagined that his enemy would be someone of such status. As the head of a major family, he understood exactly what that title implied. His gaze became vacant; a single family standing alone against a King of a Different Surname had no hope of victory.

But what of Ye Gang’s injuries? Was his son’s future to be cast aside just like that?

Just as he was spiraling into dark thoughts, a remark from Jiang Zhongtao caught his attention.

"Mr. Ye, there is no need to be so anxious. I have an idea, though I cannot execute it on my own."

Ye Cheng snapped back to reality. "What is it?"

"As far as I know, Xiao Ye owns his own enterprise in Jianghai City, the Xiao Family Company. Perhaps your family could employ certain measures to strike at his business. Once they suffer losses, they will have no time to attend to other matters. That will be the moment for your revenge!"

Having heard this, Ye Cheng looked at Jiang Zhongtao with a strange, calculating glint in his eyes. Without further words, the two men understood each other, clinking their glasses together to seal their pact.

***

The next morning, Xiao Ye awoke. He had spent much of the previous night talking with Rat, gathering a wealth of information about the underground world. Today, he intended to experience that world for himself.

However, no sooner had he risen than his phone rang. It was Elder Liu.

"Hello, Elder Liu? Has something happened?" Xiao Ye kept his tone light, hoping not to be a burden.

"Xiao Ye, do you have time today? I have a patient here I would like you to see."

Elder Liu’s voice came through the line. Though phrased as a request, it carried an unmistakable sense of urgency. Xiao Ye hesitated, but despite his reluctance, he agreed.

"Very well. I will send you a new address. Come there when you are ready." With that, Elder Liu hung up.

Xiao Ye sighed. He had no desire to entangle himself further with the Liu family, but he had agreed out of respect for their past ties to the Xiao family. With no other choice, he called Xue Gui to accompany him. Once everything was prepared, they set off for the location provided.

Upon arrival, Elder Liu was nowhere to be seen. The room was furnished with extreme simplicity, and a middle-aged man in plain clothing stood in the living room—an environment that seemed quite out of place for him.

"Greetings. I was sent by Elder Liu. He said there was a patient here."

Xiao Ye asked tentatively. The man nodded. "I am he. The Elder Liu you speak of is my father. I didn't expect him to recommend someone so young." The man reached out, looking somewhat surprised.

Xiao Ye was taken aback; he had never heard Elder Liu mention anyone close to him being critically ill. "I am not the one who treats patients; the gentleman with me is," Xiao Ye said, gesturing to Xue Gui. Liu Pinghai nodded, and they shook hands.

As they sat on the sofa, the middle-aged man introduced himself. "I am Liu Pinghai."

"Xiao Ye."

"Thank you both for alleviating my father’s illness. We will never forget this kindness."

Xiao Ye smiled and waved it off. Even after the man’s introduction, the two of them remained puzzled about the next step.

"One moment, my wife will be down shortly." Liu Pinghai poured them tea, and a brief, awkward silence settled between them.

Suddenly, the sound of slow, labored footsteps echoed from the staircase. The moment Xiao Ye saw the woman descending, he understood Elder Liu’s intent. She moved slowly, each step clearly agonizing.

"My wife developed a lumbar condition due to work years ago. We have sought out famous doctors everywhere, but there has been no improvement." Liu Pinghai helped her down the stairs. "Ge Qiong, this is the miraculous doctor my father found. He is the one who cured Father."

He helped Ge Qiong to the sofa, where she lay down. "Forgive me, Doctor, I truly cannot sit," she said apologetically. Her waist was wrapped in heavy bandages covered with medicinal plasters, making the area look bloated. Despite these measures, her condition remained dire.

"If I am not mistaken, this ailment was caused by a massive impact or trauma that never healed properly, leaving a root cause," Xue Gui observed, speaking up suddenly.

Liu Pinghai and Ge Qiong exchanged surprised glances. "Did my father tell you that?" Liu Pinghai asked.

"Of course not," Xue Gui laughed. He pointed to Ge Qiong’s hands and waist. "Her palms are soft, yet I can see signs of past trauma she has tried to hide. Combined with the lumbar injury, there is no other conclusion."

"Doctor Xue is truly meticulous. It was my own folly back then for not eradicating the root of the injury. If only I had..." Liu Pinghai trailed off, lost in memory.

Xiao Ye sensed there was more to the story, but Ge Qiong tapped her husband. "Old age makes one prone to reminiscing. Doctor, what do you think of this illness?"

"Let me try!"

Xue Gui stood up and had Ge Qiong lie flat. He produced silver needles and removed the heavy bandages. Xiao Ye had heard Xue Gui boast of his skills, but this was the first time he had seen him in action.

Ge Qiong’s lower back was darkened, appearing bruised, though in reality, it was dampness that had seeped deep into the bones, manifesting on the skin. After kneading the area, Xue Gui inserted the needles steadily into two acupuncture points. A small amount of dark, stagnant blood oozed out, and Ge Qiong’s pained expression softened significantly.

"Has it worked?" Liu Pinghai was stunned. She had suffered for years with no relief, yet in these few minutes, the pain was subsiding!

Xue Gui did not answer, his expression grave. The dampness had been lodged for too long and had solidified. The dark blood was proof of the severity. After further needles were placed and more fluid drained, he removed them and massaged her waist for ten minutes.

"Try moving now."

Ge Qiong stood up cautiously and discovered, to her amazement, that the sharp, stabbing pain had vanished, replaced by a lightness she hadn't felt in years. Tears streamed down her face.

Liu Pinghai was even more shocked; Xue Gui’s medical skill was superior to anyone he had ever encountered. "Doctor Xue, thank you!"

After helping his wife back upstairs, Liu Pinghai returned to the living room and shook Xue Gui’s hand with fervor.

"I have only relieved the pain. The condition is too severe; this is merely the beginning of the treatment," Xue Gui explained. Seeing Liu Pinghai’s face stiffen, he added, "The follow-up is not difficult. Just follow the prescription I am writing down. If she takes these medicines daily, I guarantee there will be no further complications."

Xiao Ye watched, stunned. He knew Xue Gui was skilled, but this was miraculous. *Does this mean,* he thought, *that the scars on Qin Xueer’s face might also be curable?*

"Not bad, old man," Xiao Ye whispered to Xue Gui. "Keeping you by my side is almost a waste of your talents."

"I wouldn't dare say that," Xue Gui replied with a humble grin. "Only since following the King of Xiao have I truly realized my own value."

As they spoke, Xiao Ye’s phone rang again. It was Elder Liu.