Chapter 43: Ye Wen Sees the Dawn, a Sudden Crisis at the Hospital

"Age does not determine the master; ability does. I ask that you please impart your wisdom and guide me!"

Yun Shuhan spoke to Jiang Chen with sound reasoning, indifferent to their disparity in age.

"Very well."

Jiang Chen helped Yun Shuhan to her feet, accepting her as his disciple. "However, I am exhausted right now. Let us postpone the lessons until another day."

"Thank you, Master!"

Yun Shuhan beamed with joy. Becoming his apprentice to study medicine was the greatest achievement of her trip.

"Congratulations, Mr. Jiang, on gaining such a fine disciple!" Qin Pojun said with a smile, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

Old Master Zhao and his son, Zhao Tingshan, also offered their blessings with radiant smiles. They knew that a high-level martial arts grandmaster and miraculous physician like Jiang Chen would always be a sought-after treasure wherever he went. They had more than once felt fortunate to be on good terms with him; the Zhao family’s crisis had been resolved by him with a mere wave of his hand. As long as they remained in his favor, there was no telling how great the future benefits might be.

"Mr. Jiang, by saving my father, you have become a great benefactor to the Qin family!" Qin Pojun continued, "Please, name your price or tell us what you desire. As long as it is within the Qin family’s power, we will offer it to you with both hands!"

"General Qin, you are being too formal. I came to save Old Master Qin today at the request of the Zhao family. There is no need for any consultation fee." Jiang Chen waved his hand, gifting the favor to the Zhao family instead.

"My sincerest thanks to Old Master Zhao and the head of the Zhao family. Should the Zhao family ever require assistance in the future, the Qin family will surely do our utmost to help!" Understanding Jiang Chen's intention, Qin Pojun expressed his gratitude to the Zhao family and gave his word. Old Master Zhao and Zhao Tingshan were overjoyed, well aware that this promise was given solely for Jiang Chen’s sake.

After Jiang Chen wrote a prescription for Old Master Qin, he bade them farewell and departed.

"Master, where do you live? Let me drive you!" Yun Shuhan asked, hoping to escort him.

"No need. I am staying at the Tiange Zifu. Feel free to come and find me when you are free." Jiang Chen replied casually. He didn't want to trouble Yun Shuhan, and having broken a sweat, he wanted to return quickly to take a shower.

Qin Pojun was surprised that the Zhao family had gifted the Tiange Zifu villa to Jiang Chen, but considering his status as a high-level martial arts grandmaster and physician, it made perfect sense. It seemed the Qin family would have to prepare a gift even more valuable than the Tiange Zifu to properly thank him.

***

At the Lin-du Tiange, Wen Ruoxuan and Ye Qingchan, scions of two prominent, wealthy families, crossed paths. They came from different backgrounds—one from Haidu, the other from Longdu—and both held exceptionally noble status.

"Miss Ye, it has been a long time. What a coincidence to run into you here in Linzhou." Wen Ruoxuan greeted her with a polite smile. Although both were heiresses, the Ye family’s influence and foundation were far greater than that of the Wen family.

At only twenty-four years old, Ye Qingchan was already Longdu’s top martial arts prodigy—an expert whose youth belied a level of excellence far exceeding her peers.

"Is there something you need, Miss Wen?" Ye Qingchan asked bluntly.

"To be honest, Miss Ye, I heard that a miraculous physician and grandmaster is staying at the Tiange Zifu, so I came to pay a visit," Wen Ruoxuan replied with a smile. "Surely you aren't here for the same reason?"

"I am." Ye Qingchan did not deny it. She had indeed come looking for Mr. Jiang. Thanks to the prescription he had written for her, using a century-old ginseng king as an ingredient, her injuries had healed rapidly, and she had even successfully broken through to the mid-level of martial arts grandmaster. Surprised and delighted, she had come to thank him in person.

"That’s wonderful! Let’s go together, then," Wen Ruoxuan suggested happily.

With the heiresses of two great families arriving together—and with Ye Qingchan being a martial arts grandmaster herself—the eccentric physician would surely see them. Ye Qingchan, however, was less than pleased; she wanted to see Mr. Jiang alone, yet she could not simply tell Wen Ruoxuan to get lost.

The two women arrived at the entrance of the Tiange Zifu and rang the doorbell, waiting expectantly. But after a long time, no one appeared, and repeated ringing yielded no response.

"Miss Ye, it seems the grandmaster is not home. Let’s go have lunch instead," Wen Ruoxuan suggested after confirming the house was empty.

As they were turning to leave, a car pulled up, and the driver turned out to be an "acquaintance."

"Jiang Chen? What are you doing here?" Wen Ruoxuan asked, looking at him with surprise and suspicion. Hearing this, Ye Qingchan finally learned his name. She was startled that the two knew each other and curious about his purpose here.

"Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" Jiang Chen stopped the car and retorted coldly. He hadn't expected to find Ye Qingchan with Wen Ruoxuan.

"You..." Stung by his retort, Wen Ruoxuan frowned. "If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to beg the grandmaster to go treat Old Master Chu, aren't you?" She scoffed. "How pathetic! A small fry like you isn't even worthy of seeing the grandmaster! Even if Old Master Chu himself came, he wouldn't be qualified to ask the grandmaster to intervene!"

Ye Qingchan finally understood: Jiang Chen was working for the Chu family—or rather, running errands for them.

"You're insane." Jiang Chen said icily, feeling that there was something wrong with the woman’s head.

"What did you say?" Wen Ruoxuan shrieked in anger.

"I won't repeat myself. Move out of the way!" Jiang Chen had no patience for her nonsense.

Wen Ruoxuan was livid. This bastard had called her insane and then claimed it was a "kind word"?

"Miss Wen, let’s go," Ye Qingchan said, wishing to avoid any entanglement with Jiang Chen and especially not wanting Wen Ruoxuan to know that she had a past connection with him. She walked away without looking back.

Wen Ruoxuan had no choice but to follow, turning back to warn Jiang Chen, "For Miss Ye’s sake, I—"

"Vroom!"

Jiang Chen slammed on the gas, the car roaring away and kicking up a gust of wind that sent Wen Ruoxuan’s hair into disarray. She was left standing there, fuming.

*Jiang Chen! I will make you pay for this!* she roared internally, though she forced herself to maintain an elegant facade in front of Ye Qingchan.

***

Jiang Chen drove into the Tiange Zifu garage. Finding his sister, Jiang Qing, absent from the villa, he pulled out his phone and called her.

"Sis, where are you?"

"Xiao Chen, I went out to buy groceries and was accidentally hit by a car. I'm almost at the hospital..." Jiang Qing said, trying to suppress her pain.

"What? Which hospital? I'm coming right now!" Jiang Chen’s face paled, his heart racing with worry.

"The Linzhou Military General Hospital," Jiang Qing replied, trying to reassure him. "I’m not seriously hurt, don't worry."

Jiang Chen could not help but worry. He immediately drove toward the hospital.

Ye Qingchan and Wen Ruoxuan had not yet left the grounds of the Tiange when they saw Jiang Chen speeding away.

"Hmph! Don't bother hoping to see the grandmaster; even if he were home, he wouldn't see just any Tom, Dick, or Harry!" Wen Ruoxuan scoffed, hoping for Ye Qingchan’s agreement.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."

The only response was the vibration of Ye Qingchan’s phone. She stepped aside to answer a call from a member of her Hidden Dragon squad, deployed from Longdu.

"Captain, the remnants of the Xiao-Kun ninja clan hiding in Linzhou have appeared. They have disguised themselves as locals and headed to the Linzhou Military General Hospital, seemingly to hunt someone down. Should we move in and arrest them?"

"Do not act rashly! Follow my orders! Do not expose yourselves under any circumstances! Report back if there are any developments!" Ye Qingchan’s face hardened. She would not allow a repeat of the sacrifice her squad members had faced before.

She dashed to her car and drove at full speed toward the hospital, leaving Wen Ruoxuan behind, once again ruffled and confused by the wind.