Chapter 0025: Kneel Down and Beg Me

“Beautiful lady, do you have a boyfriend?” Walking alongside Lin Siyu, Zhang Xiaofan grinned as he asked the question.

“You can call me Lin Siyu,” she replied.

“Calling you by name just doesn’t feel right. How about I call you Sister Lin?” Zhang Xiaofan continued.

Lin Siyu could only sigh inwardly. How could someone be so shameless…

“Call me whatever you wish…”

“Sister Lin, are you a 36D?”

“You! Can’t you be serious for once?”

“Sister Lin, your figure is incredible!”

…

Lin Siyu simply pretended not to hear. She was on the brink of being driven mad. In all her years, no one had ever dared speak to her this way—not even the most arrogant scions of wealth or power. To her, they were always respectful and deferential.

Before long, they arrived at their destination. This area was distinctly different from the last. Zhang Xiaofan immediately noticed covert sentries posted all around—each one clearly an expert, providing layers of security both inside and out.

Moreover, those men carried an unmistakable air of violence and iron discipline. There was no mistaking it—they were soldiers, and not just any soldiers, but top-tier ones.

As they drew closer, Zhang Xiaofan saw an elderly man seated in a place of honor upon a redwood chair carved with a dragon motif. His brows radiated an aura of righteousness and authority. Simply sitting there, he projected an invisible pressure over everyone present.

“Grandfather, I’ve brought our guest,” Lin Siyu said softly as she approached the old man.

While Zhang Xiaofan observed the elder, the elder also looked him up and down. Their eyes met, and each saw a flash of surprise in the other.

Zhang Xiaofan was shocked to realize the elder was a general—the insignia on his uniform betrayed his rank. The old man, in turn, was startled at Zhang Xiaofan’s youth; more importantly, he felt a kind of pressure emanating from this young man.

As a general, his own abilities were beyond question, and he was also a master of internal martial arts. He had a fair understanding of ancient martial techniques, too. Yet, he could actually sense pressure coming from someone so young.

Standing nearby were several other individuals—every one of them prominent members of high society, some even figures from the legitimate world, all displaying utmost respect for the old general.

“This illness of the general’s is truly unprecedented. In all my years, I have neither seen nor heard of such a case. I’m at a complete loss…” said an elderly doctor, his hair and beard white as snow, his stature short and skin wrinkled, yet his eyes sparkled with vitality.

Nearby stood several other elders and middle-aged men, all shaking their heads, each carrying a medical kit—clearly doctors, and all practitioners of Chinese medicine.

“Didn’t you all claim to be miracle doctors?” came a sharp, angry voice—it was none other than Liu Xiao.

Clearly, he had gone to great lengths to bring these renowned doctors in hopes of currying favor with General Lin.

Lin Siyu’s grandfather—Lin Haonan, Commander of the Garrison in Jinghai City—was a man of immense influence, truly a heavyweight in Jinghai. Though the Liu family was wealthy and powerful, in front of Lin Haonan, they were as children before an adult—utterly incomparable.

“Mr. Liu, with all due respect, the general’s condition appears to be an illness, but in fact, it is not. There is something inexplicable at work here, something I have never encountered in all my decades of practice,” the old physician protested.

“All right, enough! Quacks will be quacks,” Liu Xiao interrupted harshly.

He quickly turned to Lin Haonan and respectfully said, “General, Master Gao will be here shortly. Please wait a little longer.”

“You must mean Gao Zhipeng—thoughtful of you,” Lin Haonan nodded. Because of Ye Zhantian’s introduction, he had met Liu Xiao at a few gatherings, though they were not particularly close. Still, Liu Xiao’s efforts in assembling all these doctors for him elicited a measure of goodwill.

“Perhaps I should take a look,” Zhang Xiaofan said mildly. Liu Xiao had already noticed him; he knew Zhang Xiaofan had cured Ye Zhantian’s poisoning. His suggestion to wait for Gao Zhipeng was just an excuse—he didn’t want Zhang Xiaofan to steal his thunder after all his effort to win General Lin’s favor.

“You? Do you even have a medical license?” Liu Xiao signaled with his eyes to his subordinate, who instantly caught on and asked Zhang Xiaofan with disdain.

“No,” Zhang Xiaofan answered bluntly.

“Heh… No license, and you think you’re qualified?” the man sneered, his contempt deepening.

“All right, I have no interest in arguing with dogs,” Zhang Xiaofan retorted, dismissing the man as nothing more than a Liu family lackey.

“General, you really should reconsider. This boy doesn’t even look twenty. What makes you think he can treat you? What if something happens… Let’s just wait for Master Gao,” Liu Xiao said, his words reasonable enough that no one could object.

“Master Gao is here…” someone announced, and soon Gao Zhipeng appeared, escorted by several guards.

Upon seeing Zhang Xiaofan, Gao Zhipeng immediately stepped forward and greeted him politely. “I didn’t expect to find you here, Doctor.”

Liu Xiao’s face darkened. Why was Gao Zhipeng being so tactless?

“Haha, you flatter me. Liu Xiao invited you to examine the general—go ahead,” Zhang Xiaofan smiled.

“Are you also here to treat the general?” Gao Zhipeng asked.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded.

“With you here, there’s nothing for me to do. Had I known, I wouldn’t have rushed here from the capital,” Gao Zhipeng said with a helpless smile.

“Don’t say that. I haven’t examined him yet, and perhaps you’ll be the one to cure him,” Zhang Xiaofan replied. “Liu Xiao was insistent about waiting for you.”

Gao Zhipeng turned to Liu Xiao. “Mr. Liu, compared to Doctor Zhang, I am nothing. If the general’s illness is delayed because of me, I cannot bear that responsibility.”

By now, Liu Xiao’s face was ashen.

The other elderly physicians Liu Xiao had brought looked at Zhang Xiaofan with curiosity. They were aware of Gao Zhipeng’s reputation, and anyone he praised so highly must truly possess rare skill. Still, until they saw it for themselves, they remained skeptical of Zhang Xiaofan’s abilities.

“Um… Mr. Liu?” Zhang Xiaofan turned to Liu Xiao, feigning seriousness. “You should hurry and find someone to treat the general.”

“Master Gao?” Liu Xiao had no choice but to look to Gao Zhipeng.

“Mr. Liu, I’m familiar with the colleagues you invited; our skills are on par. If they couldn’t help, I surely can’t either. Doctor Zhang, on the other hand, is a master of ancient medicine and possesses the legendary Ghost Hand Divine Needles. Only he is qualified to treat the general,” Gao Zhipeng declared.

“What? The legendary Ghost Hand Divine Needles?” the other old physicians exclaimed in shock.

“Indeed. Not long ago, I witnessed Doctor Zhang perform the Ghost Hand Divine Needles myself, and he even employed the fabled Qi-Driven Needling,” Gao Zhipeng said earnestly.

“I never imagined anyone still possessed such skill. Young man—no, Doctor Zhang—please, grant us the honor of witnessing your art.”

“Young friend, I must ask you to examine me,” Lin Haonan said.

“I can do it, but I have a condition,” Zhang Xiaofan replied. Liu Xiao, for some reason, began to feel a twinge of unease.

“Name it. If it’s in my power, I will do it,” Lin Haonan answered.

“It’s simple, and I’m sure the general can arrange it,” Zhang Xiaofan said softly, glancing at Liu Xiao. “I want our esteemed Mr. Liu here to kneel and beg me. He went to such lengths to find a doctor for the general, and was so thoughtful as to ask whether I had a medical license. I’m an easygoing person, but I don’t take kindly to being doubted. I imagine Mr. Liu also wants the general to be cured, so kneeling and begging shouldn’t be too much to ask, should it?”

Lin Haonan’s expression changed. This young man was clearly one to repay all slights in full. He could see now that Zhang Xiaofan and Liu Xiao must have a prior grudge.

“Mr. Liu, what do you say?” Lin Haonan inquired. Zhang Xiaofan had been recommended by his sworn brother, Ye Zhantian, who had spoken of him with great reverence. Knowing Ye Zhantian’s character, anyone he held in such esteem must be truly remarkable. Lin Haonan had been content to observe until now, but it was clear whose side he should take—for Ye Zhantian’s sake, and his own health.

Liu Xiao’s face was a study in humiliation. To kneel before Zhang Xiaofan was worse than death to him.

“What’s wrong? Unwilling?” Lin Haonan’s tone hardened, his aura oppressive.

“General, with my age and status, must I kneel to this inexperienced boy? If he truly wishes to help you, why insist on such theatrics?” Liu Xiao protested.

“Was it not you who prevented him from examining me earlier?” Lin Haonan said gravely. “You don’t have to kneel, but if you can find someone else to cure me, then do so. Otherwise, I’ll consider it an attempt on my life. Are you prepared to bear that responsibility?”

“You’re threatening me,” Liu Xiao objected, forgetting for a moment who he was speaking to.

“Consider it a threat if you wish,” Lin Haonan replied with a cold smile.

Liu Xiao clenched his fists, but even a hundred times his current courage would not be enough to challenge Lin Haonan. All he could do was direct his mounting resentment at Zhang Xiaofan.

“This is your last chance. Will you kneel, or not?” Lin Haonan’s voice carried a force that brooked no defiance.

Liu Xiao’s inner turmoil was intense. If he refused, he had no doubt that Lin Haonan could erase the Liu family from Jinghai with a single word. After weighing his options, he had no choice but to kneel.

Though every fiber of his being rebelled, he had to endure. Sooner or later, the tables would turn. Besides, Zhang Xiaofan wouldn’t live long anyway. Just think of it as kneeling to a dead man.

He slowly sank to his knees. “Please, save General Lin.”

Zhang Xiaofan smiled. “You think you can compete with me? I’ll play you into the ground.”

“Mr. Liu, your sense of duty is admirable. I’m sure the general will thank you for it,” he said, turning to Lin Haonan. “But I’d prefer not to see this man while I work—it might interfere with my concentration. Could you have him removed?”

If looks could kill, Liu Xiao’s glare would have slain Zhang Xiaofan a thousand times over.

“I’ll make you pay for this, you bastard!” Liu Xiao raged inwardly.

“Guards, remove him. And from now on, don’t let him appear before me without my express order,” Lin Haonan commanded. Two men seized Liu Xiao by the arms and dragged him out, tossing him aside like a dead dog.

It was a humiliating spectacle.

Those assembled in the great hall looked on and whispered among themselves. Liu Xiao was a notable figure in Jinghai, yet now he had been thrown out like so much refuse. Truly, there is always someone greater, and a mountain beyond every mountain.