Chapter 6

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Zhang Qingyuan was right. Even if he helped prolong Huang Lao's life, Daoist Cheng Feng could only extend it by three to four days at most, and he would need to use ginseng. Helping a dying person prolong their life was something he could do, but using ginseng, a precious natural treasure, seemed a bit wasteful. Ginseng of lower quality wouldn't work, but high-quality ginseng was hard to come by, as it would become rarer with each use.

If someone needed to be saved in the future and there was no ginseng left, he would have to watch a living person die, which he was unwilling to do. However, Huang Lao was brought by his most outstanding disciple from back then, and he couldn't refuse.

Suddenly, Cheng Feng grasped the key point in Zhang Qingyuan's words and said excitedly, "Could it be... could it be that you have a way, little brother?"

As a cultivator who had reached the sixth level of Qi Condensation, many things that were incomprehensible or impossible in the secular world were not impossible for him. Similarly, with true qi, traditional Chinese medicine could be even more effective, allowing for a clearer diagnosis and more precise treatment, avoiding detours. Even in acupuncture, his skills would far surpass those of ordinary people.

And Zhang Qingyuan was a high-level cultivator who had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage. If Cheng Feng couldn't do it, could Zhang Qingyuan?

Once he realized this, Cheng Feng immediately scolded himself for being muddled.

"Little brother, the one who spoke rudely just now was Ms. Huang, but Huang Lao is a great philanthropist who donates hundreds of millions of yuan to charity every year. He is a good person. Could you please take a look?" With what had just happened, Cheng Feng now spoke cautiously.

When Cheng Feng said this, Jiang Hanguang, who thought he knew his teacher well, was greatly shocked. He knew a bit about what Cheng Feng had done in the past, and many important figures had tried to invite him but failed.

But now, his teacher's attitude towards this young man was extremely good, almost to the point of being overly respectful. When had his teacher ever been like this?

Moreover, Cheng Feng's words implied that if the person was not good, he wouldn't treat them. He had said this to Cheng Feng before, knowing his teacher's principles: he wouldn't treat great villains, unscrupulous rich people, or corrupt officials. These were Cheng Feng's three no-treatment rules.

Only now did Jiang Hanguang begin to carefully observe Zhang Qingyuan. No matter how he looked, he couldn't see how this young man, dressed in casual clothes and with a delicate appearance, could solve a medical problem that was impossible even by international standards.

However, it was unrealistic for Jiang Hanguang to believe in Zhang Qingyuan. But he had a blind admiration for Daoist Cheng Feng, thinking, "Since my teacher values this young man so much, he must have some skills."

Jiang Hanguang thought this, and Huang Zhiguo and Huang Zhiqin, who were both quick-witted, especially Huang Zhiqin, recognized Zhang Qingyuan's extraordinary abilities.

Of course, for Daoist Cheng Feng to speak so highly of him, Zhang Qingyuan must have a significant background. However, they still didn't fully believe in his medical skills. But after the lesson they had just learned, they didn't dare to show any dissatisfaction. They came to Zhang Qingyuan again, apologized, and asked him to examine Huang Lao.

Seeing Cheng Feng speak this way, Huang Zhiguo and his sister apologized again. Although they were still doing it for Cheng Feng's sake, Cheng Feng couldn't refuse anymore. At this moment, he felt a competitive spirit rather than the敷衍 attitude he had when he first arrived.

Zhang Qingyuan walked to Huang Lao's bedside. Now, there was no distance like on the mountain. Zhang Qingyuan could clearly feel the life force draining from Huang Lao's body and his increasingly slow pulse. If he didn't act soon, it would be a lot more difficult to save him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qingyuan reached out and pulled out the IV tube from Huang Lao's hand.

"Ah—What are you doing?" The nurse was startled and exclaimed.

"You—" Huang Zhiguo, who was only giving Daoist Cheng Feng face, didn't expect Zhang Qingyuan to pull out the IV tube without knowing the situation. He was about to react, but Huang Zhiqin grabbed his hand and signaled him not to act rashly.

Although Huang Zhiguo was puzzled by his sister's actions, the IV drip was barely effective. Seeing Zhang Qingyuan calmly pull it out, he couldn't gauge his skills and didn't continue. He sat on the sofa, looking at Zhang Qingyuan coldly with a hint of disdain.

In contrast to Huang Zhiguo's disdain and coldness, Daoist Cheng Feng, Zhou Ziyuan, Jiang Hanguang, and Master Wang all gathered around nervously, wanting to see how Zhang Qingyuan would treat Huang Lao.

Huang Zhiqin looked at her brother, who was fuming, and at the people gathered around Zhang Qingyuan. She wanted to go over but didn't want to lose face for her brother, so she sat on the sofa, feeling restless.

Zhang Qingyuan first observed Huang Lao's face and tongue, then undid the buttons on his upper body, examining from his neck to his right chest.

During this process, Daoist Cheng Feng and Jiang Hanguang didn't speak or introduce the condition, not to make Zhang Qingyuan look foolish, but because traditional Chinese medicine relies partly on experience. If they shared their own diagnosis, it might influence him.

Next, Zhang Qingyuan extended a finger and placed it on Huang Lao's pulse.

"One-finger pulse-taking technique?" Jiang Hanguang exclaimed.

They all knew the one-finger pulse-taking technique, but using it to diagnose lung cancer, unless one was overly confident, indicated extremely high medical skills.

But was Zhang Qingyuan's medical skills really that high?

Not only did Jiang Hanguang show a look of disdain, but Daoist Cheng Feng also became hesitant, unsure of Zhang Qingyuan's abilities.

Zhang Qingyuan, focused on Huang Lao, didn't notice their expressions. In fact, with his skills, he didn't even need to take the pulse to understand Huang Lao's condition clearly, but this was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, so he had to pretend to examine and take the pulse.

A strand of true qi entered Huang Lao's meridians through Zhang Qingyuan's finger, scanning his entire body and finally circling around his lungs.

"Hmm." Zhang Qingyuan murmured.

Everyone heard this, and Jiang Hanguang was already convinced that Zhang Qingyuan was just putting on a show. After all, even his teacher couldn't treat it, so what could he do? He would probably say, "Hmm, this disease is very complex, just as Daoist Cheng Feng diagnosed. I am also powerless."

Thinking of this, Jiang Hanguang's disdain grew. If he were humble, it would be fine, but he first made grand claims and then pretended to examine. In the end, he would fail, making his teacher lose face. Young people just care about their reputation.

Of course, Jiang Hanguang wouldn't expose Zhang Qingyuan now, as his teacher had vouched for him.

Huang Zhiguo's anger was already boiling over. He thought the same as Jiang Hanguang: the young man just cared about his reputation, but was this the place to show off?

Huang Zhiqin's thoughts also wavered. Maybe I'm overthinking it; he just has good martial arts skills?

Although Daoist Cheng Feng had doubts, he still held a glimmer of hope, thinking of Zhang Qingyuan's Foundation Establishment stage.

After Zhang Qingyuan's "Hmm," he said after a while, "Huang Lao is emaciated, fatigued, dry-mouthed, short of breath, has poor appetite, and is weak. His tongue is red and dry with no coating. The diagnosis is deficiency of both the lungs and spleen, and depletion of kidney yin. This is a lung condition caused by deficiency of both qi and yin."

"This young man has some skills." Hearing Zhang Qingyuan's words, not only was Jiang Hanguang stunned, but Daoist Cheng Feng was also taken aback. Although he hoped Zhang Qingyuan was a medical genius, it seemed incredible when it actually happened.

The most shocked was Huang Zhiguo. Zhang Qingyuan's diagnosis was exactly the same as what Jiang Hanguang and Cheng Feng had said. However, when he saw Zhou Ziyuan next to Zhang Qingyuan, his shock turned to anger, "Zhou Ziyuan was there when Daoist Cheng Feng diagnosed Huang Lao. She must have told this young man. She must have."

"Kid, if you can't explain it later, just for making us run around, I'll make you pay. You're asking for it!" Huang Zhiguo's anger grew, but his rationality told him not to act rashly. He glared at Zhang Qingyuan, wishing he could kick him away.

"Brilliant." Daoist Cheng Feng, regaining his composure, clapped his hands in praise, his confidence in Zhang Qingyuan growing, "Little brother, to be honest, my diagnosis was the same as yours. Now that you've identified the problem, do you have a way to alleviate it?"

"Alleviation isn't necessary. I haven't finished. Huang Lao's lung cancer didn't develop so quickly. The key is—poisoning." Zhang Qingyuan said solemnly.

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