As Jiang Tian left the hospital room, he passed by another room and suddenly heard the sound of heart-wrenching sobs coming from inside.
Jiang Tian stopped a nurse and asked, “Why is someone crying?”
“Probably because Old Tang is about to pass away. It’s so sad!” the nurse sighed.
“Old Tang?”
“Tang Guozhu. He’s a martial arts master who once served as an instructor for the Southern Military Region’s Tiger Special Forces. He integrated Southern-style martial arts like Wing Chun, Hung Gar, and Choy Li Fut into military combat techniques, making significant contributions to the spread of Southern martial arts. You know Bruce Lee, the world-famous martial arts star? He was Old Tang’s junior brother,” the nurse explained with reverence.
“Oh, him!” Jiang Tian nodded slightly.
“Old Tang isn’t just a martial arts master. He’s also a philanthropist. He founded a martial arts charity fund that has supported over a hundred underprivileged children. He’s highly respected and beloved in Linzhou,” the nurse added, visibly moved.
Old Tang, a martial arts grandmaster, had disciples all over China.
He had trained many elite soldiers and was on equal footing with the leaders of the Southern Military Region, often sharing drinks and conversations with them.
As a result, the Tang family was considered the most prestigious family in Linzhou, even more influential than the Liu and Wu families.
“Yes, I’ve heard of him. A martial arts grandmaster, Tiger Special Forces instructor… He’s practically the most famous figure in Linzhou since the founding of the nation,” Jiang Tian said, turning to look into the room.
Inside the room, a beautiful girl was crying her heart out beside the bed.
Next to her, a middle-aged woman, also in tears, was gently comforting the girl.
The room was filled with people, all exuding an air of importance. Judging by their attire, they were clearly wealthy and influential.
On the bed lay an elderly man with age spots covering his face. His eyes were tightly shut, his complexion pale and gaunt, his cheekbones protruding sharply. It seemed as though he was clinging to his last breath, and if he let it go, he would pass away.
“Dr. Chen, isn’t there any other way? Even if we could just extend his life by three months, until Secretary Tang returns from his party school training, that would be enough!” a soldier in uniform said with a troubled expression to an elderly man in a traditional long robe.
“Officer Wei, I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do,” the man addressed as Dr. Chen sighed helplessly.
“Old Tang’s illness was discovered too late. The disease has now spread throughout his body, causing organ failure. He’s showing signs of the ‘Five Signs of Decay.’ Even if a god descended from the heavens, there would be no saving him.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the room was filled with heartbroken sobs.
Dr. Chen, Chen Jishi, was known as the “King of Acupuncture” in Linzhou. He had studied under Zhang Yanghao, a royal physician from the Forbidden City, and his medical skills were unmatched in Linzhou.
If he said there was no cure, it essentially meant Old Tang’s life was over.
“Hmph, a quack doctor is no better than a butcher in white robes!”
Just as everyone was plunged into despair, a voice rang out from the doorway.
“What did you say? How dare you question my medical skills and integrity!” Chen Jishi glared at Jiang Tian, his eyes practically spitting fire.
Chen Jishi was a renowned figure in Linzhou, and even the Tang family treated him with respect. But today, this young man had insulted him, and he was furious.
“Can’t I question your skills?” Jiang Tian walked into the room and said coldly, “Old Tang still has at least five years of life left in him. Yet you’re telling everyone to give up on him. If that’s not the work of a quack, what is?”
“And you are…?” Officer Wei frowned, looking at Jiang Tian.
The young man seemed arrogant and brash, which left Officer Wei puzzled.
“Me?” Jiang Tian smiled faintly. “My surname is Jiang, and I’m the only person in the world who can save Old Tang!”
In the outer realms, Jiang Tian had brought the dead back to life and helped ancient demons rebuild their bodies. Saving a mere mortal would be child’s play for him.
“What?”
“How can you be so confident?”
His words caused an uproar in the room. Everyone was shocked, unable to believe what they were hearing.
“You’re saying you have a way?” The middle-aged woman, Old Tang’s daughter-in-law, looked up for the first time, scrutinizing Jiang Tian carefully.
At that moment, a young man standing behind Chen Jishi sneered, “Well, well, if it isn’t Jiang Tian, the lunatic!”
The young man was tall and handsome, dressed head to toe in designer brands. He was the kind of guy who would turn heads on the street.
But the way he looked at Jiang Tian was full of disdain, as if he were a superior being looking down on an ant.
“Wu Zhaohui, what a coincidence running into you here!” Jiang Tian’s gaze landed on the young man, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Wu Zhaohui, the young master of the Wu family and a lackey of Liu Wangfeng.
In his past life, Jiang Tian’s greatest tormentor during his time in Linzhou had been Wu Zhaohui. It was Wu who had pushed Jiang Tian into the abyss.
Wu Zhaohui had pretended to be Jiang Tian’s friend, but he had secretly fed him alcohol laced with industrial toxins, causing permanent brain damage and driving Jiang Tian to madness.
“Zhaohui, what are you talking about? He’s a lunatic?” the middle-aged woman asked in surprise.
“Auntie, I’m not lying. A while ago, he drank too much and damaged his brain. He’s been smashing things and setting fires at home. He can’t even take care of himself. He’s a regular at the mental hospital. And now he claims he can cure people? What a joke!” Wu Zhaohui said with a mocking laugh.
“So he’s a lunatic!” Chen Jishi crossed his arms and looked at Jiang Tian with contempt. “If you want to show off, at least know your limits! I suggest you stop embarrassing yourself and get out of here!”
But the girl crying by the bed, as if grasping at straws, grabbed Jiang Tian’s sleeve and pleaded, “Please, save my grandfather! If you can bring him back, the Tang family will grant you any wish and treat you as an honored guest!”
The girl was Tang Linglong, the princess of the Tang family and the most sought-after socialite in Linzhou. Her beauty and figure were top-tier, and her elegance was unmatched. Even Wu Zhaohui had been infatuated with her, desperately pursuing her.
But Jiang Tian’s heart belonged to Zhao Xueqing. In his eyes, Tang Linglong wasn’t even worth a single strand of Zhao Xueqing’s hair.
Old Tang’s daughter-in-law, Chen Xin, sighed and said to Chen Jishi with a bitter smile, “Dr. Chen, since you can’t do anything, why not let him try? Maybe there’s still a glimmer of hope.”
“Auntie, Jiang Tian is a lunatic. What can he possibly do? Don’t let him desecrate Old Tang!” Wu Zhaohui sneered, looking at Jiang Tian with disdain.
“Ah, Young Master Wu, since Madam Tang wants to give him a chance, let him try,” Chen Jishi said with a cold smile, then looked at Jiang Tian mockingly.
“If you can cure Old Tang, I’ll serve you tea and bow to you as my master!”
His words caused an uproar in the room.
“Fine, if this kid wants to show off, let him! If he fails, I’ll have every reason to kill him. It’ll also help clear the way for Young Master Liu to take Zhao Xueqing,” Wu Zhaohui thought, his eyes dark with murderous intent.
“Dr. Chen, please stay as a witness. Everyone else, leave the room!” Jiang Tian said with a mocking glance at Wu Zhaohui, then walked over to Old Tang’s bedside.