Wang Ming forced a bitter smile. "That old man must be spouting nonsense."
"According to my medical knowledge, no such miraculous Spiritual Wine exists. At best, it might help someone sleep."
Wang Ming was clearly trying his best to defend his opinion, but by now, even the Tang family members were having doubts. The surrounding prominent families also began to slip away one after another.
"Young Master Wang may have a point," Old Master Tang said with a slight smile, raising an eyebrow.
"Old Master, about my marriage proposal..." Wang Ming said, his smile returning.
"That still depends on Xuewu's wishes."
Old Master Tang waved a hand to stop him. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps Qin Long really had been a significant figure in the past. To avoid missing a potential opportunity, he needed to investigate Qin Long's background thoroughly.
"Very well."
Wang Ming cursed the old fox in his heart, but his face remained plastered with a smile.
The Tang Family dares to refuse me! Just wait until I get into Tang Xuewu's bed. I'll send all of you trash to the coal mines.
「Jiangzhong Bridge.」
Tang Xuewu supported Qin Long as they walked slowly toward home.
"Qin Long, if you didn't have money for a gift, you could have just told me!"
"Why did you have to give such a low-quality medicinal wine?"
Tang Xuewu looked at him, her beautiful eyes filled with frustration and disappointment.
"That bottle of medicinal wine is truly a treasure. It has a miraculous effect on cold poison," Qin Long said, looking at her with utter seriousness. "They just don't understand."
Tang Xuewu's delicate brows furrowed, and she shook her head slightly.
Qin Long has been crippled and considered a fool for so many years. How could he possibly have any treasure? And as Tang Yuxiang said, if it really was a Spiritual Wine, why hasn't he cured his own leg?
"Grandfather already disliked you," she said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "Now, he'll definitely detest you even more."
"A'Long, you're going to be thrown out of the Tang family! Don't you understand?"
Tears streamed down her beautiful face, and she looked utterly heartbroken and desolate.
At that moment, Qin Long's heart ached with sorrow. What happened to him didn't matter, but he couldn't bear to let Tang Xuewu be mocked and slandered because of him. She had been thrown out of her own grandfather's banquet in front of countless guests, all while supporting her crippled fiancé. How tragic and helpless must she feel?
"I've never cared what other people think," Qin Long said earnestly, taking her hand. "The only reason I haven't left is because I haven't repaid your kindness."
"Get away from me!" Tang Xuewu suddenly flung his hand away and broke down, sobbing loudly.
"Why is fate so cruel to me! I hate it!"
"Grandfather is completely disappointed in me, the Tang family treats me like an outcast, and I'm nothing but a joke to them!" All of Tang Xuewu's pent-up grievances burst forth in that one moment.
"Xuewu, I'm so sorry."
"I will repay your kindness!"
"It won't be long before all of this changes." After a moment of thought, Qin Long declared with immense gravity, "Whatever you desire, I, Qin Long, will grant it to you."
"I want you to heal your right leg. Can you do that?" Tang Xuewu shouted through her tears, glancing back at him one last time before turning and walking away.
Gazing out at the vast expanse of the Jiangzhong Bridge, Qin Long's eyes grew deep and resolute.
"I will recover," he vowed softly to himself. "And all this humiliation will end."
「Meanwhile.」
Inside a private suite of a luxurious five-star hotel in Jiangzhong.
"Elder Hua, I implore you to treat my granddaughter's illness."
"Though our Zhao Family has powerful connections and immense wealth, my granddaughter's illness is simply too bizarre. No one has been able to cure it!" Madam Zhao said to Huarong Dao, her expression pleading.
"Madam Zhao, the Medical Immortal is right here in Jiangzhong. Why seek me out?" Huarong Dao sighed, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"The Medical Immortal? Here in Jiangzhong?" Madam Zhao was stunned for a moment, then her expression turned skeptical.
"Indeed. I never imagined I would live to see the Spiritual Wine my own grandfather spoke of."
"If I didn't have a meeting to attend, I would insist on visiting him personally." Huarong Dao nodded firmly, his eyes filled with genuine regret.
"Who is the Medical Immortal?" Madam Zhao asked urgently.
Huarong Dao quickly explained, "He's the one who presented the medicinal wine."
He produced the shattered white porcelain bottle. "We could have used the Spiritual Wine to cure Miss Zhao's illness directly, but now..." he muttered, his voice trailing off in frustration.
"Ah! Are you saying that wine could have saved my precious granddaughter?" Hearing this, Madam Zhao shot to her feet, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Well, Elder Hua, you might not be aware, but three years ago, the Tang Family took in a cripple who was always in a daze."
"I believe he was the fiancé Old Madam Tang chose for Miss Tang Xuewu, and he's been living with them ever since."
"He was the one who brought this bottle of medicinal wine. Surely, he can't be the Medical Immortal, can he?" Madam Zhao simply couldn't believe a madman could possess such a treasure.
"Do you have any idea of the value of this Spiritual Wine?"
"Even if he isn't the Medical Immortal himself, he must be a close friend or relative of one."
"In the entire Grand Xia Nation, the number of people who can concoct such a wine can be counted on one hand."
"I've said more than enough for today. The rest is up to you, Madam Zhao." Before his words had even faded, Huarong Dao turned and left.
Madam Zhao stood in thought for a long moment. Finally, she gritted her teeth and called out, "Someone! Fetch the Jadeite Glaze from the vault and take it to the Tang family's courtyard immediately!"
For the sake of her beloved granddaughter, she had to see for herself.
After contemplating on the Jiangzhong Bridge for half an hour, Qin Long started for home, leaning on his cane. It was just about a mile from there to the small home he shared with Tang Xuewu. This was precisely why Tang Xuewu had felt safe leaving him there alone.
"After all these years, you've done more than enough for him!" Qin Long heard Zhang Meilan's roaring voice before he even stepped through the door.
"I know," Tang Xuewu replied, her voice choked with tears but her tone firm.
"You know nothing!" Zhang Meilan retorted. "My foolish daughter, you've done enough! You can't throw away the best years of your life on him!"
"Whether you agree or not, I will never let you marry a cripple, even if you end up hating me for it!"
"Being a cripple is one thing, but he's also a pauper! How is he supposed to provide for you in the future?" Zhang Meilan yelled, hands on her hips.
"I am simply fulfilling my duty as his fiancée until he is well again."
"He became like this defending our country. I cannot and will not abandon him," Tang Xuewu said, her tone unyielding.
"He's disabled and can't even take care of himself. If you kick him out, are you just sending him to his death?"
"As long as I, Tang Xuewu, am alive, I will not allow you to do this!" she declared, clenching her fists and glaring at her mother.
"How dare you, you wretched girl!" Zhang Meilan shrieked. "Your grandfather has already agreed!"
"You've been his mother and father all these years! Now that his memory is back, he must be thrown out!"
"Besides, after the Tang family treated him so well, he had the gall to present a bottle of poison wine at your grandfather's birthday banquet! He's an ungrateful beast, worse than a pig or a dog!" The thought only made Zhang Meilan angrier.
"I'm not arguing with you," Tang Xuewu snapped. "A'Long is still on the Jiangzhong Bridge. I have to go find him."
She hurried toward the door.
WHIRR.
Before she could reach it, the door opened automatically. Qin Long walked in, leaning on his cane.
The moment she saw Qin Long, Tang Xuewu felt a wave of relief. She instantly regretted having left him all alone on the bridge.
The instant Zhang Meilan laid eyes on Qin Long, her own widened in fury. Grabbing a nearby broom, she charged at him.