Inside the Huichun Clinic, a crowd had already gathered. A quick glance revealed seventeen or eighteen people packed into the modest space. While that number might seem small for a bustling establishment, for Huichun Clinic—especially after the passing of both Ye Ran and Ye Tingyun—it was the liveliest it had been in a long time.
Unfortunately, they weren't there seeking treatment.
The commotion earlier caused by Cui Hao had quickly drawn in curious onlookers from the street. It seemed everyone wanted a glimpse of the latest spectacle involving the fallen Ye family, now with Ye Xuan having married into the household. What new farce had they managed to cook up this time?
Although the shouting had subsided after Cui Hao was unceremoniously kicked out by Mengmeng, no one had left. They lingered outside, waiting—because they knew the real drama was just beginning.
As for Cui Hao, he tried to maintain his composure, pacing anxiously outside the partitioned treatment room. But the moment he heard his brother Cui Qiang's violent coughing, he snapped. With his other two brothers in tow, he stormed forward, flinging the door open without hesitation.
That cough was just too fierce. Even a healthy person would've hurt their lungs coughing like that, let alone someone sick to begin with.
But what met their eyes upon entering stopped them cold.
The little girl who had earlier forced Cui Hao out was now unconscious in Luo Yanlan's arms. And on the bedsheet beside Cui Qiang lay a fresh pool of black blood.
They didn't need anyone to explain. That blood had clearly come from Cui Qiang.
"You bastards!" Cui Hao roared, charging straight at Ye Xuan. He swung a massive fist toward Ye Xuan's face without warning.
Ye Xuan calmly took a half-step back, tilting his body just enough to dodge.
"Oh? Quick reflexes," Cui Hao sneered. "But it won't save you!"
He barked over his shoulder, "Brothers! Wreck the place!"
But just as his men raised their arms, a weak voice called out.
"Stop!"
Everyone turned toward the bed.
Cui Qiang had propped himself up with great effort, his face pale but determined. "Brother... don't! I'm fine!"
"A-Qiang!" Cui Hao froze mid-step, then dashed to the bedside and threw his arms around his brother. Laughing and crying, he shouted, "You're okay! You're really okay! Thank the heavens—this is amazing!"
"Careful… you're crushing me," Cui Qiang winced.
"Hah! Sorry, sorry! I just got too excited," Cui Hao let out a sheepish laugh as he loosened his grip.
Then he turned toward Luo Yanlan, his face flushing with sincerity. "Doctor Luo, thank you. You saved my brother's life."
He paused, as if remembering something, then bowed low. "And... I apologize for earlier. I've got a temper, and I was way out of line. Please forgive me."
Caught off guard, Luo Yanlan looked toward Ye Xuan for help.
"It's fine. As long as you realize your mistake. Just settle the bill and you're free to go," Ye Xuan said with a casual wave of his hand, clearly unfazed by the earlier aggression.
Cui Hao blinked, then nodded gratefully, repeating his thanks as he helped his brother up and led him out of the room.
As they reached the doorway, Cui Hao paused, then suddenly stomped a foot and bellowed, "Move it! What the hell are you staring at? Got nothing better to do? Scram!"
The noisy crowd fell into stunned silence. After exchanging a few awkward glances, they finally began to disperse.
Even as they left, whispers continued to float through the air.
"Didn't expect that little girl to have real skill..."
"Right? I saw the whole thing. That kid was barely breathing when they carried him in. And now look at him—like nothing happened. It's unreal..."
"Tell me about it. I bet even Old Divine Doctor Ye couldn't pull something like that off. Wait—you don't think this was all staged, do you?"
"Staged? What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Ever since the old doctor passed away, the Ye family's been in decline. Even Ye Tingyun didn't inherit his full legacy. How could that little girl know such advanced techniques? I'm telling you, they probably planned this whole show just to impress us. And don't forget—Ye Xuan married into the family. What kind of clinic can a girl like that run with him around?"
"I don't buy it. That girl and Ye Xuan don't seem smart enough to pull this off. Otherwise, why would he marry in?"
"They might not, but what about the Mo family? Mo Xian'er is a business genius. Pulling off a stunt like this would be child's play for her."
"Hmm... that actually makes sense."
The murmurs continued as the group drifted away, their opinions scattered. But if one thing was clear, it was that few truly believed in Huichun Clinic—or Luo Yanlan's skills.
Suddenly, Cui Hao's voice cut through the air like a whip.
"Every last one of you—freeze!"
He stomped over to the loitering crowd, eyes blazing.
"Which one of you said we were faking it? Huh? Come on—step up!"
His voice was thunderous, and the weight behind it left everyone speechless.
"You don't believe in Doctor Luo's skills? Fine. I'll break your legs one by one, and she'll treat you! Let's see for yourselves just how 'fake' her abilities are!"
He raised his fists and charged forward.
"Run!" someone shouted.
And in just two blinks, the crowd scattered like startled birds.
After venting with a few curses, Cui Hao returned, breath heaving.
"Doctor Luo, don't worry. I'll clear your name. If anyone spreads nonsense again, just tell me—I'll set them straight."
Luo Yanlan blinked in surprise but eventually smiled and nodded under Ye Xuan's subtle encouragement.
Once Cui Hao left his contact info and helped Cui Qiang out, the clinic finally settled back into peace.
"Will Mengmeng be okay?" Luo Yanlan asked, glancing at the unconscious girl on the bed.
"She's just exhausted. A good night's sleep and she'll be fine," Ye Xuan replied casually.
Truth be told, he'd expected this. The technique he'd used earlier was fundamentally a celestial method. Though he'd adapted it to work with qi, the hasty modification left flaws, causing excessive energy drain.
And while Mengmeng's cultivation wasn't bad, she wasn't strong enough to bear such strain. Her unconsciousness was simply from spiritual depletion—not life-threatening.
Luo Yanlan nodded quietly, then turned to him with a hesitant look. After several moments of internal struggle, she finally asked, "When… when did you learn the Spirit-Guiding Needle?"
Ye Xuan blinked, flipping through the original owner's fragmented memories. He eventually found a reference point and shook his head. "That wasn't the Spirit-Guiding Needle. It was the Gu-Purging Needle. It's meant specifically to treat venomous parasites. If you're interested, I can teach you."
"Gu-Purging Needle?" Luo Yanlan frowned, searching her memory. The name didn't ring a bell. Confusion flickered across her face—but she didn't push further. "You'd really teach me?"
In her mind, Ye Xuan must've secretly inherited this from Ye Ran or Ye Tingyun. She was, after all, just a child they had taken in—not truly family. It wouldn't be strange if they had kept certain techniques from her.
"Of course. It's nothing too complicated," Ye Xuan said offhandedly.
He wasn't trying to keep secrets. Since he had chosen to help Luo Yanlan, he might as well go all the way. Otherwise, the next time a patient came in like today, and he wasn't around, she might be helpless—and the resulting gossip alone could crush her.
Ye Xuan didn't care what others thought—but that stubborn remnant soul inside him certainly did.
Luo Yanlan saw the sincerity in his eyes and beamed. But deep in her heart, a strange thought took root:
If he's teaching me the Gu-Purging Needle… then as long as I haven't mastered it, he'll have to keep coming back…