"Old Yang, your son's condition… it's a bit tricky."
Liu Junyi shook his head, looking troubled.
As soon as he heard this, Yang Zhentian's heart trembled. He asked urgently, "Master Liu, what's wrong?"
"Your son has suffered a head injury, resulting in blood stasis. Moreover, his body is frail and weak, deficient in both qi and blood, making it difficult for him to absorb tonics. If he were a robust person, I could use silver needles on his acupoints to force out the stagnant blood, but with your son's constitution…"
"Then what can we do? Master Liu, you have to save Xiao'Er! He's still so young. If something were to happen to him, I… how could I face his mother!"
Yang Zhentian grew frantic.
Liu Junyi maintained a troubled expression, but inwardly, he was laughing his head off.
'This old fogey, all it took was a little scare to get him like this. It seems his trash son really is his weak spot.'
"It's not that I don't want to save him, but this illness… it's truly difficult…"
Hearing Liu Junyi's words, Yang Zhentian's entire body began to tremble slightly.
This iron-blooded man, one who never showed weakness before others, was now bowing and scraping, showing such a desperate expression, all for his son.
It was a truly pitiable sight.
Watching this, Yang Xiao felt a pang in his heart.
He had now assimilated the original owner's lingering attachment to his father. He saw the man before him as his true father, and the affection he felt was no less than what he had felt for the master he regarded as a father in his first life.
It was even more profound.
At this moment, seeing Liu Junyi scare his father like this, he was seething with rage. But considering the man's status and strength, he knew he couldn't touch him without a solid reason.
'Let's see what this old bastard is planning!'
Gritting his teeth, Yang Xiao remained silent and composed.
Liu Junyi felt it was about time. If he kept up the act, he was afraid this doting father would go to any lengths to summon Chief Wang Qianhe.
At that point, not only would his scheme likely be exposed, but the benefits would certainly not fall into his hands.
So, after pretending to ponder for a moment, he said, "Actually, it's not impossible to save your son. It's just that the method…"
"What method? Master Liu, as long as you're willing to save Xiao'Er, I, Yang Zhentian, will do anything!"
Yang Zhentian practically threw himself in front of Liu Junyi.
The burning intensity in his eyes made even Liu Junyi flinch. But then he remembered the two Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicines and no less than 200,000 taels of gold this man had spent to hire him on two separate occasions. At that thought, Liu Junyi's heart began to burn with greed.
"It's not too difficult, actually. All we need is a stalk of Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass to refine a Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill. After taking it, the blood stasis in your son will dissipate…"
Liu Junyi said with absolute confidence.
"A Fifth-level Spirit Medicine, the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass?"
Yang Zhentian was taken aback at first.
'That's a Fifth-level Spirit Medicine!'
'But this is to save Xiao'Er!'
Gritting his teeth, Yang Zhentian said, "Alright, Master Liu. Please wait a moment. I'll go to Spirit Medicine Peak right now. I'll buy the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass, no matter the cost!"
At this moment, Yang Zhentian had already decided to bankrupt his family if necessary to buy the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass.
Because his son's life was on the line.
"There's no need for that. Speaking of the Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill, I happen to have one on me. I brought it along specifically in case a situation like your son's arose, and it seems it's come in handy… As for refining a new one, that Pill takes a lot of time. I'm afraid your son can't wait that long!"
Liu Junyi spoke up again.
He then took out a medicine vial from his robes, an expression of pained reluctance on his face.
"Master Liu, you… just name your price!"
Yang Zhentian knew that with how precious Liu Junyi was making this Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill sound, the price would certainly not be low. But for his son's sake, no matter how precious, he had to save him.
"You and I go way back. The main ingredient of this Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill is the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass. How about this: just bring me one stalk of Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass, plus one hundred thousand taels of gold for the refining fee, and this Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill is yours…"
"Old Yang, I'm only doing this because of our long-standing friendship. You can't let word of this get out. Otherwise, if everyone comes asking me to trade a Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass for a Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill, I'll lose a fortune on the supplementary ingredients alone."
"Yes, yes, I understand…"
After a series of humble pleas, Liu Junyi finally handed over the medicine vial.
At this point, Yang Xiao could no longer stand to watch.
Without a word, he strode forward, took the vial, opened it, and gave it a light sniff. A cold sneer appeared on his face, and he tossed the vial right back at Liu Junyi.
"Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill? Are you sure this thing can cure me?"
Hearing this, Liu Junyi's face darkened. He didn't look at Yang Xiao, however, but stared at Yang Zhentian with cold eyes and sneered, "Old Yang, what is the meaning of this?"
"Master Liu, please calm down. Xiao'Er is just worried about his condition and spoke rashly. He didn't mean to offend you. I'll go buy the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass and prepare the one hundred thousand taels of gold now. I hope Master Liu can be lenient, for old times' sake…"
Yang Zhentian was also surprised that his son would speak up at a time like this. He quickly tried to smooth things over, his posture growing even more deferential.
This made Yang Xiao even more furious.
"As far as I know, if there were blood stasis in my brain, it would cause a blockage, and I wouldn't have been able to wake up at all. Father, you can use your True Qi to probe me and see if this so-called Master Liu's diagnosis is correct!"
"Furthermore, the Pill in this vial is a sedative that induces deep sleep. It has no effect on blood stasis whatsoever. In fact, it's toxic. Are you trying to kill me by giving me a Pill like this?"
The expressions on both Yang Zhentian and Liu Junyi's faces changed instantly.
The former was shocked and hesitant, while the latter felt the anxiety of being exposed.
"Junior, what is the meaning of this! You're just a piece of trash, what do you know of medicine or pharmacology?"
But Liu Junyi's face immediately darkened as he roared in anger.
Inwardly, however, he was quite nervous. He knew that if Yang Zhentian really did investigate, his scheme would likely fall apart.
Moreover, the effects of the so-called Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill were just as Yang Xiao described. If this were to be investigated seriously, things would get ugly.
'Right now, my only hope is that Yang Zhentian trusts me and not his son.'
"Xiao'Er, stop messing around. Would Master Liu really deceive your father?"
Although Yang Zhentian was scolding his son, his tone was extremely soft and cautious. In fact, if Yang Xiao hadn't questioned Master Liu again and again, he wouldn't have even offered this gentle rebuke.
It was Liu Junyi's "piece of trash" comment that truly bothered him, but now was not the time to react. He could only endure it. Saving his son was what mattered!
"Father, you don't believe me?"
Yang Xiao walked right up to Yang Zhentian, took his hand, and placed it on his own head. "I am not completely ignorant of medical principles. The brain is the convergence of the six yang meridians. If there's blood stasis, one would lose consciousness, breathing would become rapid, and over time, the soul would scatter. A simple probe with True Qi will reveal the truth. Father, why don't you try?"
"As for this so-called Seven Mysterious Qi Circulation Pill, there are plenty of masters on Medicine Peak who can analyze it. We just need to take it to them to find out if it's real or fake. What do you think, Father?"
"How outrageous! Junior, what are your intentions, slandering a Great Pharmacist and the Vice Medicine Peak Master like this!"
Seeing Yang Xiao be so direct, Liu Junyi became flustered.
The more flustered he got, the calmer Yang Xiao became. "What are my intentions? Master Liu, I'd rather ask, what are *your* intentions?
There's clearly nothing wrong with me, yet you insist on frightening my father like this, demanding a Fifth-level Spirit Medicine, the Seven-leaf Meridian Passage Grass, in exchange for this worthless Qi Circulation Pill. Tell me, did our Yang Family fail to treat you with sufficient courtesy, making you so dissatisfied that you had to play this trick on us? Or is it that you're just naturally greedy, and getting a little only makes you want a lot more?"
"Fine, Yang Zhentian! What a fine son you've raised! I'm done treating this case! Let's see who can help you then!"
Liu Junyi roared.
He flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
But Yang Xiao wasn't about to let him go so easily.
"Trying to run away after your little scam failed?"
"You can go, but first, you will return double the consultation fee my father paid you for this visit. Otherwise, I'd like to see if the Law Enforcement Hall of the Purple Sun Sect will do something about a pharmacist who deceives patients and exaggerates their conditions!"
"And even if the Law Enforcement Hall doesn't get involved, let's see how you plan to silence the wagging tongues of the public!"
Seeing his son speak so righteously, and watching Liu Junyi desperately trying to prevent him from performing an examination, Yang Zhentian came to a decision.
He said nothing, but instead channeled his Innate True Qi into his son.
As soon as he probed, his face turned ashen.
"Liu Junyi! You were indeed lying to me, just as Xiao'Er said!"
Yang Zhentian roared.
"Yang Zhentian, are you also conspiring with your son to slander me?"
Even at this stage, not only did Liu Junyi refuse to admit it, he turned around and accused them instead.
Utterly shameless.
'If I had even a shred of cultivation right now, I'd beat this old bastard until he couldn't find his own teeth!'
Yang Xiao was truly furious.
But his anger quickly subsided.
Because someone else was doing exactly what he wanted to do.
"I, Yang Zhentian, slandered you? My Xiao'Er slandered you?!"
With a roar, Yang Zhentian's entire body erupted with a menacing, cold aura.
It was the terrifying pressure emanating from the Innate Cold Ice True Qi he cultivated.
Enveloped by that aura, it felt as if one were facing a wild Barbaric Beast. It was terrifying. Even the widely-experienced Yang Xiao from his previous life was a little surprised at this moment.
He was surprised that this loving, even somewhat weak, father who was always so gentle with him actually possessed such power.
'In my current physical body, I really can't handle it.'
As for Liu Junyi, although he was also at the Innate Grand Martial Master realm and was a respected Fourth-level Great Pharmacist, his Combat Power was nothing compared to Yang Zhentian's. They weren't in the same league at all. It was like a sheep facing a lion.
Under Yang Zhentian's oppressive aura, Liu Junyi's courage completely vanished. He couldn't muster any will to resist; his heart pounded and his body trembled. All he could do was issue empty threats. "Yang Zhentian, you are merely an Honored Guest Elder Chief! How dare you make a move against me, the Vice Medicine Peak Master! If you touch me, the Law Enforcement Hall won't let you off!"
"Pah! Trying to use the Law Enforcement Hall to scare me? If you have the guts, go get Ye Zongling to arrest me!"
Yang Zhentian spat in his face.
In all his years in the Purple Sun Sect, he had always had a fiery temper. Before, for his son's sake, he had swallowed his pride, humbled himself, and bowed his head. He accepted all of it.
But this guy before him had actually deceived him.
Most importantly, he had called his son trash right to his face, and the so-called Qi Circulation Pill he offered was actually poisoned!
If Liu Junyi had only targeted him, Yang Zhentian might have let it go and allowed him to leave, considering his status as a Great Pharmacist. But to harm Xiao'Er in the slightest was absolutely unforgivable.
This was his reverse scale—a dragon's reverse scale, which must not be touched.
Once touched, it would surely invoke his wrath!
A dragon's wrath could overturn rivers and seas. When Yang Zhentian got angry, blood would be spilled!