Hedonist Prodigy

Chapter 51: The Qihuang Sect

Pei Ruoxi returned home, her mind swirling with thoughts of Jiang Feng’s actions. The more she dwelled on them, the more indignant she felt, to the point where she lost her appetite.  

“Grandpa, stop eating for a second. I need to talk to you,” she said.  

The elderly man sitting across from her chewed his food slowly before responding, “Ruoxi, have you forgotten what I’ve always told you? No talking during meals or before sleep.”  

Ruoxi grimaced. “Grandpa, can we skip the rules just this once? I really have something important to say.”  

“What do you mean, ‘skip the rules’? These are traditions passed down by our ancestors, treasures of Chinese civilization! Everyone should learn and cherish them. You’re becoming more and more unruly,” the old man huffed, his beard bristling.  

“Grandpa, I know, I know! I understand everything you’re saying. But this is urgent. Just hear me out, okay?” Ruoxi was terrified of her grandfather’s lectures on propriety. She had heard them since childhood, and once he started, he could go on forever. She quickly cut him off before he could continue.  

With a sigh, the old man set down his chopsticks and took a sip of tea. “Fine, what is it?”  

“Grandpa, remember that guy I told you about last time? The one who loves putting on airs? Well, guess what—I ran into him again today!” Ruoxi exclaimed.  

The old man chuckled. “With that temper of yours, I bet you didn’t give him a warm welcome. Did you scare him off?”  

Ruoxi groaned. “Grandpa, dear Grandpa, sometimes I wonder if I’m really your granddaughter. How could you say that about me? It wasn’t me scaring him—it was him scaring me!”  

The old man’s expression darkened instantly. Since the untimely deaths of Ruoxi’s parents, he had raised her himself, doting on her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. The thought of someone bullying her was unacceptable. His voice rose sharply. “What happened? What did he do to you?”  

Realizing her words had been misinterpreted, Ruoxi hurriedly clarified, “No, no, Grandpa, it’s not like that! Who could possibly bully your granddaughter? If anything, people should be grateful I don’t bully them! You raised me—you know how I am.”  

The old man couldn’t help but laugh. He knew she was right. As his only granddaughter, he had spoiled her while also holding her to high standards. In many ways, he had raised her like a boy, which explained her bold, unfiltered personality—unlike other delicate girls her age.  

“Alright, then explain it properly. What really happened?” he said calmly.  

Last time, Ruoxi had mentioned Jiang Feng, though vaguely. Still, it had piqued his interest. In this day and age, most people were fickle and impatient, chasing after money and instant gratification. Few young people could sit down and read, let alone pore over dry, tedious medical texts.  

Even if Jiang Feng had only pretended to read those books to impress Ruoxi, the old man thought it was still commendable—far better than showering her with flowers, cars, or houses.  

Ruoxi spilled everything—how she had discovered the Bitter Tree, how Jiang Feng snatched her jade Buddha, the car accident that happened right before her eyes, how Jiang Feng saved the victims, and how she had invited him over. (She conveniently left out the part about her theatrics at the hospital and the misunderstandings.) By the end, she was fuming.  

“Grandpa, you have no idea how infuriating that guy is! I invited him so sincerely, and he still refused, acting like I had some ulterior motive. It’s maddening!”  

The old man fell into deep thought. “Ruoxi, are you sure you didn’t missee anything?”  

“No, absolutely not! You should’ve seen those accident victims—their injuries were severe. Even with the medical skills you taught me, I couldn’t have helped. But he just pressed a few points, and they woke up!” she said earnestly.  

“If that’s true, then this is… unusual,” the old man murmured. “Did you see him use acupuncture? Exactly as you described?”  

Ruoxi nodded firmly. “That’s why I wanted to invite him here. Who knew he’d be so ungrateful?”  

The old man fell silent. If Ruoxi’s account was accurate, this young man was extraordinary. His acupuncture skills might even surpass his own—possibly exceeding even his renowned “Returning Spring Needle Technique.”  

“Ruoxi, if you see him again, you must invite him to meet me,” the old man said gravely.  

As for the Bitter Tree, while it intrigued him, he wasn’t overly fixated on it. Such rarities were fated—if someone else had claimed it, they must recognize its value. The fact that Jiang Feng had only taken Ruoxi’s jade Buddha and not harmed her was already an act of mercy.  

What truly fascinated him was Jiang Feng himself. A young man who could identify a Bitter Tree, recognize a magical artifact like the jade Buddha, and wield such remarkable acupuncture techniques was no ordinary person. The old man was determined to meet him.  

Ruoxi smiled wryly. She wanted to, but she didn’t even know Jiang Feng’s name, let alone his contact information. Still, she knew he was a student at Yanjing University. The campus might be vast, but with some effort, finding him shouldn’t be impossible.  

***** 

Meanwhile, at a private high-end rehabilitation center owned by the Li family…  

Li Yuanbo escorted a young man inside, his demeanor unusually deferential. The young man, however, exuded an air of cold arrogance, barely sparing Li Yuanbo a glance. His plain face was etched with disdain.  

Li Yuanbo forced a smile. “Mr. Shen, thank you for coming. I truly appreciate it.”  

The man referred to as “Mr. Shen” replied indifferently, “No need for pleasantries. The Qihuang Sect’s creed is to heal the sick and save lives—as long as you can pay. Whether it’s a broken leg or pulling someone back from death’s door, it’s all the same to us.”  

Li Yuanbo had heard that members of the Qihuang Sect were notoriously haughty and money-driven, but he hadn’t expected negotiations to start before even seeing the patient. He paused before chuckling awkwardly. “Of course, of course. Money won’t be an issue—we’ll ensure you’re satisfied.”  

Mr. Shen snorted, clasping his hands behind his back as he strode forward. They ascended to a private recovery suite where Li Yuanjue was in the midst of a tantrum.  

“Get out! All of you! Here to laugh at me, aren’t you? So what if I lost a leg? I’m not some helpless cripple! I don’t need your pity—get lost!” Yuanjue roared.  

Ever since leaving Red Devil Bar and being diagnosed with an irreparable comminuted fracture in his right knee, his temper had grown increasingly volatile. The thought of living as a cripple, enduring the stares of others, was unbearable. His hatred for Jiang Feng burned like poison—he wanted to tear him apart, drink his blood.  

But the Li family’s first attempt to deal with Jiang Feng had failed, leaving Yuanjue seething with even greater fury.  

From the doorway, Mr. Shen let out another cold snort. Li Yuanbo rushed in, scolding, “Yuanjue! Look at yourself—this is disgraceful!”  

Yuanjue sneered. “Easy for you to say—it’s not your leg that’s ruined. If it were you, you’d be worse.”  

Li Yuanbo snapped, “Enough! Mr. Shen from the Qihuang Sect is here!”  

“The Qihuang Sect?” Yuanjue froze. “You mean the ‘No Ailment Beyond Our Cure’ Qihuang Sect?”  

Before Li Yuanbo could answer, Mr. Shen stepped in, his tone lofty. “There is only one Qihuang Sect.”  

Li Yuanbo quickly added, “Apologies for the scene, Mr. Shen. Shall we begin now?”  

Yuanjue blurted, “Yes, now! Start now!”  

The agony of his injury had made life hell. Now, with the Qihuang Sect here, hope flared in his chest. He couldn’t wait another second.  

Mr. Shen smiled faintly. “No rush. Let’s assess the situation first.”  

After a brief examination, Mr. Shen frowned at Yuanjue’s exposed leg. “Such brutal force. Are you sure this was done by a single kick?”  

Yuanjue gritted his teeth. “Absolutely. I’ll never forget it.”  

Li Yuanbo picked up on the implication. “Mr. Shen, is it… difficult to treat?”  

Mr. Shen scoffed. “The Qihuang Sect can cure anything. Even if this leg had been severed, I could reattach it. But this case is… special. The fee, however—”  

Li Yuanbo took the hint. “Name your price, and we’ll prepare it immediately.”  

“One hundred million,” Mr. Shen stated flatly.  

Both Li brothers gasped. Though Li Yuanbo knew the Qihuang Sect’s services were exorbitant, he hadn’t expected such an astronomical sum. He hesitated.  

But Yuanjue shouted, “A hundred million it is! If you can heal my leg, it’s worth every cent!”  

In his current state, he’d pay ten times that if necessary.  

A faint smirk finally appeared on Mr. Shen’s aloof face. “Good. Prepare the money. The sooner, the better. But let me warn you—time is of the essence. If this drags on, not even the gods could save this leg. Don’t blame the Qihuang Sect for being ‘mercenary’ if it’s too late.”