Chapter 18: Friends—Hold Your Fire!

Although everyone had their complaints, the situation was urgent and they could only comply. At Cheng Kai’s command, all except the Shen family knelt down.

Chu Fei glanced indifferently at Cheng Kai and asked, “Now, who’s the idiot here?”

“I—I’m the idiot!” Cheng Kai suppressed his resentment and admitted.

Only then did Chu Fei move toward Cheng Wen. As he passed by Ye Chen, he paused, arched an eyebrow, and said, “Messing things up is a talent in itself. Keep it up, you useless fool.”

Ye Chen was so incensed his heart nearly skipped a beat—he wanted nothing more than to tear Chu Fei limb from limb right there.

“Don’t be so smug just yet! If I can’t cure it, you, a mere bodyguard, think you can?” Ye Chen retorted.

Chu Fei pointed at him and said, “He says I can’t cure it. Fine, I won’t bother.”

Before Ye Chen could react, Cheng Kai rushed over and kicked him hard in the head, then stomped on him furiously. “Serves you damn right for running your mouth!”

Ye Chen was utterly dumbfounded. Just as he was about to fight back, Shen Miaoyu, quick-eyed, pulled Cheng Kai aside.

“Uncle Cheng, don’t!” Shen Miaoyu tried to dissuade him.

Cheng Kai pointed at Ye Chen and cursed, “You nearly got my father killed, and after all the trouble I went through to beg for help, you make things worse?”

“I—” Ye Chen wanted to argue, but found himself speechless. What infuriated him most was that just as he was about to retaliate, Shen Miaoyu had pulled Cheng Kai away, leaving him with no reason to strike back—he’d been beaten and scolded for nothing!

Glancing at the clever young woman, Chu Fei felt a surge of satisfaction—at last, she was growing up.

“Brother Chen, don’t say anything more,” Shen Linglong whispered to Ye Chen. “Just let him try. If he fails, we’ll pin the blame of harming Grandpa Cheng on him!”

Ye Chen glared fiercely at Chu Fei. “Let’s be clear—you’re the ones insisting he treat him. If he fails, don’t come blaming me!”

“And what if I succeed?” Chu Fei asked.

Ye Chen, hot with anger, pointed at the table in the room. “If you can cure him, I’ll eat that table. But what if you fail?!”

“Then you’ll be proven right,” Chu Fei replied blandly.

Ye Chen was left speechless—Chu Fei’s answer made his earlier bluster seem utterly ridiculous. Before he could think of a comeback, Chu Fei had already approached Cheng Wen’s bedside. The crowd watched anxiously, wondering what miraculous acupuncture he might employ.

But Chu Fei didn’t use any needles. He simply placed his hand atop Cheng Wen’s head and channeled his own spiritual energy into the man’s skull, clearing away the stagnant blood within.

Acupuncture was a game for the ordinary. How could someone of his stature resort to such vulgar tricks?

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s put his hand on Old Cheng’s head!”

“No kidding! I mean, what does that have to do with curing illness?”

People whispered among themselves, thinking Chu Fei nothing but a charlatan.

Ye Chen seized the chance to mock him. “You don’t even use needles and still claim you can heal? You’re nothing but a swindler!”

“Exactly! Uncle Cheng, this guy is a fraud—get him out of here!” Shen Linglong added.

Shen Qiushan sneered. “Kai, they’re right. You’ve been duped. If this is medicine, I’m a miracle doctor too!”

Cheng Kai was frustrated but had no choice but to trust Chu Fei for now. Shen Miaoyu silently prayed that, just this once, Chu Fei would come through.

As for the so-called experts, they all shook their heads.

While most believed Chu Fei would fail, a wisp of smoke suddenly drifted from Cheng Wen’s head. Moments later, he coughed up a mouthful of congealed blood and woke from his coma!

The room was stunned. No one had expected Chu Fei to actually purge the stagnant blood from Cheng Wen’s brain.

Ye Chen, in particular, refused to believe Chu Fei’s medical skills surpassed his own.

Shen Miaoyu rushed forward and called, “Grandpa, how do you feel?”

“I feel like I could wrestle an ox!” Cheng Wen exclaimed, full of vigor.

Chu Fei’s spiritual energy was a panacea. For a minor ailment like Cheng Wen’s, it was nothing; even if only a portrait remained, he could bring him back!

Cheng Kai stepped forward, beaming. “Dad, you’re finally awake! You scared me half to death, you know?”

“What happened?” Cheng Wen asked.

Cheng Kai then recounted all that had transpired.

Cheng Wen turned to Chu Fei, gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you, young man, for saving my life. From now on, you’re a benefactor of the Cheng family—your troubles are ours.”

Chu Fei ignored him. If not for Shen Miaoyu’s sake, he wouldn’t have bothered at all.

Shen Miaoyu, displeased, chided him. “Grandpa is talking to you—don’t you know to answer?”

Chu Fei’s expression was that of a man beset by a nagging woman. “Old man, you’re still alive?”

Shen Miaoyu promptly stomped on his foot. “Can’t you show some manners?”

“Have you ever heard the saying—”

Shen Miaoyu frowned. “I’m sure it’s nothing good, but go on.”

“Let go of personal virtue and enjoy a shameless life.”

Shen Miaoyu’s face darkened. “Just shut up, will you!”

“If I shut up, then you—” Chu Fei began, but Shen Miaoyu clapped a hand over his mouth. “Not now, we’re among friends!”

Watching the two bicker affectionately, the Cheng family couldn’t help but smile. Previously, they’d thought Shen Miaoyu had poor taste for choosing an ordinary man like Chu Fei, but now they realized the ones truly blind were themselves.

With such medical skill, Chu Fei would be coveted wherever he went. After all, who in this world doesn’t fear death? The more power and wealth one holds, the greater the fear.

As for Ye Chen’s arrogance—it stemmed from this very reason.

But just then, Shen Linglong broke the mood. She turned to Cheng Wen. “Grandpa Cheng, you’re mistaken. The one who saved you wasn’t that filthy Taoist, but Ye Chen!”

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

Cheng Kai frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

“Uncle Cheng, think about it—what did that Taoist actually do?” Shen Linglong argued. “All he did was put his hand on Grandpa’s head. But Brother Chen actually performed acupuncture!”

“It must be that Brother Chen’s treatment took a while to take effect, letting that Taoist steal the credit. Right, Brother Chen?”

Ye Chen hastily agreed. “Exactly, it was me who cured Old Cheng! You all should be thanking me, not that boy—he’s got no such ability! My master is the renowned Doctor Lin, after all!”