Chapter 9: Deception

Soon, the housekeeper led Ye Chen into the hospital room.

As soon as he stepped inside, Ye Chen wrinkled his nose.

Having taken poison daily for five years atop Poison Mountain, his sensitivity to toxins far surpassed that of any ordinary doctor.

He immediately determined that Miss Qin was not suffering from a conventional illness—but from poisoning.

Just then, Doctor Liu had completed his diagnosis as well.

Qin Hongcai and Liu Lan paid Ye Chen no attention; they didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, they hurried anxiously to Doctor Liu’s side.

“Divine Doctor Liu, how is my daughter’s condition?” Qin Hongcai asked urgently.

Liu Lan said nothing, only clutched the hem of her blouse tightly with both hands, her eyes fixed on Doctor Liu in tense anticipation.

Doctor Liu rose slowly from his chair, shook his head, and sighed. “Miss Qin’s pulse is as fragile as a thread, yet her body maintains normal functions. It’s as though she were a living corpse—most peculiar indeed!

“I am at my wit’s end. All I can do is prescribe some restorative medicine and hope for a miracle.”

At these words, Qin Hongcai’s face immediately darkened, looking deeply troubled.

Beside him, Liu Lan broke down in loud, agonized sobs. “My poor, ill-fated daughter! How could you end up like this…”

Qin Sisi was in the prime of her youth, yet now resembled nothing more than a living shell. What parent could withstand such a blow?

Qin Hongcai’s eyes reddened as well. He patted Liu Lan’s shoulder to comfort her. “Don’t cry yet, dear. Divine Doctor Liu hasn’t pronounced a death sentence—there’s still hope.”

Life and death are governed by fate, and Doctor Liu was not the sort of heartless physician who would exploit a family’s grief for money.

With professional candor, he said, “Mr. Qin, Mrs. Liu, as I said, we can only rely on medicine in hope of a miracle. If it were in my power, I would not hesitate, but with my skill alone, I simply cannot cure Miss Qin.”

These words landed like a fresh blow upon Qin Hongcai and Liu Lan.

Liu Lan wept even more bitterly, while Qin Hongcai teetered on the edge of despair.

As everyone stood helpless, Ye Chen spoke up confidently, “I have a way to wake Miss Qin.”

His voice was not loud, but to Qin Hongcai and Doctor Liu, it sounded like a thunderclap.

Liu Lan’s sobs stopped abruptly.

“Really? Young man, you truly have a way to cure my daughter?”

In her excitement, Liu Lan rushed over and grasped Ye Chen’s arm.

Her daughter was her very heart; as a mother, the prospect of a cure filled her with hope and fervor.

Qin Hongcai, however, remained more composed. He did not rush to question Ye Chen, but instead looked him up and down.

So young—far too young! And from his appearance, he seemed utterly ordinary, nothing to distinguish him.

Even the president of the Cloud City Traditional Medicine Association had been powerless to help. Could this young man’s medical skill surpass even the association’s head?

Qin Hongcai was full of suspicion. Even if his daughter could not be cured, he must ensure her condition did not worsen.

Doctor Liu, having heard Ye Chen’s claim, narrowed his eyes and studied him.

He asked politely, “Young man, I’ve watched you since you entered—barely five minutes ago. You haven’t examined the patient or inquired about her symptoms. How can you so confidently assert you can cure Miss Qin?”

Ye Chen replied firmly, “There’s no need for such trouble. I can tell at a glance—Miss Qin’s condition is caused by poisoning.”

“Poisoning?” Qin Hongcai and Liu Lan looked at Ye Chen in disbelief.

With the Qin family’s influence in Cloud City, who would dare poison Qin Sisi?

Doctor Liu’s expression darkened at the mention of poisoning. He had just spent half an hour checking Qin Sisi’s pulse. If it were poisoning, he should have detected it through the pulse.

Yet this young man, without even taking her pulse—just by looking at her—declared it was poison.

Utter nonsense!

Doctor Liu snorted angrily. “Young man, I have practiced medicine for over thirty years. If this were due to poisoning, why did I not detect it just now?”

“There are thousands upon thousands of poisons in this world. Many do not manifest in the pulse. If you failed to detect it, it merely shows your lack of experience,” Ye Chen retorted bluntly, giving Doctor Liu no face at all.

The old ghost on Poison Mountain had forced him to swallow the deadliest toxins, but had he ever explained why? Never!

Having survived five years of near-death trials, Ye Chen had long since seen through such things. Explanations were a waste of time.

If Doctor Liu couldn’t detect it in her pulse, then even if Ye Chen explained a thousand times, he would never understand.

Doctor Liu was infuriated that this youngster would publicly undermine him.

He was nearly beside himself with rage. “Where did this arrogant fool come from, to boast so brazenly before me? You have no idea how high the heavens, how deep the earth!”

“If I, with all my skill, could not detect poisoning, then you are clearly a charlatan here with ill intent!”

Ye Chen shrugged. “Whether I’m bluffing or not, why not put me to the test?”

“No!” Doctor Liu barked angrily, turning to Qin Hongcai. “Mr. Qin, you must not let him treat Miss Qin. She is absolutely not poisoned. He’s clearly up to no good, pretending it’s poison so he can dabble at random and then cheat your family out of money!”

Doctor Liu could think of no other motive for Ye Chen than fraud.

Qin Hongcai pondered for a moment. On one side stood a renowned physician; on the other, an unknown braggart. Whose word was more trustworthy? The answer was clear.

Years in business had taught Qin Hongcai never to make enemies needlessly. After all, this man had come to help his daughter, whatever his intentions.

He didn’t want to make things difficult for Ye Chen.

He said coolly, “Young man, thank you for your kindness. I appreciate your desire to help my daughter.”

He turned to Liu Lan. “Bring five thousand yuan in cash for this man, and let him leave on his own.”

Ye Chen was displeased. If not for the kindness Miss Qin had shown his mother and sister, he would have left at once.

But remembering their earnest plea for him to treat Miss Qin, he knew he couldn’t abandon them so easily.

He decided to stay.

He waved off Qin Hongcai. “I don’t want your money. If not for Miss Qin’s care for my mother and sister these past five years, I’d owe your family nothing. Today, after I cure Miss Qin, our families will be even—nothing more between us.”

“What? You’re…?” Qin Hongcai and Liu Lan exchanged glances.

Ye Chen’s words immediately reminded them of the boy who had saved Qin Sisi five years before.

But Ye Chen ignored their reaction and turned to Doctor Liu.

It seemed that unless he demonstrated his skill today, no one would be convinced.

He said to Doctor Liu, “Divine Doctor Liu, your own life is hanging by a thread—are you truly unaware?”