Chapter 38: Return a favor with a spring for a drop of water!
"Mr. Ning, you can’t do this!"
Steward Fang suddenly ran to Ning Xian, grabbed his thigh, and cried out, "Mr. Ning, I’ve been at Hundred Herbs Hall for so many years! I may not have grand accomplishments, but I have certainly worked tirelessly. You can’t just kick me out of Hundred Herbs Hall because of some charlatan!"
"Let go, you scoundrel!"
Ning Xian’s knees had been shattered by Lin Mu. Now, with Steward Fang clinging to him, the pain he had just managed to suppress surged back, nearly making him faint.
𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Ning Xian raised his hand and slapped Steward Fang away, saying coldly, "Even Master Sun defers to Young Master Mu, yet in your mouth, he’s a charlatan? You worthless dog who looks down on his betters!"
"Charlatan?" Sun Tianyang also spoke, his voice cold. "Young Master Mu’s medical skills are so brilliant that even I am left in the dust. I admire him so greatly that I even begged him to take me as his disciple, but I was refused because my aptitude was insufficient. Yet in your eyes, he’s a charlatan? Tell me, don’t you deserve to die for mocking Young Master Mu like this!"
Hearing Sun Tianyang’s words, the crowd was even more shocked.
Especially Ning Xian.
He was well aware of Sun Tianyang’s medical skills. In the past, he had kowtowed countless times and pestered him endlessly before Master Sun reluctantly offered a few pointers on medicine. Those few days alone had caused Ning Xian’s medical skills to skyrocket, earning him the title of a famous doctor whose reputation spread far and wide in the Old Street district.
But no matter what, Master Sun had steadfastly refused to accept him as a disciple, not even as a disciple in name.
Master Sun had come to River City this time because Ning Xian heard he was planning to take on a disciple. That was why he had tried every possible means to invite him over, hoping for a slim chance.
But now, Master Sun was saying he had wanted to become Lin Mu’s disciple and was refused?
Just how advanced must one’s medical skills be for Master Sun to actively seek discipleship? And what kind of discerning eye does it take to refuse a Divine Doctor’s request?
Ning Xian couldn’t imagine it.
Steward Fang was completely dumbfounded.
Master Sun wanted to become Lin Mu’s disciple but was rejected? What has this world come to? Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Steward Fang mumbled to himself, his heart filled with shock and fear. If Lin Mu was even more formidable than Master Sun, then this was an absolute nightmare for him. A single word from Master Sun could decide the life and death of countless people. And he had mocked and humiliated Lin Mu multiple times. The outcome was self-evident.
"Young Master Mu, I was wrong!" Steward Fang pleaded miserably. "It’s my fault for failing to recognize a great man! I was blind to your greatness! Please, don’t kill me!"
"Kill you?" Lin Mu slowly shook his head. "Killing you would dirty my hands. So, get lost."
"Thank you, thank you, Young Master Mu, for sparing my life! Thank you for sparing my life!" Steward Fang repeatedly kowtowed on the ground in gratitude.
This scene was utterly shocking to the onlookers. Not long ago, Steward Fang had made Liu Zijian kowtow and apologize, had made Lin Mu kowtow and apologize. Now, the roles had reversed so dramatically it was almost unbelievable.
Ning Xian said coldly, "Someone! Throw this worthless dog out!"
A few shop assistants came forward, grabbed Steward Fang, and started dragging him outside.
"No, don’t!" Steward Fang struggled fiercely, crying, "Mr. Ning, I was wrong! Young Master Mu, please spare me this one time, I beg you!"
However, no matter how much Steward Fang begged, it was useless. This scene was just like when Liu Zijian had begged him earlier.
"Master Sun, Young Master Mu, are you satisfied with this outcome?" Ning Xian asked, looking cautiously at Lin Mu. He knew that the final decision still rested with Lin Mu.
"This is your affair. It has nothing to do with me," Lin Mu said indifferently.
Ning Xian felt somewhat embarrassed and turned to Sun Tianyang.
"Hmph!" Sun Tianyang let out a cold snort, his expression displeased.
Ning Xian grew even more anxious.
Lin Mu looked at Sun Tianyang and said, "Alright, Sun Tianyang, your condition has just stabilized. You still need to detoxify, so you should head back for now."
Lin Mu knew that after the acupuncture treatment, Sun Tianyang would need a few days to expel the remaining toxins. This meant detoxifying through traditional means—what’s commonly known as a bout of diarrhea. Within half an hour, Sun Tianyang would surely feel the effects.
Sun Tianyang, of course, understood. With a respectful expression, he bowed to Lin Mu. "Young Master Mu, I won’t disturb you any further then."
Lin Mu nodded. "Go on."
As he reached the door, Sun Tianyang suddenly stopped and turned. "Young Master Mu, if there’s anything you need, just let Ning Xian know. Although he manages Hundred Herbs Hall on the surface, it is actually my property."
Lin Mu was somewhat surprised. Hundred Herbs Hall belongs to Sun Tianyang? That’s unexpected. The hall had been operating on Old Street for at least two hundred years, standing firm all this time, which made Lin Mu suspect there was a powerful figure behind it. He just never imagined it would be Sun Tianyang’s property.
In that case, further up the chain, it must belong to the Medicine King Family. So, these ancient families, seemingly detached from worldly affairs, are in fact deeply woven into the fabric of the mortal world, simply operating out of sight.
"That’s right, Young Master Mu. I am merely managing Hundred Herbs Hall. If you need anything at all, just say the word," Ning Xian said with extreme respect.
He had originally planned to take revenge for his broken leg once Lin Mu was exposed as a fraud. Now, realizing Lin Mu’s true abilities, he saw how childish and laughable his own thoughts had been.
"Good. I happen to need some medicinal herbs. See if you have these," Lin Mu said, taking out a piece of paper filled with the names of various herbs. "Also, I have these prescriptions. Prepare enough for three courses of treatment for each. Get them all ready for me."
Lin Mu then handed over three more prescription slips, these ones for Mother Liu.
"Go, quickly prepare everything for Young Master Mu!" Ning Xian took the papers with both hands. He glanced at them, didn’t understand a thing, and passed them to a clerk.
There were some herbs on the list that Hundred Herbs Hall didn’t have, but he kept that to himself. Since it was a command from Young Master Mu, he had to fulfill it, no matter what.
Fortunately, all the herbs needed for Mother Liu were available in the shop, so they were prepared quickly.
"Zijian, take these. When you get back, give them to your mother as instructed. She should recover in no more than three months," Lin Mu said, handing the herbs and prescriptions to Liu Zijian with a few words of advice.
Liu Zijian accepted them, a flood of complex emotions overwhelming him.
"Elder Brother Mu..."
Liu Zijian’s eyes suddenly reddened. He started to kneel, but Lin Mu grabbed him and held him up.
"What did I tell you before?" Lin Mu’s gaze turned stern.
Liu Zijian’s lips trembled. He was a grown man, but his eyes were filled with tears. Heaven only knew how much hardship he had endured for his mother’s illness. And now, his good brother had saved her.
This was a kindness he could only repay with his life! A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. This was a life-saving favor, and he would repay it with his own life!
"Come on, what’s a grown man crying for?" Lin Mu teased, patting Liu Zijian on the shoulder. "Your mother is waking up. Go in and see her."
"Yes!" Liu Zijian wiped away his tears and walked toward the room.
The moment he turned, he swore an oath in his heart: For the rest of his life, he would repay Elder Brother Mu’s kindness, even if it meant working like an ox and a horse!
Before long, the sound of Liu Zijian’s sobbing and Mother Liu’s comforting voice came from the room.
Hearing this, Lin Mu smiled.