Chapter 8: Stunning the Crowd

Xue An?

Hua Xingyu frowned. He had never heard of anyone by that name among the younger generation of doctors.

Hua Xingyu looked toward his granddaughter, Hua Tingting. Hua Tingting was the vice president of the largest hospital in Beijiang; if there were any famous young doctors, she would certainly know them.

Hua Tingting did not recognize Xue An, of course. She scrutinized him for a long moment before asking with a hint of disdain, "May I ask, Mr. Xue, which medical school did you graduate from? Peking Union? Fudan? Or perhaps Yale School of Medicine?"

The schools Hua Tingting mentioned were among the best in the world. The young men and women accompanying Hua Xingyu were all top students from such institutions.

Xue An merely smiled faintly. "None of them. I have never attended medical school."

"Then who is your master?" Hua Xingyu pressed. There were many medical experts hidden among the common people in China; if Xue An were their successor, he could not be underestimated.

Xue An shook his head. "Neither. I am not a doctor."

"Not a doctor?" Hua Tingting’s expression grew even more dismissive. "Then how is it that I heard someone boasting they could save Old Master Qin’s life, provided the price was right? Could it be that you are a fraud?"

These words were harsh, effectively accusing Xue An of being a charlatan. Yet, Xue An remained unmoved, sitting there without a change in expression.

At this moment, Hua Xingyu turned to Qin Yuan. "Old Master Qin, I see your complexion is ruddy, your eyes are clear, and your inner energy is robust; you do not look like a sick man. May I examine your pulse?"

Qin Yuan hesitated, but Qin Yu could not help but say, "Grandfather, Master Hua means well. Please, let him take a look."

Hua Xingyu placed his hand on Qin Yuan’s pulse, closing his eyes in deep thought for a long time before smiling. "Old Master Qin, judging by your pulse, I believe you can live to be at least a hundred years old!"

This remark drew smiles from many in the room. As for Xue An, he seemed to have been forgotten.

Qin Yuan sighed. "I do not dare hope for a hundred years; I only ask to live long enough to see Yu’er married."

Qin Yu’s face flushed, and she lowered her head.

Just then, a voice broke the atmosphere inappropriately. "I thought someone called a 'Master' would have some real ability, but it turns out to be nothing more than this!"

The laughter ceased abruptly.

Hua Xingyu’s expression darkened. Hua Tingting frowned and said impatiently, "Stop playing those street-performer tricks. I am telling you, if you continue to swindle people under the guise of being a doctor, be careful or I will have you sent to prison."

Hua Xingyu raised a hand to stop her, then stared at Xue An. "You say I am 'nothing more than this'? Very well, what profound insight do you have?"

Xue An nodded. "I can tell you, but if I win, what will you do?"

"If you can best me in the medical arts, I will kneel and acknowledge you as my master!" Hua Xingyu sneered.

Xue An shook his head.

"What? Are you afraid?"

"No, I don’t want to take you as a student; you are too old. If it were your granddaughter, I might consider it."

This made Hua Tingting’s face turn cold, and Hua Xingyu’s disciples glared at him with hostility.

Xue An turned to look at Qin Yuan. "Although no illness can be seen on you, there is one symptom: do you dream every night?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Hua Tingting gave a contemptuous laugh. "If that is an illness, then almost everyone is sick."

Xue An glanced at Hua Tingting, and she felt a sudden chill that made her unable to finish her sentence.

"Do you always dream of a person who tells you in your dreams how many days you have left to live?"

Qin Yuan’s expression changed drastically. Xue An’s words struck directly at the secret he had buried in his heart for over a year. This was the reason he had been seeking medical help everywhere. Every night, he would dream of the same woman, and she would tell him how many days he had left. This was also why Qin Yuan had been so moved when Xue An said at the medicine market that he only had three days to live—because the woman in red had made it clear he would die in three days.

Seeing the shock on Qin Yuan’s face, Hua Xingyu grew suspicious. Could this kid have actually guessed it?

Hua Tingting remained dismissive. "Old Master Qin, according to modern medical theory, everyone dreams; it is as common as breathing. You are likely under too much pressure, which causes you to have the same dream repeatedly. You need not worry too much, and certainly do not let yourself be exploited by opportunistic swindlers."

Xue An said calmly, "Do you know why I know you dream every night? Because that woman in red is currently clinging to your back."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Qin Yuan’s face pale, but Qin Yu felt goosebumps break out across her skin.

Hua Tingting finally felt relieved and sneered, "So, it turns out you are just a charlatan! If you could tell someone was dreaming, that might be excusable, but to claim you see a woman in red is pure nonsense! Old Master Qin, do not believe him; he is nothing but a fraud."

As someone with a high-level Western medical education, she looked down upon traditional Chinese medicine, let alone such superstitious tricks.

But at that moment, Xue An smiled faintly.

"Mortal eyes are just mortal eyes. Today, I will let you witness what a true master is!"

With a sudden wave of his hand, Xue An gave a soft command: "Manifest!"

Everyone in the room felt the light dim, and then they saw a truly terrifying sight. On Qin Yuan’s back, there sat a woman in red with disheveled hair.

The sight made the timid Hua Tingting scream. Hua Xingyu and the others turned deathly pale.

Qin Yuan fell to his knees, crying, "Master, save me!"

The ghost in red suddenly lunged forward, heading straight for the terrified Hua Tingting. She was too frightened to move.

At that moment, Xue An said calmly, "A mere malevolent spirit dares to act insolently in my presence?"

Xue An’s right hand suddenly reached out and grabbed. The ghost let out a shrill, piercing scream before transforming into black smoke, which Xue An held firmly in his grasp. Amidst the swirling black mist, Xue An stood with his hands behind his back, looking like a deity.

"Do you believe me now?" Xue An asked softly.

Hua Xingyu fell to his knees. "Master, please spare us! We were blind! I beg your forgiveness!"

Xue An said calmly, "Shatter!"

The black smoke splintered at his command and vanished into nothingness amidst a burst of flame.

The room returned to calm. Hua Tingting was pale with fright, and Qin Yu was no better. Only Xue An brushed his hands together, as if he had just completed a trivial task.

"Old man Qin, the matter is settled. Pay up."