Crazy Li brought me through the streets. Soon we arrived at a huge mansion. The guards bowed to Crazy Li. "Welcome home Master Tianming", all the guards shouted.
"At ease, at ease, is the old man home"? Crazily asked the guards.
"Old master is at the pavilion feeding the fishes", one of the guard answered.
"Ok thanks. Boy, follow me." Crazy Li said to me.
I could not help but marvel at the mansion. It is extremely beautiful. There were expensive looking statues made of pure marble in many locations.Even the guards were dressed very well. They seem to have an air of class about them. As we walked towards the pavilion, I saw an old man,his back facing us, he was bent over at the edge of the pond. As we neared him. I saw colorful koi fish in the lake. They were of so many different colors, some red, some purple some golden.Those that I saw, they were about the length of an adult man's hand.
Crazy Li then bowed and said, "Father, I have returned".
The old man turned around and looked at Crazy Li and me. When he looked at me, I felt as if I was naked, as if he could see everything through me. My back started to sweat. I knew this man is very powerful. Even Sia will most definitely not last a single move against this old man. I too bowed and greeted, "Greetings Senior".
"You are back Tianming and who is this that you have brought along"?
I quickly introduced myself. "Sir, my name is Xu Hao and I'm a healer. Uncle Li brought me here to heal someone".
The old man looked at me again and said,"Good good, the younger generation will surely surpass the older generation. So young and already a healer. Tianming, u must already know that Min'er's situation is rather special and complicated. Every single healer have failed and most do not even try to heal her as they cannot even diagnose her situation clearly. What makes you think this young lad can do any different"?
"I don't know if he can heal Min'er father. But what am I supposed to do. Every time I see her, my heart aches. She is supposed to be in the prime of her life but now she is only lying down and waiting for death. As her father, I will clutch on to any straw of hope I can find. To be honest, I don't have my hopes up but there is no harm in trying right? Just maybe.." he left his sentence unfinished.
By now, I have a rough idea on the situation. The patient is Crazy Li's daughter and this powerful old man's grandchild. Being an influential family and one of the 4 ruling families here, I'm sure they have invited the very best healers but all have failed till date. Honestly, I am now getting a little nervous. What if I too can't heal her. Then tomorrow, I will need to deal with the incorrigible young master Su Jin and immediately go into hiding.
I calmed myself down, and spoke with some confidence. "I cannot promise that I can heal her not knowing what her ailment is. But I will promise to do my best. Can the two sirs kindly bring me to the patient"?
The old man then turned to Crazy Li and said,"Tian Ming, I have given up hope. You bring him to Min'er".
"Yes father".
I was then brought into a huge villa. There was a medicinal smell permeating the whole villa. I was then brought into a brightly lit room. There was a young girl about 17 years old lying on the bed. She looked extremely weak and pale. As soon as we walked in, she saw us and tried to get up.
"Min'er, just lie down, I have brought another healer to try treat you. As long as you are still alive, you must fight and keep hoping. Never give up. Your father here will never give up on you".
"Min'er greets father and thanks father for his continued effort on Min'er. However father, you look so haggard now. Please also take care of your health. If father doesn't then don't blame Min'er for refusing treatment from now onwards".
"Ok, father will listen to you. Today father has brought his young healer. Let him try diagnose you, maybe the heavens have eyes and he can create a miracle".
As I watched the interaction between father and daughter, I felt extremely touched. I was reminded of my own parents and how much they doted on me. I can imagine if I was in her condition, my parents will never give up hope in searching for a cure too.
"Excuse me miss, but can you please stretch out your hand so I may take your pulse". To be honest I was quite smitten when I saw her, she is really beautiful. Even with her ailment and the paleness, her true beauty could not be hidden. She stretched out her hand. It was very slim and delicate and it reminded me of snow.
I said, "please excuse my rudeness" as I went forward to check her pulse.
A good few minutes passed by before I let go of her hand. I know now what her ailment is and why other physicians and healers can't heal her.
"How is it young lad? Can you tell what is wrong with her"?
Instead of answering Crazy Li's question, I looked at her and asked, "Did you get into a battle and was hit directly on your abdomen"?
The lady in question looked visibly shocked as I asked this. Crazy Li was surprised too. "What battle? She has no battle damage or wounds. How could you ask if she got into a battle"?
"Father, I am sorry for hiding this but since this young healer has suggested this, maybe this is truly the reason for my condition. I never thought it was because of this which is why I never told anyone. But allow me now to share what had happened".
"A few months ago, when I was shopping alone, I bumped into Su Jang and his escort. Su Jang for whatever reason known to him, approached me and asked me to marry him. He said he has been in love with me for a long time and if we're to get married, our two families can unite and be the sole power of Hibiscus Town. I chose to ignore him. Who doesn't know that he is a playboy that ruins young women everywhere.He kept following me wherever I went and kept pestering me. At the last bend before we came to the lane which leads to our house, one of his female escorts ambushed me and hit me directly on my abdomen. She said that if her young master can't have me, no one can. When I got hit, I did not even feel any pain. I just stared at them and seeing there was no damage to me, I chose to ignore and forget the matter. A few days passed and there were no signs of any injury. Then one morning I suddenly felt a sharp pain and you know the rest. If not for the young healer here, I would not have guessed that it was due to that strike on my abdomen."
"Su Jang that rascal. I'm going to the Su family now and will kill him" Crazy Li exploded. But he calmed himself down and looked at me, "Since you can diagnose her problem, tell me, can you cure her? Whatever you need, our Li family will provide. Just say your terms."
I looked at both father and daughter and said, "Yes I can cure her, perhaps I'm the only healer here who can. The reason is her stomach lining is torn and it has caused internal bleeding. It's a slow and devious way to kill someone. Other healers do not dare treat the problem is because they would need to cut open her stomach and fix up the torn stomach lightning."
"Cut open her stomach?" Crazy Li shouted. "Wouldn't that just kill her directly. No I definitely will not allow you to cut open her stomach. No way"!
I kept quiet, knowing that this will be a surgical procedure but apparently this world has not yet been introduced to surgery so I can definitely understand Crazy Li's doubts and concerns.
"Father, it has come to this. I am dying anyway, it doesn't matter if I die earlier. At least I will not need to bear this excruciating pain everyday. So let the young healer try since he is confident" she said as she smiled gently at me.
Crazy Li's eyes softened after hearing his daughter's words. "Min'er, I have already lost your mother, you are all I have left. Father will not be able to live anymore if something were to happen to you too".
At this point I interrupted Crazy Li and said, " Uncle, please rest assured and don't worry, I definitely can treat her. It's not gotten to the stage where it's incurable".
Seeing my confident look, Crazy Li said, "ok go ahead and treat her. I promise you that the Li family will not hold you accountable even if the treatment does not succeed. So rest assured and do your best".
I stood there half ashamed. "Well I can definitely treat her but not now". If I was at the outside looking at me, even I would have found my words unconvincing.
"Why not? Are you playing games here"? Crazy Li bellowed angrily.
"It's not that I do not wish to treat her now, but I do not have the proper equipment. Actually today I had planned to go to the blacksmith to custom make some medical equipment. Therefore I cannot administer the treatment until I get my equipment."
"Lad, are you telling the truth or are you just buying time so that our Li family will protect you from the Su family".
"Uncle, I swear I'm not lying and will definitely be able to cure her once I get my equipment".
He pondered for a few mins before saying, "in this case, our Li family will protect you from the Su family and any others until your equipment is ready. But mark my words boy, if this is just some plot from you to buy time or take advantage of Min'er's condition, I swear I will kill you myself".