Chapter 3: The Lin Family Beset by Troubles Within and Without

Strolling through the courtyard as if nothing mattered, he brought Gao Hongsheng to his knees, begging for mercy? My god! He’s nothing short of a deity descending from the mountains!

I can’t believe I once mocked this god from the mountains. I deserve to be punished! Du Yong was filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself a few times.

A few minutes later, Gao Hongsheng had kowtowed a full hundred times.

His forehead was split open, blood streaming down his face—utterly wretched!

All of his former arrogance had vanished, leaving only terror as he knelt on the ground. “Big brother, can you let me go now?”

Ye Tianci replied coolly, “You said you’d break my leg. Break one of your own legs, and I’ll let you go.”

Gao Hongsheng’s face changed dramatically, his lips trembling. “I…”

“What? Do you want me to do it for you?” Ye Tianci arched an eyebrow.

Though he looked harmless enough, the sight of him sent chills down Gao Hongsheng’s spine, making him shudder uncontrollably.

Gritting his teeth, Gao Hongsheng snatched a dagger from one of his men and plunged it fiercely into his own thigh!

A blood-curdling scream tore from his lips, his features contorted in agony. Even with his teeth clenched, he couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching.

“Leave,” Ye Tianci said in a single, indifferent word.

It was as if Gao Hongsheng had received a royal pardon; he scrambled into his car, half-rolling, half-crawling.

His subordinates helped each other into the vehicles as well, fleeing in panic like a pack of beaten dogs.

Du Yong, despite his pain, forced himself forward and knelt with a thud. “I was blind before! I’ve offended you, Mr. Ye, please forgive me.”

Ye Tianci ignored him, instead going to lift Lin Qingqian from the ground and revive her.

She slowly opened her eyes and found herself leaning in the crook of Ye Tianci’s arm. Flustered, she sat up and looked around in confusion. “Where’s Gao Hongsheng and his men?”

Ye Tianci smiled calmly. “I reasoned with him a little, and he left of his own accord.”

“Reasoned with him? Gao Hongsheng isn’t someone who listens to reason.” Lin Qingqian clearly didn’t believe him.

Du Yong spoke up, “Miss, it’s true. Gao Hongsheng left after Mr. Ye talked to him. If you don’t believe me, ask them.”

“It’s true,” the bodyguards, now getting to their feet, all echoed in unison.

Ye Tianci’s actions had stunned them completely; they naturally wanted to curry favor with him now.

Lin Qingqian, only half-convinced, was about to ask more when her phone suddenly rang.

After answering, her face turned anxious. “Grandfather’s condition has worsened—I have to get there quickly!”

She hurried to the car, taking Ye Tianci with her, and sped toward the Lin family estate in Shu City.

On the way, Ye Tianci learned from Lin Qingqian that her grandfather, Lin Daonan, had fallen gravely ill half a year ago and had recently slipped into frequent comas. His life could end at any moment.

The Lin family owned a resort on Shu City’s western mountain. Recently, they’d discovered hot springs there, promising huge profits.

Unfortunately, Liang Wei, the heir of the Liang family in Shu City, had set his sights on the Lin family’s resort and tried to buy it for a low price.

When negotiations failed, Liang Wei began to suppress the Lin family by force.

Two of the Lin family’s ongoing projects were forced to a halt, losing over ten million yuan in investments.

Now the Lin family was beset by troubles within and without, barely able to keep afloat.

All this had caused Lin Daonan’s health to decline rapidly.

In his final crisis, Lin Daonan suddenly recalled an old agreement with the Ghost Hand and sent Lin Qingqian to Wolong Village to seek medical help.

After hearing her story, Ye Tianci said quietly, “Don’t worry. Since you’re my fiancée, I won’t stand by and do nothing.”

Lin Qingqian frowned slightly. “Ye Tianci, that engagement was arranged over ten years ago by my grandfather. It doesn’t represent my wishes.”

“In this day and age, childhood betrothals are outdated. If you can really save my grandfather, I’ll make sure you’re compensated.”

Ye Tianci’s expression remained calm and he said nothing more.

After a long journey, their red sedan stopped before a three-story villa.

No sooner had Lin Qingqian and Ye Tianci gotten out of the car than a woman in elegant clothing came rushing over—Lin Qingqian’s mother, Zheng Mei.

She immediately began to scold her daughter. “Where have you been? Your grandfather could pass away at any moment, and you’re still running around!”

“Mom, I went to the mountains to find a doctor,” Lin Qingqian replied.

Zheng Mei snorted. “As if you need to find a doctor! Is there anyone in Shu City better than the Divine Doctor Xue Huaisu? Your uncle pulled a lot of strings to invite him to see your grandfather!”

Lin Qingqian’s face lit up with hope. “Uncle invited Divine Doctor Xue? Then Grandfather is saved!”

“I’d like to see what kind of doctor you brought back,” Zheng Mei huffed again.

Lin Qingqian pointed to Ye Tianci. “Mom, this is Ye Tianci—the doctor I invited…”

Before she could finish, Zheng Mei waved her off.

She noticed Ye Tianci’s plain clothes and unremarkable looks—nothing impressive about him at all.

Worse yet, Ye Tianci was lame.

Zheng Mei’s face twisted in disgust. “This is the doctor you brought from the mountains? A cripple? Nonsense!”

“Mom, Grandfather once said that if anyone could save him, it would be Master Ghost Hand. Ye Tianci is Ghost Hand’s disciple—maybe he can work with Divine Doctor Xue to save Grandfather.”

Lin Qingqian defended Ye Tianci, though she herself was full of doubt.

Just then, a middle-aged man burst from the villa. “Zheng Mei! Qingqian! What are you doing outside? The old master’s not going to make it!”

Zheng Mei hurried in after him.

Lin Qingqian pulled Ye Tianci into the villa. “No matter what, you must see my grandfather.”

Inside a spacious bedroom, the Lin family children were all gathered, their faces etched with sorrow.

On the bed lay an emaciated old man, his face ashen and withered—this was the Lin family’s patriarch, Lin Daonan.

Beside him stood an elderly man with a scholarly air and a neatly trimmed goatee, shaking his head with a sigh. “Master Lin’s illness has reached its final stage. Even I, Xue Huaisu, am powerless. You should prepare for the worst.”

He was none other than Shu City’s renowned Divine Doctor, Xue Huaisu.

With those words, Xue Huaisu had pronounced Lin Daonan’s death sentence.

With a dull thud, the Lin family members fell to their knees, wails of grief filling the room.

“Quack!”

Amidst the low sobs, a calm voice suddenly rang out, like a stone shattering the stillness of a placid lake.

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

It was Ye Tianci who had spoken.

All eyes fixed on him, full of confusion—and even more, of anger.

Xue Huaisu was famous throughout Shu City and nearly impossible to invite. The Lin family’s eldest son, Lin Changren, had spent great effort to bring him here.

Now this unknown youth dared to mock Divine Doctor Xue as a quack in their own home?

It was an insult not only to Divine Doctor Xue, but to the entire Lin family.

“Who are you, to behave so rudely in my Lin household?” Lin Changren’s face was dark with rage.

Lin Qingqian quickly stepped forward. “Uncle, this is Ye Tianci, the doctor I brought from the mountains to treat Grandfather.”

Lin Changren’s expression grew colder. “Not just anyone has the right to treat your grandfather, especially someone this uncouth!”

“Someone! Show him out!”

Lin Changren had issued a direct order to expel Ye Tianci.

“Wait!”

It was Xue Huaisu who spoke up.