Poisoned!

Gao Zhanhu's expression shifted slightly.

Indeed, Wu Jing was no ordinary physician. He was a renowned doctor who had practiced medicine in Nanyang Prefecture for decades!

No one knew how many martial artists had benefited from Wu Jing's grace.

If Wu Jing were humiliated in Gao Family Fortress, would that not mean Gao Family Fortress had needlessly made a formidable enemy for itself?

"Doctor Wu, please calm your anger."

"This man is my third brother, Gao Zhanwu. He is reckless by nature, an utterly unruly lout. I beg Doctor Wu not to lower yourself to his level."

Gao Zhanhu gave Wu Jing a deep bow.

"Zhanwu, hurry and apologize to Doctor Wu."

Gao Zhanwu clutched his arm and endured the pain. Though his expression was deeply unwilling, he still lowered his head to Wu Jing and apologized. "Doctor Wu, please forgive my recklessness."

Wu Jing waved a hand and said blandly, "There are three taboos for physicians: never trifle with illness, and patients must not insult doctors."

"I will not pursue today's matter. But I cannot treat your son's illness. Fortress Lord, please seek someone more capable. Farewell!"

Wu Jing was truly enraged. No longer wishing to treat Gao Yuzhi, he immediately left the room with Lu Changsheng.

When the two arrived in the main hall, the several apprentices looked utterly bewildered.

But seeing Wu Jing's face dark as iron, they could only obediently follow him out.

Yet the moment they left the Fortress Lord's Mansion, they saw many people carrying one patient after another, anxiously waiting outside.

"Divine Doctor—is that Divine Doctor Wu? Please save my son!"

"Divine Doctor Wu, I heard you are a master of the healing arts, with no illness beyond your cure. My son is the only child in our family. He has been unconscious for five days already. Please, Divine Doctor, take a look at him."

"My daughter has been unconscious for three days too, and she cannot keep any food down. What are we supposed to do? Please save my daughter..."

The relatives of many patients kowtowed to Wu Jing and pleaded with him.

Seeing these common folk carrying their sick loved ones here, their eyes incomparably sincere and their gazes fixed on Wu Jing with a trace of hope, Wu Jing could not bear it.

A healer's heart was that of a parent; he could not stand by and watch them die.

At that moment, Gao Zhanhu hurried over as well. Gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice, "Doctor Wu, if you can cure my son, I am willing to offer Three Hundred Gold!"

"Three Hundred Gold? What a lavish offer."

Wu Jing did not refuse again.

It was not that he coveted the Three Hundred Gold, but that he was thinking of the ordinary people of Gao Family Fortress.

If he left, these patients would likely have no hope of survival.

Thus, Wu Jing went to the patients one by one, taking their pulses and asking about their conditions.

Half an hour passed like this.

Wu Jing was drenched in sweat, and his footsteps had grown somewhat unsteady.

After all, he was over seventy years old. At such an advanced age, his stamina could not hold out for long.

"Master, sit down and rest first."

Lu Changsheng supported Wu Jing.

Wu Jing waved his hand. Then he looked toward Gao Zhanhu and said softly, "I have roughly determined the cause. However, I fear this condition is rather complicated."

"Doctor Wu has discovered the cause?"

Gao Zhanhu was overjoyed.

What did it matter if it was complicated?

So long as the cause had been found, they had a direction.

And with a direction, there was hope of a cure.

"Doctor Wu, let us speak inside."

Wu Jing nodded and, supported by Lu Changsheng, walked into the Fortress Lord's Mansion.

Inside the Fortress Lord's Mansion, Wu Jing glanced at the people in the main hall, then shook his head.

Gao Zhanhu was slightly taken aback.

But as the fortress lord, he immediately understood Wu Jing's meaning.

So Gao Zhanhu dismissed many members of the Gao family, leaving only Gao Yucheng behind.

Gao Zhanhu's expression was grave as he asked in a deep voice, "Doctor Wu, I have sent everyone else away. Please speak plainly—what illness has my son contracted?"

Wu Jing glanced at Gao Zhanhu and Gao Yucheng before speaking. "Your son has not fallen ill. Neither have those patients in Gao Family Fortress."

"If this old man is not mistaken, they have been poisoned."

"What? Poisoned?"

Gao Zhanhu's expression changed drastically at once.

"Yes, it's poisoning."

"This poison should be a Mixed Poison. It's extremely troublesome."

Having practiced medicine for decades, Wu Jing possessed a profound understanding of poisons.

"Doctor Wu, can you cure this poison?"

Gao Zhanhu asked.

Wu Jing shook his head. "I am a doctor; I treat illnesses. Though I have dabbled in poisons, my knowledge is not especially deep."

"Therefore, I cannot cure this Mixed Poison. To neutralize it, we would have to specifically invite a Poison Dao Master."

"Although this Mixed Poison will not kill him immediately, once it acts up, it will penetrate deep into the five viscera and six bowels. Given enough time, even immortals would find it hard to save him."

"From what I can see, your son has already been poisoned for half a month. The toxins have spread throughout his body. I fear he does not have much time left..."

Wu Jing's words made Gao Zhanhu's heart sink.

"Is there truly no other way?"

"Forgive this old man for being powerless..."

For a moment, Gao Zhanhu was utterly despondent.

He waved a hand and managed to say, "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Wu. It is late now; please rest for the night at Gao Family Fortress and leave tomorrow."

"Yucheng, take Elder Wu to rest."

Gao Yucheng led Wu Jing, Lu Changsheng, and the others to a spacious courtyard.

"There are many rooms in this courtyard. Doctor Wu may stay in whichever one he wishes."

"Servants will bring dinner for everyone shortly."

"If you need anything, simply instruct the servants."

Gao Yucheng's arrangements were meticulous and thoughtful.

"No need. Second Young Master, you should go keep your father company."

Wu Jing waved his hand, and Gao Yucheng turned and left as well.

After returning to the room, Lu Changsheng helped Wu Jing sit down and rest.

"Master, the Mixed Poison you mentioned must be exceedingly complex. Yet its toxicity is not that of a fierce poison that seals one's throat at the sight of blood. Gao Yuzhi has been lying there for half a month and still hasn't died. There is something strange about this."

Lu Changsheng spoke softly.

"Yes, it is indeed strange. With this kind of Mixed Poison, if merely a few poisons were removed, it would immediately become a deadly poison. Anyone afflicted would not survive even half an hour."

"But the poisoner deliberately added several more poisons instead, neutralizing the toxicity and turning this fierce poison into a chronic one."

Wu Jing frowned as well.

"Was it deliberate?"

"Perhaps the poisoner did not actually want Gao Yuzhi to die so quickly..."

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly, as though something had occurred to him.

Wu Jing tapped his cane and said meaningfully, "Changsheng, there are some matters you should not dig to the root of. Still less should you involve yourself in them."

"We are merely doctors. Treating illnesses and saving lives is what we ought to do, but other matters have nothing to do with us. You must remember that..."

"Yes, Master."

Lu Changsheng then returned to his own room.

At the Fortress Lord's Mansion, Gao Zhanhu silently watched his son, Gao Yuzhi.

His expression shifted uncertainly, as though he were weighing something.

"Yuzhi, you are the hope of Gao Family Fortress. Among the entire Gao family, you have the greatest hope of breaking through the mysterious gate of life and death and becoming a Divine Strength Realm martial artist!"

"Thus, those despicable and shameless enemies have exhausted every means to eliminate you, even going so far as to poison you. But I will never let anything happen to you!"

"If it truly were some strange illness, I might have no way to deal with it. But if it is only poisoning, then perhaps that method will work..."

Gao Zhanhu drew a deep breath, and an unusual glint flashed through his eyes.

Perhaps he had already made a certain decision in his heart.