Reversal

The Qi Residence...

Old Master Qi was lost in thought, staring at a plant that had been half-consumed.

The flower was pale red, its petals layered like peaches, and it was the "Longevity Flower" gifted by his third son for the Triennial Assembly.

Just then, he heard a servant's announcement from afar and soon... saw his two eldest sons hurrying in from outside.

Old Master Qi chuckled, "Third son, I was just thinking of you, and here you are with your elder brother."

With that, he intended to share the good news his second son had brought.

However, before he could speak, Qi Changfu had already sat down in the Grand Tutor's chair beside him, his eyes crinkling with a smile, "Father, my third brother and I are here to bring you good tidings."

"Oh?"

Old Master Qi's hand, stroking his beard, paused. "Could it be... we're thinking of the same thing?"

Qi Changfu's gaze swept over the Longevity Flower. "Father, are you satisfied with the effects of this flower?"

Old Master Qi laughed, "More than satisfied! My headaches have disappeared these past few mornings, and I feel full of energy. I'm just curious, where did such a wondrous flower come from?"

Qi Changfu replied, "It was cultivated by a reclusive, renowned physician. It's quite miraculous; although this doctor isn't an apothecary, she's highly skilled in the art of health preservation and longevity. Several elders living near her residence are all over a hundred years old and still full of vigor."

A sharp glint flashed in Old Master Qi's eyes. "Where is such a master now? I must prepare a generous gift and visit her personally."

For elderly people, a doctor who understood health preservation and could extend life was no different from a celestial being.

Although the Qi Family cultivated secret medicines, they mostly relied on the inherent properties of these medicines. As for medical skills, the accompanying expertise wasn't particularly advanced.

Qi Changfu chuckled, "No need for you to trouble yourself, Father. My third brother and I have already invited this divine doctor here."

Qi Changshun chimed in, "She's waiting outside the door."

"Nonsense, utter nonsense!"

Old Master Qi hurriedly stood up, adjusting his brocade robe. "If she's a divine doctor, how can we keep such a distinguished guest waiting? Please, invite her in!"

Qi Changshun responded and left, returning moments later to escort a woman gracefully inside.

The visitor appeared to be around forty years old, dressed in an elegant plain green shirt with a moon-white sleeveless vest worn over it. She was impeccably maintained, her cheeks rosy, her eyes like spring water, and her demeanor exceptional.

Old Master Qi's gaze followed her, and he exclaimed in surprise, "It's a female doctor..."

Qi Changfu laughed, "Father, this is Doctor Zhang Yujie. Not only is her medical skill superb, but she also possesses a unique massage technique. Since we've invited her today, why not let Doctor Zhang give you a session?"

Old Master Qi nodded slightly.

The middle-aged beauty named Zhang Yujie first placed a transparent jade box on the table. Inside, one could faintly see soil and a Longevity Flower just beginning to bloom.

She stepped forward gracefully, her slender hand lightly pressing onto Old Master Qi's shoulder. Her fingers moved like a musician playing a zither, slowly massaging him. Initially, the pressure was ordinary, but gradually, a warm current, as gentle as spring water, permeated his skin and reached his bones.

This spring water quickly spread, like silken threads dispersing throughout his limbs and bones.

Old Master Qi felt as if he didn't need to think about anything, not even needing to exert effort to breathe. The silken thread-like force guided his body, giving him an extraordinary sense of freedom.

Old Master Qi closed his eyes, a feeling of being in sync with the doctor behind him rising in his heart. The joy surged like a rising tide, climbing higher and higher...

"Mmm..."

He couldn't help but let out a contented sigh.

After an unknown amount of time, the hands quietly withdrew.

Old Master Qi slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and revitalized, as if reborn. His gaze towards Zhang Yujie had changed significantly, and he praised, "Truly a divine doctor!"

Zhang Yujie bowed gracefully and turned to the Qi brothers, "Gentlemen, my debt is repaid. I shall take my leave."

She then bowed again to Old Master Qi, her green robe rustling slightly, and turned to leave.

"Doctor Zhang, please wait!" Old Master Qi hastily raised his hand, unconsciously rising to stop her.

Zhang Yujie paused and turned sideways, revealing half of her cool, serene profile.

Old Master Qi pleaded earnestly, "Doctor Zhang, why not stay? My Qi Family has spiritual fields and secret lands that require the management of a master like yourself. If you agree to stay, the Qi Family will treat you as an honored guest."

Zhang Yujie offered a faint smile, like distant green mountains and painted eyebrows. "The mortal world is not my dwelling; where clouds are deep, that is my home. Farewell."

Before her words faded, she turned again and floated out of the courtyard, her green attire gradually disappearing.

Old Master Qi stared blankly at the empty courtyard gate, the extreme comfort he had just experienced still circulating within his flesh and blood, making him restless. He abruptly turned his head and looked at his two sons, saying plainly, "Speak. After all this circling around, what is it you want?"

Qi Changfu said, "Yu'er is contending for the top spots in the Provincial Examination. This time, it's either the First Class or Second Class. Back then, the second son only managed the Third Class, and Feng'er didn't even make the Top Three, did he?"

Old Master Qi frowned.

Just as he was about to reprimand them.

Qi Changfu continued, "Father, you still don't know about the good deeds of the second branch, do you?"

Old Master Qi asked coldly, "What deeds?"

Qi Changfu replied, "They sent someone to falsely accuse Yu'er of taking banned substances, intending to expel him from the examination. Fortunately, the chief examiner saw through the deception, and the accuser has been brought to justice, receiving fifty strokes of the military cane."

Qi Changshun interjected at the opportune moment, his voice laced with a hint of mockery, "Father, tell me, does our Qi Family truly have banned substances that can elevate someone to the First Class?"

Old Master Qi's face showed astonishment.

Qi Changfu gave a signal to the side.

The two brothers knelt down with a "plop," crying rivers of snot and tears, choking out, "Father, if it weren't for the examiner's fairness and Yu'er's own effort, we would have been shamed and kicked out long ago."

Old Master Qi was silent for a moment, then said, "Your second brother actually came earlier. He has already agreed to give Yu'er a chance to train with the Poison Water Army."

Qi Changshun suddenly looked up, wailing, "Father! He's trying to kill Yu'er! Once he joins the Poison Water Army, all of Yu'er's resources will be controlled by him. Once a war breaks out, he can order Yu'er to die for the clan with a single command! Who would dare say anything?"

Old Master Qi said grimly, "This..."

Qi Changfu kowtowed heavily, crying, "You've entrusted all the family's power to your second brother, blinded and deafened, can you still see what's happening below?

Sun Li falsely accused Yu'er and was beaten to death in court. This matter has already spread throughout the prefectural city, and our Qi family has become a laughingstock!

Sun Li was Feng'er's follower. He's truly vicious..."

He raised his bloodshot eyes, his voice hoarse, "A single falling leaf signals the coming of autumn...

Now that the Poison Water Army belongs to second brother, if he also takes the Herb Gathering Pavilion, my third brother and I might as well take our children and poison ourselves!

As for you... you'll probably be 'sent off early' too.

If you're not here, he'll be the rightful head of the family..."

Qi Changfu gave a bitter smile, "Unlike us, who are foolish and only try every means to find the Longevity Flower for you and invite divine doctors... hoping you'll live a hundred years."

"Father~~!" Qi Changshun cried out in despair, crawling forward on his knees and tightly hugging the Old Master's legs.

Old Master Qi's face turned ashen.

Just then, Qi Changfu's crying stopped abruptly.

His body stiffened, his eyeballs rolled up, and he fell straight backward. White foam gushed from his lips, and his limbs twitched uncontrollably.

"Changfu!!"

Old Master Qi suddenly stood up.

This was his eldest son... He still remembered his helplessness holding this frail infant when he first became a father over forty years ago.

It's just that this child was always weak and sickly, so he only practiced some martial arts for health.

Now it seems his old illness has relapsed due to emotional distress.

"Someone!! Someone!!!"

Old Master Qi panicked. Looking around frantically, he grabbed Qi Changshun, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said, "Quick! Go chase Doctor Zhang! See how far she's gone! Hurry!"

Qi Changshun scrambled up and stumbled out of the hall, shouting, "Doctor Zhang, Doctor Zhang... Please wait! Please wait!!"

Dusk surged outside the window, casting Old Master Qi's pacing figure long and short on the wall.

He looked towards the couch several times, seeing the beautiful middle-aged woman still concentrating on her acupuncture. He wanted to ask a few times but swallowed his words, afraid of disturbing her.

After a long while...

Zhang Yujie gently withdrew her needles and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. "Master Changfu has woken up. He is blessed by heaven and is out of danger."

The Old Master let out a long sigh and hurried forward to hold his eldest son's cold hand.

Qi Changfu's breathing was weak, but he still managed to force a smile. "Your son is unfilial, making you worry."

The Old Master remembered how frail he had been since childhood, and now his temples were already gray. A wave of sadness washed over him, and his voice was hoarse, "You child... How old are you, and you're still so reckless."

Qi Changfu gently shook his head. "It is my fault, son. Please take care of yourself."

At this moment, a light knock came from outside the door.

The Old Master tucked him in, then turned and walked out.

In the corridor, a martial artist in black robes immediately stepped forward and reported in a low voice.

When he heard, "Young Master Yu was incredibly brave and won the First Class," great joy appeared in the Old Master's eyes.

If a family has no successors, it is a sign of decline, and they can be bullied by anyone.

Conversely, if a prodigy emerges, it is a sign of prosperity.

This... is often described by storytellers in teahouses as "destiny." For a family, a Sect, or even an empire, having successors means their destiny is not yet exhausted. If a prodigy appears, it means "it's time to rise."

Old Master Qi clearly trusted this black-robed martial artist. Hearing the good news, he suppressed his joy and then asked with concern, "Were the opponents this year too weak?"

The black-robed martial artist repeatedly shook his head and then listed the participants one by one.

"Lin Wuming... only lasted about ten breaths under him?"

Old Master Qi had clearly heard of Lin Wuming.

The black-robed martial artist said, "It's absolutely true."

Old Master Qi fell silent.

He asked again, "The false accusation, is it true?"

The black-robed martial artist lowered his voice, "Sun Li did come out from the second branch's room. The second madam even specifically instructed those participating martial artists that if anyone encountered Young Master Yu in the third round, they must... strike hard and show no mercy."

"Wicked woman!"

Old Master Qi's expression changed drastically.

He knew what he had to do.