Seeing Li Xingluo back her up made Song Xue happier than words could say.
Over the years, the Song Clan had sought out many physicians and Alchemists, but none of them had been able to do anything about Song Ping's legs.
Now that Li Xingluo seemed so confident, Song Xue was so excited she nearly jumped for joy. If so many people hadn't been there, she might have thrown her arms around him.
Song Ping was naturally delighted too. He hadn't expected he'd still be able to stand again in the time he had left.
Song Zhu's heart gave a jolt, and his expression darkened slightly. Though he was shocked by Li Xingluo's strength, he still refused to give up.
"Boy, if you really have the skill, why not examine my older brother right now? Don't just talk big. Anyone can do that!"
Li Xingluo didn't even need to think about it. "Sure! Miss Song Xue, push your father inside, and I'll examine his legs."
Li Xingluo sounded sincere. Song Xue already depended on him deeply, and with a beaming smile, she pushed Song Ping straight toward the main hall.
As Li Xingluo passed Song Zhu, he saw the man's furious yet helpless expression and felt a rush of satisfaction.
"Big Brother Luo Xing, hurry up!" Song Xue called back.
Li Xingluo shot Song Zhu a sidelong glance, leaving him fuming in place. Only after Li Xingluo and the others had disappeared did Song Zhu mutter a few threats and follow them.
When they reached the main hall, Song Xue was beside herself with impatience, but Song Ping seemed much calmer and even told her not to rush.
After so long without exercise, parts of his calves had withered away, leaving them shriveled and utterly bloodless.
Li Xingluo examined them without doing anything. Seeing this, Song Zhu, who had followed them in, mocked him again.
"Oh, I thought you were some kind of expert!"
Li Xingluo paid no mind to Song Zhu's sarcasm and didn't take him seriously.
He continued his examination with great care, but as time passed, Song Xue grew anxious.
"Big Brother Luo Xing, how is it? My father's legs..."
"Xue'er, don't disturb the doctor while he's examining me."
"Yes, Father!"
Song Zhu sat off to the side, sipping tea and watching the show, his lips curling into an irrepressible, smug smile.
"Senior, your legs were crippled because you were poisoned."
Li Xingluo rose and stated his diagnosis without hurry.
But as soon as he mentioned poison, Song Zhu spat out a mouthful of tea. His eyes darted around, but Li Xingluo didn't miss the slightest change in his expression.
Song Zhu jumped up and barked, "Boy, what nonsense are you talking about? My older brother's legs were crippled when he went out to hunt Demonic Beasts that year! And you're saying it was poison? Hmph, I knew you didn't have the ability!"
Song Xue looked just as astonished. What Song Zhu said was true—how could it have been poison?
"Big Brother Luo Xing, did you... make a mistake? My father..."
"I couldn't be mistaken. If you don't believe me, I can prove it right here."
Song Ping was astounded. He exchanged a glance with Song Xue, who was also completely bewildered. How could this have turned out to be poison?
Li Xingluo paid no heed to their astonishment. He raised his hand, and a stream of red Dou Qi slowly flowed from his palm, reaching Song Ping's knee.
A short while later, a needle as thin as a hair appeared in Li Xingluo's hand. As soon as he pulled it out, a wisp of green smoke rose from its tiny hole, curling upward like a strand of hair.
Song Xue was so stunned by the sight that she couldn't speak. She stared fixedly, her mouth slightly agape.
With a casual flick of his hand, Li Xingluo sent the needle skimming past Song Zhu's cheek and embedded it in a pillar.
He extracted an identical needle from the other leg and shot it out the same way.
"Well?" Li Xingluo challenged Song Zhu with a pointed look.
"Since you know it's poison, Senior, do you have a way to treat it?"
Song Ping was the first to recover from his shock. His eyes dimmed from time to time, then brightened again.
"I didn't remove the needles earlier because I was figuring out what kind of poison had affected your legs. Now I have a general idea. Don't worry, I can cure them."
Hearing this, Song Ping cupped his hands and bowed to Li Xingluo.
"Then I must trouble you, Senior. I only wonder what you'll need the Song Clan to offer in return."
After all, they had sought out physicians and Alchemists before, and the compensation they demanded was always steep. None of them had cured him.
Now that Li Xingluo had given him a definite answer, the reward surely couldn't be small.
Li Xingluo thought it over. Beside him, Song Xue grew anxious. Naturally, she wouldn't take anything concerning her family lightly.
"Big Brother Luo Xing, if you can cure my father's legs, I... I'm willing to..."
Li Xingluo glanced at Song Xue, her delicate face tinged with shyness and flushed red. What had gotten into this girl now?
Song Ping naturally understood what Song Xue meant, but they had only just met. Wasn't this a little too soon?
"Xue'er..."
Li Xingluo had no such intention and immediately rejected the offer. "The reward I want is the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid in Miss Song Xue's possession."
As soon as he said this, Song Zhu was the first to leap out in protest again.
"Hmph, boy, your fox's tail is showing! You came here for the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid."
"Elder Brother, you mustn't! The Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid is the sacred medicine that can save Father. If we give it to him, Father will die!"
Song Zhu stood on the moral high ground, whispering poison into his elder brother's ear while looking smug.
He seemed to have completely forgotten how he'd been bested by Li Xingluo twice. Some people really did have heads harder than iron.
Seeing Song Ping lower his head and fall into thought, Li Xingluo burst out laughing.
"Boy, what are you laughing at? Has the old man hit the nail on the head, leaving you speechless?" Song Zhu's conceited nature hadn't changed at all.
"I'm laughing because some people are too stupid. Forget it. The Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid is indeed useful to me, but I don't want to bear a bad reputation. Since that's the case, I'll take my leave."
Li Xingluo turned and walked toward the main hall's exit without looking back.
Watching him leave with such resolve, without the slightest hesitation, Song Xue panicked.
"Big Brother Luo Xing!"
Song Xue hurried after him and blocked his path.
Song Zhu continued to fan the flames from the side. "Xue'er, let him go. He's nothing but a fraud. I say he just wants to trick you out of that Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid!"
Perhaps Song Zhu's words had made Song Xue see the truth. At any rate, what she said next was exactly right.
"Father, if Big Brother Luo Xing wanted the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid, he could have taken it from me back then. Why would he have saved me and followed me back to the Song Clan?"
Song Xue recounted how she had gotten into trouble and how Li Xingluo had helped her bring the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid back to the Song Clan.
"Maybe he... maybe he has another motive."
"Second Uncle, what motive could Big Brother Luo Xing have?"
"He... he—I wouldn't know! I'm not him." Song Zhu couldn't come up with a rebuttal for the moment.
Li Xingluo heard the wheels of the wheelchair rolling behind him, but he didn't turn around.
He saw Song Ping bow his head toward him and apologize.
"Senior, it's my fault for nearly doubting your sincere wish to treat me. I apologize."
"As Miss Song Xue said, if I'd wanted the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid, I wouldn't have needed to save her. With the orchid in hand, that pack of Sand Bandits at Tiger Mountain couldn't have stopped me. I'm treating you because of Miss Song Xue's filial devotion. As for the Seven-Colored Immortal Orchid, it's my payment for curing the old master."
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