"Klein, come out!"
Hughes called inside, and a servant immediately went to fetch the Klein he had mentioned.
After dawdling for quite a while, just as Xia Ming and the others were beginning to frown, a blond young man in white finally ambled down from upstairs. His face was pale, his hair somewhat disheveled. Though he was quite handsome, he was extraordinarily thin, with very fair skin. By Xia Ming's standards, he was the very picture of a pretty-boy fop.
"This is my son, Klein. Klein, quickly greet these masters of potion-making!" Hughes said to the young man.
The blond youth—Klein—seemed utterly obedient to Hughes. He nodded meekly and greeted everyone one by one. When his gaze fell upon Xia Ming, a strange glint appeared in his eyes, but he still offered a courteous salute.
Hughes nodded in satisfaction. "These are all outstanding potion masters. You have already met the Medicine King. Let me introduce these others to you..."
Just as Hughes was about to introduce Xia Ming and the other two to Klein, Klein immediately became irritable and resistant, completely unlike his previously obedient self.
"Father, I don't want any more treatment! Make these potion masters leave!" Klein shouted.
Hmph, what potion masters? Every time I undergo treatment full of hope, only to face disappointment and despair again and again. I've had enough of this!
"You insolent brat!" Hughes snapped, anger rising on his face.
Klein seemed very afraid of Hughes. He shrank back, yet still gritted his teeth and remained silent, protesting without a word.
Xia Ming rubbed his nose. So he was a special kind of patient—one who rejected potion treatment. Still, Xia Ming could more or less understand Klein's state of mind.
He was nothing more than a pitiful man battered down by far, far too