Golden Flower Granny

Hu Qingniu was sorting medicinal herbs inside when he heard the commotion outside. He immediately frowned and said to Zhang Wuji, "I do not treat those outside the Cult. Go send them away."

Zhang Wuji answered and went out, blocking the group's path. He clasped his hands and said, "Everyone, I'm truly sorry."

"Doctor Hu has contracted smallpox and cannot receive visitors. Please seek another renowned physician."

A Kongtong Sect disciple at the front endured the pain and said, "Little brother, we are disciples of Kongtong. Please make an exception for us!"

Zhang Wuji shook his head. "Not only the Kongtong Sect—no matter what sect you belong to, Doctor Hu will not treat you."

"What did you say? Are you looking down on the Kongtong Sect?"

A burly man glared at him furiously.

"A good dog doesn't block the road. Move!"

Another man reached out, intending to shove Zhang Wuji aside.

Someone threatened harshly, "If you refuse to treat us today, I'll smash this clinic to pieces!"

People of the martial world were already fierce by nature. Now that they were seriously injured, they had lost all reason. Someone immediately prepared to make a move.

"Let's see who dares!"

A sharp shout rang out from inside the house as Zu Hao and Zhou Zhiruo emerged side by side.

Zu Hao's gaze was like lightning as it swept over the wounded group. When he spotted several golden flowers embedded in someone's head, he was not alarmed but delighted.

They're here.

No sooner had he thought this than a mother and daughter emerged from behind the crowd.

The woman appeared to be around thirty. Her face was haggard, yet her delicate beauty could not be concealed. Beside her stood a little girl of eight or nine, her large eyes timidly watching everyone.

Zhang Wuji recognized the woman and cried out in delight, "Aunt Ji!"

Ji Xiaofu looked at Zhang Wuji in confusion. "You are?"

Zhang Wuji smiled. "I'm Wuji. Four years ago, on Wudang Mountain, on the day my parents died, we met."

"Wuji? So it's you."

A flash of delight crossed Ji Xiaofu's eyes. She drew the little girl beside her forward. "This is my daughter, Buhui. I'll tell you the reasons behind it all another day when we have the chance."

"Wuji, this lady is injured. Take her in for treatment first."

Zu Hao spoke up. "Doctor Hu cannot treat outsiders, but we have learned his medical arts. This is a good chance to practice."

"What? You want to use us for practice?"

One of the martial artists immediately began shouting.

Zu Hao said flatly, "Get treated or get lost."

He had no fondness for these bullies who feared the strong and preyed on the weak, so his tone was naturally far from kind.

"Young hero, I'm willing to be treated. Even if you cannot cure me, you can still ask the Divine Physician Hu for advice, can't you?"

"That's right! Please, save me quickly! I feel like I'm about to die!"

Seeing this, everyone dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.

"Get up. Form a line."

As Zu Hao spoke, he and Zhang Wuji began examining the wounded.

Zu Hao used his psychic power to conduct minute examinations and, combined with the medical knowledge he had learned, quickly determined the root of their injuries.

His movements were crisp and efficient—cleaning wounds, detoxifying, setting bones, applying acupuncture...

He even used psychic power to precisely seal acupoints, stop the bleeding, and force out poison.

His speed, precision, and skill with medicine made Hu Qingniu, who was secretly observing from behind the window, nod to himself in approval.

Zhang Wuji, meanwhile, worked steadily and carefully, taking each patient's pulse, administering acupuncture, and prescribing medicine.

Kind by nature, he treated every injured person with the utmost patience, offering gentle words of comfort from time to time.

In less than half a day, the conditions of more than ten severely injured people had all stabilized.

Though they had not fully recovered, their lives were no longer in danger.

Zu Hao said, "Your injuries have stabilized. Fill the prescriptions and rest for some time, and you will recover."

"Thank you, little divine physician!"

"This is the consultation fee. Please accept it."

"If the little divine physician ever visits Kongtong, I will certainly do my utmost to host you."

Everyone thanked Zu Hao and Zhang Wuji in turn before gradually leaving Butterfly Valley.

Ji Xiaofu, with Yang Buhui beside her, said to Zhang Wuji, "Thanks to you, my injuries healed so quickly. We'll be leaving first. I'll come see you again when I have time."

At that moment, Zu Hao, who had been talking with Hu Qingniu for a while, walked out and said, "Miss Ji, I heard Abbess Miejue has recently arrived nearby."

"She is cold and ruthless, and cares deeply about her reputation. If she sees you with Buhui, I fear things will end badly."

"Besides, the people who injured you should still be nearby. It would be better to leave after some time."

Ji Xiaofu's expression dimmed at his words. Just as she was about to reply, a bout of coughing came from outside the courtyard.

Her face changed dramatically. "Golden Flower Granny."

Zu Hao looked toward the courtyard gate and saw an old woman carrying a long staff, golden flowers around her neck, slowly entering with a young girl.

The old woman looked frail with age, but every step she took was incomparably steady. Her internal strength was clearly profound.

The moment Golden Flower Granny saw Ji Xiaofu, she said coldly, "You're not dead yet?"

Before her words had faded, Golden Flower Granny suddenly moved. Her staff whistled through the air and shot straight toward a vital point on Ji Xiaofu's chest.

The strike was vicious and swift. Ji Xiaofu had no time to react at all.

However, Zu Hao had long been on guard.

His psychic power instantly spread out, condensing an invisible force field in front of Ji Xiaofu.

With a soft hum, Golden Flower Granny felt as though her staff had plunged into thick, resilient glue. Its speed dropped sharply, and halfway through its thrust, it could no longer advance even an inch.

She was horrified. What kind of martial art was this?

In the instant she froze, Zu Hao moved and appeared before Golden Flower Granny. He threw a simple, direct punch, yet it contained astonishing force as it shot straight for her face.

Golden Flower Granny had no time to withdraw her staff and could only raise her palm to block.

Fist and palm collided with a dull bang.

Golden Flower Granny felt an immense force crash into her. Her arm was instantly dislocated, and she was sent flying seven or eight meters before slamming heavily into the ground, coughing repeatedly.

Her right arm, the one she had used to strike, was already broken. Had she not flown backward and dispersed most of the force, her entire arm might have been shattered.

"Granny!"

Seeing Golden Flower Granny sent flying in an instant, Yin Li turned pale with shock and hurried over to help her up.

"Cough, cough... Cough, cough... Good boy, whose disciple are you? What martial art was that?"

Golden Flower Granny's face was terrifyingly gloomy as she glared venomously at Zu Hao.

Her heart was overwhelmed with shock. What profound internal strength this boy has! No, it doesn't feel like internal strength—it's pure physical force? And that invisible barrier... it's truly bizarre!

She had come to deal with Hu Qingniu, yet a young man had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He was so formidable that a single punch had severely injured her.

"The dead have no need to know so much."

Zu Hao spoke coldly.

He had no favorable impression of Golden Flower Granny—or rather, Daiqisi.

Although Daiqisi had once been known as the greatest beauty under heaven, she was utterly ruled by love.

For Han Qianye, whom she had fallen for at first sight, she had not hesitated to betray the Ming Cult.

As a result, during their wagered duel at the Jade Water Cold Pool, both of them were poisoned by the cold water.

Daiqisi's cold poison was mild, so she merely coughed and was not in mortal danger.

Han Qianye, however, was different. Daiqisi had injured him during their duel, allowing the cold poison to invade his body. It eventually became incurable.

Daiqisi then thought of Hu Qingniu, the greatest divine physician in the world.

But Hu Qingniu had long sworn never to treat anyone except disciples of the Ming Cult.

In the end, Han Qianye suffered a relapse of the cold poison and died from it in Daiqisi's arms. From then on, Daiqisi hated Hu Qingniu.

A typical case of harassing a doctor.

Daiqisi had betrayed the Ming Cult, yet still wanted to enjoy the privileges of a Ming Cult disciple whenever she needed them. A typical hypocrite.

Hu Qingniu owed her nothing. Saving her would have been a favor; refusing her was his right.

Yet to force Hu Qingniu's hand, this vicious woman had not hesitated to injure more than ten people as bargaining chips.

If Hu Qingniu refused to save them, he would be killed by these enraged wounded men.

If he saved them, she would have an excuse to kill Hu Qingniu anyway.

In the original story, Xie Xun had treated Daiqisi quite well, yet she had wanted to kill him and seize his blade. Her heart was clearly malicious.

Those who roamed the martial world lived freely, repaying gratitude and revenge alike.

When dealing with such a venomous woman, it was naturally best to kill her first.

With a thought, Zu Hao grabbed the staff beside him and hurled it fiercely at Golden Flower Granny.

Golden Flower Granny had lost the use of one arm, and her internal organs had also been injured by the impact. Her strength had greatly diminished, and she could no longer dodge in time.

At the critical moment, she hardened her heart and violently shoved Yin Li beside her forward as a shield!

"Granny!"

Yin Li cried out in alarm as she watched the staff about to smash her head to pieces...