At Most, He'll Cough Up Two Liters of Blood

"That's right. As long as you really know your stuff, I won't pursue the matter, even if you've been passing yourself off as something you're not!"

Just then, Ning Hongzhuang walked in as well, but this time a middle-aged man and a beautiful, glamorous woman followed her!

"Hongzhuang, are these the two miracle doctors you invited? Have you checked their backgrounds?"

The middle-aged man beside Ning Hongzhuang spoke up.

He was Ning Hongzhuang's father, Ning Weiye, and the beautiful woman beside him was her mother.

No, to be precise, she was her stepmother, Tang Caiqin!

"That's right, Hongzhuang. You mustn't bring just any nobody in to treat the old master. If anything happens to him, none of us could bear the responsibility."

Tang Caiqin covered her mouth and giggled, her words dripping with insinuation.

"Shut up. Who gave you the right to speak here?"

The moment she spoke, Ning Hongzhuang shot her a piercing look.

"You! Whatever you think, I'm still your mother, aren't I? Is this how you treat me?"

Tang Caiqin's expression turned ugly as she glared at Ning Hongzhuang.

That damned girl had been targeting me ever since the day I married into this family.

"My mother? Ha. Sorry, but my mother died when I was ten. You're nothing but a slut my father brought home. If you dare call yourself that again, don't blame me for what happens!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a powerful aura erupted from Ning Hongzhuang-the commanding presence of someone long accustomed to authority.

The instant Tang Caiqin felt that aura, she was too frightened to say another word. All she could do was clutch Ning Weiye's arm and hide behind him.

"Darling~ Say something!"

Ning Weiye's expression shifted at Tang Caiqin's plea. Even he feared his overwhelmingly forceful daughter. More than half the Ning Family's power was now in her hands, and the old master doted on her. How could he dare speak up?

But with his woman pleading and outsiders present, he had no choice but to assert his authority as an elder. He cleared his throat. "Hongzhuang, is that any way to speak to your mother?"

Ning Hongzhuang gave him an indifferent glance, then turned to Jiang Tian and the old charlatan. "Get started!"

With that, she sat upright in a wooden armchair outside and watched quietly.

Seeing that he had no way out, the old charlatan could only steel himself and proceed.

His hands trembled as he said, "Um, Great General Who Guards the South, please extend your hand so I can take your pulse."

Ning Rulong nodded and reached a hand out from beneath the covers.

The dense calluses covering it marked it as a hand that had held a gun for years.

The old charlatan took a deep breath, placed his fingers on Ning Rulong's wrist, and began examining his pulse.

A few minutes later, he withdrew his hand, drenched in sweat and breathing hard.

"Well?"

Ning Hongzhuang asked at just the right moment.

The old charlatan shuddered and turned around. "M-Miss Ning, if I may speak frankly..."

"Just say it!"

"Yes, yes. Here's the situation. When I took the Great General Who Guards the South's pulse, I found that although his bodily functions have declined somewhat, they're still within the normal range. By all rights, he should be quite robust, but strangely, his vitality seems very weak."

The old charlatan explained his diagnosis.

Ning Hongzhuang frowned. "So, can you cure him completely?"

"I can't guarantee that. All I can do is try."

The old charlatan shook his head.

Then he took out another of his simplified Minor Restoration Pills.

Seeing the same pill again, Ning Hongzhuang furrowed her delicate brows. "Are you serious?"

The old charlatan trembled and hastily said, "Miss Ning, Great General Who Guards the South, this pill may look ordinary, but it really can cure all manner of illnesses. Why not give it a try? Perhaps it could..."

"Nonsense!" Ning Weiye snapped. "Do you have any idea who the old master is? You can't just give him some random pill! If anything happens to him, can you bear the responsibility?"

Caught between both sides, the old charlatan had no idea what to do.

Fortunately, Ning Hongzhuang spoke up. "Fine. Let's give it a try."

I've tried this pill myself, and it really did work wonders. Maybe it'll help?

Seeing that Ning Hongzhuang had agreed, the old charlatan hurriedly handed the pill to Ning Rulong.

Ning Rulong took it and examined it closely, looking a little surprised. "Oh? This pill is rather interesting."

The old charlatan forced a smile. "You have a discerning eye, Great General Who Guards the South. This is called an Essence Pill. It's refined from a variety of precious medicinal ingredients, combining all their essences. It's truly a miraculous remedy!"

Ning Rulong held it beneath his nose and sniffed. "Mm, it certainly has a rich medicinal fragrance."

As he spoke, he opened his mouth to swallow it.

"Father, don't!"

Seeing that the old master really intended to take it, Ning Weiye hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Yes, old master, this pill hasn't even been tested. What if... what if it's contaminated?"

Tang Caiqin had intended to call it poison, but realizing that would be an unwise thing to say, she changed her wording.

Ning Rulong glanced at them and frowned slightly. "Could you use your brains? Where are we? On the Ning Family's own turf! Unless he has a death wish, he wouldn't give me poison! Besides, I trust Hongzhuang. She would never harm me!"

Ning Hongzhuang nodded. "That's right, Grandpa. I've taken this pill myself. There's definitely nothing wrong with it. Uncle Ming can vouch for that!"

Uncle Ming hurriedly nodded. "Yes, sir. The young lady found the pill effective as well."

Jiang Tian spoke up then. "Don't worry. At most, he'll cough up two liters of blood after taking it. He'll be fine."

The old charlatan's face darkened at those words. "What nonsense are you spouting, boy?!"

Jiang Tian couldn't be bothered to respond. The pill could treat minor illnesses and aches, but it would probably do nothing at all for Ning Rulong's condition.

Ning Rulong likewise couldn't be bothered with any more objections and simply swallowed the pill.

As Ning Rulong swallowed it, everyone's gaze settled on him.

Reclining in bed, Ning Rulong closed his eyes slightly and waited for the medicine to take effect.

"How strange. I feel a little more energetic after taking that pill."

Ning Rulong murmured to himself.

The old charlatan was overjoyed to hear it. Was it working? My pill really is a miracle cure!

Ning Hongzhuang's beautiful face lit up as well. She looked at her grandfather and asked, "Grandpa, how do you feel?"

Ning Rulong considered for a moment. "My body feels very comfortable, as though I'm warming myself by a fire. There's a sort of..."

"Pfft!"

Before he could finish, Ning Rulong suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood!

Then his head slumped to one side, and he lost consciousness.

Ning Hongzhuang, who had been rejoicing a moment earlier, froze at the sight. Once she recovered, she sprang to her feet and cried out:

"Grandpa, what's wrong?!"

The old charlatan was startled too, unable to understand why this had happened.

Seeing her warning come true, Tang Caiqin immediately shrieked:

"See? See?! This man really did mean the old master harm! Guards, seize him!"

The old charlatan was terrified. He wanted to explain, but it was already too late. Two bodyguards entered through the doorway and dragged him away.

Ning Hongzhuang had no attention to spare for the old charlatan now. She anxiously clasped Ning Rulong's hand and called, "Grandpa! Grandpa, what's wrong?!"

But no matter how she shook him, Ning Rulong showed no response.

In her panic, she suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned to Jiang Tian and snapped, "Didn't you say your medical skills were better than that old charlatan's?! Hurry up and find out what's wrong with my grandfather! If you're lying to me too, I'll make both of you pay!"