A curse had been cast

Jiang Tian looked at the intensely agitated Ning Hongzhuang and calmly shook his head.

He had sensed something unusual about Ning Rulong the moment he entered the room, but without examining him personally, he could not yet say exactly what was wrong.

Without a word, he slowly rose and walked over to Ning Rulong.

"Kid, stop right there!"

Just as he was about to examine Ning Rulong, Ning Weiye grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing?"

Jiang Tian frowned.

Ning Weiye snapped, "Kid, I don't trust you. You came with that old charlatan, and I strongly suspect you two have sinister intentions toward my father!"

Tang Caiqin chimed in, "Exactly. We all know what condition he's in. Countless specialists from here and abroad couldn't even diagnose him. How could a green kid like you cure him?"

Ning Weiye nodded and turned to Ning Hongzhuang. "Hongzhuang, I usually let you do as you please, but my father's safety is at stake here. I absolutely will not let you keep acting so recklessly!"

Ning Hongzhuang frowned and looked at Jiang Tian.

Jiang Tian scoffed. "Sir, if even I can't cure him, I doubt anyone in the world can save him."

"Arrogant brat! Who are you, and where did you come from? Who trained you? What university did you graduate from? Do you even have a medical license?"

Ning Weiye questioned him coldly.

Jiang Tian shook his head slightly. "I never attended medical school, and I don't have a medical license. As for who trained me, you're not worthy of knowing."

"You never attended medical school? And you don't have a medical license?"

Ning Weiye was so angry that he laughed.

"Kid, are you kidding us? You have no credentials whatsoever. Why should we trust you?"

Tang Caiqin sneered as well, then turned to Ning Hongzhuang. "Hongzhuang, I hate to say it, but have you really lost your head out of desperation? Are you so desperate for a cure that you'll drag just anyone here to treat your grandfather?"

Ning Hongzhuang's expression darkened further at Tang Caiqin's snide remarks.

In truth, she was worried about that too. If Jiang Tian really was a fraud and something happened to her grandfather, people would have something to hold against her for the rest of her life. Those with ulterior motives might even use it as an excuse to stir up trouble!

It was not the backstabbers she feared. Her main concern was her grandfather's safety. After all, he was the only person in the entire Ning Family who genuinely cared about her.

"Tell me, are you really confident you can do this?"

Ning Hongzhuang looked at Jiang Tian, her eyes filled with conflict.

Seeing her concern, Jiang Tian smiled faintly. "One hundred percent!"

He was not boasting.

There were only so many broad categories of mortal ailments. As long as the patient was not already cold and dead, handling them was well within his abilities.

After all, a Nascent Soul cultivator was no joke.

The confidence in Jiang Tian's eyes steadied Ning Hongzhuang's wavering resolve.

"Fine. I trust you! But if you can't cure my grandfather, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life!"

Ning Hongzhuang nodded, then spoke sternly.

Her grandfather was her only emotional anchor in the Ning Family. If he died, she would truly be all alone.

Jiang Tian shrugged. "And what if I do cure him?"

"I'll pay you extra. Whatever you ask for!"

Ning Hongzhuang was not joking in the slightest.

"Really? Even ten billion?"

Jiang Tian blinked.

Ning Hongzhuang's pretty face turned icy as she stared at him in silence.

Ten billion? Why don't you go eat shit!

The Ning Corporation might be wealthy, but even all its assets combined were worth only ten billion. How did he have the nerve to ask for that?

Seeing the murderous look in Ning Hongzhuang's eyes, Jiang Tian grinned. "Relax, I was joking. If I cure him, give me five million. How does that sound?"

"Deal!"

Ning Hongzhuang agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Ten billion might be beyond her means.

But five million was easily manageable.

Besides, for some inexplicable reason, she was beginning to trust Jiang Tian.

Ever since he had entered the room, he had remained perfectly calm and composed. He even dared to joke with her.

Usually, only people with real ability could be that confident. After all, the strong had nothing to fear, regardless of their surroundings!

With their agreement settled, Jiang Tian could not be bothered with Ning Weiye anymore and flung him aside.

Ning Weiye stumbled and glared at Jiang Tian. "You..."

"Shut up!"

Before he could say anything more, Jiang Tian shot him an icy look.

In that instant, Ning Weiye trembled. That look felt as though it could swallow him whole, as though a single glance was enough to kill him outright.

Fear seized Ning Weiye. He had never seen such a terrifying gaze.

Not daring to confront Jiang Tian, he turned to Ning Hongzhuang and roared, "Ning Hongzhuang, are you really comfortable letting this kid of unknown origins treat your grandfather? Aren't you afraid he'll get him killed?"

Ning Hongzhuang had already made up her mind. She said calmly, "I said to let him try. If anything happens to Grandpa, I, Ning Hongzhuang, will take full responsibility!"

"You'll take full responsibility? What gives you that right?"

Ning Weiye demanded angrily.

"The fact that I'm the Ning Family's future successor! If anything happens to Grandpa, I'll resign from every position I hold in the family and leave the Ning Family of my own accord. Will that satisfy you?"

Ning Hongzhuang shot him a look, her tone brooking no argument.

"You..."

With Ning Hongzhuang going so far as to say that, Ning Weiye was momentarily at a loss for words.

After all, she was the successor his father had personally chosen. She held even more authority than he did as his father's son.

Watching this unfold, Jiang Tian could not help marveling.

This woman really is badass.

Don't they say daughters are like cozy little jackets? Why does she seem more like a bulletproof vest?

No, armor that reflects damage!

When she gets vicious, even her own father gets stabbed!

"Go ahead."

Not wanting to waste any more words, Ning Hongzhuang turned to Jiang Tian and urged him to begin.

Jiang Tian nodded, then approached Ning Rulong and placed his fingers on his pulse.

He sent a strand of true qi into Ning Rulong's pulse, letting it travel through his meridians and circulate throughout his body. Before long, he discovered the problem.

He frowned slightly and looked at Ning Hongzhuang.

Ning Hongzhuang hurriedly asked, "How is he?"

"Who did your grandfather come into contact with before this? Or rather, when did he first become like this?"

Instead of answering, Jiang Tian asked a question.

"Who did my grandfather come into contact with?"

Ning Hongzhuang knitted her delicate brows, then said, "Before he fell ill, people came to our house in a constant stream. Students, subordinates, and old friends. There were visitors almost every day."

"Then when did he fall ill?"

Jiang Tian frowned as well and continued questioning her.

"About a month ago. He was still in excellent health then, but one evening, he suddenly said he felt weak all over. After that, he became bedridden."

Ning Hongzhuang answered quickly.

Then she looked at Jiang Tian and asked urgently, "Have you figured something out?"

Jiang Tian nodded slightly and stood up. "Your grandfather has been cursed, and with an exceptionally vicious Soul-Pinning Curse at that! His body has always been healthy, and it still is. Living another ten or twenty years shouldn't be a problem. He's only in this condition because someone severely damaged his soul!"