Chapter 4: Miracle Doctor?

There were two security guards standing at the entrance of the Su family mansion. Dressed in matching black suits, their imposing physiques could not be concealed, even by the tailored fabric. It was clear that beneath those clothes were well-honed muscles.

Su Ruoxi’s car came to a slow stop in an open space just outside the courtyard, where several luxury cars were already parked. She stepped out, followed by Lin Yu, and approached the main gate.

“Miss,” the guard at the entrance nodded in greeting to Su Ruoxi, his gaze drifting, intentionally or not, to Lin Yu beside her.

“Doctor Lin, please.” Su Ruoxi gave a slight nod in response to the guard’s greeting, then made a gesture inviting Lin Yu to enter.

They followed her through the main entrance.

By now, quite a few people had gathered inside the Su family residence. The current head of the Su family, Su Tianteng, had three children. Su Ruoxi’s mother had passed away early; the other two—a son and a daughter—were born to his second wife.

“Sister, you said you were going to find some miracle doctor for Dad. Where is this doctor?” A woman, clad head-to-toe in designer labels and sporting heavy makeup, strode over with a hostile tone. This was Su Ruoxi’s younger sister, Su Chenya.

“That’s right, where is this miracle doctor? Didn’t you say earlier that Tianteng could be cured? If you ask me, it’s just an excuse to delay dividing the inheritance.” The speaker was a middle-aged woman whose gaudy attire could not conceal her vulgar bearing. She was Su Tianteng’s second wife, Su Ruoxi’s stepmother, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Su Chenya.

Su Ruoxi gestured to Lin Yu at her side. “This is the miracle doctor I mentioned, Doctor Lin.”

At that moment, a more discordant voice rang out.

“Elder sister, this is your so-called miracle doctor? Over the past few years, every famous doctor we could find has seen Father. They all say his illness is incurable. And now you bring in some wet-behind-the-ears boy—who are you trying to fool?” Seated on a sofa in the hall was a man in his twenties—Su Tianteng’s only son, Su Xuanhao. His arrogant words matched perfectly with his sharp and bitter features.

As he finished speaking, a security guard entered and announced, “Young master, there’s a man outside calling himself Ding Chunqiu. He says he’s your guest.”

“I knew you were unreliable, so I made preparations in advance! Quickly, invite Miracle Doctor Ding in—no, I’ll go myself!” With that, Su Xuanhao hurried off, half stumbling in his eagerness.

A few minutes later, under the gaze of everyone present, an elderly man followed Su Xuanhao back into the room.

“Allow me to introduce: this is Ding Chunqiu, Miracle Doctor Ding. It was said that years ago, a certain high-ranking official was snatched back from the brink of death by his miraculous acupuncture. He’s been living in seclusion in the mountains ever since, caring nothing for worldly affairs. We’re fortunate that Young Master Wang pleaded with him time and again to treat my father—a true hidden sage among doctors.” Su Xuanhao’s introduction was filled with pride, and when he finished, he cast a mocking glance at Lin Yu.

“The past need not be mentioned,” Ding Chunqiu replied, adopting the air of a reclusive master—he truly looked the part.

Su Xuanhao sneered, “Kid, you call yourself a miracle doctor, but with Miracle Doctor Ding here, your little tricks won’t fool anyone except my sister. Don’t blame me if you don’t take the hint and get lost right now.”

Ding Chunqiu, sizing Lin Yu up with a mocking gaze, was curious at first upon hearing the words miracle doctor. But the moment he saw how young Lin Yu was, he too began to sneer.

“At your age, to call yourself a miracle doctor? You tarnish the name of traditional medicine, and now you dare try your cons in front of me? I won’t stand for it,” Ding Chunqiu said harshly.

“Doctor Lin…” Su Ruoxi was about to defend Lin Yu, but he raised a hand to stop her.

“When did medical skill become a matter of age? Must it be that the older you are, the better your skills? In that case, everyone should seek out a tortoise for treatment—after all, they live the longest, so their medical prowess must be unparalleled.” Lin Yu finished with a helpless shake of his head.

“You—” Ding Chunqiu’s face flushed scarlet, his eyes nearly bloodshot with rage.

“Hmph, sharp tongue and nothing more. Doctor Ding, you needn’t be angered by him,” Su Xuanhao scoffed.

“You’re absolutely right, Young Master Su. I won’t waste my energy on this brat. Where’s the patient? Take me to him at once, lest we miss the best time for treatment!” Casting Lin Yu a glare, Ding Chunqiu made it clear he did not wish to argue further.

Su Xuanhao immediately led Ding Chunqiu into the room.

Lying on the bed was the current head of the Su family, Su Tianteng.

After examining the patient, Ding Chunqiu’s expression betrayed nothing.

“Doctor Ding, how is my father?” Su Xuanhao asked.

“The illness has penetrated to the marrow, but since I, Ding Chunqiu, have been entrusted with this task, I will do my utmost.”

With that, he produced a wooden box densely packed with silver needles.

“I will now commence acupuncture. No one is to make a sound.”

Ding Chunqiu swiftly began inserting the needles, more than half of those in the box, into Su Tianteng’s body.

Suddenly, color returned to Su Tianteng’s pale face. His eyes, tightly shut, trembled as if about to open at any moment. The Su family members stared in astonishment.

“Dad looks like he’s waking up!”

“It’s true! It’s true!”

“A miracle doctor! A miracle doctor!”

Ding Chunqiu paused, saying coolly, “The old official’s condition back then was a hundred times more critical than this. With my unique Thirteen Needles of Solitude, even the gods of death would flee, and the King of Hell himself would have to show respect!”

“No wonder you’re a miracle doctor, Doctor Ding! If not for Young Master Wang inviting you, how could our Su family have hoped to engage a recluse like you? Sister, if Father truly recovers, it’s all thanks to Young Master Wang. He’s always admired you—if our two families could be joined, it would be a double blessing.” Su Xuanhao threw a meaningful glance at Su Ruoxi as he spoke.

“The final needle—settle!” Ding Chunqiu declared, raising the last silver needle to deliver it into Su Tianteng.

“If you drive in that needle, the old master will be on his way to the other world for good,” Lin Yu, who had been silent since entering, suddenly spoke.

Ding Chunqiu paused, frowning with displeasure. “This is a critical moment in treating the Su family head. No outsiders are to interfere. If anything happens, I won’t be held responsible!” His warning was clearly directed at the Su family.

“Doctor Ding, don’t stoop to his level,” Su Xuanhao said again.

Just as Lin Yu moved to stop Ding Chunqiu, the old doctor raised his hand and drove the final needle into Su Tianteng.

“Persuasion cannot save those who seek death. Three… two… one!” Lin Yu shook his head disdainfully.

The final needle fell.

The family members, except for Su Ruoxi, all breathed a sigh of relief, glaring at Lin Yu as if they wished to devour him.

Beep—beep—beep—

Suddenly, the life monitor at the head of the bed shrieked with a piercing alarm. All the readings on the screen, which had been stable just moments before, collapsed into a single straight line. And that line was about to vanish altogether.