Chapter Fifty-Five: The Cowardly Prince Qi

Huang Taiyi looked at King Qi, finding the situation amusing. He wondered where King Qi found the courage to speak to Zhou Bing in such a manner. Was it because of Chu Yun? Did he truly believe Chu Yun could counterbalance the Witch Doctor Sect? How naive. Huang Taiyi couldn’t help but smile as he reminded, “King Qi, our Witch Doctor Sect has branches in several marquisates and kingdoms. Moreover, nearly all the physicians throughout the entire Great Qi Dynasty are officials of our sect. Many of our medical officers are also stationed on the western front, treating your soldiers.”

King Qi frowned. “Are you threatening me?”

Huang Taiyi replied with a calm smile, “King Qi, if you think my words are a threat, then so be it.”

“How dare you!” King Qi snapped coldly.

But beyond that, there was nothing he could do. Just as Huang Taiyi had pointed out, the entire medical system of Great Qi—from medicinal herbs to physicians—was in the hands of the Witch Doctor Sect. He truly didn’t dare offend them.

In the end, he could only turn to Zhou Bing. “He’s under your command, Zhou Grandmaster? His words are out of line, hmph!”

Zhou Bing merely smiled, “King Qi, he is indeed one of my own, and his words represent my meaning. So, if you wish me to eat a bench, I could do so. However, as a branch leader of the Witch Doctor Sect, if such a thing were to spread, it would bring shame to our entire sect. Should that displease people, I cannot predict what consequences might follow.”

Though he found Huang Taiyi somewhat irksome, Zhou Bing was nevertheless pleased by his words, for they highlighted his own leverage.

King Qi’s face turned sullen. He never expected Zhou Bing would threaten him so openly. Helpless, he could only change the subject. “Grandmaster Zhou, you didn’t come here today just to threaten me, did you?”

Zhou Bing seized the opportunity to smooth things over, quickly waving his hand. “Don’t misunderstand, King Qi. That’s not our purpose today. We came to earnestly request your permission to allow the Witch Doctor Sect to join Chu Yun in treating your son.”

Huang Taiyi pressed the matter, “King Qi, Grandmaster Zhou is being polite. In truth, we are here to inform you: we intend to treat your son together with Chu Yun. I trust you have no objections?”

King Qi shot Huang Taiyi a cold look, clearly displeased.

But he had no options; he could only nod. “I have no objections. You may work with Doctor Chu to treat my son’s illness.”

Zhou Bing smiled. “Then perhaps you could send for Chu Yun.”

At that, King Qi waved for someone to fetch Chu Yun.

Before long, Chu Yun arrived. Seeing Zhou Bing and Huang Taiyi, he frowned, inwardly sighing—what was the Witch Doctor Sect up to now? What new trickery?

He saluted King Qi, “Your Majesty, why have you summoned this humble one?”

King Qi looked to Zhou Bing and Huang Taiyi. Zhou Bing smiled, “Doctor Chu, our Witch Doctor Sect intends to join you in treating the young prince. This way, the prince will receive the best possible care and you won’t be so exhausted. You’ll have more opportunity to rest.”

Chu Yun was stunned. He hadn’t expected such a request from the Witch Doctor Sect. He had to admit, it was a shrewd move.

He glanced at Huang Taiyi, thinking that this cunning scheme must be his idea. It seemed the real danger lay with this sly-faced young man.

After a moment’s thought, Chu Yun looked to King Qi. “What is your will, Your Majesty? Do you consent to the Witch Doctor Sect and myself treating your son together?”

He was probing for King Qi’s true attitude. From what he knew of Ye Zhelan’s vendetta and the various deeds of the Witch Doctor Sect, he already held them in contempt. But he also understood that, with his current strength, he was no match for them. Even with King Qi’s support, it would only be a marginal improvement.

He was no fool.

King Qi didn’t hesitate. “Doctor Chu, I believe Grandmaster Zhou’s suggestion is wise. If you and the Witch Doctor Sect work together, my son will receive better treatment and recover more quickly. Besides, you, your friends, and Guard Luo have all worked so hard these past days. You deserve a rest.”

His final words implied that if the Witch Doctor Sect participated, there would be nothing to fear—they wouldn’t cause any trouble. He was trying to reassure Chu Yun.

Hearing this, Chu Yun felt only greater disappointment. If, in the past, he had any ambition of staying by King Qi’s side, it was now utterly extinguished. Without King Qi’s unwavering backing, how could he possibly confront the Witch Doctor Sect? That would be suicide.

Most importantly, why should he help King Qi oppose the Witch Doctor Sect? If he had ever intended to stand completely against them, he wouldn’t have prescribed the exact same medicine as they did.

King Qi wanted to use him against the Witch Doctor Sect, yet was unwilling to offer him full support. This left Chu Yun cold, and he couldn’t help but feel glad that he’d left a precautionary trick in his prescription.

“It seems, after all, that besides trustworthy comrades, I can only rely on myself,” Chu Yun sighed inwardly.

He simply conceded, “Your Majesty, I am indeed exhausted from treating the prince these days and wish for a good rest. Furthermore, the Witch Doctor Sect’s medical expertise is beyond question. Even my prescription was identical to theirs. I merely used a different method, allowing the prince to absorb the medicine through his pores and thus awaken, giving hope for his recovery.”

“Therefore, I earnestly request, Your Majesty, that you entrust the prince’s continued treatment entirely to the Witch Doctor Sect, and allow me to return for some much-needed rest.”

These words left King Qi, Zhou Bing, and Huang Taiyi all stunned.

None of them had expected Chu Yun to say such a thing.

It was truly astonishing.