Chapter Seventy-One: Reversal

Chu Yun knew this man; his name was Yang Hong. Like the former owner of his body, Yang Hong was also a notorious loafer in Chu Family Town, idling about with nothing to do all day. However, Yang Hong was slightly better off—his father was a butcher, selling mutton and occasionally hunting in the mountains, so their life was decent enough. This was the foundation of Yang Hong’s confidence in living without skills or occupation.

The day before Chu Yun left Chu Family Town, Yang Hong’s father died. Now, Yang Hong had appeared here, likely intending to pin the blame for his father’s death on Chu Yun.

Yang Hong spoke, “It was I who burned that unopened medical hall belonging to Chu Yun.”

Boss Wu smiled at his words and continued, “Yang Hong, why did you burn down the medical hall?”

Yang Hong looked toward Chen Ping and said, “Sir Chen, my father heard that Chu Yun had dreamed of an immortal, gained their legacy, and became a doctor. He wasn’t feeling well those days, so he went to see Chu Yun and got some medicine. But after brewing and drinking it, he died not long after. My father is gone—how am I supposed to live? I wanted to kill Chu Yun for revenge, but he had already left Chu Family Town, so I could only burn down his medical hall.”

After hearing this, Chu Yun snorted, “Nonsense. When did I ever treat your father? In Chu Family Town, I only ever treated Master Jiang and Master Luo.”

Yang Hong clenched his fists and rushed at Chu Yun, shouting, “Chu, you scoundrel! You killed my father! I’m going to kill you! Kill you!”

Physician Cheng hurried to restrain him. “Yang Hong, don’t be rash. Rest assured, he practiced medicine without our Witch Doctor Sect’s permission, illegally, and caused a death. We will see justice done for you.”

“Let go of me! I’ll kill him! Kill him!” Yang Hong struggled, still trying to charge at Chu Yun, as if he truly bore a deadly hatred.

Physician Cheng then turned to Chu Yun, “You practiced medicine illegally and killed a man. Why don’t you surrender yourself?”

Chu Yun smiled and shook his head, looking calmly at Yang Hong. “Have you noticed any itching lately?”

Yang Hong was taken aback. Indeed, he had felt a persistent itch recently. He tried visiting the Red Lotus House for women’s company, but none of the girls would see him—even his old favorites refused, no matter how much money he offered. Frustrated, he went to the gambling house and lost all the money his father had left behind, ending up deeply in debt.

Chu Yun went on, “Yang Hong, if your illness isn’t treated in time, you won’t live much longer. Is it really worth risking your life for them?”

Yang Hong’s face turned even more fearful. As a loafer, he was well aware that an itch in that area could mean a fatal disease—a fate he’d seen happen to many.

His resolve began to waver. If he wasn’t going to live much longer, then the debt didn’t matter; he wouldn’t need to provide false testimony for the Witch Doctor Sect, something he was reluctant to do anyway. In truth, his father’s death was caused by the Witch Doctor Sect. When his father first fell ill, he sought treatment, but the medical fees were so exorbitant that even his life savings weren’t enough. Forced to delay treatment, his father ended up dying. If not for the threat of the gambling house breaking his legs, Yang Hong wouldn’t have agreed to falsify evidence.

Chu Yun saw Yang Hong’s hesitation and said, “Yang Hong, if you stop giving them false testimony and framing me for your father’s death, I’ll treat your illness out of kindness.”

Yang Hong was visibly moved. He opened his mouth to speak, but Physician Cheng snorted coldly, “Yang Hong, don’t listen to Chu Yun’s nonsense. Your illness isn’t serious—you won’t die from it, and I can cure you myself.”

Chu Yun said, “Yang Hong, can you afford the Witch Doctor Sect’s expensive fees?”

Physician Cheng replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll treat you for free.”

Chu Yun smiled, “You say you’ll treat him for free, but what if your treatment fails?”

Physician Cheng scoffed, “Fail? Ridiculous! Even if my skills are lacking, I’m still better than you, a second-rate quack who killed a patient.”

Chu Yun asked, “Are you sure your skills are better than mine?”

Physician Cheng answered arrogantly, “Of course!”

Wang Shuangxi chimed in, “My husband’s medical skills are far beyond anything a street loafer like you could hope to match.”

Chu Yun shook his head and turned to Boss Wu. “You’re still alive, so I suppose Master Cheng treated you. But I see your entire right hand is wrapped up and suspended—it’s obvious his treatment wasn’t very successful.”

Boss Wu retorted, “Chu Yun, didn’t you say I wouldn’t live much longer? It’s been a month, and I’m still alive and well!”

Chu Yun replied, “Heh, do you not realize how rotten your hand is? You won’t last more than three days. I have no idea what you’re so proud of.”

He then addressed Yang Hong, “Your condition is worsening, and if you don’t get timely treatment, you won’t have many days left. You’ve seen Master Cheng’s skills—Boss Wu is the evidence.”

Yang Hong glanced at Boss Wu’s suspended arm, pushed Physician Cheng aside, and hurried to Chu Yun’s side. “Doctor Chu, can you really cure me?”

Chu Yun nodded. “I can.”

Yang Hong hesitated, “But isn’t this a terminal illness? I’ve never heard of anyone surviving it.”

Chu Yun replied, “That’s because they never met me.”

Truthfully, Chu Yun was completely confident in treating Yang Hong’s illness. Yang Hong only scratched himself from time to time, and apart from mild sleeplessness and fatigue, showed no other symptoms. It wasn’t a fatal disease.

Yang Hong continued, “Doctor Chu, I owe the gambling house a sum of money. If you cure me, could you help me repay it?”

Chu Yun said, “I can help you repay your debt.”

He knew the gambling house and the Red Lotus House were minor players—if the Witch Doctor Sect’s scheme failed today, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble again, so Yang Hong’s debt would become irrelevant.

Yang Hong asked, “Doctor Chu, you’re not deceiving me?”

Chu Yun answered, “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you!” Yang Hong nodded. “Even if you’re lying, it doesn’t matter—I have a terminal illness, won’t live much longer, and I’m not afraid of the gambling house anymore. So I won’t provide false testimony for the Witch Doctor Sect.”

“False testimony? What are you talking about, Yang Hong? Don’t make wild accusations!” Physician Cheng suddenly panicked.

Yang Hong sneered, “You wanted me to give false evidence, saying Chu Yun killed my father. You burned Chu Yun’s medical hall and pinned it on me. If your Witch Doctor Sect hadn’t made treatment so expensive, my father wouldn’t have delayed until death. I wouldn’t have provided false testimony for you.”

Chapter Seventy-One: Reversal.