"What kind of tone is that? What kind of attitude?" Upon hearing Ning Shucheng's clearly hostile and defiant tone, the portly man from the Island Country with a handlebar mustache burst into a thunderous rage. His face darkened as he bellowed, "You bastard!"

What is with this tone, this attitude? We are esteemed citizens of the great Japan Island Country! Is this tone meant to look down on us?

"Young Ning, what…?" Even Director Lin's expression changed slightly. He couldn't understand why Ning Shucheng would react this way upon seeing them.

"Sorry, Uncle Lin. It seems you've forgotten. Our Hundred Herbs Hall refuses to treat Island Country People," Ning Shucheng stated coldly. He then turned around, apparently ready to leave.

"Wait, Young Ning, wait! Let's talk this over. Does Hundred Herbs Hall really have such a rule?" Director Lin quickly stopped him, his eyes darting about with a guilty flicker.

He did recall Hundred Herbs Hall having such a rule, but since he'd never encountered a situation like this before, he hadn't paid it much mind. But today… the man represented Japan's Mouri Commerce Corporation. He had come to Huaxia, to Jiangnan, to discuss a very, very important partnership. Even the higher-ups had given Director Lin a strict order that there could be no slip-ups whatsoever. He never anticipated that Hundred Herbs Hall would actually have a rule about refusing to treat Island Country People.

Damn it, this is a huge problem.

"That's right. My great-grandfather was killed at the hands of Island Country People. When my grandfather founded Hundred Herbs Hall, he personally established an ironclad rule: never treat anyone from the Island Country. So, I ask for your understanding," Ning Shucheng declared decisively, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. The expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

"Young Ning…" Director Lin hesitated, at a loss for words.

"How dare you!" Xiao Qianrang roared. He adopted a superior air, looking down at Ning Shucheng and commanding in a cold, imperious tone, "I advise you to get this straight right now: we're not asking you, we're ordering you! Mr. Sanlang is an esteemed foreign guest in our Huaxia. If anything were to happen to him because of your refusal to provide treatment, could you bear that responsibility?"

At that moment, his gaze was sinister and chilling. A hint of shared indignation inexplicably appeared in his eyes, as if he were the one being refused treatment. The scene was strikingly similar to a past event, one that inflamed his anger whenever he recalled it.

"What is your attitude, young man? Do you have any idea who Lord Sanlang is or what his status is in our Island Country? How dare you refuse to treat him? This is blatant discrimination, a humiliation to us citizens of the great Japan Island Country! Outrageous!" The mustachioed man flew into a rage, his face darkening as he bellowed threats, "Listen to me! If you dare refuse to treat Lord Sanlang today, and if you fail to cure him, I will immediately contact my country's foreign affairs department to issue a formal protest! I will also terminate our cooperation immediately. When that happens, heh!"

What a joke. We citizens of the great Japan Island Country hold such a revered status. How dare a mere traditional medicine practitioner from Huaxia refuse to treat us? It's absurd, a death wish!

Hearing the mustachioed man mention terminating the cooperation again, Xiao Qianrang's expression changed abruptly. He glared at Ning Shucheng and commanded, "You will treat Mr. Sanlang. Right now!"

However, hearing Xiao Qianrang's condescending, threatening, and commanding words, Ning Shucheng simply curled his lip in disdain. "It seems the Xiao Family is really going downhill," he mocked. "For someone with a brain problem like you to be representing the Xiao Family… tsk, tsk."

Muttering scornfully, he turned to leave without a care. "Uncle Lin, I'm sorry. It's not that I won't help you, but I cannot defy a family rule. My apologies, I'll be going now."

"Stop right there!"

At that moment, Xiao Qianrang seemed to snap. His eyes glinted with a cold light as he glared at Ning Shucheng and snarled to his bodyguards, "Stop him. I, Xiao Qianrang, would like to see what a twenty-something brat can do to be so arrogant in my presence!"

His emotional state was clearly off. His anger wasn't just directed at Ning Shucheng; it was likely that the hauntingly similar scene, mockery, and refusal had triggered some deep-seated pain, making him so irascible.

"Stop me? With these wastes of space?"

Hearing Xiao Qianrang's furious shout, Ning Shucheng slowly came to a halt. As he felt the menacing, black-clad men gradually surround him, a cold smirk formed on his lips. An invisible, chilling energy inexplicably began to emanate from his hands. In an instant, a surging aura erupted from his body, palpable and unnerving. It filled the tense atmosphere, causing the bodyguards' expressions to change dramatically.

Damn it, he's a high-level…

Just as this warning flashed through their minds, their vision went dark. A fierce wind assaulted them as Ning Shucheng felled two men with a single punch and kick. He followed up with a vicious whip kick that sent the remaining two or three men flying like bowling pins.

HISS!

Witnessing this, even Director Lin, a high-ranking official accustomed to major events, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. He never expected Ning Shucheng to be so formidable, taking down four or five burly personal bodyguards of President Xiao with just a few swift moves.

"You… you… you… I…" The mustachioed man from the Island Country broke out in a cold sweat, his narrow eyes wide with terror. He was just a minor figure and had never witnessed such a scene.

"So, you're an Ancient Martial Artist. No wonder you dare to act so arrogant in front of me," Xiao Qianrang said, grinding his teeth. Though his face was ashen, he wasn't frightened. So that's it, he's an Ancient Martial Artist. No wonder he's so brazen.

"Arrogant in front of you?" Hearing Xiao Qianrang's self-aggrandizing words, Ning Shucheng's mouth twisted into a sneer. "Do you know something? A traitorous dog like you, who only knows how to lick the boots of Island Country People… take away your Xiao Family status, and you are absolutely nothing!"

My great-grandfather was killed by them. This is a blood debt that can never be washed away. And this fool, Xiao Qianrang, is fawning all over some random person from the Island Country right in front of me and expects me to treat him? Pah, in your dreams! I don't have time to deal with an idiot like you!

"What did you say?! Do you believe I won't…"

Xiao Qianrang's lungs nearly burst with rage. He subconsciously started to fall back on his usual threats, only to realize his men had already been effortlessly dispatched. His face darkened, and with trembling hands, he was forced to suppress his fury for the moment. He stared at Ning Shucheng and said coldly, "Since you know who I am and that I represent the Xiao Family, I advise you not to look for trouble! If something happens to Lord Sanlang because of your refusal, can you afford the responsibility? Can you withstand the wrath of the Xiao Family?"

At these words, both Director Lin and the mustachioed man paled. They knew exactly what the "wrath of the Xiao Family" meant.

"Hahaha! Kid, did you hear that? You'd better just obediently come treat Lord Sanlang, or President Xiao will make you wish you were never born!" the mustachioed man cackled, convinced he now had the upper hand.

"The Xiao Family, heh." At that moment, a soft, mocking voice cut through the air. Ning Shucheng looked at Xiao Qianrang as if he were an idiot, a derisive smirk playing on his lips. "Alright then. The Xiao Family's wrath? If you have the guts, bring it on. The Ning Family of Ning'an Prefecture will take it all!"

Even though the Ning Family of Ning'an Prefecture had faded with the changing times, the name "Ning'an Prefecture" was still the family's honor, the glory of their ancestors! They had never forgotten it. As such, when a member of their clan solemnly spoke those words, no further explanation was needed.

The Xiao Family? Heh… try me if you dare. Let's see if the Ning Family of Ning'an Prefecture is afraid!

With that, he turned and left without a shred of hesitation, leaving behind nothing but the faint echo of his cold laughter and Xiao Qianrang's humiliated, livid expression. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes filled with unrestrained fury.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" BANG! CRACKLE! SNAP! He let out a furious scream and kicked a nearby chair as if he'd lost his mind, only to let out a muffled groan. His face instantly flushed red—he'd sprained his ankle.

SNICKER!

Seeing this, several nurses hiding in the distance couldn't help but laugh. That guy really got what he deserved.

"President Xiao." Although Director Lin also wanted to laugh, he knew he'd be in deep trouble if he did. So, while desperately stifling his amusement, he couldn't help but ask worriedly, "What should we do now? Hundred Herbs Hall refuses to help, and no one else is capable. Are we really just going to watch Mr. Sanlang continue to deteriorate like this?" He glanced at Mouri Saburou on the hospital bed, who was breathing more out than in, his face etched with anxiety.

Though he disliked Island Country People, if the man actually died on their watch, the consequences would undoubtedly be severe.

"What to do? Hundred Herbs Hall, the Ning Family… Heh." Xiao Qianrang first gritted his teeth, then his expression shifted as if he'd thought of something. A young face surfaced in his mind, and a sinister smile spread across his lips. "They're not the only skilled traditional medicine practitioners in Jiangnan. If that ungrateful bastard won't do it, we can just find someone else."

You think you're so tough, kid? You had the nerve to refuse to treat my illness, didn't you? Fine. Now let's see if you have the guts to refuse treatment when it involves a distinguished foreign dignitary, a case the entire province is taking seriously! If it weren't for the Ning Family backing that brat, a family with considerable influence even in the Capital City, would he dare speak to me like that?

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