With the unwelcome god of plague gone, Miss Chu Yan's birthday banquet finally erupted with life as everyone began to laugh and chat, having a wonderful time.

「Time flew, and a hint of coolness began to tinge the midsummer air.」

Nearly half a month had passed since Miss Chu's birthday party, and in another half a month, the one-month period Chen Fei had mentioned would arrive.

During this time, Chen Fei stopped going to the Central City Hospital to work. Instead, he holed up in his presidential suite at the hotel and dedicated himself to cultivation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Xu returned to the hospital after his vacation. Upon learning that Principal Zhou had pressured Chen Fei into resigning, he flew into a rage and wanted to quit himself. He had already learned the full story regarding Chen Fei and the Xiao Family from his close friend, Elder Du, so he knew Chen Fei was not to blame.

Moreover, the medical arts should be afforded more dignity.

However, Chen Fei didn't want Dr. Xu to quit his beloved job on his account. After much persuasion, he managed to temporarily placate Dr. Xu. Yet, it seemed Dr. Xu had already made up his mind, convinced that the Central City Hospital wasn't the only option. The Affiliated Institute of Traditional Medicine, where Elder Du had worked before retiring, was an excellent alternative.

Aside from this, the family of Secretary Dong Wencheng in Tongzhou City, especially the siblings Dong Wencheng and Dong Shuxian, experienced a tumultuous period.

Over the past half-month, Elder Dong's condition had deteriorated significantly. He had gone from being lucid in a wheelchair to lying comatose in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness with a persistent, high fever. The situation was growing more serious by the day.

"Secretary Dong, Ms. Dong, although I will do everything in my power to treat Mr. Dong, you should prepare for the worst," an old man dressed in the style of the Republican era said, shaking his head. His hair was gray, his skin was wrinkled, and he carried a small medicine chest. He had been holding the unconscious Elder Dong's wrist for a long time before he spoke. "Elder Dong is of advanced age, and his constitution isn't as robust as a young man's. What's more, he attempted to force a breakthrough to the First-Class Ancient Martial Arts level. The attempt failed, causing his qi and blood to flow in reverse, resulting in a severe backlash. So, I suggest... you'd best prepare for the worst."

"Elder Xunn, is the situation really that grave?" Dong Wencheng's face turned pale with panic.

Others might not have known the identity of this strangely dressed elder, but he knew perfectly well. In his youth, his father had once saved a founding leader of the nation. Decades later, that leader had become one of the most venerable elders in Huaxia, with few who could match his status.

Out of gratitude for that old favor, upon hearing of his father's grave illness, the leader had immediately dispatched his personal medical expert. A man qualified to be the personal physician of that great leader was undoubtedly among the most skilled medical practitioners in Huaxia today. But now, this very man was telling them to prepare for the worst—how could he not be frantic with anxiety?

"Perhaps it's even worse," Elder Xunn said, shaking his head. "Unless a First-Class Ancient Martial Arts expert is willing to damage their own foundation to extend your father's life, but that would be tantamount to trading one life for another. It's too much to ask."

Due to his unique position, he understood more directly what a First-Class Ancient Martial Arts master signified for the nation.

It was well understood that any known First-Class Ancient Martial Arts master within the system held a rank at least equivalent to a deputy department head and belonged to special government agencies. In most cases, they were beyond the jurisdiction of local governments, which underscored their importance.

Therefore, the notion of another First-Class Ancient Martial Arts master sacrificing themselves to save Elder Dong was completely unrealistic.

"Mr. Xunn, I've noticed you've been using traditional Chinese medicine," Dong Shuxian, who had been silent for some time, finally spoke up. "What if—and this is just a thought—we tried Western medicine? Could there be a chance for improvement? My husband is the eldest son of the Hong Kong Chen Family, and he can arrange for renowned foreign doctors."

Due to Elder Dong's feudal and sexist views, she was only partially informed about many matters and didn't fully grasp the situation. She certainly didn't understand the stature that Mr. Xunn, the man standing before her, held in the Capital City.

"Shuxian!" Dong Wencheng's expression changed, and he quickly cut his sister off, casting an apologetic glance at Mr. Xunn.

Although there was no official verdict, in the popular view, Chinese and Western medicine were seen as opposing forces. For his sister to so openly suggest switching to Western medicine in front of a doyen of traditional Chinese medicine like Mr. Xunn was a slap in the face and extremely offensive.

However, Elder Xunn merely gave Dong Shuxian a placid look and replied calmly, "As for Western medicine, if you could engage the Lo Yabes Alliance, there might be a sliver of hope. Regarding anyone else, I doubt you would see a better outcome."

As a doctor who had practiced for decades, he could understand the anxiety of a daughter in Dong Shuxian's position. With her father lying critically ill in his sickbed, it was only natural for his children to be distraught.

"The Lo Yabes Alliance?" Dong Wencheng and Dong Shuxian exchanged a look, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes. Clearly, they were unfamiliar with the medical organization Elder Xunn had mentioned.

"It's Yaoyang." Just then, Dong Shuxian's phone rang. She pulled it out and saw the call was from her husband, Chen Yaoyang, and answered immediately.

"Hello, Yaoyang... What did you say? You have news about the medicinal herb I asked you to find!?" She had barely started speaking when her expression turned to joyous surprise, and her voice rose in excitement.

"Shuxian, what are you saying?" Dong Wencheng was visibly shaken. He rushed over and grabbed his sister's shoulder. "Are you saying there's news about the Midnight Black Lotus that Doctor Chen asked us to find?"

Although he didn't truly believe that Chen Fei's medical skills could surpass those of Elder Xunn from the Capital City, Chen Fei was now the only one who offered their family any hope. It was a common mentality among the families of the critically ill, like a drowning person grasping for the last piece of driftwood. For them, he represented hope.

"Mid... Midnight Black Lotus!"

When Elder Xunn heard these words, his calm expression was broken by a flash of shock. His rock-steady demeanor finally wavered as he spoke, "Midnight Black Lotus! Did an expert instruct you to find this herb?"

Hearing Elder Xunn from the Capital City actually stammer, his subsequent tone becoming so grave, Dong Wencheng felt a jolt of understanding. He nodded excitedly and said, "Elder Xunn, to be honest with you, we previously found a certain Doctor Chen. He said that if we could find the Midnight Black Lotus, he was confident he could save my father!"

After speaking, Dong Wencheng looked at him with an inquisitive expression, clearly hoping to hear more.

"Midnight Black Lotus, Midnight Black Lotus... I once came across an ancient prescription in an old text, one that could treat the backlash of qi and blood caused by a forced breakthrough," Elder Xunn said slowly. "However, the text lacked specific details, so I always assumed it was just a legend. I never imagined..."

"Then, what do we do now?" Dong Shuxian inquired, unable to suppress a surge of excitement. Finally, she was hearing a string of good news.

"You should ask that Doctor Chen, since he seems so confident," Elder Xunn said, a sharp glint flashing in his turbid eyes.

"Oh, right, right, right! I'll call him now!" Dong Wencheng snapped out of his daze, pulling out his phone to dial Chen Fei's number.

A moment later, the call connected. "May I speak to Doctor Chen?" Dong Wencheng said cautiously. "Hello, this is Dong Wencheng."

"Dong Wencheng? Oh, Secretary Dong, right?" Chen Fei, on the other end, was surprised for a second before sitting up straight on the sofa. He asked with a smile, "What made you call? Did you find it?"

"Yes, my brother-in-law just called from Hong Kong. He said there's news about the Midnight Black Lotus you mentioned. However, my father's situation seems to be very serious now. He's already fallen into a coma. So, you see..." Dong Wencheng explained, choosing his words carefully.

"The situation is serious? Well, the timing is about right," Chen Fei said, not overly surprised. He had already predicted that Elder Dong wouldn't last more than a month in his current state. It had been over twenty days, so it was only natural for his condition to worsen; it would have been strange if it hadn't. "Is Elder Du still there? I'd like to understand Elder Dong's specific condition first."

"Uncle Du has already..."

Dong Wencheng paused, about to explain, when Elder Xunn, standing nearby, chuckled and took over the conversation. "Allow me." It was clear this Elder Xunn was no ordinary person, otherwise his hearing wouldn't be so sharp as to overhear Chen Fei's words on the phone from such a distance.

"Elder Xunn, here." Though surprised that the man knew what Chen Fei had said, Dong Wencheng didn't question it and handed the phone to him.

"Hello, this is Xunn Lun," Elder Xunn said, taking the phone, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Xunn Lun?"

Hearing the old, slow voice, Chen Fei's lazy demeanor vanished. He sat up cross-legged, propping himself on the sofa with one hand, his own eyes narrowing as he smiled. "Elder, and you are?"

"I've come from the Capital City."

With that, Elder Xunn let out a hearty laugh. "Let me first tell you about the patient's condition," he said slowly.

"Mm."

As the man began his slow, measured description, a trace of surprise flickered in Chen Fei's eyes before he nodded. This elder seems to be no ordinary person, he thought.

A short while later, Elder Xunn had finished describing Elder Dong's condition in detail, using a thorough Five Elements analysis that would be incomprehensible to an outsider. Yet, when he finished, Chen Fei merely gave a soft "mm," showing little surprise.

Seeing this, a peculiar glint appeared in Elder Xunn's murky eyes. He slowly asked, "Doctor Chen, do you have a way?"

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