Tang Lici took a long sip of his tea. After a while, he pointed at Xue Xianzi, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "This man has been given a strange drug that supposedly controls thoughts and actions. Since you're here, I assume removing its effects won't be a problem." Qiyang had been waiting for him to ask about the passage for ages, so when he heard Tang Lici calmly say this instead, he couldn't hold back. "Don't you want to go back?"
Tang Lici slowly set down his cup, his demeanor composed. "No."
Qiyang stared at him in disbelief. "Why?" This man clearly had everything—born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a prodigy who could command wind and rain. Why would he want to stay here? Did he have some hero complex, addicted to playing the chivalrous hero in ancient times? It wasn't that Qiyang looked down on this place, but what was so great about living without flush toilets, running water, cars, planes, air conditioning, refrigerators, or computers?
"You and I... don't seem close enough to share heartfelt conversations," Tang Lici said softly. He gestured toward Xue Xianzi, then lowered his eyelids, signaling the end of the discussion. Qiyang rubbed his nose and reluctantly stood up to examine Xue Xianzi. As expected, it was all just an act—this pretentious, high-and-mighty prince who expected the world to revolve around him was so infuriating that Qiyang wished he could burn down all his wealth. Cursing Tang Lici's impending bankruptcy under his breath, he unfastened Xue Xianzi's robe and began the physical examination.
Tang Lici kept his eyes half-closed, not watching Qiyang's examination. This man was a renowned surgeon at Zhi Shou General Hospital. They had only met twice before, but Tang Lici could sense his hostility, though he didn't know the reason. He exhaled softly. If this had happened three years ago, upon meeting Qiyang—another time traveler—he would have done everything in his power to extract the location of the passage back. But now, with Fang Zhou dead and Liu Yan disfigured and crippled... what was the point of going back?
Fu Zhumei was probably the one who most wanted to return. Tang Lici opened his eyes and gripped his teacup. Fang Zhou was dead, Liu Yan was disfigured—he would never let Fu Zhumei go back. Why should Fu Zhumei alone achieve the dreams everyone else had lost? What Fang Zhou couldn't have, what Liu Yan couldn't have, what he himself couldn't have... he would never let Fu Zhumei have it either.
If they were to be destroyed, they would all be destroyed together.
After all... they were still brothers.
A faint smile curled on his lips.
"How old is this guy, really?" Qiyang muttered after examining Xue Xianzi, utterly baffled. "Is he old or young?" Tang Lici smiled slightly. "Old." Qiyang clicked his tongue in amazement. "What a tenacious youth... He has a lot of external injuries. The surface wounds have healed, but the deeper ones haven't. That's minor, though—it wouldn't affect his thoughts or actions. To figure out how his mind and actions are being controlled, I'd need equipment. I'm not a diagnostics expert, so I might not figure it out right away. Unless you let me take him to the hospital for tests." Tang Lici shook his head. "You can't take him." Xue Xianzi was a peerless martial artist, currently restrained only by a few sealed acupoints. If he were to break free, who could stop him?Qiyang muttered to himself, "Can't perform an examination..." He sniffed near Xue Xianzi's nasal cavity and detected an extremely faint, fishy odor. His heart stirred as he pulled out a small flashlight from his pocket and shone it into Xue Xianzi's nose.
Tang Lici sat in a chair, propping his forehead with one hand. Qiyang bustled behind him. After drinking that sip of tea, Tang Lici seemed slightly fatigued, resting with his eyes closed.
Three sharp knocks sounded at the door.
Tang Lici's eyelashes lifted slightly. "Come in."
The person outside pushed the door open—dressed in black with a black sword. It was Cheng Yunpao, who said in a low voice, "Tian Xunzi was attacked and died from severe injuries." Tang Lici suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of anger passing through them. "His doing?" Cheng Yunpao replied coolly, "Tian Xunzi's martial arts were not weak. Killing him wouldn't have been easy. A single fatal strike—it must have been him. But..." He paused briefly. "Tian Xunzi was clutching a small jade pendant in his hand. The jade was exquisite and undoubtedly valuable." Tang Lici's anger flickered and vanished, replaced by a faint smile. "So that's how it is."
Cheng Yunpao nodded. "Everyone knows that carrying valuable jewelry is your habit. Tian Xunzi's death has sparked widespread discussion. Though no one would suspect you now, if such attacks continue, the situation could turn unfavorable." Tang Lici lightly stroked his forehead with his fingers. "I knew he would leave a deadly move, but I didn’t expect him to frame me so openly... Tell everyone to be cautious and avoid acting alone, lest Yu Konghou strike again." Cheng Yunpao said coldly, "That's it?" Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Yes, that's it." Cheng Yunpao pressed further, "You have no countermeasures?" Tang Lici rested his forehead on his fingers, his eyelids lowering slightly. "I'll think about it. You should also be careful after leaving. With Yu Konghou's killing spree begun, the mountain is fraught with danger. Don’t rely on your martial prowess to act alone."
Cheng Yunpao's cold brows tightened. Tang Lici was usually sharp and decisive—why was he so passive this time? Had something happened? As he pondered, Tang Lici flicked his fingers, sending a finely folded paper ball into his sleeve. Cheng Yunpao was startled but immediately withdrew.
Qiyang knelt on the bed, examining Xue Xianzi's nasal cavity for a long time before suddenly saying, "I think someone inserted a type of threadworm into his nasal passage. This threadworm crawled to a specific area of his brain and lay dormant. When stimulated by certain factors, it becomes active, causing the person to go mad." Tang Lici propped his forehead with his fingers, his brows slightly furrowed. "So... anthelmintics could cure him?" Qiyang sighed. "Generally, yes. But without a confirmed diagnosis, I can't give you a definitive answer." Tang Lici frowned, lost in thought for a moment. "Can you stay?" Qiyang spread his hands apologetically. "Honestly, no. I have several emergency surgeries." Tang Lici's gaze shifted. "Rongyin, Yuxiu, Liuyin, Tongwei, Shangxuan—none of them can come either?" Qiyang nodded. Tang Lici closed his eyes. "How is his condition?""Not good." Qiyang's expression turned grave. "It's very complicated. Next would be a heart-lung transplant, but..." Tang Lici exhaled slowly. "Can't find a matching donor?" Qiyang nodded, then shook his head. "The matching is one issue. From last year till now, he's been in a deep coma, essentially vegetative. His blood pressure has also been extremely unstable. Even with a matching donor, whether the transplant can be performed is questionable." Tang Lici tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "When did the deep coma occur? His condition was relatively stable before, wasn't it?" Qiyang sighed. "There was a major episode—cardiac arrest, blood pressure dropping to zero. That state lasted over ten minutes, and he hasn't regained consciousness since." He paused briefly before sighing again. "To be honest, I don't particularly like the Tang family, but I still appreciate your support in saving him."
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "That was just a trivial matter." Qiyang rolled his eyes skyward when Tang Lici wasn't looking. Yes, saving Shengxiang was just a trivial matter—the least significant among the countless important affairs of Young Master Tang, done merely out of whim or some hypocritical pretense. The main reason he disliked this man was largely because someone like Shengxiang had to be saved by such a person, because people like Rongyin Yuxiu had to be controlled by him, and because even he himself had to follow this man's orders.
This was someone utterly undeserving of gratitude. Most of his actions weren't done with sincerity, and receiving his favors was more uncomfortable than anything else.
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