Yang Qing left the square, her face pale with humiliation. After this incident, how could she still have the nerve to sit at the head table and continue eating? As for the trip Qian Du had mentioned, it had nothing to do with her anymore.

…

After she walked out of the square, Yang Qing's parents caught up, scolding her furiously. "You've completely disgraced the Yang Family!"

They didn't know what Yang Qing had done in Tianhai and had believed her when she said she was being persecuted and had to return home. They never expected she could do something so utterly heartless.

Yang Qing kept her head down and walked straight ahead, ignoring her parents' words. Seeing this, they stopped following her and turned around to go home. There was no use chasing after such a daughter.

…

Once she reached a secluded area, Yang Qing's eyes filled with venomous resentment. She took out her phone and dialed Xu Ke.

The call connected quickly.

"What exactly do you want?!" Yang Qing roared.

Xu Ke, who had just returned to Junyue Residence from the Dapeng Trading Company, chuckled. "What's wrong? I'm just giving you a taste of your own medicine. Can't you handle it?"

An indescribable indignation filled Yang Qing's voice. "Do we really have such a deep-seated hatred for each other? Must you treat me this way?"

She made it sound as if Xu Ke were the one at fault.

Xu Ke replied coolly, "You've got some nerve saying that."

"What do you want?! Are you really going to hound me to the bitter end?" Yang Qing shouted, her voice thick with resentment. "You're a grown man! How can you be so petty?!"

She felt like a stray dog. The thought that the rest of her life might be just like today filled her with dread. Is Xu Ke planning to haunt me like a ghost forever?

Hearing this, Xu Ke let out a cold laugh. Does she really have the gall to ask me that? If there had been enough evidence against her, he would have called the police long ago instead of tolerating her return to her hometown.

But letting Yang Qing go home didn't mean Xu Ke was letting her off the hook. As long as she was out there, he would target her relentlessly. He was certain that if he didn't, she would undoubtedly come back to cause him trouble.

"Let me make things clear," Xu Ke said flatly. "As long as I draw breath, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. You can believe I'm capable of it."

His words sent a chill down Yang Qing's spine. Finally, fear took hold…

She was truly afraid.

She was afraid she would never have a moment's peace for the rest of her life. She was afraid that wherever she went, she would be just like today, with a beggar holding a loudspeaker, broadcasting her past for all to hear. She was afraid of being judged by others for the rest of her life…

"Xu... Brother Xu... c-can you please let me go?" Yang Qing pleaded, her voice trembling. If Xu Ke were standing in front of her, she would have dropped to her knees without a second thought.

Xu Ke's gaze lowered. "I've already let you off twice. Three strikes and you're out. That's it. Good luck, Yang Qing."

Not wanting to waste any more words on her, he hung up.

The line went dead.

Yang Qing grew frantic. "Xu Ke! Xu Ke, you can't do this to me!"

She hurriedly redialed his number, but the call wouldn't connect. She had been blocked.

Her hands shook as she frantically sent messages to Xu Ke. None of them would go through, but each one was a desperate plea. At that moment, she was consumed by regret. She regretted going against Xu Ke. She regretted hounding him again and again.

Unfortunately, there's no medicine for regret in this world.

Xu Ke was not a magnanimous person. Since Yang Qing had tried to harm him repeatedly, he naturally hoped she would get her comeuppance. At the very least, she deserved to live the rest of her life in fear.

「Junyue Residence.」

After hanging up, Xu Ke casually blocked Yang Qing's number, then rose and went to his room to prepare. He had arranged for Tang Yingchang to come to Junyue Residence for treatment. Although he could treat Tang Yingchang's condition, it was a case of qi deviation at the Innate Great Perfection realm, so he still needed some time to prepare. Moreover, he also needed time to concoct the poison he had mentioned to Tang Yingchang.

…

An hour later, the doorbell rang.

Wang Wu, who was standing guard nearby, moved to open it.

"Uncle Wu, I'll get it," Xu Ke said with a wave of his hand.

Wang Wu immediately stopped. He knew it must be Tang Yingchang.

Xu Ke opened the door to reveal a weak-looking Tang Yingchang.

"Elder Tang, please, have a seat." Seeing his state, Xu Ke immediately stepped forward to support him.

Tang Yingchang was taken aback by the gesture. "Thank you, Doctor Xu."

"Don't mention it," Xu Ke said, waving his hand after helping Elder Tang to a seat.

Although their initial encounter had been hostile, Xu Ke was planning to have the man serve as his bodyguard for a year. Unless it was absolutely necessary to use harsh words to keep Tang Yingchang in line, Xu Ke felt it was better to maintain proper etiquette. After all, the search for Dragon Essence to improve his strength was a distant goal. Having more bodyguards for protection was a safer bet, as he couldn't have Wang Wu follow him day and night. Doing so would eventually create a security problem for Wong Qifu.

Therefore, establishing a good relationship with Tang Yingchang was quite necessary.

…

After Tang Yingchang sat down, Xu Ke sat across from him and took out a bottle of colorless liquid. "This is the Hundred-Day Bone Erosion Poison. As the name implies, if you don't take the antidote within one hundred days, you will die."

"I will treat you, and you will be my bodyguard for a full year. Next year, I will give you the complete antidote. Before that, I will give you a partial antidote every ninety days to delay the poison's effects. What do you think?" Xu Ke laid out his terms very clearly.

Tang Yingchang hesitated. He had agreed readily enough that morning, but the thought of willingly drinking poison was absurd. What if Xu Ke never gave him the antidote? Wouldn't that be a death sentence?

But Tang Yingchang also understood that he was in no position to negotiate. In the current situation, he had no control. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life at Xu Ke's beck and call, it's better than my current state as a helpless cripple. I can barely even climb a flight of stairs!

Tang Yingchang clenched his teeth. "I can accept being controlled by poison, but I have one condition."

"Speak."

Staring into Xu Ke's eyes, Tang Yingchang said, "I want you to prove to me that you truly have the ability to cure me." Xu Ke could prove the prescription was a temporary fix, not a relic from the Medical Saint, and he could claim to be the Medical Saint's disciple all he wanted... but ultimately, he had to focus on the practical reality of the situation: could Xu Ke actually cure him? Since Xu Ke hadn't yet displayed any medical skills in front of him, he couldn't possibly believe him so easily.

"Fine, no problem," Xu Ke agreed readily, taking out a silver needle from a nearby case. "Hold out your arm."

Tang Yingchang complied, extending his arm.

After a moment, Xu Ke held his breath and focused. His eyes narrowed, and with a single, swift motion, he struck downward with the needle.

Tang Yingchang's eyes flew wide open…

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