Chapter 8: Consultation
Chapter 8: Consultation
“This is the fifth message, Second Young Master. Rumors rage in Zhenhai City. Even in Magicstone City, spreading onto all the Shen Gong Clan’s territories. They say the Lord Marquis is critically ill, his life hanging by a thread,” a middle-aged man bowed and spoke. “At such a crucial hour, are you truly certain of not returning to Zhenhai City?”
Shen Wuyu replied, “Father didn’t write asking me back. Why should I go?”
The middle-aged adviser said, “But… what if the Eldest Young Master drops his duties, returns to Zhenhai City with his troops? And what if the Lord Marquis’s illness… is true? Then… then we’d be at a grave disadvantage.”
He dared not spell it out clearly, but his meaning was plain.
If Shen Gong’ao couldn’t recover, whoever remained in Zhenhai City would grasp the initiative, whoever became the new Marquis of Zhenhai.
Even if Shen Gong’ao wasn’t in mortal danger, whichever son stood by his side now would hold the advantage in inheritance.
Shen Wuyu said, “If I abandon these vital duties and rush back to Zhenhai City regardless, that would play right into some schemers’ hands. If Father truly collapsed now, those hungry wolves surrounding us would pounce. They’d tear the Shen Gong Family’s foundations apart. What would my struggle with Elder Brother mean then? If the skin is gone, where can the fur attach?”
The middle-aged adviser asked, “But the Eldest Young Master? What if he goes to Zhenhai City?”
“He won’t go back,” Shen Wuyu stated. “If he actually does go… that would make me happy. It would mean he is unworthy to be my rival after all.”
Frontline Military Camp:
In Shen Gong’ao’s absence, the Eldest Young Master, Shen Wuzhuo, was the supreme commander of the clan’s twenty thousand private troops.
Shen Wuyu resembled his mother—handsome, scholarly, radiating noble grace.
The Eldest Young Master, Shen Wuzhuo, greatly resembled Shen Gong’ao—towering like a mountain, majestic and unyielding.
He sat like a mountain, stood like a drawn sword.
“Eldest Young Master, the rumors grow fiercer. They’re all over the camp. They say the Lord Marquis is gravely ill. The Second Young Master sealed the news. He secretly left Magicstone City for Zhenhai City to seize the Marquisate,” someone reported.
Shen Wuzhuo’s face remained hard as iron. He ignored the news, focused solely on the report in his hands.
“Aren’t the Imperial court officials done surveying yet? Just a patch like Redearth Territory… how long does it take?” Shen Wuzhuo demanded.
“Not yet. The Imperial officials say they got ill from the environment. So the surveying is delayed,” an adviser beside him replied. “Eldest Young Master, you could hand matters here to General Wubing. Travel secretly to Zhenhai City yourself. Avoid being caught unprepared.”
“Fool! That would be walking right into the enemy’s trap,” Shen Wuzhuo snapped. “Unless Father himself sends a letter, I believe nothing! Give the order: stop waiting. Our army moves out at once. We seize Redearth Territory.”
The adviser said, “But… that land isn’t officially the Shen Gong Family’s territory yet! The survey’s unfinished. Stationing our troops there… it’s unjustified legally. It hands others a weapon against us.”
Shen Wuzhuo retorted, “Fear this, fear that… then nothing gets done. No reason for a garrison? Can’t you invent one? Say Dali Kingdom forces acted like bandits and occupied Redearth Territory. Our troops march to wipe them out. As for the origin of these ‘bandits’… do I need to teach you that?”
The adviser shook his head. “No need. I’ll see to it immediately.”
The rumors about Shen Gong’ao’s life-threatening illness intensified in Zhenhai City.
Shen Gong’ao hadn’t made any public appearance for days. Security around the Marquis’s Manor was visibly tighter.
Crucially, many powerful figures visited the manor seeking an audience.
The Prefect of Nanhai Commandery, the Headmaster of Zhenhai Academy, the house vassals of the Mi Clan… they all came to see Shen Gong’ao. All were turned away.
Lady Mu Hongyu received them. She stated Shen Gong’ao was practicing isolation, cultivating, and could not receive guests.
Every sign pointed to this: the rumors weren’t just rumors.
So the whispers shifted: Shen Gong’ao wasn’t merely critically ill; he was already dead.
Paralleling this, the Imperial surveying team’s work at the frontline completely stalled. Skirmishes and even clashes broke out between Imperial troops and the Shen Gong Family’s soldiers.
If Shen Gong’ao didn’t reappear, the situation would turn drastically worse.
It was at this critical moment.
Divine Doctor Lin Daomiao arrived!
Chief Grandmaster of the Academy of Medicine at Tianshui Academy. The foremost physician in the South.
Wearing a white cloak, he entered the Marquis of Zhenhai Mansion secretly to treat Shen Gong’ao.
Lin Daomiao was ninety-three this year, yet appeared no older than sixty. His beard and hair were pure white, but his face was like a peeled eggshell—smooth, ruddy, wrinkle-free.
Gazing at the sick form of Shen Gong’ao on the bed—still imposing, radiating authority even in illness—scenes flooded Lin Daomiao’s mind.
Shen Gong’ao’s past invincibility, his countless slaughters. Blood splattering, heads flying.
“It has been a long time, Grandmaster Lin Daomiao,” Shen Gong’ao spoke. “I never imagined our next meeting would be like this.”
Lady Mu Hongyu stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Grandmaster Lin Daomiao, regarding our past offenses… please forgive us.”
“I labored to heal those people… you slaughtered them casually,” Lin Daomiao stated. “Though I harbor no fondness for the Lord Marquis… I shall still exert my utmost.”
His statement made, Lin Daomiao approached to examine Shen Gong’ao.
Everyone present held their breath. The three other doctors especially watched Lin Daomiao with a gaze full of anticipation and reverence.
In everyone’s eyes, if anyone could heal Shen Gong’ao, it was undoubtedly Grandmaster Lin Daomiao before them.
Time passed slowly.
A full quarter-hour slipped away.
Grandmaster Lin Daomiao produced silver needles. He pricked specific points on Shen Gong’ao’s body and gently rotated them.
Instantly…
Shen Gong’ao’s right leg twitched. A slight tremor. His knee bent then snapped back out.
Joy filled the room. Shen Gong’ao stated, “My right leg… it has sensation! For days… my right leg felt numb… paralyzed… nothing.”
Truly, the divine doctor lived up to his name.
One of the doctors spoke: “Grandmaster, we examined the Lord Marquis thoroughly. His body seems perfectly healthy! Yet his right leg was paralyzed. Worse, every day… he suffers spells of dizziness and vertigo. The world spins. We are baffled. Completely. We don’t know why? What illness this is?”
Mu Hongyu added, “And after each spell… the paralysis deepens.”
Lin Daomiao explained, “The human brain controls the entire body. The Lord Marquis suffers from a disease affecting his brain. Your right leg’s paralysis indicates the left side of your brain is afflicted.”
Mu Hongyu asked anxiously, “What disease is this?”
Lin Daomiao pronounced, “A wind disease in the brain.”
Mu Hongyu pressed, “Can it be cured?”
Lin Daomiao answered, “The Academy of Medicine at Tianshui Academy possesses records of five such cases. Not one was cured.”
Mu Hongyu pleaded, “Grandmaster Lin, we are willing to pay any price.”
Lin Daomiao responded, “A physician’s heart is like a parent’s. If it could be cured, I naturally would strive with all my might. But this illness of the Lord Marquis… it defies all medicines, all remedies. I regret I can do nothing. Farewell!”
Thus declaring, he turned to leave immediately.
Mu Hongyu and everyone present felt only despair.
Lin Daomiao was the foremost divine physician of the South, a Grandmaster of the Tianshui Academy of Medicine. If even he could not heal this, it truly was an incurable disease.
Lin Daomiao paused not a second, walking straight for the door. He knew. If he delayed a moment, he might never leave.
Shen Gong’ao was lawless, daring to kill anyone. Though Lin Daomiao’s status should protect him—no one in the South would likely dare kill him—matters this grave could possibly push even Shen Gong’ao to act.
Just as predicted…
Mu Hongyu commanded, “Wait!”
Her hand flicked a command.
Instantly, shadowy figures blocked Lin Daomiao’s path to the exit.
Lin Daomiao said calmly, “I will keep it secret. But if you feel unsafe… then silence me forever.”
He offered no further threats.
Shen Gong’aop’s gaze remained on Lin Daomiao. After a long silence, the Lord Marquis waved his hand. “I trust him. Let Grandmaster Lin leave.”
The shadowy figures stood aside. Lin Daomiao departed.
Mu Hongyu felt frozen through. If even Lin Daomiao couldn’t heal it… there truly seemed no hope.
For a long time she trembled before asking, “Husband… should… should we recall Eldest and Second Son?”
Shen Gong’aop looked ghastly pale, his breathing ragged.
If it truly was untreatable… each spell worsened his condition. He might have to plan sooner than expected. To recall both his sons… preparing for the worst.
At the very least, how would the Shen Gong Family survive the crisis bearing down?
His fall… would bring ruin upon the entire clan.
At that very instant!
Shen Gong’ao’s body shuddered. An explosion of agony ripped through his mind.
It was happening. Again!
Another spell.
Vertigo slammed him. The world spun violently.
He squeezed his eyes shut desperately. Futile.
Terrifying convulsions took hold.
His entire body twisted into grotesque angles, thrashing uncontrollably.
Mu Hongyu rushed forward. She held her husband fiercely, desperately preserving some shred of his dignity against the violent spasms.
The doctors hurried back. But they were utterly helpless, knowing no remedy.
Within, a roar tore through Shen Gong’ao’s being: Heaven above! If my killings offended you, end me! Strike me dead here! Why this torment?
More terrifyingly, amidst the pain and twisted writhing, he felt it—his entire right side went completely numb. Utterly lost to sensation.
Before, only his right leg was paralyzed. Now… the paralysis consumed his entire right side.
At that precise moment, a voice rang outside—Abu’s.
“Master! Third Young Master Wuque is forcing his way in! Shall we stop him?”