Chapter 133: A Suspicious Identity
Chapter 133: A Suspicious Identity
Not long after the fake Pan Guoqing entered the bathtub, thin black strands floated to the surface of the water. They looked like leeches floating in milk.
“Master, what are these black things?” Pan Renlong asked curiously.
Li Zian said calmly, “These are the toxins inside Old Master Pan’s body. There will be more soon.”
“Will just soaking in the bath cure him?”
“It should be about enough, but later, Mr. Pan will still need to rest in bed quietly for a while,” Li Zian said.
Pan Renlong looked respectful. “The Master truly lives up to his reputation. Your methods are really amazing.”
Li Zian replied modestly, “You flatter me, you… cough cough!”
Pan Renlong said, “Master, should I go get you some cold medicine?”
Li Zian smiled. “It’s just a small cold. I can get better even without medicine. Besides, if I really needed to take any medicine, I have my own.”
Pan Renlong said apologetically, “The Master is right. You pulled my father back from the Gate of the Underworld. Your medical skills are divine. A master like you doesn’t need cold medicine.”
“Ahem…” Li Zian coughed twice again. This time, he covered his mouth.
Pan Renlong shifted his gaze to look at Pan Guoqing, who was holding his breath in the bathtub. Unconsciously, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
About half an hour later, the water in the bathtub had cooled. Li Zian said, “Old Master Pan, you can get up now.”
The fake Pan Guoqing pushed himself up with his hands and slowly climbed out. Just as he was almost up, Pan Renlong reached out to support him. Li Zian saw it but had no reaction.
“Mr. Pan, please help Old Master Pan rinse off. After that, he should return to bed, and I will examine him again,” Li Zian said, then left the bathroom.
Pan Renlong did not close the bathroom door. He used the showerhead to rinse the fake Pan Guoqing’s body, then helped him back to the room and onto the bed.
Li Zian walked to the bedside and placed his hand on the fake Pan Guoqing’s chest. Zhenqi flowed out from his palm, circled around, then returned to his body, and finally went back to the Great Sluggish Cauldron.
The Great Sluggish Cauldron emitted wisps of green smoke.
Li Zian frowned slightly. From the information the Zhenqi fed back, the Detox Ointment had only removed most of the toxins. However, there was still quite a lot of toxin left in the fake Pan Guoqing’s lungs, and it was very stubborn.
He pondered secretly and suddenly thought of a possibility. He thought to himself, “What’s in this fake Pan Guoqing’s lungs probably isn’t ordinary toxin. It’s most likely a virus with extremely strong reproductive and infectious power.”
While thinking this, he glanced at Mu Chuntao standing by the door. He felt a bit nervous and scared. Although he had given her the Furnace Body Blood, what if it couldn’t cure such a powerful virus?
“Master, how is my father?” Pan Renlong asked.
Li Zian withdrew his hand and said calmly, “Old Master Pan’s illness is no longer a problem. Let’s leave it at that for today. If Old Master Pan’s condition is even better tomorrow, you don’t need to call me again. If his condition is unstable or worse, give me a call.”
The fake Pan Guoqing said, “Thank you, Master. When I’m better, I will invite you for tea.”
“No problem, Old Master Pan, please rest. I’ll take my leave now.” Li Zian picked up his toolbox and walked toward the door.
Pan Renlong did not immediately follow. Instead, he looked at the fake Pan Guoqing lying on the bed.
Mu Chuntao coughed loudly. “Ahem!”
Very loudly.
Pan Renlong glanced at Mu Chuntao, seemed to remember something, and then followed them out. “Oh, sorry, I was so worried about my father that I forgot about the fee. Master, how much do you think is appropriate?”
This time, Li Zian did not ask where the bathroom was. He said, “I don’t like discussing money. Usually, my assistant handles money matters.”
Mu Chuntao said, “Mr. Pan, let’s just make it symbolic. Give a ‘Four Seasons Prosperity’ — that’s four million.”
Pan Renlong’s pupils noticeably dilated.
Four seasons prosperity meant four million. If she said ‘Ambush from Ten Sides,’ would it be ten million?
“But, President Du only paid two million last time, right?” Pan Renlong said.
Li Zian stared at Pan Renlong, his gaze gradually turning cold.
This was a venomous snake that wanted to bite him to death, and it had carefully set a trap. Its intentions were truly despicable. But the other side showed no flaws. From a factual standpoint, stabbing this Pan Renlong a few times wouldn’t be excessive. He had such an impulse in his heart. But he had to suppress it and stay calm.
First, there is never hatred without reason. This was his first time meeting Pan Renlong; they didn’t know each other before. Yet the other wanted to kill him — why? So, it was very likely that there was someone else, or an organization, behind Pan Renlong. Pan Renlong was just the one who stepped forward to execute it.
Second, the matter wasn’t fully investigated yet. If he killed Pan Renlong or the fake Pan Guoqing here, it would be like seeing through their trap and then voluntarily putting his head under the executioner’s blade for them to chop it off. Even without them doing anything, a judge could take his life.
Mu Chuntao said, “President Du addresses the Master as uncle and nephew. What kind of relationship is that? Mr. Pan, I said four million is a very discounted price. Someone of your status shouldn’t lack that little divination fee, right? If it got out, it would damage your dignity.”
Pan Renlong gave a scornful laugh. “It seems I was thoughtless. Master, please give me your account number. I’ll transfer the money.”
Li Zian hid the ferocity in his eyes. A faint smile appeared on his lips, looking gentle and refined.
Then, he covered his mouth and coughed.
Just one meaning.
Look, I’m even poisoned. Aren’t you going to pay?
Pan Renlong got the account number and immediately transferred the money using his mobile banking app.
Li Zian’s phone soon rang with a text alert. He took out his phone and looked — four million received. The sender’s account was the corporate account of Qinglong Group.
“Mr. Pan, I have other matters, so I’ll take my leave now,” Li Zian said.
“I’ll see you two out,” Pan Renlong said.
Li Zian said, “No need. You should go back and keep Old Master Pan company.”
“Then I won’t see you off. Take care, you two,” Pan Renlong said politely.
Li Zian and Mu Chuntao went downstairs. The Indian man stood in the living room and bowed slightly to them. Li Zian nodded slightly to him, then left No. 123 with Mu Chuntao.
The street was bustling with people. Each person had their own fate. Some paths crossed, some didn’t. But it all happened under the same sky.
The Indian man closed the door.
Li Zian looked back, then stopped. “Chuntao, how do you feel?”
Mu Chuntao said, “Earlier, I felt my throat was itchy and my lungs were a bit blocked. After you gave me your blood, I feel much better.”
“Then bear with it a little longer.”
Mu Chuntao asked in surprise, “Bear with what?”
But Li Zian did not explain. He opened his toolbox, took out a stick of sandalwood incense, lit it with a lighter, and took a deep breath of the rising smoke.
Boom!
The Great Sluggish Cauldron shook, followed by the Incense Burning State.
“What are you doing?” Mu Chuntao looked at Li Zian curiously.
She was speaking to Li Zian in a normal voice, but to Li Zian in the Incense Burning State, it sounded like she was holding a megaphone right next to his ear.
Various sounds flooded into Li Zian’s ears like a tide. Even the sound of passersby walking slowly nearby seemed like someone beating a drum beside him.
Li Zian covered one ear, turning his other ear toward No. 123 and deliberately moved closer to the wall.
He focused his spirit.
Where his mind directed, his hearing followed.
The messy ambient noises around him were ignored by his consciousness, leaving only subtle sounds. Then, from those subtle sounds, he filtered out the ones he wanted to hear.
“Young master, please give me an injection quickly. I’m really scared now,” said the fake Pan Guoqing’s voice.
“What’s the hurry? I want to see if his treatment can actually destroy the SA01 Virus,” said Pan Renlong’s voice.
“Young master, I am the loyal servant of you and the Lord. If I die, who will serve the Lord and you?”
“Don’t worry, I have the antidote. You won’t die. You performed very well earlier. Now, endure for another two hours.” Pan Renlong’s voice was cold.
“Why wait another two hours?”
“If your condition starts to worsen, it means his treatment is completely useless. Then he and that woman are definitely dead,” Pan Renlong’s voice was icy.
“What if…”
“Don’t forget, your life belongs to my Pan family. What I say is the same as what my father says. Are you questioning my decision?” Pan Renlong’s voice carried intimidation and anger.
“This lowly one doesn’t dare. I… I’ll endure for another two hours.”
“Lie in bed honestly. I still need to go to the consulate, then come back to give you the injection.”
Li Zian heard footsteps and a door closing. When he heard footsteps going downstairs, he pinched out the sandalwood incense in his hand, grabbed Mu Chuntao, and left.
“Where are we going now?” Mu Chuntao asked.
“We need to find a hotel and get a room,” Li Zian said.
“Ah?” Mu Chuntao’s face flushed instantly. “Is it really that urgent?”
Li Zian said, “It’s even more urgent than you think.”
Mu Chuntao laughed. “Seems I really shouldn’t have teased you this morning. Look how anxious you are. There’s a fruit seller ahead; I’ll buy you some peaches. How many do you want?”
Li Zian had no mind for her flirtatious words. Before reaching the fruit seller she mentioned, he spotted a hotel called Yashi Hotel and pulled her inside.
“But I haven’t bought the peaches yet,” Mu Chuntao said.
“Let’s take care of business first, then come out to buy them,” Li Zian said.
Mu Chuntao’s heart softened. “Alright, seeing how anxious you are, you must be really uncomfortable. Today, I won’t make you wait by washing the peaches for you to eat.”
Li Zian went to the front desk, booked a room, got the key card, and took Mu Chuntao into the elevator. As the elevator went up, he said, “Weren’t you just asking why I lit the incense?”
“Yeah, you didn’t tell me. Why did you light the incense?” Mu Chuntao had been very curious about it, but then the master suddenly pinched out the incense and dragged her to get a room. She had almost forgotten about it.
“I’ll tell you when we get to the room,” Li Zian said.
Mu Chuntao pouted.