Chapter Forty-Nine: The Medicine Is Ready

Ma Wu immediately stopped what he was doing, looking at Wu Ting with a hint of confusion.

During Ma Wu’s preparation of the potion, everyone present instinctively knew to provide the doctor with a quiet environment. Not a single word was spoken; the room was so silent that even a pin drop could be heard. Wu Ting’s sudden exclamation drew all eyes to her.

Flushing with embarrassment, Wu Ting spoke anxiously to Ma Wu, “Ma Wu, don’t touch the Frostfruit with your bare hands, your hands will become numb from the cold!”

Ma Wu felt a wave of warmth at her concern and smiled indulgently at her. “Don’t worry about me. I’m well aware of that. I have my own method.”

With that, Ma Wu resumed the difficult task of handling the Frostfruit bare-handed. Everyone watched intently as Ma Wu reached into the freezer. A layer of pale frost seemed to cover his hand, making it resemble white jade.

Ma Wu steadily retrieved the Frostfruit from the freezer without incident.

Li Li’s expression changed instantly, disbelief filling his eyes.

Wu Di, feeling embarrassed by her own mistaken warning, glared resentfully at Li Li.

Li Li forced a bitter smile, helplessly thinking: There’s nothing I can do. By all rights, Ma Wu’s hand should be ruined, but somehow he’s managed to pull out the Frostfruit without harm. What kind of sorcery is this? Has he trained in Iron Palm?

Ma Wu smiled at Wu Xin and, for once, explained, “This is a family technique, able to shield the hand from most temperature extremes and toxins.”

Wu Xin nodded approvingly, his smile broadening. He praised Ma Wu, “Truly remarkable! The younger generation always exceeds expectations.”

In truth, this intertwined White Jade Palm technique was something Ma Wu had just redeemed from the system for a thousand success points—his most expensive purchase yet.

Upon reviewing the process for today’s potion, Ma Wu knew he had to buy the White Jade Palm. There was no time to wait for special tools to handle the Frostfruit; by then, the Wu family patriarch would be beyond saving. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and buy the skill.

White Jade Palm was not only good for potion-making. In battle, activating it made the hand as hard as steel; once mastered, it could even punch through concrete, a truly fearsome ability.

Holding the Frostfruit, Ma Wu placed it atop the crushed auxiliary ingredients and squeezed hard. The Frostfruit shattered, releasing two drops of brilliant blue liquid.

As the fruit emitted a faint hissing, it withered and vanished. The two blue drops miraculously dissolved all the medicinal residue, leaving only a lump of dark green liquid in the juicer.

Next, Ma Wu grabbed the Golden Branch, put it under the tablet press, and quickly sliced it into ginseng-like pieces.

He placed the large, round Golden Branch slice into a vessel, then poured the green liquid over it. To everyone’s amazement, the liquid solidified as it covered the Golden Branch, adhering to it, while only a small amount remained as liquid and trickled down.

When all was done, Ma Wu was left with a small cup of nearly transparent liquid. Holding it in both hands, he smiled at Li Li and said, “This contains the full efficacy of the Frostfruit and Golden Branch. Once I administer it to the Wu family patriarch and his health improves, you will be leaving the Wu household.”

Li Li’s expression was stormy as he stared at the liquid in Ma Wu’s hand. He had never seen such techniques before, but that didn’t stop him from believing that Ma Wu’s potion was likely effective. He knew he was about to lose!

After a long, silent hesitation, Li Li suddenly let out a wild cry and lunged at Ma Wu, trying to snatch the cup of transparent liquid. “You’re up to something! Patriarch Wu, you mustn’t drink that! It must be destroyed!”

Ma Wu reacted swiftly, shielding the cup and kicking Li Li away. Li Li crashed into a corner, blood on his lips, looking utterly defeated.

Everyone watched Li Li’s desperate actions and shook their heads. Several young men from the Wu family, no longer bothering to keep their voices down, remarked:

“His image has collapsed. We once thought Doctor Li was infallible, but he has neither skill nor ethics—trying to destroy someone else’s medicine!”

“He’s playing with the patriarch’s life! If he had succeeded, it would be indirect murder!”

“He’s not fit to be a doctor!”

Wu Xin, shaken and furious, glared at the potion in Ma Wu’s hands and barked at his servants, “Take him to the water room! Await further punishment!”

He was not exaggerating—at this moment, the potion in Ma Wu’s hands was his lifeline. Li Li’s actions amounted to attempted murder; Wu Xin’s anger was justified.

Wu Ting, anxious for her father, moved to Ma Wu’s side, watching those around them like a mother cat protecting her cubs, as if afraid someone might try to seize the potion.

Ma Wu wasted no time. The longer he waited, the more could go wrong. He poured the medicine into a glass and said to Wu Xin, “Sir Wu, drink it all in one go—let your feelings run deep.”

Wu Xin managed a rare smile at Ma Wu, took the glass, and downed it without hesitation.

After swallowing, Wu Xin smacked his lips in surprise. “It tastes exactly like plain water—no color, no flavor…”

Before he could finish, a cry of pain burst from his lips, and he began writhing on the bed.

The room erupted in panic; medical staff rushed to help, but Wu Xin pushed them away, shouting, “Leave me be!”

Wu Ting approached, clasping her father’s hand. She looked at Ma Wu, her heart heavy but trusting: Ma Wu would never harm her family.

Sure enough, after a while, Wu Xin’s complexion shifted from white to green to black. Suddenly, he vomited a large mass of black blood, reeking and hot.

Staff hurried to wrap and remove the foul mass.

Wu Xin let out a breath, about to speak to Ma Wu, but Ma Wu shook his head with a gentle smile. “Just a moment longer, sir. There’s more pain yet to come.”

No sooner had he spoken than Wu Xin’s legs began to twitch violently under the covers, making the bed creak and groan. Soon, the blanket covering his legs became stiff as a board.

Wu Ting touched it and found it icy cold, already frosted over. Quickly, she pulled the blanket away, revealing that Wu Xin’s legs were exuding clouds of white vapor, chilling the room rapidly.

After a while, Wu Xin finally calmed down, panting heavily. “Ma Wu, my young friend, is it over now?”

Ma Wu chuckled, “I haven’t failed you. From my observation, the treatment is highly effective. There should be no problems—the first round’s results are excellent.”

Wu Xin burst into hearty laughter. “I can feel it! My body is as strong as in my prime. Though there are still lingering ailments, I’m much, much better. Ma Wu, my family and I owe you a great debt!”

Ma Wu looked at Wu Xin with uncharacteristic seriousness. “No, sir. It’s not your family who owes me. I am only repaying a great debt I owe Wu Ting.”

Wu Ting’s face instantly flushed, but her eyes were full of affection as she murmured softly, “You’re talking nonsense again.”

Wu Di, witnessing this scene, narrowed his eyes, for the first time casting a cold, sinister glance at Ma Wu.

Wu Xin glanced at Wu Ting, then at Ma Wu, smiling with resignation. “Your affairs are yours, but your help to me is between us. The two are not in conflict.”

Ma Wu smiled, agreeing readily.

Ding! You humiliated Li Li and made him pay the price. Face-slapping points +500, now at the maximum of 2000.

Ding! You showed the Wu family’s younger generation what a true miracle doctor is. Swagger points +500, now at the cap of 500.

Ma Wu felt a bit annoyed—these caps were truly limiting, keeping him from earning more face-slapping and swagger points. He’d have to find time to raise his level soon; otherwise, every time he showed off, the points maxed out too quickly to be satisfying.

But the system prompts continued.

Ding! You have completed the first stage of the Wu Family side quest and received: one Exquisite Golden Light Powder, one bottle of Silver Wound Medicine.

Ding! Your medical proficiency has improved.

Ding! The second stage of the Wu Family side quest has begun: Prevent Wu Di from contacting Wu Ting. Time limit: seven days.