Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Bet Is a Bet

"I'm so hungry..."

The first thing Elder Zhao said after regaining consciousness was to demand food. After all, his frail body had been eroded by evil energy and then purged by internal energy, bearing burdens it simply could not withstand. Now that he had just recovered from a critical illness, he was at his most vulnerable and desperately needed nourishment to replenish his strength.

"Father!"

The response from the Zhao family descendants was a chorus of joyous, tearful cries as they rushed toward the hospital bed. Elder Zhao looked on, completely bewildered by their strange behavior; he had no idea what had just transpired. His memory was still fixed on the moment before Liu Wenjing was about to administer the third needle. He was unaware that he had just skirted the gates of death, and he even assumed it was the renowned Doctor Liu who had saved him.

"The Elder really has come back to life!"
"Father, you scared us to death!"
"Grandfather, I thought I’d never see you again!"

The children gathered around the bed, chattering away and recounting everything that had just happened. Although only a few minutes had passed, Elder Zhao couldn't help but break into a cold sweat as he listened. He murmured to himself, "I actually died once... and I don't remember a thing..."

"It’s true, Father!" Zhao Tianming said, pointing excitedly at Ye Feng. "If it weren't for this young man, you would have truly left us! We were wrong to misjudge him before."

Hearing this, Elder Zhao looked up at Ye Feng. His expression transitioned from shock to one of deep shame. "Young man, I am truly sorry. I am an old fool; I misjudged you last night."

Following the Elder's lead, his eldest son, Zhao Tiancong, stood up, walked over to Ye Feng, and bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving my father." He then bowed again and added, "Please forgive my earlier offenses."

The onlookers were stunned, their jaws dropping at the sight of Zhao Tiancong—the eldest son and designated successor, a man known for his immense pride—proactively bowing and apologizing to Ye Feng. Such a rare sight was truly shocking.

"Mr. Ye, thank you so much!" Zhao Wanting exclaimed, impulsively hugging Ye Feng and planting a kiss on his cheek in a burst of gratitude and joy. Realizing how abrupt her actions were, she blushed and retreated to the side, not daring to look him in the eye again.

"The master is truly incredible," Hua Guodong said, his mouth agape. "Not only is he a formidable fighter, but his medical skills are also this profound... To think the Ye family would actually cast such a talent out—it's unbelievable."

Nearby, Director Chen was still struggling to process the scene, pinching himself hard to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "A miracle! This is a miracle in the history of medicine!" Having practiced medicine for most of his life, Director Chen felt as though he had only just stepped through the threshold today, realizing that everything he had learned before was merely superficial.

Just then, the renowned Dr. Liu Wenjing lunged forward and dropped to his knees before Ye Feng with a thud. Ye Feng recoiled in surprise, thinking that a simple apology hardly required such a grand gesture.

"Medical Saint!" Liu Wenjing cried, clutching Ye Feng's leg. "Please, I beg you, take me as your disciple!" Having witnessed Ye Feng's astounding medical prowess, Liu was determined not to miss this opportunity. Even learning a fraction of what Ye Feng knew would be a lifelong benefit.

"I don't take disciples," Ye Feng said, stepping back helplessly.

"How can that be?" Liu followed on his knees. "Didn't we make a wager? If I couldn't cure Elder Zhao, I would become your disciple! I honor my bets! Master, please..." With that, Liu began kowtowing repeatedly.

Liu Wenjing clung to him like a stubborn plaster, impossible to shake off. Ye Feng could only ignore him for the time being, though he had no intention of accepting him. Just as the room was filled with celebration, Ye Feng spoke again: "Don't be too happy just yet. While he has been saved, it is only temporary."

What!?

Silence fell over the room once more. Ye Feng's words were like a bucket of cold water, drenching the spirits of the Zhao family.

"Divine Doctor Ye, what do you mean by that?" Zhao Tianming asked, having already changed how he addressed him.

"Exactly what I said," Ye Feng replied. "Elder Zhao's natural lifespan has already been exhausted. I have only done my best to hold onto his last breath for him. But this breath won't last long—at most, one month."

One month! The Zhao family erupted in a clamor of disbelief, unable to accept the news.

"Are you saying... I only have... one month to live?" Elder Zhao asked, forced to face the cold reality.

"Yes," Ye Feng nodded. "One month at most."

After a moment of silence, a sense of desolation washed over the family. Elder Zhao, however, faced death with composure. "Heh... perhaps this is fate," he said with a faint smile. "To know the exact time of one's death is not necessarily a bad thing. However—"

His expression shifted, his face hardening. "Before I die, there is one thing I must uncover. Who is it that is trying to kill me? My health has always been robust; how did I suddenly collapse like this?"

He couldn't fathom it. If someone was indeed plotting against him in the shadows, he had to kill his enemy before he died to find peace.

"Ah!" Zhao Wanting gasped as if a thought had just occurred to her, her eyes drifting toward the jade Buddha. *Was it really me who harmed Grandfather?*

Ye Feng offered a mysterious smile. "Don't worry about that question. Because the mastermind behind this will soon show themselves."