"Okay, I'll be right over."
After hanging up the phone.
Lin Chen immediately hailed a taxi to his destination.
Half an hour later.
He arrived at the Shangguan family's luxurious manor.
"Divine Doctor Lin, you're finally here! Please hurry and check on my grandfather. We were eating just now, and he suddenly coughed up blood and passed out. I was terrified."
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed through Lin Chen's eyes. He quickened his pace and followed Shangguan Ling'er into the room.
Shangguan Xiong lay on the large bed, his face devoid of color.
"Divine Doctor Lin, I'm counting on you."
"Mmm."
Lin Chen rushed forward and immediately took Shangguan Xiong's pulse.
Soon, he found the 'cause of illness,' and his brow furrowed.
Seeing this, Shangguan Ling'er's heart nearly leaped into her throat. She anxiously asked, "Divine Doctor Lin, what's wrong with my grandfather?"
"He was cursed with dark arts."
"Ah!"
Shangguan Ling'er couldn't help but exclaim. First the Gu poison, and now dark arts.
Who exactly wanted to harm her grandfather?
This was truly wicked!
"Divine Doctor Lin, you must save my grandfather. I can't live without him."
Lin Chen nodded and took out silver needles from his 'Nine Dragon Ring.' He said to Shangguan Ling'er, "Stand aside. I'll break the curse for your grandfather immediately."
"Mmm."
Shangguan Ling'er complied at once, watching Lin Chen quietly. She didn't dare to breathe, fearing she would disturb him.
'Pierce! Pierce!'
'Pierce! Pierce!'
After a few sounds.
Seven silver needles sealed Shangguan Xiong's major acupoints.
Lin Chen stood firm, chanted an incantation, and interlaced his hands, directing several seals towards Shangguan Xiong.
Instantly.
Shangguan Xiong, who was in a deep coma, began to tremble violently.
Gradually...
An invisible chilling wind swept through the area, seeming to carry bursts of terrifying roars.
Shangguan Ling'er felt as if she had instantly fallen into an ice cave. She shivered and retreated a few steps, clenching her fists tightly and enduring it.
This was all within Lin Chen's expectations.
His expression remained calm, and his hands continued to interlace, casting seals.
After a few minutes.
Lin Chen stomped his right foot with force, his expression solemn, and began to chant, "Spirits of vermilion orifices, cleanse impurities and rectify integrity, connect life and nourish the spirit. Spirits of a thousand teeth, ward off evil and protect the true. Meditate on the spirit, refine the essence, and let the Taoist energy always remain. Hasten as the law commands!"
As soon as the words fell.
Suddenly, Shangguan Xiong sat bolt upright and vomited a large mouthful of pungent black blood with a 'wow.'
Immediately after, a black shadow floated out from the top of his head.
The black shadow spun in mid-air a few times, eerily coalescing into a ghostly face. It opened its blood-red mouth and lunged towards Lin Chen.
Lin Chen remained still, formed a seal, and pointed his right palm at the ghostly face.
Palm Thunder!
"Rumble!"
"Rumble!"
The ghostly face was struck, let out a shrill scream, and vanished into thin air.
Witnessing this, Shangguan Ling'er's eyes widened in shock, almost popping out.
Good heavens!
Lin Chen could actually conjure thunder from his palm and destroy the ghostly face in one go!
He was too powerful!
Lin Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and stepped forward to retrieve the silver needles.
He slowly circulated the spiritual energy within him and patted Shangguan Xiong's chest three times.
"Cough! Cough..."
Shangguan Xiong slowly woke up.
"Grandfather!"
Shangguan Ling'er cried out in surprise and rushed forward.
"Grandfather, you're alright! That's wonderful."
Shangguan Xiong felt very weak. Under Shangguan Ling'er's soft narration, he learned what had happened.
"Divine Doctor Lin, this is the second time you've saved me. I truly don't know how to thank you."
Lin Chen smiled and remained silent. In fact, when he had cleared Shangguan Xiong's Gu poison for the first time, he knew this was not over. He just hadn't expected the retaliation to come so quickly.
"Grandfather, your complexion is so poor. I'll go ask someone to bring you some nourishing food," Shangguan Ling'er said with a pained and concerned expression.
"Miss Shangguan, your grandfather has just broken the curse and is very weak. He should not be replenished with tonics. I'll write a prescription. Have someone get it immediately."
"Alright, Divine Doctor Lin."
Lin Chen found paper and a pen and quickly scribbled a prescription, handing it to Shangguan Ling'er.
"Grandfather, you rest well. I'll go get the medicine for you."
Shangguan Ling'er took the prescription and turned to walk away.
Lin Chen's expression changed, and he called out to stop Shangguan Ling'er.
"Divine Doctor Lin, do you have any other instructions?"
Before Lin Chen could speak, a fierce and cold voice echoed from a distance: "Old scoundrel Shangguan, you've thwarted my attacks twice, you truly have a good life! I'm done playing cat and mouse with you. Come out with the expert who saved you and face death!"
Hearing this, Shangguan Xiong and Shangguan Ling'er were struck by lightning. Their bodies trembled violently.
"Divine Doctor Lin, you must help us."
Shangguan Ling'er quickly stepped forward and bowed to Lin Chen.
Shangguan Xiong also looked at Lin Chen with urgency. At this point, if Lin Chen abandoned them, they would have no escape.
Lin Chen glanced at Shangguan Xiong and Shangguan Ling'er and said calmly, "Let's go out and meet him."
He knew that the other party had used dark arts to harm Shangguan Xiong, with the intention of luring him out to be wiped out in one fell swoop. Therefore, even if Shangguan Xiong and his granddaughter hadn't pleaded, he wouldn't have stood idly by.
With Lin Chen holding the fort.
Shangguan Xiong and Shangguan Ling'er found some courage and followed Lin Chen out.
Within minutes, they smelled a pungent scent of blood. Looking ahead, they saw only dead bodies.
Shangguan Xiong's old face twitched. His heart bled. These were all bodyguards and servants who had followed him for many years. They were dead just like that. It was his fault for endangering them!
Shangguan Ling'er's pretty face also turned pale, and her heart filled with grief.
Lin Chen's expression turned grim. He stared ahead and said coldly, "Coward hiding behind a mask, aren't you brave enough to show yourself?"
As soon as these words were spoken.
A strange cackling sound immediately rang out.
Following that, a man hidden entirely in a black robe appeared. His exposed eyes emitted a faint green light, which was quite terrifying.
Shangguan Xiong clenched his fists and stepped forward two paces, glaring at the man in the black robe and demanding, "Who are you? Why have you repeatedly tried to poison me?"
"Haha! That's a good question. Shangguan Xiong, you've enjoyed too much comfort and don't remember anything from the past..."
Shangguan Xiong's expression changed repeatedly. He had been investigating the mastermind behind these events for some time, but without any progress.
"Speak quickly, who are you?"
"Old scoundrel Shangguan, do you remember the name Yun Zhonghao?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Xiong's mind felt like it exploded. His face turned ashen, and he staggered back a few steps, pointing at the man in the black robe, unable to utter a complete sentence.
The man in the black robe let out two sinister laughs and stared at Lin Chen, asking word by word, "You are the expert who broke my Gu poison and dark arts?"
Lin Chen's face showed no fear. He said calmly, "That's right."
"Good, very good. Today, I will surely disembowel you to vent my hatred."