Soon, Zhao Yuan arrived at Zhencao Hall.
A large crowd had already gathered there, drawn by the heart-wrenching cries of Boss Fang's daughter. Zhao Yuan pushed his way through the crowd and squeezed into Zhencao Hall, where he saw the state of Boss Fang's daughter.
The little girl looked to be about six or seven years old and was writhing on the floor in agony. Her complexion was terrible, a waxy yellow tinged with a deathly pallor. Her hair was brittle and lifeless, and her limbs were so emaciated they looked like skin stretched directly over bone. This, combined with her belly, which was swollen like a water jug, created an incredibly bizarre sight!
Her face was contorted in a ferocious grimace from the intense pain. Coupled with her piercing screams and cries, it was truly a hair-raising sight, as if one were looking at an Evil Ghost or a Vengeful Spirit.
Many people were frightened by the girl's strange and terrifying appearance, and they began to whisper amongst themselves.
"My god, what happened to this little girl?"
"I heard she's sick, but looking at her, it seems more like she's been tainted by something unclean. Like she's possessed."
"She looks like one of those starving ghosts from the legends..."
Every one of these words reached Boss Fang's ears, and each one felt like a knife to the heart.
Wiping away his tears, Boss Fang bowed deeply to the crowd and said, "Everyone, you've all seen my daughter, Fang Ling, who has unfortunately contracted a strange illness and is suffering greatly. I consider myself fairly well-versed in the principles of medicine and have seen many difficult and unusual cases, but I haven't the slightest clue about this strange disease afflicting my daughter. To cure her, I have spent the last month taking her to visit numerous famous doctors across the country, but none of them could diagnose her illness, and all their attempted treatments were completely ineffective. I know many of you are knowledgeable in the medical arts. If any of you can cure her... no, even if you can just alleviate her suffering a little, I will present this treasured Dragon's Saliva Fragrance as a Xi Jing!"
Boss Fang raised a hand, and an assistant at his side immediately placed an exquisitely crafted wooden box into his hands.
As he opened the wooden box, a fishy smell immediately wafted out.
Boss Fang held up the box for the crowd to see, then took out a tool and carefully scraped off a small sliver from the Dragon's Saliva Fragrance, which he then lit with a flame.
Instantly, a rich fragrance filled the air, completely overpowering the fishy odor.
The scent was similar to musk but more refined and elegant. Just smelling it was enough to make one feel clear-headed and invigorated!
Everyone present was an expert. They had already determined from its shape and color that the Dragon's Saliva Fragrance was not only genuine but also of extraordinary quality. Now, smelling the soul-soothing, unique aroma confirmed their judgment.
"Look at that Dragon's Saliva Fragrance—white as Jade, with a fragrant and pleasant Qi. It's absolutely a top-tier, Upper Grade item!"
"Dragon's Saliva Fragrance comes from sperm whales. In ancient times, it was a tribute item reserved exclusively for the royal family. It can be used not only in medicine but also to make perfume. In recent years, due to the overhunting of sperm whales, Dragon's Saliva Fragrance has become increasingly scarce. An Upper Grade piece like this is now extremely rare."
"Zhencao Hall truly lives up to its reputation as a time-honored pharmacy; they really do have treasures. This piece of Upper Grade Dragon's Saliva Fragrance weighs about a hundred grams and is worth at least three or four hundred thousand. If they took it to an auction, spent a bit on publicity and hype, it wouldn't be impossible to fetch a price of over a million!"
"A pity. I don't have the skill to earn this Dragon's Saliva Fragrance. I've never even heard of the Fang family's girl's illness, let alone how to diagnose or treat it."
Hearing the crowd's chatter, Zhao Yuan was taken aback. 'Whoa, that white rock-looking thing in the wooden box is actually that valuable? Three or four hundred thousand! If I had that much money, I wouldn't have to worry about finances for a long time!'
He had come here to treat Fang Ling in the first place. If he could earn a small fortune on the side, that would be even better.
However, he didn't rush forward to volunteer his services. He still needed to carefully examine Fang Ling's strange illness to see if it was really the Viper Gu Syndrome recorded in the medical texts.
While Zhao Yuan was discerning the illness, a number of people who considered themselves skilled in medicine, lured by the Dragon's Saliva Fragrance, stepped forward to diagnose Fang Ling.
Each of them stepped up full of confidence. However, after checking her pulse, observing her condition, and looking through her various medical reports, they either slunk away in defeat or, refusing to give up, stubbornly proposed a few treatment plans.
After looking over the treatment plans they offered, Boss Fang didn't even bother to try them, simply shaking his head.
"We've tried these treatments before. They're completely useless!"
After this happened a few times, no one else volunteered. They all just stood around watching the spectacle.
This scene left Boss Fang both disappointed and helpless.
He glanced at his daughter, wracked with pain and suffering, and his heart ached terribly.
"Close the doors. We're not doing any business today," Boss Fang instructed his assistant with a sigh.
Just then, a voice called out from the crowd, "Boss Fang, please wait. I can cure your daughter's illness!"
The voice carried immense confidence, which startled Boss Fang, but he didn't feel much joy. His hopes had been dashed too many times before. It was hard to feel any excitement without seeing actual results.
Boss Fang looked in the direction of the voice.
The crowd of onlookers also turned to size up the person who had spoken.
It was none other than Zhao Yuan.
Boss Fang looked at Zhao Yuan, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He asked hesitantly, "Were you the one who just said you could cure my daughter?"
It wasn't just him; the surrounding onlookers were also full of doubt toward Zhao Yuan.
Zhao Yuan was simply too young; he looked like a student. People found it hard to believe he could possess any significant medical skill.
As the saying goes, "An old doctor, a young tailor." In the medical profession, the older you are, the more sought-after you become. Older doctors have seen more, know more, and have a wealth of clinical experience. As for a young, wet-behind-the-ears kid, no matter how well he knows the theory, once he's in a clinical setting facing a complex and unpredictable illness, it's easy for him to be stumped and not know what to do.
"Kid, don't show off for no reason!"
"Even we're helpless against the Fang family's girl's strange disease. A snot-nosed kid like you thinks you can cure it? What a joke!"
"Do you have any idea who those people were who just tried to treat the Fang family's girl? Every single one of them is a senior who has been in the medical field for decades, with vast experience! Even they were helpless against her illness, and you think you have a solution? Be careful you don't bite your tongue with all that boasting!"
In an instant, jeers and boos erupted from the crowd.
Zhao Yuan paid them no mind. He just stared at Boss Fang and said with absolute certainty, "Yes. I can cure your daughter's illness!"
After confirming Zhao Yuan wasn't joking, Boss Fang clasped his hands together and said, "Then I must ask you, young man, to please go to the trouble of helping my little girl escape her sea of suffering."
As soon as he said this, the surrounding onlookers were stunned. They began to exclaim, "No way, Boss Fang, you really believe this brat's words?"
Boss Fang replied, "Ling'Er is just too pitiful. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, I have to try."
Someone else chimed in, "But aren't you afraid this kid's reckless treatment will just make your daughter's condition even worse?"
"Worse? How could it possibly get any worse than this?" Boss Fang gave a bitter sigh. He stopped paying attention to the crowd and led Zhao Yuan over to Fang Ling's side.