Ling Tian and Wang Bingxia turned around simultaneously. Without them knowing when, a stretched Hummer had stopped behind them. A middle-aged man in a suit and tie stepped out of the car, looking disdainfully at Ling Tian.
Ling Tian had not lied. Compared to the Taoist temple on Panlong Mountain, the arrangements at the Wang family's courtyard gate were simply the difference between a common residence and a palace. Every single item in Panlong Temple had at least a thousand years of history. In comparison, the Wang family's arrangements...
It was truly a humble abode.
Seeing that Ling Tian did not respond, the middle-aged man became even more brazen and lectured Wang Bingxia, "It's not that your Uncle is saying this about you, but your grandfather's illness has become so serious, and you're still bringing such a poor, wild man from outside home."
"This time, we must finalize your marriage with your father as soon as possible. I think the young master of the Bai family is quite good."
Wang Bingxia frowned, "Uncle, I am already engaged, and he is not some wild man. He is a Taoist priest I invited from Panlong Mountain to treat Grandpa!"
"Oh? How come I haven't heard that Panlong Mountain ever had such a young Taoist priest?"
A white-bearded Taoist priest, wearing a seven-star crown and wooden clogs, walked down from the other side of the Hummer.
He stroked his beard and sized up Ling Tian, saying proudly, "Moreover, Immortal Master Daoyuan has been in seclusion for a long time and has never announced that he has taken any disciples. Cultivation of the Tao requires accumulation. Even when Immortal Master Daoyuan became famous, he was already nearing forty. Miss Xia, could it be that you are falsely claiming to be a highly accomplished disciple of Immortal Master Daoyuan?"
His words were filled with veiled mockery.
Upon hearing this, Wang Bingxia's uncle became even more enraged, "It's one thing for you to bring this beggar to our doorstep, but you're even expecting him to treat the old man? This is becoming more and more outrageous!"
Before Wang Bingxia could explain, he turned to the Taoist priest and respectfully said, "Master Ye, please come with me to see the old man's condition."
The two walked into the courtyard one after another, with their heads held high.
Wang Bingxia's face turned extremely grim. Ling Tian, however, was unfazed and followed them into the Wang family's courtyard.
Wang Bingxia and Uncle Yi also hurried to catch up.
After several detours, the group finally arrived at the door of the room where the Wang family patriarch was recuperating.
As soon as they entered, they saw a group of people surrounding an old man lying on the bed, breathing faintly.
The white-bearded Taoist priest had already taken out cinnabar-drawn talismans and a peach wood sword, preparing to perform a ritual.
"The old man is afflicted by Yin Sha. As long as this humble Taoist priest dispels it with a Yang Fire Talisman, he will surely recover from danger."
The Taoist priest said confidently.
"Taoist priest, if you can't even distinguish between Yin Sha and Gu Sha, then don't come out to harm people," Ling Tian suddenly interrupted the Taoist priest. "With your method, the moment your Yang Fire Talisman takes effect, it will be when the Gu Sha attacks the old man's heart, and he will die."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the room turned their gaze to Ling Tian.
"Bingxia, why haven't you kicked this brat out yet?" Wang Ershu was stunned at first, then his face filled with disgust as he questioned, "And you're interrupting Master Ye's treatment. What does he know? If you delay the old man's recovery, can you bear the responsibility?"
"He's not a wild kid, he's a disciple of Immortal Master Daoyuan. Grandpa isn't sick, nor is he afflicted by Sha energy, he's been poisoned by Gu!"
Wang Bingxia argued unyieldingly, but none of the surrounding Wang family members believed her.
"Bingxia, don't believe everything you hear from a charlatan you meet on the street."
"That's right, we know you want to save your grandfather, but you can't bring just anyone home."
Some also spoke harshly to Ling Tian.
"Brat, get out! The Wang family is not a place for you to swindle. If you don't leave, we'll call for help!"
Master Ye also raised an eyebrow at this, his expression unfriendly as he said, "Second Master Wang, I came to treat your family's patriarch out of respect for Young Master Bai. But if someone doesn't believe in my abilities, then I won't embarrass myself here. I think this esteemed disciple of an immortal master can completely cure the old man."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and was about to leave.
Wang Ershu grabbed Master Ye tightly and said repeatedly, "It's our Wang family's poor hospitality. Master Ye, please don't be offended. I'll have someone throw this brat out right away."
Ling Tian, however, seemed not to have heard the sarcasm in Master Ye's words, and said with a look of disdain, "Indeed, treating the old man's illness is very simple. It's just that your skills are not good enough."
Master Ye was so angry that he laughed, sneering, "What an arrogant kid. I'll say it here today: if you can cure the old man, I will not only kowtow to you and apologize, but I will also give you all my life's savings!"
"But if you can't, hmph, I want your elders to personally come to my door and kowtow to apologize!"
Ling Tian shook his head, "What use are your broken things to me? You just need to remember to apologize."
"Watch carefully."
With that, he took a step forward and walked towards the Wang patriarch on the bed.
The surrounding Wang family members were all startled and reached out to stop Ling Tian, but he easily dodged them.
In a flash, he flicked his finger, and a silver needle shot straight into the Wang patriarch's forehead. A visible green aura climbed onto the Wang patriarch's pale face.
Ling Tian's hands did not stop. He flicked out silver needles one after another, dazzling the onlookers.
Small lumps bulged under the Wang patriarch's thin and withered skin, moving around, but they were forced by the silver needles to constantly compress their range of movement.
As Ling Tian acted, he explained to the crowd, "Although Gu Sha is a type of Yin Sha, it is more vicious than Yin Sha. It possesses the stealth of Gu and the malevolence of fused Sha energy. If it is dispelled with Yang Fire Talismans, it will only stimulate the ferocity of Gu Sha, causing the Wang patriarch to die from the pain of a thousand insects gnawing at his heart."
As he spoke, the lumps under the Wang patriarch's skin were driven to his lower abdomen, forming a fist-sized bulge that looked extremely terrifying.
Master Ye was speechless upon hearing Ling Tian's explanation, his face extremely grim.
The surrounding Wang family members, seeing Ling Tian speak so plausibly, stopped their attempts to intervene and carefully observed the bizarre scene before them.
Ling Tian withdrew the last silver needle and channeled his internal energy, making a cut on the Wang patriarch's lower abdomen.
The Wang patriarch's skin and flesh broke open at the touch, but no blood gushed out for a moment. A dense mass of Sha energy erupted impatiently. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that it was the image of various poisonous insects intertwined, rushing towards Ling Tian's face.
The Wang family members cried out in alarm.
Ling Tian's expression remained unchanged. He raised his hand and flicked, spitting out a burst of energy from his palm. A pungent, foul odor rose, and a mass of Sha energy was largely incinerated. The remaining bit, coincidentally, flew towards Master Ye.