Volume 1, Chapter 2: The Master Has Returned

"Fine, I'll take it off!"

The woman’s lips were pressed tight, two trails of tears rolling down from the corners of her eyes. Right in front of Chen Fan, she began to remove her clothes.

But in the next second, Chen Fan waved his hand impatiently. "Enough, I was just teasing you. You woman, how could you actually take it seriously?"

Teasing?
Playing with me?
Is this how people tease?

The woman was both angry and mortified, but not daring to say anything more, she gritted her teeth and invited Chen Fan into the car.

On the journey back, Chen Fan learned about Liu Yanran's situation. She was the eldest daughter of the Liu family in Jincheng.

Half an hour later, the car drove into a villa halfway up the mountain.

"Mr. Chen, we have arrived."

Liu Yanran led Chen Fan toward the villa. The atmosphere inside was oppressive and heavy. The renowned doctors hired at great expense by the Liu family all expressed that their skills were insufficient to cure the old master of the Liu family.

One old man even sighed, "Manager Liu, please make arrangements for the funeral. I fear Old Master Liu will not last through the night."

"Is... is there really no other way?"

The gathered doctors fell into a heavy silence.

Just then, a sigh echoed through the room: "Has the medical dao of China really fallen so low that it cannot even cure such a minor ailment?"

The medical dao fallen? A minor ailment?

The faces of the famous doctors darkened as they realized the person spouting such arrogant words was a mere youth. This person was none other than Chen Fan.

"Who are you, and how did you get into my Liu residence?"

"Dad, Mr. Chen is someone I specially invited to treat Grandfather."

Liu Yanran hurriedly stepped forward to explain, which made Liu Mingshan furrow his brows. "Nonsense! Even these renowned doctors are at their wits' end regarding your grandfather’s illness. What ability could a greenhorn like him possibly have?"

It was no wonder Liu Mingshan was skeptical; in most people’s minds, the older the doctor, the greater their skill, as the art of healing requires years of accumulated experience.

"I have practiced medicine for decades, and by the time I was saving lives, this boy probably hadn't even been born yet. Miss Liu, don't be fooled by this kid; there are many con artists these days."

"Indeed, Miss Liu, you must not be deceived. Old Master Liu’s body cannot withstand any more turmoil."

Just then, one of the doctors' phones rang. He glanced at it and beamed with joy. "Old Master Liu is saved! Young Master Qian has invited the Divine Doctor Sun!"

Liu Mingshan asked excitedly, "Do you mean the elusive Divine Doctor Sun Miao, the one-star master of the Hall of Famous Doctors known for his 'miraculous hands that bring the dying back to life'?"

"Exactly, it is Divine Doctor Sun Miao. It seems Young Master Qian truly has a deep affection for Miss Liu to have invited such a master."

"Indeed, one must realize that a one-star master is not someone you can hire just with money."

The three doctors present were all employed by Young Master Qian. They dreamed of joining the Hall of Famous Doctors, but becoming a member was no easy feat.

In the Hall of Famous Doctors, one star is the lowest rank, and five stars is the highest. Anyone registered as a doctor in the Hall enjoys privileges unavailable to others and receives the protection of the organization.

Once, a powerful tycoon killed a one-star doctor in a fit of rage. The Hall of Famous Doctors was furious; they dispatched experts who slaughtered the tycoon and all his subordinates overnight, hanging their bodies for three days as a warning to others.

Just then, someone outside shouted, "Divine Doctor Sun has arrived!"

Hearing this, everyone swarmed out to welcome Sun Miao.

Although Sun Miao was over sixty, he maintained his health well, looking quite young and full of vitality. Following behind him was a young man—Young Master Qian, Qian Youliang.

"Divine Doctor Sun! Young Master Qian!"

Everyone greeted them respectfully. Sun Miao, full of arrogance, merely nodded slightly in response.

Qian Youliang saw Liu Yanran, and a flash of greed crossed his eyes. "Yanran, with Divine Doctor Sun taking action, Old Master Liu’s illness will surely be cured. Don't worry. I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've grown thin!"

"Hey, are you done chatting? I don't have time to waste here," Chen Fan said, his tone growing irritable. "Are you going to save him or not? Give me a straight answer."

"Who is this brat?" Qian Youliang was displeased that someone dared to speak that way to his woman.

Someone spoke up, "Young Master Qian, this kid somehow tricked Miss Liu into saying he could cure Old Master Liu."

"He's got some nerve, scamming people right here," Qian Youliang said, a cold glint in his eyes. "Kid, break your own arm, and I’ll let you live."

"Young Master Qian, he..." Liu Yanran tried to explain, but Qian Youliang cut her off. "Yanran, I know you are kind-hearted, but for a con artist like this, if we don't teach him a lesson, he will only continue to harm others."

"Young Master Qian is truly broad-minded. If it were me, I’d have skinned this brat alive."

"Kid, hurry up and kneel! Thank Young Master Qian for his mercy!"

The gathered doctors had long disliked Chen Fan. Now that they had a chance to stomp him into the ground while simultaneously flattering Qian Youliang, they wouldn't let it pass.

"Insolent!"

Sun Miao, who had been silent and aloof, suddenly roared, "A bunch of blind fools! How dare you be so disrespectful to Master Chen!"

Sun Miao then stepped toward Chen Fan and bowed respectfully. "Student Sun Miao pays his respects to Master Chen!"

Everyone was stunned. The famous two-star Divine Doctor Sun Miao was bowing so deeply to an unknown youth.

"Divine Doctor Sun, this guy is just a con artist, why are you..." Qian Youliang could not fathom why Sun Miao would be so deferential to someone like Chen Fan.

Sun Miao’s face darkened, and he shouted angrily, "If you dare to speak disrespectfully to Master Chen again, don't blame me for turning against you!"

"You know me?" Chen Fan was surprised. He did not recognize Sun Miao and wondered why the man called himself a student.

Sun Miao felt a pang of disappointment that Master Chen did not remember him. He then said, "Master Chen, do you remember saving someone in the Shennongjia mountains three years ago?"

Three years ago, he had been hunted by enemies and fled to Shennongjia. He was severely wounded and thought he was going to die, only to be saved by a young man. Under that youth’s guidance, his medical skills had improved by leaps and bounds, allowing him to become a one-star doctor in the Hall of Famous Doctors. To Sun Miao, Chen Fan was not only his savior but also his mentor.

"Ah, it’s little Sun!" Chen Fan chuckled. "You shaved off your beard, so I didn't recognize you."

"So, he is an old acquaintance of Divine Doctor Sun." Qian Youliang, a man who knew how to bend when necessary, immediately apologized upon hearing the connection. "I apologize for the offense earlier; I hope Mr. Chen will not take it to heart."

The other doctors followed suit, offering apologies, though purely out of deference to Sun Miao.

"I don't blame you," Chen Fan said indifferently. "Go ahead and break your own arm to atone for your sins."

"Thank you..." Qian Youliang started, but then realized what he said. His face turned ugly. "You want me to break my own arm?"

"Is there a problem?" Chen Fan found it perfectly fair; he was simply returning the favor. He didn't look for trouble, but he certainly didn't fear it.

"Kid, don't push your luck. My father is Qian Hu. In this Jincheng, who dares to bully me?" Qian Youliang said coldly. "Don't think that just because Sun Miao is backing you, you can spout such nonsense."

Chen Fan, who had been calm until now, felt a chill fill his eyes at the mention of the name Qian Hu. "You are Qian Hu’s son?"

"What, are you scared?" Qian Youliang was smug. In Jincheng, who wouldn't give him face when they heard his father's name?

"Master Chen, Qian Hu is a two-star general and the right-hand man of the Hall Master of the Warrior Hall. He has vast connections in Jincheng," Sun Miao whispered, not wanting Chen Fan to offend the Qian family over such a trifle. "I think it’s better to let this go."

Chen Fan did not speak; he let his actions demonstrate his stance.

"Go back and tell Qian Hu that his master has returned."

He brought two fingers together and flicked them, unleashing a sharp sword aura that instantly severed Qian Youliang’s left arm. "Remember, my name is Chen Fan!"

Ten years ago, Qian Hu was nothing but a dog of the Chen family. Now, the dog’s son dared to bare his fangs at the master.