Chapter 717 — Even the Gods Cannot Save Him

Uncle Zhu was astonished beyond measure. Only now did he realize that his defeat had been no injustice — his opponent was a master physician whose skill was in no way inferior to Dr. Wang's. And what of that man? Was he not alive and kicking?

"So what do we do now?" Li Cihua asked.

"For the moment, there is nothing to be done," Dr. Wang said, shaking his head. "Unless someone can, in the very instant I draw out the needles, disperse that surge of true qi inside Li Dilei's body. Otherwise, once it spreads, it will wreak terrible havoc on his body and his meridians."

"This..." Li Cihua's expression turned grim. If even Dr. Wang had no solution, was there any hope left for Li Dilei? The silver needles in his body could stay in for a day, or two, but they could not stay in forever. Judging by where the needles were placed, once they were all drawn out, Li Dilei's whole body would likely be dead and necrotic — he would not survive at all.

"Whoever tied the bell must be the one to untie it. He and I belong to different sects, so our methods of doing harm differ as well. I do not understand the techniques of his sect — in this matter, I truly am powerless." Dr. Wang laid all the blame on his not being of Wei Zhao's sect: his inability to undo the work was not because he was incompetent, but because every sect had its own methods.

"Dr. Wang, do you mean I should go find Wei Zhao?" Li Cihua's expression was odd. Was there any use in going to Wei Zhao now? Their hatred for one another was irreconcilable — where was there any room for resolution?

"Or else I could ask the people of my sect and see whether they have a way," Dr. Wang said.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Dr. Wang." Li Cihua thanked him hurriedly. If there was even a thread of hope, he was unwilling to go begging to Wei Zhao, for going to Wei Zhao was essentially the same as inviting humiliation upon himself.

"I can only ask, that's all. After all, different sects study different directions," Dr. Wang said — a remark meant to cover for his own sect.

"I understand!" Li Cihua nodded.

With that, Dr. Wang went to call his sect and consult them. But his sect had no proper solution either: first, they had not seen Li Dilei in person, and second, it was the first time they had ever heard of such a technique.

"How is it?" Seeing that Dr. Wang had finished his call, Li Cihua asked hurriedly. Li Dilei too wore a look of eager hope.

"There is a way, but it cannot be carried out..." Dr. Wang would not come right out and say there was no solution — that would make his sect look far too incompetent.

"Cannot be carried out? No matter how difficult, as long as it can save Li Dilei's life..." Li Cihua said hurriedly. "Whatever you need, Dr. Wang, just say the word!"

"It requires a skilled hand of Earth rank or above to, at the very instant I draw out the needles, swiftly circulate his internal energy and disperse the true qi inside Li Dilei's body," Dr. Wang said. "But this would consume a great deal of that person's true qi. Ordinarily, no one would risk a drop in their own strength to do such a thing."

What Dr. Wang described was a fairly common method, but when it came to actually doing it, no one would take the risk. After all, whose strength was not won through bitter cultivation? Why waste one's own true qi for an outsider? Would that not be the act of a fool?

Dr. Wang's words were like a basin of cold water, and Li Cihua's temper vanished in an instant. Earth-rank masters — where was he to find one? Even Profound-rank practitioners were rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, let alone Earth-rank. And even if he found one, what connection did such a person have to Li Dilei? How could a stranger possibly risk dropping a rank to save Li Dilei's life?

Li Cihua truly did not want to go to Wei Zhao, but he could not simply stand by and watch his cousin die, could he?

"Cousin, why don't you go find Wei Zhao? Whether it works or not, we have to try. If he refuses to help, then I die, and that's that — blame my ill fortune..." Li Dilei had not a single thought of revenge. And why not? Even Young Master Bing had been crippled by Wei Zhao. What was he but a scrap of nothing? With his own strength, seeking revenge on Wei Zhao was nonsense. If Wei Zhao were so easily avenged upon, would Young Master Bing still be sitting in that wheelchair?

Li Cihua thought this over and found it made sense. He could not help glancing at Young Master Bing — after all, Young Master Bing's grudge against Wei Zhao ran deep. If he now went to beg Wei Zhao, would that not amount to showing weakness?

"Dilei has done plenty for the Zhao family over the years. I can't just watch him die," Young Master Bing said, waving a hand. "Just pretend I know nothing about it. It will also serve as a chance to sound Wei Zhao out!"

It had to be said that Young Master Bing was very good at winning hearts. This was also why Zhong and his son gave their lives to serve him. Without spending a single cent, he had handed Li Cihua and Li Dilei a favor.

Li Cihua and Li Dilei were indeed moved to tears of gratitude. Li Cihua said, "Thank you, Young Master Bing! My cousin and I are truly fortunate to be able to serve you!"

"Enough. Hurry off and find Wei Zhao. In the future, just earn more money for the Zhao family and for me — that's worth more than anything," Young Master Bing said with a wave of his hand. Inwardly, his hatred for Wei Zhao deepened another layer, and he pondered how to snuff out this menace Wei Zhao in one stroke! Best of all with a single fatal blow, leaving him no chance to strike back!

Otherwise, with a dangerous figure like Wei Zhao in Songshan City, he would be hobbled in everything he did. He did not even know how he had run into Wei Zhao. If he took another blow from him, would he even live to tell of it?

Li Cihua did not dare delay either. He dialed Wei Zhao's number straight away. Wei Zhao's number was no secret — it was easy enough to look up — and Li Cihua had learned it from An Liwen long ago.

Wei Zhao, Gu Mengyao, Shen Yushu, and Tang Zhi had just gotten into the car when his phone began to ring. He picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" Wei Zhao answered.

"Wei Zhao? This is Li Cihua." Though Li Cihua was seething inside, his surface manner was perfectly composed.

"Oh, Brother Cihua. What can I do for you?" Hearing Li Cihua's even tone, Wei Zhao inquired just as mildly, as though he had no idea why Li Cihua might be calling.

Yet that "Brother Cihua" landed on Li Cihua's ear as something close to mockery. Did Wei Zhao have any need to call him brother? It seemed he plainly did not.

This was only the second time Li Cihua had spoken with Wei Zhao directly. The first had been at the Geli Fuyun Bar, where he had tried both threats and bribes, only for Wei Zhao to pay him no mind at all and, in passing, to finish off two Yellow-rank experts at his side — a loss that had cost Li Cihua dearly.

"Enough. Let's speak plainly, no games. My cousin Li Dilei's injuries — you did that, didn't you?" Li Cihua simply dropped the pretense; the feud between himself and Wei Zhao could no longer be reconciled.

"He's hurt? When I left, he was hopping about as lively as could be." Wei Zhao smiled. "By the way, you didn't stupidly pull the silver needles out of him, did you? That would be a shame — not even a god could save him then."