Dragon Hermit

Chapter 14: Mammoth Tusks

He had just entered the hospital when a young man donned in branded clothes welcomed them. He greeted Liu Xueer first, Cousin, youre finally back. Everyone has been waiting for you!

Second Cousin, Liu Xueer greeted Dong Quan back and continued walking.

So, youre that Xia Yan, huh? Dong Quan questioned after examining Xia Yan. His obviously rude tone made Liu Xueer furrow her brows.

Xia Yan ignored him and asked her, Whos this guy? Is he talking to me?

You Dong Quan felt as if he had got slapped. His face flushed in anger.

Hes my second cousin, Dong Quan. Although Liu Xueer felt that Dong Quan really had his way of annoying people, she still introduced him to Xia Yan.

Oh, so hes your cousin! Xia Yan acted as if he had come to a realization and asked sincerely, Actually, Im curious about the life of elite people like you. Can you answer a question of mine?

Sure, but we arent as elite as you make us seem. Liu Xueer stated.

To ordinary folks like us, you sure are elite! Xia Yan glanced at Dong Quan then asked her, Your familys industries ought to have been set aside for direct members of the family, right? How much of it can be given to outsiders?

[The fk!]

Dong Quan felt like punching this guy in the face a few times and made it bloom like a flower as Xia Yan had intentionally poked at his sore spot. Dong Quan indeed had some right of inheritance, but it was infinitesimally small, and this was the source of his woe. Now that Xia Yan jabbed at it, he felt evermore grieved.

Even Im clueless about this. Liu Xueer was sweatingbuckets internally. [This guy looks like an average university freshman but is actually two-faced.]

I believe it mustnt be much, right? After all, they arent surnamed Liu. Xia Yan continued with the jabbing.

Dong Quan really wished to tackle him down and give this guy a lesson. But after recalling his great uncles warning, he swallowed his anger and pressed the elevator button silently. All of them entered inside together.

[Aaarggh! Even if I cant get much of it, its still an amount you can never hope to get in your entire lifetime!]

Dong Quan screamed internally yet didnt dare to say it out lest Xia Yan left in annoyance. All blame would fall on him then, and he would lose that tiny bit of inheritance too, leaving him with no tears to cry.

The elevator went straight to the thirty-fifth floor. Xia Yan felt surprised after exiting, Dont they say that even the corridors of the provincial hospital are filled with patients? How come its so desolate here?

This is a special area; ordinary folk cant enter here even if they are loaded. Dong Quan cursed him a bumpkin in his mind as he answered while basking in the sense of superiority.

Oh, Xia Yan nodded and didnt comment on it but recalled his father. [If father had received treatment in such a place, he might have not passed away.]

Xueer! A middle-aged lady exited from a room and forced out a smile after seeing Liu Xueer, calling out to her intimately.

Mom, hows Grandpa now? Liu Xueer asked while hugging the ladys arm.

The doctor said his condition is stable, the same as last night. Luo Xiaojuan patted her daughters hand and welcomed Xia Yans gaze with a smile, This boy must be Xia Yan?All 𝒍𝒂test nov𝒆l𝒔 on novelb𝒊n(.)c𝒐m

Hello. Xia Yan nodded towards her.

Thank you for coming!

Please dont mention it, Im here for the money. Xia Yan stated. He praised Liu Xueers mother for having class in his mind. It seemed like she had a good upbringing.

Only, this was something out of context. Xia Yan had to make things clear that he hadnt come to make friends with the Liu family, nor did he feel obliged to help them. He had just come for the money!

As you say. Luo Xiaojuan wore a steadfast expression and still spoke with a smile, Follow me. Everyones been waiting for you to arrive!

Xia Yan saw Liu Shan and the other members of the Liu family outside the ICU. A lot of them had poor complexions, but fortunately, all of them stayed well-behaved.

Xia Yan, can you cure my father? Liu Shan obviously didnt ask Xia Yan why he had come now, nor did he plan to ask if he had something to do with his fathers illness as this wasnt the time to talk about these things. Curing his father held most precedence at the moment.

Let me have a look first. Xia Yan stated, I want to go in.

Doctor Wang, please allow me and Xia Yan to go inside. Liu Shan told the doctor beside him.

Are you a doctor? Doctor Wang questioned Xia Yan in a displeased tone. [This young man appears to be just a student, what ability does he have to treat the patient?]

Doctor Wang obviously didnt take this well since it was akin to picking a fight with the hospital.

Nope.

How will you treat Old Liu if you arent a doctor? What if you mess up? Who will assume responsibility then? Doctor Wang berated.

Xia Yans expression turned sour. [This old fellows words sound so dubious. If I really cant cure old man Liu, hes definitely planning to shift all blame onto me. He might even report me for practicing medicine without a license or for performing superstitious practices.]

It doesnt matter to me. If you dont want me to go in, I just wont. Xia Yan shrugged his shoulders. He wasnt worried about it at all since he would just lose this opportunity to make money, thats all. Doctor Wang had thought that he would be able to create difficulties for him but didnt expect such a response.

As expected, it was Liu Shan who became anxious. He mediated between them with haste, Doctor Wang, just let him have a look. There shouldnt be any problem with that, right?

Theres no problem if youre just taking a look, but Mr. Liu, I hope you dont fall for tricks in the end. Doctor Wang relaxed a bit after hearing they were just taking a look, but still left some words as a reminder.

Xia Yan soliloquized internally, [Old man, you lack intelligence. Why would I act before coming to an agreement about the price?]

Soon after, Xia Yan and Liu Shan went through the disinfection procedures and entered the ICU.

Elder Liu laid on the sickbed with a lot of tubes going into his body and also many electrodes attached to him. Xia Yan wrinkled his brows as these things could influence his perception regarding the undead elements.

Mr. Liu, ask them to remove all of these first. Xia Yan pointed at the tubes.

What? The nurse and Doctor Wang were both surprised. Before Liu Shan could speak, Doctor Wang raised his voice resentfully, You cannot do that. This will place the patient in a lot of danger! Young man, what evil intentions are you harboring?

Xia Yan, must we do that? Liu Shan also felt unsure about this.

Mr. Liu! Xia Yan didnt answer him and sternly gazed into his eyes, Since you invited me, please believe in me or else I think I should leave right now!

Mr. Liu, since Im responsible for your father, you ought to believe in the hospital! Please believe in science! Doctor Wang also said his piece.

Liu Shan felt like cursing out loud. These two were clearly forcing him to make a stand, but he was stuck in a dilemma.

If it were before, Liu Shan wouldnt have hesitated to believe in Doctor Wang, who was known as the nations best neurologist. But even Doctor Wang had personally stated that it was impossible to cure his father with the current medical attainments. Thats why he wished to place his hope on Xia Yan.

Doctor Wang, why dont you let Xia Yan have a try? After considering things for a moment, Liu Shan finally came to a decision.

Mr. Liu, you Doctor Wang said in a grieved tone, just like a woman abandoned by her husband. Donned in the white doctors uniform, he flung his arm aside but didnt leave the room. He wanted to see what this youth this swindler was planning to do. If Xia Yan messed up and caused Elder Lius death, Doctor Wang believed that Mr. Liu would realize that he should have believed in science

Since Doctor Wang had acquiesced, the tubes and electrodes were removed from Elder Lius body soon. Under everyones gaze, Xia Yan stepped forward and touched the crown of old man Lius head with his finger. He immediately felt a dark power activate, which gave him the same feeling he felt when he picked up that ebony toad yesterday.

This mass of undead element wandered within old man Lius head continuously. Fortunately, it didnt possess a corporeal form, or else old man Lius brain wouldve turned into a mess already.

And this mass of undead element differed from the embodiment that had formed from An Xiaorus Ouija divination. Although it had also invaded An Xiaorus brain, it was after all formed from the convergence of free undead elements in the void and lacked stability. Hence, Xia Yan had received it with ease using his Soul Storage Horcrux. However, the undead elements inside old man Lius brain had a stable structure and appeared to have some kind of cohesive properties binding them together. They had already become a substance now.

This seems like Xia Yan analyzed this mass of undead element prudently and matched it with a faint memory from the Lichs memory. He scoured the memories with deep thought and felt shaken, astonishment overcoming his expression.

This resembles a magic circle!

Magic circles were an essential piece from the Lichs memory. They allowed the caster to create a strong magic effect while utilizing minimal magic power. Hence, magic circles were vital knowledge that each mage had to learn conscientiously.

No matter how much this mass of undead element transformed its shape, on the inside, it always maintained an unchanging, formless existence. However, Xia Yan didnt think it was a magic circle as it differed too much from the magic circles in his memory. Moreover, it also didnt seem like it had formed naturally.

[Does this world have others that know magic?] [Or are there people who possess mystical powers similar to magic?]

Xia Yans heart filled with doubts, but he also felt somewhat excited, as if he had found a kindred person.

After analyzing the mass again, Xia Yan had already formulated a plan, so he moved his finger away from old man Lius head.

How is it? Can you cure him? Liu Shan asked hastily.

Lets talk outside.

Hah! Lets see what lies you cook up! Doctor Wang harrumphed coldly. He didnt believe that a single finger could replace instruments like CT scanners and X-Ray machines. [Kid, do you think youre some immortal from fiction?]

Xia Yan, hows my fathers condition? Can you cure him? After leaving the ICU, Liu Shan questioned Xia Yan impatiently.

Its a little troublesome, but Xia Yan paused here and looked at the eager expressions of everyone surrounding him with a smile, Its curable!

You can really cure him? Liu Shan asked again.

Since I said its curable, I can naturally do it!

Whats the source of Old Lius illness? How did you discover it? Doctor Wang interrupted at this moment in a peeved tone.

The source? You wouldnt believe it even if I told you. Why dont you just consider it as a case of the patient suffering from biomagnetic disturbance? This sounds rather scientific. Xia Yan chuckled.

A load of bullshit! Doctor Wang panted with rage.

Xia Yan, how do you plan to cure him? Liu Shan didnt bother with Doctor Wang. Since Xia Yan was sure about the cure, his heart finally felt a bit at ease now. [Even if he turns out to be a swindler, as long as he doesnt injure Father, I have to let him have a try.]

I need Mr. Liu to prepare some materials for the treatment. Xia Yan stated.

What do you need? Just say the word, and Ill have it ready!

Its quite simple. I just need two mammoth tusks. Xia Yan stated while raising two fingers.