Chapter 306 — Parting on Bad Terms

"I've been awake for a while now, Grandpa Guan. Do I look like someone who's drunk?" Wei Zhao smiled. Drunk? It was actually rare for Wei Zhao to ever get drunk — ever since he had begun cultivating the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art, his tolerance for alcohol had grown alongside his power.

The old man at home would often drag Wei Zhao along to drink with him — but whenever they were done, it was always Old Man Wei who ended up dead drunk while Wei Zhao remained perfectly fine. This had left Old Man Wei thoroughly exasperated: there was absolutely no pleasure in drinking with someone who couldn't get drunk!

Eventually, Old Man Wei simply forbade Wei Zhao from drinking altogether and made him switch to plain boiled water! The reason was simple enough — he felt Wei Zhao was wasting good liquor. Since drinking wine was the same as drinking water for him, he might as well just drink water.

Guan Xuewen nodded. Wei Zhao certainly did not look drunk. That shakedown just now — he had squeezed the Liu family until they were completely cowed!

Once Wei Zhao had left, Liu Tianyi let out a long sigh and looked at Guan Xuewen with a bitter smile. "Elder Guan, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."

After all, it was Guan Xuewen whom Liu Tianyi had originally turned to for treatment, and now he had suddenly switched to Wei Zhao — that, to some degree, was a slight to Guan Xuewen's face. Wei Zhao had been introduced by Guan Xuewen himself, but still, Liu Tianyi felt the need to explain.

His earlier overly eager attitude toward Wei Zhao had been excessive, and he feared Guan Xuewen might take it the wrong way. Wei Zhao might be a divine physician, but so was Guan Xuewen — and Liu Tianyi dared not lightly offend the latter!

Guan Xuewen waved his hand dismissively. "I'm simply not capable enough, but I still hope my patients get well. Did you know Wei Zhao before?"

"He's the one I mentioned last time — the man who saved my father's life!" Liu Tianyi explained. "That's also why I believe he can cure my father's illness!"

"That's enough, Tianyi!" Liu Zhenhu spoke up at this point. "When you raise the funds, put aside an extra two million for Professor Guan."

"Yes, Father." Liu Tianyi quickly nodded.

"There's no need for a medical fee from me — I never cured your illness, Old Master Liu." Guan Xuewen waved his hand, preparing to decline.

"Regardless of everything, you helped me for so many days — this money is only right!" Liu Zhenhu said. In his view, even if it was merely a referral fee to Guan Xuewen, it was perfectly justified.

"Very well then, I'll accept it." Guan Xuewen considered for a moment. Wei Zhao had just extorted one hundred million in medical fees, true, but he had also set up a company and might well need more money — an extra two million certainly couldn't hurt. So he went ahead and took it.

After a few more exchanges, Liu Tianyi rose to take his leave. It was getting late, and it was clear that Guan Xuewen had also had quite a lot to drink — he couldn't very well disturb the man's rest.

On the drive back, Wu Huiru was startled to hear that Wei Zhao had demanded one hundred million! The Wu family, though quite powerful, belonged to the category of concealed lineages of ancient martial arts and had relatively few commercial holdings — one hundred million would cover the Wu family's expenses for several years!

"Uncle, that Wei Zhao is nothing but a fraud! He's Sun Jingyan's boyfriend — how could he possibly be a divine physician? Don't let him deceive you!" Wu Chengtian was immediately incensed by Wei Zhao's exorbitant demand. If Wei Zhao got one hundred million, what leverage would he have left to compete against him? By then Sun Jingyan probably wouldn't even spare him a glance — and the laughable part was that his own uncle's family had made it all possible!

"Wu Chengtian, what nonsense are you spouting? What do you know? Shut your mouth!" Liu Tianyi was furious at his nephew's sheer ignorance. "Don't you think you've caused enough trouble? You've already offended Divine Physician Wei — do you want to get your Grandpa Liu killed?"

"Hmph! Uncle, I was only trying to help. Since you won't listen, fine — from now on, I won't bother you either!" The stubborn temper of a pampered young master flared up in Wu Chengtian. He was the most promising of the Wu family's younger generation, the one most likely to advance his Iron Hand technique to the Profound Rank, and as such was treated with great respect throughout the clan. When had anyone ever humiliated him like this?

"Xiao Tian! Don't be ridiculous! Apologize to your uncle right now!" Wu Huiru grew anxious and hurriedly tugged at Wu Chengtian's arm.

"Apologize? Hmph!" Wu Chengtian let out a cold laugh. "Aunt, since Uncle clearly looks down on our Wu family, then forget it. Are you coming back to the Wu family with me, or are you staying here?"

"Xiao Tian, stop this!" Wu Huiru had not expected Wu Chengtian to be so furious.

"Fine, Aunt. Since you're already one of the Liu family now, I won't force you!" A flicker of resolve crossed Wu Chengtian's eyes. "Stop the car. I'm getting out."

Liu Tianyi naturally had no intention of indulging Wu Chengtian. He pulled the car over to the side of the road and let out a cold laugh. Since the Wu family boy was too insolent to know when he was being tolerated, he couldn't blame his uncle-in-law for dropping all pretense of courtesy. On other matters, he might have been willing to look the other way — but his father's illness was at stake now, and he would absolutely not give Wu Chengtian the satisfaction of a pleasant face.

The Wu family, hmph. Even if he was a member of the Wu clan, he was still just a junior — and to dare act so brazenly in front of him! Liu Tianyi was already burning with rage. "Wu Huiru, are you going back with him as well?"

"I... I certainly won't go along with Little Tian's foolishness anymore..." Wu Huiru sighed helplessly, knowing that from this day on, a rift between the Wu and Liu families was inevitable. But since she was now a daughter-in-law of the Liu family, she must of course stand on the Liu family's side. That was the fundamental duty of a married woman; to join the Wu family in making trouble would only invite mockery.

She wanted to mediate too, but had no idea how. Wu Chengtian was justifiably angry, and the trouble was that Wei Zhao was Sun Jingyan's boyfriend. On that point alone, Wu Chengtian would never give him a civil look! Yet Wei Zhao was also the one who could save her father-in-law. This business really was hard to smooth over...

"Huiru, go see him off. He is your nephew, after all," said Liu Zhenhu, who had kept silent until now. He did not wish to say anything about the Wu family's affairs; as head of the Liu family, he could not meddle in another family's business.

However the sons and nephews of the Wu family behaved, there were Wu family members to manage them. It was not for outsiders to gossip and carp.

"Yes, Father!" Wu Huiru nodded. She escorted Wu Chengtian out of the car, and after a couple of steps, said in a low voice, "Little Tian, don't do anything rash. That Wei Zhao really is highly skilled in medicine!"

"Aunt, you're taking his side too?" Wu Chengtian snorted in displeasure.

"If you mean to move against him, at least wait until he has cured my father-in-law. To be honest, I'm none too pleased about his outrageous demands either. If you can later win that hundred million back for me, I'm sure your uncle would be glad to see it too!" Wu Huiru whispered.

"Aunt, that's all I needed to hear!" Wu Chengtian was overjoyed. The treatment was only a matter of a few days; after that, he would deal with Wei Zhao himself. So long as the Liu family did not interfere, in Wu Chengtian's eyes, was it not as easy as falling off a log?