Chapter 617: Luo Tian Treats a Patient

“Hmph, you unruly commoner from the Broken Ring. You look honest enough on a normal day, but you’re actually cunning and deceitful.”

“Ten stalks of Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng are worth over four hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins. If you hand over the money you got from selling the Spiritual Materials, I might go easy on you this time!”

The long-bearded old man reprimanded coldly.

“Teacher, I really didn’t steal the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng.”

Mu Qingqing’s eyes welled with tears as she pleaded helplessly.

“You were in charge of that Spiritual Materials Land! Even if you didn’t steal them, you’re still responsible!”

The long-bearded old man’s voice was sharp and severe.

After speaking, he raised the long whip in his hand.

The classroom fell silent. Many students wore expressions of pity, but two young men looked on as if enjoying a good show.

Just then, a female student stood up and said through clenched teeth, “Teacher, Mu Qingqing didn’t steal the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng. The You Family Brothers did.”

Many students looked at the female student in astonishment, shaking their heads and sighing. Their eyes were filled with pity.

“Zi Qing, what nonsense are you spouting?”

One of the two men who had been enjoying the show, a burly fellow, shouted.

“Teacher Fei, Zi Qing is slandering us without any reason. We ask you to uphold justice for us.”

The younger of the You brothers put on an innocent expression.

“Zi Qing, you claim the You Family Brothers stole the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng. What evidence do you have?”

The long-bearded old man, Master Fei, asked in a heavy voice.

“I saw it with my own eyes.”

Zi Qing’s gaze was clear and determined.

“If you’re going to say that, then I can also say I saw you steal the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng with my own eyes,” the younger You brother retorted.

“Teacher Fei, I suspect that Zi Qing and Mu Qingqing must have conspired to steal the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng,” the elder You brother stated as if it were a fact.

“Zi Qing, come here. Kneel!”

Master Fei said indifferently.

Zi Qing’s expression stiffened.

Many of the students looked on with sympathy. The You Family Brothers came from a Noble Family of physicians. Their family had connections with Master Fei, and the pair were also his most favored students.

Because of this, the You Family Brothers usually idled about and often bullied other students, who could only endure it.

Even if the You Family Brothers really did something wrong, Master Fei would not punish them severely.

Besides, Mu Qingqing’s Cultivation was low, and she was from the Broken Ring.

Zi Qing was also the least talented of all of Master Fei’s students.

No student present was surprised by this outcome. They only thought Zi Qing was being foolish for sticking her neck out for Mu Qingqing.

“Are you going to hurry up and kneel?” Master Fei shouted coldly.

Zi Qing’s small frame trembled. She walked in front of Master Fei and knelt.

“Hmph, one a thief, the other a baseless rumormonger. Today, I will punish you both severely and make an example of you!”

Master Fei snorted coldly, and the long whip fell.

“Ah!”

A bloody welt was drawn across Zi Qing’s back. She trembled violently, tears in her eyes.

Then, Master Fei looked at Mu Qingqing and swung the long whip!

“Stop!”

A cold shout suddenly came from outside the door!

Master Fei heard it, but his expression remained indifferent. His movements didn’t pause in the slightest; instead, he lashed out even more ferociously!

WHOOSH!

The long whip whistled through the air, but it never landed. A powerful hand had caught it.

Master Fei stared at the person who had stopped him and said coolly, “You are also a Mentor of the Wuji Saint Institute. You should be well aware of the Saint Institute’s rules. Please do not interfere with me disciplining my own student!”

The person who stopped him was none other than Luo Tian, who had just arrived.

“I have nothing to say about disciplining a student. But that’s only on the condition that the student is actually in the wrong,” Luo Tian said coldly.

As he was approaching, he had heard the voices from within the classroom and gotten a general idea of the situation.

‘There’s no way Mu Qingqing would ever do something like steal.’

Master Fei frowned. ‘This new Mentor, Luo Tian, is so young! Not only did he stop me from disciplining a student, he even dares to question me!’

“I have already investigated. They are the ones in the wrong. Let go!” Master Fei’s expression was severe.

Luo Tian couldn’t help but shake his head.

‘This Master Fei has too much of a temper. He disposes of and punishes students as he pleases, according to his own preferences.’

‘He might be a famous Physician with knowledge and skill, but he is not a qualified Mentor!’

Luo Tian slowly released his grip.

A smile appeared on Master Fei’s face. ‘So Luo Tian knows his place after all.’

But suddenly…

SHHNK!

Luo Tian’s hand became a blade, and with a single swipe, a brilliant golden light flashed out.

The long whip in Master Fei’s hand was sliced clean in two by Luo Tian’s palm.

The scene fell silent.

This turn of events was too sudden, too shocking.

‘This young Master Luo… is he that fierce?’

Mu Qingqing’s eyes widened, her small mouth slightly agape.

Luo Tian smiled faintly and patted her on the head.

‘I promised I would take good care of Mu Qingqing. How could I let her suffer a false accusation and corporal punishment right in front of me?’

“Master Luo, what is the meaning of this?”

Master Fei’s face was contorted with rage. He threw the other half of the long whip to the ground and bellowed, “You are a Mentor of the Celestial Blade Institute, but this is the Grass and Wood Institute! Don’t get too arrogant!”

Luo Tian ignored Master Fei and said to Mu Qingqing, “Qingqing, choose a new mentor.”

“Okay!”

Mu Qingqing nodded.

Her days under Master Fei had not been easy.

She came from a shelter in the Broken Ring and was filled with awe for everything in the Wuji Saint Institute, so she had endured it all.

But Mu Qingqing was more inclined to listen to Luo Tian.

“Mu Qingqing, you dare!” Master Fei roared.

When a student chose a new mentor, it also damaged the reputation of the original one.

Moreover, Luo Tian’s actions today had infuriated Master Fei. He would absolutely not let Mu Qingqing and Luo Tian off easily.

“In the Grass and Wood Institute, my word carries a lot of weight! And your talent is merely average. With just a single command from me, no mentor in the Grass and Wood Institute will take you as a student!” Master Fei’s expression was haughty and arrogant.

“Then transfer institutes and become my student,” Luo Tian said calmly.

‘At least if Mu Qingqing becomes my student, I can take good care of her, and she won’t have to suffer this kind of injustice.’

“Become your student? Do you understand pharmacology? Do you know the ways of medicine? You would be completely ruining Mu Qingqing’s future!” Master Fei sneered.

“That’s none of your concern.”

Luo Tian couldn’t be bothered with him and prepared to leave with Mu Qingqing.

Just then, a middle-aged man with a square face arrived at Master Fei’s classroom.

“What’s going on here?” the square-faced middle-aged man asked in a deep voice.

Luo Tian was momentarily stunned.

‘I recognize this square-faced man. It’s the Director of Junior Tutors for the Celestial Blade Institute!’

Luo Tian had only seen the Director of Junior Tutors for the Celestial Blade Institute once before, during a Junior Tutor meeting when the new students were being admitted.

‘But what is the Director doing here?’

“Director, it’s like this. Master Luo, in his arrogance and ignorance, interrupted me while I was disciplining my student and is now trying to ruin a student’s future…”

Master Fei saw the Director, and the corners of his mouth curled up. He squinted at Luo Tian as he slowly recounted his version of events.

“Director, that’s not what happened.”

Luo Tian tried to explain.

‘I can ignore Master Fei, but this Director of Junior Tutors for the Celestial Blade Institute is my superior.’

“Master Luo, enough of this nonsense!” the Director shouted coldly.

The Director was clearly on Master Fei’s side.

Master Fei smiled smugly.

‘My power is inferior to Luo Tian’s; at the very least, I couldn’t have so easily snapped that long whip.’

But he was a Physician. In terms of status, he was higher than many Junior Tutors and had extensive connections within the Saint Institute.

Everyone gets injured eventually, and anyone who accepted Master Fei’s treatment was essentially in his debt.

As it happened, this very Director of Junior Tutors for the Celestial Blade Institute was one of Master Fei’s patients and was undergoing long-term treatment from him.

“Master Luo, didn’t you want Mu Qingqing to become your student? I’m not an unreasonable person. If you understand some pharmacology and are qualified to be Mu Qingqing’s teacher, I certainly won’t stop you!”

“I just don’t want to see you ruin her,” Master Fei said, his voice full of righteous, high-sounding words.

“What if I say I do understand some pharmacology?” Luo Tian asked.

“Perfect. As long as you can clearly describe the Director’s illness and propose a solution, I will believe you, and I won’t stop Mu Qingqing from choosing a new mentor or transferring institutes.”

Master Fei’s smile was thick with cunning.

‘The moment I saw the Director from the Celestial Blade Institute, I came up with this idea—to dig a pit for Luo Tian to fall into. After all, Luo Tian is a Mentor from the Celestial Blade Institute. If he makes a fool of himself here, the Director will certainly be displeased, and Luo Tian’s life will become difficult from then on.’

Luo Tian thought for a moment and said, “I can give it a try.”

Master Fei was a little surprised.

‘Luo Tian actually agreed just like that?’

A smile spread across Master Fei’s face as he immediately added, “Hold on. If you can’t do it, or if you can’t diagnose the Director’s illness, you must apologize to me, compensate for the Blood Jade Spirit Ginseng that Mu Qingqing ‘stole,’ and promise to never again interfere with me disciplining my students.”

“Fine. But if I succeed, Master Fei, you must apologize to Mu Qingqing,” Luo Tian stated his own condition.

“No problem,” Master Fei agreed without hesitation.

‘It took me over ten days of careful examination to figure out the condition of the Celestial Blade Institute’s Director of Junior Tutors. The treatment process is also very troublesome; the Director comes every month for check-ups and treatment. If Luo Tian can figure it out with just one glance and even provide a treatment plan, then I’ve truly seen a ghost!’

“Master Luo, if you apologize to Master Fei now, I believe he will let bygones be bygones,” the Director said in a sincere and earnest tone.

‘Luo Tian is, after all, a Mentor from the Celestial Blade Institute. If he admits his mistake and apologizes now, I’m willing to help smooth things over.’

“There’s no need. Director, I am already clear on your condition,” Luo Tian shook his head slightly and then stated calmly.

“…What?”

The Director was stunned for a moment before he processed what was said.

A physician’s diagnosis involves observation, listening, questioning, and palpation.

‘Luo Tian only glanced at me a few times, performed no examinations, and asked no questions, and his diagnosis is already complete? This is so unprofessional!’

The Director would never believe that Luo Tian could accurately describe his condition.

Master Fei beamed.

‘The bet,’ he thought, ‘is already won!’