Medical and Martial God

Chapter 276: All of This Was Manipulated by Ye Xiu

"Mhm!"

Seeing that her words had ’enlightened’ Ye Xiu, Bao Niannian was brimming with a sense of accomplishment and was incredibly happy.

"Alright, let’s go see what your grandfather is serving Shen Qilin for dinner," Ye Xiu said.

"Daddy, carry me! Daddy, carry me!"

Little Bao threw his arms open and shouted. He was too young to grasp the concept of life and death, so he was not frightened by the corpses strewn across the ground, nor was he traumatized by the sight of Ye Xiu killing people.

"Don’t call me ’daddy.’ Call me ’Big Brother.’"

Ye Xiu corrected him but still picked up Little Bao.

"Big Pot."

"Heh heh..."

「Songhe Tower!」

This was a very famous, time-honored restaurant on Qingfeng Road. Their Squirrel Mandarin Fish was one of a kind.

In an antique and elegant private room, Bao Longtu sat grim-faced in the host’s seat. Beside him sat a gentle, refined old man with an ethereal bearing. He was the mediator Bao Longtu had invited—Xu Tingbai, Xu Fengmei’s father.

"My dear in-law, no need to worry. With me stepping in, the Shen Family will surely return Niannian and Little Bao safe and sound," Xu Tingbai said with a confident smile.

"I hope so," Bao Longtu replied with a wry smile.

"HAHAHA..."

Just then, a loud laugh erupted from outside the private room. Shen Qilin pushed the door open, laughing as he entered. "My little brother Ye Xiu’s medical skills are indeed unparalleled! After his treatment, Elder Bao looks younger and more robust..."

His words trailed off as he noticed Xu Tingbai. "Oh? Elder Xu is here as well? When did you arrive on Qingfeng Road?"

Shen Qilin was inwardly quite surprised. The Xu Family was a major clan in Lingjin City and the leader of the Lingjin Ancient Martial Circle. Xu Tingbai’s daughter, Xu Fengmei, was married to Bao Longtu’s son, Bao Yadong. It was precisely because of this connection that he wanted to form an alliance with the Bao Family.

"I haven’t seen my daughter for many days and miss her a great deal, so I came to visit her today since I had the time," Xu Tingbai said, rising with a smile. "When I heard that Elder Bao was inviting Elder Shen for a meal, I decided to come along, as I haven’t seen Elder Shen in a long time either."

"Elder Shen, please, take a seat. We’re all familiar with each other here, no need for formalities," Bao Longtu said, rising to his feet and inviting him with a smile. At his age, he had long since become shrewd enough not to let his emotions show on his face.

"Of course, of course!"

Shen Qilin sat down and said, "Now that I think about it, it must have been five years since I last saw Elder Xu, right?"

"About that," Xu Tingbai nodded.

The three old men began to make small talk as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other for years, but none of them took the initiative to bring up Bao Niannian and Little Bao.

Soon, the food was served.

Bao Longtu poured wine for Shen Qilin, Xu Tingbai, and himself, then raised his glass. "Elder Shen, Niannian is young and impetuous, and she has offended the Shen Family. After this drink, I ask that you—for both my sake and Elder Xu’s—allow Niannian and Little Bao to return home."

Seeing Bao Longtu broach the subject, Xu Tingbai also stood up with his glass. "Niannian is my granddaughter, and I’m very fond of that child, Little Bao, as well. It’s not easy for me to make a trip to Qingfeng Road, so Elder Shen, could you please give me a chance to see them?"

They both adopted a very humble posture, not uttering a single harsh word and affording Shen Qilin a great deal of respect.

"What are you two talking about? I’m afraid I don’t understand," Shen Qilin said, feigning confusion. "Niannian and Little Bao are part of the Bao Family. Why are you asking me?"

Bao Longtu and Xu Tingbai inwardly cursed Shen Qilin for his shamelessness. The conversation had already reached this point, yet he was still playing dumb.

Bao Longtu asked, "Elder Shen, you don’t know?"

"Know what?" Shen Qilin continued to feign ignorance.

"It seems Elder Shen is truly unaware. It’s not a big deal, really. Some junior from the Shen Family had a small conflict with Niannian and took her and Little Bao away," Bao Longtu explained.

"Such a thing happened?" Shen Qilin pretended to be surprised, taking out his phone. "Elders, please wait a moment while I make a call!"

He then made a call right there in front of Bao Longtu and Xu Tingbai. A moment later, apparently having clarified the situation, he said apologetically, "I am truly sorry, Elder Bao. It was that scoundrel Shen Sijun who did it."

"Elder Shen, you need not apologize," Bao Longtu said with a slight smile. "Now that we know it was Shen Sijun, I hope that you, for my sake, will let Niannian and Little Bao return home."

"I’m afraid Shen Sijun won’t listen to me," Shen Qilin said, pretending to be in a difficult position. "You see, Elders, my son, Shen Shihao, was injured by someone. Shen Sijun heard that the man who hurt Shihao was Little Bao’s father. That’s why he took Niannian and Little Bao; he wants to kill Little Bao’s father to get revenge for Shihao.

"For a son to avenge his father is natural and just. I can’t very well stop him. Besides, Shen Sijun is so furious right now that he won’t listen to anyone when it comes to avenging Shihao."

These words effectively silenced Bao Longtu and Xu Tingbai. My grandson is avenging my son. It is not appropriate for you two to interfere.

"Little Bao’s father?" Bao Longtu feigned ignorance and asked, "I don’t even know who Little Bao’s father is. How would Shen Sijun know?"

"Could Shen Sijun have misunderstood something?" Xu Tingbai asked.

"There’s no misunderstanding," Shen Qilin insisted. "This morning, Shen Sijun went for breakfast and happened to see Niannian and Little Bao eating with the culprit. Little Bao even called the man ’daddy.’ There’s no mistaking it."

"A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding indeed!" Bao Longtu feigned a bitter smile. "Elder Shen, that man is not Little Bao’s father. He is the Xuanse Medicine King, Ye Xiu."

This wasn’t a betrayal of Ye Xiu. Rather, Bao Longtu wanted to first sever the perceived connection between Ye Xiu, Bao Niannian, and her son. He would secure their return first, and then join forces with Ye Xiu to deal with the Shen Family.

"What?"

Shen Qilin shot to his feet, exclaiming in shock, "Elder Bao, you mustn’t lie to me. Is that young man really Ye Xiu?"

"He is," Bao Longtu said. "Elder Shen, you helped clear Ye Xiu’s name, so your relationship with him must be quite good. You can call him and verify it yourself."

This was a clear checkmate. You boasted about being close with Ye Xiu. Let’s see you talk your way out of this one.

Shen Qilin was mortified. He had never expected his own bluff would come back to bite him so unexpectedly. However, he was too shocked to care about losing face. The realization that Ye Xiu was the same young man Shen Songshan had called a peerless genius terrified him.

At that moment, a chilling realization washed over him, connecting a series of events in his mind.

First, Ye Xiu had stolen Lian Zhengrong’s thunder in the bar by playing the hero, killing Lian Zhengrong’s Great Grandmaster bodyguard, and forcing Lian Zhengrong to perform a striptease in public.

The next day, he appeared in Shen Shijie’s gallery, broke Shen Mufan’s wrist, and then allowed Shen Shihao to take him to the Lian Family without a fight. There, he kicked Lian Zhengrong to death and stole Lian Chengbi, triggering the Lian Family’s full-scale attack on the Shen Family.

While the Shen and Lian Families were at war, Ye Xiu brought Shen Monong home and publicly refused to forgive Shen Shihao.

After that, the Poison King vanished, and that night, Ye Xiu killed Shen Tiangao in the restaurant.

Then, just this morning, he publicly humiliated Shen Sijun.

All of it... none of it was Rouran. It had all been orchestrated by Ye Xiu himself.