2026-04-08 07:19:43"This is a trick." Doctor Sun pointed a trembling finger at the little girl.
The underground cavern fell into a stunned silence. The dying child now sat upright in the dirt. She chewed happily on a piece of dried fruit her weeping mother handed her.
Doctor Sun stared at the healthy flush on the child's cheeks. He realized he just lost his money, his reputation and his career in a single moment.
He needed to change the narrative.
"That is not medicine." Doctor Sun backed away and shouted to the crowd. "It is dark sorcery."
Ye Tian stood up slowly and dusted off his trousers. "Are you denying the results of your own wager?"
"He used an evil illusion to stimulate her dying nerves." Doctor Sun pointed frantically at the black puddle on the floor. "Look at that toxic sludge. True medicine heals. It does not produce demonic acid."
Several young men in white coats pushed their way to the front of the crowd. They were the loyal apprentices of Doctor Sun. They glared at Ye Tian.
"You heard the Master." The lead apprentice sneered and cracked his knuckles. "You used black magic to fool our eyes."
The merchants in the crowd began murmuring in agreement. They depended on Doctor Sun for their livelihood. They prepared to gang up on the arrogant outsider to protect the pride of their master.
"Hand over that vial." Another apprentice stepped forward. "We are going to confiscate your demonic poison."
The impoverished mother immediately wrapped her arms around Ye Tian's legs. She glared at the approaching apprentices like a fierce lioness protecting her cub.
Ye Tian watched the mob form around him. He did not raise his fists. He only felt profound pity for their ignorance.
"You have disgraced the medical profession enough for one day, Sun." A cold sharp female voice cut through the cavern.
The angry merchants froze in their tracks. The crowd parted instantly to create a wide clear path.
A stunning elegant woman walked down the iron staircase from the VIP balcony. She wore a tailored crimson business suit. Her eyes commanded immediate respect from everyone in the room.
This was Director Bai. She was the true owner of the Jiangbei underground medical market. She was also a legendary master of acupuncture and a high ranking board member of the National Medical Association.
The apprentices immediately backed away and lowered their heads in fear.
"Director Bai." Doctor Sun swallowed hard. "You must understand the situation. This boy used a parlor trick to humiliate me."
"I watched the entire exchange from the balcony." Director Bai stopped in the center of the dirt plaza. "I saw everything."
"Then you saw his black magic." Doctor Sun pleaded. "You saw the acid."
"I saw him neutralize a lethal Yang fever with a pure Yin extract." Director Bai corrected him sharply. "He used a profound ancient medicinal technique. He forced the competing energies to destroy each other inside her stomach."
Doctor Sun opened his mouth to argue again. Director Bai raised her hand to silence him.
"It is not sorcery." Director Bai stated clearly to the watching crowd. "It is medical genius. You lost the wager Sun."
Doctor Sun clenched his fists at his sides. "He is a nobody in a rented suit. I will not bow to him."
"Honor the bet immediately." Director Bai narrowed her eyes. "Or I will personally convene the medical board tonight and have you permanently blacklisted from every hospital in this country."
The threat hit Doctor Sun like a hammer blow. He realized he was trapped. If he defied Director Bai his career was finished regardless of the wager.
His hands shook as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He opened his secure banking application. He typed in the routing number Ye Tian provided with stiff numb fingers.
"Ten million yuan transferred." Doctor Sun choked out the words.
Ye Tian's phone buzzed in his pocket. He did not bother to check the screen.
"The money is only half the wager." Ye Tian looked down at the old doctor. "Pay the rest of your debt."
Doctor Sun looked around the damp cavern. Hundreds of merchants, apprentices and buyers watched him in suffocating silence. He was a master apothecary used to groveling respect.
He squeezed his eyes shut. A tear of pure humiliation leaked down his wrinkled cheek and dropped into the dirt.
Thud.
Doctor Sun fell to his knees. He hit the ground hard.
He ground his teeth together so hard his jaw audibly popped. He lowered his head and publicly accepted his bitter defeat.
"I concede." Doctor Sun whispered to the dirt floor.
"Say it louder." Ye Tian commanded with the voice of a god.
"I concede." Doctor Sun shouted. His voice cracked with suppressed rage and broken pride.
The market owner just validated the miracle medicine in front of everyone. The remaining doctors and apothecaries in the crowd suddenly went crazy.
A wealthy vendor rushed forward and stared at the small glass vial in Ye Tian hand. A few drops of the dark liquid remained inside.
"I will buy the remaining drops." The vendor begged frantically. "I will pay one hundred thousand yuan right now just to study the residue."
"Two hundred thousand." Another doctor shouted from the back of the desperate crowd.
"Five hundred thousand." The lead apprentice suddenly yelled. He wanted to buy it to save face for his humiliated faction.
"Seven hundred thousand." A wealthy herb merchant countered. "I will give you cash right now."
A frantic bidding war erupted across the cavern. Men shoved each other to get closer to Ye Tian. They all wanted to uncover the secret of the miraculous Yin potion.
"One million yuan." Director Bai spoke loudly.
Her cool authoritative tone silenced the entire cavern instantly. No one in Jiangbei City dared to bid against the Director.
She pulled a checkbook from her jacket. She wrote the amount with a gold fountain pen and tore the slip free.
"I see immense research value in your godly brewing methods." Director Bai handed the check to Ye Tian. "I am purchasing the vial."
Ye Tian handed her the small glass bottle without hesitation. He took the check and folded it into his pocket. He did not care about the money or their sudden fanatic worship.
Director Bai studied his face closely. She saw no greed and no arrogance.
"You possess skills that surpass our modern understanding." Director Bai stepped closer to him. "I want to offer you a highly lucrative position."
Ye Tian remained silent. He waited for her pitch.
"Become the Chief Consultant at my private hospital." Director Bai offered. "I can promise you elite connections and limitless wealth. You will have the opportunity to treat the most prominent figures in the country."
The merchants gasped in shock. It was the most coveted medical position in the entire province. Men spent decades trying to earn an interview for that role.
Ye Tian remained indifferent to the wealth and status. He was an Immortal Emperor. Mortal titles meant nothing to him.
"I will think about it." Ye Tian replied casually.
Director Bai hid her deep surprise. Most men would drop to their knees to accept such an incredible offer.
"Very well." Director Bai smiled gracefully. "But you have earned VIP status in my market today. You may take whatever herbs you need from these stalls for free."
"Acceptable." Ye Tian nodded.
"Let us exchange contact information." Director Bai pulled out the latest flagship smartphone. "I wish to consult with you on difficult cases in the future."
Ye Tian reached into his pocket. He pulled out an ancient battered keypad phone. The screen was severely cracked. The plastic casing was chipped and held together by a piece of yellow tape. It was a pathetic leftover from his disgraced son in law days.
Director Bai stared at the piece of junk. She was momentarily shocked. A medical god capable of resurrecting the dead used a phone fit for a garbage bin.
She quickly recovered her composure. She respectfully punched his number into her device and saved it. She did not ask questions about his eccentric habits.
Ye Tian walked past the stunned vendors. He moved directly to the premium herb stalls at the back of the cavern. The merchants scrambled to box up the items he pointed at.
He secured the rare fire lotus. He took the aged sun root and the dried spirit bark. He gathered the precise Yang ingredients needed for the Su Patriarch Frost Vein cure.
He placed the wooden boxes into a large leather bag. He turned around and walked back toward the market exit.
Doctor Sun still knelt in the dirt. His white coat was stained with brown mud. He stared blankly at the ground.
Ye Tian stopped beside the defeated man. He looked down with cold absolute authority.
"Get up." Ye Tian ordered.
Doctor Sun slowly raised his head. His eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"We have a patient waiting." Ye Tian said calmly. "And you still need to witness how a real doctor cures a dead meridian."
Ye Tian turned and walked toward the heavy iron doors.
Doctor Sun pushed himself off the dirt floor. He felt thoroughly broken in body and spirit. He lowered his head and trailed behind Ye Tian like a defeated prisoner of war.
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