anwhile, the quarrel in the hospital room quieted down. Old Master Fang's attending physician brought over his latest dical records for Fang Ding and the others to see. Fang Lifen and her companion stood off to the side, smiling from a distance without saying a word.
They had already done their research and asked around. They knew Old Master Fang's condition was beyond saving and that there was absolutely no way he would awaken. If he weren't on a respirator, Old Master Fang wouldn't last more than a few minutes.
"Given Old Master Fang's current condition, I'm afraid he won't even make it to the day after tomorrow," the attending physician said grimly.
At this, Fang Ding opened his mouth to say sothing, but no words ca out. He knew the doctor before him was Qian Ming, the top physician in all of Dragon Country. His prognosis was ironclad, leaving almost no room for hope.
Overhearing this, Fang Lifen and her companion couldn't help but laugh again. Even Doctor Qian found it hard to watch. He had heard so things about the Fang Family's affairs over the past few days. If these two siblings truly managed to seize so many shares, the Fangzun Group would likely be in peril.
"You two ungrateful wretches, go on and laugh!" Fang Youxue, who was by the bed, couldn't restrain herself any longer. "When Grandpa wakes up, you won't even be able to cry!"
Seeing this, the two of them only laughed louder.
"Miss Fang, please enlighten us," Fang Lifen taunted. "With Old Master Fang in this state, how exactly is he going to wake up? Are you expecting so Immortals to co and save him?"
Doctor Qian was about to offer a word of comfort, but Fang Youxue had already spoken.
"As a matter of fact, I do know an Immortal!"
With that, Fang Youxue's gaze fell on Xia Liang. She couldn't wait a second longer. Xia Liang, montarily taken aback, glanced at his watch and gave a subtle shake of his head.
The timing isn't right yet, he thought. I know when to make my entrance. You don't need to cue !
But Fang Youxue couldn't care less and pressed on.
"Brother Xia, when are you going to save my grandpa?!"
Her words imdiately drew the gaze of everyone in the room. In an instant, all eyes were on Xia Liang. Fang Ding and his brothers weren't as shocked, as they knew Xia Liang was a Diviner with great power. However, they had never heard of him possessing the ability to save lives. Moreover, they had asked Xia Liang about it in recent days, and he had only said that birth, old age, sickness, and death were all decreed by fate. He never claid he could intervene. So why was Fang Youxue now claiming he could save soone?
Fang Lifen laughed heartily. "Miss Fang, you have quite a sense of humor. Why don't you introduce us to this 'Immortal' of yours?"
She had noticed Xia Liang standing to the side when she entered but had simply assud he was Fang Youxue's boyfriend and paid him no mind.
Fang Youxue declared, "He is Xia Liang, the Diviner from Shu City! He can save my grandfather!"
"A Diviner?" Fang Lifen paused for a mont before bursting into laughter again. "I was wondering who it could be. So, it's just a fortune-teller." She sneered. "I have to ask, has the Fang Family beco so desperate to save that old codger that you're now trusting common charlatans?"
Wiping a tear of mirth from her eye, Fang Lifen turned to Xia Liang. "Tell , young man, your equipnt seems a bit lacking. Where are your talismans? You're not even dressed for the part. How do you plan on saving anyone? If you want to make it as a charlatan, you should co back in a few decades."
Doctor Qian sighed deeply. He had already noticed that the three Fang brothers seed to know this young man and held him in high regard. It wasn't just Miss Fang; even the three brothers seed to trust this Diviner. So, the Fang Family was now pinning all its hopes on a fortune-teller?
What he didn't realize was that the three Fang brothers were also wrestling with a mix of emotions, completely baffled by the turn of events. Why had Fang Youxue suddenly declared that Xia Liang could save their father?
Seeing that things had reached this point, Xia Liang had no choice but to step forward. He looked at Fang Lifen and her companion and said calmly, "I don't rely on talismans or any other tricks to save people."
"Then what do you rely on?" the pair scoffed.
Xia Liang gave a cold laugh. "With a single word, I can command life and death."
"Your mouth?" Fang Lifen shrieked with laughter, her companion joining in. "You're going to kill !"
"Fang Youxue, where did you find this 'immortal' of yours? A ntal asylum?" the two continued to mock, roaring with laughter.
anwhile, Doctor Qian turned to Fang Ding's group. "Mister Fang, I don't know where you found this person, but I must advise you to trust in science. Don't be deceived."
"Doctor Qian, just because you haven't seen sothing doesn't an it doesn't exist," Fang Qiu countered. "Perhaps he really can save Old Master Fang."
Of the three brothers, only he had witnessed Xia Liang's abilities firsthand, so he was the first to believe. Fang Tian was the next most convinced, knowing that if Xia Liang hadn't pointed out the lesion in his body, he never would have gotten it treated. Only Fang Ding remained skeptical, his brow furrowed in thought.
He knew that saving lives and fortune-telling were two different things. If they had found Xia Liang earlier, perhaps he could have foreseen the cancer in Old Master Fang's body, and they could have treated it in ti. But now, it seed even the Immortals themselves would be powerless to help.
"Big Brother," Fang Qiu whispered, leaning closer when he saw his brother's skepticism. "I think we can trust Master Xia. You may not know this, but many influential people in Qingyun City, even the Qingyun Leader, know Master Xia."
Hearing this, Fang Ding's expression remained unchanged. He believed that as a Diviner, Xia Liang did indeed possess great power, but saving soone from the clutches of the God of Death still seed impossible. On the other hand, Doctor Qian, having overheard Fang Qiu, paused for a mont in thought.
"Sister, don't laugh so hard," Fang Lifen's brother said, chuckling. "Isn't it pitiful? The Fang Family is reduced to relying on a charlatan. After we've dismantled the Fangzun Group, maybe we can save a few security guard positions for them." At his own words, the two of them erupted in another fit of laughter.
Fang Youxue ignored them, pulling Xia Liang right up to the bedside. "Brother Xia, please, save my grandfather now!"
Xia Liang gave a wry, inward smile. He checked his watch again—still a bit too early. Nevertheless, he stepped toward the head of the bed.
"With here, no one can take Old Master Fang away," he declared. "Not gods, not ghosts, not demons. If I will him to live, he cannot die."
With that, Xia Liang reached for Old Master Fang's respirator. But before his hand could touch it, two voices shouted from behind him.
"Wait!"
It was Doctor Qian and Fang Ding. Neither of them had expected Xia Liang to actually remove the respirator. After all, without it, Old Master Fang wouldn't survive more than three minutes.
In truth, Xia Liang didn't have to do this; it wouldn't change the outco. But he felt he had to play up his persona, to do what others believed to be impossible. Even so, he halted his hand in mid-air.
"What's the matter? Do you two have an objection?"
"Of course I have an objection!" Doctor Qian said urgently. "Remove that respirator, and Old Master Fang will be dead in three minutes. You can't do this!"
Xia Liang ignored Doctor Qian and looked directly at Fang Ding. "And you, Uncle Fang?"
Fang Ding stared back, trying to read sothing in Xia Liang's eyes, but they were as calm as still water, without a single ripple. After a long mont, Fang Ding could discern nothing.
At the sa ti, Fang Qiu and Fang Youxue ca to his side to persuade him.
"Big Brother," Fang Qiu said, "You know he doesn't have much ti left anyway. Why not let Mister Xia try? I've seen what he can do. I don't believe he's joking."
"That's right, Dad," Fang Youxue added.
Hearing their pleas, utter hesitation filled Fang Ding's eyes. Xia Liang glanced at his watch again, feeling a surge of anxiety, but he kept his expression unreadable.
After several tense monts, Fang Ding's brow relaxed as if he had made a monuntal decision. He nodded at Xia Liang.
"Then we'll have to trouble Mister Xia."
"Are you mad?" Doctor Qian shouted, but it was too late. Xia Liang had already removed Old Master Fang's respirator.
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