Zhao Yuan waited with the White Cat at the west gate for five or six minutes before Yu Ke pulled up in a red Wrangler SUV. She stopped in front of him and waved. "Get in."
Zhao Yuan was surprised.
'He really hadn't expected that Yu Ke, known as the "Ice Mountain Goddess," would drive a hardcore SUV, and in such a flashy color, no less...'
Opening the car door, Zhao Yuan got into the passenger seat. The White Cat jumped down from his shoulder, sprawled out on the back seat, and dozed off with its eyes half-closed.
Yu Ke asked, "This Dr. He you mentioned, where in Jing City is he?"
Zhao Yuan quickly pulled up the text message from Fang Yi. Yu Ke glanced at the address, opened the car's navigation system, and entered the destination.
Following the navigation's guidance, they arrived over an hour later and parked in front of a medical clinic in Jing City. However, the clinic was closed.
"Xinglin Garden. This is the right place. Why aren't they open?" Zhao Yuan said with a frown.
"Looks like there's a notice on the door. Let's go see," Yu Ke said as she hopped out of the car and strode over.
Zhao Yuan got out of the car too, but the White Cat didn't stir. It remained curled up on the back seat, letting out an occasional snore.
"What does the notice say?" Zhao Yuan asked as he walked over.
Yu Ke answered, "Dr. He is unwell. The clinic is temporarily closed."
"What?" Zhao Yuan was stunned. He hurried to the door and saw the notice said exactly what Yu Ke had told him. He couldn't help but give a wry smile. "What a coincidence, huh?" Glancing at the date at the bottom of the notice, he frowned. "This was posted a week ago. What kind of illness does Dr. He have that's so serious he hasn't opened for a week?"
He was extremely worried. Yu Ke's Corpse Heart Syndrome had already reached a critical stage. If they delayed any longer, she would inevitably die a sudden death. But to treat Corpse Heart Syndrome, the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique was absolutely necessary! As far as he knew, only He Chengwei knew this acupuncture technique, and of all the luck, he was sick... 'What are we going to do?'
Yu Ke sighed. "Looks like we came for nothing. Should we go back?"
But Zhao Yuan said, "Not yet. I'll call and ask for Dr. He's home address. We can buy some fruit, supplements, and things like that, and pay him a visit. We can also see when he might recover from his illness."
With that, Zhao Yuan took out his phone, dialed Fang Yi's number, and explained the situation.
After listening, Fang Yi said, "Give me a few minutes."
He then hung up and went to ask around. Five minutes later, he called Zhao Yuan back. Not only did he give him He Chengwei's address, but he also instructed, "When you get there, just say Wang Peng sent you. I've already had him give He Chengwei a heads-up."
Fang Yi really was reliable. He not only found He Chengwei's address but also arranged a referral. This way, their visit to He Chengwei wouldn't seem abrupt or rude.
"Thanks, Brother Fang," Zhao Yuan said gratefully.
"Nothing to thank me for. Just hurry up and send over that Soul-Stabilizing Incense." Fang Yi now took every opportunity to rush his order.
Zhao Yuan and Yu Ke bought some fruit baskets and supplements nearby, then drove to He Chengwei's home. When they knocked, a girl about Zhao Yuan's age answered the door. She stood behind it, sizing them up, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Zhao Yuan said, "Hello, is this Dr. He Chengwei's residence? We were referred by Wang Peng to see him for a consultation. When we got to the clinic, we saw the notice saying Dr. He was ill, so we bought some fruit and supplements to pay him a visit. Please forgive us for the intrusion."
"Tingting, who is it?" A weak, trembling voice called out from inside the house.
The girl turned and replied, "They're patients referred by Uncle Wang. They heard you were sick and brought some things to see you."
The weak voice from inside must have been He Chengwei. He was heard saying, "Please, let them in."
The girl obediently agreed, stepping aside to let Zhao Yuan and Yu Ke into the house.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of oppressive heat hit them, instantly causing beads of sweat to form on their foreheads. It was only when they entered the bedroom where He Chengwei was convalescing that they saw several electric space heaters arranged around the room. The dazzling light they emitted cast an orange glow over everything. What was surprising was that, despite this sweltering environment, He Chengwei was wrapped in a thick cotton quilt and lying on a heating blanket. Even so, he still seemed cold, shivering uncontrollably.
"You must be the people Wang Peng mentioned on the phone? You shouldn't have. Coming all this way is one thing, but bringing gifts is too much." After a couple of pleasantries, He Chengwei got down to business. "Who is the patient?"
"It's me," Yu Ke replied.
He Chengwei looked Yu Ke up and down a few times and asked, "What seems to be the problem?"
By the looks of it, he intended to diagnose Yu Ke despite being sick himself. In fact, although his clinic had been closed for the past week, many patients had called or come to his home asking for help. Whenever this happened, he never refused. He would do everything in his power, and even though it left him completely exhausted each time, he never once complained.
Yu Ke glanced at Zhao Yuan and said, "I have a strange illness called Corpse Heart Syndrome. I've heard that it can only be treated with the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique. Since you are the only one who knows this acupuncture technique, Dr. He, we came to seek you out."
"What? Corpse Heart Syndrome? That illness... it actually exists?" He Chengwei cried out in shock.
"You know of this illness, Dr. He?" Now it was Yu Ke's turn to be surprised.
Over the past two days, she had asked many of her colleagues about Corpse Heart Syndrome, but none of the professors, whether from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department or clinical studies, had ever heard of it. If Zhao Yuan hadn't made her personally feel the damage the Corpse Qi was doing to her heart, she probably would have suspected he'd just made up an illness to trick her.
'To think this famous doctor from Jing City had actually heard of Corpse Heart Syndrome.'
He Chengwei nodded. "I do. The name Corpse Heart Syndrome is mentioned in the manuals for the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique that have been passed down in my family. It's just that the descriptions of the illness are so fantastical and bizarre that I always thought it was something my ancestors fabricated. I never imagined it could actually exist!"
He then asked about Yu Ke's symptoms. After listening, he exclaimed, "Exactly the same! Your symptoms are exactly as they're recorded in the book!"
Zhao Yuan cut in and asked, "Dr. He, do you know the two acupuncture techniques needed to treat Corpse Heart Syndrome, Spiritual Snake Probing the Moon and Spiritual Snake Sea Exploration?"
He Chengwei looked at Zhao Yuan, his gaze filled with surprise. "The fact that you even know Spiritual Snake Probing the Moon and Spiritual Snake Sea Exploration are needed to treat Corpse Heart Syndrome... you're no simple person." He paused, then said, "I do know those two acupuncture techniques."
Zhao Yuan and Yu Ke exchanged a glance, both seeing the delight on the other's face.
However, He Chengwei's tone suddenly shifted. "But..."
Their hearts immediately sank.