Chapter 123

The sudden flare-up of Lei Ming’s hidden ailment confirmed Lin Tian’s suspicion that many of the events unfolding in the Xuan Yuan family’s castle were opportunities prepared for Jiang Yifeng.

However, he failed to seize them and was knocked out right from the start.

Imagine for a moment that Jiang Yifeng’s schemes hadn’t been exposed by Xuan Yuan Qingya. The situation would look something like this:

Jiang Yifeng would have used the seventh and eighth moves of the Sacred Nineteen Hands to keep Xuan Yuan Chen alive. Through this act, he would have earned the goodwill of Xuan Yuan Xing and Xuan Yuan Qingya.

After taking Xuan Yuan Qingya into his harem, Jiang Yifeng’s Heavenly Medical Sacred Body would have been activated. At that point, he would have gained the ability to fully heal Xuan Yuan Chen. If he could fully cure Xuan Yuan Chen, Jiang Yifeng’s plan would be flawless.

While staying at the Xuan Yuan family’s castle, he would encounter Lei Ming and Lü Xin.

During the banquet, Lei Ming suddenly suffered a relapse of his hidden ailment. As the successor of the Medical Sage, Jiang Yifeng would, of course, step in to help!

With his Heavenly Medical Sacred Body already unlocked, treating Lei Ming would be a trivial matter for Jiang Yifeng.

Through this incident, Jiang Yifeng would not only forge a strong connection with Lei Ming, but also become acquainted with Lu Xin.

Later on, as long as Jiang Yifeng wasn’t an idiot, he could use Lei Ming to gain access to the upper echelons of the Huaxia military. With the help of his sister, Jiang Han, he would eventually expand and strengthen his own power base.

Everything was laid out for him, step by step. All he needed to do was use his medical skills.

Every opportunity and advantage was practically delivered to his doorstep.

Of course, none of that mattered anymore.

Xuan Yuan Qingya had seen through Jiang Yifeng’s schemes and expelled him from the Xuan Yuan family castle.

By that time, Lei Ming and Lü Xin had already arrived at the castle. Since this wasn’t a shallow wish-fulfillment novel, even if the world wanted to hand Jiang Yifeng these opportunities, it still had to maintain a semblance of logic.

Given the need for plausibility, it was inevitable that Lei Ming’s hidden ailment would flare up. This meant that Jiang Yifeng had completely missed out on this opportunity.

As these thoughts spun through Lin Tian’s mind, he began considering the possible consequences of the incident.

[Aside from Jiang Yifeng, the Medical Sage’s successor, is there anyone else who can treat Lei Ming? Does that mean this world is willing to kill someone just to hand Jiang Yifeng an opportunity?]

[Hmm…then again, maybe not. Xuan Yuan Qingya knows the effects of Spirit Marrow. If she gives Lei Ming even a drop, it should cure his hidden ailment completely.]

[If that’s the case, then Jiang Yifeng will have almost no chance of climbing the Lei Ming connection going forward.]

[Or maybe not, because there’s still the Jiang Han angle. Han, the Jiang family’s little princess, will arrive at the castle in a few days. Based on what Ji Xin said earlier, Lei Ming is currently positioned between the Jiang and Ji families. Which side he ultimately chooses is still uncertain.]

[If Lei Ming sides with the Jiang family, everything falls neatly into place. Jiang Yifeng could rise to power just by leveraging that connection. But if Lei Ming chooses the Ji family, Jiang Yifeng’s path to the upper echelons of Huaxia might become much harder!]

[Tch. Seriously? That damn Jiang Yifeng… As expected of the so-called male lead. Even in a situation like this, Jiang Han still steps in to pull him out of trouble. If it were anyone else with Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng, Bai Bing’er, and Xuan Yuan Qingya gunning for them, they would have been dead and buried long ago, not a bone left behind!]

[But Jiang Yifeng? Not only did he stroll out of that castle safe and sound, but someone will probably show up in a few days to back him up again. Damn it! I want to be the protagonist too!]

Lin Tian grumbled inwardly.

Still, complaints were one thing—Lin Tian had no intention of making a move.

Whether it was Jiang Yifeng’s or Lei Ming’s business, as far as he could see, it had nothing to do with him.

Lin Tian was perfectly content to remain a bystander and enjoy the show from afar.

If Xuan Yuan Qingya had thought of the Spirit Marrow, then Lei Ming was lucky. He had managed to cling to life by the skin of his teeth.

However, if Xuan Yuan Qingya could not recall it, then Lei Ming’s luck had simply run out. Lin Tian hoped this karmic mess would fall squarely on Jiang Yifeng’s shoulders.

“Zzz—”

Lin Tian took a deep drag from his cigar and let the smoke curl around him.

Although he didn’t usually smoke, the rich aroma of the cigar helped clear his mind and allowed him to think through all these tangled problems.

Through the haze of smoke, he saw that the ballroom had already descended into chaos.

…

Lei Ming was an honored guest of the Xuan Yuan family. Saying he was important would be an understatement. Without him, Xuan Yuan Xing could never have built the Star Group from scratch, and the Xuan Yuan family could never have risen to its current status. His contributions were monumental.

The Star Group’s ability to thrive overseas was due in large part to Lei Ming and the Zilan Military District’s support.

Therefore, regardless of the circumstances, Xuan Yuan Qingya and Xuan Yuan Xing must always remember their debt to Lei Ming.

Even someone as proud as Qingya would obediently call Lei Ming “Grandpa Lei” whenever she saw him.

Likewise, when Lei Ming stepped in to save Jiang Yifeng, Xuan Yuan Xing and Xuan Yuan Qingya were unwilling but didn’t voice any objections because of that same debt of gratitude.

Now, with Lei Ming’s hidden ailment suddenly acting up, both Xuan Yuan Qingya and Xuan Yuan Xing panicked.

Xuan Yuan Xing had been seated near Lei Ming and the others by the edge of the dance floor. She immediately noticed the moment Lei Ming’s face twisted in pain!

“Qingya, call someone quickly! Elder Lei seems to be sick!”

Xuan Yuan Xing said urgently. Xuan Yuan Qingya immediately rushed over.

At the same time, she made a few quick hand signals, and several Star Group members stationed around the ballroom sprang into action.

“Where’s Doctor Zhao?”

She grabbed a Star Group member and asked in a deep voice.

“Doctor Zhao is still with the Fourth Master.”

“Escort me! I’ll take Grandpa Lei over there!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The servants, attendants, and Star Group members of the Xuan Yuan family moved into a flurry of activity.

Meanwhile, the other heads of families, such as the Meng, Zhao, and Li families, didn’t just stand by and watch. Instead, they followed closely behind the group.

Due to the chaos in the ballroom, Meng Youqian, Li Siyi, and Bai Ze quickly called their children back to their sides.

A large group of people began moving toward Xuan Yuan Chen’s villa, which was close to the main building. Star Group members carried Lei Ming on a stretcher while Lu Xin followed closely behind. His expression was tense, and he swept the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

At that very moment, Lin Tian’s inner voice echoed in the minds of Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng, Xuan Yuan Qingya, and Bai Bing’er.

No—not just those four.

Beside Meng Youqian, Meng Xiaoling froze in shock. She lifted her head, her eyes darting around in confusion.

Lin Tian’s voice appeared out of nowhere in her ears.

What was that just now?

Meng Xiaoling glanced left and right but didn’t see anyone speaking near her. After thinking for a moment, she still couldn’t remember whose voice it was.

After all, not everyone had the terrifying memory of Xue Xue or Ji Xin.

Since Lin Tian had remained hidden and only spoken briefly with Meng Xiaoling at the entrance of the banquet hall, it would have been unusual if she could recognize his voice in her mind.

Meng Xiaoling wasn’t timid—far from it. Otherwise, how could she have enjoyed the “bad girl life” in her teenage years? She’d tried it all: fake tattoos, fake smoking, fake drinking.

So, even though the voice in her ear felt a bit eerie, Meng Xiaoling didn’t panic.

As she followed her father, she couldn’t stop thinking about one question:

Who spoke in my ear just now? This voice sounds familiar.

Of all the women who could hear Lin Tian’s inner voice, Xuan Yuan Qingya reacted the most!

She valued gratitude deeply. She knew exactly who had helped her and her mother during the decline of the Xuan Yuan family.

People like Xuan Yuan Chen and Lei Ming.

Over the years, she had held immense respect and admiration for her fourth uncle and Lei Ming.

So when Lei Ming suddenly collapsed, Xuan Yuan Qingya completely lost her composure.

No matter how proud or capable she was, she couldn’t help but falter when it came to someone she respected the most.

At that very moment, she heard Lin Tian’s voice in her mind!