347 Retribution Comes Too Quickly

Looking at Fei Cai's expression, Zhao Zhitong shrugged. "Believe it or not, I didn't plan to save you anyway. I just wanted to tell you in advance so you know that after doing so many bad things, retribution is on its way."

After saying this, Zhao Zhitong stood up, picked up the rope on the ground, and handed it to a nearby Xiao Si. "Here, tie me up."

Xiao Si was utterly dumbfounded. Seriously? Someone actually *asking* to be tied up? What kind of weirdo is this?

With the rope in hand, the Xiao Si hesitated, looking toward Fei Cai, unsure whether to proceed.

Fei Cai, already infuriated by Zhao Zhitong's words about retribution, coldly snorted, "Tie her up! I want her to see with her own eyes whether or not I suffer retribution."

Receiving his master's order, the Xiao Si tied Zhao Zhitong up again.

Fei Cai was greatly displeased with Zhao Zhitong's arrogant attitude, so he had her and her companions brought back to the courtyard. He then ordered his servants to bring out various torture instruments, planning to "entertain" Zhao Zhitong's group.

There were leg clamps, branding irons, whips with salt-dipped barbs, fine needles, and various other tools of torture laid out in the courtyard. The mere sight of them was terrifying.

Wei Zijian swallowed nervously and whispered, "Master, what should we do?" I don't want to be subjected to these instruments; they look incredibly painful.

Zhao Yu also looked at Zhao Zhitong, awaiting her signal. At her word, he was ready to break free of the ropes and slaughter them all.

Zhao Zhitong, however, gave them a reassuring look. She continued to hold her head high, gazing at Fei Cai with contempt, utterly fearless.

"HUMPH!"

Fei Cai snorted coldly. "I'll make you cry for mercy soon!"

He ordered his men to tie Zhao Zhitong to a wooden frame, and said ominously, "I'll start with you today."

Fei Cai spoke gloomily, his hand drifting over the torture instruments. "Which one should I use first?"

Zhao Yu, Wei Shulan, and the others anxiously looked toward Zhao Zhitong.

Just as Fei Cai was choosing an instrument, he suddenly pitched forward without warning. The nearby Xiao Si was so frightened he nearly wet himself and scrambled to help Fei Cai.

Then Fei Cai lay on the ground, his mouth agape and eyes twitching, and began to convulse.

"Mr. Fei! Mr. Fei, are you all right?!"

"Mr. Fei! Mr. Fei..."

Zhao Zhitong watched Fei Cai twitching on the ground, no surprise on her face. Instead, she looked on as if watching a play. "See? I told you. Do too many bad things, and retribution will come. Your Mr. Fei has had a stroke. You'd better call a physician quickly. Any slower, and he might not make it."

After hearing Zhao Zhitong's words, the servant recalled what she had said when she took Fei Cai's pulse earlier. He immediately stumbled to his feet and ran outside, shouting for help.

Soon after, a middle-aged woman arrived, supported by others, weeping profusely. Behind her were several other women, equally agitated and ostentatiously dressed.

Their cries preceded their arrival.

"My lord! My lord, what's happened to you? Please don't scare your Lian'er like this! My lord, my lord..."

"BOOHOO... My lord, you can't have anything happen to you! If something happens to you, what will this lowly one do?"

Suddenly, the courtyard was filled with wailing and sobbing.

The leading woman's expression turned severe. She scolded harshly, "Stop crying, all of you! The Master isn't dead yet! Are you trying to curse him?"

Instantly, the wailing from the flock of women subsided. The leading woman quickly ordered the servants, "Quickly, carry the Master back to his room!"

Judging by their appearance, these must be Fei Cai's wife and concubines.

Just then, Zhao Zhitong offered a piece of advice, "I'd advise you not to move him for now. It's best to wait for the physician."

It was only then that Madame Fei noticed Zhao Zhitong and the others. Seeing them all bound by ropes, she instantly understood: her husband must have abducted these people.

"And why should we listen to you? Who do you think you are? He's already collapsed and lying on the ground; it's freezing out here!"

Before Madame Fei could speak, a young concubine snapped at Zhao Zhitong arrogantly.

Zhao Zhitong pursed her lips and replied indifferently, "Suit yourself."

The lady glanced at Zhao Zhitong, whom her husband had tied up, but ultimately chose to have Fei Cai carried into the house.

Zhao Zhitong watched the entire process in silence.

After Fei Cai was moved into the room, a physician was hurriedly brought over by the servants.

"Madam, Madam, the physician is here!"

When the physician entered the courtyard, he was taken aback by the sight of numerous torture instruments and several bound individuals, among whom was even an elderly man.

Madame Fei rushed out of the room. "Physician, don't just stand there! Hurry in and see my husband!"

"Ah, yes, all right."

The physician averted his gaze from Zhao Zhitong and the others and, with some apprehension, hurried into the room after Madame Fei.

A short while later, the physician emerged, shaking his head. Madame Fei hurried after him. "Physician, is there really no hope?"

The physician shook his head. "Madame, my skills are insufficient. Your husband suffered a sudden stroke. He's unconscious, with a great deal of phlegm and saliva in his throat, and half his body is already paralyzed.

"A patient in this state must not be moved. You moved him just now, causing him to aspirate, and now he's suffocating. I'm truly powerless to help."

After saying this, the physician, ignoring Madame Fei's pleas, hurriedly left the Fei residence. He knew in his heart exactly what kind of people the Fei Clan were; as a local physician, he couldn't have been clearer. The chances of Mr. Fei recovering were slim. Even if he did survive, he would likely spend the rest of his life bedridden. And he, the physician, would undoubtedly be blamed by the unreasonable Fei Clan. He valued his life and wanted nothing to do with the torture instruments in that courtyard.

Madame Fei was now thoroughly panicked. She recalled Zhao Zhitong's warning not to move her husband, a warning she hadn't heeded.

She immediately looked at Zhao Zhitong. "You... how did you know not to move my husband?"

Zhao Zhitong replied, her face expressionless, "It's common medical knowledge, isn't it?"

Wei Zijian, standing beside her, snorted. "My master is a Divine Doctor, you know! How could she not be aware of something like this?

"My master diagnosed your husband's illness much earlier, but he refused to believe her and even seized us. Now look! Are you still going to disbelieve her?"

At this, the young servant who had earlier tied up Zhao Zhitong recounted how she had taken Fei Cai's pulse.

Madame Fei immediately turned to Zhao Zhitong. "Are you... are you truly a Divine Doctor?"

Wei Zijian scoffed, "Guaranteed genuine! If you don't believe it, go to the Capital City and ask around about my master's reputation!"

Madame Fei looked at Zhao Zhitong again, finally choosing to believe her. She called out, "Men, untie them quickly!"

The servants instantly moved forward to release Zhao Zhitong and the others.

Madame Fei pleaded, "Divine Doctor, I beg you to save my husband! It was his fault for abducting you. I apologize to you on his behalf."

This Madame Fei certainly knew how to adapt, readily humbling herself when necessary.

Wei Zijian, however, was not appeased. He retorted angrily, "You tie people up when you want, release them when you want, and now you demand treatment when you want! What do you take us for, clay dolls to be ordered about?!"