Shock, followed by surprise, Ye Shikai had never seen himself as a meddlesome good-natured person. This act of "modesty" was simply a comparison between "a life" and "an illness". In comparison, he had chosen to retain the "illness" and exchange it for another "life". There were no other thoughts beyond this, let alone any anticipation of repayment.
Yet, the scene before him startled everyone. Perhaps this was what people meant by good deeds bring good rewards. In that instant, Ye Shikai felt like he knew everything. The fortune-teller before him had been playing dumb all along, or rather, he had been testing him.
"What are you still spacing out for? Do you want to get treated or not?" The fortune-teller reverted to his previous "masterful" tone. Just a while ago he had feigned being very pitiable, deceiving Ye Shikai completely. No wonder they say life is a drama; it all depends on the acting.
"Yes, of course." Ye Shikai hurried inside, waving his hand to signal Ghost to wait outside.
Bang, the security door was forcefully shut.
"Take a seat anywhere." The fortune-teller—or rather, it should be said, the Divine Doctor—Ye Shikai selected a chair to sit down in. The room was very plain, devoid of furniture, almost completely bare.
"I really didn’t expect this, young man, to see each other again," said the Divine Doctor while sitting in another chair, separated from Ye Shikai by a table.
"Indeed, I too truly didn’t expect that you would be the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor," Ye Shikai said excitedly.
"That but a superficial reputation. In fact, my main profession is still fortune-telling," the Divine Doctor laughed, and continued, "Indeed, it was a small test of mine earlier, including that robbed elderly man."
"What? That too was orchestrated by you?" Ye Shikai displayed even greater shock upon hearing this.
"Hold on, then how did you know I was coming to get treated?" Ye Shikai asked doubtfully.
"Ha ha, I told you, didn’t I? Treatment is given as fate allows, and besides, I am a fortune-teller; I can divine and calculate," the Divine Doctor suddenly laughed heartily. This really seemed unbelievable to Ye Shikai, who had always been an atheist and had never believed anyone possessed peculiar abilities like those of a Prophet.
But now, Ye Shikai felt like an "uncivilized man", amazed by the high divination skills of the fortune-teller before him. Could it be he truly possesses the Mind Reading Technique?
"So I am the fated one?"
"Ha ha, that’s about right. There is indeed a karmic bond between you and me. If you hadn’t allowed me in today, then perhaps there’d be no bond between us," the man said smilingly, while Ye Shikai mentally criticized this as a form of moral coercion.
"Then please take a look at my ailment," Ye Shikai nodded. Thinking about it, being a good person had really paid off; Ye Shikai felt fortunate about his choice at that time.
"Alright, let’s get straight to the point, to avoid disturbance from others," said the fortune-teller indifferently.
"By the way, Master, I have yet to ask for your name."
"Dugu..." Ye Shikai murmured softly. It must be said, this surname that typically only emerged in "novels", when heard, indeed showed a dominating presence. Dugu, it sounded like a master; however, the man before him did not seem to have the foundation of Inner Strength, as if he is not a cultivator.
"Nice to meet you, Master Dugu," Ye Shikai greeted awkwardly.
"Young friend, your Inner Strength is profound. At merely twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, you have already reached the early stages of Divine Separation. Your cultivation is not solid; it must have just broken through in the last month. Congratulations, young friend." These words from Dugu Tianke were so shocking that Ye Shikai fell off his chair; he knew about cultivators and could directly state one’s current level of cultivation. This was terrifyingly accurate, but Ye Shikai could not detect any traces of Inner Strength fluctuations on him. What was happening?
"Moreover, the cultivation technique you’re practicing is quite unique, akin to an old friend of mine. You have good potential, you must continue to work hard."
"Master, I was offensive to you before." Saying this, Ye Shikai realized just how profound this man’s knowledge was, far beyond his own imagination. Perhaps he was like Chen Yaogzu, a hermit of the world. It seemed he had indeed been blind before.
"Ha ha, young friend, let me first examine your condition," said Dugu Tianke, staring intently at Ye Shikai’s body, causing him to dare not move.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said one should observe, listen, question, and feel the pulse. Although Ye Shikai did not know the specific method the Divine Doctor used for diagnosing, it should be somewhat similar.
"What seems to be your condition, young friend?"
"Master, these days I experience intense pain in my body once daily, generally happening either in the afternoon or evening, once a day, without fail," Ye Shikai described his symptoms. If this were a normal practitioner of Chinese medicine, they might have thought that Ye Shikai was toying with them—where would symptoms be so regular? Ghost was puzzled by this as well, and no matter how much he checked, could find nothing unusual.
Ye Shikai watched Dugu Tianke’s facial expressions nervously. When a serious look came across his face, Ye Shikai too felt a surge of anxiety.
"Master, I’m... alright, aren’t I?" Ye Shikai almost blurted out something along the lines of "how long do I have to live?"
"Young friend, there’s an issue with your body," said Dugu Tianke coldly. Ye Shikai’s heart leapt at this.
"Master, what exactly is wrong with me? I’ve had medical check-ups before and nothing was ever found."
"Young friend, are you familiar with poisonous insects?"
"Poisonous insects, I know a bit about them." Ye Shikai had a vague bad premonition. It’s said in legends that various insects with potent venom are placed in a sealed container, letting them fight, bite, and devour each other. After several days, the last one left is referred to as a worm. He knew of a sect called Worm Sect, which specialized in studying these worms, and up to now, worms could be planted within people in many ways.
"Master, what are you implying?"
"Young friend, you’ve been poisoned by a worm."
"This... how is that possible?" Ye Shikai’s expression changed, and he stood up swiftly.
"I have been practicing medicine for many years and have never misdiagnosed. I’ve encountered plenty of Worm Poison as well, but the Worm Poison you’re afflicted with is indeed tricky," Dugu Tianke said, his face growing even more solemn.
"What do you mean, Master? Are you suggesting the Worm Poison in me is incurable?" Ye Shikai hurriedly asked. Could it be that he really was poisoned by an incurable Worm Poison? But who would have poisoned him with it?
"Young friend, do you really not know what kind of Worm Poison you’ve been afflicted with?"
"Please enlighten me, Master," Ye Shikai immediately pleaded.
"According to my judgment, you’ve been poisoned by the Single Love Poisonous Insect," said Dugu Tianke, pulling out an ancient and tattered book from an old bag, slowly flipping to a page, and pushing it in front of Ye Shikai.