Peach Blossom Dual Cultivation

Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian both looked as if they had just swallowed a fly.

Earlier, they had been plotting to have Zhou Lang arrested and humiliated again, but now the tables had turned, and they were the ones facing humiliation.

“Zhou Lang… I’m sorry,” Ye Qianqian finally spoke up. She had always thought Zhou Lang was just a poor nobody, but now she felt like dying. How could someone who was on such close terms with a founding general of the nation be an ordinary person? Zhou Lang could destroy her life with just one word to General Qin.

“I’m sorry,” Nie Yuanxiong also stepped forward. Although he was unwilling to apologize to Zhou Lang, his father had been signaling him continuously, leaving him no choice but to comply.

“Do you think an apology is enough?”

General Qin said coldly, turning to Lei Gang.

“Handle this matter swiftly. Within a day, I want you to report the results to me personally. The issue with these eight police officers is secondary; the main focus should be on conducting a thorough investigation of Nie Qingyun and his son, Nie Yuanxiong. Additionally, this woman, Ye Qianqian, needs to be educated as well. Celebrities are public figures, and behavior like hers sets a poor example.”

“Yes, sir,” Lei Gang immediately stood up and began making calls to the police department and the disciplinary committee.

“Please, General Qin, calm your anger. Allow me to take him back and educate him properly. Yuanxiong is still young; he deserves a chance,” Nie Qingyun pleaded anxiously, trying to appeal to General Qin.

“When the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam is askew. Nie Yuanxiong’s arrogance is a reflection of your character. My little brother, Zhou Lang, originally had a marriage agreement with Ye Qianqian. Yet Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian not only tore up the marriage contract but also beat Zhou Lang. Do you call that youthful ignorance?”

General Qin snorted coldly.

“If Zhou Lang hadn’t been in a period of mourning for his master and unable to fight back, you would have faced retribution long ago. This wouldn’t have dragged on until today.”

At this, Nie Qingyun realized the gravity of the situation.

Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian also understood why Zhou Lang had been unable to fight back when they assaulted him before, and why he seemed so powerful now. The claim that Zhou Lang couldn’t fight back because he was in mourning was just a story he made up, but no one was doubting it at this moment.

“General, since Mr. Zhou and Ye Qianqian were engaged, why don’t we have them marry? I believe there must have been some misunderstanding. Let’s have you, General, mediate their marriage,” Nie Qingyun suggested quickly, his mind racing. He realized that this marriage issue was at the heart of General Qin’s anger. If Ye Qianqian married Zhou Lang, the situation would likely be resolved.

“Deputy Mayor Nie, Ye Qianqian has long been involved with your son. Do you think I would want such a morally corrupt ‘damaged good’? Since the marriage contract has been torn up, there’s nothing left between us,” Zhou Lang said coldly, not even bothering to glance at Ye Qianqian.

Zhou Lang’s words were like a slap to Ye Qianqian’s face, and she nearly spat out blood in rage. Yet there was nothing she could do but endure it.

In the past, she had thought that Zhou Lang was trying to cling to her by any means necessary. But now she realized that Zhou Lang had connections far more promising than being the son of a deputy mayor. If she had known this earlier, she would have agreed to marry him. She could see now that being with Zhou Lang would have been much more advantageous than being with the son of a deputy mayor.

What she didn’t know was that when Zhou Lang first met her, he was just an ordinary college student with nothing to his name. His life had only changed dramatically after being humiliated by her and Nie Yuanxiong.

After Zhou Lang’s response, even Nie Qingyun was at a loss for words. It took him a while to recover before he ordered Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian, “You both, kneel before the General and Mr. Zhou.”

He knew that if General Qin insisted on pursuing this matter, it wouldn’t just be Nie Yuanxiong who would be punished—he would be implicated and lose his position.

Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian were typical bullies who preyed on the weak but feared the strong. They were already shaken, and after a brief hesitation, were about to kneel.

“People like you should be punished by the law. Kneeling to me won’t help; don’t bother me any further. Get out of here,” General Qin said, his anger rising. He detested those who were spineless, and seeing Nie Yuanxiong and Ye Qianqian about to kneel only made him more furious.

“General…”

Nie Qingyun tried to say something, but General Qin waved him off.

“If you don’t leave now, do you want me to have my men throw you out?”

As soon as he said this, a powerful aura emanated from him. He was a seasoned general who had fought his way out of countless battles; his anger made Nie Qingyun, Nie Yuanxiong, Ye Qianqian, and the others’ legs go weak.

“Let’s go,” Nie Qingyun said with a sigh, realizing that nothing could be salvaged from this situation. He turned to leave.

General Qin’s four men followed them out to ensure they didn’t try to escape.

Before long, the chief of the Feiyun City Police Department and the city’s disciplinary committee secretary arrived with their teams, taking Nie Qingyun, Nie Yuanxiong, Ye Qianqian, and the others away.

…

“Sir, I’ve failed in my duties as Party Secretary. For such an incident to happen, I’m truly ashamed to face you,” Secretary Lei Gang said with a face full of guilt after Nie Qingyun and the others had left. He had been worried earlier when General Qin seemed distant toward him and Leng Xinyue. Back in the day, both he and Leng Xinyue had served under the General, and the respect they had for him had been deeply ingrained in their bones—it was something that would never change.

“Corruption exists everywhere in society; this isn’t entirely your fault,” General Qin’s expression softened.

“I’m returning to the capital soon. Just make sure to handle Zhou Lang’s situation properly.”

He then introduced Zhou Lang to Lei Gang.

“Zhou Lang is my little brother. Look after him from now on. And if you ever need anything, you can also rely on him.”

Although this wasn’t the first time they had heard General Qin refer to Zhou Lang as his little brother, Lei Gang and his wife, Leng Xinyue, were still deeply shocked.

General Qin was over ninety years old and a founding general of the nation, while Zhou Lang was just a young man in his early twenties. How could he be on such familiar terms with General Qin?

And for General Qin to ask them to look after each other—it implied that Zhou Lang’s influence was at least on par with, if not greater than, their own.

“Rest assured, sir, I will make sure to give Mr. Zhou a satisfactory explanation,” Lei Gang said, after carefully considering the situation, addressing Zhou Lang respectfully as “Mr. Zhou.”

“Secretary Lei, I’m just a student at Dianxi University’s School of Medicine. Please, just call me Xiao Zhou,” Zhou Lang quickly stood up and said to Lei Gang.

“Lei Gang, don’t underestimate Zhou Lang,” General Qin interjected.

“You know that my leg has been crippled for the past few years, right? The reason I came to Feiyun City this time was to seek treatment for my leg from Master Fang Zhi at Feiyun Temple. But even Master Fang Zhi was unable to help. Luckily, I happened to meet Brother Zhou, and he healed me within a week. To tell you the truth, Brother Zhou is my benefactor.”

“General, you’re too kind. You are a national hero, and being able to treat you is an honor for me,” Zhou Lang replied humbly. General Qin was someone he deeply respected, so he had no intention of considering himself a benefactor in front of the old general.

“Mr. Zhou, I didn’t expect that despite your young age, your medical skills are so advanced,” Secretary Lei said, now too respectful to call Zhou Lang “Xiao/little Zhou” after hearing what General Qin had said.

“Lei Gang, isn’t Xiao Leng suffering from some physical ailments? Why not have Zhou Lang take a look at her?”

General Qin suggested with a slight smile. From Lei Gang and Leng Xinyue’s earlier tense expressions, he could tell that his two old subordinates hadn’t changed, which brought him comfort. In today’s materialistic world, there were few people in high positions who still maintained a sense of reverence.

“Then I’ll trouble Mr. Zhou,” Lei Gang quickly agreed. If General Qin hadn’t mentioned that Zhou Lang cured his leg, Lei Gang would never have believed that Zhou Lang possessed such remarkable medical skills. But since the General vouched for him, Lei Gang had complete faith.

“Secretary Lei, calling me ‘Mr. Zhou’ is really making me uncomfortable. Just call me Xiao Zhou,” Zhou Lang said with an embarrassed smile.

“You’re my superior’s younger brother; how could I possibly call you Xiao Zhou?”

Lei Gang quickly waved his hand, dismissing the idea.

“How about this: You can call each other brothers,” General Qin proposed.

“General, that won’t do; it would mess up the hierarchy,” Lei Gang quickly responded.

“This is a special situation. Let’s just keep it informal,” General Qin insisted.

“Since the General has spoken, I have no choice but to comply,” Lei Gang nodded and, without any further hesitation, addressed Zhou Lang, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Zhou.”

However, he was still worried that Zhou Lang might not be able to cure his wife’s illness, so he added, “Her condition has persisted for seven or eight years, and we’ve seen countless doctors with no results.”

By saying this, he was giving Zhou Lang an out in case he couldn’t treat her, so it wouldn’t be too awkward.

Zhou Lang smiled and said to Leng Xinyue, “Sister-in-law, let me check your pulse.”

“Thank you, Brother Zhou,” Leng Xinyue said politely.

After taking her pulse, Zhou Lang remained silent for a moment.

“Brother Zhou, is there any hope for Xiao Leng’s condition?”

General Qin asked.

“This illness is indeed peculiar. There’s a blockage in the blood vessels near Sister-in-law’s heart, which should be causing her to experience occasional angina. However, the blockage in her blood vessels seems different from what was affecting your leg, General. I haven’t yet identified the exact cause. If I’m not mistaken, Sister-in-law was shot in the chest before, right?”

Zhou Lang inquired.

“However, I have some special techniques that might help identify the cause of the illness. But this place isn’t suitable for using these techniques. I think it would be better to go to Feiyun Temple, where Master Fang Zhi can assist me.”

“Brother Zhou, I have to say I’m impressed by your medical skills. What you’ve described is exactly Xiao Leng’s condition. But don’t underestimate her; she was once a special forces soldier. During a mission on the border, she was shot by a mercenary sniper, and her body never fully recovered, which led to her early retirement,” General Qin explained.

“Anyway, I’ll be staying at Feiyun Temple tonight, so let’s head over there now.”

…

An hour later, in a meditation room at Feiyun Temple.

Zhou Lang had Leng Xinyue sit cross-legged on a cushion while he took out a talisman.

Leng Xinyue had a foreign object in her bloodstream, and this object moved along with her blood flow. Given his current level of cultivation, Zhou Lang could only use the talisman to locate the object.

At this moment, General Qin and even Lei Gang were waiting outside the meditation room. Only Master Fang Zhi remained inside the room to assist Zhou Lang.

“Mr. Zhou, is that… a talisman?”

Leng Xinyue asked, surprised. Master Fang Zhi, who usually maintained a calm demeanor, couldn’t help but feel shaken.

Zhou Lang simply nodded without saying anything.

“A talisman?”

Although Leng Xinyue respected Zhou Lang, she couldn’t help but feel a bit skeptical.

“Brother Zhou, you’re not planning to cure me with this talisman, are you?”

In most people’s minds, talismans were associated with superstition, something used by Taoists to deceive others—not something that could be used to treat illnesses.