At the entrance of Returning Spring Hall.
Lin Fan was still delivering his heartfelt speech, completely oblivious to everything happening upstairs.
Just as the onlookers and reporters were moved by his righteous demeanor, a figure of peerless beauty, like a fairy under the moon, walked out of Returning Spring Hall.
It was Luo Qingyan!
Facing Lin Fan's 'righteous' face and the 'expectant' gazes of the crowd, she tried to appear calm and composed.
Her voice was clear and cold, yet it carried an undeniable firmness, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present:
"Thank you all for your concern and love for Traditional Chinese Medicine."
"This duel, concerning the honor and disgrace of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I, Luo Qingyan, representing Returning Spring Hall, accept!"
Lin Fan's eyes lit up with joy when he heard that Luo Qingyan had actually accepted the challenge!
His first objective... was achieved!
As long as Luo Qingyan accepted the challenge, with her meager skill, she would undoubtedly lose when facing the trap cases carefully prepared by Holy Heart Hospital!
But his face still held that righteous expression, as if 'considering the greater good of Traditional Chinese Medicine,' and he even excitedly led the applause!
"Good! Excellent!"
"Divine Doctor Luo is indeed a heroine who rivals men! With Divine Doctor Luo personally taking charge, our Traditional Chinese Medicine will surely win this time!"
Luo Qingyan looked at Lin Fan coldly, her disgust growing, but then she changed the subject, turning the tables on him directly:
"I heard that Mr. Lin Fan harbors great righteousness for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is willing to help our Returning Spring Hall, despite past grievances."
"I, Luo Qingyan, would also like to humbly request Mr. Lin Fan to serve as my specially appointed assistant, to prepare with me for this Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine duel and discuss strategies to defeat our opponents. What do you think, Mr. Lin?"
Lin Fan was stunned when he heard this.
Have him stay at Returning Spring Hall as an assistant?
What was she planning?
Was she trying to use his 'Pure Yang Nine Needles'?
His gaze greedily scrutinized Luo Qingyan before him.
He had to admit, this woman was indeed the best of the best!
Her ethereal and beautiful face, her cold and detached demeanor, still made his heart ache faintly, filled with unwillingness and a strong possessive desire!
Such beauty! Such a fairy! She should belong to him, Lin Fan!
It was all Lu Cheng's fault, that bastard!
He carefully observed Luo Qingyan's expression and complexion, but found that there was still a hint of girlish aloofness and modesty in her brows, not yet fully tainted with the charm of a woman completely conquered by a man.
This caused a complex and twisted thought to involuntarily rise in his heart:
Could it be... that bastard Lu Cheng hasn't truly obtained her yet?
Or is it that women like Luo Qingyan are inherently fickle, acting one way on the surface and another behind the scenes?
Hmph! No matter what!
As long as there's a chance... he, Lin Fan, might not be unable to...
His sordid thoughts intertwined with the flames of revenge, but his face immediately adopted an expression of tearful gratitude, and he bowed deeply to Luo Qingyan, saying loudly: "Thank you for not abandoning me, Divine Doctor Luo! Lin Fan will certainly do his best to assist Divine Doctor Luo!"
...The commotion outside finally subsided for a while.
Luo Qingyan returned to the office and, seeing Lu Cheng's handsome profile, asked softly with some uncertainty:
"Lu Cheng... letting that guy Lin Fan stay... is it really okay?"
"I just feel like he... won't be so well-behaved."
Lu Cheng, however, curved his lips into a profound smile.
"Fighting fire with fire."
"A dog that bites is safer when tied up, isn't it?"
His eyes, burning with intensity, looked at Luo Qingyan's slightly tired pretty face.
"Alright, those flies outside have been dealt with."
"Now, Qingyan..."
His voice carried a hint of playfulness and an irresistible magic.
"We should start... the real teaching."
"Time is running out, you... must concentrate."
---A quiet and elegant side courtyard of Returning Spring Hall
Inside the courtyard, high-quality sandalwood incense, which calmed the mind, was burning, and a gentle breeze brought wafts of refreshing fragrance.
On the stone table in the center of the courtyard, there was a human meridian dummy. Lu Cheng was intently explaining the "Taiyi Crossing Calamity Needle Technique" from the "Thirteen Chapters of Acupunctures" to Luo Qingyan.
His voice was steady and magnetic, and his words were profound yet easy to understand, explaining the obscure and difficult ancient text's profound meanings clearly and thoroughly.
Luo Qingyan listened enthralled, her admiration for Lu Cheng growing ever deeper.
The entire scene created a unique atmosphere that was both professional and solemn, yet also somewhat private and warm.
As a "specially appointed assistant," Lin Fan was arranged in a small pharmacy not far from the side courtyard, ostensibly to "organize medical records and familiarize himself with medicinal materials."
In reality, it was Lu Cheng's specially chosen audience seat for him.
From here, he could clearly see and barely hear the interaction between Lu Cheng and Luo Qingyan in the side courtyard.
Lin Fan, while absentmindedly fiddling with the medicinal materials in his hand, pricked up his ears, craned his neck, and stared fixedly at the "dog and bitch" in the side courtyard!
So, he was tricked into coming here to be fed dog food?
Disgusting! Bitch!
She usually pretended to be aloof, but now she was still being coaxed into submission by Lu Cheng!
The anger in his heart burned hotter and hotter.
And an even more infuriating scene was yet to come!
When they reached a crucial needling technique in the "Taiyi Crossing Calamity Needle Technique" that required precise control of force, Luo Qingyan, due to nervousness, tried several times but couldn't grasp the knack, her delicate brows furrowed, and a look of distress and helplessness appeared on her beautiful face.
Seeing this, Lu Cheng slowly got up and walked behind Luo Qingyan.
"Don't be nervous, Qingyan."
His voice, with its reassuring magic, whispered in her ear.
"I'll guide you through it once."
Before he finished speaking, his body was almost completely pressed against Luo Qingyan's back!
His warm breath, subtly, brushed against her sensitive ear and fair neck.
Immediately after, Lu Cheng's hands gently wrapped around her from behind!
His broad, warm palms gently, irresistibly, held Luo Qingyan's right hand, which was holding the silver needle!
"Relax... feel my strength..."
Lu Cheng's low murmur slowly came to her ear.
"Your wrist should be steady, your fingertips light... Qi follows intent, intent precedes the needle..."
"Yes... just like that..."
Luo Qingyan could clearly feel the warmth of Lu Cheng's firm chest and his strong, powerful heartbeat!
As well as his unique, reassuring yet intensely aggressive masculine scent!
Her cheeks instantly turned as red as if they were about to bleed!
Her heart pounded like a startled deer!
Her mind was blank, how could she still think about any needling techniques!
She could even feel Lu Cheng's fingertips, as he taught her the needling technique, intentionally or unintentionally, lightly brushing against the back of her hand, bringing a wave of tingling itchiness... And all of this!
Was clearly and plainly seen by Lin Fan, not far from the side courtyard!
His eyes were almost popping out!
Seeing Luo Qingyan's shy and helpless, crimson-cheeked, yet alluring appearance, as if she would let him do whatever he wanted!
"You... you all deserve to die!!!"
Under such intense mental stimulation and endless hatred, Lin Fan's eyes became incredibly venomous and crazed!
"No! I can't just watch them enjoy themselves!"
"I will... personally get rid of you! A duel? I'll make sure you can't even enter the arena!"
A malicious thought quietly sprouted in his heart!
Floating Life Dream Dissipation, a strange poison recorded in his Medical Immortal Inheritance, was colorless, odorless, and even difficult for people to detect.
But after taking it, one would lose all their power, and even become mentally unstable and behave abnormally!
He began to frantically scheme!
How to use his identity as a "specially appointed assistant" to access medicinal materials, and... the daily diet of that dog and bitch!
His fingers trembled slightly from excitement and twisted exhilaration.
Meanwhile, inside the side courtyard, Lu Cheng looked at Luo Qingyan, who was trembling slightly and whose breathing had become somewhat rapid due to extreme nervousness and shyness in his arms.
Feeling the faint fragrance emanating from her, a cold smile, full of control, appeared at the corner of his mouth.