Chapter 4: The Golden Thread Gu

The restaurant owner hurried over and, seeing the condition of the middle-aged man, bent down to apologize profusely. Yet the girl was in no mood to accept his apologies. She stepped forward, seized him by the collar, and forcibly hauled him to his feet.

“What did you put in the food? Why has my godfather become like this?”

“There’s… there’s nothing wrong with the dishes,” the owner stammered, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “All our chefs are highly paid professionals hired from abroad. We’ve never had any issues before…”

“So you’re saying it’s my godfather’s own problem?” The girl’s expression grew even colder and more severe.

Some of the onlookers began to criticize the owner for his negligence, while others spoke up in his defense, pointing out that the dishes the girl ordered were quite common—many guests had ordered the same, yet none had vomited blood.

Amid the growing chaos, there was a sudden sputtering sound. The middle-aged man spat out another mouthful of fresh blood.

The girl immediately panicked and rushed to his side. “Godfather, hold on a little longer. I’ve already called Dean Zhang; he’s on his way with an ambulance.”

“He’s deeply poisoned by a Gu curse. If he is not treated immediately, the poison will invade his heart and even the gods won’t be able to save him.”

“Who said that?” The girl’s voice rang out like a shot, sweeping through the crowd as she searched for the speaker.

Almost at once, her gaze fixed on Lin Feng. Unlike the others, who were visibly flustered, Lin Feng was calmly slicing his steak, appearing utterly unconcerned.

The girl’s face darkened. “How dare you curse my godfather? Do you have a death wish?”

“Bing’er, don’t be rude.” The middle-aged man forced out a few words, his eyes landing on Lin Feng. “Young man, why do you say I’m under a Gu curse?”

“Your pupils are dilated, your skin is flushed like a peach blossom, and there are signs of blood stagnation in your eyes. If this isn’t a Gu curse, what is it?”

“You still dare to talk!” The girl snapped, instantly stepping forward. Her delicate white fist clenched and drove straight for Lin Feng’s face.

Despite her petite frame, the force behind her punch far exceeded that of Zhou Tai. But to Lin Feng, it was as flimsy as paper. With a slight tilt of his head, he dodged her blow with effortless grace, then rose and walked over to the middle-aged man in a few easy steps.

“Although your goddaughter has quite a temper, I can’t stand by and watch someone die. Uncle, roll up your sleeve. There’s still time to detoxify…”

“Bastard! Try laying a finger on my godfather!” the girl shouted, her voice ringing out. Suddenly, her tone shifted to excitement. “Dean Zhang, you’re here just in time—stop this lunatic!”

Several figures in white coats rushed into the restaurant, with the imposing Dean Zhang Yuanqing of the city’s central hospital at their head.

“Divine Healer!” Zhang Yuanqing’s face lit up at the sight of Lin Feng. He hurried over and bowed. “Thank you for your help last time. Without you, Miss Su would have been in grave danger.”

The middle-aged man was taken aback. The girl, Bing’er, was dumbfounded.

“Dean Zhang, you must be mistaken. How could a madman who spouts nonsense possibly be a divine healer?”

“It’s true.” Su Qingxue stood up, gently pulling Bing’er back with a smile. “Lin Feng’s medical skills are extraordinary. With him on the case, your godfather will be fine.”

Seeing that even Dean Zhang trusted Lin Feng completely, the girl had no choice but to snort coldly, shake off Su Qingxue’s hand, and snap, “Let me make this clear: if your boyfriend fails, I, Li Bing’er, will never let him off lightly!”

“B-boyfriend?” Su Qingxue’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson. Her beautiful eyes darted nervously toward Lin Feng, fearing he’d also notice what Bing’er had said.

But in the next instant, Su Qingxue was suddenly struck by a thought.

“You’re Li Bing’er? Then your godfather must be…”

“Li Nantian!”

The moment that name was uttered, many people were left in a stupor. The restaurant owner broke out in a cold sweat and stumbled to kneel before Li Bing’er.

He could hardly get his words out, his tongue tied in knots. “I failed to recognize you, Mr. Li and Miss Li. My family has an old ginseng root that’s been kept for a hundred years—I’m willing to offer it to you, sir, if only… if only you’ll spare me.”

Bing’er cast him a frosty glance. “Who wants your ginseng? As long as my godfather is safe, everything can be settled. But should anything happen to him, none of you will escape responsibility!”

During the commotion, Su Qingxue hurried to Lin Feng’s side, whispering urgently, “Lin Feng, maybe you should reconsider. That’s Li Nantian—if anything goes wrong, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Lin Feng remained calm, but Zhang Yuanqing was startled by her words. If Lin Feng refused to help, then Li Nantian would become his patient, and the burden would fall squarely on his shoulders—a life-and-death struggle for him!

“Don’t worry, I’m confident,” Lin Feng said with a serene smile. “Besides, if I were intimidated by a patient’s background, I never would have met you.”

With that, he began issuing instructions to Zhang Yuanqing and the on-site doctors.

“Bring some gauze over. And a tray—pour some alcohol into it. I’m going to draw out the poisoned blood. Make sure you catch every single drop in the tray, not a drop must be missed!”

“Otherwise, the Gu poison could escape!”

Some of the doctors scoffed at these words, but a stern look from Zhang Yuanqing quickly kept them in line. They dutifully prepared everything Lin Feng requested, and it was Zhang Yuanqing himself who held the tray before Li Nantian, not daring to move an inch.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng took out the silver needles left over from Su Qingxue’s treatment the day before and began inserting them one by one into Li Nantian’s arm. The final needle he drove deep beneath the nail of the middle finger.

The sight made many blanch in terror. Li Nantian, however, showed no reaction, as if the pain were happening to someone else.

“Is that even an acupuncture point? Dean Zhang, are you sure he’s actually treating him?” Bing’er was nearly beside herself with worry.

Zhang Yuanqing’s face turned grave. “He doesn’t even feel pain. What a terrifying poison!”

“So it really is poisoning?” Bing’er was stunned, looking at Lin Feng in disbelief.

In the next moment, an even more incredible scene unfolded. From the silver needle in Li Nantian’s fingertip, purple droplets of blood began to form, then spurted out in a steady stream.

Fortunately, Zhang Yuanqing was prepared, or the blood might have splattered outside the tray.

“What is this?” Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed, his expression changing.

Others hurried over for a closer look—and drew sharp breaths in unison.

The tray was filled with purplish pus-like blood, and within it, countless tiny golden worms writhed and struggled.

“This is called Gold Thread Gu. It can lie dormant in the body for up to six months without a single symptom. But once it erupts, the illness strikes like a landslide and the victim vomits blood endlessly,” Lin Feng explained as he removed the needles, casting a teasing glance at Bing’er. “If you’re truly concerned about his condition, you’d do better to think carefully—did he eat anything unusual half a year ago?”