Chapter 29: Saving Lives Comes with a Price!

It wasn't that the Xu family liked to kneel, nor did they lack pride. On the contrary, while polite on the surface, who among them didn't feel a deep-seated sense of superiority just for being a member of the Xu family?

Yet, at this moment, they were all kneeling and kowtowing.

Xu Xiuwu meant far too much to the entire Xu family. A family with a formidable expert watching over it was a true family—one that could firmly stand its ground. If Xu Xiuwu fell, the Xu family would decline with him. And decline would be the lucky outcome; total annihilation was entirely possible. In the shadows where the Xu family couldn't see, countless eyes were watching, like ravenous beasts coveting a prime piece of meat.

Xu Xiuwu was their patron deity. Without him, no matter how vast the Xu family's wealth and business were, they wouldn't be able to protect it. After all, who didn't desire fame and fortune? There were plenty of people envious of the Xu family; they simply feared Xu Xiuwu and thus didn't dare to make a move.

Once Xu Xiuwu died, all sorts of disasters would instantly crash down upon the Xu family. Therefore, they lost their nerve. They were terrified. Let alone begging on their knees—if a life-for-a-life exchange were required, the Xu family wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice someone to save him.

"I'm sure you are all aware of Grandmaster Xu's condition," Su Tan said. "His body is in terrible shape. He has nearly lost all his vitality. If you had arrived just a few steps later, I'm afraid he would have already breathed his last!"

How could they not know this?

"Please save our Grandmaster, sir!"

The Xu family was frantic, yet Su Tan remained entirely composed, casually detailing the old man's condition. They were itching to drag him over to treat the Grandmaster immediately. However, they couldn't! Right now, this man was probably the only one who could help the Xu family.

"If you knew this would happen, why did you act that way before? If you had listened to me earlier, would things have reached this point?" Su Tan said softly.

He didn't immediately start treating Xu Xiuwu. The man wasn't going to die anytime soon. Su Tan's purpose in dawdling like this was to grind down the Xu family's temperament. The more anxious they were, the calmer he needed to be. This was the way to extract maximum benefits. The initiative was entirely in Su Tan's hands now.

"We shouldn't have questioned you earlier, Mr. Su. It was our foolishness," a Xu family member pleaded. "Please be the bigger person and don't hold it against us. Save our Grandmaster first, and the Xu family will undoubtedly reward you handsomely afterward!"

"Please intervene, sir!"

"Since you could foresee the Xu family's great tribulation, you must have a way to resolve it. Please save our family, sir!"

The Xu family members wailed in unison. At this moment, only Jiu retained a shred of rationality. Her eyes darted as she thought for a moment before saying, "Mr. Su, please tell us plainly what conditions you require to save my Grandmaster. As long as it is within the Xu family's power, we will absolutely not refuse!"

Su Tan smiled. Finally, someone who understood the situation. "To be frank, I can indeed solve Grandmaster Xu's problem. However... the price for my treatment is not low!"

"We are willing to pay any price!" Xu Hao declared.

If Grandmaster Xu died, the Xu family was finished. Therefore, any price was worth it, as long as the Grandmaster could be saved.

"Truly any price?" Su Tan asked, a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips.

Looking at Su Tan's expression, they had an ominous feeling. It seemed they were about to be bled dry. But what else could they do?

"Absolutely! I'm sure the Grandmaster would agree if he knew!" Jiu said.

Su Tan shook his head, not buying their promises. "No, no, no... The price I want is quite steep. You won't be able to make that decision. Let's do this: I will extend Grandmaster Xu's life first, and we can discuss the compensation later. It won't be too late."

Hearing Su Tan's words, they were momentarily taken aback. Although they wondered what kind of price would be so steep that they couldn't even make the call—which definitely meant a massive hemorrhage of resources—it didn't seem like a big deal anymore compared to the fact that Su Tan was actually going to treat the Grandmaster now.

Let it be a massive hemorrhage, as long as the Grandmaster emerged safe and sound.

"Thank you, Mr. Su!"

"The Xu family will never forget your profound kindness and immense virtue, Mr. Su..."

"Never mind all that unforgettable talk. Bring Grandmaster Xu over so I can take a look," Su Tan said, waving a hand.

Talk of eternal gratitude was too fake. Aside from Village Chief Chen, he didn't believe anyone would truly take such a phrase to heart. Besides, when Village Chief Chen wanted to repay a favor, he spoke little and did much. There were no grand, shocking declarations. In this world, people like Village Chief Chen were few and far between. As for the promises of a few brats, Su Tan just smiled and didn't take them seriously.

"Come, come... Quick, bring the Grandmaster over for Mr. Su to see."

With Su Tan's permission, the Xu family felt as if they had received a royal pardon. They hurriedly carried the faintly breathing Xu Xiuwu over to Su Tan and laid him horizontally across the table.

"Mr. Su, if you please!" Jiu said solemnly.

Whether Grandmaster Xu could be cured all came down to this moment. Su Tan nodded. Then, he calmly reached out his hand, felt the table, and upon touching Grandmaster Xu's hand, he began to "take his pulse."

Su Tan's medical skills entirely came from the Armor Fragment in his system. He didn't know jack shit about taking a pulse. However, knowing how to do it was one thing; putting on a convincing act was another. Acting profound and unfathomable made him appear more capable and prestigious.

Was he supposed to just say, "Bring him over," grab him, inject some vitality, and be done in two minutes? If he really did that, the Xu family wouldn't value it at all. He knew they might think, "Done in two minutes? Could it just be a minor issue? Otherwise, how could it be fixed in two minutes? So Grandmaster Xu fainting earlier only looked serious but was actually a minor problem?"

Then, when Su Tan asked for compensation, they would feel they were getting ripped off. They would think to themselves, "You only worked for two minutes, and you have the nerve to ask for so much?"

Therefore, this illness had to be treated slowly.

"Sigh..." Su Tan would occasionally sigh, then furrow his brows in deep thought.

Watching him sent shivers down the spines of the Xu family. They wondered if it was incurable. It had to be serious; he was practically dead! Looking at Su Tan's expression, it seemed touch and go. They realized they were doomed. If the Grandmaster died, the Xu family was truly finished.

They also secretly blamed the Grandmaster. They thought, "If you wanted to break through, just break through. Why try to set a trap for our hidden enemies? Look at the situation now... Qi deviation has struck, and we can barely keep you alive."

Two minutes passed.

Su Tan removed his hand from Xu Xiuwu.

"Mr. Su, how is it?" Seeing that Su Tan had finished his diagnosis, the Xu family crowded around him, craning their necks to ask.

Their hearts pounded with anxiety as they waited for Su Tan to speak. It felt like awaiting a verdict.

"To be honest with everyone, Grandmaster Xu's problem is not small," Su Tan said. "My skills are modest..."

Modest?! Did that mean he was powerless?!

Hearing Su Tan's words, the Xu family nearly fainted from fright.

"What's wrong?"

"Is Mr. Su also powerless to help?!"

"Alas... is it truly Heaven's will to destroy our Xu family?"

The faces of the Xu family turned ashen.

Su Tan waved his hand and said, "You misunderstand. I meant to say, my skills are modest, but if I go all out, I can still save Grandmaster Xu."

Huh???

Holy shit...

Color instantly returned to the faces of the Xu family. Their eyes lit up! However, they were also somewhat speechless. They thought, "Master... could you please not pause so dramatically when you speak?"

But they didn't dare say it out loud. It was a veritable roller coaster, plunging from heaven straight to hell and back again!

Thrilling indeed!