Chapter 4: The Divine Doctor Uncovers the Secret Scheme of the Aristocracy

Niu Yichen stood by the window, the night breeze tugging at the hem of his clothes. The neon lights of the city flickered in his eyes, mirroring the treacherous undercurrents hidden within the depths of this wealthy estate.

Zhan Yuwei’s poison had been neutralized, but this was merely the beginning. A greater conspiracy, like a viper lurking in the shadows, was already flicking its scarlet tongue. He knew well that acting rashly would only alert the enemy. Those eyes watching from the dark were waiting for him to slip up. A cold smirk played on Niu Yichen’s lips. Play hide-and-seek with him? He was not afraid.

Instead of approaching the hypocritical members of the Zhan family, he turned his attention to the inconspicuous old servants. Having served the household for decades, these veterans were the true "old hands" who knew far more than the younger generation. This unexpected move left those monitoring him in the shadows utterly bewildered.

"This kid isn't playing by the rules!" a man in black hidden in the surveillance room muttered, scratching his head in confusion.

Niu Yichen first sought out Uncle Fu, an elderly steward in charge of the gardens who had been with the Zhan family for over thirty years, bearing witness to their rise and fall.

"Uncle Fu, how have you been feeling lately?" Niu Yichen asked with concern, holding a delicate wooden box filled with health tea he had blended himself.

Uncle Fu took the tea, a flicker of surprise crossing his cloudy eyes. "Young Master, why are you..."

"It's nothing, I just came to check on you," Niu Yichen said with a smile. "I heard you were quite the martial arts expert in your youth?"

Uncle Fu’s expression shifted slightly at these words, and he shook his head with a smile. "You flatter me, Young Master. Those are just old stories; not worth mentioning."

Niu Yichen did not press the issue, instead chatting about trivial matters from daily life to the changing weather. His tone seemed casual, yet he was skillfully probing for information. Though Uncle Fu claimed everything was fine, his eyes betrayed flashes of panic—a reaction that solidified Niu Yichen’s suspicions: there was indeed something wrong within the Zhan family.

Suddenly, Uncle Fu clutched his chest, his face turning deathly pale as his breathing grew labored. "I... I..."

Niu Yichen’s gaze sharpened. "Uncle Fu!"

With swift reflexes, Niu Yichen caught him, placing two fingers on his pulse. His brows knit together. "Poison!" he said, his voice icy. While not fatal, the toxin was designed to cause agonizing heart pain, making life feel worse than death.

"Young Master... save... me..." Uncle Fu gasped, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"Rest easy, I am here." Niu Yichen produced a pill from his pocket and placed it in Uncle Fu’s mouth. The medicine dissolved instantly, and a wave of warmth surged through the old man’s body, instantly extinguishing the pain.

Uncle Fu let out a long sigh of relief, looking at Niu Yichen with profound gratitude. "Young Master, I shall never forget your great kindness!"

"Uncle Fu, who poisoned you?" Niu Yichen asked, his voice cold and sharp.

Uncle Fu hesitated, then finally spoke: "It... it was the people of the Second Young Master."

"Zhan Yuze?" Niu Yichen narrowed his eyes. It seemed the internal struggle within the Zhan family was far more complex than he had imagined.

Uncle Fu nodded, his voice trembling. "Young Master, I have been in this house for decades and have seen everything. When the Master was alive, the brothers were harmonious, but since his passing, the world of the Zhan family has turned upside down. The Eldest Young Master is weak and incompetent, the Third is a layabout, and only the Second Young Master is ambitious, hungry to seize the family fortune for himself."

"What else?" Niu Yichen pressed.

"The Second Young Master has been secretly aligning with various factions, and he has even... even colluded with outsiders, wanting to..." Uncle Fu stopped abruptly, his eyes filled with terror.

"Wanting to what?" Niu Yichen asked in a low voice.

"Wanting to... harm the Eldest Miss!" Uncle Fu’s voice was barely a whisper.

Niu Yichen felt a jolt of shock. Zhan Yuze was truly a ruthless character. He looked at Uncle Fu and said firmly, "Uncle Fu, don't worry. I will protect Qingxue."

Uncle Fu nodded gratefully and shared further secrets regarding the power struggle within the house. These revelations provided Niu Yichen with a new understanding of the situation, giving him more leverage in this high-stakes battle.

However, Niu Yichen's investigations did not go unnoticed. That night, two men in black blocked his path.

"Kid, you've been very active lately," one of them said with a sinister sneer. "Take my advice: stop meddling, or we will make you disappear from this city."

Niu Yichen chuckled, the sound eerie in the silent night. "Disappear? I’d like to see you try." His gaze swept over them, seemingly casual, yet he had already assessed their internal energy. "Darkness between your brows, a sinister aura, your lifespans are reaching their end. Tsk, tsk, and you dare come out to frighten people?"

The two men froze. How could this kid know their condition? Could it be...

"Who... who are you?" one of them stammered, clearly rattled. Rumors in the underworld spoke of masters who could see life and death at a glance; could this boy be one of them?

A playful smile tugged at the corner of Niu Yichen’s mouth. "Who I am is irrelevant. What matters is how much time you have left to waste." He took a step forward, and an invisible pressure surged toward them. The men felt their breath catch, as if a giant hand were choking them. "If you don't step aside, I will be the one to send you off."

The two exchanged a look of pure terror. "Retreat!" one hissed, and they turned and bolted, running with the speed of rabbits.

Niu Yichen watched their frantic retreat and smiled with disdain. That was it?

Zhan Qingxue appeared behind him, clutching his hand tightly, her eyes filled with concern. "Yichen, are you alright? Do you know who they were? What did they want?"

Niu Yichen squeezed her hand back, feeling the warmth of her palm, and felt a surge of comfort. "I'm fine, don't worry. Just some small-time thugs." He dismissed it lightly, not wanting to alarm her.

"But..." Zhan Qingxue began, but Niu Yichen interrupted.

"Qingxue," he looked down at her with gentle but resolute eyes, "I told you, I will protect you. No one can hurt you."

Zhan Qingxue looked at him, overwhelmed with emotion. "Yichen..." She leaned gently against his shoulder, absorbing his warmth and strength.

Yet, even as they enjoyed this moment of peace, a sense of unease rose in Niu Yichen’s heart. He knew this was merely the calm before the storm. The real danger had only just begun. He looked up at the night sky, his gaze deep and distant.

"It's here..." he whispered.

Zhan Qingxue looked up at him, puzzled. "What's here?"

Niu Yichen didn't answer. He gripped her hand tightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. In the distance, a black sedan slowly pulled up and stopped in front of them. The door opened, and a man in a black suit stepped out, his face twisted into a cold, sinister smile.

"Niu Yichen," the man said slowly, "we meet again."