"IMPUDENT"
The voice came from the elder by Ding Bojing's bed. His eyes were ablaze with fury at Kong Xiang's declaration.
Ding Xiaolong's father, Ding Peng had a darkened countenance himself. He said. "My son has had these ailments since birth. Brother Yuan has examined him since childbirth and only with his help were we able to sustain his life. He has confirmed long ago that this is not a case of poisoning, but a naturally born disease."
Yuan Meng coldly harrumphed and said, "I take it as an insult to me when novice idiots ignorantly challenge my diagnosis."
Kong Xiang looked at him and said, "Did I challenge you, senior?"
Yuan Meng was speechless.
Kong Xiang continued,"I was merely reporting an observation of mine at Miss Xiaolong's request. I don't believe a discussion between the both of us is insulting to you when we aren't referring to you at all.
In fact, it would be more appropriate if you took my words to Miss Xiaolong as the ramblings of an ignorant teenager and like the senior you are, graciously correct any wrong information I might be disseminating."
Yuan Meng spat. "You're playing words with me? Boy, when I started the practice of medicine, you were yet to start sucking milk from your mother's breast"
Kong Xiang looked at him like one would look at a pitiful beggar. "I suppose it is this arrogant attitude of yours that let you ignore the most crucial details.
He's has been lying in bed all his life. Right now, he's basically drenched in vitality fluids and nutrients, yet he looks pale and sickly. Obviously, the abundance of these vital fruits and nutrients is not able to keep up with the rate at which his vitality is exhausted.
But of course, he has been lying in bed all his life. He's not involved in any strenuous activity, neither is he overworking and draining his lifeforce."
Yuan Meng retorted. "As I said earlier, he was born with a naturally defective body. Humans normally have a stable vitality ratio and depend on food to sustain their energy. Only when food is inadequate does the body begin to draw on the basic vital energy to sustain itself. Unfortunately, his body was born without the ability to store basic vitality.
So, every nutrients I give him is to sustain his normal life energy. The minute he is off these nutrients, his body would collapse due to the absence of vital energy"
Kong Xiang gave an honest smile and asked naturally. "But have you wondered why his body cannot store vital energy?"
Ding Xiaolong was intrigued, her mind thinking about the possibility of poison that Kong Xiang had mentioned earlier. Ding Bojing's weak eyes looked straight at Yuan Meng.
Yuan Meng didn't back down. Instead, his furious voice dwindled and he replied calmly. "This is a defect he's had since birth. Naturally, if he has been poisoned with poisons that can obstruct his body's normal functions at any point, I'd have discovered it.
Besides, as a precaution, I feed him anti poison potions twice a week."
"Some Burdock root, three stalks of dandelion roots, the sap of a mature liongrass" Kong Xiang's words stunned everyone into silence. This was because he had just listed some of the herbs Yuan Meng usually requested for to concoct the anti poison potion.
"How did you...?"
Ding Peng shot an unpleasant look at his daughter. "Have you been discussing Master Yuan's secret recipes behind his back?
Ding Xiaolong wasn't pleased at the accusation. She retorted with a wronged expression. "Dad, I only met him about an hour ago. Naturally, it's impossible for me to go around talking about my family's issues and affairs,"
Kong Xiang said,"Miss Xiaolong didn't tell me anything. I identified the concoction herbs from the smell."
"The smell"
"Yes, the smell of the Zi Potion.Judging from how fresh it is, I'd guess it was administered late last night"
"Master Yuan, what is this Zi potion? I thought you invented this recipe."
"Ehem" Yuan Meng coughed. His attitude had taken a 360-degree turn when Kong Xiang mentioned the name of the potion. This was because the potion wasn't known by many. Those who knew the name were most likely medical practitioners.
Kong Xiang didn't intend to make things difficult for him. "The Zi potion is very potent and has strong detoxification properties. It is a godly anti poison potion for those at and below the Cyclic Core realm.
However, there are certain poisonous means above that realm" he paused. "Gu, for example" His words made their expressions change, Ding Peng especially. Being a Half Step Soul Embryo expert himself, he was aware of the terrifying means of Gu poison master at the Soul Embryo realm.
Kong Xiang continued, "These poison arts can be cast by a poison master at the Soul Embryo Realm. They leave no trace, and their effect varies.
There is a special Gu that is implanted while in the womb that feeds off the baby's vitality. This leads to premature birth. This would account for the sickly nature of the baby. One might think the premature birth is partially responsible for the strange illness too, but it is not.
Fortunately, I have the solution."
After his intellectual speech, he looked around to notice the shocked faces of everyone around. He chuckled, thinking that his grandfather's teachings didn't go to waste on him.
"Shall we begin?"