Chen Tian felt he was about to die.
As the one experiencing it, he had the most acute sense of that hair-raising feeling. His cervical vertebrae were making cracking noises as if they were broken into countless pieces. The torture was inhuman.
Just as Chen Tian was giving up all hope and waiting for death, he suddenly felt a chill at his neck, followed by an indescribably refreshing sensation that swept through his body in an instant.
"Ah, that was exhausting, utterly exhausting. Being a good person is really tough!" Ye Chen withdrew his hands and exhaled deeply.
Instead of harming Chen Tian, Ye Chen actually saved his life.
He Xiangdong's kicks were solid, seriously displacing the cervical vertebrae. Even in a hospital, where authoritative doctors might handle the case, it would likely be challenging to deal with.
In the end, surgery would be the only option, but if the spinal cord were damaged during the operation, it could have severe consequences, potentially leaving Chen Tian paralyzed in bed for the rest of his life.
Since the incident began with him, Ye Chen didn't want to go too far. So, he used the "Moving Flowers and Connecting Trees" technique to correct Chen Tian's displaced cervical vertebrae.
The whole process took only a few seconds, but Ye Chen used all his strength. He had already depleted much of his True Qi during the day helping an old lady with the "Golden Needle Crossing Calamity" and now after performing the bone-setting technique of "Moving Flowers and Connecting Trees," Ye Chen was greatly drained!
Chen Tian had been waiting for death, after all, for offending a deity.
But suddenly, a delightful chill appeared at his neck, all the pain and soreness disappeared, and his displaced cervical vertebrae miraculously returned to normal. This undoubtedly elevated him from hell to heaven.
"It's a miracle! My neck doesn't hurt anymore. I kneel in gratitude for the Divine Doctor's life-saving grace! Earlier, this unworthy one did not intend any offense, I hope the Divine Doctor will forgive me, Divine Doctor..."
Chen Tian crawled in front of Ye Chen to express his thanks, expecting Ye Chen would completely cut him off. But instead, after Ye Chen manipulated his neck, the cervical vertebrae were restored. Aside from some swelling, there were no lasting effects.
This made Chen Tian realize in an instant that he had encountered an extraordinary person today. No wonder the three young masters were all rushing to cling to this deity's coattails.
"Get away from here, or I'll give you a kick and twist your neck again," said Ye Chen, a trace of anger in his voice, because Chen Tian had also grabbed his leg and kept calling him a Divine Doctor, making Ye Chen feel like a charlatan.
Chen Tian awkwardly released Ye Chen's leg. His attempt at flattery hadn't gone well. Truly, a god's leg was not so easily embraced. But, to have clung to the leg of a deity, he could die with no regrets!
When Ye Chen stepped away from the group, an old superior called him over and gave him a profound analysis of life's values.
The ultimate conclusion was that one should live to justify the heavens and the earth, their parents, the people who love them, and one's own conscience!
For all these reasons, Ye Chen decided to take action and help Chen Tian through his calamity. It might have been effortless for Luoye Chen, yet for Chen Tian, if not handled well, this would have been a lifetime of pain.
"You aren't acting, are you? This isn't a movie?" Liu Shihua's eyes went wide with surprise.
Chen Tian's neck had been twisted by He Xiangdong's kick, and he seemed doomed to death, destined for the hospital. But then Ye Chen simply twisted Chen Tian's neck and fixed his cervical displacements. It was like a fantasy!
Zhang Xinlan gazed at Ye Chen, exuding the aura of a master, recalling her aunt's words: Ye Chen not only had martial skill but was also a healer. There was no illness in the village he could not cure!
Zhang Xinlan hadn't been back to her hometown for a very long time. Since she had seen some success in her career, she had not returned to her rural home village.
She only communicated with her uncles and aunts over the phone. A few days ago, she mentioned offhandedly during a call with her aunt that she wanted to hire a strong and healthy bodyguard, and her aunt had strongly recommended Ye Chen.
Ye Chen arrived with a rough and simple air about him, but his capabilities deeply impressed Zhang Xinlan. He was a freak of nature.
Not only a remarkable brute, but he could also outmatch the rich and powerful. Now he had revealed a masterful bone-setting technique, and he was a Divine Doctor!
After all, it was her real aunt who recommended such an incredible person to be her bodyguard. Zhang Xinlan was pleased. She wanted to visit her long-unseen aunt back in her hometown; after all, it had been years.
This astonishing scene was also witnessed by He Xiangdong and his two friends. They exchanged glances, each seeing awe in the other's eyes, and were inwardly relieved they had come to understand just who Ye Chen really was at the last minute.
"Lan'er, shall we go?" Ye Chen approached Zhang Xinlan and blurted out.
More than ten years ago, a slender girl held a mischievous half-grown boy who playfully slapped her chest and affectionately called out, "My little Lan'er!"
It was as if that scene had just reoccurred, unfolding before Zhang Xinlan's eyes, causing her to become momentarily absentminded before she snapped back to reality. What was happening to her!
"Lan'er?!" Liu Shihua heard Ye Chen's words and immediately widened her eyes, repeating the word while elongating the ending sound for emphasis.
"Shihua, have you gone silly?!" Zhang Xinlan was embarrassed because many years ago, a little brat used to call her "Xin Lan'er," a very special nickname for her.
A thought crossed Ye Chen's mind. His sister from the past had become so stunning, and he hoped he wasn't too late—that this "cabbage" hadn't been taken by someone else. Otherwise, his heart would've been completely shattered.
"Ye Chen, I am your boss, and I pay your salary. You must not call me by my name in the future!" Zhang Xinlan said to Ye Chen with utmost seriousness.
Ye Chen nodded intently. The road to conquest had only just begun. One day, Lan'er would throw herself into his arms.
"My big bodyguard, lead the way, let's go!" Liu Shihua cried out, high and mighty. She gave He Xiangdong a look before leaving.
The bumpkin led the way as He Xiangdong, Chen Tian, and four others raised their heads to pay the highest respect, reverently seeing off the dazzling departure of the great god, the big star Liu Shihua.
As they left the Emperor Hotel, the evening breeze brought a touch of coolness. Zhang Xinlan took a deep breath of fresh air, realizing how beautiful life could be, and couldn't help but say that He Xiangdong had indeed cast a huge shadow over her mental state that day.
If it weren't for Ye Chen arriving at the critical moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable, not just for her, but Liu Shihua might have been a lamb to the slaughter as well!
Zhang Xinlan watched Ye Chen's towering figure and couldn't help but feel nostalgic. The little kid who used to clamor to be held in her arms had grown up into a real man.
And there seemed to be a mist surrounding Ye Chen, making it difficult to see his true nature. What had he gone through over these years?
This was Zhang Xinlan's question. Ye Chen was no longer the child from before; he had grown into a behemoth!
Liu Shihua felt refreshed and pleased with Ye Chen's arrival. He Xiangdong, the debauched Crown Prince, had set a trap for her, and even Zhang Xinlan had almost fallen for it.
But then came a thunderous noise from the sky, and the great bumpkin made a grand entrance, resolving the crisis and making that wealthy, handsome man grovel. This made the big star break into joyful laughter.
Ye Chen had a strong aura of a construction worker, but his skills were absolutely top-notch. He Xiangdong's towering and formidable bodyguards were all taken down by Ye Chen after just a few exchanges.
And after he injured people, those who were beaten actually took the initiative to ingratiate themselves with him. This tactic was stunning, winning Liu Shihua's respect for Ye Chen the bumpkin.
This bodyguard is quite good; let him follow this big star, and I guarantee he'll make a fortune!
Originally, Liu Shihua had some reservations about Ye Chen's skewed resume. And after seeing Ye Chen's bumpkin true self, she felt even more uncertain about his reliability.
However, the personal charm of Ye Chen the bumpkin was boundless, with his astonishing performance winning Liu Shihua over.
"Have you learned to drive?"
Liu Shihua sat in the passenger seat, observing Ye Chen's adept operation with some doubts. A construction worker's driving skills turned out to be even better than hers.
"I am a veteran," Ye Chen replied. "I learned some operation skills in the military." His fingers tapped the steering wheel, appearing casual and at ease.
What a joke, I've driven planes, tanks, and bombers before; driving a business car is child's play.
"Just by learning some basics, you can drive a business car to this level?" Zhang Xinlan sat in the back, browsing through Liu Shihua's recent schedule. Hearing the conversation between the two, she chimed in.
Zhang Xinlan had left her hometown more than a decade ago, and Ye Chen seemed so different from the person she remembered.
His impressive skills, extraordinary adaptability, made someone like He Xiangdong willingly cling to him. Even more bizarrely, this guy seemed to be a medical expert too!
Now Ye Chen was almost speeding the business car up to 200 kilometers per hour—could this bumpkin be any more odd?
But Zhang Xinlan heard from her aunt that Ye Chen had just retired from the military. Could it be that this bumpkin's wild, cool, and explosive counterattack had occurred during his military career? Had he received some special training in the army?
"Shifting gears, stepping on the gas, is it hard?" Ye Chen questioned, puzzled.
"Big brother, can you slow down? I get car sick!"
Liu Shihua glanced at the speedometer and saw it had reached 250 kilometers per hour, which was a pace for a commercial car not meant for professional racing. This frightened her.
"Eh, okay then," Ye Chen obediently slowed down.
Zhang Xinlan looked out at the city lights and realized Ye Chen's driving skills were miraculous. When he braked and slowed down, there was not a hint of jarring motion.
"By the way, Ye Chen, how did you subdue those rich young men?" Liu Shihua asked.
She knew very well who He Xiangdong was. Ye Chen had slapped them in the face, and they didn't show any shame or anger but instead raced to cozy up to Ye Chen. Both Liu Shihua and Zhang Xinlan were extremely curious.
"With my personal charm!" Ye Chen laughed, as if reluctant to divulge anything more.
Ye Chen's eyes narrowed as he gazed out of the car window at the bustling metropolis. Maybe staying hidden in his hometown had indeed been a mistake; this colorful and splendid world should be his stage!
"Tsk!" Liu Shihua rolled her eyes at the bumpkin, thinking to herself that if he didn't want to talk, she wasn't eager to know anyway.
Zhang Xinlan was a wise woman. Liu Shihua's success owed much to Zhang Xinlan's planning, and she was justifiably proud of this.
So she knew there were undiscovered secrets behind Ye Chen's spectacular display. Over time, Ye Chen had become a stranger to her, his every move shrouded in profound mystery.
"Ye Chen, it seems there are some police officers chasing you from behind. Have you broken the law?" Liu Shihua looked in the rear-view mirror, covered her mouth in shock, and realized a frightening truth.