Kael Renforth paid no heed to the apprentice's words, dismissing them as background noise. But when they reached Dr. Chou's ears, they struck like a heretical offense.
"Hold your tongue! Sir, please forgive him!"
Dr. Chou moved swiftly to Kael's side, bowing deeply with utmost respect.
The room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
What was Dr. Chou doing? Why would a renowned healer of his stature lower himself to Kael Renforth—a man they had always dismissed as insignificant?
Kael nodded in acknowledgment, his tone calm but commanding. "I'll guide you through it."
More gasps echoed through the room.
This was Dr. Chou, a physician celebrated across nations for his unparalleled skill. Yet here he was, humbling himself before Kael Renforth. What in the world had just happened?
After all, no earth-shattering exchange had occurred—just a few casual remarks. So why had Dr. Chou reacted with such deference?
"The issue lies in the cranial cavity," Kael said evenly. "It requires gentle warming and spinal manipulation, following the techniques detailed in the third volume of The Guoqin Heart Method."
Dr. Chou's expression froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
This man before him was no ordinary individual. He was a master of medicine, a rarity in the world. Not only did Kael Renforth identify the problem at a glance, but he could also cite the exact chapter and method from an ancient, revered medical text.
The complexity of medicine was something only practitioners could truly comprehend. Dr. Chou himself had dedicated over five decades to mastering his family's medical heritage. And yet, standing before him was a man barely past twenty, wielding knowledge with a precision that left him awestruck.
Kael Renforth had already provided the treatment plan. The rest was up to Dr. Chou, the so-called "divine physician." There was no reason for Kael to linger further.
"Sir, please wait!"
Dr. Chou blocked Kael's path.
"I beg your forgiveness, but I have only heard of The Guoqin Heart Method. I have never laid eyes on it."
Silence fell like a heavy shroud.
The apprentice's lips quivered.
To him, his master was the pinnacle of medical expertise. Yet now, there was mention of a medical text even his revered teacher had never studied—a mysterious tome containing knowledge beyond his master's grasp.
Was it possible?
Could this unassuming, oft-maligned man be a hidden genius of the highest order?
And worse, had he, in his arrogance, offended such an extraordinary figure?
Trista snapped out of her stupor, while Eldrin Denvair remained frozen, his mind reeling from the revelation.
"Kael, we didn't know you had medical expertise," Celeste Denvair remarked, her tone teasing, as though enjoying the shocked expressions of Eldrin and his wife.
Lyria, however, didn't share in the amusement.
Her frown deepened.
How many secrets had Kael Renforth kept from her?
In recent months, far too many truths about him had come to light—truths he had concealed effortlessly. How much more was hidden behind this man who was supposed to be her husband?
Eldrin Denvair suddenly grabbed Kael by the arm, his tone demanding. "Why are you standing around? Go treat your grandmother already!"
He spoke as though issuing an order, his condescending demeanor brimming with entitlement.
But Kael merely shook his head, his voice cold and resolute. "I won't."
The room erupted in murmurs.
He refused?
The family matriarch was on the brink of death, and her grandson-in-law—an apparent medical prodigy—refused to lift a finger? How could he stand by and do nothing?
"Kael Renforth, you're nothing but a troublemaker! If you ask me, you're just pretending to know something you don't!" Eldrin spat, his face twisting with anger.
SLAP!
The sound of Dr. Chou's palm striking Eldrin's face echoed loudly. A red handprint flared on Eldrin's cheek, stunning everyone.
Dr. Chou's voice boomed, his anger unrestrained. "How dare you speak to a master healer in such a manner?! Show some respect!"
Kael's gaze swept across the room, his expression devoid of emotion, his presence like an unmovable mountain.
Dr. Chou's outburst stunned everyone further.
Even the apprentice, who had never seen his master lose his temper, was floored. For decades, Dr. Chou had been the epitome of composure. What could have provoked such fury now?
"Kael Renforth," someone ventured cautiously, "you should at least examine the matriarch. After all, you are part of the Denvair family."
The suggestion drew a sharp, icy laugh from Kael.
"Part of the family?" he repeated, his tone dripping with disdain.