Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 240 - Bet

Everyone stared at Liu Wuxie like they were looking at a monster, particularly the imperial physicians who were in league with Guo Buqiu.

They had hatched a scheme to discredit him should he answer incorrectly. However, when Liu Wuxie retorted that no one present was a three-year-old child, it was a stinging rebuke to Guo Buqiu.

Guo Buqiu was still too naive to play games with him. An average person would undoubtedly have fallen into the trap. Unfortunately for him, he had crossed paths with Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie had accurately identified two possible illnesses simply by stating the symptoms, which was unbelievable. They began to wonder if Liu Wuxie was a monster.

Those were Guo Buqiu’s actual thoughts at the moment.

“Physician Guo, is it true that you’ve brought the patient here, as Master Liu mentioned?” Physician Yan stepped forward to challenge Guo Buqiu, deeming his tactics utterly disgraceful.

“Indeed, I have brought the patient along, and he’s currently outside the palace. Since Master Liu has diagnosed the illness, I presume you must have a remedy for it, correct? Your Majesty, I request permission to bring the patient into the hall.” With the situation having escalated to this point, Guo Buqiu had no choice but to see it through. This was the same as falling out with Liu Wuxie openly.

The Emperor turned to look at Liu Wuxie, seeking his opinion. If the patient came in and the condition differed from what Liu Wuxie claimed, the other imperial physicians would seize him.

Even if Liu Wuxie had guessed correctly, he would face the mockery of the imperial physicians if he couldn’t treat the illness.

It was a well-devised scheme with multiple layers and traps for Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie nodded, signaling that the Emperor didn’t have to worry because this little trickery couldn’t pose any trouble to him.

“Bring him in!” The Emperor said after receiving Liu Wuxie’s acknowledgment.

The other officials began to discuss this among themselves.

“Do you believe Liu Wuxie made an accurate diagnosis? Isn’t it somewhat fantastical to identify a disease based solely on symptoms?” The officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War engaged in a discussion. The majority of them were aligned with Prince Yongxian, and those seated on the right were high-ranking officials.

“So what if he was right? If he can't come up with a treatment, it won’t change the fact that he’s a fraud.” Xue Chunyu sneered as though he could already see Liu Wuxie’s demise. He was still furious from what the latter had said earlier.

“I’ve heard that Guo Buqiu brought the patient from a remote tribe, where many have experienced similar symptoms for generations. Yet, no one has been able to find a cure. It results in numerous deaths each year.” A military official spoke up, his voice resonating throughout the room. It was no secret that this was part of Guo Buqiu’s strategy to challenge Liu Wuxie.

Fifteen minutes later, a man donning a black robe entered the Divine Martial Hall. His head was wrapped in a black cloth, covering his appearance.

When everyone looked at the man, they were baffled as to why he didn’t dare to show his appearance.

Guo Buqiu stepped forward and brought the man to the hall’s center.

Upon seeing the man, Liu Wuxie smiled. With his Ghost Eye, he could see through the man’s body, leaving nothing hidden from his view.

“Guo Buqiu, why is he masked?” Physician Yan asked.

“Everyone might be alarmed if he doesn’t wear a mask!” Guo Buqiu said with a cryptic smile, scanning the room.

“Stop wasting time. What haven’t we seen before? Get on with it and reveal his face!” The military officials were impatient with Guo Buqiu’s dawdling.

Being veterans of war, they were accustomed to the sight of the dead. How could they be scared of a living person?

Alright, I’ll proceed with the unmasking. Brace yourselves!” Guo Buqiu warned, signaling the man to remove his mask.

“Turn away!” Liu Wuxie instructed Xu Lingxue, asking her to avert her gaze. Xu Lingxue complied and quietly turned her back.

As the man began to remove his mask, a palpable tension filled the room. However, when the mask was finally off, the sight caused everyone in the hall to start retching.

Most people felt turmoil in their stomachs as they endured the disgust to turn their heads away.

“Quick, cover him back on!” The military officials could still withstand it, but the civil officials couldn’t stand it any longer.

Chen Ruoyan and Chen Leyao also exchanged a glance before they vomited.

When the man removed his mask, his eyes were nearly rotten as he looked at Liu Wuxie. His facial features were no longer discernible, and white worms crawled out of his nose and ears. His mouth was so rotten that it nearly fell off.

The most frightening part was his half-rotten eyes, which could no longer move.

Even the experienced military officials were shocked that the man wasn’t dead despite having most of his body rotten.

The man’s face was pale, and his lips were purple like what Liu Wuxie had stated in the first category, but the condition was a hundred times more severe.

“Guo Buqiu, you said that he’s restless in the morning and energetic at night. But this patient’s condition differs entirely from what you’ve described.” Physician Yan was furious as Guo Buqiu had lied.

“I was talking about the early stages of the illness. This is after the illness develops into the late stage.” Guo Buqiu sneered. No one had asked him if had described the symptoms from the early or late stages of the illness.

Guo Buqiu was indeed ruthless, presenting symptoms of the early stages but bringing forth a patient in the late stage. Many onlookers sneered, for even Guo Buqiu was powerless against such a severe illness. They were curious to see how Liu Wuxie would handle it.

“Liu Wuxie, since you’ve identified the condition, you must have a treatment for it. This disease has spread to a major city in the north, and it would be a significant achievement if you could cure it,” the Minister of War remarked sarcastically, urging Liu Wuxie to treat the man.

All eyes were on Liu Wuxie, waiting for his response and to see how he would navigate this predicament. Physician Yan also wore a look of concern, as he was already familiar with this disease but had found no solution. Liu Wuxie may have diagnosed the disease, but whether he could treat it was another matter.

“Physician Guo, you’ve gone to great lengths to challenge me. If I were to decline, it would appear as though I fear death. But there should be stakes on both sides. What would you do if I managed to cure him?” Liu Wuxie asked Guo Buqiu coldly.

Guo Buqiu had issued the challenge, which Liu Wuxie had accepted. Now, they needed to discuss the stakes for both parties. Guo Buqiu glanced at Prince Yongxian, who gave him a nod. They hadn’t expected Liu Wuxie to fall into their trap so swiftly.

“If Young Master Liu can treat him, I will give up my position as an imperial physician and retire,” Guo Buqiu sneered. “But if you can’t treat him, you must admit you’re a fraud and get lost from the Imperial City.”

Guo Buqiu was vicious in wanting to force Liu Wuxie to leave the Imperial City.

Chen Ruoyan wanted to stand up and stop, as it wasn’t fair for Liu Wuxie, but the Emperor stopped her.

“Why continue with this charade? You wish for my death, yet you suggest I leave the Imperial City? Here’s my proposition: I will cure him in fifteen minutes. If I succeed, you die! If I fail, I die!” Liu Wuxie retorted, sneering at their hypocrisy. They desired his death, yet they maintained a facade.

The moment the battle lines were drawn, it was clear that it would culminate in the demise of one party and no other outcome. Liu Wuxie’s words filled the hall with a lethal aura, and it was evident to all that this banquet wouldn’t conclude peacefully. The food on the table had turned cold, as no one was in the mood to eat.

This was a showdown between the Emperor and Prince Yongxian. The victor would seize control of the ensuing conflict. If one party were to lose, they might lose the entire dynasty.

“Okay, I agree!” Guo Buqiu said, agreeing to Liu Wuxie’s terms.

Chen Yusheng and Physician Yan wanted to intervene, but it was too late. Physician Yan had dedicated half his life to studying this disease, yet he hadn’t found a cure. And now, Liu Wuxie intended to treat it in just fifteen minutes? It seemed impossible.

After both sides signed the agreement, Liu Wuxie called, “Bring me a brazier!”

Next would be Liu Wuxie’s performance, and Xu Lingxue looked at him worriedly.

The man had put his mask back on, but no one could erase the memory of his earlier appearance.

It didn’t take long before two eunuchs came in with a massive brazier and placed it at the hall’s center. This baffled everyone as they had no idea what Liu Wuxie was trying to do.

They were expecting him to put on a performance of extraordinary medical skills or refine a pill. But what was he trying to do by bringing in a brazier?

“Place these in the brazier!” Liu Wuxie commanded, taking out a selection of herbs from his pouch. He chose a few and reluctantly laid them on the table.

An eunuch, not daring to hesitate since the Emperor had decreed that Liu Wuxie could act on his behalf that day, tossed five herbs into the brazier. This action resulted in a plume of green smoke that filled the entire hall.

There were still no changes as time passed, and the smile on Guo Buqiu’s face became wider.

Did he really think he could cure such a severe illness by simply throwing a few herbs into a brazier?” The imperial physicians, gathered around Guo Buqiu, sneered. They seemed to already envision Liu Wuxie’s downfall.

Chen Yusheng was nervous as time passed because failing meant Liu Wuxie’s death.

“Will he be successful?” Xu Lingxue asked, her fists clenched in apprehension. She sat next to Liu Wuxie, her worry palpable.

“Don’t worry about it!” Liu Wuxie comforted her, signaling that such a small problem couldn’t trouble him.

However, with only five minutes remaining, the man emitted a strange noise before collapsing and convulsing on the ground.