Chapter 14: Do You Dare to Bet? _1

"Um... what is this thing?"

Seeing the medicine pot Ye Ming handed over, Xu Lele couldn't help but frown and pinch her nose.

Inside the pot was a clump of pitch-black, sticky matter that even looked nauseating, not to mention the pungent odor it emitted.

After smelling the medicine, Xu Lele almost vomited on the spot.

"Ye Ming, do you really intend to make me eat this? You wouldn't be trying to kill me, would you?"

No wonder Xu Lele felt such a strong aversion; even Ye Ming himself could hardly bear to look at it.

"This thing of yours is worse than a pile of dog shit, it's ugly and stinks. Are you trying to kill someone?" Xue Xiao, standing to the side, couldn't bear it either and started mocking directly.

"I absolutely won't let Le Le eat this stuff."

As he spoke, Xue Xiao stood in front of Xu Lele with a righteous face, trying to protect her.

Ye Ming chuckled dismissively, his tone less polite now, "Brother, this is a legitimate medicine for treating diseases, not like whatever you're peddling which not only doesn't cure but nearly killed the patient."

"Who she trusts is for her to decide."

Ye Ming, not wanting to waste words, directly placed the medicine pot in front of Xu Lele.

Refining this pot of medicine had cost Ye Ming a significant amount of True Qi, and he was certain of its efficacy.

Xue Xiao, full of disbelief, questioned Ye Ming, "As a licensed physician, I have a duty to protect the patient's life. If your medicine is really effective, you should have a medical practice certificate, right?"

"Show me your credentials, and if you don't have them, I'll have to report you for practicing medicine without a license!"

Indeed, Xue Xiao was quick-witted; when it came to a medical practice certificate, Ye Ming truly didn't have one.

He wasn't a doctor, so how could he have such a thing?

"What does it matter if I have a license or not if I can cure the patient's disease?" Ye Ming said indifferently.

Xue Xiao sneered, "So you don't have one, then. I'm warning you to stop your illegal activities immediately, or you'll bear the consequences!"

Even with the best of temperaments, these words angered Ye Ming.

The ingredients he used were valuable heirlooms from his ancestors, and to be questioned like this by this man—how could he tolerate it?

Ye Ming retorted, "I can cure the diseases you can't, so what does it matter if I have a certificate or not?"

"Hmph, I won't sit idly by and watch you, a quack, harm people!" Xue Xiao said sternly, "Le Le, you need to think this through. I can treat you with very formal methods, you must not believe in this self-proclaimed doctor's folk remedy."

Even Xia Ningning, who was usually reserved, couldn't stand it any longer and urged Xu Lele not to trust Ye Ming.

Facing such questioning, Ye Ming finally couldn't hold back.

Pride demanded a response, and to stay silent under such doubt would be an insult to his ancestors.

Ye Ming boldly proposed, "How about we make a bet? If Miss Xu's condition doesn't improve after taking my medicine, you can do as you please with me."

"But if it works, you'll have to kneel down and acknowledge me as your master!"

"You..." Seeing Ye Ming's confidence, Xue Xiao hesitated for a moment.

Xu Lele, however, was intrigued and quickly said, "I think Ye Ming's suggestion makes sense, why don't you two take the bet!"

"This..." Xue Xiao hesitated once more, feeling increasingly uncertain.

After a moment's thought, he clenched his teeth, stamped his foot, and declared, "Fine, let's bet!"

Watching the two set the wager, Xu Lele excitedly picked up the medicine pot.

Xia Ningning wanted to dissuade her but realized it was already futile.

Xu Lele really hoped her illness would be cured, and she hoped even more to see Xue Xiao embarrass himself, for she had grown disdainful towards him.

She frowned, enduring the effort to pour the medicine into her mouth.

Before long, a warm sensation began to surge from her belly, then swept through her entire body.

She closed her eyes in enjoyment, her face gradually flushing, and the corners of her mouth slowly turning up.

That comfortable feeling reappeared, and Xu Lele enjoyed it immensely.

After a full five minutes, Xu Lele finally exhaled a breath of foul air, her face full of a relaxed expression.

"My illness is really cured!" Xu Lele said in disbelief.

The illness that had accompanied her for many years had been so simply healed, it felt like a dream to Xu Lele.

She looked at Ye Ming with grateful eyes and said, "Ye Ming, you're amazing!"

Those simple three words dealt a critical blow to Xue Xiao, almost infuriating him to death.

His childhood sweetheart, who had been indifferent to him, was showing such intimacy towards another man, a stranger, which was unbearable for Xue Xiao.

What he found even more unacceptable was the wager he had just made.

Xu Lele didn't need Ye Ming to say anything else before she spoke up, "Xue Xiao, you're a grown man, you should honor a bet and accept the loss. The wager we made earlier should come into effect now, time to acknowledge your master!"

Xue Xiao's face was extremely unsightly, his fists clenched, shaking all over.

He couldn't believe that after studying medicine for so long, he would be defeated by a self-proclaimed doctor from the countryside, and his mindset exploded.

But with so many people watching, reneging was clearly not an option.

After struggling internally for a long time, Xue Xiao turned his head towards Ye Ming and said, "Fine, I'll honor the bet and am willing to acknowledge you as my master."

Seeing his reluctant demeanor, Ye Ming wasn't intent on forcing anything and indifferently said, "I was just joking, you can go."

"What?" Xue Xiao was somewhat taken aback, "Are you messing with me?"

Ye Ming replied with an innocent face, "Just because you want to acknowledge me as your master, does that mean I have to accept you?"

"It was merely a punishment."

Having said that, Ye Ming paid him no further attention, planning to go outside the villa to regulate his breathing.

The reason he had set such a wager was simply to punish Xue Xiao.

Who would let someone insult his lineage? It was well-deserved.

Xu Lele covered her mouth and giggled stealthily, finding Ye Ming's mischievous behavior even more likable.

Xia Ningning sighed, originally she had been on Xue Xiao's side, but who would have thought he could be so incompetent, not at all a match for Ye Ming.

Seeing the reactions of the two girls and Ye Ming's unconcerned demeanor, Xue Xiao grew more and more angry, his eyes bloodshot.

Unconsciously, he had pulled a scalpel from his sleeve.

"Dammit, dare to mess with me? I've never been humiliated like this in my whole life!"

"I must make you pay!"

Xue Xiao's face was ferocious as he took advantage of Ye Ming's inattention and suddenly lunged forward with the knife in hand.

"Ye Ming, watch out!" Xu Lele was stunned by the scene unfolding before her, hurriedly crying out a warning.

But it was already too late, with scalpel in hand, Xue Xiao had reached behind Ye Ming, and the blade was already thrust forward.

With this strike, a gash would be opened in Ye Ming's body, and if it didn't kill him, it would severely injure him.