"Zhang Yang is right, there's definitely something off about this old TCM doctor. Zhiguo, who introduced you to him?"

Li Ya nodded in agreement, then turned to Wu Zhiguo and asked the question.

Wu Zhiguo's face had turned ashen. This old doctor had been recommended by his cousin, who had assured him the man was renowned nearby for treating numerous difficult and complex illnesses.

He had initially thought his cousin had suddenly matured and was showing genuine concern, but now he realized that wasn't the case. At the very least, these coincidences were enough to trigger intense suspicion.

Wu Zhiguo glanced at Li Ya, a bitter look crossing his face, and whispered, "The person who introduced me to this old TCM doctor was my cousin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ya's gaze sharpened.

Long Cheng, Huang Hai, and Su Zhantao all grew serious. Cainei, the woman, the Gu poison, the old TCM doctor—all these threads converged, bearing the shadow of his cousin.

They weren't fools; they understood exactly what this implied. Such machinations were impossible in an ordinary family, but within the opulent, power-hungry clans constantly battling for inheritance, this was alarmingly common.

"Zhiguo's poisoning can't wait. We need to find that old TCM doctor immediately!"

Zhang Yang stated plainly. Long Cheng and the others instantly agreed, and Wu Zhiguo certainly didn't object, as his life was on the line.

Su Zhantao tried to go too, but Zhang Yang stopped him. His girlfriend and sister were still here, and someone needed to stay by their side. If Su Zhantao left, Yang Ling would surely be distressed. Besides, they only needed to question the doctor to find out who was behind this; they didn't need such a large party. Su Zhantao had no choice but to stay, as he genuinely couldn't feel at ease leaving Yang Ling.

After Zhang Yang and the others left, they drove two cars toward the clinic. Along the way, Chang Feng called and delivered good news. Among the controlled police officers, someone had already confessed to today's events. The security guard at the mall had also admitted that it was Niu Qian who instructed them to frame them. With these two points, Chang Feng could now dispatch his own men to watch Niu Qian at the hospital, waiting to uncover his other criminal evidence.

Chang Feng’s progress was excellent. If this had happened before Wu Zhiguo arrived, they would have been thrilled, but now, no one had the mood for celebration. Wu Zhiguo’s situation was far more urgent than Su Zhantao’s. One wrong move, and his life could be over. These young masters rarely had any true friends; they cherished the few people they clicked with, those without tangled interests getting in the way.

The clinic was certainly not close. Wu Zhiguo had actually been there just moments ago for a follow-up appointment but had rushed out upon receiving the call, leaving the old doctor visibly displeased. They finally reached the small clinic, located in a town outside of Changjing.

The clinic was truly small, with an unassuming storefront, but there were indeed a few people inside being treated by an elderly doctor who looked to be in his sixties.

"This place is so tiny. You actually trusted a place like this?" Huang Hai asked Wu Zhiguo in disbelief, surveying the small establishment.

"I was desperate at the time. My cousin insisted this place was excellent, that the old doctor was famous, so I went along. And the medicine he prescribed did seem to help!" Wu Zhiguo’s face flushed slightly. After he spoke, the others stopped questioning him and got out of the cars.

There were only three or four patients inside. Upon seeing Wu Zhiguo enter, the old doctor seemed slightly annoyed, yet he attended to the other patients noticeably faster.

While watching the doctor treat these few people, Zhang Yang shook his head slightly. This man was likely a folk healer who had only studied medical texts without genuine foundational training. So-called folk healers often taught themselves some techniques and prescriptions, groping their way through treating people based on what they read. Most lacked official licensing, relying entirely on experience and book knowledge for their diagnoses. Undeniably, some folk healers succeeded, but they were few; most were entirely mediocre.

This one was a very common sort, simply applying what he read in books—treating the head for a headache and the foot for a sore—prescribing remedies based strictly on symptoms. Furthermore, his prescriptions were standardized; the medicine was likely pre-mixed, allowing patients to pay and leave immediately.

Seeing the doctor's skill, Zhang Yang was even more certain that Wu Zhiguo’s cousin was suspect. Was this the work of a famous doctor? If so, there would be famous doctors everywhere.

The group finished their brief consultation and left quickly; Zhang Yang didn't interfere. The folk doctor’s skill was average, but at least he wasn't reckless; dispensing herbs according to textbook formulas could still produce an effect. The few people he treated just now had minor, common ailments, and as long as the medicine wasn't flawed, nothing serious would happen.

"You said your friend's issue was critical, why did you come back?" the old TCM doctor asked Wu Zhiguo, tilting his head back with an air of arrogance.

His demeanor truly mimicked that of a secluded master. If the group hadn't already suspected something was amiss, they might have been fooled.

"We just came to ask a few simple questions!" Zhang Yang stepped forward, smiling at the old doctor.

The old doctor couldn't help but glance back at him, and once he looked, he couldn't turn away. Zhang Yang had begun employing his hypnotic technique. Previously, this method required the aid of a poisoned needle, but now, with his internal energy vastly increased, he could manage ordinary people without the needle.

"What do you want to ask!" The old doctor, his mind already controlled by Zhang Yang, mumbled the words.

"Tell me everything in detail about who instructed you to write the prescription you gave Wu Zhiguo!" Zhang Yang spoke slowly. This hypnosis consumed a great deal of internal energy. Even as a third-layer master, he couldn't sustain it for long; he had to extract the key information quickly.

Li Ya, Huang Hai, and the others stared at Zhang Yang in surprise; they hadn't expected him to be so direct. The next moment, their eyes widened even further as the old doctor actually nodded and answered directly: "Mr. Wu gave me this prescription. He also gave me two hundred thousand yuan to treat his brother—just for a few days of care. Oh, yes, this Mr. Wu seemed to be named Wu Zhiliang; I heard Boss Wu call his name!"

"It really was him!" Wu Zhiguo suddenly clenched his fists. Wu Zhiliang was indeed his cousin. The old doctor’s verbal confirmation erased any remaining doubt.

The old doctor nodded and continued, "I told him I wouldn't do anything harmful. He said it wasn't harmful; his brother was sick but afraid to seek treatment, so he needed my help to cooperate. Hearing that, and with the substantial payment—I agreed. My clinic barely makes tens of thousands a year; this one job is worth several years of my income!"

Hearing this, the anger on Wu Zhiguo's face intensified.

"Don't tell anyone we were here today, or you will be in serious trouble. Remember that!" Zhang Yang looked back at the old TCM doctor and spoke slowly. The old doctor kept nodding his assent.

Zhang Yang nodded as well, then turned away. The moment he turned, the old doctor shuddered slightly, looking at them with confusion.

"Let's go," Zhang Yang said softly. The others looked at him strangely but remained silent, walking toward the exit together.

"Hey, Boss Wu, you're leaving again? Aren't you going to finish your treatment?" the old TCM doctor called out urgently when he saw Wu Zhiguo depart. His air of profound wisdom had completely vanished.

Wu Zhiguo turned back, cast him a look of disgust, and got directly into the car. Wu Zhiguo felt a mixture of fury and humiliation. Fury that his own brother was actively targeting him, and humiliation that he had trusted such a quack doctor.

They arrived quickly and left just as fast, driving away immediately. Now that the perpetrator was identified, the next step was to find the mastermind and uncover the poisoner to save Wu Zhiguo’s life.

After they left, the old TCM doctor shook his head and reached for the phone, intending to report the day's events to Wu Zhiliang. However, as his hand touched the receiver, an intense feeling of unease washed over him, as if making that call would instantly invite disaster. After hesitating for a moment, he put the phone down. The feeling was too powerful; he had no appetite left to make any calls.

"Zhiguo, there are many things like this in life. You know a person's face but not their heart. Consider this a lesson for your growth," Huang Hai said gently, sighing as he looked at the red-eyed, silent Wu Zhiguo. He didn't know what else to say. Wu Zhiguo’s Gu poison was still unresolved. Even with his cousin confirmed as the culprit, their anxiety hadn't eased. Zhang Yang had explicitly stated that only the poisoner could cure the Gu, meaning Wu Zhiguo remained in danger until then.

"Ring, ring!" Wu Zhiguo’s phone suddenly rang. He looked at the incoming number and answered immediately. He spoke only two sentences into the receiver before his expression snapped, becoming fiercely angry and contorted. When the call ended, he didn't put the phone away but instead hurled it violently into the car.

"Zhiguo, what happened?" Huang Hai urgently pulled at him, while Li Ya, who was driving, also looked back in shock as the car pulled over to the side.

They had left in two cars. Zhang Yang was in Long Cheng's vehicle. Seeing the other car stop, Long Cheng quickly pulled over, and he and Zhang Yang got out to ask what was wrong.

Seeing their concerned faces, Wu Zhiguo felt a touch of emotion, but his expression grew even more pained. After a moment, he quietly said, "My family just called. Second Brother was caught gambling in Macau by relatives. After checking his accounts, they found he embezzled over a hundred million. The family is furious and demanded I return immediately to discuss how to handle him!"

Saying this, he shook his head in agony. Second Brother was his biological brother, the designated second heir to the family. If Wu Zhiguo had any issue, this brother would step in to take over the clan. Wu Zhiliang was only the third in line. Wu Zhiguo had previously thought that even if he died, Wu Zhiliang couldn't inherit the family fortune. Now, he finally understood: Wu Zhiliang wasn't just targeting him; he was trying to ensnare both brothers.