Xiao Wuhui's analysis put some pressure on Long Xiao. He returned to the Lin family and, once again, studied the "Dragon Collection," opening various accessible ancient texts in search of methods to rapidly improve his strength.
The "Dragon Collection" was all-encompassing, but most methods for quick power enhancement were unattainable.
As Long Xiao was feeling dejected, Lin Xuan pushed the door open and entered.
"Long Xiao, I've found another pharmaceutical factory for sale. Come with me to take a look," Lin Xuan said.
Long Xiao hesitated for a moment and replied, "Lin Xuan, I've already raised the money. It's enough for our family to use for several years. Why don't you stop trying to start a business?"
Lin Xuan didn't even ask how much money Long Xiao had raised. She shook her head and said, "No, I can't just stay at home. If I don't start a business, I'll find a job."
Long Xiao was even more worried about Lin Xuan working outside, so he reluctantly went with her to see the pharmaceutical factory.
This factory was located within the city. It hadn't ceased production, but its efficiency was not good.
The factory had three workshops and over five hundred workers. Due to the low daily output, all the workers were lethargic and sluggish.
Lin Xuan and Long Xiao first toured the workshops before heading to the factory director's office.
The factory director was a kind-faced middle-aged man. Upon hearing that Lin Xuan was interested in buying the factory, he quickly rose to welcome them.
After a brief inquiry, it was learned that the factory was in normal operation, had complete documentation, had a generally smooth sales channel, and the price was not high – only fifty million.
When Long Xiao asked why such a well-functioning factory was being sold, the director sighed and said, "It's out of desperation. My daughter is seriously ill and requires a large sum of money for treatment. My factory isn't doing well, and even all my working capital isn't enough, so I have no choice but to sell the factory."
Hearing fifty million, Lin Xuan hesitated and asked in a low voice, "Long Xiao, do we have enough money?"
Long Xiao smiled and replied, "Of course, we do. The money from selling the medicine this time is enough for you to open dozens of factories like this."
"What medicine did you sell, and how much did you get for it?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.
Long Xiao took a bank card out of his pocket and said, "There's six hundred million on this card. The password is your birthday."
Upon hearing six hundred million, Lin Xuan was utterly stunned. She instinctively took two steps back and asked, "So much? Did you cheat someone again?"
Her voice was a little loud. The factory director looked at Long Xiao with surprise, but then the surprise on his face instantly vanished.
Long Xiao noticed the change in the director's expression and thought, It seems this director is genuinely in trouble, otherwise, he wouldn't risk selling his factory to a swindler.
"When did I ever cheat anyone?"
"Didn't you cheat Brother Hu from Xicheng by drawing a talisman?"
"Wife, the talisman I drew really worked."
Lin Xuan was convinced that Long Xiao was a swindler. In her eyes, drawing talismans was superstition, and Long Xiao had used this superstition to trick Brother Hu from Xicheng.
Long Xiao knew that explaining the talisman incident would be futile, but the medicine he sold was indeed effective.
"Wife, I won't explain the talisman matter. Think whatever you want. But the medicine I sold is genuinely effective. Last time your father turned Bao Tiexiong into a vegetative state; I cured him with this very medicine."
When the factory director heard that Long Xiao's medicine could cure a vegetative patient, he excitedly stood up and approached Long Xiao, saying, "Brother, your medicine really works?"
Long Xiao nodded and replied, "Of course, it works. I never lie."
The director looked at Long Xiao with doubt and said, "My daughter had a car accident three months ago and has been in a coma since. If you can cure her, I'll give you this pharmaceutical factory for free."
Upon hearing it was free, Long Xiao happily said, "Free is good, saves money."
"Can you cure my daughter?" the director asked.
"It shouldn't be a problem. At worst, I'll refine another batch of medicine."
As Long Xiao's understanding of Qi deepened, his medical skills became more refined, and he gained more confidence in treating various difficult illnesses.
Long Xiao was going to treat the director's daughter and get the factory for free. Lin Xuan tried her best to stop him. The director directly knelt before Lin Xuan and pleaded, "Ms. Lin, please, just let him save my daughter."
Lin Xuan's heart softened. Seeing the director kneel, she quickly helped him up and said, "Don't do that. I'm just worried he can't cure her. If he can, I won't stop him."
The director's daughter was staying at the Fifth Hospital. Lin Xuan and Long Xiao followed the director to his daughter's hospital room.
The pharmaceutical factory director's daughter appeared to be thirteen or fourteen years old. She was gaunt and thin, with her eyes closed and only a faint breath.
As the three of them entered the hospital room, a middle-aged woman was sitting on a chair by the bed, wiping away tears.
"Lin Tao, this young brother can cure our daughter's illness."
The middle-aged woman turned to look at Long Xiao. Her tear-streaked face was ashen and bloodless, and a faint, lusterless black aura seemed to emanate from her forehead. Long Xiao was startled by the woman's complexion; people with such skin tone wouldn't live past twenty-four hours.
Seeing Long Xiao staring at the middle-aged woman, Lin Xuan nudged him and said, "Long Xiao, why are you staring blankly?"
Long Xiao sighed and whispered to Lin Xuan, "This elder sister won't make it past tomorrow night."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lin Xuan became agitated upon hearing someone say that another person was dying, deeming it extremely impolite.
"Wife, it's true. The old man taught me; I can tell with just one look."
Lin Xuan knew who Long Xiao's "old man" was. To explain his medical abilities, Long Xiao claimed he learned from a wandering charlatan he met before he was five. He had greatly exaggerated the abilities of that wanderer, claiming his medical skills were unparalleled, even surpassing those of immortals.
"What can a traveling peddler of fake medicine teach you? Stop talking nonsense from now on. If you can't cure the illness, it could cost a life."
"Wife is right. But can we just stand by and do nothing when someone is in need?"
Lin Xuan glanced at the middle-aged woman, not noticing anything amiss, and said in a low voice, "Stop talking nonsense and look at his daughter first."
Long Xiao nodded and stepped forward, saying, "Madam, let me examine her first and see if I can cure your daughter's illness."
The woman, having overheard Lin Xuan and Long Xiao whispering, became suspicious and felt distrustful of Long Xiao.
"You're so young, can you really heal?"
Long Xiao nodded and replied, "Your daughter is already in this state. Even if I can't cure her, it won't get any worse."
"Lin Tao, let this young brother try. The hospital doctors are helpless and have given up treatment. I've consulted many doctors from other hospitals, and they all say she won't wake up."
The middle-aged woman moved aside, allowing Long Xiao to approach the bedside. Long Xiao took the girl's wrist and examined her.
There was a large amount of blood clot in the girl's brain, pressing on her sleep nerves. Due to the special location of the clot, the hospital's instruments had not detected it.
The medicine Long Xiao used on Lin Xuan was primarily for detoxification but could also repair damaged brain cells. Clearing the blood clot in the brain could be achieved with acupuncture and massage.
Long Xiao took out a porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and placed it in the girl's mouth, saying, "I'll give her acupuncture and massage, and she'll wake up tonight."
He then took out silver needles and inserted them into several acupoints on her head. Holding the girl's wrist, he observed that the blood clot in her brain was being dispersed by his own Qi and blood.
He carefully massaged the girl's head, further dispersing the blood clot and clearing it from the sleep nerves.
About ten minutes later, Long Xiao withdrew the silver needles and said, "She's about to wake up. Prepare some meat broth. Feed her liquid food for two days, let her get out of bed to exercise tomorrow, and she'll fully recover in half a month."
Looking at the still motionless girl, the factory director and his wife felt deceived, believing Long Xiao to be a fraud.
Seeing that they hadn't moved, Long Xiao said, "Wife, go to a nearby restaurant and buy some meat broth."
Just as Lin Xuan left, the girl opened her eyes and weakly said, "Mom, I had a dream, such a long dream. I just couldn't wake up."
Seeing their daughter wake up, the couple was overcome with emotion and tears welled up involuntarily.