Back in the East China Sea, everyone was tired, and Long Xiao had intended to rest for a few days. However, on the second day after their return, Ye Mei brought news: the Huaxia Medical Association was organizing a grand martial arts competition, open to all doctors. The winner would receive a thousand-year-old wild ginseng and a Tianshan snow lotus.
A thousand-year-old wild ginseng was incredibly rare, and combined with a snow lotus from the main peak of Tianshan, Long Xiao could refine twenty 'Longevity Pills'.
The allure of 'Longevity Pills' was immense. Although Long Xiao could refine them, he couldn't do so without the right ingredients.
Long Xiao knew that the East China Sea Medical Association would definitely inform Li Yizhen about this. Thus, he rushed to Xinglin Cao Tang early that morning to inquire about the situation.
Li Yizhen hadn't started seeing patients yet. Seeing Long Xiao arrive, he smiled and asked, "Master, what's the rush?"
Long Xiao smiled and sat opposite Li Yizhen, saying, "Old Li, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead," Li Yizhen nodded and replied.
Long Xiao stated his question. Li Yizhen smiled and said, "Master, I was just about to tell you about it."
Li Yizhen informed Long Xiao that the East China Sea Medical Association had already received the notification. This competition was a grand event for young doctors, with an age limit of under thirty.
Preliminary rounds would be held across the country to select a certain number of contestants, who would then participate in provincial competitions.
The provincial competitions would select the top ten, who would then proceed to the national competition organized by the Medical Association, culminating in a live arena-style tournament for the top ten.
After explaining the details, Li Yizhen asked, "Master, are you thinking of participating?"
Long Xiao nodded, saying, "I heard the prizes are a thousand-year-old wild ginseng and a snow lotus from the main peak of Tianshan. These are very rare items."
Li Yizhen chuckled, "Indeed, they are very rare. Even I'm tempted. If I were a few decades younger, I'd definitely participate."
After chatting for a while, Long Xiao received a call from Sun Yaowang. Sun Sizu was also calling about the Medical Association's grand competition.
Sun Sizu had complete faith in Long Xiao's medical skills, believing he would win first place. However, he was concerned about the generous prizes. If Long Xiao stood out too early, someone might try to harm him from the shadows.
When it came to medical skill, Long Xiao was confident. He was also confident in his combat abilities. But being attacked from behind was something he couldn't be sure he could evade.
After cautioning Long Xiao to be careful, Sun Sizu hung up.
At noon, Long Xiao returned to Villa Number One in Mangshan. Lin Wei casually mentioned the Medical Association's grand competition.
Long Xiao stated that he already had his practicing physician's license and wished to participate in the competition.
Lin Wei smiled and patted Long Xiao's shoulder, saying, "Long Xiao, I support you."
With Lin Wei's support, Long Xiao felt much more at ease. At least, no one from the Lin family would dare to say anything about this matter.
Upon returning to the East China Sea, Nangong Yue was confined. To Long Xiao's surprise, she had become completely normal.
At lunchtime, after much deliberation, Lin Xuan couldn't bear to keep Nangong Yue locked up any longer and let her out.
Xiao Ming came downstairs and was startled to see Nangong Yue already sitting at the dining table waiting for lunch. He almost turned and fled. He stood at a distance, observing for a few minutes. Seeing that Nangong Yue was perfectly normal, he cautiously approached and called out, "Grandma."
Nangong Yue smiled happily upon seeing Xiao Ming. "Xiao Ming, come sit by me, let's eat together."
Aunt Ling brought up a sumptuous lunch. Xiao Ming couldn't help but lick his lips, sniff the air, and slowly walked over to sit beside Nangong Yue.
"Xiao Ming, this chicken is delicious. Let's share it."
Nangong Yue reached for the roasted chicken and gently tore it in half with her hands, placing one half in front of Xiao Ming.
"Thank you, Grandma," Xiao Ming said happily, picking up his half of the chicken.
As they began to eat, everyone watched Xiao Ming and Nangong Yue in astonishment. They ate very quickly, and their appetites were enormous.
They almost finished all the dishes on the table.
Lin Xuan became worried and said, "Mom, don't eat so much, what if you get indigestion?"
Nangong Yue licked the oil from her fingers and said, "I'm only half full, how could I get indigestion?"
Xiao Ming rubbed his belly and said, "I'm not full either. Grandma, how about I treat you to a big meal?"
Nangong Yue happily stood up and said, "Great, let's go right away."
No one in the family stopped them from going out to eat. Lin Xuan, worried about potential trouble, asked Long Xiao to drive them.
Long Xiao drove them to the East China Sea Grand Hotel and ordered a table full of dishes. As they sat down, Xiao Ming looked at Long Xiao and said, "Brother Long, aren't you going to eat something first?"
Nangong Yue said, "Don't worry about him. A good-for-nothing like him won't starve to death."
Xiao Ming looked at Long Xiao awkwardly. Long Xiao said, "You two eat, don't mind me."
They exchanged glances and quickly devoured the table of dishes like a storm.
Xiao Ming patted his round belly and said, "Now I'm finally full."
Nangong Yue let out a sigh of relief and said, "I'm full too. I haven't eaten like this in a while."
Seeing Nangong Yue in a good mood, Long Xiao tentatively asked, "Mom, what exactly happened when you went traveling?"
Nangong Yue glared at Long Xiao and said, "Is it any of your business? You don't need to manage my affairs."
Long Xiao was rebuffed. Xiao Ming gloated and said, "Brother Long, got told off, didn't you?"
After the meal, the three of them came out of the private room and were about to go downstairs. Just as they reached the elevator, the doors opened, and a group of people walked out.
A young man in the middle, with an arrogant demeanor, saw Nangong Yue blocking his path. He waved his hand and pushed her, saying, "Old woman, get out of the way."
Before the young man's hand could touch Nangong Yue, she grabbed his wrist and, with a 'crack', broke his wrist.
A scream echoed, and the group accompanying the young man surrounded the three of them.
"You old hag, you've caused trouble! Do you know who you've injured?"
Nangong Yue looked innocent and said, "I don't know. Can you tell me, young man?"
Another young man said, "You've injured the eldest young master of the Xue family from the capital!"
Nangong Yue looked bewildered and said, "I've never heard of any eldest young master of the Xue family. I only know that the biggest family in the capital is the Long family."
"Ignorant old woman, kill her!"
As soon as Young Master Xue finished speaking, a middle-aged man lunged towards Nangong Yue's neck with extreme speed, intending to grab her throat.
Before the middle-aged man's hand could reach Nangong Yue's neck, her foot had already kicked the middle-aged man in the stomach.
The middle-aged man flew backward, crashing into the elevator door with a clang, denting it.
This middle-aged man was known as 'Ghost Hand,' whose phantom-like hands had crippled many masters.
This time, 'Ghost Hand,' renowned for his speed, was outmatched by Nangong Yue's swiftness.