96: Ancestors vs. Capitalists

“Xiao Pan, please don't laugh at me, but our Doudou's illness has been going on for many years. I tried everything, but I couldn't cure her. I never expected that with one move from you, it would be resolved. I truly thank you on behalf of our entire family!” Old Master Wang said, growing emotional as he clasped Pan Han's hands.

“Uncle Wang, you are too kind. It just so happens that I have a folk remedy at home; how could I stand by and do nothing?”

“It’s just…” Old Master Wang's tone shifted, and he frowned.

Pan Han and Wang Doudou didn't know what he was planning and looked at him nervously.

“It’s just that… all medicine has some toxicity, especially your folk remedy, with such outstanding efficacy. I’m afraid there might be side effects, so, could you please hand over the prescription or prepare another dose for me? I’ll take it for analysis and inspection.”

Old Master Wang's gaze was sincere, his tone firm, and his words were impeccable.

Pan Han listened, and it didn't surprise him. After all, what else could they want besides asking about the cure and the medicine when they invited him here?

However, friendship is one thing, business is another. Handing over the medicine unconditionally was impossible. He had to ask for more conditions, otherwise, it would seem like this whole thing was fake.

Wang Doudou wasn't surprised either; after all, her dad had already briefed her.

Old Master Wang saw Pan Han's hesitation and wasn't surprised. After all, it was a family secret recipe; taking it out directly and giving it to a pharmaceutical group would make anyone think twice. However, he had many conditions at his disposal, so he naturally wasn't afraid of not being able to satisfy Pan Han.

Don't be afraid to state your conditions, just be afraid of not stating them!

“Um, Uncle Wang, this might be a bit difficult to manage,” Pan Han said, looking troubled.

“You see, here it comes.” Old Master Wang knew immediately that Pan Han was doing it on purpose. This kid was indeed someone who wouldn't act without seeing a benefit.

“Oh? How do you mean?”

“This prescription has been passed down in our family for hundreds of years. It has always been passed within the family, not outside; to sons, not daughters. I can't break the ancestral rules!”

When Wang Doudou heard Pan Han even bringing up his ancestors, she couldn't help but secretly laugh. She thought, this kid speaks as if it's a true story.

“Hmm, family rules, I can understand that. It’s just, I’m afraid Doudou might have sequelae, so I can only feel at ease after analyzing the ingredients.” Old Master Wang looked troubled.

“Uncle Wang, Doudou. This prescription, actually, has a story,” Pan Han said, building suspense.

“Oh?” Both of them became interested.

Pan Han's mind whirred, thinking of a good story to get money from the capitalists.

“This matter, we have to start 300 years ago,” Pan Han began the story he had just made up.

Old Master Wang inwardly exclaimed, “Expert!” This kid was not simple!

“In those days of turmoil, with war and chaos everywhere, my ancestors' small village, though not directly burned by war, still had many refugees fleeing there.”

“Among these refugees, there was a Taoist priest. Because his temple was dilapidated, he also became a refugee out of necessity, following the group to the village.”

“At that time, my ancestor was the village doctor. So, fearing that the refugees might bring infectious diseases, the village chief asked him to examine everyone. This examination was not a big deal, but he discovered a shocking secret on the Taoist priest.”

Pan Han paused here, seeing Old Master Wang and Wang Doudou both listening patiently, and then continued.

“At that time, the Taoist priest hadn't eaten for several days. He was so hungry his chest was pressed against his back, and he didn't even have the strength to speak. My ancestor, seeing his condition, fed him some rice porridge. After his complexion stabilized, he took his pulse.”

“As a result, my ancestor found that the Taoist priest's pulse was so erratic, he had never seen anything like it in his many years of practice.”

Old Master Wang listened with great interest, unable to resist pouring water for Pan Han.

After taking a sip, Pan Han continued: “My ancestor, seeing the Taoist priest’s pulse so chaotic, quickly asked what on earth was wrong.”

“The Taoist priest gave a bitter smile, only telling my ancestor not to waste his efforts, that his time was up. And that he had already lived for decades longer than he should have, earning enough.”

“Ah? There's such a miraculous thing?” Wang Doudou didn't know if he was telling the truth, but she was completely engrossed in the story.

“Yes, my ancestor was also curious, so he asked the Taoist priest, why did he say that?”

“The Taoist priest quietly told my ancestor not to tell anyone else. My ancestor knew he didn't want others to know the secret, so he took him home. He found a separate side room.”

“Unexpectedly, after the Taoist priest entered the side room, his condition worsened. He coughed non-stop, and my ancestor quickly went to get him a cough medicine. But the Taoist priest grabbed my ancestor and said it was useless, that his time had come.”

“My ancestor knew that some cultivators could foresee their own deaths in advance. But he still went forward to comfort the Taoist priest. The Taoist priest, however, said that he was originally of the Five Absolutes constitution and should have died suddenly at 18. But by a twist of fate, he entered a Taoist temple, and his master, seeing his pitiful state, would give him a pill every year to swallow, saying it could prolong his life.”

“Ah? Are there really immortal pills in this world?” Wang Doudou couldn't help but exclaim when she heard this.

“Don't interrupt Xiao Pan, let him finish,” Old Master Wang soothed Wang Doudou.

“And so, the Taoist priest took one pill every year, prolonging his life for a full 18 years. Later, the Taoist master passed away, leaving behind this pill prescription before his death. He told the Taoist priest to prepare it himself. After the Taoist priest obtained the prescription, he prolonged his life for another 18 years.” Pan Han took a sip of water and continued.

“The Taoist priest was coughing incessantly at the time, and he was already coughing blood. Seeing that his time was short, the Taoist priest quickly took out the prescription and handed it to my ancestor. He said that he had a edge with my ancestor, and this prescription could save people and should not perish with a dying person. He told my ancestor to use it well to heal the sick and save lives.”

“My ancestor, holding the prescription, felt a deep sense of responsibility and quickly agreed to the Taoist priest. As soon as he finished speaking, the Taoist priest vomited blood and died. After my ancestor buried the Taoist priest, he began to study the prescription. He never expected that this prescription also contained a huge secret.”

At this point, Wang Doudou also couldn't help but take a sip of water, growing more and more nervous. She knew the climax of the story was coming.

“What secret?” Old Master Wang also couldn't help but press for an answer.

“It turns out this prescription originated from an evil cult. It was originally meant for those who had gone astray in their cultivation, to suppress inner demons. It's just that this Taoist priest had never studied medicine; he only knew to follow the prescription. My ancestor, however, had studied it, and he immediately saw the trick. Actually, this medicine used poison to fight poison, and could temporarily suppress the illness, but it could only allow a person to live for an additional 36 years.”

“My goodness! That's so sinister!” When Wang Doudou heard the words “gone astray,” she immediately thought of her own past experiences.

“Yes! That’s how sinister it is. Later, my ancestor changed the proportion of one of the ingredients. He made the medicine into something that improves people’s minds. If someone lost their soul or went mad, it could be used. Later, my ancestor relied on his improved prescription to save many people.”

“Then how many more years can I live?” Wang Doudou quickly asked.

“Don’t be afraid, the improved version is already a different medicine. Many people were cured before, and there were no problems,” Pan Han comforted her.

“So it’s that miraculous.”

“Yes! It's that miraculous. However, my ancestor set a rule. Because if the proportion of this medicine's formula is slightly altered, it will revert to being a medicine that restrains inner demons. Therefore, he required us, his descendants, to guard this prescription carefully, to prevent it from falling into the hands of evildoers. Otherwise, there would be widespread suffering, and our family could not bear the responsibility.”

“So, Uncle Wang, can you understand my concerns?” Pan Han stared at Old Master Wang.

Old Master Wang heard that it was time to name his price.

“Hmm, I understand. As practitioners of medicine, we naturally must uphold our bottom line,” he replied unhurriedly.

“Therefore, I can give you a dose of the medicine, but you must guarantee that it will only be used for analysis and not for any other purpose.” Pan Han was not in a hurry to discuss cooperation, but rather left a hook to first reel in the other party.

He believed that as long as the analysis results came out, Old Master Wang would definitely seek cooperation with him.

Because last night, when he went to the apocalypse, he had already obtained a winning certainty!