Old Mr Pei was not there yet. However, he had told his employees to expect a patient, so Tong Yu and Huo Xiang were led into the waiting room.
Tong Yu kept looking at the door every now and then. He fidgeted in the chair, looking nervous.
After leaving the hospital, Tong Yu had done some research on Old Mr. Pei and discovered that he was far more revered than his friend made him out to be.
He descended from a family with a long history of Chinese physicians, and was a master of Chinese medicine. However, the highly venerated physician barely saw any patients these days, so it was hard to get an appointment.
Tong Yu had been unsure whether Old Mr. Pei would find time to see Huo Xiang when he called earlier today. Fortunately, he had agreed right away.
He looked at Huo Xiang and reminded him again. “Huo Xiang, you have to be polite later. You’re very lucky that a master like him is willing to see you.”
Huo Xiang muttered an acknowledgement with a mask on his face.
Old Mr. Pei finally arrived finally at 3:00 pm. His apprentice brought Huo Xiang and Tong Yu into Old Mr. Pei’s personal examination room.
Tong Yu nodded respectfully to Old Mr. Pei after the door closed. Then he pointed to Huo Xiang and said, “Old Mr. Pei, this is my friend.”
He paused before he explained further. “My friend can’t take off his mask…”
Old Mr. Pei waved his hand. “No problem. Take a seat.”
Huo Xiang sat down and Tong Yu placed some documents on the table. “Here are all his medical records from his previous check-ups.”
Old Mr. Pei put on his glasses and picked up the medical reports. A few minutes later, he put the documents down without saying anything and gestured for Huo Xiang to extend his hand.
Old Mr. Pei removed his hand after checking Huo Xiang’s pulse. “Your pulse seems strange. You were recently poisoned, right?”
Tong Yu went quiet for two seconds and said, “My friend hurt his back a few months ago. At that time, the doctors at the hospital said that it was no big deal. After that, he ended up suffering from spinal nerve damage due to some unknown reason, but no poison was found as a part of the examinations.”
Old Mr. Pei stroked his white beard and pondered for two seconds. He said, “I told you earlier, right? Some poison is undetectable through blood tests during the early stages of poisoning.”
Tong Yu scratched his head. “You said my friend was suffering from spinal nerve damage because he got poisoned. Does this mean he will recover once it is neutralized?”
It was Old Mr. Pei’s turn to look at Tong Yu quizzically. “His poison has been neutralized.”
“Huh? Neutralized? What do you mean?” Tong Yu was stunned.
“If I’m not mistaken, the poison was recently treated, right?” Old Mr. Pei’s eyes landed on Huo Xiang. Although Old Mr. Pei phrased it as a question, he sounded absolutely certain.
Huo Xiang went into a daze. He instantly thought about the medicine that his sister had given him this morning.
The moment Tong Yu heard Old Mr. Pei’s diagnosis, he said, “Was it because of that medicine? The one you helped me check previously? That’s the only medicine he has been consuming off late.”
Tong Yu remembered that Old Mr. Pei had mentioned that Huo Yao’s medicine could counter the poison and was good for nerve injury.”
Old Mr. Pei could not help recalling how undiscerning Tong Yu had been about that medicine. He inhaled deeply and did not want to look at him. Even his voice became slightly heavier. “Maybe, if those are the only meds he took.”
