Chapter 21

Chapter 21

A person cannot step into the same river twice, but the same person always falls into the same pit.

"Hahaha, this is hilarious, Heng Bao. Who is this unlucky guy who fell into the pit three times?"

"Heng Heng must be working hard. Did Dr. Wu Heng dig all these pits?"

"So... has Dr. Wu Heng been digging pits all this time instead of streaming? What kind of place is this? So many pits."

An ID named San Shui Zhen Ren appeared again. Last time when Wu Heng connected with Huang Qiang, a food streamer, San Shui Zhen Ren had commented that Huang Zhigang was possessed by evil spirits and had quite a following among the Shark metaphysics bloggers.

"San Shui Zhen Ren: The person in the pit must be a celestial master."

San Shui Zhen Ren, anxious outside the live stream, typed furiously, his lips blistering.

"San Shui Zhen Ren: Dr. Wu Heng underestimates the celestial master's abilities. A pit can't stop him. He must have blood on his hands."

Though this celestial master is a bit foolish, believing a pit could stop him is naive. Dr. Wu Heng is better suited to diagnosing patients; combat isn't his strength.

Fan Xuan suddenly shouted upon seeing the scenery on the screen, "Wait, isn't this outside our villa? Dr. Wu Heng, are you outside our villa?"

Fan Tu, clutching the flowers on her head, dashed out instantly.

Mr. Zhou, trailing behind, kicked Zhou Haotian, "Let's go too."

When they ran out, they saw the person in the pit hadn't climbed out. As soon as his hand touched the edge of the pit, he screamed and pulled it back, his palm now covered in a dark, sinister aura.

The little white snake was shocked—it had dug this pit. Was it really that powerful?

Just as expected!

Wu Heng, however, stayed calm. Even the most powerful celestial master in the world fears the aura of a yin emissary. This pit was dug with a paper shovel made from the newly appointed Lai Yin Chai's paper money. Escaping wouldn't be easy.

Mr. Zhou, utterly exhausted, was the last to leave the Fan family villa. Seeing the disheveled man in the pit, he froze momentarily, "Haotian's private driver?"

Everyone turned to Zhou Haotian, who panicked and snapped, "What does this have to do with me? Why are you all looking at me?"

"This is definitely suspicious. How could it be someone we know? It's always someone familiar."

"It can't be, right? One patient is his own father. He wouldn't be that cruel, would he?"

"Some people are too naive."

The celestial master Wu Tian Shi, sitting in the pit, looked at his hands, burned black and covered in blisters from the yin energy, and gave up struggling, sitting down in the pit.

He wondered where this little shaman had met a yin emissary from the underworld to trap him like this. However, there's a significant difference between a yin emissary and a ghost emissary. As soon as the sun rises at dawn, he would be able to climb out of this pit.

Wu Tian Shi sat in the pit, his gaze locked provocatively on Wu Heng at the edge.

Before Wu Heng could say anything, the little white snake was furious, hissing wildly, "Wu Heng, can you tolerate this? Beat him up!"

Wu Heng, however, remained calm and picked up another paper shovel made from paper money, walking towards Fan Tu.

Fan Tu had seen many medical dramas, where doctors on the operating table had a variety of tools, from basic scissors to the terrifying electric drills and axes that made patients tremble with fear.

Now it was her turn to be terrified.

Fan Tu instinctively took a step back but was firmly blocked by Fan Xuan behind her. Unable to retreat, she stammered, "D-Dr. Wu, c-can you give me anesthesia before the operation? I-I'm scared of pain."

Fan Tu pointed at the somewhat weak Mr. Zhou and directly threw him under the bus: "Respect your elders and care for the young, so I'll let Uncle Zhou go first."

Mr. Zhou looked at the small shovel in Wu Heng's hand, feeling a bit uneasy.

Wu Heng, on the other hand, was quite curious. Having come from ancient times, he wasn't very familiar with modern medicine and had never seen how surgeries were performed.

"Doctor Wu, don't you need a sterile room for surgery?" Fan's anxious mother cautiously spoke up.

This is the brain we're talking about; a bacterial infection could be deadly!

A verified account from T Provincial Hospital suddenly commented: "Our hospital's sterile room is available."

"I knew there had to be doctors lurking in this live stream—turns out even top hospitals are watching."

"Leaving everything else aside, can Wu Heng handle it alone? Isn't one surgeon not enough for brain surgery? It seems like there's no assistant on site."

"I was about to curse him for reckless endangerment, but then I remembered it's Wu Heng and calmed down."

Wu Heng said, "I'm not performing surgery."

He doesn't need things like sterile rooms, surgical gowns, or isolation suits.

Wu Heng had already walked up to Fan Tu, standing less than half a meter away, and could see the terrifyingly eerie flower bud that was drawing all its nutrients from Fan Tu's vital essence and blood.

"Sis, don't move," Fan Xuan said, firmly holding Fan Tu's trembling arm and scolding irritably, "Why are you harder to pin down than a pig at New Year's?"

Fan Tu had previously tried to pull out the flower, and the excruciating pain was still fresh in her memory.

She was scared!

Wu Tian Shi's disdainful gaze from the pit was evident. The seed of that flower was no ordinary one; its roots had already deeply embedded themselves into the brain's blood vessels. Pulling it out would surely be fatal, and then this little Daoist Physician would not only fail to save a life but also face a lawsuit!

If he could pull it out, he, Wu Yong, would take Wu Heng's surname!

Wu Heng pressed one hand on Fan Tu's head, and the paper shovel touched the vegetation tightly clinging to her scalp, gently shoveling upwards along the terrifying roots.

Wu Heng watched as the flower stem easily loosened. The paper money from the yin emissary Lai Wazi was indeed more effective than the colored paper from the stationery store. Next time old lady Lai burns paper money for her grandson, he'll grab a couple more sheets.

Wu Heng's movements were so gentle that Fan Tu didn't even feel the slightest pain.

Fan Tu tilted her head slightly to see Wu Heng's soft jawline and caught a faint whiff of herbal fragrance on him. Her dizzy mind was filled with thoughts of how someone so handsome could exist in the world.

At that moment, Fan Tu's mind was solely filled with admiration for his beauty.

But Fan Tu faintly heard the gasps around her and felt the weight on her head lighten, no longer feeling top-heavy. She couldn't help but ask, "How's my hair? Am I bald?!"

Fan Tu instinctively reached out to touch her head, but Wu Heng's hand gently stroked her scalp before saying, "It's okay."

That eerily beautiful flower that was stubbornly growing on Fan Tu's head, along with its bloody roots, had been completely uprooted!

Wu Tian Shi's pupils contracted: "...!"

Wu Tian Shi squatted in the pit, thinking to himself, since he speaks with an accent anyway.

Taking Wu Heng's surname, Wu Wu... it's almost the same, haha... damn it!

When Wu Heng withdrew his hand, Fan Tu carefully touched her head, only to find her dry hair remained; the flower that had been growing on her head was truly gone.

Seeing Wu Heng walking towards him, Mr. Zhou initially thought about whether the shovel needed to be sterilized, but Wu Heng's hand moved swiftly, and the paper shovel was directly used.

Even a professional gardener would be envious of this flower-shoveling technique.

"How did Wu Heng do it? Tu Tu screamed in pain just from tugging at it, but he shoveled it out effortlessly. It's truly incredible."

"So he just casually dug up the flower like it was nothing? I've been waiting so long to see it bloom, and now I won't get to see it?"

"Some people just stand by without a care, eager to see the spectacle of someone's head 'blooming.' Who's going to take responsibility if someone dies? It's better to handle it sooner rather than later."

"My worldview has been turned upside down—a human brain 'blooming'? I've never heard of such a thing."

"What are you going to do with the flower? Is it up for sale?"

Wu Tian Shi glared at Wu Heng with a sinister look. This beauty mark thrives on the essence of a beauty's blood, and only a fully bloomed flower can provide the most nourishment. Now it's been uprooted before it could bloom. Not only was all that effort wasted, but it's also caused a mess!

Wu Heng muttered under his breath, "What a shame it didn't bloom."

When Wu Tian Shi caught Wu Heng's gaze, he shivered and eyed him warily from the edge of the pit. "Why are you staring at me like that? What do you want?"

Wu Heng looked at Fan Tu and Mr. Zhou. "Do you know how to plant flowers?"

Fan Tu and Mr. Zhou immediately got the hint—even if they didn't know how, they had to act like they did.

The Fan family was about to fetch some flower pots, but Wu Heng nonchalantly gestured to the big pit. "Isn't this good enough for planting?"

(The intern) Dragon King of the well dug this pit—might as well put it to good use, right?

Wu Tian Shi panicked, thrashing around as he tried to climb out of the pit. "I'm warning you, don't mess with me!"

"Call the police! I want them to arrest you! Help, the police, save me!"

Wu Heng handed each of them a shovel. Fan Tu's eyes burned with rage as she aggressively shoveled dirt by the pit.

"You think you can harm me? Use my head as a flower pot? I'll show you how it feels to be one!"

Mr. Zhou stayed silent, but he planted flowers even faster than Fan Tu, clearly seething with anger.

He was a well-kept man in his forties, but this ordeal aged him ten years in an instant.

Wu Tian Shi screamed from the pit, panicking and lashing out, "Young Master Zhou, aren't you going to help me? You're the one who gave me those flower seeds!"

Fan Tu froze mid-shovel, then spun around and charged at Zhou Haotian. "Was it really you?" she demanded, disbelief in her voice.

Before Zhou Haotian could even respond, she slapped him hard across the face.

Fan Tu had always assumed she had some strange illness, but she never suspected Zhou Haotian. He was her fiancé, her future husband, her family!

Earlier, Uncle Zhou had hinted that the harmful master was Zhou Haotian's personal driver. She had her suspicions but didn't jump to conclusions—until now.

"You dare hurt my sister?" Fan Xuan couldn't hold back and lunged at Zhou Haotian, throwing a punch.

Mr. Zhou stared in disbelief as the Fan family ganged up on Zhou Haotian. "How could this be?"

Zhou Haotian spat blood, struggling to rise from the ground. "Why not? You old fool, what have you ever given me besides money? Did you ever give me the fatherly love I needed? Never!"

"I had my suspicions earlier, and it turns out I was right?"

"Besides money... does he know what he's saying? Nowadays, parents only give money."

"Are you serious? Your dad didn't give you love, so you took it out on him, but why drag my Tu Tu into this?"

Wu Heng joined in to watch the commotion, chiming in, "But your stepmom has already run away, you see."

Stepmom?!

Millions of people online and offline were stunned. Who exactly was Wu Heng referring to?

Zhou Haotian instinctively retorted, "Impossible!"

He pulled out his phone to make a call, but it was switched off. He tried contacting her on WeChat, only to find he had been blocked by her.

Zhou Haotian was in a complete panic. "Only Fengjiao truly cares about me. She said she was afraid I'd mind her being ten years older, but I don’t—how could I?"

Mr. Zhou was dumbfounded because the "Fengjiao" Zhou Haotian mentioned was the name of his own second ex-wife.

So, his son hadn’t sent him some plant after all, but a green hat?

Mr. Zhou was so angry he kept yelling, "You ungrateful brat... you beast!"

Zhou Haotian had stumbled upon the strange flower seeds one day by chance. Fengjiao recommended Wu Tian Shi, who said these were seeds of the Beauty's Smile, a flower that could restore youth if nourished with human blood.

He thought this idea would be perfect for Fengjiao. If she could be as young and beautiful as Fan Tu, she wouldn't be constantly anxious.

As for his father? Besides giving him money, he had never shown him any fatherly love and had even taken his lover away. It would be better if he just died anyway! That way, when the truth came out, his father would still be furious, but at least he wouldn't have to deal with the fallout.

By then, he could have both love and career, and who would dare challenge him?

"Abstract plots really don't need a script. This is some stepmom drama! What a filial son, man."

"Was Zhou Haotian set up? I feel like his stepmom and this Wu Tian Shi are working together. They ran away the moment things went south."

"Yeah, who even knows shamans and Taoist priests these days?"

"I just came to learn from Dr. Wu about treating this strange illness. How did I end up getting caught up in this drama?"

Fan Tu's blood was boiling. So, she was the only real victim all along!

If it weren’t for Wu Heng—or Dr. Wu—she might not even know how she died!

Fan Tu cast a grateful glance at Wu Heng, only to see him intently tending to the two half-opened blood-red flower buds, ignoring the person in the flower pit entirely.

Even if Zhou Haotian was crazy enough to use people to grow flowers, Wu Heng was actually planting people!

Wu Tian Shi detected a calm madness in Wu Heng and screamed hysterically, "What are you trying to do? Killing is illegal! Police, save me, save me!"

Wu Heng, of course, knew that killing was illegal. He was a law-abiding citizen, after all. Don't wrong a good person.

A gentle smile appeared on Wu Heng's handsome face as he said, "Ancient shamans had secret methods. Besides human blood, a shaman's cultivation can also nourish various flowers."

As a shaman, he often grew medicinal herbs, and Wu Heng felt his planting skills were top-notch.

In his previous courtyard, besides medicinal herbs, he also grew various fruits. When he was craving something, he would use his shamanic powers to ripen them early.

Wu Tian Shi froze, staring in disbelief at Wu Heng's harmless face.

What... what did he just say?

Killing someone is just a matter of a quick death, after all.

"I don't want to, I don't want to..." Wu Tian Shi gradually slumped into the pit, clearly feeling his transcendent powers being siphoned from his body.

Under the bright moon, a gentle breeze blew.

Millions of people didn’t dare blink, watching firsthand as the two flower buds slowly opened, gradually revealing their gorgeous stamens.

The flowers bloomed.

"!!! It really bloomed."

"Wow, this flower is stunning, unlike any other. It's so beautiful, no wonder it's the Beauty's Smile nourished by essence and blood."

"Sorry, I’m a bit of a country bumpkin, I can't really appreciate whether the flower is beautiful or not, it's just okay. A flower that nearly killed someone is pretty terrifying."

"+1, the flower’s nice to look at, but I wouldn’t dare have it at home."

To many, flowers are just for decoration.

Wu Heng plucked the stamens and handed them to Fan Tu and Mr. Zhou, who had teamed up against Zhou Haotian, "Eat them."

Without hesitation, the two popped them into their mouths.

Fan Tu, one foot planted on Zhou Haotian’s stomach, chewed the stamen and didn't forget to share the taste with her fans: "Hmm... it’s got a subtle sweetness."

Fan’s mother was the first to notice her daughter’s transformation: "Tu Tu, you..."

Fan Tu was already stunning, which is why she caught Zhou Haotian’s eye. Now, her skin visibly brightened, and her dry hair regained its fluffy and smooth texture, as if she’d suddenly been touched up with a beauty filter.

Even cosmetic surgery might not pull this off.

Fan Tu couldn’t resist touching her face. Although she couldn't see it, the touch under her fingertips was full of collagen.

Had she really become more beautiful?

Fan Tu looked at Mr. Zhou in surprise: "Uncle Zhou!"

The man, who had aged a decade, saw his gray hair gradually return to its dark color, and the shallow grooves on his face seemed to have been smoothed out. Mr. Zhou, who usually paid attention to maintenance, now looked like a dashing thirty-something!

Mr. Zhou felt an unusual surge of energy, like he was a young man again.

Fan Tu, still standing over Zhou Haotian, stared at Mr. Zhou's strikingly handsome face and suddenly had a thought, blurting out:

"Uncle Zhou, why don't you marry me?!"

The barrage, already crazy from witnessing two living people becoming younger, went even crazier.

"Holy crap, they’re really going there? So this is 'My Boyfriend Cheated, So I Became His Stepmother'?"

"I’ve spent millions on anti-aging and never got results like this. The streamer is amazing."

"But then again, Mr. Zhou was already rich, and now he has the looks. That face could totally rock the entertainment industry as a silver fox, right? Isn't it normal for Tu Tu to have this idea?"

"+1! Hahahaha, look at Zhou Haotian's expression, I'm dying."

Zhou Haotian, battered and bruised, lay on the ground, looking at Fan Tu in disbelief.

He was somewhat flustered and exasperated: "Fan Tu, what are you saying? You want to be my stepmother?"

Fan Tu showed a meaningful, mischievous smile: "Why not? You foolish son."

Zhou Haotian was nearly driven insane by these words. His girlfriend had turned into his father's new wife—wasn’t this just cuckolding him?

She’s nothing but a venomous woman!

Zhou Haotian was so furious he almost fainted!

However, Mr. Zhou was startled by Fan Tu’s sudden outburst. He quickly stepped back, encountering the hostile gazes of Fan Tu’s parents, and hurriedly said, “Tu Tu, you’re my junior, what are you talking nonsense about?!”

Mr. Zhou knew that the biggest victim in this matter was Fan Tu. If it weren’t for Dr. Wu Heng’s video comment reminder, he might not even know how he would have died.

This was something the Zhou family owed to Fan Tu.

After a moment of thought, Mr. Zhou straightforwardly declared, “Alright then, I plan to officially adopt Tu Tu as my goddaughter and give her half of the Zhou family’s property as her future dowry.”

That scoundrel Zhou Haotian, cuckolding his own father and even attempting to kill him. Mr. Zhou could never hand over all the property to Zhou Haotian.

Originally, the two families were old friends, and now they were indebted to Fan Tu. This decision was entirely reasonable.

The future father-in-law had now become a godfather.

Everyone present was stunned.

Half of the Zhou family’s fortune?!

Mr. Zhou was a prominent figure in T Province, even ranking on the national rich list. Half of his fortune to Fan Tu?

Zhou Haotian’s face turned extremely ugly—his girlfriend had taken what was rightfully his?

He was his father’s only son, and now his father wouldn’t give him the fortune. If he couldn’t produce an heir, not only half the fortune, but even all of it could potentially fall into Fan Tu’s hands.

“My god, isn’t this the ultimate heroine? Truly turning misfortune into fortune. Dumping a cheating boyfriend, achieving the youth women dream of, and even inheriting billions—I wouldn’t dare dream this big.”

“Damn, I wish I could time-travel and become Fan Tu. She’s hit the jackpot, completely hit the jackpot.”

“Wuwuwu why can’t I connect with Wu Heng? Isn’t this all thanks to Dr. Wu?”

“+1, if it weren’t for Wu Heng, Fan Tu wouldn’t just be without money, she’d be dead. So lucky.”

Wu Heng, seeing the comments about billions in property, couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

He had been live-streaming for days, but he hadn’t made that much money.

The small white snake murmured enviously beside him, “Is this the charm of a godfather?”

The small gray snake nodded, “Yes, big brother, godfathers are super nice. Why don’t you also recognize Heng Heng as your godfather?”

“Godfather Heng Heng protects me, takes care of me, and even buys me lots of fried chicken. Second godfather even got me a kids’ card.”

The small white snake couldn’t help but accept the recommendation.

Its crimson snake eyes kept staring at Wu Heng’s back.

Could it be... could it really become Wu Heng’s rebellious son? How could it become Wu Heng’s godson?

After a long contemplation, as if compromising, the small white snake suddenly wriggled quickly across the floor. Encouraged by Xi Xi’s gaze, it eagerly said to Wu Heng, “Wu Heng, I want to go back.”

Wu Heng checked the time, “Not done yet, I haven’t written the medical orders.”

It was the one who insisted on coming, and now it’s the one in a hurry to leave.

The little white snake squirmed on the ground, frantically saying, 'I, I have something urgent, I want to go back.'

Both the little white snake and Xi Xi had accompanied Wu Heng. Although the little white snake is the Dragon King of the well, it only has a pass and lacks the ability to navigate the waterways.

Wu Heng worried the snake might get lost in the water system and be swept away by the well's undercurrents.

Noticing the little white snake squirming on the ground, Xi Xi suddenly asked, 'Big Brother White, do you need to pee?'

Like some people who can only use their own toilet, or else they can't go.

The little white snake: 'Ah? Yes, yes, yes!'

Wu Heng could instantly tell the little white snake was making excuses, but he didn't bother to question why it suddenly wanted to go back.

Wu Heng picked up a leaf, cast a shamanic spell on it, and handed it to the little white snake: 'Take this back, but it only works once.'

The little white snake, clutching the green leaf in its mouth, hastily said goodbye to Xi Xi and dashed to the nearest well.

The little white snake had to concede that Wu Heng was indeed a powerful shaman. Holding that leaf, it really returned to the ancient well at the east end of Nan Nuo Village.

As it climbed out of the well, the little white snake reflected on how it had nearly been killed by a green water snake after taking a wrong turn. If it hadn't run fast, it would have been a goner. If only it had a godfather to protect it...

That thought churned wildly in its mind.

Instead of being a rebellious son, it could also be a dutiful one, hehe...

*

Wu Su observed that the young master had been frequenting the courtyard more often lately, always heading to the well in the courtyard, and even tidying up the surroundings.

Though Wu Su still couldn't fathom what Shi Xuan was up to.

Shi Xuan clutched the string of bells, but they remained silent.

Under the cover of night, Shi Xuan stood by the well, peering into it thoughtfully.

He seemed like a recluse. Since the last time he returned to the well, apart from accepting the daily packaged hot meals he sent down, he had never emerged again.

Shi Xuan: 'Can we talk?'

The cold well water rippled as usual, but the figure within never surfaced again.

Shi Xuan pursed his lips slightly, deciding to head back and rest.

The ancient well water bubbled, and a Wallace packaging bag surfaced. Shi Xuan immediately fished it out, opened it, and found another water-soaked math exercise sheet from the 'Five-Three' series. His calm heart suddenly raced with rapid beats.

Since the last time he responded to his message asking for Orleans-flavored food, he had never received any notes except for the deliveries.

Tonight, he was willing to talk again.

In private, he seemed even more introverted and profound than himself.

Shi Xuan dabbed the water off the paper, slowly unfolded it, and saw the same scrawled handwriting:

'Can you be my godfather?'

Shi Xuan froze, his pupils contracting: '...!'

What did he just say?