"Old Luo Zhang!" Madam Luo's voice thundered through the hall. "How dare you go to Xue Qin Lou? You promised you wouldn't go anymore! You liar!"
Luo Zhang jolted, the tea cup nearly slipping from his grasp. He exhaled slowly, carefully setting it down, and opened his mouth to speak—
But Madam Luo was already upon him, words flying faster than he could respond. Her accusations filled the air as she swung at him with open hands, striking his arms and shoulders in quick succession. Luo Zhang could only stand there, hands raised defensively. "Dear, please—calm down—"
Lei Wen entered just in time to witness the scene: Madam Luo fiercely venting her rage while her husband tried—and failed—to pacify her.
Moments later, Lin Qian arrived. Assessing the situation with a quick glance, she stepped forward. Her hand reached out, firm but gentle, and she pulled Madam Luo back with ease. Despite her delicate appearance, Lin Qian's Celestial strength made the action effortless.
"Furen," Lin Qian said calmly, "please compose yourself. Shouting will not solve anything."
Madam Luo, breathing heavily, glared at her husband but allowed herself to be restrained, though her fists remained clenched at her sides.
Luo Zhang, trying to coax his wife, spoke with a placating tone, "Dear, please listen to my explanation. Yes, I did go to Xue Qin Lou, but I went there to meet a big customer!"
Madam Luo remained silent, her gaze sharp but expectant, waiting for him to continue. Taking this as a good sign, Luo Zhang hastily added, "You remember that large order our Luo Family Store received a few months ago? The man I met at Xue Qin Lou is precisely that customer! This time, he even placed an even bigger order."
He took a cautious step forward and gently reached for his wife's hands, slowly guiding her toward a chair. "It was a rare opportunity," he continued. "I know I promised not to go to Xue Qin Lou for entertainment, but I wasn't there for fun. It was business. And I thought you might misunderstand, so I brought A-He with me."
At the mention of her son's name, Madam Luo's face changed. Her anger gave way to horror as her complexion paled, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. Within seconds, her composure shattered, and she broke into sobs again.
Luo Zhang's mouth opened in confusion, utterly baffled by the sudden shift. He thought she was merely angry about his visit to Xue Qin Lou and had no idea why she was now crying so uncontrollably. Flustered, he reached out awkwardly. "Dear, what's wrong? I—I thought explaining would help—"
Xiao Ning stepped forward, breaking the tension. "Master," she said respectfully, "this morning, Young Master woke up screaming in pain. We summoned many doctors, but none could help. Thankfully, these two Immortal Doctors arrived, and now the young master is finally resting."
Only then did Luo Zhang notice the strangers in the room. His eyes widened as he quickly turned to Lei Wen and Lin Qian. "I—Immortal Doctors?" He bowed deeply, his voice laced with both gratitude and urgency. "My sincerest apologies, Xianren! I didn't realize... Please, sit. Thank you for helping my son. I'm sure, now that you're here, he will recover."
Lei Wen shook his head slightly. "We're still uncertain of the cause."
Luo Zhang's brows furrowed. "But... isn't he resting now?"
"He is," Lei Wen confirmed, "but I only put him to sleep to give his body a reprieve. He's been screaming since daybreak, and his body couldn't take it. As for why... we haven't determined the cause yet."
Madam Luo, still sniffling, dropped to her knees suddenly, bowing deeply. "Xianren, please! I beg you—save my son!"
Lin Qian reached out and gently helped Madam Luo to her feet. "Furen, we want to help," she said softly. "But to do so, we need information to determine the cause. Please, try to recall anything unusual."
Her gaze shifted to Luo Zhang. "Master Luo, you took A-He to Xue Qin Lou. Was there anything that stood out? Perhaps something he ate, someone he spoke to—anything at all."
Luo Zhang furrowed his brows, searching his memory. "Nothing in particular," he said slowly. "He ate the same dishes as the rest of us—except for the wine. He stayed in the VIP room with me and my guest the entire time." He paused, glancing at the maid. "And Xiao Ning was watching him."
Xiao Ning nodded quickly. "Yes, Young Master remained in the VIP room the entire time. The only exception was when he went to the restroom. I accompanied him."
Lei Wen's gaze sharpened. "And nothing happened during that time?"
Xiao Ning hesitated, then added, "Oh! On the way to the restroom, Young Master was in a hurry and accidentally bumped into one of the ladies there. That's all—nothing more."
Madam Luo, her voice quivering, looked at Lei Wen. "Xianren, you checked his pulse... What did you find?"
Lei Wen hesitated, exchanging a glance with Lin Qian. After a brief pause, he spoke, his tone heavy. "Your son... has developed an Immortal Core."
Silence thickened the air. Madam Luo's face drained of color, while Luo Zhang's expression twisted in disbelief.
Luo Zhang stammered, "But—but isn't that impossible without innate talent? How... how can this be happening?"
Lei Wen's gaze darkened. "You're right—it should be impossible. Frankly, we're at a loss ourselves. But the truth is undeniable: your son is forming an Immortal Core."
A low voice imbued with Spirit Energy echoed directly in Lei Wen and Lin Qian's ears—steady, sharp, and unheard by others. "Stabilizing the core is the priority. If it destabilizes, the fallout won't just affect him—it could endanger everyone in the vicinity."
Lei Wen turned to Master and Madam Luo, his expression grave. "A-He's life is still hanging by a thread. We need to act now."
Without waiting for a reply, Lei Wen and Lin Qian exchanged a brief glance—an unspoken agreement—and strode toward A-He's room, Xuan Tian's warning echoing in their minds with every step.