"You shameless old coot, Sun Fu! So the reason Doctor Wang isn't in the National Medical Group is because of your dirty tricks."

"Why didn't you say that last night at the hotel?"

"If I'd known it was you, I never would have come with an old codger like you."

"I'm ashamed to be associated with you."

Upon hearing the other five, Sun Fu's expression turned ugly. Still, he bowed and apologized to Wang Jian, pretending not to hear their comments. He simply ignored their accusations, and after a few more bitter remarks, they fell silent. Everyone could see that Wang Jian had no desire to witness their argument. Since both Sun Fu and Wang Jian were silent, the others lost the will to keep ranting.

Once the small courtyard quieted down, Wang Jian finally spoke. "There's no need for all this. In fact, I should actually be thanking Doctor Sun."

"Thanking him?" The other chief physicians were baffled. The situation hardly seemed to warrant gratitude.

Only Xu Changqing rolled his eyes, as he understood what Wang Jian was getting at.

As expected, Wang Jian immediately continued, "To be honest, I never intended to join the National Medical Group in the first place. My family's elders were the ones pushing me." As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Changqing, the glance itself a clear explanation. At my current level of Cultivation, joining the National Medical Group would be of no help and would only slow my progress. Even Xu Changqing wouldn't be able to force me a second time.

"So," Wang Jian explained, "by getting my eligibility canceled, Doctor Sun actually did me a favor."

Despite his words, the members of the National Medical Group still glared at Sun Fu with hostility.

One of the chiefs spoke up. "Doctor Wang, are you certain you don't wish to join the National Medical Group? It would bring great honor to your family..." Seeing Wang Jian's indifferent expression, he quickly changed his tactic. "Besides, you would be able to exchange knowledge with so many other doctors and grow together."

As the words left his mouth, he realized it sounded as if they were the ones begging to learn from Wang Jian. So that's not a very attractive offer either...

He tried one last time. "You could save many people."

But this claim was even weaker. He knew perfectly well that if Wang Jian joined the National Medical Group, he would save fewer people than he did now, and his patients would mostly be high-ranking officials and dignitaries—a world away from his current practice. As the chief physician continued to speak, his voice grew fainter and fainter. Wang Jian remained unmoved, simply watching him with a faint smile. The expressions on the other doctors' faces also grew increasingly strange, and they lost all desire to persuade him further.

A thought suddenly surfaced in their minds. Joining the National Medical Group would mean more restrictions and seemed to conflict with the very reason they had all chosen to practice medicine in the first place.

The chiefs exchanged glances, gave Wang Jian a cupped-fist salute, and turned to leave.

Sun Fu was the slowest to depart. Before leaving, he pulled a book from his coat. "This is a medical text passed down from my ancestors. I feel you're better suited to have it than I am. This is only a photocopy, though; the original has already been submitted to the state. I hope you don't mind."

Without waiting for Wang Jian to refuse, he turned and walked away, his retreating figure looking somewhat desolate.

After the group had left, Xu Changqing, Zhang Cheng, and Zhang Haiyuan approached.

"You brat," Xu Changqing said irritably. "What was all that about being forced by your elders? Were you saying that for my benefit?" With Old Chen not here, who else could he have been talking about?

Wang Jian chuckled. "I truly don't want to join any National Medical Group. Whether someone is a National Doctor isn't for some committee to decide. There's no need to subject myself to those constraints. Besides, I'm not particularly fond of Beijing. I wouldn't be happy being stuck there. I'd much rather stay here in my own little corner of the world. Isn't it better to be happy?"

Xu Changqing sighed, as he understood the reasoning. "Of course I know what you mean. Actually, Old Chen and I just wanted you to take my place. Your master is getting old and wants to retire. But if you don't want to go, then so be it. Anyone who gets sick will know where to find you. You don't need a title or a position..." Besides, for Wang Jian, this place is far more suitable for cultivating his Yang Soul.

No longer trying to persuade him, Xu Changqing gestured for Wang Jian to ask Zhang Haiyuan and Zhang Cheng about the matter of the relics.

Catching the hint, Wang Jian turned to Zhang Haiyuan. "Your complexion looks much better. I take it you believe me now?"

Zhang Cheng smiled. "Of course, we believe you. The illness is completely cured, and Haiyuan's physical fitness has increased tremendously. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"That's good," Wang Jian nodded. "There's something I wanted to ask you today about those relics. I suspect Zhang Haiyuan's illness was contracted from them. If I'm right, the tomb robbers who first discovered those relics are probably already dead."

"How do you know that?" Zhang Haiyuan asked, shocked and puzzled. "When I first took on this case, my first clue came from the sudden deaths of that very group."

Wang Jian said, "I can even guess the state they were found in. They probably had no external injuries and died peacefully. Perhaps they passed away while in a coma, the same state you were in."

"You mean they also died of Soul Loss Syndrome?" Zhang Cheng asked. "If you hadn't saved Haiyuan, would he have ended up just like them?"

"Theoretically, yes," Wang Jian replied. "Whoever touches those relics, dies."

"But something doesn't add up," Zhang Haiyuan said, frowning. "When we first got the tip, we investigated the group's movements. From the time they robbed the tomb to their collective death, only a single day had passed. But I…"

Wang Jian knew what he was implying and finished the thought for him. "But you lasted for a long time and felt you could hold on even longer, right?"

The look in their eyes confirmed it. Wang Jian explained, "That's true. But isn't it possible you were just lucky? By the time the relics' influence reached you, it had weakened to the point that it wasn't strong enough to kill you immediately. That's what bought you enough time for me to save you."

"Oh, is that what happened?" Although Zhang Haiyuan didn't fully grasp the mechanics, the explanation made sense to him. "No wonder! After I brought the items back, none of the experts who came into contact with the relics were harmed. It was only me. In that case..."

Zhang Haiyuan suddenly recalled a mission abroad where a group of criminals had acted strangely, as if they weren't in their right minds. Wang Jian's theory fit those events perfectly.

"So what exactly is the deal with those relics?" Zhang Cheng asked with a frown. "I don't quite get it. Even if the relics were poisonous, surely they wouldn't be selective about their victims, would they?"

Xu Changqing shook his head. "It's not poison. It's a curse or a spell."

Zhang Cheng and Zhang Haiyuan stared back in utter confusion.