"Do I have any reason to lie! Fifteen years ago, when you were just over four years old, your elder brother and sister-in-law sent you to your current grandfather, Song Zihe. Do you know why you were sent to Song Zihe and why you were able to be sent there? There are major secrets of the Heavenly Medicine Sect involved. You are a descendant of the Qi family, so it's fine to tell you. It's time for you to know the truth. It would be unfair to you and to that old man, Song Zihe, to keep it from me any longer. Do you want to hear what I have to say?" Qi Yanfeng seemed excited at this moment.
"Say what you want to say!" Song Hao stood there, his heart filled with confusion and pain. Recalling the overly affectionate expression Qi Yannian had shown him when he first met him, and his grandfather's ambiguous attitude towards the matter, all of this indicated that there was indeed something unusual going on.
Qi Yanfeng sighed, "Fifteen years ago, your biological parents abandoned you as a child to Song Zihe so that you could learn the Song family's secret technique—the Nine Needles of Resurrection. This was an unfulfilled wish of the ancestors of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. In the past, the ancestors of the Heavenly Medicine Sect treated wealthy families and were imprisoned for speaking frankly about their life or death. However, Song Zihe's father, the famous physician Song Jingchun, was able to escape in time using the secret technique of the Nine Needles of Resurrection. This incident shocked the ancestors of the Qi family. In order to obtain this emergency escape technique from the Song family, their descendants were willing to pay any price to learn the Nine Needles of Resurrection. Although such experiences in the old society no longer occur in modern society, the wishes of the Qi family ancestors have always been kept in the hearts of the Qi family's descendants."
Song Hao had heard Tang Ji recount this story of the medical sect when he was at Tang Manor. Little did he know that it was related to a hidden secret of the Heavenly Medicine Sect and the hardships of his own life.
Qi Yanfeng continued, "Fifteen years ago, during the change of leadership at the Heavenly Medicine Sect, in accordance with the wishes of our ancestors, whoever among the Qi family descendants was capable of learning the Song family's Nine Needles of Rejuvenation would be qualified to become the next leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. My elder brother and sister-in-law, in order to obtain the position of leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, inquired about the location of the Song family's descendants from various sources, and did not hesitate to abandon you, a young child, as bait. It would have been understandable if they had done this, as it was in accordance with the wishes of our ancestors. However, in order to realize this plan, they secretly carried out a conspiracy, which was to kill Song Zi and his only son, Song Gang, so that you would have the opportunity to become the sole inheritor of the Song family's medical skills."
"What!" Song Hao was shocked again upon hearing this. He knew about Song Gang, who had died young, but he never knew whether he was his father or his uncle; his grandfather had never explained it to him.
Seeing Song Hao's shocked expression, Qi Yanfeng sneered and continued, "That Song Gang had been married for less than a year and hadn't even had a child when he died in a car accident meticulously planned by your parents. Afterwards, under the pretext of seeking medical treatment, they abandoned you and forced Song Zihe to adopt you. My elder brother, who is also your father, thus succeeded as the head of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. Because his son would later be able to learn the Nine Needles of Rejuvenation. To achieve their goals, they resorted to any means necessary and cruelly murdered that Song Gang."
"You're lying, there's no such thing!" Song Hao roared.
"Whether it's true or not, you can find out by asking your parents later. You can also go back and ask your grandfather, Song Zihe, whether you are a descendant of the Qi family or not. I'm telling you this because I'm your uncle, and I can't bear to see you still being kept in the dark. Seeing you grow up and achieve so much, as your uncle, I'm truly happy for you. It's just that you've had to bear such a heavy responsibility all by yourself for the past fifteen years; it must have been so hard for you!" As he said this, Qi Yanfeng even shed a few sad tears.
"None of this is real. It's all fabricated by you to get that Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure," Song Hao said, suppressing his excitement.
“I know that the Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure is still in your hands, but since you are a member of the Qi family of my Tianyi Sect, it is as if you were one of our own. This medical treasure must be kept safe. It will be the best gift you can bring back to the Tianyi Sect when you return to your ancestral home.” A strange glint flashed in Qi Yanfeng’s eyes.
"Listen, I am not a member of your Qi family, nor am I a member of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. My surname is Song, and my name is Song Hao. That will never change," Song Hao said coldly. Then he turned and left.
Watching Song Hao's retreating figure, Qi Yanfeng's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Brother, although you used your son's power to seize the position of Tianyi Sect Master from me back then, I will make you lose even more. Your painstaking plan will ultimately disappoint you—you will lose your son forever. He will no longer acknowledge you. Since I failed to kill him once, I will let him torment you."
As Song Hao walked along, thinking about what Qi Yanfeng had said, he vaguely realized that it might be true. Could it really be that Qi Yannian was his biological father? Song Hao was in a state of confusion and, in his daze, couldn't tell how he had come from, and walked along the street into the suburbs.
"Are my parents still alive? I... I wasn't an orphan who lost both parents at a young age! And that woman who rushed back from America, is she my mother? Mother! What... does she look like? But... but they killed Uncle Song Gang and abandoned me for fifteen years to learn Grandpa's Nine Needles of Rejuvenation. Are there such parents in the world? What happened? Is Qi Yanfeng from the Tianyi Group? Why is he telling me all this? Does he have ulterior motives? God! How could this be!" Song Hao was in so much pain that he didn't know what to do. This unexpected turn of events was simply too much for him to accept as a possible reality.
Song Hao sat down on the roadside embankment, reminding himself to stay calm. This might be a conspiracy orchestrated against him by someone who wanted to obtain the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure, a supreme medical treasure.
Just then, the phone rang.
"Song Hao, where are you? It's so late and you're still not back." Tang Yu's anxious voice came from the phone.
"I don't know what to do!" Song Hao shook his head and sighed in anguish.
"Song Hao, what happened?" Tang Yu asked in surprise, sensing that Song Hao's mood was off.
When Tang Tangyu found Song Hao, she saw him sitting there all alone and forlorn, looking quite pitiful.
Seeing this, Tang Yu felt a pang of sorrow. She walked over to Song Hao and sat down next to him, asking softly, "What happened? Why did you walk so far alone?"
"I met someone today who actually told me that I am the son of Qi Yannian, the head of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. Fifteen years ago, the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect orchestrated a car accident to obtain my grandfather's family secret technique, the Nine Needles of Rejuvenation, resulting in the death of my grandfather's only son, Uncle Song Gang. Then, under the pretext of seeking medical help, they abandoned me with my grandfather, so that I would learn the Song family's secret technique in the future. The person who told me this claimed to be my second uncle, Qi Yanfeng, and what he said seemed to be true. Because my grandfather also told me that I could accept anything from the Heavenly Medicine Sect. He should already know that I am a descendant of the Qi family," Song Hao sighed.
"You're from the Qi family of the Heavenly Physician Sect! And you're Qi Yannian's son?" Tang Yu was extremely shocked upon hearing this.
"I can't confirm this yet. I need my grandfather to tell me himself before I can believe it. I'm going back to Penglai, Shandong tomorrow," Song Hao said.
“According to what you said, this matter should be true. I didn’t expect you to be from the Heavenly Medicine Sect, and I certainly didn’t expect your parents to carry out such a conspiracy to obtain the Song family’s secret techniques. Your grandfather still thinks Song Gang’s death was an accident. It’s best not to tell the old man about this for now, otherwise, such a blow is not something he can bear at his age. Especially since he raised you for so many years, and now he’s your enemy. It will affect your relationship,” Tang Yu said.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about. If it's true, I'll have let Grandpa down so badly," Song Hao said, shaking his head in anguish.
"Go back to Grandpa tomorrow and prove whether you are a member of the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. If you are, then Song Gang's death is most likely true, caused by a conspiracy secretly orchestrated by the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. Never tell Grandpa about this again. As for Qi Yannian, he has already contacted you, probably intending to have you acknowledge your ancestry. You're in a difficult position about what to do," Tang Yu said worriedly.
"If this is true," Song Hao said, a complex anger welling up in his eyes, "I will swear an irreconcilable enmity with the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. I don't have such despicable parents. Even without Uncle Song Gang's death, I would never acknowledge them. This is not only a dishonorable act of stealing skills, but also a heartless abandonment of a child, leaving him to grow up in someone else's home as an orphan with both parents. I... I don't have such cruel parents." At this point, Song Hao lowered his head in anguish.
"Qi Yannian, the chairman of Tianyi Group, is known for his generosity and is a famous philanthropist. He has led Tianyi Group for many years, transforming it from a small-time healer's sect into an international pharmaceutical group, making him a pivotal figure in the international pharmaceutical industry. How could he possibly abandon his own flesh and blood for fifteen years to painstakingly steal a medical technique? It doesn't make sense," Tang Yu said, shaking his head.
"It's said to be to fulfill a wish of the Qi family's ancestors. Back in Tangzhuang, your second grandfather also told me about this old story of the medical sect. According to Qi Yanfeng, when the leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect was changed, according to the sect rules, whoever could accomplish this would take over the Heavenly Medicine Sect. My... that Qi Yannian then used me as bait and threw me at your grandfather's place," Song Hao said.
“This Qi Yanfeng is the CEO of Tianyi Group in the Asia-Pacific region, but since he’s a member of the Qi family, why did he tell you this before your parents? Even your parents wouldn’t tell you the truth. I think there’s something fishy going on here,” Tang Yu said.
“I’m an orphan. I have no parents. I grew up with my grandfather,” Song Hao said coldly.
"I'm sorry, I forgot how you feel right now," Tang Yu said apologetically. She understood Song Hao's complicated feelings at that moment.
"It's nothing, I just don't want to mention those two people from the Qi family anymore," Song Hao sighed.
"Song Hao, you can't completely disbelieve Qi Yanfeng's words, but you also can't completely trust them. You now bear the responsibility for the safety of the Heavenly Saint Acupuncture Bronze Man, a supreme medical treasure, so it's inevitable that you'll be targeted by those with ulterior motives. Of course, judging from the current situation, you should have some kind of relationship with the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, but some things still need to be verified. Before that, it's best not to make wild guesses," Tang Yu said.
"Yes! You're right." Song Hao nodded.
"Thank you so much, Tang Yu. I feel much better now. I really didn't know what to do just now," Song Hao said gratefully.
"You're such a strange person. Why do all those big things always happen to you?" Tang Yu smiled.
"I didn't want it to be like this either. Actually, it's best for an ordinary person to live a simple life," Song Hao said helplessly.
Subsequently, Song Hao and Tang Yu found Lin Fengyi.
"Master, something has come up at home, and I plan to leave tomorrow," Song Hao said.
“Your pulse diagnosis is now complete, you may proceed.” Lin Fengyi nodded in response.
"Teacher Lin, when Song Hao's Tianyi Hall is established in the future, you must join and lend Song Hao a helping hand," Tang Yu said. She wanted to reserve this medical expert for Song Hao in advance.
“Sure! If you ever need my help in the future, just call me anytime,” Lin Fengyi said.
Tang Yu was delighted to hear this.
"The day the Heavenly Physician Hall is established will be the day when Master's 'medical fortune' flourishes!" Song Hao said with a smile.
"Haha! I appreciate your kind words!" Lin Fengyi laughed happily.
After bidding farewell to Lin Fengyi, Song Hao and Tang Yu returned to their residence and informed Luo Feiying's friend, the owner of the villa, that they would be leaving the next day, expressing their gratitude.
The next morning, Song Hao and Tang Yu boarded a train to Penglai.