Chapter 135: Chapter 0135: Self-inflicted, Inescapable _1
With the collapse of the Diao Clan, the only important figure who wasn’t arrested was Elder Diao. After all, he was over seventy years old and had long since retired. Even if he had committed crimes, they were in the distant past, which made obtaining criminal evidence against him incredibly difficult.
The Diao family was counting on Elder Diao to step forward and seek help from influential figures, hoping to secure lighter punishments for them all. However, perhaps as a form of karmic retribution, Elder Diao fell ill at this critical moment and was hospitalized. He had been driven to this state purely by rage.
He never could have dreamed that a mere peasant would possess such immense power, not only having a brother like Zhao Dawei but also securing the help of hackers to uproot their entire Diao Clan. Not only had they failed to obtain Zhang Bin’s formula, but they had also brought about their own downfall.
I cannot fall. If I do, the Diao Clan is completely finished. Elder Diao lay on the hospital bed, clinging to life, refusing to take his last breath.
The Diao Clan was a sprawling family. Beyond the officials, there were many who were in business or held less significant positions. Most of these individuals had not been arrested. Consequently, several members of the Diao family were still keeping watch in the hospital room.
Diao Chenghua was one of the more capable members of the family who had not pursued a political career. At this moment, he was so anxious he felt like steam was coming out of his ears. He accosted the attending physician who had just entered the room, "Doctor Tang, please, you must cure my grandfather! Money is not an issue."
Doctor Tang sighed. "Honestly, your grandfather is elderly, and his immune system is very weak. I’m afraid he won’t make it through this time."
"What? He won’t make it?"
The expressions of everyone from the Diao Clan changed dramatically. The news struck them like a bolt from the blue. Was the Diao Clan truly finished, just like that?
Diao Chenghua, being a man of some experience, quickly calmed himself and asked, "Doctor Tang, can you offer a recommendation? Is there any hospital or doctor anywhere who might be able to cure my grandfather?"
"Well..." Doctor Tang hesitated. He did know a master who could cure Elder Diao, but he had promised not to reveal his identity. He couldn’t go back on his word.
Seeing his hesitation, the Diao family members felt a glimmer of hope and began to plead with him urgently.
"I do know of a Divine Doctor with miraculous medical skills," Doctor Tang said hesitantly, "but he rarely agrees to treat patients."
"Where does he live?" Diao Chenghua asked excitedly.
"He’s also from Qing Shan City, but I don’t have his exact address, only a phone number," Doctor Tang replied.
"Then give me the phone number. We’ll call him ourselves," Diao Chenghua said.
"No, I promised him I wouldn’t give his number to anyone," Doctor Tang refused. "I can’t afford to offend him. I might need him to save my own life someday."
"Then you call him!" Diao Chenghua’s mind worked fast, and he immediately came up with a solution. "Ask him to come and save a life. We’re willing to pay ten million for the treatment. Since he’s a doctor, he needs to make a living too. I’m sure he won’t blame you; he’ll probably even thank you."
"Ten million? Are you serious?" Doctor Tang asked earnestly.
"Of course," Diao Chenghua declared, patting his chest. "I can even pay the medical fee in advance."
The Diao family had essentially collapsed, but they still had some assets that hadn’t been frozen. A sum of ten million was manageable. However, if Elder Diao couldn’t be saved, the clan would fall completely, and their remaining wealth would inevitably be confiscated. Now was the time to be decisive.
"Alright, I’ll ask him."
Doctor Tang walked out, found a quiet corner, and called Zhang Bin. He was the same attending physician from when Elder Master Liu was hospitalized. Having witnessed Zhang Bin cure Elder Master Liu’s cancer, he had pestered him relentlessly for his phone number, promising never to share it or bother him without a very good reason.
The call connected quickly.
"Divine Doctor Zhang, this is Doctor Tang. The thing is, we have a critically ill patient in our hospital..." Doctor Tang said, sounding a bit nervous.
"I told you last time, I don’t treat patients," Zhang Bin said coldly. "Not for any amount of money."
"Well, Divine Doctor Zhang, this patient doesn’t actually have a terminal illness. He’s just old and has a bad cold he can’t shake. If you just give him some of that rejuvenating medicine of yours, he’ll recover. He’s promised to pay ten million for the treatment, with payment upfront..." Doctor Tang said quickly.
"Not going. No amount of money will convince me. What? How much did you say? Ten million? A real ten million? I’ll be right there," Zhang Bin’s voice suddenly changed.
Doctor Tang was left utterly dumbfounded. This Divine Doctor Zhang has absolutely no integrity, does he?
Just half an hour later, Zhang Bin’s car screeched to a halt at the hospital after running several red lights. He was worried the patient wouldn’t last and that the ten million yuan would vanish before he arrived. It wasn’t every day you came across a tycoon who treated money like paper.
Since Doctor Tang had texted him the room number, Zhang Bin rushed frantically to the ward. He burst through the door and announced, "Is he dead yet? If not, pay up. If he is, send him to the crematorium."
The Diao Clan members were practically howling with rage, but since this "Divine Doctor" spoke with such arrogance, he had to be skilled. So, they swallowed their anger. None of them had ever seen Zhang Bin before, so they had no idea who he was. Elder Diao was lying on the bed with an oxygen mask on, so Zhang Bin didn’t recognize him either.
Doctor Tang, however, was overjoyed. He welcomed Zhang Bin in and introduced him excitedly, "This is Divine Doctor Zhang! He can bring the dead back to life and grow flesh on bones. Pay the medical fees first, and your grandfather can be discharged in no time."
"Yes, yes, we’ll pay right now."
Diao Chenghua immediately got Zhang Bin’s account number and transferred ten million to him via his phone. Zhang Bin glanced at the confirmation message from his bank, and a brilliant smile spread across his face.
He walked over to the bedside, took out a small vial of Spiritual Water, and reached down to remove Elder Diao’s oxygen mask. Just as he was about to pour the water into the man’s mouth, he stopped abruptly, his face a mask of astonishment. "It’s you?"
"No, no, no, it’s not me..." Elder Diao’s voice was faint and laced with despair.
He had long since recognized the "Divine Doctor" as Zhang Bin and had hoped he might get away with it. But Zhang Bin had actually removed his oxygen mask, exposing him completely! How could he possibly play dumb now?
"You can survive a calamity from the heavens, but you cannot survive one of your own making. BWAHAHAHA..." Zhang Bin roared with laughter as he stuffed the vial back into his pocket.
"Zhang Bin, I beg you, save me..." Elder Diao pleaded.
"What? He’s Zhang Bin?"
The other Diao family members were stunned, their faces filling with utter despair.
"You old beast," Zhang Bin sneered. "Your being alive is a waste of the nation’s food. You’d be better off dying early and making one last contribution to the country."
With that, Zhang Bin placed the oxygen mask back on Elder Diao’s face and strode toward the door with a sinister chuckle.
"Zhang Bin, please, I beg you..." the other family members cried out.
But why would Zhang Bin care? In a few steps, he was out the door.
The Diao family members chased after him. "Zhang Bin!" Diao Chenghua yelled angrily. "You refuse to treat him, but you think you can just take our money? Give it back!"