Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

The black sedan drove smoothly on the asphalt road. Li Huaide, in the passenger seat, remained silent the entire time, his back ramrod straight, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white. Sitting in the car, his heart was in his throat. He feared that Sun Jingyuan wouldn't be able to cure his father-in-law's illness, betraying the Zhao family's trust and earning a reputation for incompetence; he also feared that if something truly happened to Old Master Zhao, he, as the son-in-law, would lose all standing in the Zhao family, and his future at the steel mill would vanish.

Sun Jingyuan, sitting in the back seat, leaned back with his eyes closed, seemingly resting, but his mind was racing. He couldn't understand why Li Huaide's high-ranking father-in-law would forgo the top medical teams in Beijing and instead seek out him, a factory doctor from the steel rolling mill. Having only been working there for a little over a month, his medical skills, though grounded in the *Xuan Shu Medical Classic*, were ultimately unremarkable. For Li Huaide to lower himself to personally invite him, there must be a significant reason behind it.

Twenty minutes later, the car slowly drove into a neat detached house and came to a steady stop on the bluestone road at the entrance.

The mansion was meticulously maintained, with clean and tidy blue brick walls and neatly planted greenery in the flowerbeds in the corners, exuding the elegance of a wealthy family. Sun Jingyuan glanced at it and immediately understood that this family's status was far higher than he had imagined. At this level, even if the owner didn't want to be ostentatious, their servants would arrange everything perfectly.

Sun Jingyuan followed Li Huaide into the living room, and as soon as they entered, they saw two familiar figures.

"Teacher." He stopped first and respectfully called out to the middle-aged man sitting in the center of the sofa, his tone full of admiration.

"You still know to acknowledge me as your teacher?" Li Jingye said with a straight face, but his eyes couldn't hide the smile, and his tone was full of familiar reproach.

He had been worried about his student, who had lost his parents at a young age. He was upright and honest, and now, after leaving school, he was working in a low-level unit like a steel rolling mill. He feared the student wouldn't understand social dynamics and hadn't been taught how to navigate the complexities of the environment. He had considered visiting the steel rolling mill several times, but hesitated to disturb the student's work. Now, this familiar "teacher" instantly put his mind at ease. Back in school, Sun Jingyuan had always addressed him respectfully as "Dean Li," showing enough respect but lacking intimacy. This new form of address showed that the student wasn't inflexible.

"I will never forget your teachings, teacher. It has only been a little over a month since I graduated, but I still remember them in my heart," Sun Jingyuan replied with a calm smile.

"Alright, stop standing there, come and sit down." Li Jingye smiled and waved, patting the sofa next to him. The meaning of this gesture couldn't be clearer—this is my disciple, Li Jingye, and no one else should treat him with disrespect.

Sun Jingyuan walked over to his side and then respectfully greeted an elderly man with gray hair next to him, saying, "Dean Zhang."

"Hmm." Zhang Shunsui nodded, his expression somewhat serious, but he softened his tone and instructed, "Jingyuan, I called you here today to check on Old Zhao's health. Don't feel guilty at all. Just perform your duties as usual and don't worry about anything else."

"I understand." Sun Jingyuan nodded in agreement, then looked up at the old man sitting in the main seat of the living room.

The old man had gray hair and his face was etched with the lines of time; he was probably in his sixties or seventies. Although he wore a gentle smile, the sharpness and aura that he inadvertently revealed in his eyes and brows could not be hidden. He was clearly a ruthless character who had weathered many storms and held power.

"Dr. Sun, don't be shy, come, let me take your pulse." Zhao Shouzhen smiled and extended his hand to him, his tone very friendly and without any airs.

"Yes."

Sun Jingyuan composed himself, stepped forward, and gently placed his fingertips on the old man's wrist.

But the moment his fingertips touched the other person's pulse, Sun Jingyuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart skipped a beat—a fatal pulse!

Zhao Shouzhen had been watching his expression closely. Seeing this, he couldn't help but smile and reassure him, "I know my own body best, Dr. Sun. Don't be afraid, just tell me what's wrong."

Sun Jingyuan ignored the surprised looks from others and did not rush to speak. He pressed his fingertips firmly on the old man's wrist again, focusing on feeling the faint, almost non-existent pulse. His mind raced through the pulse theory and diagnostic methods recorded in the "Xuan Shu Medical Classic".

No stomach, no spirit, no pulse—this is the pulse pattern described in medical books as a sign of certain death... No, there is still a chance.

Ignoring the gazes of everyone in the lobby, he reached out and took Zhao Shouzhen's hand, gently placing it to his ear, intently listening to the old man's heartbeat. Each beat was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, yet stubbornly refused to cease completely.

"Dr. Sun..." Li Huaide, who was watching anxiously from the side, couldn't help but call out.

"Shut up."

Li Jingye and Zhang Shunsui spoke at the same time, sternly rebuking him, their tone full of dissatisfaction. Even Zhao Shouzhen, sitting in the main seat, raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing a hint of displeasure.

Li Huaide's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and he shut his mouth tightly, daring not to utter another word.

He was more panicked than anyone else. Sun Jingyuan was someone he had hired from the steel mill. If something happened to Old Zhao during his diagnosis, the Zhao family would definitely hold him responsible. At that point, forget about seeking advancement at the factory; even keeping his current position would be uncertain. He even secretly hoped that Sun Jingyuan could handle things casually and not cause any major problems, allowing him to escape unscathed.

The living room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of Sun Jingyuan's breathing as he intently examined the patient; even the air seemed to freeze.

Just then, the roar of a car engine came from outside the door, and soon a middle-aged man walked in with a young girl. Seeing the scene in the living room, neither of them said much, only nodding to Li Jingye, Zhang Shunsui, and the others before quietly finding a corner to sit down. Their curious gazes fell on Sun Jingyuan, clearly wanting to see what made this young doctor so special.

Sun Jingyuan finally withdrew his hand, nodded slightly to Zhao Shouzhen, and gestured for him to lie down.

Zhao Shouzhen was also very decisive. Without saying a word, he lay down on the sofa without any hesitation.

Sun Jingyuan moved his fingers, adjusted his breathing, raised his hand and placed it on the old man's shoulders and neck, applying pressure with his fingertips to begin massaging and setting his bones.

"hiss--"

Zhao Shouzhen couldn't help but let out a soft hum, his previously tense shoulders and back instantly relaxing, and a very comfortable expression appeared on his face.

"Dr. Sun's technique is truly superb!" Zhang Shunsui exclaimed, his eyes shining as he watched. He had studied Old Zhao's neck and shoulder problems for a long time but had never found such a precise and effective method. Sun Jingyuan's move far exceeded his expectations.

"That's right, don't you know whose disciple you are?" Li Jingye's face was full of pride and smugness, but his heart was already churning with turmoil.

He truly hadn't expected his disciple to possess such hidden skills. This massage and bone-setting technique looked simple, but the force applied and the acupoints grasped were incredibly precise. Even someone with exceptional aptitude wouldn't reach this level without three to five years of dedicated practice. Moreover, Sun Jingyuan had only graduated a month ago and had never displayed such abilities during his time at school, clearly indicating he had worked diligently behind the scenes, perhaps even receiving guidance from a master.

Ten minutes later, Sun Jingyuan stopped.

Zhao Shouzhen sat up, his complexion noticeably rosier and his eyes much clearer. His gaze towards Sun Jingyuan was filled with undisguised admiration. If his body hadn't been so physically exhausted, he would have even considered hiring Sun Jingyuan as his personal physician.

"Jingyuan, the examination is complete. Just tell me your conclusions." Li Jingye suppressed his smile, looked at Sun Jingyuan, and spoke in a serious tone.

Sun Jingyuan did not answer directly, but turned to look at Zhao Shouzhen without speaking immediately.

"Dr. Sun, don't worry about it." Zhao Shouzhen laughed heartily, his tone very open-minded. "I've been through gunfire and seen too much life and death in my life. Compared to those old brothers who sacrificed their lives, I've lived so many more years. I've earned enough. Just say whatever you want."

"Death pulse".

Sun Jingyuan looked at the old man and calmly uttered two words.

As soon as the words were spoken, the living room fell into a deathly silence. Apart from Li Jingye and Zhang Shunsui, who already knew the situation, the expressions of everyone else present changed drastically. They might not understand medical principles or know exactly what "death pulse" meant, but the single word "death" was enough to make everyone panic.

"When Dean Li and I consulted before, we reached the same conclusion: there was no chance of survival." Zhang Shunsui sighed, breaking the silence with a tone full of helplessness.

Zhao Shouzhen's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of tears welled up in his eyes. Anyone who knows their days are numbered would be unable to remain completely unmoved, but he was more composed than most, at least he did not lose his composure.

Only Li Huaide's face turned deathly pale, and his heart turned ice-cold.

He had originally intended to use his father-in-law's influence to suppress Yang Xugang at the steel rolling mill and seek a higher position. As long as Zhao Shouzhen was alive, he could use the Zhao family's influence to have a smooth career in the factory; but if Zhao Shouzhen were gone, the other members of the Zhao family, who already looked down on him as their son-in-law, would only kick him when he was down, and his future would be completely ruined.

"There is a way..."

Just as everyone fell silent, Sun Jingyuan slowly spoke, breaking the deathly silence in the living room.

"Jingyuan!"

Li Jingye's eyes widened suddenly, and he shouted at him sharply, desperately trying to wink at him.

His meaning was crystal clear: doctors must learn to maximize benefits and minimize risks. Zhao Shouzhen's illness was already considered a death sentence by a group of renowned doctors. If Sun Jingyuan said he could cure it, it would be a stroke of luck if he succeeded, but if he failed, all the responsibility would fall on his shoulders, and this child's life would be ruined right after graduating from school.

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Shouzhen burst into loud laughter, then turned to Li Jingye, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Old Chen, back when I was teaching you how to shoot, you weren't this timid. What, are you afraid that if I die, someone will take their anger out on this kid?"

Li Jingye didn't speak, but stared intently at Sun Jingyuan, still signaling with his eyes not to speak recklessly.

"Dr. Sun, ignore this old man." Zhao Shouzhen looked at Sun Jingyuan and said loudly, "I'm making this clear today: no matter the outcome, after I die, if anyone dares to touch you, my sons will never let it go. The Zhao family hasn't reached the point of discarding us after we've served our purpose."

"No need." Sun Jingyuan looked at the old man, his tone calm but unusually firm. "I'm a doctor, I only do what I'm supposed to do."

Upon hearing those words, both Li Jingye and Zhang Shunsui trembled, and their faces simultaneously revealed expressions of shame.

Having spent their entire lives within the system, the instinct to seek advantage and avoid danger has become ingrained in their bones, yet they have unknowingly forgotten the doctor's fundamental duty to heal and save lives. On the contrary, this young man who has just graduated understands the original aspiration of a doctor better than they do.

"Well said!" Zhao Shouzhen praised loudly, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Sun Jingyuan.

Sun Jingyuan took out his cigarette case and offered a cigarette to each of the men present.

Zhao Shouzhen reached out to take it, but the elderly woman sitting next to him stopped him. She looked at the old man, her tone helpless yet firm: "Old Zhao, you have to follow the rules. What did the doctor say? Have you forgotten?"

"I'm almost gone, why would I care about these things?" Zhao Shouzhen waved his hand, but still reached out and took the cigarette. Sun Jingyuan quickly lit it for him, and he took a deep drag, his face full of satisfaction.

"It's not a dead end yet."

Sun Jingyuan exhaled a smoke ring, looked at Zhao Shouzhen, and said in a deep voice, "Given your current physical condition, without intervention, you won't last more than six months. But I have a way that we can try."

He paused, then said very frankly, "This method is extremely risky. If it fails, you can only last a month at most; if it succeeds..."

"How was it if it succeeded?" Zhao Shouzhen immediately asked, his eyes instantly igniting with anticipation.

"You will be safe and sound for the next five years. As for after five years, I can't guarantee anything; it's up to fate."

As soon as Sun Jingyuan finished speaking, Zhao Shouzhen froze on the spot, forgetting to even smoke the cigarette in his hand.

The old woman next to him was also shocked. She looked up at Sun Jingyuan and looked him up and down several times. Gradually, a hint of admiration appeared in her eyes.

This young man is either an opportunist who's using the old man's life to advance his career, or a genuine doctor with a kind heart, high skill, and great courage. The old woman's gaze fell on Sun Jingyuan's calm profile, and after a moment of contemplation, she couldn't make a decision.