When Xu Ke mentioned the Hundred-Year Spider Poison, the old woman in the wheelchair trembled, her expression a mask of disbelief.

"Who sent you?"

Seeing that the two of them remained silent, Xu Ke repeated the question.

Their ability to conceal their auras is strong; I can't discern their cultivation level. With their strength unknown and so many people around... I can't afford to act rashly.

The two assassins were clearly startled as well. It's one thing for him to know we're here to cause trouble, not to seek treatment. After all, insisting on visiting a clinic that's still under renovation is obviously suspicious! But we never expected him to see through the Hundred-Year Spider Poison! Not many people know of this substance. Even fewer can identify it once it has already entered a person's body. To think Xu Ke's eyes are so sharp...

The two exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with fear. A person with such vast knowledge must either possess immense personal power from traveling the world, or he has the backing of a deeply resourceful faction that provides him with such insight. Since Xu Ke is only at the Postnatal Late Stage, he obviously doesn't possess immense power. Therefore, there must be an extremely powerful force behind him, allowing him to see through even such an obscure poison at a glance.

The thought of attacking such a person didn't alarm them; on the contrary, it filled them with excitement. We thought we were just killing some lucky freeloader, but it turns out he's the heir of a major power. We specialize in killing people from major powers; this will make our reputation as assassins spread even further!

In the next moment, as the two exchanged another look, the old woman suddenly burst into loud sobs, her voice high and piercing. "Doctor, are you really unwilling to even look at me?"

"If I truly can't be saved, I won't blame you. Just please, check on me!" she wailed. "If you want money, I can give it to you. I still have some of my 'coffin fund' left..."

Her sudden outburst was calculated to force Xu Ke to approach and examine her.

As if on cue, the distant bystanders became angry.

"Didn't you say you were going to treat her? Why are you just standing there?"

"So it was about the money. Damn! So greedy."

"If he didn't have any medical skill, that would be one thing. But he diagnosed her illness at a glance, which means he's clearly very skilled. Yet he just stands there... Damn him! All skill and no ethics. What scum!"

The crowd began to press forward again, looking as though they might just beat Xu Ke up.

Duan Jia, who had been watching the commotion from inside, could no longer sit still. "Everyone, calm down!" he shouted as he rushed out.

Several construction workers also emerged, brandishing their tools. The standoff instantly turned the clinic's entrance into a potential battleground.

"What's the hurry? I am already examining this lady. Why are you all crowding around? Are you looking for trouble?" Xu Ke said calmly without turning his head, his gaze still locked on the old woman in the wheelchair.

"How the hell would we know if you're treating her!"

"Can't you see the old lady is crying?"

"You have to at least take her pulse to take her pulse!" the onlookers clamored.

Xu Ke tilted his head slightly. "How did I diagnose the other woman just now? Have you forgotten?"

He hadn't taken her pulse either.

The bystanders' faces flushed red, and they fell silent.

Xu Ke then added, "Alright, I understand the lady's condition. All that's left is to apply the needles." Turning to the crowd, he said, "Please, everyone, keep watch for me. Don't let anyone disturb me."

This time, not only did Xu Ke not try to drive the onlookers away, but he also intended to use them as his bodyguards.

With that, Xu Ke took out a Silver Needle and moved toward the old woman in the wheelchair.

But at that moment, unseen by anyone else, the old man beside her shot a meaningful glance at someone in the crowd.

Immediately, a person shouted, "For real?"

"You figured out the treatment that quickly?"

"Is he really that good?"

Chen Haiming was furious. "Are you people just bored?! A moment ago, you were demanding he treat her, and now that he is, you're questioning him? Do you want me to call the police and have you all arrested?"

The onlookers' expressions turned unnatural. "We were just talking. Why get so angry?"

"So arrogant. This guy can't even handle a little criticism. So narrow-minded!"

"Let's go, let's go! We're leaving."

After just a few words from Chen Haiming, the very crowd that had insisted on surrounding them suddenly scattered like birds and beasts.

Chen Haiming stared after them, dumbfounded. How did they leave so easily?

Xu Ke, however, understood immediately and sneered. As if they would leave that easily. They only decided to go when they saw me take out the Silver Needle and genuinely prepare to treat the old woman. According to my guess, their mission was to wait until I began the treatment, then find an excuse to leave. At this point, even if I wanted them to stay, they wouldn't. After all, they can only make their move after the crowd is gone. Killing someone in broad daylight is just asking for death!

As the crowd dispersed, the Silver Needle in Xu Ke's hand did not pause. The moment he drew it, he shot it directly at the old woman in the wheelchair.

Since they wanted to make a move, he wouldn't let them strike first.

But just as Xu Ke acted, the old man beside him, who had been anticipating this very move, struck as well.

He threw a punch straight at Xu Ke's back.

Feeling the power surge from the old man's body, Xu Ke's expression changed drastically.

He had been wrong about one thing. The crowd was indeed a tool to force him to get closer. But the order for the crowd to leave wasn't because the elderly couple was afraid to act in broad daylight. It was because the chaos of the crowd's departure created the perfect moment to strike.

They were assassins. They didn't care about the social repercussions of attacking someone out in the open. Assassins don't need to hide in the shadows to kill. As long as they could eliminate the target, nothing else mattered.

This was their overt scheme. A blatant plot to kill Xu Ke.

...

BANG!

As the old man struck, the power of an Innate Mid Stage cultivator exploded from his body. In an instant, his fist smashed into Xu Ke's back.

Xu Ke took the full force of the blow, his face turning visibly pale, but at the same time, the Silver Needle in his hand sank into the old woman's body.

The old woman's face changed dramatically. She ripped open her clothes and used her True Qi to force the Silver Needle out. Then, she gripped a blackened dagger, aiming to plunge it into Xu Ke's stomach.

In a flash, the two were about to finish him off.

Finally, Dongfang Mingliang, who was standing nearby, noticed their actions and yelled, "Dr. Xu, watch out!"

He reached out, trying to pull Xu Ke back.

Seeing this, the old man snorted coldly. "Overestimating your own strength!"

BANG!

He sent Dongfang Mingliang flying with a single kick.

He turned back, ready to deal the killing blow to Xu Ke. But as he was about to strike, his face turned pale. He saw that Xu Ke was now holding the blackened dagger, its tip pressed against the old woman's neck.

The old woman, who should have been joining him in the attack, was now completely incapacitated, as if all her strength had been drained away. Limp and helpless, she was utterly at Xu Ke's mercy.

In a split second, the dagger had changed hands, and the tables had completely turned.