Su Jin didn't answer immediately.
The blade was still in his follower's hand, and Li Tianming was standing beside Xu Hao as though he had merely stopped to ask for directions.
The older man looked towards the weapon.
"Well?"
Su Jin's expression darkened.
"The boy insulted women of my clan. He also spoke disrespectfully about the King."
"Did he?"
Li Tianming turned towards Xu Hao.
"Boy, is that true?"
"No, senior. The ladies asked to share my table because the restaurant was crowded. I agreed, and we barely spoke afterward."
The woman in green immediately stepped forward.
"Master Li, you mustn't believe him! He was extremely rude to us, and when I mentioned Brother Su—"
Li Tianming raised a hand.
She stopped.
He regarded her for a moment before turning back towards Su Jin.
"If there's been an insult, your family can settle that matter properly. I don't see why anyone needs to lose an arm over breakfast."
"His offence was serious!"
"Serious enough to remove both arms and his tongue?"
Su Jin's face reddened.
Li Tianming glanced towards the follower holding the blade.
"And you. Put that away. You're making everyone nervous."
The man looked towards Su Jin.
Li Tianming waited.
After a moment, the follower lowered his weapon.
Xu Hao watched the exchange carefully.
Li Tianming hadn't raised his voice or released any visible cultivation pressure.
Yet the atmosphere had changed completely.
The followers who'd been so eager to carry out Su Jin's orders were now waiting uncertainly.
Su Jin himself looked furious.
"This matter doesn't concern the Li family."
"Perhaps it didn't a moment ago."
Li Tianming gestured towards Xu Hao.
"But this boy says he's a healer. My family happens to be looking for one. Naturally, I'd like to ask him a few questions before you start removing the hands he needs for his work."
Su Jin gave a humourless laugh.
"You believe him? Look at him. He's barely old enough to grow a beard."
"I haven't decided whether I believe him."
Li Tianming smiled.
"That's why I want to ask questions."
Su Jin folded his arms.
"You can't simply take someone under your protection because he claims to be a healer."
"Why not?"
The question seemed to catch Su Jin off guard.
Li Tianming continued.
"If he knows nothing about medicine, I'll discover that soon enough. But if he genuinely possesses useful knowledge, allowing you to cripple him would be rather inconvenient for my family."
He looked at Xu Hao.
"And probably for the boy as well."
Xu Hao bowed slightly.
"I would certainly prefer to keep my arms, senior."
A few customers lowered their heads.
Li Tianming chuckled.
"There. You see? We already agree on something."
Su Jin didn't appear amused.
"Are you deliberately making a fool of me?"
"No. You've been managing quite well without my assistance."
A merchant near the kitchen coughed into his teacup.
Xu Hao kept his expression carefully neutral.
He was beginning to understand why people called this man Crazy Li.
Su Jin's hand tightened at his side.
"Master Li, do you really intend to quarrel with the Su family over a worthless boy?"
Li Tianming's smile faded slightly.
"The Su family?"
He looked around the dining room.
"Have I missed something? I thought we were discussing a breakfast table. When did this become a dispute between our families?"
Su Jin's jaw tightened.
"You know what I mean."
"I do. But I'd prefer you to say what you mean without dragging our families into it."
Li Tianming stepped a little closer.
"I'm of your father's generation, Su Jin. I've known members of your family since before you were born. If you wish to speak to me in public, you can start by showing the respect due to an elder."
For the first time since entering the restaurant, Su Jin hesitated.
Li Tianming's voice remained conversational.
"Now, I'm going to take this boy with me and find out whether he knows anything about healing."
He paused.
"If he turns out to be a fraud, I won't interfere if you come looking for him tomorrow."
Xu Hao's relief faltered.
Tomorrow?
That was rather sooner than he'd hoped.
"But if he has medical knowledge my family can use," Li Tianming continued, "then he'll be assisting us. I'd strongly advise you not to interfere with our business."
Su Jin looked at Xu Hao.
Then at Li Tianming.
Xu Hao could almost see him weighing his choices.
Refusing would mean openly challenging an elder of another great family.
Agreeing would mean allowing the boy he'd just threatened to walk away.
Neither appeared particularly appealing.
Finally, Su Jin smiled.
It was an unpleasant smile.
"Master Li, perhaps you've misunderstood me."
Xu Hao nearly laughed.
A moment earlier, the young master had wanted both his arms and his tongue.
Apparently, there had been a misunderstanding.
Su Jin spread his hands.
"I was simply teaching this boy some of the customs of Hibiscus Town. My words may have sounded harsher than I intended."
Li Tianming looked at the follower still holding his blade.
"An elaborate lesson."
Su Jin's smile twitched.
"Perhaps matters went a little too far. But if you're interested in the boy's medical abilities, I certainly won't stand in your way."
He turned towards Xu Hao.
"You're fortunate, little fellow. I hope you're everything you've claimed to be."
Xu Hao lowered his head.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Su."
Su Jin's eyes narrowed.
"And remember what Master Li said. If you're lying, I expect to see you tomorrow."
Xu Hao bowed slightly.
"I understand."
Su Jin turned.
"We're leaving."
His followers immediately stepped aside.
The two women gathered their belongings.
The woman in green looked thoroughly displeased.
As she passed Xu Hao, she gave him a furious glare.
He met it calmly.
He'd barely exchanged a dozen words with her before Su Jin arrived.
Yet she'd been willing to have him crippled merely to gain the young master's favour.
The woman in blue avoided his eyes.
Then both followed Su Jin towards the entrance.
At the doorway, Su Jin stopped and glanced back.
Xu Hao felt the weight of his stare.
Then the young master disappeared into the street.
His followers went after him.
For several moments, nobody spoke. Only after the last silk robe vanished did chairs scrape and conversations begin again.
Xu Hao remained standing beside his table.
His breakfast was cold.
And he'd just come within a few moments of losing both arms.
He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about that.
Li Tianming pulled out the chair opposite him.
"Well, healer boy. Since I've just made myself rather unpopular with the Su family, I think you and I ought to have a conversation."
Xu Hao sat down.
Only then did he notice that his hands were trembling.
He lowered them beneath the table.
During the confrontation, he'd been too occupied with finding a way out to pay much attention to his fear.
Now that the immediate danger had passed, his body seemed determined to remind him of it.
He'd been one command away from summoning Sia into a crowded restaurant.
And even if she'd managed to get him out, the Su family would have known exactly what she looked like.
Xu Hao took a slow breath.
He'd escaped by gambling on a rumour overheard during breakfast.
His gamble had worked, though he wasn't proud of how close he'd come to disaster.
Across the table, Li Tianming watched him for a moment.
Then he called to the waiter.
"Another pot of tea, please. And something warm for the boy. His breakfast has gone cold."
The waiter hurried over.
"Of course, Master Li."
He turned towards Xu Hao and bowed.
"Young sir, please accept our apologies. The manager has instructed me to tell you that your breakfast will be complimentary."
Xu Hao glanced at his half-eaten porridge.
"That's very kind of him."
The waiter hesitated.
"May I offer a suggestion, young sir?"
"Of course."
"Perhaps next time you visit, you might prefer one of the quieter tables near the back."
Xu Hao looked up.
The waiter spoke a little more softly.
"The food is just as good, and the young masters don't usually notice who sits there."
Xu Hao stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"That's excellent advice. I wish you'd mentioned it before breakfast."
The waiter managed a nervous smile and returned to the kitchen.
Li Tianming was smiling into his teacup.
"Poor fellow. He probably thought Su Jin was about to turn his restaurant into a battlefield."
Xu Hao glanced towards the entrance.
"Will Su Jin come back?"
"Not today, I imagine."
"And tomorrow?"
"That depends."
Li Tianming set down his cup.
"Which brings us to you."
Xu Hao straightened slightly.
Li Tianming studied him over the rim of his teacup.
"When you announced that you were a healer, you made certain everyone in the restaurant could hear you."
Xu Hao said nothing.
"An interesting decision. Most people facing that sort of threat would shout about their family, their cultivation, or whichever powerful elder they hoped might protect them."
He tilted his head.
"You spoke about medicine."
"That is my profession, senior."
"Perhaps. But I'm curious about your timing."
Li Tianming set down his cup.
"Were you trying to convince Su Jin that your hands were too valuable to lose?"
"That was certainly part of it."
"Only part?"
Xu Hao smiled politely.
The older man watched him for a moment.
"Because I happened to be sitting in the corner, boy. And nearly everyone in Hibiscus Town knows my family is searching for healers."
"Is that so?"
Li Tianming chuckled.
"Yes, 'is that so.' Even merchants passing through town know we're offering a substantial reward."
He leaned forward.
"Now, a young stranger gets into trouble with Su Jin and suddenly announces to the entire restaurant that he's a healer."
Xu Hao nodded thoughtfully.
"It was fortunate you happened to be there."
Li Tianming stared at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the older man asked, "Tell me something. Were you actually speaking to Su Jin when you made that announcement?"
Xu Hao blinked.
"Was I loud?"
Silence.
Li Tianming looked at him.
Xu Hao returned his gaze with an expression of perfect innocence.
Then the older man threw back his head and laughed.
It was a tremendous laugh, loud enough to make several nearby diners turn towards them.
He laughed until his shoulders shook.
"Oh, you're a sly little fox!"
Xu Hao smiled into his tea.
Li Tianming wiped his eyes.
"I've spent months dealing with people who promise miracles they can't perform, and now I find a boy clever enough to turn a death threat into an invitation for an interview!"
He shook his head.
"Well done. I can't even blame you. Given what Su Jin was planning, I'd have done much the same."
Xu Hao inclined his head.
"Your intervention saved me a great deal of trouble, senior. I'm sincerely grateful."
"Yes, I imagine you are."
Li Tianming was still smiling when the waiter returned with fresh tea and a bowl of hot porridge.
Xu Hao thanked him.
For a few moments, Li Tianming allowed him to eat.
Then the older man's expression grew more serious.
"Now comes the important part."
Xu Hao set down his spoon.
Li Tianming looked directly at him.
"My family has been searching for healers for several months. We've invited physicians from nearby towns and sent people to the capital."
He paused.
"Some specialised in herbal medicine. Others were skilled in acupuncture, poisons or injuries caused by cultivation."
"Have any of them been able to help?"
"Not enough."
The answer came quickly.
Li Tianming looked down at his tea.
"A few came with excellent reputations. Some promised they could solve our problem before they'd even examined the patient."
He shook his head.
"None succeeded."
Xu Hao listened carefully.
The laughter had left Li Tianming's voice. He looked as exhausted as he had when Xu Hao first noticed him in the restaurant.
"Senior Li, may I ask what condition they're treating?"
"I'll explain that shortly. First, I need to know whether I've rescued an actual healer."
"That's reasonable."
Li Tianming folded his hands.
"You're very young. I won't pretend that doesn't concern me. I've met talented young healers, but I've also seen patients harmed by people who were too confident in knowledge they didn't know how to use."
Xu Hao found himself respecting the man a little more.
His mother had said much the same thing.
Knowing how to perform a procedure was one thing.
Knowing when not to perform it was just as important.
Li Tianming continued.
"Suppose a patient arrives with a severe fever. Someone tells you it's caused by excess fire energy and offers you a powerful cooling pill. What would you do?"
Xu Hao considered the question.
"I'd examine the patient before giving them anything."
"Why?"
"Because a fever is a symptom, not a diagnosis. I'd want to know when it began, whether the patient had taken any medicine, what other symptoms were present, and whether they'd recently suffered an injury or cultivation problem."
Li Tianming nodded slightly.
"And if their pulse suggested excess fire energy?"
"That would be useful information, but I'd still want to understand what caused it. A pill that suppresses the symptom might not treat the underlying problem. And if the diagnosis is wrong, a powerful medicine could make things worse."
The older man watched him.
"Go on."
"I'd also want to know whether the patient was breathing normally, whether they were conscious and whether they showed signs of poisoning or damage to their meridians."
Xu Hao paused.
"If their condition was dangerous, I'd deal with the immediate threat first. But I wouldn't give them an unfamiliar medicine simply because someone recommended it."
Li Tianming considered his answer.
"Not bad."
He took another sip of tea.
"What if the patient had already seen three healers, and all three gave different diagnoses?"
"I'd examine them myself."
"You wouldn't trust the others?"
"I'd listen to what they found. Three different diagnoses could mean someone made a mistake, but it might also mean the condition is complicated."
Xu Hao looked at him.
"I wouldn't assume I was cleverer than all three."
For the first time since asking his questions, Li Tianming smiled.
"Good."
He nodded slowly.
"That's a better answer than some supposed masters have given me."
Xu Hao felt a little relief.
He understood the principles he'd described.
His new Healer card had given him knowledge of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods. But he wasn't foolish enough to believe that made him equal to someone with decades of practical experience.
There was still an enormous amount he didn't know.
Li Tianming seemed to sense his thoughts.
"Tell me honestly. How much experience do you have?"
Xu Hao considered his answer.
"My family taught me medicine from a young age. I've studied anatomy, wounds, diagnosis and various treatments. I've also recently begun learning the medicinal practices used by cultivators."
"Have you treated many patients?"
"No, senior. Not independently."
Li Tianming raised an eyebrow.
"That's a surprisingly honest answer."
"I'd rather you knew my limitations before trusting me with someone's health."
The older man leaned back.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Xu Hao returned to his porridge.
He was hungry, and the restaurant had finally given him an opportunity to eat without someone threatening to remove part of his body.
It seemed wise to take advantage of it.
Li Tianming watched him for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"You understand that the person I want you to examine is extremely important to me."
Xu Hao lowered his spoon.
"I gathered that."
"I've spent months looking for help. Every failure has cost us time."
The older man's fingers tightened around his cup.
"If you genuinely possess the ability to help, my family will reward you generously. And while you're working with us, I'll make sure Su Jin doesn't interfere."
Xu Hao waited.
He could hear the condition coming.
"But if you're lying," Li Tianming continued, "if you claimed to be a healer merely to escape Su Jin and have nothing useful to offer, I won't protect you tomorrow."
He looked directly at Xu Hao.
"That was the bargain I made in front of witnesses. I intend to keep it."
Xu Hao understood.
The older man had saved his arms, but he hadn't promised unconditional protection.
If Xu Hao turned out to be a fraud, Su Jin would still be waiting.
Still, he possessed an Apprentice Healer card.
He'd gained a considerable body of knowledge, including medical practices that didn't exist on Earth.
Whether it would help the Li family's patient remained to be seen.
"I understand, senior."
Li Tianming waited.
Xu Hao continued.
"I can't promise a cure before I've examined the patient. Even an experienced healer shouldn't make that promise without understanding the condition."
He paused.
"But I'm willing to examine them. If I recognise something useful, I'll tell you. If I don't understand what I'm seeing, I'll say that too."
Li Tianming studied him in silence.
Xu Hao met his gaze.
After a while, Li Tianming nodded.
"That's fair."
He finished his tea.
Then he rose.
Xu Hao looked towards the remaining fried buns.
He'd managed to eat most of his porridge, but the buns were still waiting.
Li Tianming noticed his expression.
"Still hungry?"
"A little, senior."
The older man laughed.
"Then finish them. I'd rather not have you faint from hunger while examining my patient."
Xu Hao happily obliged.
He couldn't help thinking that this was turning into the most expensive free breakfast of his life.
By the time he'd finished, Li Tianming was waiting near the entrance.
Xu Hao gathered his notebook and belongings.
The older man glanced at the bag.
"You keep notes?"
"Whenever I find something worth remembering."
"A useful habit."
Li Tianming stepped into the street.
"Come with me. There's no point discussing treatment in a crowded restaurant. You'll understand the situation better once you've seen the patient."
Xu Hao followed.
The morning sun had climbed higher, and the market streets were busy with merchants and pedestrians.
After a short distance, he looked towards the older man's exhausted face.
There was still one question he hadn't answered.
"Senior Li?"
"Hmm?"
"Who's sick?"
Li Tianming slowed.
For the first time since they'd left the restaurant, his expression lost its amusement.
He looked ahead for a moment before answering.
"My daughter."
Xu Hao said nothing.
Li Tianming continued walking.
"Her name is Li Min."
His voice was quiet.
"And I'm running out of people who can help her."