Because everything Leo had said was accurate. These symptoms had been occurring for about a week, but she hadn’t taken them seriously and had never mentioned them to anyone.
“Even if you’re right, these symptoms are just due to work-related stress, nothing unusual,” the female doctor said with a hint of surprise.
Leo gave a faint smile. “It’s not just stress, it’s hormonal imbalance. I suggest you control your temper and avoid getting angry at will, or the situation will get worse.”
“It’s none of your business. Stop changing the subject. You’re not welcome here; just get out!” The female doctor folded her arms, annoyed.
Leo didn’t bother with her and instead looked toward the inner room of the clinic. He said coldly, “Louis Jennings, unless you’re a coward, come out and face me.”
“You little punk, do you want to die? I’ll grant your wish!” A deep voice emanated from the inner room, followed by the appearance of a short, stout old man.
The old man had a rough face, small eyes, and occasionally, a fierce glint flashed in his pupils. He was Louis Jennings, the senior doctor from the Read Clinic.
“You’ve repeatedly provoked me. Today, we’re going to settle the score properly,” Leo said.
“Kid, don’t babble in front of me. You dare to come to my Read Clinic; then let’s have a fair competition, a medical duel!” Louis Jennings’ face darkened. “If you win, Read Clinic will be yours, and I’ll leave Langstel. If I win, your clinic will be mine, and you’ll leave Langstel!”
Leo had absolute confidence in his medical skills. He said proudly, “Fine. How do you want to compete?”
The crowd at Read Clinic grew as more people gathered to witness the showdown between the two medical clinics.
Leo was taken aback; he had never heard of such a competition. “Detoxification? How does it work?”
“It’s simple. We’ll both prepare poisons and antidotes from the herbs here in the clinic. Then we’ll feed each other’s guinea pig the poisons and try to detoxify ourselves. Whoever succeeds is the winner. What do you say? Dare to accept?” Louis Jennings challenged Leo with a defiant look.
Louis Jennings finished speaking and cast a taunting look at Leo. He then instructed his disciples to bring two small white mice, each locked in separate cages from the back room.
Louis Jennings knew of Leo’s excellent medical skills, but when it came to the use of poison and antidotes, he considered himself unmatched.
Hearing Louis Jennings’ proposed competition, Dr. Davy quietly cautioned Leo, “Leo, my friend, Louis Jennings is quite the expert when it comes to poisons. You must be extremely careful.”
The female doctor, overhearing Dr. Davy’s warning, gloated, “Finally getting scared now? Weren’t you acting all tough just now? If you’re too scared, you can admit defeat right away and spare yourself the embarrassment.”
Louis Jennings’ apprentices also joined in, taunting Leo.
Leo let out a cold chuckle and looked at Louis Jennings. “Using little mice for a poison test is rather dull. I believe we should test the poison on ourselves.”
Louis Jennings’ eyelid twitched as he asked, “What do you mean?”
“You consume the poison I prepare, and I’ll consume the poison you prepare. Whoever can detoxify themselves first wins. How about it? Do you dare?” Leo challenged Louis Jennings with a provocative gaze.
The onlookers’ faces turned various shades of concern.
“Testing poison on themselves? That’s insane!”
“What if they can’t detoxify and end up poisoning themselves?”
“Yeah, this is absolutely risking their lives. It’s terrifying,” murmured the bystanders, who, despite their shock, didn’t step forward to intervene. Many even discreetly pulled out their smartphones, eagerly anticipating a live broadcast later on, which was sure to gather a massive following.
Observing Louis Jennings’ composed silence, Leo goaded him further, “If you’re too scared, you can admit defeat right now. I won’t even want your clinic; all you have to do is close up your practice and leave Langstel.”
Although Louis Jennings was confident, he couldn’t ignore the element of risk involved when lives were at stake. “Ridiculous! When I was mastering the art of poison, you were probably still wearing diapers. I won’t fear you. However, considering the gravity of this poison challenge, I’ll add one condition: after the poison test, if one of us admits defeat, the other must immediately provide the antidote,” Louis Jennings retorted with icy confidence.
“Agreed,” Leo nodded in response.
Louis Jennings raised his hand and slapped the table. “I, Louis Jennings, a Chinese medicine doctor from Read Clinic, will engage in a detoxification competition with Leo, a Chinese doctor from Nameless Clinic. I request that you all bear witness.”
After making this declaration, Louis Jennings led Leo into the pharmacy, pointing to a cabinet of herbs. “You have half an hour to familiarize yourself with the herbs here.”
Leo waved his hand dismissively. “No need. You can go first.”
“Arrogant!” Louis Jennings snorted. “If you let me go first, you won’t even have a chance to regret it!”
Louis Jennings didn’t hold back and began to choose herbs from the cabinet to prepare the poison and antidote. The entire process was performed with his back to Leo, and his apprentices stood in a row, blocking Leo’s view to prevent him from seeing the herbs being used.
After about twenty minutes, Louis Jennings successfully prepared the poison. He placed the powdered poison in a ceramic bowl and added warm water, creating a thick greenish liquid with a pungent odor.
Louis Jennings handed the bowl to Leo triumphantly. “Kid, drink up.”
Leo took the bowl, sniffed the contents, and then walked to the cabinet, calmly saying, “Agrimonia, Purple Gentian, Wintergreen, Japanese Star Anise, and Crane’s Bill, plus Red Calcite. Louis Jennings, you’ve prepared a ruthless poison.”
This revelation astonished the onlookers.
“I’m sure Dr. Bloomer didn’t see Louis Jennings prepare the poison. He just smelled it and accurately listed the herbs used. It’s incredible!”
“Such an amazing skill! But I think he might be bluffing. He’s probably saying all this just to intimidate Louis Jennings.”
“Intimidation? You didn’t see Louis Jennings’ face turning pale. Dr. Bloomer clearly got it right.”
Louis Jennings’ apprentices couldn’t help but notice the expression on their master’s face, and they exchanged uncertain glances.
After a while, Louis Jennings stared at Leo with an incredulous expression and asked, “You… You could actually smell it?”
Louis Jennings had immersed himself in pharmaceuticals and medicinal preparation for decades, but he had never managed to develop the skill of discerning ingredients by scent. Leo, on the other hand, could simply take a whiff of the medicinal concoction he had prepared and accurately list the herbs used. It was a blow that left Louis Jennings utterly astonished, and the impact was profound.