There was a strong smell of medicine in the air. Amidst the strong smell of medicine, there was also a foul smell of decay. This foul smell came from a person's body. It was the smell of a person's life force and five viscera and six bowels after their organs had been weakened to the extreme.
After passing through two layers of curtains, Zhang Tie had smelt this smell. At the same time, Zhang Tie's heart sank abruptly.
The old man's guts had started to deteriorate. At this moment, even immortal pills couldn't save him.
In the room, the old man's grand madam was sitting on the bedside with a haggard look and red eyes. She was watching the old man in a dumbfounded way. A grey-haired doctor was also taking care of the old man. He would feel the old man's pulse from time to time and pay attention to the old man's situation.
Previously, the grand madam was very dignified and delicate at home. However, at this moment, Zhang Tie found that the grand madam looked 10 years older at once with more grey hair and a much more haggard look.
Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang had long put aside the old scores between them. At the sight of this woman, Zhang Tie found that she was just a common old woman. Therefore, Zhang Tie felt a bit sympathetic about her.
"Grandma …" Zhang Su moved forward and called her.
After hearing Zhang Su's exclamation, the old lady slowly moved her eyes away from the old man who was lying on the bed and saw Zhang Su and Zhang Tie who were walking in.
At the sight of Zhang Su, the old lady dropped off her tears at once as she said in a quivering voice, "It's good that you're here. It's good that you're here. The old man wants to see you for the last time …"
After throwing a glance at the bed, Zhang Tie let out a sigh inside.
Lying on the bed, the old man's chubby face had become shriveled. His eye sockets and cheeks had completely sunken. His brow ridges and cheekbones were protruding in an eye-catching way. His grey skin had been covered with many senile spots. Some silver needles were pricked on the old man's head and a piece of ginseng essence was hanging in his mouth with a red string. His qi was faintly discernible.
With lotus-flower eyes, Zhang Tie found that the old man's guts had started to deteriorate. Additionally, his brain fluid was empty. Additionally, the old man had almost run out of energy. He was really at his last breath.
Watching the old man who had worked so hard for the greater part of his life and built Zhang Clan's industry from scratch, Zhang Tie sat on the bedside and slightly held the old man's bony hand as he dropped off tears.
If it weren't for the fact that his life was in danger and that the old man was overly worried, the old man would probably be able to hold on for a few more years.
"Doctor, the last person that the old master wants to see is here. Please let the old master wake up and talk to his two grandsons …" The old mistress put away her grief and turned to the doctor in the room.
"Madam, the old master is hanging on with ginseng essence and silver needles. I will pull out the needles to wake him up. The old master can hold on for half an hour at most. I can't do anything after that …" The doctor said carefully. He meant that as long as he pulled out the silver needles, it would be the last moment.
"It's okay. I will make the decision. I know that you've tried your best. Please let the old man wake up …" The old mistress said with sobs.
"Fine!" The doctor replied as he pulled out some silver needles from the old man's head deftly. Closely after that, he took out the red thread which contained ginseng essence from the old man's mouth. After that, he pressed the old man's philtrum forcefully with his thumb. Closely after that, the old man's eyelids quivered as his face blushed unconsciously. Closely after that, he slowly opened his eyes.
The old mistress had someone take the doctor away.
"Old master, you're awake. Zhang Tie and Zhang Su are here …"
"Grandpa …"
"Grandpa …"
Zhang Tie and Zhang Su called him softly on his bedside.
After opening his eyes, the old man saw Zhang Tie and Zhang Su clearly. At the same time, his gloomy eyes gradually turned brilliant. Watching the old man struggling to pick himself up, Zhang Tie and Zhang Su hurriedly supported him with two pillows so that he could lean against the head of the bed.
"You go out first … it's none of your business … I want to have a talk with my two grandsons …" The old man said to the old mistress when he woke up.
The old mistress dared not disobey him. Therefore, she picked herself up and left the room with the help of her maid.
"Zhang Tie, Zhang Su, you … you're back …" The old man opened his mouth in an extremely weak voice after seeing the old mistress off. Only after such a short sentence, he started to pant once again.
"Grandpa, we're back …" Zhang Tie and Zhang Su nodded at the same time.
"Zhang Su …" The old man panted for a short while before fixating onto Zhang Su's face.
"Grandpa, I'm here …" After hearing the old man's call, Zhang Su directly knelt down beside the bed.
"You're the most promising one in our family … from then on … you should follow Zhang Tie … Zhang Tie told me that you're most likely to promote to a knight in our family … when you promote to a knight … burn some joss paper for me and tell me … that we have a new dragon in our family …"
Zhang Su's tears kept dropping off. After hearing the old man's words, Zhang Su tightly closed his mouth and nodded forcefully.
"Zhang Tie …"
"I'm here …" Zhang Tie hurriedly held the old man's hand forcefully.
"They … they said you … you're already a shadow knight …"
"Yes … I'm already a shadow knight!" Zhang Tie nodded.
"Even Commander Cheng … couldn't defeat you!"
"I couldn't!" Zhang Dian nodded forcefully with tears.
"It's said … it's said that some demon knights … as powerful as Commander Cheng … and a demon prince … were killed by you at the bank of Weishui River … you even saved a lot of people …"
"Yes … I didn't lose the face of Zhang family!"
"Is … is that divine dominator … powerful?" The old man's eyes flickered with a fascinated brilliance.
"Yes, you can fly everywhere. Nobody could defeat you!"
"That's good … that's good … I'm reassured that you're safe at home …" The old man panted heavily as his face turned red. Zhang Tie hurriedly soothed the old man's qi flow. After quite a while, the old man recovered his composure, saying, "There are two more things …"
"Go ahead, grandpa, I'm listening!"
"I've also seen your kids … Alexander and the others … they're your offspring … they also … also have the blood of Zhang Clan … they have to be surnamed Zhang and be listed in the genealogy with a Hua name …" Zhang Tie said.
"Grandpa, don't worry, I will give them Hua names right away. All of them will be surnamed Zhang and be listed in the genealogy!"
"The old mansion … the people on the side of the old mansion … you … you should pay more attention to them. As for those useless ones, you only need to feed them … when it's chaotic … don't let them starve to death … those who are capable … will also help you … keep the family business … after all, blood is thicker than water … I know that the major events in the future … will be decided by you … by you … with Zhang Su's help … I will be reassured too."
"Grandpa, don't worry. All the people on the side of the old mansion belong to Zhang family. I will pay attention to them!" Zhang Tie nodded.
"Good … good … good …" The old man nodded as he said, "Open the curtains … let them in … it's more lively …"
Zhang Su stood up and opened the curtains of the room before letting them in.
Zhang Tie's parents, Zhang Yang and all the uncles and aunts on the side of the old mansion had entered the room. As they all knew that it was the last moment, they all forced a smile.
The old man, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits and said a few words to everyone.
"It's a bit bitter in my mouth … do you have iced bayberry soup …" After talking for a few minutes, the old man became spirited as he wanted to drink something.
Hearing that the old master wanted iced waxberry soup, someone immediately ran out. In the blink of an eye, the iced waxberry soup was served.
The moment the iced bayberry soup was served, the old man suddenly pointed at the door and told Zhang Tie's dad, "Ah, Zhang Ping, your mom is here to pick me up …"
Zhang Ping's mom, namely Zhang Tie's biological grandma, the fourth wife of the old man, had long passed away. Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang had not seen her at all.
Hearing Old Master Zhang's words, many people in the room felt their hair stand on end. Everyone turned to look at the door, but it was empty. When they turned back again, Old Master Zhang Haitian had already closed his eyes and was no longer breathing. He did not even have the chance to take a sip of the iced bayberry soup that was brought over …
At once, the room was filled with cries …
(To be continued.)
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