Chu Qingze looked at her pale face, her slender eyelashes, and the smile on her face that seemed like release, thinking, I won't let you die.
The moonlight sprinkled on them, as if cloaking both of them in a veil. Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting sat on an old tree not far away, their conversations drifting intermittently.
Rong Zhi sighed, "What a devoted and unfortunate soul."
Xia Yunting, however, was contemplating another matter. "Chu Qingze's intervention just now has indeed ruined his reputation. He cannot stay in Changping County. With his medical skills, he could become an imperial physician in the capital."
Rong Zhi was displeased. "Are all talents from the martial world to be absorbed by the court? You have already taken in Medicine King Valley, and they have all sorts of doctors. Are you still after him?"
"That's not what I meant," Xia Yunting explained, seeing her unhappiness. "I just feel his talent shouldn't be buried here."
"If this hadn't happened, all the people in Changping County would know Chu Qingze is a miracle doctor. How could that be considered buried? It's just that he lacks official recognition. If it were me, I wouldn't care for it."
The thought of her lovely little disciples bowing and scraping before royalty pained her heart.
"How many people in the world think like you?" Xia Yunting said. "Although the doctors of Medicine King Valley now practice medicine in the name of helping the world, they are also sycophantic and snobbish on the surface, no different from others."
"What?" Rong Zhi glared at Xia Yunting in anger, her eyes filled with a sense of disappointment that he had failed to live up to expectations. Realizing her emotions were a bit excessive, she composed herself and said, "I hate such people the most. I didn't expect the people in Medicine King Valley to be so susceptible to worldly ways."
"People eat grains and grains, and it's hard to avoid worldly ways. Besides lifelong pursuit, the most important thing is sustenance. They are also forced."
Xia Yunting watched her expression, finding it quite amusing. This was not the look of disdain between peers, but rather the feeling of an elder towards a junior, disappointed that they had failed to meet expectations.
Rong Zhi didn't notice Xia Yunting's scrutiny. She was pondering something. Before returning to Medicine King Valley, should she go to the capital to see which of her disciples had succumbed to the temptation of money and power and forgotten their original intentions…
The night passed exceptionally long. For Zhang Yajing and Chu Qingze, however, it was a night of immense relief.
Unconsciously, dawn broke. The moment the sun rose, Chu Qingze saw Zhang Yajing's face clearly, her complexion devoid of color, her face like earth.
"No more delay!"
He quickly scooped her up, intending to carry her down the mountain. But halfway down, he felt his blood surge backward, his legs went weak, and he couldn't stand.
"Strange, I was fine last night. How is it now…"
He suddenly collapsed to the ground, his strength giving out. Zhang Yajing also fell. Just then, a figure descended before him. Xia Yunting bent down, scooped her up, and sped towards the haunted house.
Chu Qingze was somewhat surprised. He then noticed Rong Zhi had also appeared before him.
"When did you arrive?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Stop asking useless questions. Go back by yourself. I need to hurry back to save her."
Rong Zhi dropped these words and, without regard for his distress, turned and followed Xia Yunting.
Back at the haunted house, Rong Zhi quickly told Xia Yunting to start a fire and boil water, preparing the medicinal herbs she had mentioned. Rong Zhi, meanwhile, stripped Zhang Yajing of her clothes, used silver needles to prick acupuncture points, and began to drain some of the corrupted blood.
The pill she had given Zhang Yajing last night was to alleviate the toxicity. It could only last for one night. Any further delay would render her helpless.
Rong Zhi grasped Zhang Yajing's pulse and channeled her inner energy into Zhang Yajing's body, guiding the corrupted blood out. Before long, the bedsheet was stained red.
The door opened, and Xia Yunting entered with a tub full of medicinal soup, consciously avoiding looking at the person on the bed.
"Xiao Mo, is there anything else needed?"
"No, you may withdraw."
Xia Yunting nodded and withdrew. Turning around, he saw Chu Qingze returning in a disheveled state. He was about to enter the room when Xia Yunting raised his hand to stop him. "Someone is being treated."
Chu Qingze's expression relaxed. He sat down on the ground. "This time, I owe her a great favor."
Xia Yunting said nothing, his gaze focused on the room, awaiting Rong Zhi's outcome.
Although the door was closed, and he could see nothing, Xia Yunting's keen observational skills allowed him to sense a powerful flow of inner energy within. This reminded him of when Xiao Mo had helped him detoxify the Seven-Day Sha Poison, also using inner energy as a guide to expel the toxic qi.
One was a Seven-Day Sha Poison, for which even the imperial physicians had no cure. The other was a dying person, poisoned for more than a night. Xia Yunting suddenly realized she was pulling someone back from the clutches of death. What kind of medical skill was this?
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps was heard from outside. Xia Yunting went to the door and saw Liu Hong and Gu Xinlan standing there, looking worriedly inside.
"Brother Xia, how is Miss Zhang?"
Seeing Xia Yunting emerge, Liu Hong asked.
Xia Yunting replied, "She's being treated. Why are you here?"
Upon mentioning this, Liu Hong's face was filled with trouble. "Brother Xia, it was all my fault yesterday. My mother discovered the gift Miss Zhang gave me and asked me about the reason. I told her without thinking, and I never imagined it would escalate so much. If it weren't for the village chief stopping them last night, the villagers might have come here to cause trouble. The village chief suggests that Miss Zhang and the Divine Doctor Chu should not appear in the village for now, as he can only control them temporarily, but not a second time. Many people in the village harbor deep hatred for the county magistrate, so Miss Zhang remaining here would be very dangerous."
Xia Yunting nodded. "I understand. Don't worry."
This residence was indeed not a place anyone could enter as they pleased.
"No, I'm still worried. I'll stay here and watch with you. Xinlan, you should go back first."
Gu Xinlan shook her head. "I'll stay here too."
"Miss Lin is still treating the patient. You won't be able to help much by staying here. Why don't you go home and cook some good food to bring to Miss Lin for lunch?"
Gu Xinlan thought for a moment. "Alright then."
She had no choice but to turn and return home. Liu Hong then joined Xia Yunting in guarding the door.
In fact, Liu Hong's worries were not unfounded. Although the villagers didn't cause a scene last night, some people were already dissatisfied with Gu Xinlan's attempts to dissuade them, saying that she, who had suffered the most, was still speaking up for the enemy's daughter.
He hadn't wanted Gu Xinlan to go out today, but she insisted on coming to see. Alas, what a mess this was.
Liu Hong sighed and shifted his attention back to the room. He tugged at his collar and fanned himself. "Brother Xia, don't you feel a bit hot?"
Xia Yunting nodded. "It is indeed very hot."
Inside the room, as Rong Zhi continuously channeled inner energy into Zhang Yajing, Zhang Yajing's body turned pink. Corrupted blood continuously emerged from her wounds, and the surrounding air was filled with mist.
Rong Zhi's own complexion turned red. Sweat mixed with the mist on her forehead, and her brows furrowed.
Too much inner energy was used today, and her meridians began to ache again.
Zhang Yajing's poison was no longer a major threat. The main issue was the damage to her internal organs caused by the poison. Rong Zhi had Xia Yunting prepare nourishing medicinal herbs, which were then used for fumigation to quickly enter Zhang Yajing's body. Rong Zhi then used her inner energy to promote absorption. If all went well, Zhang Yajing would be back on her feet in three days at most.
This was a detoxification method Rong Zhi had used in her previous life. However, her inner energy was now far weaker, and she was indeed struggling.
Time dripped by. Mist landed on Rong Zhi's forehead and then dripped down like water. Rong Zhi took a deep breath and channeled with all her might for Zhang Yajing.
The sun moved from the east to the south, and from the south to the west, only then did the heat in the room gradually subside.
The three men outside sensed the change and simultaneously tensed up, observing the situation inside.
The door opened, and Rong Zhi walked out, looking exhausted. Xia Yunting quickly stepped forward and caught her in his arms.
"Xiao Mo."
Rong Zhi's body was limp and powerless, lying in Xia Yunting's embrace. However, she still endured the pain and beckoned to Chu Qingze.
Chu Qingze approached, looking at Rong Zhi with guilt.
After catching her breath, Rong Zhi said to him, "Her life can be saved, but to recover completely, it's difficult with my current abilities. I'll teach you the method, and you will assist me."
"Okay."
Rong Zhi subconsciously took his hand, their fingers interlocking, and channeled inner energy into his body, operating it in the same way she had used to expel the poison.
Chu Qingze felt the soft and slightly cool palm against his, and a sense of discomfort arose throughout his body. However, he endured it, quietly observing the patterns of inner energy circulation within him. Soon, he was covered in sweat.
Liu Hong watched from the side, completely bewildered, not knowing what was happening.
After about fifteen minutes, Rong Zhi released his hand. Chu Qingze finally couldn't hold on, clutching his chest and gagging.
Rong Zhi frowned. "So much trouble. Did you remember?"
Chu Qingze nodded, his gagging worsening.
Xia Yunting said, "Xiao Mo, let's go back to your room to rest!"
He directly picked her up and carried her into the inner room.
Meanwhile, Gu Xinlan had prepared many delicious dishes at home and packed them into a food carrier. She looked at the chest-high food carrier, contemplating that Rong Zhi must be exhausted from treating the patient and wondering if this would be enough.
However, she couldn't carry much more, so she took the food carrier and went out.
She had only gone halfway when a sharp pain hit her head. Someone had thrown a small stone.
Gu Xinlan covered her head and looked back, only to be hit on the forehead by another stone.
"Brat! Brat!" A boy of about five or six threw a stone and then clapped his hands and laughed.
Gu Xinlan rubbed her forehead and didn't intend to argue with the child. Unexpectedly, the child picked up a stone the size of a fist and hurled it at her.
"Xinlan, be careful!"
An anxious voice called out. A figure flashed before Gu Xinlan, followed by a scream.
Lu Yuanxiu clutched his forehead, blood seeping from between his fingers. Lu Yuanxiu swayed a couple of times before looking at the boy.
"Tie Dan, how can you hit people randomly?"
"Lu Yuanxiu, are you alright?" Gu Xinlan checked on Lu Yuanxiu and was startled by the wound on his forehead. She also looked at the child with some displeasure.
The child didn't feel he had done anything wrong. He pointed at Gu Xinlan and sang, "Ungrateful wretch, stinky girl, ungrateful wretch, stinky girl…"
Lu Yuanxiu was furious. "How can you curse people like that? How did your mother teach you?"
"Tie Dan! What did I tell you? I told you not to run around randomly. Look, have you been bullied again?"
A dark and sturdy woman came over and spanked the child, who then burst into tears.
Lu Yuanxiu felt as if his eardrums were about to burst.
"Auntie, Tie Dan hit someone with a stone and broke their head. You should teach him properly."
"Oh." The woman sized up the two of them and gave a meaningful smile. "A hero saving a beauty!"