After about one or two hours, an old man with white hair stood up.
"Hey, old brother, you're awake!" said a middle-aged man of about fifty years old.
"Hmm, hehe! I slept so soundly, I felt like I was dying!" the old man replied lazily.
"Hehe, what are you talking about? You look much better!"
"Really? My bones feel like they're falling apart, and I had a dream where I was dying!"
"Don't believe me, look for yourself! Isn't that a mirror?" the middle-aged man said, pointing to a small mirror on the wall nearby.
With so many patients, no one knew who had hung a palm-sized mirror on the wall.
"Alright, let me take a look!"
The old man slowly moved his unsteady steps to the small mirror.
The ward lights were on, and a palm-sized reflection shone on his face.
"Oh my, it's true! Hehehe!" he exclaimed excitedly, touching his chin and turning his head in front of the mirror. Although the signs of age on his skin remained, his complexion had gained a glow, looking more moisturized than his previously dry skin.
"Doctor Jia, Doctor Jia, come quickly! Am I all better? Take a look!"
As the old man turned his head, he saw a young doctor passing by the door and hurriedly called out to him. The doctor, having heard someone call him, had already passed the doorway but stepped back two paces and peered into the old man's room.
"Is that so? Let me see!" he said, entering the room.
Perhaps his recovery gave many people hope. Two or three awake patients gathered around.
Doctor Jia looked him over from head to toe, then felt his wrist and smiled, saying, "Yes, hmm, truly excellent!"
"Doctor Jia, I thought you were a 'fake' doctor, but I didn't expect..."
"Hahaha!"
"Who says Doctor Jia can't heal? I'll just cure you all, and then we'll see if you dare call me a 'fake' doctor again!" Doctor Jia knew they were joking and chatted with them casually. However, what pleased him most was that the treatment was effective.
After a round of jokes, he quickly returned to his office.
"Pfft!" The door made a loud noise.
Jin Zhong frowned and was about to reprimand him.
"Teacher, good news, good news!"
"What good news? You come in without knocking! I tell you, why are you always so impetuous!" Jin Zhong said sternly, watching Doctor Jia rush in. He was Jin Zhong's most talented student and had always stayed by his side to learn.
"Yes, yes, Teacher. I was too excited, so I forgot. Your prescription is truly effective. I just checked patient number 25, and their face has a glow, and their overall spirit is much better!"
"Really? Come, let's go take a look!" Upon hearing this good news, Jin Zhong cast all his anger aside.
...
According to Liu San Dao's instructions, Fu Ru Hai had prepared many portions, all placed on the table nearby, ready for use.
"You dare to descend to the mortal realm without authorization! And you're causing trouble here!"
Hearing this voice, it was clear that Zhao Qian Sun had arrived. Liu San Dao quickly gestured, creating a barrier in the room to prevent mortals from being disturbed. As they spoke, Zhao Qian Sun and Zhang Kui Xian entered the room.
"You weren't satisfied with harming people in Sandong City, and now you've come to Lishui?" Zhang Kui Xian questioned.
"I say, Director Zhang, can you speak more politely? What do you mean by 'harming people'?" Fu Ru Hai retorted angrily.
"Hmm, alright, both of you, say less!" Zhao Qian Sun sharply stopped them. Fu Ru Hai and Zhang Kui Xian could only fall silent.
"I ask you, how dare you descend to the mortal realm without authorization?" Zhao Qian Sun first questioned Fu Ru Hai.
"Didn't I leave you a note? Besides, we are here to save people, not to evade punishment."
"Even so, couldn't you have waited for me... waited for us to return from our investigation before descending?" Zhao Qian Sun said earnestly. He wasn't unwilling to listen to Fu Ru Hai's explanation; in fact, he wished he could explain. However, in front of Zhang Kui Xian, some things couldn't be said.
"Hmph! Let's go, come to the Heavenly Court with us for a complete report on your work!"
"No, we can't leave now! If we leave, all our efforts will be in vain!" Fu Ru Hai resolutely refused, and Zhao Qian Sun's face immediately fell.
"Fu Ru Hai, do you dare disobey orders?" Zhang Kui Xian sharply questioned.
"Director Zhao, didn't I clearly state in my note that if we achieve no merit this time and cannot completely eradicate the plague, we will not return to the Heavenly Court!" Fu Ru Hai argued logically. The medicine had just started showing effects; to give up halfway now would be to present a great opportunity to the plague!
"Hmph! What effect can you possibly have like this!" Zhang Kui Xian didn't care how Zhao Qian Sun viewed him. As long as he could interfere, he would stir up trouble, regardless of whether it was effective or not. As he spoke, he took out some ineffective samples and threw them onto the table.
"Hmph! Look, this stuff of yours is useless!"
"Whether it's effective or not is not for you to say. If you're so capable, then you go and drive away the plague. Aren't you an immortal? Aren't you a leader? Don't you have a responsibility to save all living beings?" Fu Ru Hai completely disregarded Zhang Kui Xian's dignity. For every word Zhang Kui Xian dared to speak, Fu Ru Hai would retort with ten. This made Zhang Kui Xian lose face.
Seeing this, Zhao Qian Sun felt gratified. Of course, as a leader, he couldn't completely ignore the harmony among his subordinates and could only stop them from arguing further.
"Alright, if you have something to say, say it when we return to the Heavenly Court. Don't bicker here!"
"Wait! Director Zhao, could you let me say a few words?" Liu San Dao said as Zhao Qian Sun turned to leave for the Heavenly Court.
"What do you have to say!" Liu San Dao ignored Zhang Kui Xian's mockery and continued, "Whether we descended to the mortal realm without authorization or for the sake of Heavenly Court rules, it all boils down to saving all living beings. If we go to the Heavenly Court, won't the Heavenly Emperor and the great lords send people to save all living beings? Moreover, we have already found a way to solve the plague..."
"Hmph! Solving the plague, isn't that simple? With just a word from the Heavenly Emperor, the plague won't reap lives, and you wouldn't need to..." Before Liu San Dao could finish, Zhang Kui Xian interjected.
Zhao Qian Sun cast a stern look at Zhang Kui Xian, wondering what was going on in his mind. The appearance of the plague, on the surface, meant the Heavenly Emperor could order the plague not to reap souls. In reality, that was heavenly secrets, and immortals couldn't act as they pleased. Even the Heavenly Emperor couldn't prevent heavenly secrets and fate. If the plague didn't reap souls, then many souls would drift in the three realms, causing disaster. As immortals, these were basic truths they should understand, yet Zhang Kui Xian spoke like this.