All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 198: Poison

News of the new physician at Spring Return Hall quickly spread throughout Iron Horse City. Initially, many people were skeptical. Old Mr. Ye had been practicing medicine for over forty years, and his medical skills and character were well-established. How could they bear to see him step back? More concerning was that the new physician was reportedly a young woman. How skilled could someone so young be?

Feng Xueqing sat in the hall with Zhanyue standing guard nearby. Many people just looked in from the doorway, hesitating whether to give her a try. Soon, they finally received their first patient. It was a middle-aged woman who came in clutching her stomach, her face as pale as paper. Given the urgency, she naturally couldn’t afford to hesitate.

“Doctor, my stomach hurts and I’m feeling dizzy with ringing in my ears,” the woman said.

Zhanyue helped her to a chair, and Feng Xueqing came over, felt her pulse, and looked at her tongue, quickly making a diagnosis.

“You’ve probably eaten something unclean. Let’s induce vomiting first,” Feng Xueqing said. She took out some needles and inserted them into specific points on the woman’s body. Zhanyue, already in sync, placed a basin in front of the woman. After a few needles, the woman indeed vomited until there was nothing left. Only then did Feng Xueqing remove the silver needles and offer a glass of light salt water.

“I’ll write you a prescription. Rest well for two days and take the medicine as directed,” Feng Xueqing quickly provided a prescription. Fortunately, the names of medicinal herbs in this trial world were the same as in the Myriad Spirits Realm, otherwise, it would have been troublesome.

The old woman took the prescription and asked the price, her eyes widening, “So cheap?”

“Yes, you don’t have any major issues, but do rest well for a few days and eat light foods,” Feng Xueqing advised.

“Thank you, doctor. Thank you,” the old woman repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

Onlookers only saw the old woman enter clutching her stomach with a pale face, but when she came out, she looked much more relaxed and seemed to be in less pain. Instantly, people’s trust in this new doctor increased.

Gradually, business at the shop picked up, even forming queues.

On the first day: “This new doctor’s skills are quite good.”

On the second day: “Dr. Feng surpasses her teacher. Spring Return Hall has a worthy successor.”

On the third day: “Dr. Feng is truly a divine doctor, working miracles.”

On the fourth day: “Dr. Feng must be a celestial in the mortal world, saving people from suffering…”

In just a few short days, Feng Xueqing made a name for herself with her miraculous medical skills. It was only a pity that this world lacked many spiritual herbs and medicines, limiting her abilities.

Old Mr. Ye watched the busy pair in the hall from outside, a satisfied smile on his face. He was old, with decreasing energy, but the reputation of Spring Return Hall couldn’t fall. Finding suitable successors made him truly happy. If his son really didn’t want to inherit Spring Return Hall, letting this couple inherit wouldn’t be bad at all. He’d observe them a bit more.

After a busy day, the three sat down for dinner together. Old Mr. Ye’s cooking skills were quite good. Back in their room, the spacious chamber was divided by a screen, each naturally occupying half.

“You must be tired these past few days,” Zhanyue asked.

“A bit tired. This world really lacks doctors. Ah…” Feng Xueqing suddenly sighed.

“What are you sighing about?” Zhanyue asked again.

“Haven’t you noticed that Old Mr. Ye seems to have the intention of letting us inherit Spring Return Hall? But we’re just passing through, we can’t possibly stay here forever. I’m afraid we’ll disappoint his good intentions,” Feng Xueqing said.

Zhanyue was momentarily speechless, then comforted her, “This trial world is ultimately fake. Don’t truly blame yourself.”

“Fake?” Feng Xueqing said reluctantly, “Yes, it’s all fake. These past few days of life, and even our identities, are all ultimately fake.”

“What? From what you’re saying, do you actually like this kind of life?” Zhanyue asked curiously, “Is heaven’s favored daughter so easily satisfied?”

Feng Xueqing nodded, “This is indeed the life I want to live. Having someone by my side, having something to do, isn’t this kind of life good? But you’re not one to settle down. I fear you couldn’t bear this ordinary life. The mission must ultimately continue.”

Their life these past few days, except for not sharing a bed, was no different from an ordinary couple’s, which silently stirred up some unusual feelings in both Zhanyue and Feng Xueqing.

Until the second day, what was bound to come finally arrived.

A middle-aged man dressed as an ordinary citizen found the two.

“Could you make a house call?” the middle-aged man asked, his face tired, his eyes full of hope.

“If the patient can’t come to us, we should certainly make an initial visit,” Feng Xueqing replied, “But I still have so many patients here…”

Before she could finish, Old Mr. Ye suddenly appeared, “You two go ahead. I’ll watch things here for now.”

The middle-aged man looked at Old Mr. Ye, his eyes full of gratitude. It seemed Old Mr. Ye knew why the man had come, and the man clearly knew Old Mr. Ye as well.

“Alright then, let’s go,” Feng Xueqing and Zhanyue were both inwardly delighted. They had finally waited for this day.

The middle-aged man first led them to a civilian house where they disguised themselves. Then he led them around the city for a long time before heading to the general’s mansion through a secret passage.

“This is the general’s mansion. I know you have many questions, but due to military secrets, I can’t answer them. You’re here to see a patient. Just treat the illness, don’t ask about anything else,” the middle-aged man’s previously kind demeanor changed, his tone now serious.

“We understand,” Zhanyue and Feng Xueqing nodded.

They were led through many turns. The general’s mansion was huge; outsiders could never know where General Yue was. The middle-aged man blindfolded them and led them around for a long time before finally bringing them to a room.

The room was filled with the smell of herbs. Apart from a bed, there was nothing else.

The middle-aged man had originally intended to bring only Feng Xueqing, but hearing that Zhanyue also knew some medicine, he brought him along as well. Now he could only pin his hopes on these two.

“Come,” the middle-aged man led them to the patient’s bedside, extremely cautious.

Lying on the bed was another middle-aged man, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, extraordinarily handsome, but with black qi swirling around his brow, unconscious.

As Feng Xueqing diagnosed him, her expression grew increasingly grim.

“What a terrifying poison,” she quickly concluded that this was definitely a case of poisoning.

“Dr. Feng, do you know what poison it is? Is there a cure?” the middle-aged man asked anxiously.

“Curing the poison won’t be easy, but I can temporarily slow its erosion,” saying this, Feng Xueqing began to apply acupuncture. After a complete set of needles, she was covered in sweat. Zhanyue wiped her sweat away, something he had done many times before.

“He must have taken a lot of medicine. These medicines, though not very effective, have indeed stopped the spread of the virus. I’ve sealed his heart meridian, which can protect him for about a month. We must find the antidote within this month,” Feng Xueqing said.

“What’s the antidote?” the middle-aged man asked emotionally, “Just tell me. Whatever the cost, I’ll help you find it.”

“Don’t get excited yet. I need to discuss this with my husband first. Please arrange a room for us. I don’t think you’ll let us leave easily,” Feng Xueqing said.

The middle-aged man looked embarrassed and smiled, “Alright, I’ll arrange it right away. This is unavoidable, I hope you understand.”

Back in the arranged guest room, Feng Xueqing’s expression immediately turned serious, “We’re in trouble.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The poison he’s been infected with shouldn’t exist in this world. It’s definitely not a poison that should be in this world, and he shouldn’t have been able to hold on until now. The people of this world only cultivate martial arts, as we both know, but he seems to be no ordinary person. There’s a power in his body that I can’t understand at all, sustaining his life. To cure such a poison requires spiritual herbs and medicines, which this world with its scarce spiritual energy simply doesn’t have.”

Zhanyue’s expression instantly changed as well. A poison not of this world, a power not of this world. He had asked Baizhi before, and there were no spiritual items in her world either. This was truly troublesome now.