Chapter 33
Chapter 33: Hua Tuo's Economics
After leaving Ning Rongrong, Qi Ling made his way to Shrek Academy's healing room, where the injured Zhu Zhuqing had been brought. Tang San and the others were anxiously waiting for Dean Flender to arrive.
"How is she? Is Zhu Zhuqing's injury serious?" Qi Ling asked as he approached Tang San.
Tang San replied solemnly, "The situation doesn't look good."
Qi Ling raised an eyebrow. As a master of poison, Tang San's medical skills were impressive, so if he couldn't find a solution, it meant Zhu Zhuqing's condition was indeed severe.
"Zhu Zhuqing was injured while sparring with someone who used a very sinister palm technique.
I've never seen anything like it!" Tang San explained. "Right now, the only solution is to wait for Dean Flender to return with a skilled healer.
If we don't act quickly, Zhu Zhuqing's injury might be difficult to heal."
As they were speaking, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly started coughing violently, spitting out bright red blood, which looked alarming.
"How could this happen? Zhuqing, you have to hang in there!" Xiao Wu said anxiously, seeing Zhu Zhuqing's condition worsen.
Qi Ling, though equally worried, felt powerless.
His medical knowledge was far inferior to Tang San's, and he didn't know what to do in this situation.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in Qi Ling's mind.
[Ding! The host is faced with a choice. Please choose one of the following options:
«Option 1: Do nothing and wait for Flender to bring back a healer.
Reward:Spirit Power Level -1. Zhu Zhuqing has a 30% chance of recovery.»
«Option 2:Take action to save Zhu Zhuqing.
Reward: Zhu Zhuqing's favourability +20%, Martial Soul affinity +5%, God-level medical skill: Hua Tuo's World-Healing Economics».]
Qi Ling chuckled to himself.
Was he really going to become an all-rounder now, even capable of healing? Without hesitation, he chose the second option.
With the god-level medical skill Hua Tuo's Economics, almost any injury could be healed, including Zhu Zhuqing's.
However, Qi Ling was curious about one reward: the Martial Soul affinity.
He could understand Zhu Zhuqing's favourability increasing, but what exactly did the affinity with Martial Souls mean? There was no time to think further as the system had already registered his choice.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. Option 2 has been selected. Rewards: Zhu Zhuqing's favourability +20%, Martial Soul affinity +5%, God-level medical skill: Hua Tuo's Economics.]
"I think I've seen this kind of injury before, I might be able to save her!" Qi Ling said casually.
"Really?!" Tang San exclaimed in surprise.
"I've never encountered anything like this in all my experience.
Big brother, are you sure you can heal her?"
"Yes, I came across this injury in an ancient text and know how to treat it!" Qi Ling replied, leaning into the lie.
"However, the treatment requires absolute concentration.
If I'm disturbed, both Zhu Zhuqing and I could be in danger. You all need to leave the room.
I'll let you know when I'm done."
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar exchanged glances before leaving. Once outside, Oscar couldn't help but speculate, "Qi Ling and Zhu Zhuqing are alone in there… You don't think he might—"
"Shut up, Oscar!" Xiao Wu snapped, glaring at him.
"Don't use your dirty thoughts to imagine Brother Qi.
He's only doing this to save her!"
"But Xiao Wu, think about it. Zhu Zhuqing's figure is quite something.
What if Qi Ling has to… well, you know, remove her clothes to heal her?" Oscar's mind wandered.
"You're dead meat! You wretched sausage seller!" Xiao Wu screamed, furious at Oscar's crude thoughts. As she went to teach him a lesson, Oscar cried out for help.
After their scuffle, Xiao Wu secretly glanced down at her chest and whispered to herself, "I'm not that small, am I?"
Meanwhile, inside the room, Qi Ling faced a dilemma.
Zhu Zhuqing had been struck by a vicious palm technique. If she wasn't treated immediately, the sinister energy would gradually erode her life force until she weakened and died.
According to the teachings of Hua Tuo's Economics, the only way to treat such an injury was to use a more powerful technique to forcefully expel the sinister energy. Fortunately, Qi Ling's Nine-Turn True Dragon Art was perfect for the task.
Staring at the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing, Qi Ling hesitated. "Is this really okay? Am I taking advantage of her?"
"Zhuqing, I swear I'm only doing this to save you, not to take advantage of you!" Qi Ling muttered.
"If you agree, stay silent, If you don't agree, just… well, just wake up!"
If Zhu Zhuqing weren't unconscious, she might have given Qi Ling a solid kick for that.
Seeing no response, Qi Ling steeled himself and carefully unbuttoned Zhu Zhuqing's clothes, revealing a blood-red handprint on her chest.
"This is a seriously dangerous injury," Qi Ling thought.
"No wonder she's in such bad shape… but wait, focus!"
Wiping away a nosebleed, Qi Ling pressed his hand to the blood-red mark on Zhu Zhuqing's chest and activated his Nine-Turn True Dragon Art.
As his true qi flowed through her body, it began to heal her internal injuries.
The process was simple yet profound.
Most people would consider the injury incurable, but under the flow of Qi Ling's technique, it dissolved like ice melting under the sun.
As the True Dragon Qi circulated through Zhu Zhuqing's meridians, her pale complexion gradually gave way to a healthy, rosy glow.
The sinister palm print disappeared, and her skin returned to its natural smoothness.
After an hour, Qi Ling had completely healed her.
Zhu Zhuqing's injuries were gone, and she was close to waking up.
"I'd better get out of here before she wakes up," Qi Ling thought, panic rising.
"If she sees what I've done, she'll definitely want to fight me!"
Without waiting another moment, Qi Ling hurriedly made his exit, hoping to avoid the inevitable awkward confrontation.