Chapter 46: A Small Favor
Rong Yuyan responded again with a faint "hmm," closing his eyes and gathering his focus. He felt a silver needle piercing a specific acupoint on his shoulder, and immediately, his internal energy began to flow there like a gentle stream.
Guided by Ji Hua’s silver needle, Rong Yuyan’s internal energy circulated three small cycles within his body.
During this process, Rong Yuyan truly experienced the sensation of extreme cold and heat as the woman had described, along with the sharp pain of his meridians tearing.
Yet, compared to the agony of his previous poison outbreaks, this discomfort was negligible.
Still, beads of sweat dotted Rong Yuyan’s forehead, and the veins on his forehead and neck bulged visibly.
“Keep steady, Chief,” Ji Hua softly urged.
Finally, as the internal energy converged at the index finger of his right hand, Ji Hua frowned and took a needle, piercing Rong Yuyan’s finger.
Almost instantly, black poisonous blood seeped from the wound, gradually diffusing into the pale green medicinal bath. The water’s color shifted from light green to gray.
Ji Hua squatted by the pool, intently watching Rong Yuyan’s finger.
Only when the color of the blood flowing from his fingertip lightened—the black fading into red—did she call out, “Stop! That’s enough.”
Rong Yuyan slowly withdrew his internal energy, opening his eyes to reveal pale lips—a normal sign of blood loss.
He glanced down at his finger; the blood was a normal red, but the water in the pool had turned ink-black, faintly tinted with poison.
Beside him, Jiu Qing anxiously watched the female healer draw blood from their clan leader but was powerless to intervene.
Seeing the Chief’s face pale, he was deeply concerned.
“Chief, how do you feel?”
Rong Yuyan waved his hand dismissively.
Ji Hua wiped the sweat from her neck with her sleeve, though some remained stubbornly.
She stood and handed the prepared prescription to Jiu Qing: “Take this with you.”
Taking the opportunity, Rong Yuyan stepped out of the pool, using his internal energy to dry his clothes before quickly donning his outer robe. His steps faltered slightly.
Startled, Jiu Qing immediately moved to support him. “Chief, are you alright?”
Ji Hua turned her head and explained, “Don’t worry. Chief Rong has only temporarily lost too much blood. What was drained was all poisonous blood, so it’s beneficial rather than harmful. However, after losing so much blood, you must replenish it. This prescription I gave you is meant to nourish your blood and qi and to gently nurture your meridians.”
---
Ji Hua then looked at Rong Yuyan.
“Chief Rong, you must take care to rest. I just checked your pulse; it seems you have overexerted yourself. With so many poisons inside you, you should not push too hard. We’ll end here for today and continue next time.”
Hearing this, Jiu Qing immediately asked, “Doctor, how many times will this detoxification need to be done?”
Ji Hua patiently explained, “The poison has penetrated to your bones; it must be diluted slowly. Once every seven days, and it will take at least half a year at the fastest.”
She then glanced at Rong Yuyan. Though her expression was hidden, her tone held a hint of surprise.
“Though I don’t know exactly whom the Chief has offended, among the poisons in your body, there are two extremely rare types I’ve never seen before.”
“I do have antidote prescriptions, but none have been truly used yet. So the final detox will be complicated.”
“First, we need to gather the medicinal herbs. After I prepare the antidote, it must be tested to confirm its effectiveness.”
Hearing this, both Rong Yuyan and Jiu Qing frowned. If even this woman called it complicated, then it was indeed serious.
Ji Hua spoke candidly.
Seeing their silence, she continued without restraint.
“By the way, to ensure the detox goes smoothly, I will need some herbs, and I hope Chief Rong can help find them himself.”
“There are three very rare herbs that I cannot collect alone.”
Jiu Qing quickly responded, “Doctor, please tell us! I will remember everything and find them without fail!”
Ji Hua shook her head, “They aren’t easy to find, but with effort, it’s still possible.”
She then walked to the table where ink and paper were prepared. Picking up the brush, she wrote as she spoke.
“The first herb is called the Seven-Colored Illusory Mushroom, which grows in remote, rarely trodden mountain forests. It thrives when it rains and withers once the rain stops. If you’re lucky enough to encounter it, you must carefully dig it out with some soil attached without damaging its body or root, or its efficacy will be greatly diminished, affecting later use.”
“The second herb is the Cold Mountain Snow Lotus. As the name suggests, it grows in cold regions, rooted on steep cliffs and ledges. It blooms best during snowfall, which is the optimal time for harvesting.”
“The third is the Jade Lake Cordyceps, commonly found by pristine mountain springs and lakes with no shade. It appears in spring and autumn but will wither immediately after rain.”
While speaking, Ji Hua quickly finished writing the descriptions and habitats of these three herbs, even sketching their appearance. She set down the brush and instructed Jiu Qing.
“These three herbs must be kept fresh once found, stored in a cold ice jade box. I hope you, Young Master Jiu Qing, will take this seriously.”
Jiu Qing, hearing Ji Hua’s detailed explanation, realized how difficult these herbs would be to find given the harsh growth conditions. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
---
No matter how hard, they must be found; otherwise, the Chief’s poison cannot be cured.
Hearing Ji Hua’s instructions, he promptly replied, “I understand. I will do my utmost to gather them all!”
Ji Hua’s gaze turned serious, even behind her mask.
“It’s not just about trying, you must find them. Without these herbs, the poison likely cannot be detoxified.”
Her words struck like a heavy hammer to his heart.
Jiu Qing’s mood grew heavy, and he vowed, “I will find them!”
Ji Hua smiled and nodded, then turned to the silent Rong Yuyan, her tone lightening.
“Chief Rong, I have a small favor to ask, if you don’t mind.”
Rong Yuyan paused mid-drink, looking at her with some surprise. “You want to ask this Chief for help?”
Ji Hua smiled and shook her head. “No need for the Chief to intervene personally. Just have Young Master Jiu Qing handle it.”
Rong Yuyan waved his hand casually, silent, but that was his consent.
Ji Hua breathed a sigh of relief but still explained.
“Thank you, Chief Rong. Actually, this is a small matter. I want Young Master Jiu Qing to teach someone a lesson—Prince Xuan of the Great Chu Kingdom, Ling Moxuan.”
Rong Yuyan paused, but quickly regained composure, setting down his teacup and looking at Ji Hua.
Jiu Qing stood slightly behind her, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes as he asked, “Doctor, how did this Prince Xuan of Great Chu offend you?”
Ji Hua, her face obscured by the mask, let out a cold snort, her tone proud.
“Nothing personal. He never offended me, but he offended my senior brother, so I want to teach him a lesson. Don’t worry, I’m not planning to kill him!”