Chapter 30: The Assassin from the Jianghu

Dusk descended, and Bai Linglong, stroking her slightly protruding belly—she was now four or five months pregnant—hurried towards the medical hall with Xiaocui.

Along the way, Xiaocui’s face was filled with worry, and she couldn’t help but mutter, “Sister, this whole thing is so strange. That patient’s place is secluded and desolate. Could there be some kind of conspiracy? My heart hasn’t stopped racing.”

Bai Linglong maintained a calm demeanor and gently patted Xiaocui’s hand, speaking softly, “Don’t jump to conclusions. Since we’ve taken on this patient, a doctor’s duty forbids us from backing down. This matter is certainly peculiar, and we need to be extra cautious when going forward. Although I’m pregnant and have limited mobility, that cannot be an excuse to turn a blind eye to suffering.”

Even though she said this, she knew that having a child made many things more difficult, and every step had to be carefully considered.

Returning to the medical hall, Bai Linglong lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The patient’s strange pulse and complex symptoms kept replaying in her mind.

She tried to recall what she had read in medical texts and her past experiences, but she couldn’t find any clues.

The child in her womb, as if sensing her mother’s anxiety, moved occasionally, as if reminding her to take care of herself.

She gently stroked her belly and whispered, “Be good, baby. Once I, your mother resolves this matter, I’ll spend all my time with you.”

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that she finally rose, accompanied by Xiaocui, carrying the medicine box, and rushed towards the dilapidated courtyard.

Along the way, Xiaocui cautiously supported her while constantly reminding her, “Sister, please slow down. Be careful where you step.”

When they reached the courtyard, the patient’s wife was already anxiously waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing Bai Linglong, her eyes lit up, and she rushed forward, her voice choked with tears, “Miraculous Doctor, you’ve finally arrived! My husband has been rolling in pain all night, constantly calling out your name, hoping you would come to save him.”

Bai Linglong quickly walked into the room. The patient was propped up in bed, his complexion as pale as paper; however, his spirit seemed slightly better.

She hurried to his bedside and skillfully conducted a follow-up examination. As the diagnosis deepened, her brow furrowed deeper and said. “Your condition is even more complicated than I expected. Think carefully again. Did you come into contact with anything unusual or accidentally consume anything?”

Bai Linglong stared intently at the patient, her expression serious as she asked.

The patient hesitated, his eyes flashing with a hint of panic. He stammered, “I… I just live a normal life. I haven’t encountered anything unusual.”

Bai Linglong snorted coldly, her arms crossed over her chest and said. “You still refuse to reveal the truth when it has already reached to this point?  I can’t heal you if you don’t come clean.  You’re still hiding stuff, even though I came here to save you while I am pregnant! “

The patient, seeing that he could no longer conceal it, sighed deeply and said regretfully, “A few months ago, I was gathering herbs in the mountains and mistakenly picked a black fruit I’d never seen before. It had a captivating fragrance, and I couldn’t resist eating it. At first, I just had a headache and felt weak all over. I didn’t think much of it, but the condition got worse and worse.”

Bai Linglong was startled. It seemed that this illness was caused by that strange fruit.

She quickly opened her medicine box, took out an ancient porcelain bottle, and poured out a pill that shimmered faintly. This pill was made from various rare medicinal herbs, which she had spent months refining. It was specifically designed to detoxify.

Bai Linglong handed the pill to the patient and said sternly, “Take this. It will help you expel the toxins from your body. I’m putting my child and my safety in danger just to save you. I’m leaving if you continue to hide things!”

The patient hurriedly swallowed the pill. Soon after, he felt a churning in his stomach, clutched his abdomen, and stumbled out to vomit. Among the vomit, there were faint black, stringy substances, emitting a pungent odor.

Bai Linglong watched closely, carefully observing the vomit.

After about a stick of incense, the patient stopped vomiting and collapsed weakly to the ground, but his face held a hint of relief. Within half an hour, the patient’s complexion visibly flushed, and his previously dull eyes regained their luster.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with gratitude. With a choked voice, he said, “Miraculous Doctor, I feel much better now. Before, the pain was so unbearable that I thought I was going to die. You are truly my savior!”

At this moment, she felt a stir in her belly. She instinctively reached out to gently caress it, a touch of tenderness crossing her face.

Then, Bai Linglong began to write a prescription for recuperation. After finishing, she handed it to the patient’s wife, her expression concerned as she instructed, “Some of the herbs on this prescription are quite rare. They might be difficult to find. If you can’t find them, I will tell you what to substitute. You must strictly follow the instructions for decocting and taking the medicine, don’t be careless. This is not just for his life, but also for the effort I have put in, for myself and my child!”

The patient’s wife, her hands trembling, took the prescription. With a thud, she knelt down and bowed deeply to Bai Linglong, her voice choked with emotion. “Miraculous Doctor, we owe you our lives today. Your kindness and compassion are unforgettable. You are our family’s savior!, and in the future, we will go wherever you need us, just let us know!” the patient’s wife declared.

Bai Linglong hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, speaking gently, “Please get up. This is what I should do as a doctor. Don’t rush to thank me; let’s wait until he’s fully recovered.”

At that moment, the patient’s wife took out a heavy pouch from her bosom, holding it with both hands as she presented it to Bai Linglong. “Miraculous Doctor, this is your consultation fee. There are fifty taels of silver inside; you must accept it.”

Bai Linglong was momentarily taken aback, her gaze falling on the pouch. After a brief hesitation, she said, “This fee is a bit excessive. The usual consultation fee is only a few taels of silver. I can only accept ten taels from you.”

The patient’s wife replied anxiously, “Miraculous Doctor, you have saved my husband! How can fifty taels of silver repay your kindness? Please, don’t refuse it.”

Bai Linglong looked into the patient’s wife’s sincere eyes, and thinking of the child in her womb, who would also need some savings in the future, she decided not to decline any longer. With a smile, she accepted the pouch and said, “Then I shall take it. Rest assured, if there are any issues later, you can come find me.”

Bai Linglong left the dilapidated courtyard with Xiaocui, returning to the medical hall in the afternoon.

She had just intended to rest for a while when she suddenly heard a series of painful groans coming from outside. She exchanged a glance with Xiaocui and hurried out to check.

At the entrance of the medical hall lay a man, covered in blood, with a faint breath.

Bai Linglong rushed over to examine him, discovering that not only was he seriously injured, but he also had rare toxins lingering in his body. The shape and location of his wounds indicated that he had undergone a fierce struggle.

“Sister, this man is gravely injured. Should we help him?” Xiaocui asked anxiously.

Bai Linglong gritted her teeth, her gaze resolute. “We must save him!”

Doctor Zhang and Xiaocui helped carry the man into the medical hall, while Bai Linglong quickly set to work on detoxifying him.

She took out her silver needles and skillfully inserted them into several acupoints on the man’s body, then fed him an antidote pill.

After a considerable amount of time, the man’s complexion finally regained some color, and his breathing steadied a bit.

Bai Linglong let out a sigh of relief, and only then did she take a closer look at the man.

Despite being covered in blood, he had a robust build, with calloused hands that indicated years of martial practice. A broken sword hung at his waist, its sheath adorned with peculiar patterns.

After a while, the man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with caution and weakness.

Upon seeing Bai Linglong, his lips trembled slightly as he weakly said, “Thank you, Miraculous Doctor, for saving my life. I am a person from Jianghu, Having insulted some well-meaning people who conspired against me. If it weren’t for your timely help, I fear I would have already lost my life.”

“When your injuries have healed, you can tell me more.” Bai Linglong said

The man nodded slightly, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Bai Linglong looked at him, her heart pondering silently. The affairs of the Jianghu were complex and filled with grudges. Having him saved, makes her wondered if she might become entangled in their trouble.