My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 682 - 666: Left or Right, It’s All the Same in Death

Everyone says that when seeking medical help from Qin Liuxi, drop the pretense and show sincerity. But no one told them to be prepared for emotional rollercoasters.

In just a short hour, the mood of Quan Jing and his company plummeted from high to low, then soared up before plummeting again. Don’t ask what it feels like; the answer is constant shock and surprise, with a side of heart palpitations after the stimulation.

Just listen to what she’s saying — claiming there’s no cure for the poison but it can still be treated, is like betting on fighting poison with poison, yet what poison to use, she doesn’t know.

Isn’t this just toying with them?

Qin Liuxi claims to be genuinely innocent and doesn’t feel guilty at all for the dejected looks everyone’s giving her. She says, "I’m a doctor, not a poison-expert. This is also my first encounter with such a poison. And to fight poison with poison, it’s not just any more potent poison that will do; we need one that counteracts it. If we carelessly administer one, it won’t hold, and you’d be poisoned yet again."

"So how do we find it?"

"There is an antidote for every poison. Since Red Flame Ants exist, there must be a natural enemy. Once we find this thing, and with additional poisonous substances, we can concoct a potent poison. Of course, if we’re lucky enough to find a non-toxic natural enemy, we might even be able to develop an antidote, though the chances are slim, considering even Atupu hasn’t been able to produce an antidote." Qin Liuxi continued, "I have only read about the existence of Red Flame Ants in unofficial records; what their natural predator is, I need to look up. So it’s normal not to know, right?"

The hearts of Quan Jing and his companions slightly sank.

Wang Yuqian said with a worried expression, "How long will we have to wait? Can He Qi’s body endure it?"

"If you can’t wait, you have to wait." Qin Liuxi looked at Quan Jing and said, "Even if there were an extremely toxic substance right in front of us now, it wouldn’t mean you could just drink it up. You’re best aware of the state of your body — akin to being riddled with holes is no exaggeration. It’s solely your will to live that’s keeping you going, but your wish to live doesn’t mean you can control the continuous weakening and failure, since your blood is already tainted with poison, and it’s not like your vital organs’ vitality is not depleting."

"With such a body, it’s tough to withstand another more powerful poison, so you need to nurture yourself and strengthen your body so you can withstand the true poison."

"Can it still be nurtured?"

Qin Liuxi said, "You’ve been sitting in the Daoist Room for a few hours. How does it feel?"

Quan Jing was taken aback for a moment, then revealed a relieved smile, and replied, "Excellent. Is there some mystery in it?"

"That room is arranged with an Array, and Spiritual Energy circulates within it, which can calm your mind and soul. If you can absorb the Spiritual Energy for your own use, naturally it’s beneficial for your body, and you’ll feel comfortable."

Both Quan Jing and Wang Yuqian were somewhat surprised — that little Daoist Room had an Array, with Spiritual Energy?

Wang Yuqian was a bit slow to realize and looked down at himself, uttering a surprised "Eh?"

He wasn’t exactly a playboy, but he knew how to have fun. Banking on a young and fit body, he has partied all night roaming amongst the flowers and willows, drinking till dawn. He has reined in his habits upon arriving in Li City, but just last night, he was squatting in an underground cockfighting den in the city for half the night, leaving him with numb legs, a sore back, and feeling unfit. If it weren’t for accompanying Quan Jing to seek medical help, he would probably still be in bed unable to get up.

But now, his legs weren’t numb, his back wasn’t sore, and his spirit was strong.

Could this be the effect of just sitting in that Daoist Room?

Quan Jing also remembered feeling more spirited than before; if it had been any other day, he would have collapsed long ago due to weakness and fatigue.

"So the mystical aspect of that Daoist Room lies in that. When the Junior Temple Master mentioned nurturing my health, does it mean I should stay there until you find that more powerful poison?"

"Hehe, you wish!" Qin Liuxi scoffed lightly.

Quan Jing: "?"

Teng Zhao added expressionlessly: "Wishful thinking!"

A chuckle.

Wei Xie laughed out loud.

A trace of shallow pink appeared on Quan Jing’s pale face, and the tips of his ears were also tinged with pink. Had he misunderstood?

Qin Liuxi didn’t want to embarrass him, and said, "For your body to achieve balance between yin and yang, and ensure circulation of qi and blood, you must undergo acupuncture to regulate the qi, to be combined with medicine to nourish the organs. In the Daoist Room, you should meditate for two hours daily to cultivate life and enlightenment. Once your body is a little stronger, we can use poison."

Honestly, Quan Jing’s body was even worse than Du Mian’s, who had suffered dozens of knife wounds; after all, Du Mian’s were mostly external injuries, with the damage spreading from the outside in, which was a relatively slow process and had some momentum. Quan Jing’s poison, on the other hand, ravaged him from within.

The most important things for a person were the healthy functions of the organs, because they represented vitality, as well as blood. However, the poison in Quan Jing acted internally, wreaking havoc and destroying his life force; that’s why he was so weak and frail, tumbling down with just a gust of wind.

There was no point in talking any further; it would just be redundant. Quan Jing got up and bowed to Qin Liuxi: "I shall rely on the Junior Temple Master’s care in the future."

"Do you wish to gamble?" Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow.

A glint of determination burst forth in Quan Jing’s eyes: "I have no other choice, nor a way out, do I?"

To gamble there was still a glimmer of hope; not to gamble was to wait for death.

When death is inevitable, why not gamble on that slim chance?

Qin Liuxi nodded: "Then bring me the medicine you usually take for inspection. Now go and lie down on the couch in the inner hall’s elegant room, and I will start with acupuncture."

Is this starting now?

Quan Jing was led to the elegant room, where he took off his coat and lay down on the small couch to wait calmly.

Wang Yuqian, standing to the side, said dryly, "He Qi, are you sure about this? Are you really taking the gamble?"

"If I don’t gamble, I’ll die anyway." Quan Jing said hoarsely, "Don’t worry, no matter how it turns out, the Quan family will owe you for this favor."

"Ah, that’s not what I meant." Wang Yuqian scratched his head and said, "Of course, I hope you get completely better, but she does not have absolute certainty either. If she can’t find a poison more potent than yours or if you can’t withstand it... then..."

Quan Jing clenched his fist and said, "It doesn’t matter. If the heavens wanted to take my life, they would have done so already. If not, I will fight it out!"

"I just fear if you lose the gamble, the Quan family will not accept it and send an army to raze Qingping Temple and my cousin with it," Wang Yuqian muttered.

Quan Jing: "?"

You are cursing me and doubting my character.

He took a deep breath and said, "Don’t worry, I’m not so lacking in integrity that I can’t accept a loss."

Wang Yuqian gave a sheepish smile.

Who knows about that? He has integrity, but every family has parents who would protect their offspring at all costs, and Quan Jing’s status is still of high nobility, now the only successor of the Quan Family Main Branch. Although he is on the brink of death now, as the saying goes, it’s better to live poorly than to die well: even a miserable life is a life; once dead, everything’s gone. If the Quan Family were to think this way, wouldn’t Qin Liuxi be finished?

There have been instances where doctors fail to cure a patient and end up being beaten by them!

Qin Liuxi walked in, looking at the two men with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, and declared, "Don’t worry, there is no such thing as medical disturbance here. If anyone dares to make trouble, I’ll make sure they can’t handle the consequences!"

This was definitely a threat and a warning, sending a chill through everyone present.