Chapter 217
Chapter 217
Chapter 217
"Quick, there's a temple ahead. Let's take shelter from the rain there!"
"Xiao Rou, hold on a little longer. We've found a place to stay dry!"
"Once we get inside the temple, we'll light a fire and warm up. You'll be okay!"
…
Amid the noise, five or six people burst into the main hall. All of them were drenched, carrying bundles on their shoulders, and some had weapons, clearly not ordinary folks.
One of them had a young girl on his back.
When they entered the hall and saw there were already people inside, they hesitated for a moment but quickly focused on their own matters.
After nodding to Lu Qing and his companions, they hurried to the other side and set the girl down.
The girl's condition didn't look good.
She was pale, her lips were blue, and she was shivering all over. There was even a faint scent of blood emanating from her, and she had fallen into a semi-conscious state."Xiao Rou, Xiao Rou, wake up!"
The middle-aged man who had carried her in shook her shoulders, trying to wake her.
The girl barely opened her eyes, called out weakly, "Dad," and then lost consciousness again.
"Xiao Rou!"
The middle-aged man was alarmed and shook her again.
Seeing her weakening breath, his eyes reddened with anxiety.
"Master, what should we do?"
The others were equally anxious.
Their luggage had been lost on the way, and they didn't even have any medicine with them, completely helpless.
"Sir, may I have a look at her?"
Just as they were at their wits' end, a gentle voice sounded.
They looked up to see an elderly man with a kind and benevolent face standing in front of them.
It was Dr. Chen.
In fact, as soon as he saw the girl, his expression had turned serious.
Seeing the middle-aged man and his companions so helpless after the girl fainted, he couldn't help but speak up.
"Who are you, old man?"
The middle-aged man asked hesitantly.
"I am a doctor. I have some experience in treating illnesses and injuries, and perhaps I can help." Dr. Chen said kindly.
"A doctor? That's great!" The middle-aged man was overjoyed and quickly made way, "Please, sir, my daughter is injured and has been caught in this rain for a long time. She's unconscious now. Please save her, and I will be deeply grateful."
"Let me take a look at your daughter first."
Dr. Chen bent down and began to check the girl's pulse. As soon as his fingers touched her wrist, his expression changed.
"A Qing, immediately prepare a dose of Heart-Protection Soup. Boil it quickly over a high flame!"
"Xiao Yan, fetch my medicine box!"
"Yes, Master!"
Lu Qing, seeing the urgency in his master's tone, knew the girl's condition was dire. He quickly took out herbs from his bag.
Xiao Yan, understanding the situation, promptly brought over Dr. Chen's medicine box.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man and his companions relaxed a bit.
Since they carried so many herbs and a medicine box, it was evident that the elderly man was indeed a doctor.
Dr. Chen took the medicine box and pulled out a needle pouch.
After inserting a few needles into the girl's body, he raised his head and said to the middle-aged man, "Sir, your daughter's condition is quite serious. I need to perform acupuncture on her immediately. Also, her wet clothes must be changed. Who will assist me with this?"
The middle-aged man quickly responded, "Qian Lin, you help your junior sister change her clothes."
"Yes, Master!" A young woman in her twenties stepped forward.
However, she looked troubled, "Master, our luggage was lost, and our bundles are completely soaked. I'm afraid we don't have any dry clothes."
The middle-aged man realized this and looked at Dr. Chen for help.
Dr. Chen pondered for a moment, "We do have some clean clothes, but they are men's clothes. I hope that's acceptable."
Except for Xiao Yan, all of Lu Qing's group were men, so they naturally didn't have young women's clothing.
"As wanderers, we don't mind such details. Please lend us some clothes. I can pay for them." The middle-aged man said quickly.
"In urgent times, there's no need to be so formal. Zian, fetch some clean clothes."
"Yes."
Wei Zian soon brought the clothes. The young woman named Qian Lin carried the girl and followed Dr. Chen to the inner hall.
Even Xiao Yan was called in to help.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man felt completely at ease.
Dr. Chen was old enough to be his grandfather, and with a little girl helping, there was no reason to worry about any improper behavior.
"Xiao Yan, help this sister dry off and change her clothes."
Dr. Chen removed the needles from the girl's body and turned away, instructing.
"Okay~" Xiao Yan responded obediently.
The woman named Qian Lin, seeing Xiao Yan's small frame, was hesitant. But realizing it was difficult to change her unconscious junior sister's clothes alone, she agreed.
When Xiao Yan started helping, Qian Lin was surprised.
Despite her small size, Xiao Yan was quite strong, making it easy for them to change the girl's clothes together.
After the girl was dressed, Dr. Chen turned back, took out the needles, and began the proper acupuncture treatment.
Dr. Chen's medical skills were superb, and his experience was vast. His accuracy in identifying acupuncture points was extraordinary.
Even through clothing, he could accurately administer the needles.
Soon, after he completed the acupuncture treatment, the girl's breathing stabilized, and her pale face regained some color.
After the acupuncture, Dr. Chen continued to check her pulse, his expression growing more serious.
Seeing this, Qian Lin was on the verge of asking about her junior sister's condition.
"Master, the medicine is ready."
Fortunately, Lu Qing's voice came from outside, easing Dr. Chen's expression.
"Bring it in."
After giving the girl the medicine and returning to the main hall with Xiao Yan, the middle-aged man and his companions approached immediately.
"Sir, how is my daughter?"
"Fortunately, you arrived in time. Her condition has stabilized, and the wounds have been treated with golden healing ointment. But she needs further observation and should take two more doses of medicine." Dr. Chen said.
"Can I see her?"
"You may, but it's best not to crowd too many people in at once."
The middle-aged man instructed, "Dasha, you all wait outside. I'll go check on your junior sister."
After seeing his daughter's improved condition, he came out and bowed deeply to Dr. Chen, "Thank you for saving my daughter's life. I will never forget this kindness."
Recalling his daughter's earlier state, he was filled with fear.
Seeing her almost lifeless, he had nearly thought she was about to die.
"No need to be so formal. Treating patients is just my duty." Dr. Chen said gently, "But may I check your pulses as well?"
"Check our pulses?" The middle-aged man was puzzled.
He didn't feel any discomfort himself.
Despite the heavy rain, his cultivation should have protected him from falling ill just from getting wet.
"Don't assume that your robust health can ward off all ailments. Illness often starts from subtle issues you might not notice." Dr. Chen said seriously.
The middle-aged man, remembering Dr. Chen's earlier display of medical skills, found his words reasonable.
He extended his hand, "Then I must trouble you, sir."
Dr. Chen lightly placed two fingers on his wrist, and at the same time, a trace of precelestial true qi silently probed into the middle-aged man's body.
After a moment, Dr. Chen retracted his qi, his expression unchanged, "May I also check your disciples' pulses?"
The middle-aged man, having let Dr. Chen examine him, naturally wouldn't refuse.
He called out, "Dasha, come here and let the doctor check your pulses to see if there's any cold infection."
"Yes." The three male disciples immediately came over.
Dr. Chen checked their pulses one by one.
Lu Qing, observing this, felt that his master's behavior today was somewhat unusual.
But he had already used his abilities to check these people's identities and found nothing suspicious. They weren't evil people.
He decided to ask his master about it later.
"How are they, sir?"
After Dr. Chen finished, the middle-aged man asked.
"Fortunately, all of you are in good health. There's just a bit of cold qi, which can be dispelled with a bowl of ginger soup." Dr. Chen smiled, "A Qing, prepare some ginger soup for them."
"Yes, Master." Lu Qing responded.
"Thank you, sir." The middle-aged man quickly thanked him, also bowing to Lu Qing, "Thank you, young man."
Having been in the rain for so long, they indeed needed something warm to nourish their bodies.
"It's a small matter. By the way, may I know your name, sir?" Dr. Chen asked.
"My surname is Fang, with the given name Tao, like the figurines. May I ask your esteemed name?" The middle-aged man replied respectfully.
"I am Chen. You can call me Dr. Chen..."
Dr. Chen and Fang Tao chatted for a while. Lu Qing cooked the ginger soup, knowing Fang Tao's group had lost their luggage. He also made a pot of hot porridge for them.
Seeing Lu Qing's thoughtfulness, Fang Tao's group felt even more grateful.
They had been wandering in the rain for a long time and were very hungry. They immediately began to eat.
Then, they were all amazed.
"Young man, what did you put
in this porridge? It's incredibly delicious!"
The burly young man called Dasha couldn't help but exclaim.
"It's just some homemade salted meat, nothing special." Lu Qing smiled.
"I never expected to find such delicious meat porridge in this remote temple. Your cooking skills are truly exceptional." Fang Tao also praised.
The other disciples were too busy eating to even lift their heads.
The warm atmosphere between the two groups improved significantly thanks to the meal.
Time passed slowly as they chatted.
Although the rain outside lessened a bit, it never stopped, continuing until nightfall.
During this time, Dr. Chen checked on the girl several times, giving her another dose of medicine.
"Master Fang, your daughter's condition has improved. She should wake up by morning. Afterward, she just needs to rest well, and she will recover." Dr. Chen said.
"Thank you, Dr. Chen!" Fang Tao was delighted.
"Alright, it's late. We've been traveling all day and should rest. If your daughter feels unwell during the night, you can come to me."
"Thank you, Dr. Chen."
After Dr. Chen left, Mago brought in a quilt.
"Master Fang, this quilt was specially provided by my master for your daughter. He said she has a cold and shouldn't be exposed to the night chill. However, we don't have many quilts, so we can't give you more. Please understand."
In this outing, Mago was disguised as a coachman.
So in front of outsiders, he always referred to Dr. Chen as "master."
"This is more than enough. Please thank Dr. Chen for me."
Fang Tao was overjoyed and grateful upon seeing the quilt.
He was worried about how his daughter would cope with the night's chill.
This quilt was a godsend.
As for him and his disciples, they were strong enough to endure a night without much trouble.
While Fang Tao was arranging the quilt for his daughter, on the other side of the hall, separated by a curtain, Lu Qing sat facing Dr. Chen.
A peculiar aura emanated from Dr. Chen, enveloping the two of them in a two-meter radius.
"Master, earlier you checked Master Fang and his disciples' pulses. Is there something wrong with them?" Lu Qing asked.
Strangely, his voice was confined to their vicinity, unheard even by Wei Zian and Mago nearby.
"Yes, I detected a trace of cold fiendish qi in their bodies, especially in that injured girl. It's quite severe." Dr. Chen nodded.
"Cold fiendish qi?" Lu Qing was startled.
"Indeed, normally they would have only caught a cold at most from the rain. But now, they've been invaded by cold fiendish qi, which is not a good sign." Dr. Chen's expression was grave.
Lu Qing's mind raced, "Do you suspect..."
"This rain today was unusual. Now, with the invasion of cold fiendish qi, it seems highly suspicious." Dr. Chen said.
"A Qing, you once mentioned that the world is about to undergo a great change, with the revival of spiritual energy. But from today's rain, I fear that besides the revival of spiritual energy, other things might also resurface."
Lu Qing fell into silence.
His master was not without reason.
After all, his understanding of the revival of spiritual energy came from the notes of the Wandering Immortal.
But the Wandering Immortal had never experienced the revival of spiritual energy, so the exact changes in the world's rules were unknown.
From today's rain, it was clear that it wouldn't just be the revival of spiritual energy.
Lu Qing also recalled the warning his master sensed from the heavens earlier, feeling a weight on his heart.
For a moment, the master and disciple both remained silent.
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