Chapter 493 - 493: Improvement and Deterioration

The night passed.

The next day, Zhao Yuan rose bright and early. After having breakfast in the hospital cafeteria, he headed to the examination room to check on Liu Lili's condition.

Compared to the day before, Liu Lili's condition had improved significantly.

The change in her mental state stunned the crowd of people who had previously believed Zhao Yuan couldn't possibly cure her, leaving them gaping in disbelief. Aside from some lingering listlessness, the Liu Lili of today was, for all intents and purposes, no different from a normal person.

They couldn't understand it. How could the same formula that had been completely ineffective for them produce such miraculous results in Zhao Yuan's hands?

It was a question they were destined never to answer.

Because they could never have imagined that another soul had once been hidden within Liu Lili's body.

After breakfast, Liu Lili drank another bowl of Gui Pi Soup. Then, with the help of Chen Kaihua and a few nurses, she cleaned off the dried medicinal paste from the day before and applied a fresh layer of Eight Treasure Ointment.

As they peeled off the dried ointment, Chen Kaihua and the nurses were delighted to discover that the severe sores and ulcers on Liu Lili's body had mostly healed. Reddish-brown scabs had formed over many of the areas. If her condition didn't relapse, they believed her wounds would be completely healed before long.

Chen Kaihua was thrilled by this development.

For over two years, he had faced despair time and time again. This time, he finally felt he could see a glimmer of hope.

Word of Liu Lili's improving condition quickly spread, passed along by the nurses.

Soon, everyone following the competition knew that both Liu Lili's mental and physical afflictions were healing at an incredible speed.

In stark contrast to Liu Lili, Kawashima Haruhiro's situation was anything but optimistic.

In fact, it was downright terrible.

He had been asleep ever since Lingzi left the previous night. Even after Zhao Yuan's side had finished their morning's treatment, he still hadn't woken up.

This situation sparked a profound sense of unease in Genji Doju and his followers. He led several of his disciples into Kawashima Haruhiro's examination room.

Genji Doju strode over to the bed where Kawashima Haruhiro was sleeping and barked, "Kawashima, why are you still asleep? Get up! Have you figured out a way to treat your illness? Time is short! You cannot afford to waste it!"

Kawashima Haruhiro stirred in the bed but didn't get up, simply continuing to sleep.

His head was mostly buried under the covers, making it impossible to get a clear look at him.

Enraged, Genji Doju grabbed the blanket and flung it aside.

But upon seeing Kawashima Haruhiro's appearance, Genji Doju and his disciples all gasped in shock. "How did you get like this?"

The day before, Kawashima Haruhiro had been haggard but still looked human. But after just one night, he was practically skin and bones, like a walking skeleton. It was a terrifying sight.

"Huh?"

The collective gasp finally roused Kawashima Haruhiro. He rubbed his eyes, looking utterly exhausted. Yawning, he said, "Master? And... my fellow disciples? What are you all doing here?" He then noticed the bright sunlight outside the window and added in surprise, "It's already morning? Why do I still feel so tired, like I haven't slept at all?"

"Kawashima, what happened last night? How... how did you get into this state?" Genji Doju demanded anxiously.

The previous day's fruitless treatment had already made him anxious. He never imagined that after a single night, Kawashima Haruhiro's condition would worsen so dramatically.

'This is a surefire path to defeat!'

But this medical competition wasn't just a personal duel between Zhao Yuan and Kawashima Haruhiro. The reputation of the Genji School was at stake, as was the war for legitimacy between Japanese Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine!

This was a battle for national pride! A battle they could not afford to lose!

Overcome with anxiety and seeing Kawashima Haruhiro still looked half-asleep, Genji Doju hauled him upright, spun around, snatched a bottle of water from a disciple, and dumped it over his head.

The shock of the cold water sent a jolt through Kawashima Haruhiro, snapping him fully awake. He asked, bewildered, "Master, what are you doing?"

Genji Doju ignored his question and demanded coldly, "Are you awake now? If so, tell me. What exactly did you do last night?"

"Last night... I... I didn't do anything..." Kawashima Haruhiro stammered. He didn't dare tell his master that he and Lingzi had been together in the examination room. 'He'll definitely chew me out if he finds out. After all, during a competition this intense, I was supposed to be researching a treatment, not indulging myself. It was obviously wrong.'

"You did nothing and ended up looking like this?" Genji Doju pulled his phone from his pocket, opened the camera app to act as a mirror, and shoved it into Kawashima Haruhiro's hands. "See for yourself!"

Puzzled, Kawashima Haruhiro looked at his reflection on the phone.

The moment he saw his own face, he went deathly pale and cried out, "What... What is this? How did I become like this?" He no longer dared to hide anything and immediately recounted what had happened with Lingzi the previous night.

Genji Doju ground his teeth, fighting the urge to slap him. He feared that in Kawashima's fragile state, a single blow might prove fatal. Instead, he could only point a trembling finger at his disciple's forehead and roar, "You! Women will be the death of you!"

Kawashima Haruhiro hung his head, not daring to utter a single word in his defense.

After a moment, Genji Doju's anger subsided somewhat. He asked, "Did you come up with any kind of treatment plan last night?"

"No," Kawashima Haruhiro said, despondent. "This illness... it's just too strange. I've tried so many things, and nothing has worked."

Genji Doju fell silent for a moment before saying abruptly, "Yesterday, Zhao Yuan said he would permit us to help you treat your condition..."

The moment he spoke, his disciples were aghast, their expressions changing in unison.

"Master, we can't do that!"

"Yes, Master! If we get involved in his treatment, it will only bring shame upon the Genji School!"

"This is a duel between Zhao Yuan and our senior brother. If we interfere, even with Zhao Yuan's permission, we'll become a laughingstock!"

The disciples all voiced their protests. Even Kawashima Haruhiro himself pleaded earnestly, "Master, we can't do that! Just give me a little more time. Let me think. I'm sure I can come up with a treatment plan..."