Chapter 47: Treating Madam Qiao

Mu Lin had Zhao Yang dismiss the others, keeping Zhao Ling'Er as his assistant.

Zhao Yang instructed her,

"Ling'Er, you need to watch closely. If you can learn even a thing or two, you'll be able to go anywhere in Nanjiang Province without anyone daring to bully you."

Zhao Ling'Er said mischievously, "I'm not going to learn. If I did, Brother Mu would have to be on guard against me!"

Zhao Yang lightly tapped Zhao Ling'Er on the forehead. "Such big words! If you could learn this, you could have your pick of any man in the world!"

Zhao Ling'Er glanced away and hurried off to organize the silver needles and the alcohol lamp.

Once all the preparations were complete, the serious phase of the treatment began.

Qiao Canhua was constantly peering in from outside. Zhao Ling'Er walked over and closed the door.

Qiao Canhua exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Ling'Er, what are you doing? I'm not trying to peek at the Divine Doctor's Acupuncture Technique, I'm worried about my wife! You won't even let me watch?"

Zhao Ling'Er calmly persuaded him, "Of course I'm not trying to keep secrets. If you had the ability to learn this and benefit all of humanity, that would naturally be a wonderful thing. However, Madam Qiao will definitely have a reaction during the treatment. If your concern makes you panic and you rush in, interfering with the procedure, wouldn't that be a disaster?"

"Uh..." Qiao Canhua was speechless for a moment. He and his wife were deeply in love, and he honestly didn't know if he would have enough willpower to resist that impulse.

'If that's the case...' Qiao Canhua gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I won't watch, then!"

"Thank you for your cooperation!" Zhao Ling'Er said with a sweet smile as she closed the door.

Inside, Mu Lin had already lit the alcohol lamp and was passing the silver needles through the flame one by one.

Zhao Yang swallowed hard. He felt a thrill of excitement every time he watched.

The miraculous technique, the divinely skilled methods—they all held a deep fascination for him.

Mu Lin told Zhao Ling'Er to help Madam Qiao sit up and remove her outer robe.

Madam Qiao was wearing a small silk camisole, which looked to be a very new style.

One could only imagine how alluring she would be now if she hadn't put on that necklace six months ago.

The depth of Qiao Canhua's love for her was a testament to that.

But now, her skin had shriveled into patches of withered, scorched-black flesh, and it was extremely dry.

Zhao Ling'Er gasped at the sight. Zhao Yang shot her a look. "Calm down!"

Zhao Ling'Er pouted guiltily. Mu Lin said, "Don't scold her. Madam Qiao is already asleep."

Zhao Yang noticed that Mu Lin had inserted a silver needle into Madam Qiao's forehead, sealing off her senses and causing her to slip seamlessly into a deep sleep.

'What a fast technique!' To be honest, Zhao Yang felt that he could never achieve such a smooth execution, no matter what.

Mu Lin waved his hand, and several more needles appeared between his fingertips. He struck them into Madam Qiao's body with stability, precision, and force.

Zhao Yang tried to follow Mu Lin's needle application, but Mu Lin's speed at inserting and retracting the needles was astonishing. The interval between placing a needle and removing it was less than a second.

Such speed would make anyone doubt its effectiveness.

But Zhao Yang would never doubt it.

Suddenly, Mu Lin retracted his needles and stood with his hands behind his back.

Zhao Yang had been immersed in the deeply satisfying process of watching the needles go in and out,

so the abrupt stop left him feeling empty inside. He looked at Mu Lin with great resentment.

"Mu Lin, why did you stop?"

Mu Lin said, "The toxins have been expelled!"

"Expelled?" But in Zhao Yang's eyes, Madam Qiao's symptoms hadn't improved in the slightest.

Mu Lin placed his left hand on Madam Qiao's forehead and used his right hand to pull out the needle there.

Then, he let go and slowly backed away.

"If I were you, I'd back up quickly. And find me a bucket!"

Mu Lin said suddenly. Zhao Ling'Er had been feeling a bit queasy, and she suddenly realized what was about to happen. She immediately handed over the bucket that was in the corner for cleaning.

Mu Lin took the bucket, walked back to Madam Qiao's side, and held it by the edge of the bed.

A moment later, Madam Qiao convulsed on the bed, desperately covering her mouth with one hand while her other fumbled along the edge of the bed.

Mu Lin passed her the bucket. Madam Qiao immediately leaned over the rim and, with a great GACK, vomited into it.

Instantly, a thick, foul, coppery stench filled the room.

Unable to contain her intense curiosity, Zhao Ling'Er covered her nose and mouth and stepped closer to look inside the bucket.

It was black, stagnant blood, coagulated into clots that smeared the inside of the bucket an ugly color.

'Less than five minutes have passed, and the treatment is already over?' Zhao Yang checked his watch.

'What incredible speed.'

'Qiao Canhua probably just stepped out for a quick stroll and hasn't even realized his wife has already been cured.'

'A Divine Doctor is truly a Divine Doctor!'

Zhao Ling'Er pushed the door open and called out excitedly, "Mr. Qiao, your wife is fine now! You can come in."

But Qiao Canhua wasn't there, which confused Zhao Ling'Er. 'Where did he go?'

"Grandpa, Mr. Qiao isn't here!"

Zhao Yang said, "He probably went to buy cigarettes. Don't worry, he'll be back soon! Madam Qiao isn't fully awake yet, which gives us a chance to help her put her robe back on."

Zhao Ling'Er quickly ran back. Dressing a woman was a job only she could do.

Qiao Canhua returned with a pack of cigarettes, looking down to open it as he walked. His wife was usually strict with him, so he rarely had a chance to smoke.

And for the past six months, with his wife's health failing, he had even less desire to.

But now that the treatment was underway, he finally felt relieved, and his craving for a cigarette was slowly taking root again.

He looked up and saw the door was open. 'Could something have happened?' he thought.

He gently pushed the door open, only to see his wife was already awake. She was sitting on the bed, looking at him with a smile. Though her face was still gaunt, her expression was full of calm and gentleness.

Zhao Ling'Er looked excitedly at Qiao Canhua and said, "Mr. Qiao, Brother Mu has already forced out all the toxins!"

Qiao Canhua blinked, glanced at the cigarettes in his hand, and quickly put them away.

'They didn't even give me a chance to have one puff?'

'Mu Lin's treatment is just too fast!'

Mu Lin said, "Although the toxins have been eliminated, Madam Qiao's body is extremely weak and probably can't handle cigarette smoke. So please don't smoke."

Qiao Canhua nodded repeatedly. "Yes! Yes! I understand!"

As he spoke, he tossed the cigarettes onto the table. "Divine Doctor Zhao, if you want them, please take them!"

Zhao Yang looked at the package—a soft pack of Zhenghua cigarettes—and couldn't help but get excited.

'This was a premium brand; each cigarette cost several yuan. He could never bring himself to smoke something like that normally.'

'As expected of a big boss, Boss Qiao didn't even bat an eye giving away a pack of soft-pack Zhenghuas.'

Qiao Canhua studied his wife, and when he saw the necklace around her neck, his expression couldn't help but turn ugly.

"It's all this damn poisonous thing's fault! I'm going to burn it!"

With that, he unclasped the necklace and took out a lighter.

Mu Lin raised a hand to stop him. "Mr. Qiao, what are you doing? The necklace itself is not at fault!"

"It made my wife suffer so much, and you say it's not at fault?"

Mu Lin said, "It was likely excavated from an ancient tomb, making it a very significant cultural artifact. It's just that it was worn before the negative energy clinging to it was removed, which was bound to cause health problems for your wife."

Qiao Canhua tilted his head, clearly displeased. "Then what do you suggest I do?"

Mu Lin said with a smile, "Why not donate it to a museum? Let it serve its purpose as a cultural artifact, and you, Boss Qiao, will earn a good reputation."

Qiao Canhua looked down and thought about it. 'That makes sense.' His eyes couldn't help but light up.

"You're right! I'll contact a museum and donate it!"

"Divine Doctor Mu, you've helped me so much. Tell me, how can I ever thank you!" After the tide of his terror receded, the side of Qiao Canhua that was a wealthy boss with no shortage of money emerged.

'After receiving such a huge favor, his conscience wouldn't be clear if he couldn't help Mu Lin in return.'

Mu Lin said, "Ah, as a doctor, healing the sick and saving lives is simply my duty. If I see someone in need, I help. I've never thought of using it to make money."

Hearing this, Divine Doctor Zhao thought, 'If you're so noble and virtuous, then what does that make me? If everyone were like Mu Lin, how would anyone make a living?'

He hurriedly interjected, "Young friend Mu Lin, you'll be the death of me with words like that!"

Mu Lin thought, 'What's it to you?' "Old man, I've done nothing to harm you!"

"With you here offering your services for free, will anyone still come to see me? No, you have to accept something!"

'He has a point,' Mu Lin thought. 'Everyone loves a freebie. If word gets out that I treat patients for free, how could I possibly get by?'

"But I really didn't do much. How about this: treat me to a meal as thanks. Starting with the next patient, I'll be charging an exorbitant consultation fee!"