"Patient" Arrives

Xu Qian's "secret cleaning operation" went smoothly. Not only did it improve the hygiene of his small group, but he also unexpectedly gained a good reputation, which even motivated him more in practicing drawing talismans. Just as he was pondering whether he should try the [Gentle Breeze Talisman] to bring some coolness to the stuffy and humid Heavenly Prison, "business" found him.

One day, while he was delivering meals in Block E, he heard several prisoners gathered outside cell Block 13, chattering amongst themselves.

"Tsk, Divine Doctor Xue probably won't make it this time..."

"Yeah, his whole body is festering, and he has a high fever that won't go down. He's clearly on his last legs."

"Alas, what a shame. Back when he was outside, Divine Doctor Xue saved so many people..."

"What's the use? Once you're in this Heavenly Prison, a dragon has to coil up, and a tiger has to lie down. Even if you get sick, you can only wait to die."

Divine Doctor Xue? Xu Qian's heart stirred. He remembered this person, whose name seemed to be Xue Muhua. He was said to be a renowned physician in the martial arts world, but he was thrown into the Heavenly Prison for being implicated in a secret case involving a powerful family. He was usually quite amiable, and occasionally, if a guard had a headache or a fever, he could help out (under limited conditions, of course).

Xu Qian walked over with the food bucket and peered inside through the bars.

He saw an elder with white hair and beard, who originally had an air of immortal grace, now curled up on a pile of dry straw, barely clinging to life. The skin exposed on his body was covered in red rashes and blisters, some of which had already festered and were oozing pus, emitting a foul odor. His face was flushed, his lips were cracked, and he was clearly running a high fever.

Several Guards stood outside, also at a loss. The Heavenly Prison was short on medical supplies, and for such a serious illness, it was basically a death sentence. Zhou Kang had also come to see him, frowned for a long time, and in the end, could only order more clean water to be given, leaving things to fate.

Xu Qian subconsciously activated the Qi Gazing Technique.

Upon looking, he noticed something unusual!

In the vision of the Qi Gazing Technique, Xue Muhua was enveloped in a dense, grayish-black sickly qi, which was normal. But deep within that sickly qi, there was a trace of an extremely subtle, thread-like pale green airflow! This pale green airflow was filled with malice and corrosive intent, constantly eroding Xue Muhua's vitality and triggering the festering and high fever!

This isn't a normal illness! It's poisoning! And it's a very hidden, chronic poison! Xu Qian instantly made his judgment.

He recalled some insidious martial arts techniques mentioned in the Qing Nang Handbook. There was a chronic poison called "Bone Rot Miasma." In its early stages, the symptoms resembled a common cold or eczema, making it extremely easy to misdiagnose. By the time the whole body festers and a high fever sets in, the poison has already seeped into the bone marrow, making it incurable even by divine doctors. The symptoms were strikingly similar to Xue Muhua's current condition!

Just then, Xue Muhua seemed to regain some consciousness. He struggled to lift his head, his cloudy eyes sweeping over the crowd outside the cell, finally landing on Xu Qian. His lips moved, and he let out a faint voice: "Water... give me some water..."

A Guard grumbled as he scooped some water and poured it in.

Xu Qian looked at Xue Muhua's miserable state, then at the pale green poisonous gas that was constantly consuming his life force. His mind raced.

Save him? Or not save him?

If he saved him, he might expose his Qi Gazing Technique and medical knowledge, attracting unwanted attention. Moreover, the "Bone Rot Miasma" was potent. Although he had the knowledge from the Qing Nang Handbook, he lacked the medicinal ingredients and might not be able to cure him.

If he didn't save him? It was a human life, and moreover, a highly skilled divine doctor who might be useful in the future. Besides, letting someone die before his eyes seemed to go against his (self-perceived) bottom line?

While he was hesitating, Xue Muhua drank a few sips of water and seemed to feel slightly better. He looked at Xu Qian and gave a wry smile: "This... young fellow... this old man... I'm afraid... my time has come... cough cough..."

Xu Qian's heart stirred, and he decided to test the waters. He crouched down, and through the bars, pretending to be curious, he asked, "Divine Doctor Xue, this... doesn't look like a common cold, does it? Did you perhaps... eat something unclean?"

His question seemed casual, but it made Xue Muhua's cloudy eyes suddenly brighten!

Xue Muhua stared intently at Xu Qian, gasping, "You... you can tell... this old man... it's not a common cold?"

Xu Qian feigned profundity (though he was actually unsure), lowered his voice, and said in a volume only the two of them could hear, "I observe... the festering areas on you, the color is dark, the edges have subtle black lines, and amidst the high fever, there's a chilling sensation... it's more like... being poisoned by some hidden toxin?"

His words were half-true and half-false. The true parts were what he saw with the Qi Gazing Technique, and the false parts were deductions combined with the Qing Nang Handbook. It sounded quite plausible.

"Hidden toxin?!"

Xue Muhua's eyes widened as if struck by lightning, and he looked at Xu Qian in disbelief! He knew his own body best and had long suspected poisoning, but the symptoms were too deceptive. Even he himself had thought he had contracted a terrible disease! He never expected that this seemingly ordinary, even young, guard could pinpoint the crux of his problem, which he himself hadn't fully confirmed, with just one look (or rather, a few words)!

"You... you know medicine?!" Xue Muhua's voice became even hoarser with excitement, carrying a hint of hope.