Zhang Shou Was Not Long-Lived

The three of them remained silent in the corridor.

Jin Sheng felt it was a pity. Extraordinary healers like Zhang Shou were in short supply all over the world.

If Zhang Shou did not have such a serious flaw, Jin Sheng would have recruited him into the Demon-Slaying Squad without hesitation. That would have made the Demon-Slaying Squad one of the few teams in Qilin with a healer.

"Captain, can Pangu's Blood save Old Zhang?" Yu Xian asked stubbornly, clutching the report.

Jin Sheng shook his head. "Pangu's Blood is ultimately a product of the Forbidden Fruit. Judging from the severity of Zhang Shou's side effects, its rank is likely comparable to Pangu's. The repulsive energy in his body is no lower in rank than Pangu's Blood."

"Xianyu, thanks, but there's no need to trouble yourself. Let me have some peace and quiet alone for the next week." Zhang Shou took a deep breath and forced a smile at Yu Xian.

With that, he got up to leave. Yu Xian was still worried and rose to follow him, but Jin Sheng stood and pressed a hand on his shoulder. Shaking his head slightly, he said, "Give him some private space."

"Okay."

Yu Xian watched Zhang Shou's retreating figure and clenched his fists tightly.

He wanted to become stronger. No matter what happened, he never wanted to be as helpless as he had been today.

In a daze, Zhang Shou unknowingly wandered into a nearby park.

He sat on one of the benches, empty-headed as he looked up at the sky. The whole world seemed bleak and gray.

The park was cold and deserted. Even in the morning, there were barely any elderly people out and about. The aftereffects of the Aberrant Insect Incident had clearly not faded yet.

"I thought I'd hit the jackpot, but in the end... it wasn't even a consolation prize."

Thinking of how ecstatic he had been yesterday, Zhang Shou could not help laughing at himself.

He sat in the park for a full half hour, then got up and wandered the streets for a long time. In the end, he returned home and shut himself in his room.

He slept until nightfall. Starving, he went downstairs and ate at a steamed-dish restaurant near his residential complex.

Just as he was almost done eating, a piercing cry suddenly came from the back of the restaurant. He could not help looking over. A waitress had accidentally splashed scalding tea on a little girl's arm, leaving the entire arm red.

The waitress kept apologizing while the young couple panicked. The father tried to soothe the little girl, while the mother wiped her scalded arm with a towel.

Zhang Shou watched the little girl in silence for a moment before getting up and walking over. "Let me handle it. Healing Spell!"

He stepped past the waitress and pointed at the little girl's scalded arm. Spending his stamina, he activated his skill. A green ball of light flew from his fingertip toward her arm, and the moment it landed, the bright-red burn quickly healed.

"Thank you, thank you, young man!"

The little girl's father immediately thanked him repeatedly when he saw that.

Then the girl's mother and the waitress beside her hurriedly thanked him as well. The onlookers around them all showed admiration.

Zhang Shou suddenly felt that his mood was not quite so terrible anymore.

He returned to his seat and took two more bites of food before suddenly setting down his chopsticks.

In fact, he knew why his system was the Healer System. The Aberrant Insect had caused such terrible casualties at school. It had not only deeply affected Yu Xian, but also him.

Together with Chen Ling and the others, he had searched through the remains of countless classmates for survivors. They had tried to bandage their wounds, tried to make them more comfortable, tried to help them hold on until rescue arrived.

At that time, he had not wanted to become a sword immortal. He had wanted to become a doctor. He had wanted to save everyone.

"Will you be a coward until the day you die, or will you be a hero for once?"

Zhang Shou looked at the streets outside the restaurant, which were gradually becoming lively again, and quietly asked himself.

He stood up and walked out of the restaurant with a smile, his steps growing ever more resolute.

"Sir, you haven't paid yet!"

At that moment, the waitress chased after him and shouted.

Zhang Shou froze, hurried back to settle the bill, then slunk out of the restaurant in embarrassment.

The next day.

Yu Xian received a call from Zhang Shou early in the morning.

After hanging up, he hurried to the entrance of a vegetable market not far from the school.

From dozens of meters away, he saw a huge banner stretched across the square in front of the market. It read: Extraordinary Healer, Free Online Treatment. Terminal Illnesses, Chronic Diseases, Difficult and Complicated Conditions. Guaranteed Cure.

Beneath the banner, Zhang Shou sat on a chair, continuously using Healing Spell on everyone who came forward. For certain special illnesses, he directly used Healing Touch.

Yu Xian hurried over and interrupted Zhang Shou's casting. Frowning, he said, "Are you insane? Did you forget what I told you? The more you use your skills, the faster you'll die."

"Xianyu, I called you here because I hoped you could help maintain order. I'm going to die either way. At least I want my death to mean something." Zhang Shou looked at Yu Xian and spoke seriously.

Yu Xian wanted to persuade him further, but Zhang Shou took a deep breath and said, "Yu Xian, if you consider me a friend, don't stop me. Life and death are fated. Don't let me die without any meaning."

"Fine!"

Yu Xian gritted his teeth, his eyes red.

After that, Zhang Shou continued treating those seeking medical help, while Yu Xian maintained order in the line. Anyone who tried to cut in or cause trouble was taught a lesson directly.

The sun gradually rose from the east to the middle of the sky. Zhang Shou had originally looked like a teenager, but now he looked middle-aged. His graying temples made people's hearts ache.

Standing beneath the sunlight, Yu Xian watched Zhang Shou. Every time he finished treating a patient, a smile appeared on his face. Without anyone noticing, the area around him had filled with people.

Some brought parasols, some brought lunch, some brought iced tea, some brought fans...

Many people sincerely came over to help maintain order. Yu Xian ended up with nothing to do, because no one dared cause trouble anymore. Everyone lined up properly, waiting for their turn.

On top of the building across from the vegetable market, Jin Sheng stood on the rooftop and watched the long line of people, his hand gradually clenching.

"Doctor, your hair..."

"Big brother, why don't you rest for today?"

"Uncle, we won't get treated. Hurry and rest more. Look at your complexion."

As time passed, more and more people noticed Zhang Shou's changes. By a little after four in the afternoon, he had gone from looking middle-aged to looking like a frail old man.

The people around him became increasingly worried, but Zhang Shou remained stubbornly determined and continued treating patients.

That day, he cured hundreds of terminally ill patients. He also cured dozens of classmates with physical disabilities, and restored health to many infants with genetic diseases.

He was going to die either way. He wanted to cure more people.

He only needed to activate his skill once to give someone their health back, even change their life. He felt that was an incredibly worthwhile bargain.

Again and again.

Gradually, his vision became hazy, and he could no longer even see his patients' faces clearly.

Fortunately, he was not a real doctor. Treating people only required activating his skill, so whenever he saw someone approach, he only needed to activate it.

Night fell. He saw another color appear before him and immediately raised his hand to activate his skill, but his body suddenly went limp and he collapsed toward the ground.

The people around him immediately caught him. His hand trembled as he activated his skill on the patient in front of him.

Yu Xian quickly stepped forward and held Zhang Shou, who had become little more than skin and bones. Tears welled uncontrollably in his eyes.

In fact, the people around them had tried to stop Zhang Shou many times, but he had always refused and kept going. Many emotional people had already been secretly crying, and when they saw this, they began crying again.

"Yu Xian, it's really strange. I clearly don't want to die."

"I should be afraid of death, but right now, I don't seem afraid at all."

"Is it because I know that everything I did was right?"

Hearing Yu Xian's voice, Zhang Shou spoke weakly. Instead, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Before Yu Xian could answer, Zhang Shou's hand slowly dropped. Yu Xian could not help crying aloud. His father was gone, and now his best friend was gone too. He did not know what else he had left to lose.

The crowd watched the scene. Some fell silent, some wept. Time seemed to freeze at that very moment.