https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-59-Severely-Wounded-on-the-Brink-of-Death/13688208/
Chapter 60: Hanging by a Thread
“What’s the plan? What’s the solution?” Li Huhui froze for a moment, then hurriedly asked.
The other guards turned their eyes toward him, all eager.
“There’s a renowned physician in a village nearby…” Ma Gu began, recounting the story.
As he spoke, the guards’ eyes slowly lit up.
They’d heard of Chen Laodaifu before—the famed Old Doctor. It was said he possessed extraordinary medical skills, so much so that he’d earned the admiration of nobles, even drawing praise from the county magistrate himself.
They’d assumed such a man would live in the city, never imagining he’d be nestled in a remote village just a few miles away.
With such a master healer so close, Li Huhui and the others immediately abandoned any idea of risking a dangerous journey back to town.
“Ma Brother, where exactly is Jiuli Village?” Li Huhui asked, anxious.
“Only three or four li away. I’ve got a man who knows the area well—he can guide you straight there!” Ma Gu replied.
It was ironic. Earlier, he’d sent Xiao Tian to Jiuli Village to investigate matters concerning Lu Qing—now, that very mission had become their lifeline.
Ma Gu called for Xiao Tian at once, and under his guidance, the group set off toward Jiuli Village.
Along the way, Ma Gu learned how exactly Wei Xiao Gongzi had fallen into the ravine.
It turned out the boy had chased after a strange little beast right to the cliff’s edge—refusing to let go even as he teetered on the edge—until one misstep sent him plummeting.
Fortunately, the ravine wasn’t deep, and scattered trees had broken his fall.
Combined with the intensive cultivation and abundant resources nurtured by the Wei family, Wei Xiao Gongzi had already reached the Qi Xue Jing realm. His body was strong, which was why he hadn’t died instantly.
Otherwise, even ten lives wouldn’t have survived such a fall.
After hearing the story, Ma Gu was utterly speechless.
How could someone so reckless—especially a Qi Xue Jing warrior—let himself be dragged into a death trap just for chasing a wild animal?
The group pressed on toward Jiuli Village, following Xiao Tian’s lead until they reached the Half Mountain Small Courtyard—the residence of Chen Laodaifu.
As they arrived at the courtyard gate, Ma Gu spotted a familiar figure.
He called out urgently, “Lu Xiao Langjun! Lu Xiao Langjun! Help! Help!”
Lu Qing, who had been drying herbs in the courtyard, nearly jumped in surprise. He turned, and upon seeing Ma Gu leading the group, his eyes widened in shock.
He hadn’t expected to meet him again so soon—only a day after their last encounter. He’d thought he’d have to wait until the next Big Market day.
“What is it, Ma Ye?” Lu Qing asked.
“Lu Xiao Langjun, is Chen Laodaifu at home? We have a critically injured patient—his life hangs by a thread!” Ma Gu said, voice tight with urgency.
Lu Qing glanced back and saw the stretcher behind them. Though startled to see the elegantly dressed youth lying there, he understood the gravity of the situation and stepped aside at once.
“Quick, come in! Master is resting inside—I’ll go get him right away!”
He dashed into the courtyard without delay.
Ma Gu and the others followed closely behind.
Old Doctor, merely napping in the afternoon, had already been stirred by the commotion outside. By the time Ma Gu and the others entered the yard, he was already stepping out of the house.
One look at Wei Xiao Gongzi’s pale face on the stretcher, and he immediately sensed the severity of the case.
He stepped forward, placed a hand on the boy’s wrist, and felt the pulse. His expression darkened.
“Quick—get him inside!” he ordered. Then, turning to Lu Qing, “A Qing, fetch a blood-replenishing decoction right away—Bai Zhu, Dang Gui… three bowls of water, high heat, fast boil. Hurry!”
“Yes, Master!” Lu Qing replied without hesitation and sprinted toward the medicine cabinet.
Though he’d spent most of his free time lately honing his martial arts cultivation, when he was at the Half Mountain Small Courtyard, he’d been diligently studying medical arts under his master.
With his innate abilities, Lu Qing learned everything with astonishing speed.
In just a few days, he’d mastered the skill of selecting herbs and even learned the basics of decoction.
After gathering the ingredients, he followed his master’s instructions and began boiling the mixture.
The specially designed stove allowed precise control over the flame. Lu Qing cranked it up to full heat, and within minutes, the decoction was ready.
He poured a portion into a bowl and stared at it intently.
Soon, a faint white glow shimmered within the liquid.
[Blood Supplement Soup: A medicinal decoction brewed from multiple herbs, effective in replenishing blood and protecting the heart meridian.]
[Due to rapid boiling, the herb properties were slightly compromised—only about 70% of the full potency remains.]
Seeing the information from his Ability, Lu Qing exhaled in relief.
As long as he hadn’t brewed it wrong, it was acceptable. The damage to potency was unavoidable under such urgency. Seven out of ten was already a miracle.
With the medicine confirmed, he hurried back toward the room.
Wei Xiao Gongzi had already been moved to the inner chamber. Aside from Li Huhui, all others had been gently escorted outside by Old Doctor.
When Lu Qing arrived, the guards silently made way, not daring to intrude.
Inside, the boy lay stripped to the waist, numerous silver needles embedded in his body. The ghastly wound across his abdomen made Lu Qing’s heart lurch.
“Master, the medicine is ready,” he said, handing over the bowl.
Old Doctor took it, sniffed the liquid, nodded in approval, then said, “You feed it to him.”
“Yes, Master.”
Lu Qing lifted the ladle, scooped a spoonful, and carefully poured it into Wei Xiao Gongzi’s mouth.
But the boy was barely conscious—his body unresponsive. He couldn’t swallow.
Old Doctor didn’t flinch.
With a swift motion, he pressed a few fingers against the boy’s throat. Instantly, the boy’s throat convulsed, and the medicine slid down his gullet.
The process repeated—step by step—until the entire bowl had been emptied.
Old Doctor resumed needling, accelerating the absorption of the medicine’s essence.
After finishing the decoction, and with the master’s skillful acupuncture, Wei Xiao Gongzi’s complexion gradually regained a hint of color. His chest and abdomen began to rise and fall with faint, steady breaths.
Li Huhui, who had been watching in tense silence, finally exhaled.
His heart, heavy with dread, eased just slightly.
He knew now—his master, and all of them, had been pulled back from the brink.
“Chen Laodaifu,” Li Huhui asked the moment the old man paused, “how is the young master?”
Old Doctor paused, then spoke gravely.
“This boy is lucky. The wound on his abdomen is deep, but it missed the internal organs and intestines—truly, a stroke of fortune in the midst of disaster.”
“But he has lost too much blood. His head was struck, and his limbs bear multiple lacerations. The situation remains dire.”
“For now, I can only stabilize him with medicine and acupuncture—keeping his life hanging by a thread. Whether he wakes up… that’s uncertain.”
Hearing that Wei Xiao Gongzi’s life was at least secure, Li Huhui felt a weight lift from his chest.
As long as the boy lived, there was hope.
If he died, even if they escaped, their families would face no mercy.
“Old Doctor,” Li Huhui asked, “what can we do now?”
Old Doctor considered for a moment.
“The greatest danger now is blood loss. The abdominal wound is superficial—no internal damage. If we had access to high-grade ginseng, shouwu, and tian qi—those legendary blood-stopping, energy-replenishing herbs—then I’d have a much greater chance of saving him.”
He sighed, regret in his voice.
Had Lu Qing still had that ginseng from earlier… it could have preserved the boy’s vital essence completely. Now, even if the boy survives, his foundation will be severely damaged.
“Ginseng, shouwu, and tian qi?” Li Huhui repeated. “Don’t worry, Old Doctor—I’ll send someone back to the city immediately!”
He turned and strode toward the door.
Outside, Ma Gu and the others stood anxiously waiting. The moment Li Huhui emerged, they rushed forward.
“How is he? What’s the news?”
“The young master is stable—for now,” Li Huhui said.
The words brought instant relief. The guards, especially, looked visibly shaken but grateful—like survivors of a near-death ordeal.
“But he’s still in danger,” Li Huhui continued. “Lao Zhao, Xiao Gu—you two return at once. Report to the Home Master’s Wife. Have her fetch ginseng, shouwu, tian qi, and other blood-replenishing herbs from the family pharmacy. The Old Doctor says only with those can we truly save him.”
Under Li Huhui’s command, the two named guards stiffened, saluted, and departed without delay.
Ma Gu watched them go, then glanced sideways. His eyes flickered.
He pulled Xiao Tian aside and whispered, “You go back. Retrieve the war blade hanging in my study—I need it now.”
(End of Chapter)
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