Chapter 23: Detoxification
Deep in Yaowang Valley, in the clinic room lightly drawn with bamboo curtains, the air was filled with the aroma of medicine.
The Medicine King's fingertips left Li Lianhua's wrist, his brow furrowed. "The green tea poison has already penetrated your heart meridians. Normally, you should have... but you possessed a powerful inner yang force that resisted it, which is why you've managed to hold on until today."
Li Lianhua was slightly startled: "Extreme Yang Internal Force?"
"Sad Wind White Poplar." The Medicine King said firmly, "This internal force is domineering and fierce, completely different from your Yangzhou slowness. If someone hadn't used it day and night to exorcise the poison for you, you wouldn't be alive now."
Li Lianhua lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Those inexplicable warmth late at night, those miraculous improvements in the morning...it turned out that they were not illusions.
"Although the Flower of Forgetfulness cannot cure the poison in your body, it can suppress it. However, you have used someone else's blood to nourish the Flower of Forgetfulness. The Flower of Forgetfulness will resist your blood and will be useless to you..."
The Medicine King pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice and said again, "I have a method that might be worth a try. But..." He glanced at Fang Duobing and Su Xiaoyong who were waiting outside the door, "This method is dangerous and should not be passed on to others."
Li Lianhua nodded, and the Medicine King continued, "The Sad Wind Poplar is extremely strong and masculine. If it can be transformed into pure yang spiritual energy, supplemented by the Forgetful River Flower and the blood of a nourished person, it may be able to eradicate the poison of the Green Tea."
"How to use it?" Li Lianhua asked softly.
The Medicine King looked slightly embarrassed. "We need a man who has mastered the Sad Wind Poplar technique to infuse his inner energy into you through... the fusion of yin and yang."
"The fusion of yin and yang?" Li Lianhua was puzzled for a moment.
Medicine King coughed and said, "It is the method of dual cultivation."
"Clang!" The medicine cup in Li Lianhua's hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. His cheeks instantly burned, and even his neck turned crimson.
Dual cultivation? Doesn't that mean he and Di Feisheng... must practice the rituals of husband and wife?
"Ridiculous!" He stood up suddenly, his voice trembling with shame and anger. "How shameless!"
The Medicine King said solemnly, "A doctor's perspective is one of life and death, not worldly rituals. But this method has a crucial key—" He looked directly at Li Lianhua, "A dual cultivation requires mutual rapport. Otherwise, their internal energies will clash, and both their lives will be in danger."
Li Lianhua was stunned as if struck by lightning. Telepathy? How could there be any such connection between him and Di Feisheng in their current situation?
The Medicine King sighed, "I've observed that the Sad Wind Poplar's essence is pure and profound. The caster must be willing to sacrifice their cultivation to prolong your life. If you two truly have this intention, perhaps..."
"No need to say more." Li Lianhua interrupted him, her face as pale as paper. "This method... I'm sorry, I can't follow your instructions."
The image of Di Feisheng's resolute departure surfaced in his mind, and the words "all ties are broken" lingered in his ears. If this method of detoxification were used, wouldn't it be forcing Di Feisheng to risk his life? Moreover... A sympathetic connection was already a luxury for them.
The Medicine King stared at him for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you afraid of getting that person into trouble?"
Li Lianhua's fingertips trembled and she remained silent.
"Foolish child..." Medicine King sighed, "My life is at stake, why bother..."
"I appreciate your kindness, Senior." Li Lianhua bowed, her voice soft but firm, "Please keep this matter confidential and don't let anyone else know."
The Medicine King shook his head and sighed, then finally agreed.
When Li Lianhua left the clinic, she had regained her usual calm demeanor. Fang Duobing and Su Xiaoyong hurried over to greet her, "How is it? Does the Medicine King have a solution?"
He smiled faintly: "It's still the same old story. The Wangchuan flower is the main medicine, supplemented by time and recuperation."
Fang Duobing murmured in disappointment: "It's the Forgotten Flower again... The Forgotten Flower is already in your hand, why are you..."
"You're sick," Li Lianhua said softly, changing the subject. "The Medicine King said there's a hot spring up ahead that's good for healing. Shall we stop there for a while?"
The two of them had no doubts and readily agreed.
That night, Li Lianhua sat alone by the hot spring, moonlight shimmering on the shimmering water. He unbuttoned his shirt, looked at the faintly darkening veins at his chest, smiled wryly, and shook his head.
Dual cultivation... mutual understanding...
He remembered the inner strength that Di Feisheng brought him every night, the wound on the man's shoulder where he had stabbed him, and the pain in his eyes when they broke up...
In the past, perhaps it might have been possible. But now, how could he have the nerve to ask Di Feisheng to take such a risk for him? Furthermore, if a misunderstanding led to a backlash... he would rather die alone than harm that person even a little bit.
"Li Lianhua?" Fang Duobing's voice came from behind him, "The Medicine King sent the tranquilizing soup."
Li Lianhua quickly straightened her clothes, turned around, and took the medicine cup with a smile. The medicine was warm, but he couldn't taste it, only a bitter taste in his mouth.
Three days later, the group bid farewell to Medicine King Valley. Before leaving, Medicine King quietly slipped Li Lianhua a medicine bag and said, "If you change your mind, use this as a signal to contact me. Since that person is willing to sacrifice their cultivation for you, they might not be unwilling..."
"No." Li Lianhua interrupted softly, pushing the medicine bag back. "His life... is more important than mine."
The Medicine King stared at his departing figure in a daze and sighed, "Love is the most misleading word."
The carriage moved slowly forward, and Li Lianhua dozed against the window. Fang Duobing and Su Xiaoyong chatted and laughed quietly, unaware of his clenched hands in his sleeves and his pale face.
Every night, the poison from the green tea intensified. Li Lianhua gritted her teeth, but she never felt that familiar warmth again. It seemed Di Feisheng had finally let go, no longer questioning his life or death.
This is better... he thought drowsily, at least that person won't be implicated.
One night, he had a high fever and in his daze, he seemed to see Di Feisheng. The figure stood by the bed, brows furrowed, and reached out to check his forehead for temperature.
"A Fei..." He called out unconsciously, grabbing the hand and pressing it against his burning cheek, "It's so cold..."
The phantom suddenly disappeared, and there was nothing in his hands, only a biting coldness.
Fang Duobing was awakened and hurriedly transferred his internal energy to help him keep warm, but it had little effect.
"Li Lianhua, we can't go on like this!" Fang Duobing's eyes turned red with anxiety. "Should we go back to Yaowang Valley? Or... or find Di Feisheng? He must have a solution!"
Li Lianhua suddenly woke up and said sternly: "Don't look for him!" The harshness of her tone scared Fang Duobing.
After a long silence, Li Lianhua slowed down her tone and said, "My affairs don't need to involve others."
He turned his head away, hiding the pain in his eyes. If he had a choice, wouldn't he have preferred to live? But if Di Feisheng had to risk his own life to save him... he would rather die in this sleep.
After that, Li Lianhua's health deteriorated, but he always refused to mention the detoxification. Whenever Fang Duobing mentioned looking for help, he would always change the subject.
Only when he was alone late at night would he take out the Forgotten River flower and mutter to himself towards the faint blue light: "If there is ever a day when our hearts connect... maybe in the next life."
But what he didn't know was that every night when he was in pain from the poison, there was always a dark shadow standing quietly outside the window, with the internal force of Beifeng Baiyang flowing in his palm, but in the end he sadly withdrew it because of the words "Don't look for him".
Di Feisheng looked at the haggard figure of the man in the window from afar, his fists clenched, his eyes full of struggle and pain.
Why would you rather bear it alone than accept his help?
Medicine King Valley? Is there any way the Medicine King can save him?
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