Chapter 171: 【Intestine‑Cutting Mad Demon】 (Lower)

Hu Xiaotian threw the intestine to be removed into a copper basin, had Zhou Ju move it aside. Then he used a suction device to remove the contents of the cut end, cleaned it with gauze, disinfected the intestinal mucosa at the cut end, and finally performed an end-to-end anastomosis to suture the two intestinal segments together.

Hu Xiaotian's technique was clean and swift, orderly, watching his smooth operation was simply a pleasure.

After the intestinal anastomosis surgery was finished, Hu Xiaotian also treated the sword wound left by Murong Feiyan, performed wound debridement and suturing, and finally sutured the patient's abdomen. During this, he instructed Zhou Ju to suture the patient's abdominal skin; after everything was done, he let Zhou Ju go rest first, saying the final step would be done by himself.

Zhou Ju thought Hu Xiaotian surely had some secret skill he didn't want him to see; actually that's understandable—what doctor wouldn't keep a trick up his sleeve when outsiders are around?

Actually Hu Xiaotian had another plan; after Zhou Ju left, he lifted the fellow's undershorts, looked at the flower thief's legs between, and couldn't help snickering: with such equipment he dares to be a flower thief? Although I saved your life, if I just let you go like this, who knows how many innocent women you'll harm in the future—you need a serious punishment, best to make you unable to commit evil from now on.

The quickest method would be to chop off his manhood with one blade, but that's too obvious and I couldn't explain it to others. Hu Xiaotian wouldn't use such a simple method; another way to solve it at the root is to make him unable to engage in sexual relations, using surgery to turn him into a silver‑like spearhead—hereafter this thing can only be an ornament.

The most sophisticated hidden method is to directly sever the sacral parasympathetic nerves responsible for this function, so he would have no such thoughts thereafter; the most cruel method is to cut off the blood supply to the corpora cavernosa, ligating the internal arterial branches, so he could never again engage in sexual intercourse. Hu Xiaotian could complete this series of vascular ligation surgeries through a tiny incision. He quickly severed the corpora cavernosa artery and a bulbourethral artery on the ventral side of the urethra, finishing everything in less than a quarter hour.

Gazing at the still‑unconscious flower thief, Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced: from now on you'll obediently be a living eunuch, this lifetime you'd better not dare do evil. Saving a life yet ruining this fellow's lifelong sexual happiness, Hu Xiaotian felt no guilt whatsoever—he was dealing with a criminal not worth dying for; sparing his life was already mercy.

The surgery was completely finished, but Hu Xiaotian had to consider another problem: these people were all desperate outlaws; even though he had saved the flower thief, they might not let them off.

The present plan was merely to delay as long as possible; he casually poured the blood Hu Jinniu had released into the waste bucket—if Hu Jinniu saw this scene, he'd likely risk everything to fight him to the death.

Hu Xiaotian walked out of the room, removed his mask; the night sky was still full of stars, outside the sound of the night watchman striking the clapper rang out—it was already the third watch.

Nian Shi walked toward Hu Xiaotian at a leisurely pace; although among the three he appeared the most refined and courteous, Hu Xiaotian sensed intuitively that this person was also the toughest to deal with.

"How is our young master?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled lightly: "Still alive!"

Nian Shi slowly nodded; that was exactly what he most wanted to hear.

Hu Xiaotian said: "When will you let us go?"

"Wait until the young master wakes up." Nian Shi glanced into the room: "May I…?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

After Nian Shi entered the room, Hu Xiaotian covertly observed the courtyard's movements: Liang Da Zhuang, Zhou Ju, and the medicine boy Zhou Xing three were all locked in the west side room. There, the short‑fat Hu Jinniu and another companion stood guard, while Nian Shi went to check on the flower thief—meaning he was now unguarded. Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred; this was a great chance to escape, the wall was less than three zhang away and not high; he could easily climb over. Why would Nian Shi be so careless? Given his vigilant nature, he shouldn't be.

Hu Xiaotian looked around; suddenly he saw a flash of cold light on a camphor tree to the southeast, obviously the reflection of a blade or sword. He focused—amidst the treetop shadows, a person was actually lying in ambush. Hu Xiaotian silently drew a cool breath: besides the three bandits he'd seen, there were others. Turning to look behind, he saw a black‑clad figure sitting at the northwest corner of the roof.

Both were positioned high, overlooking and watching every movement in the courtyard; Hu Xiaotian wanted to flee, but feared any slight motion would escape neither of their eyes.

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed his bad luck; although he'd let the short‑fat fellow bleed out under the pretense of a transfusion, basically neutralizing his combat ability, besides him there were still four others—this was really troublesome.

Nian Shi came out shortly after entering, and said to Hu Xiaotian: "The young master is still unconscious."

Hu Xiaotian replied: "The wound has been treated, the bleeding stopped; waking up is just a matter of time."

Nian Shi nodded, his hand holding the willow blade Hu Xiaotian had just used for surgery; he examined it with interest and said softly: "Nice blade, very sharp."

Hu Xiaotian secretly felt a jolt of alarm—if Nian Shi now harbored murderous intent, he'd likely not escape disaster; he smiled: "This knife is for treating illness."

Nian Shi looked at Hu Xiaotian and said: "I used to know only that a knife can kill; I didn't know it could also save lives."

Hu Xiaotian said: "In this world nobody can say for sure; some good things turn bad, and some bad things, under certain conditions, turn good."

Nian Shi suddenly thrust the willow blade toward Hu Xiaotian; his strike was lightning‑fast—Hu Xiaotian didn't even have time to blink before feeling the icy blade pressed against the blood vessels in his neck.

Hu Xiaotian forced composure, smiling: "If you kill me now, who will help you save anyone?"

Nian Shi said: "Your mission seems already done; even if I killed you, what harm would it do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I already knew you wouldn't keep your word; you think I'd leave no backup?"

Nian Shi eyed Hu Xiaotian suspiciously; after a moment he burst out laughing: "Backup?"

Hu Xiaotian calmly said: "If you kill me now, I guarantee that your young master will certainly bury me with him."

Nian Shi's smile instantly vanished, a strong killing aura spread from his whole body like an invisible net, covering heaven and earth as it closed in on Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian keenly felt the opponent's immense pressure, yet under that pressure he showed no fear— the more critical the moment, the more it's a psychological contest; if you show weakness, the opponent will spot a flaw; displaying great spirit and sufficient resolve can force the other to yield. Hu Xiaotian saw that the flower thief's identity was crucial; his life or death mattered greatly to these people, so Nian Shi dared not lightly gamble with his life.

As expected, Nian Shi finally sheathed the willow blade, nodded with a smile and said: "You've got some guts—much stronger than that pus‑bag Xu Qinglian."

Hu Xiaotian yawned: "It's getting late; if you're not sleeping, I am too." He walked a few steps toward the west wing, habitually looked up, and discovered the black‑clad person who had been sitting on the roof had vanished without trace; he wondered silently, he had just been there—had that person moved elsewhere?

Just then a sudden scream rang out; Hu Xiaotian looked toward the sound and saw the bandit hidden in the camphor tree tumble headfirst from the treetop.

Nian Shi also at that moment noticed the abnormality; he raised his hand holding the willow blade and hurled it at Hu Xiaotian's chest—faced with the sudden situation, his first thought was to get rid of Hu Xiaotian; this man's heart is truly vicious.

Hu Xiaotian also reacted in time—he flung himself to the ground and immediately did a lazy donkey roll; although he exerted all his strength, his motion still wasn't swift enough to dodge the willow blade. At the critical moment, a flash of cold light shot from the treetop, arriving first, striking the willow blade before it could hit Hu Xiaotian's body—clang! The two weapons collided less than a foot behind Hu Xiaotian, then changed direction; still, the blade's edge grazed Hu Xiaotian's buttocks as it flew off. He felt a chill on his rear, didn't pause to check for injury, and scrambled forward by rolling and crawling.

Murong Feiyan's graceful figure flashed out from the camphor tree; she threw a flying dagger to relieve Hu Xiaotian's siege, then immediately launched a second, which headed straight for Nian Shi's chest.

Nian Shi gave a cold snort, drew a soft sword from his waist; the blade left the sheath and instantly straightened, he flicked it outward with a clockwise motion of his right hand—clang! —deflecting the flying dagger, a sliver of cold light slanting into the bushes.

Seizing the moment, Murong Feiyan leapt down from the camphor tree, stood before Hu Xiaotian, and said coldly: "Bold thief, how dare you hold our master hostage!"

Nian Shi had no intention of lingering in battle; he turned and ran toward the room where the flower thief was being held.

Murong Feiyan lifted her foot to pursue; Nian Shi backhanded threw a smoke bomb—bang! It exploded, instantly filling the courtyard with smoke. Murong Feiyan hastily held her breath; the incident with the peach‑blossom miasma was still fresh in her mind—if she were exposed again, she'd die of shame.

Hu Xiaotian covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve; in the smoke he couldn't tell direction. When the smoke cleared, he found he was still standing where he'd been, Murong Feiyan less than three feet away. He was overjoyed, rushed forward to give her a warm embrace, but her cold, wary gaze stopped him; he stood there embarrassed, chuckling: "Feiyan, I knew you'd come to save me."

At that moment two figures burst out from the west wing room—it was the short‑fat fellow being helped to flee by another companion.

Murong Feiyan wouldn't let them get away; she charged forward with her sword, and the accomplice supporting the short‑fat fellow, seeing the situation turn bad, actually threw Hu Jinniu to the ground and fled.

One whole day, one monthly ticket—how miserable is that? Everyone, dare to give another monthly ticket to make an even number? (To be continued…)