Chapter 18

Lao Langzhong told Gu Xixi to open the wooden box, "Hand those two wine jars over to me."

The smallest red-earthenware wine jar was filled with liquid, feeling heavy in the hand.

Lao Langzhong opened the wooden stopper, and the liquid in the jar splashed out without stint onto Mu Nan Zhao's body.

The dirty blood was gradually washed away, revealing the wound's original appearance.

Gu Xixi observed that the liquid was colorless and clear, odorless, and casually said, "Is this boiled water?"

Lao Langzhong lifted his eyes to look at her, cracking his dry lips, "Girl, you have some insight."

Gu Xixi felt a bit embarrassed, "I just thought that to have you specially store it in a jar and take it out with trouble to see patients, it certainly isn't just water drawn from anywhere."

Lao Langzhong continued to rinse the wound, but the water flow became much finer.

"If ordinary raw water is used to wash the wound, it will easily fester and form abscesses, making healing difficult, and in severe cases life may be at risk."

"But this utmost pure water of mine is not as simple as just boiling it and putting it in."

Lao Langzhong's tone carried a bit of childish pride.

Gu Xixi's heart stirred slightly, "Could you be using distilled water?"

"How do you know!" Lao Langzhong exclaimed, lifting his head in surprise. "Impossible!"

"This is a secret technique passed down from my master!"

Gu Xixi felt embarrassed, and could only babble, "I don't really remember clearly either; it seems I saw the story in a tattered ancient scroll when I was young."

"It says that when water is boiled in a steamer, the droplets that condense on the lid are the utmost pure and clean water."

Lao Langzhong showed an expression of "now I understand."

"That's not surprising; on the verge of being lost ancient texts, there are indeed many pearls lost in the sea."

Gu Xixi quickly said, "Yes, I merely heard it in passing."

"To collect a jar as full as yours would probably be very difficult."

Lao Langzhong regained his pride, "Of course."

"I won't tell you how to do it."

"But the procedures before and after are quite troublesome; I can tell you about them."

Speaking, he didn't care whether Gu Xixi was interested in listening, and just went on talking to himself.

"The jar must be steamed beforehand; then the utmost pure water is dripped in drop by drop, sealed with a cork that was steamed together, and finally steamed over a strong fire for twenty breaths."

"After placing it to cool, it can be taken and used at any time."

Gu Xixi watched Lao Langzhong recount everything in detail, her heart feeling very complicated.

She originally had the mindset of "if it can be treated, treat it; if not, we can explain later to the Government Office," and had invited this doctor just to go through the motions.

She hadn't expected him to actually have such an advanced disinfection concept.

Could it be that she had actually stumbled upon a treasure by accident?

The second wine jar contained liquor, high-proof baijiu; just opening the stopper released the aroma of alcohol.

Snow-white cotton gauze soaked in the liquor was gently wiped once around the wound's edges.

Lao Langzhong muttered, "This stuff can't be wasted; it costs money to buy."

"Girl, give me the needle and thread; I need the third needle from the second row."

Gu Xixi found it as he requested, and casually threaded the needle, "Does this work for you?"

Lao Langzhong took it, felt it, and said, "Just right; it saves trouble for this old blind man."

Gu Xixi gradually grew surprised and widened her eyes.

Only see the needle and thread flying up and down, suturing quickly and accurately.

It seemed as if, in the dark, Lao Langzhong had another pair of eyes directing everything.

Lao Langzhong let out a light sigh, "Done."

"Fortunately you didn't move him forcefully; his chest wound has split open an inch, even immortals would find it hard to save."

Gu Xixi whispered, "I feared that moving him carelessly would worsen the injury, so I didn't dare to move him onto the bed."

Lao Langzhong nodded, "You did very well."

"But..."

He suddenly lifted his pair of hollow eyes, "Girl, do you know how this wound came about?"

Gu Xixi originally intended to fabricate a reason of being clawed by a ferocious beast.

But facing Lao Langzhong's blind eyes, she gave up lying, "... I don't know."

Lao Langzhong pondered, "Hooked claws, a weapon of fine steel forged a thousand times."

"This is not something commonly seen."

Although knowing Lao Langzhong couldn't see, Gu Xixi still faced him and performed a solemn salute.

"Thank you, sir, for the reminder."

Lao Langzhong's expression remained plain as he took out some unknown medicinal powder and ointment, applying them to Mu Nan Zhao.

"A physician's duty is only to save lives, not to ask about other matters."

"Anyway, I'm blind and deaf; even if I treated someone, I wouldn't know who asked."

Gu Xixi was stunned.

After applying the medicine to Mu Nan Zhao's upper body, he was wrapped in gauze like a zongzi.

Gu Xixi asked Lao Langzhong about the consultation fee; Lao Langzhong said there's no rush.

She again invited Lao Langzhong to share a meal, but he still smiled and said there's no rush.

Gu Xixi felt enlightened in her heart and probed, "Could it be that you want something else?"

Lao Langzhong smiled mysteriously, lowering his voice, "What poison did he suffer?"

Gu Xixi's heartbeat skipped a half beat.

She just knew this old man was not simple!

She watched the whole time; clearly it was just treating injuries, without any of the four diagnostic methods.

How did he discover it?

Fortunately, Gu Xixi had already braced herself psychologically for having her background exposed when she decided to call the doctor.

She quickly said calmly, "It wasn't me who gave it, I don't know."

Old Doctor Lao Langzhong sounded a bit disappointed, "Then what about him—does he know?"

Gu Xixi glanced at Mu Nan Zhao subconsciously, "I don't know, does he know?"

She paused, then added, "But he probably also can't do anything about it."

Old Doctor Lao Langzhong's dull, blind eye suddenly brightened.

"I have never seen such a strange poison!"

"Perfect, hand him over to me to treat!"

"He's wounded and poisoned like this; he wouldn't live long anyway—you also want to save him, right?"

"As long as you let me treat him, I won't charge any future fees, including this one!"

Under his disheveled hair, his face flushed with excitement, making him look even more like a madman.

Gu Xixi broke out in a cold sweat.

However, as a researcher, she could understand Old Doctor Lao Langzhong's fervor.

"I can't decide on this matter; he has to agree himself."

Old Doctor Lao Langzhong instantly lost his luster, "Oh, I understand."

He drooped his head, his whole person seeming as if his soul had been sucked out.

Gu Xixi felt reluctant, plus the temptation of free medical fees.

"Anyway, he still needs to change his medicine..."

She gritted her teeth, "If it's convenient for you, you can stay here temporarily; before he wakes up, you may observe as you wish."

"Convenient!" Old Doctor Lao Langzhong instantly became delighted, his previous pitiful appearance completely gone.

"I'm too convenient!"

He eagerly walked out, "I'm starving—what's for dinner?"

At the table, Old Doctor Lao Langzhong gulped down millet porridge with a gurgling sound.

Zhang Shen gave an unhappy glance, gesturing to Xixi: he's already had his third bowl of porridge and fourth steamed bun.

Gu Xixi smiled, lifted her chin, indicating no need to intervene, and let him eat.

The plate holding the steamed buns was empty; Old Doctor Lao Langzhong patted his belly, still not satisfied, "Full, full."

"I haven't eaten such fragrant food in a long time."

Zhang Shen pursed her lips, "This skinny old man can still eat quite a bit."

She looked sternly at Old Doctor Lao Langzhong and said, "We're letting you stay overnight at our home, fearing gossip outside."

"So outwardly, you say you're a relative from Xixi's mother's side, a distant great-uncle."