"Major Lu, you’re finally here." Someone stepped forward excitedly and said.
Lu Chi sighed. "We’re late." So many of his compatriots were still suffering!
This man was clearly the leader of these soldiers. Dressed in green military attire, his posture was upright but relatively lean. His skin was fairer than those of the trained soldiers, and his delicate and refined features gave him a scholarly appearance, lacking a bit of the sharpness and dominance typical of soldiers.
He turned around and said something to the soldiers, who saluted and dispersed in different directions.
Only Guan Kunling paused. She walked slowly toward her and softly said, "Sangsang."
"Guan Kunling." Lu Chi seemed somewhat exasperated or perhaps unable to control her overstepping behavior. He frowned lightly. "The earthquake has turned the disaster area into chaos. You’re here to save lives, not to chat about personal matters."
"Report." Guan Kunling’s voice was cold and aloof. "I am currently saving lives."
With that, she turned her head without even looking at Lu Chi.
Lu Chi clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead almost popping out.
"Sangsang, I’m here." Guan Kunling took her hand and gazed at her. "Don’t be afraid. Where is Yanyan?"
Tian Sangsang’s nose tingled, and tears wouldn’t stop falling. She choked and said, "Yanyan’s leg was crushed in the earthquake. The doctor says he needs an amputation. I don’t know what to do, Kunling. If he doesn’t amputate, he’ll die. But if he does, he might as well be dead..."
She was so helpless, exhausted both physically and mentally from everything she had endured. Her own injuries hadn’t even been treated yet. She had no one to rely on, except for Guan Kunling, who still cared for her at this moment.
"Amputation?" Guan Kunling’s face darkened. She asked, "How long can Yanyan hold on?"
Guan Kunling said, "Absolutely no amputation. Take me to see him. I know medicine—I can save Yanyan."
Like grabbing onto a life-saving straw, Tian Sangsang trembled as she wiped her tears. Yes, she remembered reading in a book that as a highly skilled assassin, Guan Kunling was also proficient in medical techniques. Because the Empress was frequently targeted for assassinations, Guan Kunling served both as a bodyguard and as a doctor. The things she knew exceeded what Sangsang had ever imagined.
Lu Chi walked up to the two of them, first glancing at the unassuming Tian Sangsang and then at Guan Kunling. His handsome face was taut. "Since you’re going to save lives, I’ll give you three hours. But if you’ve joined the team, you must follow organizational arrangements. Three hours later, return to your unit. Otherwise, there’s no place for you in the military anymore." Honestly, he’d never seen a soldier so disobedient—still a rookie, no less. She wasn’t even assigned here to save people, but merely as a nurse. And yet here she was, claiming she could save someone from an amputation, as if performing miracles...
"Understood." Guan Kunling saluted expressionlessly.
Lu Chi shook his head in defeat.
"No way!" The doctor vehemently objected, looking skeptically at Guan Kunling. This woman, dressed in white, probably came from the military and seemed very young.
"You’re saying acupuncture? Do you know how dangerous this child’s condition is? And acupuncture..." She let out a mocking laugh. Acupuncture—that enigmatic thing—could it really save this child’s life? Even seasoned traditional Chinese doctors probably wouldn’t dare to boast so boldly. She turned to Tian Sangsang, hoping Sangsang would give a more rational response. After all, as a mother, she should be level-headed.
"Sangsang." Guan Kunling looked at her quietly, her eyes dark and clear. "Do you trust me? I can save him, and he won’t have to lose his legs."
Trust her? Should she trust her?
Her son lay weakly on the stretcher. Then she looked at the unwavering determination on Guan Kunling’s elegant face. That calm and resolute expression made Tian Sangsang say softly, "I trust you."
Surgery or keeping his legs—of course, she’d choose the latter. Doctor or Guan Kunling—she chose the latter. It wasn’t about doubting the doctor’s ability; it was that she preferred to believe in miracles in such life-and-death situations. Perhaps that was her only choice. No, it certainly was.
Bang. The doctor widened her eyes in disbelief. "Comrade Tian, think carefully! This concerns your son’s life!" If it were her own son, the doctor would rather let him lose both legs to save his life than trust something so unreliable.
Maybe this was human nature. Accustomed to following rules, they no longer dared to gamble, too afraid to lose.
"Precisely because it’s about my son’s life, I trust her."
"Very well then." Guan Kunling gave a faint smile, a warm current rising in her heart. She carefully wrapped Meng Shuyan in a white sheet and carried him toward the door.
Tian Sangsang followed closely. "Where are we going?"
"Acupuncture is best performed in a serene environment. This place is crowded and chaotic, not ideal," she replied.
Realizing this, Tian Sangsang nodded and asked, "Do you need any equipment? Or herbs?" Since it was acupuncture, there must at least be needles, right? And Chinese medicinal herbs? Even if she hadn’t used them before, she at least knew of their existence.
Guan Kunling’s gaze deepened. "Acupuncture needles and several types of herbs—those may not be easy to gather quickly."
"Leave it to me. I can manage. Just focus on healing Yanyan."
Tian Sangsang and Guan Kunling reached an open area near the woods. Although the trees were in disarray, the area could still provide cover. Seeing that no one else was around, Tian Sangsang slipped into the space.
Guan Kunling was briefly stunned, but her gaze remained calm. She laid Meng Shuyan down and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.
The master’s secret was also her secret, and she would protect it.
If by chance any strangers saw it—well, apologies in advance.
Tian Sangsang remembered that in her study, there was a box filled with rows of golden and silver acupuncture needles of various sizes and lengths—a complete set. At the time, she thought they were antiques, rare and curious, and tossed them aside. Now, they had become life-saving tools.
She took them out and asked, "Will these work?"
A trace of joy appeared on Guan Kunling’s otherwise calm face. "Thank you, Sangsang. This is exactly what I need."
"Right. What other herbs do you need? Tell me, and I’ll get them."
Guan Kunling said, "Acupuncture can only temporarily prevent Yanyan’s legs from losing all sensation. To fully heal them, he’ll need a medicinal bath. But the process will be extremely painful. The herbs needed for the bath are 4 qian of angelica, 10 qian of sophora root, 10 qian of white moss skin, 20 qian of dandelion, 6 qian of twinflower, 20 qian of phellodendron, and 12 qian of forsythia... As for the oral decoction, I’ll explain it to you..."
As she spoke, Tian Sangsang memorized it all. Time was of the essence.
Guan Kunling’s nimble fingers quickly pressed various points on Meng Shuyan’s legs, as if pinpointing acupuncture or something similar. Then she picked a moderately sized golden needle, preparing to insert it into Meng Shuyan’s leg. Heart aching at the sight, Tian Sangsang didn’t dare delay; she rushed to the space to prepare and brew the herbs.
There were many herbs, and finding them wasn’t easy. Tian Sangsang used green currency in her Plane space to exchange for them. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but soon the entire space was filled with an intense medicinal aroma. The pungent scent was so powerful that one could imagine how it would penetrate the patient’s very bones, creating an intense sensation.