That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Xie Yunqi held the sword upside down by its tip and closed his eyes.

Everyone held their breath. Even Lu Zhao seemed to sense what was about to happen. In an instant, the surroundings were so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"that......"

A soft voice suddenly sounded from above.

Jiang Jingming was startled and quickly turned around to look at the source of the sound, gripping the hilt of his knife.

Someone is standing on the second floor.

He didn't even notice that there were other people in the restaurant besides their group on the first floor, and naturally didn't know when that person had started standing there.

Due to the turmoil tonight, the lights on the second floor of the restaurant had not yet been turned on, so there was only one source of light, from the candlestick in the man's hand.

The graceful figure with long, flowing hair was actually a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

The candlelight flickered, and she leaned against the railing, her eyes lowered, seemingly smiling.

When Jiang Jingming first meets someone, he often looks into their eyes first, because that's the simplest way to understand a person.

Looking into A Qing's eyes, you'll know she's a clear and pure person; looking into Xie Yunqi's eyes, you'll know she's a bright and dazzling person; and looking into Lu Zhao's eyes, you'll know he's an upright and loyal person.

But looking into the eyes of that person upstairs, it was as if they were separated by a vast expanse of mist and water, and he couldn't see them clearly at all.

My heart is filled with countless thoughts, though we are so close, we feel worlds apart.

Jiang Jingming was unsure whether he was nervous because he couldn't see through her or simply amazed by her beauty.

The man's eyebrows curved, and his eyes sparkled, as if he possessed boundless charm.

"Sorry to bother everyone, but it seems that person can still be saved."

Her voice rose slightly at the end, and her smile was faint.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Frail Healer Who Was Just Passing By

"who are you?"

Jiang Jingming looked up at her and asked instinctively.

"My name is Fang Zhiyi."

Unexpectedly, she didn't try to hide anything, nor did she beat around the bush; she simply gave him her name.

Holding a candlestick in one hand and lifting the hem of her skirt with the other, she slowly walked downstairs.

"You just said he can still be saved, is that true?"

Xie Yunqi asked the question first.

The young lady wasn't naturally suspicious, and she couldn't sense any aggression from this girl.

Although her steps were light, they were also ordinary, not like someone who had practiced martial arts.

Even if we take a step back and consider Lu Zhao's current condition, it's nothing more than trying anything as a last resort!

"Yes."

Fang Zhiyi smiled and responded, then stepped into the brightly lit candlelight on the first floor.

The lighting was poor just now, so one could attribute her otherworldly appearance to the hazy atmosphere.

Now that she had truly come out of it, a sentence suddenly popped into Jiang Jingming's mind:

"Autumn waters are its spirit, jade its bones."

When Master Han was teaching this poem, a spring breeze was blowing on his face, and he looked intoxicated. He must have been thinking of his supposedly stunning first love.

Jiang Jingming then added the line, "A pear tree in full bloom overshadows a crabapple tree," mocking him for being an old ox trying to eat tender grass.

Master Han, with a fierce expression, said that he had also been young once and that he had truly seen such a person, whose temperament was as clear as autumn water and whose character was as gentle as fine jade.

Jiang Jingming didn't believe it at first, until he met this girl who called herself Fang Zhiyi today.

"Would it be convenient for everyone to step back a bit?"

Fang Zhiyi seemed oblivious to the unwavering gazes of everyone, and took out a scroll-shaped piece of cloth from her sleeve.

Jiang Jingming realized what was happening and took a step back.

If everyone surrounds Lu Zhao, it will block the light from the candle.

Fang Zhiyi sat down on the ground, flicked her wrist, and spread the roll of cloth out flat.

On the left are fine needles, neatly arranged according to length and thickness; in the middle is a willow-leaf-shaped knife; and on the right are several herbs of various shapes.

"He really is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor."

The shopkeeper scratched his head and sighed.

Lu Zhao stared wide-eyed, blood flowing from his seven orifices. His appearance was so terrifying and cruel that no one could bear to look at him anymore.

Perhaps Aqing's idea was not wrong; at least she could have been relieved when the illness first appeared, without having to suffer this pain that ordinary people could hardly bear.

Fang Zhiyi, however, seemed oblivious to this hellish scene. She stuffed a roll of gauze into Lu Zhao's mouth and gestured for Jiang Jingming to help turn him over.

After confirming that the bite wound was on his shoulder, Jiang Jingming helped lift his outer robe to reveal the previously wrapped gauze.

The bandage was rather haphazard, and the excessive amount of wound medicine had a very pungent smell.

When he was in front of a proper doctor, Jiang Jingming felt inexplicably guilty.

Fang Zhiyi was clearly amused by the bandaging method, but she only glanced at Jiang Jingming with a half-smile before deftly cutting open the gauze with a scalpel.

The area around the wound was ulcerated and purplish, emitting a putrid stench. Upon closer inspection, one could see the rotten flesh wriggling like worms.

The onlookers couldn't stand the smell and involuntarily took a few steps back.

Aqing stood behind Jiang Jingming with her arms crossed, her expression indifferent, as if she were detached from the situation.

Jiang Jingming often wondered if Aqing was secretly daydreaming or simply sleeping with her eyes open.

Although Miss Xie next to her looked unpleasant, she remained standing still and even leaned her head closer to get a better look.

Fang Zhiyi turned the blade diagonally, and with a swift motion, precisely cut away the rotten flesh around the wound, slicing it into the gauze spread out beside her.

This makes it even clearer; the flesh really looks alive, as if it's devouring each other.

Fang Zhiyi rolled up her sleeves, ready to begin her needlework.

The part of her wrist that was exposed was as white as jade, and you could clearly see the bluish veins and slightly protruding bones.

Jiang Jingming knelt opposite her, supporting Lu Zhao's body with both hands, and looked away.

Fang Zhiyi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly as she lightly twisted several long needles between her fingertips and pierced his back with fluid, effortless movements.

Watching her perform acupuncture is like watching a hidden, unparalleled painter create a work of art.

Lu Zhao, who had been struggling desperately just moments before, suddenly fell silent, only letting out heavy breathing.

As if realizing that no one among the onlookers understood what she was doing, Fang Zhiyi kindly offered to explain.

"The poison has spread completely throughout his body, so we need to seal his acupoints to prevent it from reaching his heart."

"Does the blood reach the heart and cause death?"

Miss Xie opened her eyes and asked curiously.

"Hmm... not necessarily. It's just a bad poison. If it reaches the heart, there's a treatment for that."

Fang Zhiyi smiled and took out another long needle from the scroll.

Her tone was nonchalant, as if she didn't take the horrifying situation seriously at all.

Jiang Jingming suppressed his surprise and looked at the needle in her hand.

Unlike other silver needles, this needle is dark gold and also thicker.

The gold needle lingered in her fingertip for a while, as if trying to transfer her body heat into the needle.

The moment the needle was inserted was instantaneous; the golden needle landed on the back of Lu Zhao's neck, sinking deep into the skin, leaving only a section of the needle tip visible.

The next moment, all the needles on his body vibrated simultaneously, like ten thousand bells ringing in unison!

Dark purple blood gushed from the needle tip. Lu Zhao, who had calmed down, began to convulse violently. Jiang Jingming held his head to prevent him from choking on the blood he vomited.

This struggle was unprecedented, even during previous episodes of the illness; the thick ropes binding her body even made a snapping sound.

Fang Zhiyi seemed not to hear, she focused her mind and bent her fingers, quickly pressing on the remaining acupoints between the long needles.

As she rolled up her sleeves to retract her hand, Lu Zhao let out a roar that was almost inhuman, and then her whole body quickly went limp.

Jiang Jingming quickly turned his face towards him, revealing a normal human skin tone. The purplish-red hue that had been flushed had completely faded from his face, and his breathing was even, as if he were simply fast asleep.

"Healed?"

Xie Yunqi's tone was somewhat incredulous.

The person in charge beside him also slumped down, clutching his chest, covered in cold sweat.

"Sir, you are truly a miraculous doctor!"

"Drink some rhinoceros horn and rehmannia decoction for the next three days to clear away any remaining toxins."

Fang Zhiyi calmly re-rolled the needle and tucked it into her sleeve.

From her sudden appearance to her act of saving lives, she acted entirely on impulse. Although her smile was gentle, it was enigmatic.

She brushed the dust off the hem of her skirt, seemingly preparing to leave.

"May I ask where this miraculous doctor comes from?"

Jiang Jingming stepped forward and blocked her path.

Fang Zhiyi seemed to have anticipated that he would block the way, so she leaned over the railing next to her.

She tilted her head slightly, a composed smile on her face.

"Just a frail doctor passing by."

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Calamity

This answer was obviously perfunctory, yet it was also impossible to refute.

After all, she is indeed a legitimate doctor, and she has just demonstrated superb medical skills that have convinced everyone.

Although the world is in turmoil, there are still many doctors with compassion who travel the world to save people from suffering.

Yongzhou is located in a remote area, and most people fall ill before a doctor can be found, by which time the disease has already progressed to a critical stage and there is no cure.

Therefore, it is entirely possible that Fang Zhiyi came here to practice medicine and happened to pass by.

Jiang Jingming remained silent, while Fang Zhiyi watched him with a constant smile.

"Please wait, sir!"

The person in charge broke the deadlock; he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"Since you saved Lord Lu's life, you are also my savior. It is late now, and I would like to invite you distinguished guests to my residence for a short rest."

After saying this, the person in charge remained in a bowed position for a long time without raising his head.

Jiang Jingming didn't care, but he figured Fang Zhiyi probably wouldn't agree.

Who would have thought—

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Fang Zhiyi immediately agreed.

It seemed as if she was genuinely worried about where to stay that night.

"So good!"

The person in charge was immediately overjoyed and turned to bow to Xie Yunqi.

"I will take my leave now and bring Lord Lu back first. Then I will have someone prepare rooms for our distinguished guests. Miss Xie visited my residence yesterday. Please have her lead the guests there later."

"Of course, of course!"

Xie Yunqi regained her daytime radiance; she was in a very good mood.

Fortunately, on his first trip as a member of the Divine Capital Guard, he didn't have to witness or even personally carry out the death of his comrades.