Chapter 7: The Only Trump Card

Everyone, including Elder Yan, was stunned on the spot. Good heavens, these were things they'd never even heard of. Yet after listening, Elder Yan frowned and said, “Everything you mentioned is recorded in the Classic of the Yellow Emperor, but gathering such items within three days is impossible, especially the Ghost Nine Needles, which are said to have disappeared.”

Zhuang Zhou stepped in front of Ye Song. “In the five connected ice caves of Mount Kunlun, you’ll find the Tianshan Snow Toad in the darkest depths. At the edge of the lava pool beneath the active volcano of Mount Changbai, you’ll find the Lava Fire Scorpion. For Officer Ye, collecting these two things within three days shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

Ye Song still felt troubled. She didn’t really agree with Zhuang Zhou’s treatment plan, but seeing Elder Yan’s attitude—no objections at all—it meant Elder Yan had already accepted Zhuang Zhou’s proposal.

She glanced at Elder Yan, who remained silent, but Ye Song had her answer.

Ye Song nodded firmly. “No problem!”

“That’s good. As for the Ghost Nine Needles, I can take care of that myself,” Zhuang Zhou said lightly. In truth, healing Elder Yezi didn’t need to be so complicated, but as an experienced Poison Immortal, he knew very well that the easier something was to obtain, the less others valued it. If he cured Elder Yezi with a wave of his hand, it would only provoke doubts because Zhuang Zhou was too young and inexperienced. If his reputation and status grew over time, things would naturally be different. Also, Zhuang Zhou had another intention: through this first case treated with poison medicine, he would create a precious calling card for himself, promoting the medical principles of the poison path in this world—a significance that was extraordinary.

Watching Zhuang Zhou control the situation with such ease, becoming the focus of everyone present, Jiang Ping’an stood in the corner, filled with jealousy and unwillingness. How had things come to this? In the end, he’d failed again. Jiang Ping’an was sure that the Ghost Nine Needles were in Zhuang Zhou’s hands.

Do you really think you’ve won? Just wait and see! Jiang Ping’an’s mind twisted with venomous thoughts: if I can’t have it, neither can you.

“Poison really can cure people?” Wu Dongjie couldn’t see Jiang Ping’an’s dark thoughts and asked in confusion from the side. Today’s events were so bizarre. When did his medical school become a haven for hidden talents? Such a young master of medicine, such novel medical theories about poison—could this really work?

Elder Yan nodded. “Medicine can heal and harm; why can’t poison save lives? Dongjie, the medical path is vast—we’ve only glimpsed a fraction. That matter from years ago, I still regret it deeply.”

“Zhuang Zhou, if you save Elder Ye, you’ll earn great merit!” Wu Dongjie exclaimed.

No one should ever have an accident in their own hospital.

Elder Ye’s identity was far too special. The failure of the once-trusted Jiang Ping’an had left him anxious, but now Zhuang Zhou was his only ace left. Fortunately, the young man was also from the medical school. If he truly turned the tide, perhaps that matter could be entrusted to him.

Turning his thoughts, Wu Dongjie could only place his hopes on Zhuang Zhou now. As for Jiang Ping’an, he’d already been cast aside. He once had high expectations for that man, but in the end, nearly ruined his own reputation.

Ye Song acted with decisive speed, immediately turning and heading out. Soon, a military helicopter landed atop the hospital and took her away. Zhuang Zhou couldn’t help but click his tongue—so high-profile. Then again, in both his previous life and this one, power always brought privileges. Clearly, Ye’s family was no ordinary one.

Looking up at the sky, Zhuang Zhou slowly exhaled. A grand Poison Immortal, when had he ever been reduced to the ordinary? One day, he would stand atop the world again.

Elder Yan ignored Jiang Ping’an’s jealous gaze and walked straight up to Zhuang Zhou. “Young friend Zhuang, when might we discuss your Soul-Reviving Needle?”

“And the Three Fingers of Life Extension!” Principal Wu added anxiously.

Such small techniques meant nothing to Zhuang Zhou, so he gladly agreed, smiling, “Of course. Professor Liang always reminded us in class: medicine is about sharing and learning. Hoarding knowledge only hinders medical progress.”

“Excellent, excellent! Young friend Zhuang, your skill and medical ethics truly impress me,” Elder Yan said excitedly.

Zhuang Zhou glanced at Jiang Ping’an and spoke slowly, “I have a request.”

“Please, go ahead,” Elder Yan replied kindly.

“I hope we can hold this exchange in the medical university’s lecture hall. It would be a good way to promote traditional medicine,” Zhuang Zhou said, smiling.

Heh, Jiang Ping’an, provoking me will be the greatest regret of your life. If you can’t bring me down here, do you think you can do it at school? Impossible. Once I organize an academic event like this, the whole college will benefit. How could the institution ever push out a student so selfless, ethical, and skilled? They’d sooner praise me.

“Wonderful! To have a young person of such vision, skill, and ethics is a blessing for us all, and for the path of medicine! Young friend Zhuang, you’ve truly given me a new perspective,” Elder Yan declared, genuinely excited.

Elder Yan’s excitement was real. In his youth, he was already a renowned traditional medicine expert, proud of his skills. But that very pride led him to a fatal mistake. Since then, he turned to Western medicine, and after entering that field, he realized the biggest difference between traditional and Western medicine was attitude.

Western medicine encourages sharing and learning, so it develops rapidly. Traditional medicine, on the other hand, treats every prescription as a treasure, hides it away, and sharing is out of the question. For outsiders to even glimpse such knowledge is impossible.

So, the decline of traditional medicine is no mystery.

Closed-door self-reliance no longer works for traditional medicine.

“Young friend Zhuang, you’re doing very well! Wu, it’s settled—you’ll handle the arrangements. The exchange will be held a week from now in the third lecture hall of the medical university. I’ll change my evening class that day to an exchange session,” Elder Yan said excitedly.

Wu Dongjie nodded seriously, looking at Zhuang Zhou with a flash of joy in his eyes.

He’d been hesitant—Elder Yan’s prized student had made a critical mistake, and if anything happened to Elder Ye, everyone present would be implicated.

Zhuang Zhou had saved them all.

Now, it was time for the Ghost Nine Needles!

Zhuang Zhou suddenly realized that he’d left the Ghost Nine Needles in such a place in this life? He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly—this Zhuang Zhou really was hopeless!

Near the medical university, there was an internet café called Blue Fang.

“You mean it’s here?” Lin Wen looked at Zhuang Zhou with utter bewilderment.

Zhuang Zhou nodded helplessly. His mother had been exhausted by his recent car accident, so he’d persuaded her to stay in the hospital for a few days of rest. As for his father, he’d already called to report his awakening.

Zhuang Zhou originally planned to retrieve the Ghost Nine Needles alone, but happened to meet Lin Wen after work, who invited him home. Wanting to hurry, he agreed and stopped by the café near the school.

He wished the ground would open up and swallow him. The previous him had truly been a mess.

At that moment, a young man sat there pounding away at a keyboard, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. His hair, dyed yellow, flicked back and forth as he stared at the screen, his hands moving rapidly. He wore a flashy shirt and a thick gold chain around his neck, a bit of it peeking through his shirt.

Zhuang Zhou focused on the young man’s computer screen. The ID displayed was Zhang Invincible. His champion, Steel Shadow, danced across the screen with a score of 12/0/15. He was confident he could even make it to the S tournament.

This young man, Zhang Yu, owned the café and was a minor gangster from the Sanyi Society, following Brother Dao.

Zhuang Zhou used to come here often to play games, a true academic slacker who’d failed countless courses. The school administration was seriously considering expelling him. He’d once given up, addicted to online games, and even gambled away the priceless, heirloom Ghost Nine Needles to Zhang Yu.

“Brother Yu, long time no see. I want to win my things back!” Zhuang Zhou said.