Chapter 80: A Glimmer of Hope

When the words were spoken, Gu Xiuqin’s expression grew more solemn, and he quickly asked, “Which medicinal herb is it?”

“It’s blood ginseng. Someone has accepted the bounty for blood ginseng and even sent a private message through the platform. However, he wants to double the price, claiming the place where blood ginseng grows is extremely dangerous and that obtaining it would require a great deal of risk,” Li Zhao explained.

To their surprise, the bounty posted on YunNet just last night had already been taken today. Though the price was doubled, Gu Xiuqin didn’t mind; money was worthless compared to his life. He nodded in agreement without hesitation.

“That’s fine, but he must provide the exact location of the blood ginseng before we transfer half of the deposit to his account,” Gu Xiuqin instructed firmly.

YunNet was a vast network connecting treasure seekers across the globe. To avoid being deceived, the full reward would only be given after the item was delivered; before that, only a partial deposit would be paid. Li Zhao nodded and sent the message, soon receiving a reply. The treasure seeker agreed and sent over a crude map.

On the map, a red dot was marked, and it was within this red zone that the blood ginseng was said to be found.

With hope on the horizon, even Gu Xiuqin's face seemed to brighten. He instructed Li Zhao to proceed with the arrangements. At that moment, Xie Qingtang knocked on the door.

“It’s time for your acupuncture. Are you ready?” Xie Qingtang entered and spoke to Gu Xiuqin.

Gu Xiuqin nodded. The two went alone into the room. Xie Qingtang took out her prepared silver needles, coated them with a green liquid, and began inserting them one by one into Gu Xiuqin’s body.

The green liquid was also a medicine, enhancing the effects of acupuncture to the utmost. This medicinal fluid, renowned for its restorative properties, would slowly seep into Gu Xiuqin’s body through the needles, repairing his damaged physique.

After two hours, the acupuncture session ended. Gu Xiuqin opened his eyes and, seeing Xie Qingtang tidying up, said, “I’ve already got a lead on the blood ginseng.”

“Oh, really? That’s wonderful! I almost forgot to tell you; I’ve already found the four-leaf ghost needle grass,” Xie Qingtang paused in surprise, then turned back joyfully to Gu Xiuqin.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing her words, Gu Xiuqin grabbed her wrist, his voice tinged with accusation, “You went to the forbidden zone alone?”

“Hey, let go of me, you’re hurting,” Xie Qingtang protested, shaking off his hand and pouting slightly. “I know I promised you I wouldn’t go alone, but I just wanted to scout the place. Who could have guessed I’d find the four-leaf ghost needle grass right at the edge? Isn’t my luck amazing?”

Despite her words, Gu Xiuqin’s expression didn’t change; his face remained icy, like a mountain of frost.

“Hey, don’t look at me with that frozen expression. I did it all for you. Now that we’ve got the ghost needle grass, we’re one step closer to curing you. If we can get the blood ginseng too, that would be perfect,” Xie Qingtang tried to shift the topic.

Gu Xiuqin glanced at her coldly, “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. That’s all.”

“Don’t worry; I know how to take care of myself. No one looked after me as a child, so I learned to protect myself. That’s a skill I’m quite good at,” Xie Qingtang said with a bright smile, patting her chest.

For reasons he couldn’t understand, seeing this girl put on a cheerful face just to ease his worries made Gu Xiuqin unable to muster any anger at her recklessness.

“How about this: tomorrow I’ll bring you the four-leaf ghost needle grass, and you can keep it safe. It’s better with you than in my clinic,” Xie Qingtang said as she packed up.

Gu Xiuqin nodded without objecting. After Xie Qingtang left the Gu villa, he softly murmured, “Xie Qingtang, I don’t want to owe you too much, because I don’t know if I’ll have the time to repay you.”

Back at her clinic, Xie Qingtang carefully took the four-leaf ghost needle grass from its crystal box and placed it in her room.

Early the next morning, the patient suffering from schistosomiasis was already much improved. With daily herbal medicine and two months of proper care, he would fully recover. So at dawn, they bid farewell to Xie Qingtang, preparing to leave the clinic.

“Doctor Xie, I don’t even know how to thank you. You saved my life. If you ever need my help, just say the word—I’ll do whatever you ask,” the man knelt and bowed to Xie Qingtang three times, his voice filled with resolve.

Xie Qingtang quickly helped him up, saying, “It’s my duty. Go home now, and remember, never drink raw water again; always boil it first.”

“That lesson’s burned into my memory for life,” the man replied with a hearty laugh before they left the clinic.

Meanwhile, at Gu Hospital, several patients afflicted with schistosomiasis were still hospitalized, their condition unchanged.

“What’s going on here? Didn’t I tell you to increase the dosage? Why aren’t the patients getting better? In fact, their condition is worsening!” the head of the parasitology department, furious, observed the patients in the isolation ward. Their faces were growing paler and their abdomens visibly swelling.

The nurses nearby stood silent, hardly daring to breathe. Only one male doctor—the same one who had caused trouble at the clinic’s door—spoke up, “Director, I think something’s wrong. The clinic might be hiding something.”

“What do you mean by that?” The director’s brows knitted tightly.

The doctor continued, “I suspect the parasites have mutated, but the clinic is deliberately keeping this from us, so we’re still using outdated treatments for schistosomiasis. That’s why things are getting worse.”

At these words, the others began to nod in agreement.