Chapter 166
Editor: Casey
One red line, three days of life.
Gu Qiushu couldn’t stop staring at that red line. He didn’t know what he was thinking either. He raised his head and looked at Shi Qing with complicated eyes.
“Then why did you stop when I didn’t let you treat me?”
If Shi Qing had really done as he said and not treated him, wouldn’t that mean he’d have died?
Gu Qiushu’s heart was filled with after fear just thinking about it.
But then he froze.
Wait a minute, he had nothing to do with Shi Qing. What did it matter to him if he lived or died?
Gu Qiushu frowned slightly and told himself that it must be because he would feel guilty if Shi Qing died. After all, if he had refused treatment, he would’ve been plagued by guilt afterwards, something that would hinder his cultivation.
He might be doused in cold sweat because of what just happened, but Shi Qing seemed unaffected. He continued to smile as if his life or death was inconsequential.
“Gu-xianzhang, what was I supposed to do then? Force you to accept treatment?”
He twirled a strand of his black hair, smiling even more mischievous than a fairy. “A pharmacist’s only task is to treat illnesses and save people. If the patient refuses treatment, of course I have to respect that.”
The white-robed Xianzhang’s face remained cold. “If that’s the case, what did you capture us for?”
“All I said was that I wouldn’t force you to accept treatment. I didn’t say I wouldn’t capture you and lock you up. Anyways, as long as all of you are here, you’ll eventually accept my treatment.”
Gu Qiushu: “…”
He actually didn’t know how to respond to that.
Shi Qing’s att.i.tude was just too righteous.
A flash of insight suddenly hit Gu Qiushu. He looked down at the red line on Shi Qing’s arm and asked, “You weren’t saying those things just to deceive me, right?”
Aiyo, so he’s pretty sharp, ah. He actually caught that.
On the surface, Shi Qing’s expression didn’t change. He wasn’t nervous at all. “If Xianzhang believes that to be true, then I’ll admit it.”
“That’s right. I lied to you. What saving people can increase lifespan? How could such a ridiculous thing be possible?”
However, on the contrary, the more readily Shi Qing admitted to lying, the more Gu Qiushu believed him.
After all, Shi Qing’s sickly state had already left a deep impression on him.
He couldn’t take anything this person said seriously.
Gu Qiushu looked at the red thread and asked, “How do you know your own lifespan?”
“Of course I know, it’s my body. Not to mention I’m a pharmacist.”
Shi Qing shook his arm emphatically and raised an eyebrow. He smiled at Gu Qiushu. “Xianzhang, I get that you want to look at it for a while, but do you really need to hold my hand for so long?”
Gu Qiushu stiffened. Only then did he realize that he had actually been holding onto Shi Qing’s wrist this whole time.
When had he ever taken the initiative to be close to someone like this? He quickly let go and hid the long, slender hand that had just been in contact with Shi Qing’s wrist behind his back.
His little guilty reactions were really cute no matter how Shi Qing looked at it.
“Xianzhang, ah.”
He deliberately trailed off with a smile on his face. “I think I like you the best out of all these immortal sect disciples. How about this? I’ll treat them all over the next three days before I let you guys go. I’ll even give the three puppets to you. Be sure to take good care of them, alright?”
Gu Qiushu frowned at Shi Qing, his voice cool, “Why give them to me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I want them to go to a good master.”
“You are their master.”
At Gu Qiushu’s serious look, Shi Qing snorted and showed him the red line on his arm again.
“Xianzhang, did you forget what I just said? I’ll be dead after three days. If I can’t find them a new master before then, they’ll die with me.”
Gu Qiushu pursed his lips slightly, his eyes complicated. “Puppets aren’t alive in the first place.”
“Let’s agree to disagree.”
Shi Qing was still smiling, but his eyes became somewhat sad. “After my dad died, even though they aren’t human, these puppets were the only ones left by my side.”
“You are the Sect Master of the Steel Bones Sect. All the disciples look up to you.”
Shi Qing actually laughed at Gu Qiushu’s words.
“Xianzhang, are all the disciples of your Heavenly Derivation Sect so naive? I’m an invalid who only inherited this position because of my dad. Do you really think they would care about me if I didn’t have these three puppets? I would already be dead in a ditch somewhere.”
Gu Qiushu frowned. Although he didn’t agree, he didn’t say anything because Shi Qing knew the internal affairs of the Steel Bones Sect better than him.
Shi Qing continued, “As a mortal, I’ve enjoyed everything life has to offer already. I can die content with so many cultivators under my command. But these puppets did protect me. It doesn’t feel right to make them share my fate.”
He patted Gu Qiushu on the shoulder. The white-robed Xianzhang still frowned this time, but he didn’t avoid the touch. He just quietly listened to Shi Qing speak. “I only captured you guys to see if I can save some more people before I go. Alas, it seems like the amount of lifespan pharmacists get from saving others is really limited. I only got an hour from saving Little Ye Zi. At this rate, I’ll have to constantly search for patients 24/7 to survive.”
Shi Qing, who still looked quite young, smacked his lips. His fair and pretty face was filled with self-mockery. “This Shi Qing would rather die than have to run around so much just to live.”
“Anyway, from what I’ve seen, you’re the best of the bunch. I like you quite a bit as well, so I’ll leave my three puppets to you. Be sure to treat them well for me.”
[Ding! Gu Qiushu’s animosity value: 75/100]
Shi Qing saw Gu Qiushu’s lips move slightly, as if he was going to say something but didn’t in the end. The look on that cool, handsome face was as cold and indifferent as ever.
The only differences lay in the pair of dark eyes staring constantly at him.
Shi Qing didn’t wait to see Gu Qiushu’s reaction. He got up and stretched, waving the red line on his arm at the white-robed Xianzhang. “Anyways, thanks Xianzhang, for giving me three more days. Alright, I’m going to head over to treat those little guys. Don’t worry Xianzhang, I’m already a dead man walking so I won’t do anything to them.”
“I’ve just been teasing you before because I found your reactions amusing. I’ll have to trouble you to stay here for three more days. Just take the medicine I prepared for you and your broken meridians will heal for good.”
He smiled wantonly. Just like a typical child who had been spoiled to the point of only caring about himself, he righteously asked Gu Qiushu to not argue with him on this.
“Xianzhang, do you have to always look at me so coldly? I’m going to die anyway, so why not lighten up? Xianzhang, you’re not holding a grudge, are you?” Shi Qing shrugged when Gu Qiushu was the same as ever.
“Fine, I’m going to die anyway so I guess you can look at me however you like. See you in three days.”
The door closed.
Shi Qing walked out.
Gu Qiushu was still standing in one place, his gaze fixed to the door.
He turned to look at his sword. Reaching towards it, the weapon linked to his mind flew into his hand. The white-robed Xianzhang gripped the sword tightly. Since his hair had been let down before, it was loosely draped all over him like the ugly and uncultured way mortals wore it.
But since it was someone as beautiful as Gu Qiushu, this hairstyle only added a bit of natural beauty to his immortal aura.
The natural beauty faintly frowned, He stared at the sword in his hand with slightly downcast eyes, deep in thought about something.
After leaving, Shi Qing did go to the dungeon where those immortal sect disciples were being kept.
He had a table moved over. The Steel Bones Sect disciples stood behind him, calling people up one at a time.
At first, those disciples were very scared and reluctant to be dragged out of their cell when it was their turn. Only Ye Zi was different. He had successfully been converted into a fan by the Steel Bones Sect’s chef. Not only was he not afraid, he even tried his best to comfort the others. “Don’t worry, Sect Master Shi is just here to treat us. Look at me. Wasn’t I cured?”
The other disciples didn’t really believe him.
Who knew what other plans Shi Qing had in mind when he captured them like this?
Yes, the larva in Ye Zi’s stomach was removed in front of them, but who knew if Shi Qing had put it in in the first place or not? He could’ve planted insect eggs in their stomachs through their food and then claim they contracted it themselves.
How could they not be afraid of the Steel Bones Sect if that was true?
Lin Xingzhi stepped forward at this moment. “I’ll go.”
This way, he’ll be able to give his shidis and shimeis warning if something did happen.
Lin Xingzhi was brought over. Shi Qing briefly glanced at him with disinterest. “You’ve broken your right leg before?”
All the bravery of a hero heading out to war crumpled from Lin Xingzhi’s face. “You… How did you know?”
“I could tell at a glance.”
Shi Qing immediately started writing a prescription. “Although your leg bone was reconnected, it had already touched the meridian there. That’s why you always feel it’s difficult to make progress when you cultivate, but it gets easier once you get up and move around. That leg bone is the cause.”
“You’ll be fine once you take this pill and go take a dip in the hot springs.”
After quickly saying all that, Shi Qing knocked on the table and gestured for the Steel Bones disciples to take him away. “Next.”
It only took three days for all of the disciples in the dungeons’ half-hearted skepticism to morph into overwhelming grat.i.tude.
If Shi Qing said it would take three days to heal them then that’s how long it would take.
When the three days were up, he went back to the Heavenly Word Dungeon with his three puppets.
“Xianzhang, I’m here.”
Gu Qiushu was seated on the bed. He watched Shi Qing push the door open. The other person’s face was a little tired, but his smile was still as unrestrained and open as ever.
Shi Qing muttered, “None of those disciples were seriously ill, so I only got a day of lifespan out of treating all of them. Like that makes a big difference. Come here and I’ll give the puppets to you. You can leave with them.”
“Oh right. Drink this medicine first.”
Gu Qiushu didn’t move. He quietly listened to Shi Qing finish before he spoke, “No need.”
“I don’t mind not curing my illness. Tomorrow, you can do as you did three days ago. Stop the pain for me, and prolong your own life.”
Author’s Corner
I’ve moved on again, folks.
I’ve got a new novel that you can add to your reading lists. I want to write it so badly aahhhhhhh.
Please add it to your reading lists mua mua mua
I originally planned to take a few months off after writing about little Shi Qing, but now all I want to do is finish already so I can start working on my precious new novel
Little angels, please add it to your reading lists. I’ll start once there’s enough interest
You can find ‘I came to modern times from a cultivation world’ in my author profile la~