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Chapter 124: The Selfish Request at the End of Life
Boss Yao, a doctor who has traveled around the mainland.
He doesn't have many ambitions in life; his only dream has always been to become a pharmacist, though that dream seems far away.
However, Yao is very optimistic. He believes that if something cannot be attained, then it simply cannot be, and there's no need to force it. He is content living his life peacefully.
One day, Boss Yao happened to pass by a village, and what he saw there made his scalp tingle.
Men, children, the elderly, women... the villagers were sprawled out everywhere on the ground. From their white, lifeless eyes, it was clear that everyone was dead. Their skin had turned an ominous purple-black.
As a doctor with many years of experience, Boss Yao immediately understood: it was poison.
Could it be... a poison master?!
Boss Yao immediately thought of the infamous Chu Yun Empire, where poison masters, a despised profession, were revered.
But why would a poison master from the Chu Yun Empire attack such a small village that couldn't even be found on the map of the Jia Ma Empire?
Even if it was to test a new poison, they should have targeted cultivators, not these defenseless commoners.
With this question in mind, Boss Yao began searching the village, going door to door, as his medical instincts pushed him to look for any survivors.
House one... empty.
House two... empty.
House three... empty.
Boss Yao continued his search, but every time he opened a door, he saw either an empty room or the corpses of women, children, and the elderly, their skin blackened, each face marked by the despair, struggle, and pain of their final moments.
This heartbreaking sight made Boss Yao, as a doctor, deeply sorrowful, and his heart filled with curses for the poisoner, condemning the cruelty of their actions.
Just when Boss Yao was about to give up hope, he opened another door and saw a small girl with pale purple hair lying on the body of a woman whose skin had shriveled and turned purple-black.
Still... no survivors?
Boss Yao's heart filled with disappointment, and he quietly closed the door.
But just as the door was about to close completely, Boss Yao froze and suddenly realized something.
Wait! The girl's skin color is normal! She hasn't been poisoned!!!
Boss Yao hurriedly pushed the door open and rushed inside, standing by the bed and looking at the purple-haired girl who was lying on the already deceased woman.
Her breathing was steady, her sleep peaceful, and her eyes were swollen and red, with traces of tears still visible on her face, indicating she had cried for a long time before falling asleep.
She's still alive! She's still alive!
Boss Yao, the first to find a living person in the village, felt a surge of excitement in his heart. He reached out and placed his hand on the little girl's shoulder, preparing to wake her up.
However, just then, Yao Sheng suddenly felt something was wrong and quickly withdrew his hand.
Looking at his own hand, which had begun to turn purple and black, Boss Yao was horrified.
I've been poisoned?!
As a doctor,Boss Yao didn't hesitate. He immediately took out a small knife from his pocket and cut his palm to let the poison out.
Black blood flowed from the wound, dripping onto the ground until the blood gradually turned red, returning to its normal color. Only then did Boss Yao breathe a sigh of relief, pulling out a bandage to wrap his hand, his gaze growing more serious as he looked at the still-sleeping little girl.
The symptoms of poisoning in his hand were almost identical to the villagers' skin color.
The reason he was poisoned was simply because he touched the little girl's shoulder.
But this girl... she's completely fine.
This means that the little girl is likely the source of the poison!
Boss Yao's eyebrows furrowed tightly.
He had just experienced how powerful this poison was.
Yet this little girl... had no reaction whatsoever.
In that moment, Boss Yao recalled a rumor his teacher had once shared with him when he was learning medicine.
There is a type of body constitution in the world that doesn't require cultivation; simply consuming poison can increase their power. The stronger the poison, the more it enhances their strength.
However, when a person with this constitution consumes poison beyond their tolerance, it triggers a protective mechanism in their body, forcing the poison to be expelled in gaseous form. As long as the excess poison is expelled before the person dies from the poison, they will not be in danger; if not, they will die.
It was then that Boss Yao understood.
There was no damn poison master; this little girl had this constitution. She was the one who had poisoned the entire village!
The name of this constitution is...
"Woeful Poison Body."
(Woeful Poison Body?!)
When Boss Yao uttered these words, Yao Chen also gasped in shock, then explained to Xiao Yan what this constitution was.
After hearing the explanation, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed tightly, and Boss Yao let out a deep sigh.
"The little girl I met in that village was Xian'er," Boss Yao said, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at the frightened Xiao Yi Xian. "Later, I heard Xian'er say that when she was playing outside the village one day, she accidentally ate a beautiful fruit. The next day, everyone in the village died, including her mother."
"It was at that moment that I confirmed that Xian'er has the... Woeful Poison Body. The poison in my body has accumulated over the years from being in contact with Xian'er."
Boss Yao spoke in this way, and since Xiao Yi Xian already knew, there was no point in hiding it anymore.
To be honest, the toxins released by Xiao Yi Xian weren't that powerful. Otherwise, Boss Yao wouldn't have been able to run a pharmacy with her in Qing Shan Town.
But even the smallest of toxins, when accumulated over time, becomes terrifying.
At first, the toxin was too weak for Boss Yao to notice.
By the time he realized it, it was already too late.
Xiao Yan quietly looked at Boss Yao, seeking help from Yao Chen.
(Senior Yao, can you think of a way?)
(There's no hope left.) Before Xiao Yan could finish speaking, Yao Chen softly replied, (Although we can use the Heavenly Flame to remove the poison, the poison has already deeply entered his bones, and most importantly, he's not a cultivator. Even if we could remove the poison, he would have already died from the Heavenly Flame before it could be done.)
(…)
Xiao Yan lowered his head and fell silent.
His fists, however, were clenched tightly without him realizing it.
However, unlike the grieving Xiao Yan, there was no trace of fear of death on Boss Yao's face. He let out a bitter smile.
"I've been secretly taking some detoxification medicine to hold on until today. But recently, even with the dosage increased, it's becoming less effective."
With these words, Boss Yao looked at Xiao Yi Xian.
"I'm actually not that afraid of death. I've lived enough in this life. The only thing I'm worried about is one thing." Boss Yao looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with hope. "Xiao Yan, can I ask you a favor?"
"…"
Xiao Yan looked into Boss Yao's eyes and sighed deeply. With a serious expression, he clasped his hands and said to Boss Yao, "As long as it's something I can do, Boss Yao, just ask!"
Xiao Yan truly respected Boss Yao.
Boss Yao, as a doctor, had great compassion and a carefree attitude toward life and death. He genuinely cared for others.
All of this made Xiao Yan admire him, and not to mention, Boss Yao had helped him a great deal before.
Since he couldn't save his life, at least he would help fulfill his final wish, letting him depart in peace and without worries.
No matter how difficult it was, if it was within his ability, Xiao Yan would certainly do everything he could!
Looking at Xiao Yan's solemn face, Boss Yao smiled softly.
That smile contained both relief and deep guilt.
Perhaps this was the most selfish request of his life.
Boss Yao slowly stood up and deeply bowed to Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan."
"I, Yao, entrust Xiao Yi Xian to you."
"Please take care of her after my death."
"I beg you!"
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End of this chapter