Chapter 148

[ 1,331 words ]

Ivy’s Point of View

His face looked worse than it had earlier. The color had almost disappeared from his skin, and there was a thin layer of sweat across his forehead. His breathing was uneven, and every few seconds, his fingers tightened around the sheets as another wave of pain moved through his body. I stopped beside the bed and looked down at him.

Boran slowly turned his head toward me, his eyes filled with warning and desperation.

“Listen to me carefully, Physician Lin,” he said, his voice rough from the pain. “I will pay the twenty thousand gold coins, but there is one condition. If this treatment fails and I die because of what you do to me, neither you nor your companion will leave this place alive. My men will make sure of that.”

I did not move. His threat did not frighten me because I had already expected it. “Threatening me will not change your condition, sir,” I replied. “Your body is already badly damaged by the Blood-Rot Disease. It has affected your internal channels, and if we do nothing now, your condition will continue getting worse until your body can no longer support itself. And the answer is surgery”

The guard standing beside his bed suddenly stepped forward. “Surgery?” he shouted in disbelief. “You expect us to allow you to cut open him? What kind of physician are you? You will kill him before you even have the chance to save him!”

Before I could answer, the man pulled out his sword and pointed it directly at me. I had barely moved when Dominic stepped between us. His body moved so quickly that the guard did not even have time to react. Dominic lifted his leg and kicked the man’s wrist with enough force to send the sword flying across the room. It struck the stone floor with a loud sound before sliding several feet away.

Dominic stood directly in front of me, his shoulders tense and his eyes cold. “Is this how your master treats the divine doctor?” he demanded. “You invite us here to save his life, and this is how you repay us?”

The other guards immediately pulled out their weapons. Within seconds, Dominic and I were surrounded. Gigi screamed and stumbled backward with her maid, pressing herself against the wall as the guards raised their swords and daggers.

The room became dangerously quiet. I could feel the tension in the air, but Dominic did not step back. He stood there like he was ready to fight every single person in the room if they dared touch me.

“Lower your weapons!” Boran suddenly shouted. “Did you not hear me? Lower them!”

Reluctantly, the guards obeyed. But before the tension could disappear, Boran suddenly grabbed his side. His face filled in pain, and a low groan escaped his lips as his body bent forward.

The Blood-Rot Disease was attacking him again. His breathing became rough, and sweat rolled down his temples as he struggled to remain conscious.

“My lord.” Gigi rushed toward him, but Boran lifted one trembling hand.

“Stay back.” He tried to sit upright, but another wave of pain hit him, forcing him to grip the sheets tightly.

“This is exactly why you need the surgery now.”

Boran looked at me through half-closed eyes. “I cannot keep living like this,” he whispered. His breathing became slower as he tried to control himself. After a few moments, he finally looked at me. “Then do it.”

I nodded, but the way his guards had drew their swords, I had to do something about that. “But before I begin, you will sign an agreement stating that you accept the risks of the treatment.”

Boran stared at me. “You want me to sign a life-and-death agreement?”

“Yes.” I pulled the document from my bag and placed it on the small table beside his bed. “You invited me here to treat you. I will do everything in my power to save you, but if something goes wrong, I will not allow your people to blame me for a decision you willingly made.”

Boran looked at the document for several seconds. Then he reached for the pen. His hand shook slightly from the pain, but he still signed his name. He pressed his thumb against the bottom of the agreement before handing it back to me.

“Save me,” he said quietly. “If you save me, the twenty thousand gold coins are yours.”

I took the document from him. “Then prepare yourself.”

Dominic followed me toward the medical table. I opened my medical trunk and began arranging everything I needed. Silver needles, clean cloth, Cent-lily medicine, healing powder, silver forceps, a small surgical blade, and several bottles of medicine were placed within easy reach.

Dominic watched me silently. He knew exactly what I was thinking, this was dangerous. Boran’s body was already weak, if I made one serious mistake, he could die on the table. But I had treated worse conditions before.

I carefully cleaned the area that needed treatment and began the procedure.

At first, everything went smoothly. I worked carefully, removing the damaged tissue and cleaning the affected area before using the cent-lily medicine to stop the remaining poison from spreading. I then placed the silver medicinal needles around the damaged channel, using them to guide my healing force into the injured area.

Boran remained unconscious for some time. Then, suddenly, his eyes opened. His entire body stiffened. A sharp breath escaped his mouth as pain rushed through him.

“Do not move,” I warned him immediately.

His fingers grabbed the sides of the bed. He clenched his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw tightened. I could see the pain in his eyes, but he refused to scream. His pride would not allow him to show weakness in front of his men.

“Hold still,” I said again. “You are almost through it.” Boran gave a small nod, and I continued.

The room remained silent except for his rough breathing and the soft movement of my tools. Dominic stayed beside me the entire time, helping whenever I needed something and watching the guards carefully in case anyone tried to interfere again.

After nearly an hour, the worst part of the treatment was finally over. I checked the damaged area one last time and slowly released a breath.

The internal channel was stable. Boran’s pale face had also gained some color. I cleaned the wound, applied the cent-lily medicine, and wrapped the area. By the time the moon reached its highest point in the sky, the treatment was complete.

I washed my hands in a basin and turned toward Boran. “You survived.”

Boran opened his tired eyes. “Was there ever any doubt?”

I almost laughed. Even after nearly dying, he still had enough pride to make such a statement.

I gave him the instructions he needed. “For the next twelve hours, you must not use your internal force. Do not train, do not fight, and do not try to move around unnecessarily. Your maid must also change the dressing as instructed and make sure the wound stays clean.”

Gigi nodded quickly. “I understand.”

“If his pain becomes severe again, if he develops a high fever, begins vomiting, or his condition suddenly changes, call me immediately.”

“I will,” Gigi promised.

I packed my tools while Dominic pulled his outer coat over his shoulders. “We are leaving now,” Dominic said.

I nodded. We turned toward the door. I had barely taken two steps when Boran suddenly spoke. “Wait.”

I stopped. Dominic looked back as well. Boran was staring at us. His eyes no longer carried the arrogance from earlier. Instead, there was something closer to fear.

“You cannot leave yet.” He said.

Dominic frowned. “We have finished the treatment. Then why are we staying?”

Boran swallowed and slowly pushed himself higher against the pillows. “My condition is still unstable. What if something goes wrong after you leave?”

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