Chapter 198
Chapter 198
After everyone had left, Xu Qianqian couldn't help but speak.
“My lady, if you let this go, Qiu Xiao will only try to harm you again. You may see him as a brother, but he sees you as an enemy.”
“That’s enough.”
Qiu Yao'er stopped Xu Qianqian, then studied Shen Lang closely. She hadn't held out much hope, but the female physician before her had brought an unexpected and immense joy. It was true that one should never judge a book by its cover; this person was truly remarkable. Qiu Yao'er looked at Shen Lang and said:
“Physician, I am not particularly concerned about death. But in a few hours, I have a duel, and I cannot break my promise. As I am now, I cannot move an inch, nor can I circulate my internal energy. If I do, my blood vessels will burst. Furthermore, when I open my eyes, the world spins, and I can’t suppress the overwhelming nausea. Can you make me more comfortable? If you can just help me stand, I can fight.”
Shen Lang’s hair stood on end.
‘Are you insane? You want to go to a duel in this condition? Your blood vessels could rupture. You have a hematoma in your head that’s pressing directly on a nerve, which is why the world spins when you open your eyes and you get dizzy the moment you stand. You can’t even stand properly or walk, and you want to fight in a duel?’
Shen Lang couldn't help but ask.
[Who are you dueling?]
“Zhu Hongxue.”
Hearing the name, Shen Lang was stunned again. The peerless prodigy Zhu Hongxue, disciple of the Left Master of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, and the greatest martial arts master of the State of Yue's younger generation—all these titles described him.
[Is it a duel? Or a match?]
“A duel. One that will decide victory and defeat on the spot, a battle of life and death.”
‘You she-devil, fighting a duel in this state is suicide. How much of your power do you even have left?’
“I cannot open my eyes, nor can I stand! Physician, can you make me stand? If you can, then treat me. If you cannot, then leave at once. I will send you a large sum of money.”
Qiu Yao'er's current condition was perilous, even terrifying. Firstly, her blood pressure was so high that it had reached the absolute limit her blood vessels could endure, and they could rupture at any moment. Should that happen, the most fatal outcome would be a cerebral hemorrhage, which could kill her instantly.
Furthermore, besides her brain, she had a subdural hematoma that was pressing on some of her intracranial nerves, which was why she couldn't stand and felt the world spin.
“Can you fix it? If you can, you must be quick. In four hours, I have a duel with Zhu Hongxue.”
Shen Lang nodded firmly.
[I can!]
Shen Lang was about to perform what was likely the most insane surgery since the dawn of medicine.
[Qianqian, go light some incense. I need to calm my mind!]
***
Meanwhile, in another part of Raging Tide City, the young pirate king Qiu Xiao was savagely conquering a woman. The woman was Lu Yi, the handmaiden who attended to Qiu Yao'er. She was being ravaged, screaming ceaselessly. Qiu Xiao struck her on the back and asked:
“You wench, did you do as I asked?”
Lu Yi answered in a trembling voice.
“I did, I did. I’ve already switched the incense.”
Qiu Xiao laughed menacingly.
“You know your place. That aphrodisiac incense is something I spent a fortune to create. Its effects are potent. After I sleep with Qiu Yao'er, I will be sure to reward you handsomely.”
Lu Yi asked in a quivering voice.
“Young Master, will… will you keep your promise to make me your concubine?”
“Of course, you wench.”
Qiu Xiao was a complete beast, yet Lu Yi found herself increasingly addicted to him. She didn't even know why. As a child, she had witnessed the brutal deaths of her parents. The way her mother died, in particular, had left an indelible scar on her heart. From that moment on, Lu Yi’s heart was filled with darkness. Qiu Yao'er had certainly saved her life, but she had not been able to save her soul.
Lu Yi had tried. To the women whose lives she had saved, Qiu Yao'er was like a radiant goddess. Lu Yi became her handmaiden, hoping to grasp the light Qiu Yao'er emitted, crawl out of the abyss of darkness, and start a completely new life. She wanted to become Qiu Yao'er’s family, her true sister.
But after spending much time in close contact with Qiu Yao'er, Lu Yi realized that she was a person too distant to approach. She truly was like a goddess on a high pedestal. Her light could illuminate Lu Yi and chase away her darkness, but it could never be approached and made her own. To Lu Yi, Qiu Yao'er was like a resplendent golden statue. The light she emanated was bright and warm, making her seem close, but the nearer one got, the more one discovered she was at an eternally untouchable distance.
The light she gave off was warm, but she herself was as cold as ice, her personality frigid. She protected all pitiful women, but she did not pour affection or attention onto them. It is said that those who love all are the most heartless. After deeply experiencing this, Lu Yi fell into despair and returned to gloom.
Moreover, Lu Yi didn't just want to be close to Qiu Yao'er. She didn't want to remain a mere handmaiden. She wanted to become a mistress of Raging Tide City, to be Qiu Yao'er’s sister. When one desires something for too long and cannot have it, resentment is bound to grow. Just as resentment toward Qiu Yao'er began to sprout in Lu Yi’s heart, Qiu Xiao appeared. He ravaged Lu Yi to the point where death seemed preferable, but instead, Lu Yi became addicted to him. Perhaps this was her chance to become one of the mistresses of Raging Tide City? For instance, by becoming Qiu Xiao's concubine? From then on, Lu Yi became completely subservient to Qiu Xiao, lost in the fantasy of becoming a mistress of Raging Tide City.
Lu Yi lay languidly in Qiu Xiao's arms and said:
“Young Master, why are your tastes so peculiar?”
“Haha, this isn’t the first time you’ve tasted my preferences, is it?”
“Cook Xu is already thirty-six and has borne two children. How can you sleep with someone like her?”
Qiu Xiao was taken aback. He hadn't slept with that woman yet. Of course, he wouldn't refuse if the situation arose, but there were too many beautiful women in the world, and he preferred virgins. So, even a beautiful thirty-six-year-old cook held no interest for him.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve already killed her anyway, Young Master.”
Qiu Xiao sat bolt upright and asked:
“I didn’t kill her.”
“Young Master, there’s no need to hide it from me, is there?”
*Smack!*
Qiu Xiao viciously slapped Lu Yi, sending her flying. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, but she crawled back from the floor, hugged Qiu Xiao’s thigh, and pleaded for forgiveness with a fawning smile.
“I was wrong. I misspoke. Master, please don’t be angry. Please don’t be angry.”
*Thump!*
Qiu Xiao kicked her again, sending Lu Yi flying. She coughed up a mouthful of blood but crawled back once more to caress his foot. At this, Qiu Xiao roared in fury:
“Listen here, you wench. Don’t act in front of me, and don’t try to spy on me. When I kill someone, I admit it. Don’t you dare pin something on me that I didn’t do.”
Lu Yi pressed her face against Qiu Xiao’s leg and said:
“I was wrong. I was wrong. Please don’t be angry. Please.”
“What’s this about Cook Xu being dead?”
“It was discovered that someone was poisoning Qiu Yao'er with salt, and the one who did it was Cook Xu from the kitchens. But she went missing a few days ago, and when Qiu Yao'er sent warriors to find her, her house had already been burned to the ground.”
Qiu Xiao was aghast.
“Someone poisoned Qiu Yao'er? Who? Who was it?”
Lu Yi was surprised. Could it be that Young Master Qiu Xiao really wasn't behind this? He had the most motive to murder Qiu Yao'er.
“Cook Xu had been poisoning her for a long time, but Qiu Yao'er's martial skill is so incredible that the poison is only taking effect now.”
Qiu Xiao flew into a rage.
“That wicked, vile bitch. How dare she poison my sister? I’ll tear her corpse to shreds and burn it to ash. I’ll kill her entire family. I’ll kill them all.”
Lu Yi grew even more suspicious.
‘Is Young Master Qiu Xiao acting right now? Does he actually have some familial affection for Qiu Yao'er?’
Qiu Xiao asked with deep concern.
“Is my sister okay? Is her body ruined?”
Lu Yi shook her head.
“Not at all. She’s become even more beautiful than before.”
Qiu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good, that’s good. As long as her face and body are fine, that’s all that matters. That’ll make it fun when we sleep together, make her worth tasting. Hahahaha!”
At his response, Lu Yi relaxed. Young Master Qiu Xiao was indeed worse than a beast. Only then did she feel at ease.
“Young Master, surely you aren’t sad that she might die?”
Qiu Xiao struck Lu Yi's cheek again with a powerful slap, this time drawing blood from her nose. His rage subsided, and he spoke in a cold tone.
“I told you not to test me, wench. Of course Qiu Yao'er can die. But she has to sleep with me at least a hundred times first.”
Lu Yi’s eyes darted around as she said:
“Then now is the perfect opportunity.”
“Are you certain they used the special aphrodisiac incense I prepared?”
“I can’t be certain of that, but I did successfully switch the incense. Qiu Yao'er loves the scent of incense and burns it every day.”
“Her martial skill is too strong. I have to wait until the drug has fully taken effect before I can go and sleep with her.”
Lu Yi’s eyes darted again, a hint of cruelty in her voice.
“Qiu Yao'er didn’t die, and she’s become even more beautiful. But she can’t open her eyes right now. The moment she does, the world spins, and she’ll fall the second she stands. She can’t even move, or her blood vessels might burst. So no matter what you do to her, Young Master, she won’t be able to resist.”
“How do you know?”
“The physician told me.”
Qiu Xiao said angrily.
“Physician? What physician? Did this physician touch Qiu Yao'er's body?”
“Yes. And even removed her nightgown.”
Qiu Xiao was furious.
“Where is he? I’ll kill him. I’ll skin him alive.”
“The physician is a woman.”
Delighted, Qiu Xiao slapped Lu Yi’s other cheek.
“Wench, don’t keep me in suspense! Is this female physician beautiful?”
“A peerless beauty!”
“Who is with her?”
“Xu Qianqian, that bitch. She’s just as beautiful. There are three peerless beauties in there, waiting for you to devour them, Young Master.”
In that instant, Qiu Xiao’s eyes blazed with fire.
‘Such a wonderful turn of events! This is joyous, exhilarating! I’ll skewer all three in one go. Hahahaha!’
“Xu Qianqian is Prefect Zhang Chong’s daughter-in-law. This cannot get out, so it would be best if you killed her after you’ve had your fun, Young Master.”
Qiu Xiao slapped her again with his other hand.
“You bitch, are you qualified to meddle in my affairs?”
Despite his words, Qiu Xiao was beyond excited as he dressed and headed out. Three peerless beauties awaited him. Qiu Yao'er alone was enough to make him tremble, but now there was the Prefect's daughter-in-law and a female physician too? This was absolutely thrilling! And more importantly, the impossibly strong Qiu Yao'er was completely powerless to resist. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Unable to wait any longer, Qiu Xiao ran madly toward Qiu Yao'er's chambers. But just then, someone appeared before him—a trusted subordinate of the Pirate King, Qiu Tianwei.