As Zi Lingling entered East Street, she saw a young boy, dressed as a servant, crying and wailing on the ground. In his arms, he held a handsome man who had fainted.
The man held in the boy's arms had a pale face, and his forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.
Although there were many onlookers around, apart from pointing and gossiping, not a single person offered any assistance.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she quickly walked forward, taking the unconscious man's wrist to feel his pulse.
"Miss, please save my young master. Wang Cai is willing to be your beast of burden, sob..."
Zi Lingling detested being disturbed when she was saving someone.
She glared at Wang Cai and said coldly, "If you don't want your young master to die, then shut up!"
Wang Cai, who was weeping, stopped abruptly at her reprimand.
Zi Lingling examined him carefully and asked, "Your young master often feels chest tightness and shortness of breath, sometimes difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, even chest pain, right?"
Wang Cai nodded but, remembering her words, dared not make a sound.
Zi Lingling's brow furrowed. It seemed her diagnosis was correct. This man suffered from "xiong bi zheng," which modern people called heart disease.
The man's breathing was growing weaker, and he was showing symptoms of sudden death. If this continued, even an immortal could not save him in half an incense stick's time. Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was necessary as soon as possible.
Zi Lingling dared not delay. She straddled the man, kneeling on the ground.
"Shameless!"
Someone, no one knew who, was the first to curse. The crowd erupted, pointing and gossiping about Zi Lingling.
"Whose daughter is this, so unrestrained!"
"Is she saving someone, or taking advantage of the situation?"
"What kind of behavior is this in broad daylight?"
"She's truly a disgrace to us women!"
"Young man, quickly stop her! Don't let this kind of woman ruin your young master's reputation!"
...
Zi Lingling ignored them, layering her hands on the man's chest at the Tanzhong acupoint, and began to press forcefully.
Wang Cai's face showed a struggle, but he quickly gritted his teeth and said, "Don't spread rumors. I believe this young lady is sincerely trying to save my young master!"
Zi Lingling glanced at Wang Cai with appreciation, her hands continuing their work. She said, "You trust me this much?"
Wang Cai nodded. "Although I've never seen you save someone like this before, based on how accurately you described my young master's symptoms, I, Wang Cai, believe you!"
"Good! Don't blame me if your young master dies later."
Zi Lingling wanted to see how much faith this servant named Wang Cai had in her.
"This..."
Wang Cai's face showed a flicker of struggle again, but he finally hardened his heart and said, "I believe you, miss!"
The onlookers began to earnestly persuade Wang Cai again.
"Young man, don't be deceived by this woman!"
"Yes, I've lived in Dark Night City my whole life and have never heard of a female doctor like her!"
"That's right, that's right. Finding a proper medical clinic is the right thing to do."
"This woman looks somewhat familiar..."
...
Zi Lingling scanned the crowd with a half-smile, then said to Wang Cai, "Alright! Since you trust me so much, I promise to return a lively young master to you!"
Then, she focused all her attention on the compressions, ignoring the surrounding chatter. Her pressing frequency was fast but regular.
Soon, she began to pant. After half an incense stick's time, Zi Lingling was covered in sweat, and her hands were almost numb.
Xue Ying watched her weary state, her heart aching. But as she couldn't help, she could only continuously wipe her sweat.
Wang Cai had hesitated to speak several times. But as time ticked by, he could no longer bear it and cautiously asked, "Miss, why hasn't my young master woken up yet?"
At this, the onlookers seemed to find an opportunity and began to murmur again.
"I knew it, this girl is a fraud. Who saves people like this?"
"It's been so long and he's still not awake, this is clearly disregarding human life!"
"Do you even know how to save people? If not, hurry and get out of the way, don't delay this young master's condition."
"Exactly, a person's life is at stake. If you don't know how, stop pretending."
"Don't think you can disregard human life just because you're good-looking."
"Young man, don't let her continue fooling around. Hurry and find a proper doctor!"
...
Zi Lingling paid them no mind. She pondered in her heart, "This won't do. If I can't save him, I'll be exhausted."
The time for external chest compressions was almost up. What needed to be done now was to clear the airway, restore his breathing, and then use acupuncture to stimulate his nerves to make him wake up.
She asked Xue Ying to help lift the man's head slightly. She then placed her left hand on his forehead and, with her right index and middle fingers joined, forcefully lifted his chin.
A pool of foul-smelling, thick phlegm flowed from the man's mouth. Wang Cai, with sharp eyes and quick hands, quickly helped to wipe it away. The man's breathing also began to gradually recover.
Zi Lingling silently counted the time. After five breaths, she quickly pulled out a hairpin from her head, aimed at the acupoint, and forcefully inserted it.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The man, who had been unconscious, coughed violently and slowly opened his eyes.
When he saw the woman before him, a look of stunned beauty appeared in his eyes.
His eyes were as clear as water, which made Zi Lingling momentarily lose herself.
The man struggled to get up but felt something pressing on his abdomen.
His gaze drifted downwards to his abdomen. When he saw Zi Lingling's posture, his face instantly flushed crimson. "Miss, you..."
Zi Lingling followed his gaze and realized she was still straddling the man.
"Cough, cough!"
She quickly jumped down, coughed lightly, and said, "Young master, please do not misunderstand!"
"Young master, you're awake! Wang Cai was so scared!"
Wang Cai's voice was filled with the joy of recovering what was lost. He didn't even bother to wipe away the tears on his face as he quickly helped his young master up.
"What's going on? Cough, cough, cough!"
The man looked at the crowd of onlookers and frowned.
"Young master, you fainted again just now. It was this lady who saved you."
Wang Cai looked at Zi Lingling, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Mm."
The man gave a soft hum and then focused his gaze on Zi Lingling.
He pushed away Wang Cai, who was supporting him, and offered Zi Lingling a gentle smile, bowing and saying, "Thank you, miss, for saving my life!"
His voice was elegant and graceful, like a spring breeze.
"It was just a small effort, young master need not worry! Since young master is fine now, I shall take my leave!"
Zi Lingling returned the bow indifferently and intended to leave with Xue Ying. She only saved people according to her mood and didn't need anyone's gratitude.
"Miss! Please wait!"