Qiang Zi let out a soft breath, having just gotten used to the pain from the silver needle, when Elder Hua said, "Get ready, the next needle is coming."
As soon as Elder Hua finished speaking, a silver needle plunged into Qiang Zi's back.
The moment the silver needle pierced Qiang Zi's back, his face turned incredibly pale. Yu Dao Hen had intended to tease Qiang Zi a bit, but seeing his complexion, he realized something was wrong.
"Qiang Zi, can you handle it?" Yu Dao Hen asked urgently.
Qiang Zi nodded, his voice growing weaker, "It's fine, I can manage."
Elder Hua, standing behind Qiang Zi, had a grave expression and a furrowed brow. "Fellow Daoist Xiao Qiang, hold on. The poison is coming out."
Elder Hua hadn't expected the poison to be expelled so quickly. Normally, it would take at least three needles for the poison to be drawn out.
Qiang Zi's fists clenched with a cracking sound, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Qiang Zi."
Before Yu Dao Hen could finish, Qiang Zi nodded at him, "Don't worry, I can bear it."
Yu Dao Hen nodded and said no more. Qiang Zi couldn't afford to be distracted now.
Another silver needle was inserted into Qiang Zi's back. The purple discoloration around the scars on Qiang Zi's pale face began to dissipate, while the area around the inserted needles turned pitch black.
Yu Dao Hen watched as Qiang Zi's consciousness began to drift, his eyelids growing heavy.
"Elder Hua, how many more?" Yu Dao Hen asked.
"Seven," Elder Hua replied, his face grim.
Elder Hua hadn't anticipated that the poison had already infiltrated the internal organs. Even if Fellow Daoist Xiao Qiang managed to endure these seven needles, his chances of survival were likely only thirty percent.
"Master Yu, please light a cigarette for me," Qiang Zi's voice was very faint.
Yu Dao Hen walked over, found a cigarette from Qiang Zi's bag, and placed it in his mouth.
Qiang Zi held the cigarette between his teeth, and Yu Dao Hen lit it with a lighter. Qiang Zi took a gentle puff and exhaled slowly, the pressure on his face seeming to lessen considerably.
"The last one."
As Elder Hua spoke, he held the silver needle and inserted it into Qiang Zi's back. A stream of black energy was released along with the needle, and black blood flowed out.
Elder Hua pulled out all the needles and let out a sigh of relief. "The poison has been expelled."
Qiang Zi's eyes narrowed into slits, and the cigarette in his hand had burned down to its butt, still emitting smoke.
Qiang Zi looked at Yu Dao Hen, "I told you, I, Zhang Xiao Qiang, have a strong life..."
Before Qiang Zi could finish, his eyes closed, and he fainted. Yu Dao Hen quickly supported him, then placed his fingers on Qiang Zi's nose, his face instantly turning extremely grim.
"He's not breathing!"
Elder Hua's expression changed. He felt Qiang Zi's pulse with one hand and pinched his philtrum with the other. Yu Dao Hen hurriedly rummaged through his backpack for something.
Yu Dao Hen pulled out a bottle of red liquid. Elder Hua frowned upon seeing the red liquid in the glass bottle, moved Qiang Zi's mouth aside, opened the bottle, and poured its entire contents into Qiang Zi's mouth.
Yu Dao Hen's face was solemn. This was the last hope. Before they left, that fellow had a premonition that Qiang Zi might not withstand the treatment and had given him a bit more of his own blood.
Yu Dao Hen and Elder Hua held their breaths. After several seconds, Elder Hua felt Qiang Zi's pulse again and sighed, shaking his head.
Yu Dao Hen stood frozen, disbelieving. If even that fellow's blood couldn't save Qiang Zi, then there was truly no hope.
After a few more seconds, Yu Dao Hen placed his fingers on Qiang Zi's nose again, but there was still no reaction.
Yu Dao Hen, unwilling to give up, felt Qiang Zi's pulse once more. Elder Hua sighed and shook his head, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Qiang is already..."
Yu Dao Hen shook his head, "Elder Hua, is there truly no other way?"
Elder Hua shook his head and sighed, "Little Yu, it's over. Medical skills are not divine powers; they cannot bring the dead back to life."
Yu Dao Hen remained silent. The dead cannot be brought back to life; life and death are cycles that cannot be changed.
"Little Yu, please accept my condolences," Elder Hua patted Yu Dao Hen's shoulder.
Yu Dao Hen nodded. With Qiang Zi gone, Su Qing would have to find her own way back to life.
Yu Dao Hen carried Qiang Zi into the house and laid him down before coming back out.
Yu Dao Hen sat on a chair, while Elder Hua sat beside him in silence, simply keeping him company.
"What do you plan to do with Fellow Daoist Xiao Qiang's body?" Elder Hua finally asked after a period of silence.
Yu Dao Hen simply lowered his head and grunted.
After more than a minute, Yu Dao Hen finally spoke, "I plan to cremate Qiang Zi's body and send the ashes to his family."
Although Yu Dao Hen had never met Qiang Zi's family, he had heard Qiang Zi mention them.
Elder Hua nodded and said nothing more. It was best to let Yu Dao Hen have his moment of solitude.
Elder Hua stood up and patted Yu Dao Hen's shoulder, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences."
Yu Dao Hen tried to force a smile but couldn't. In the end, he just grunted.
Yu Dao Hen sat there, staring blankly at the ceiling.
He remained seated and lost in thought until noon. Elder Hua did not disturb him.
When they arrived, the two of them were laughing and talking, but now Qiang Zi was...
Just as Yu Dao Hen was lost in thought, his phone suddenly rang.
After a long while, Yu Dao Hen finally took out his phone to check it.
(How is it on your end?)