Chapter Seven: The Virtues of the Past Life
Su Li's performance once again satisfied him. In the eyes of the old man, this young disciple not only possessed a kind heart but, more importantly, knew how to measure his actions and recognize when to advance and retreat. He would not blindly seek help under the guise of kindness. Such a disposition is commendable and might indeed be very suitable for the path of cultivation
Moreover, if Su Li truly demonstrates exceptional medical skills upon his arrival, the old Daoist would then suspect whether this young man has been possessed by some ancient being
"That is natural; this is something that even cultivators above the Qi Refinement stage can use, and it has always been a hot commodity in the market," the old Daoist said in a calm tone, then added, "But you need not worry; this is something I drew myself, and it can be made available to you at any time if needed"
Thank you, my lord. " Su Li suddenly raised his head, revealing an unprecedentedly sincere smile
However, Guozhao did not believe that Su Li had any good solutions. He took out a paper talisman and said: "This is a Return to Origin talisman, which can heal both internal and external injuries and replenish lost vital energy. With this talisman, it may not bring him back to life, but at least it can save his life... Do you think we should use it on him?"
At that moment, Su Li quickly rushed to the side of the man who had not yet breathed his last, crouched down, and whispered in his ear: "Hold on, I will see if I can save you..."
I would like to give it a try, please grant me this request, my lord. Su Li said with his head lowered, still somewhat stubborn.
The old man looked at Su Li, who was displaying such a stubborn demeanor for the first time in front of him, and felt a slight stir in his heart. He had originally intended to be angry, but then he recalled that he had come out this time without any specific goal, merely searching for that 'sliver of hope' in a haphazard manner. So why not give this young child a chance
Su Li widened his eyes, watching the miraculous scene unfold. The liquid in the man's abdominal cavity was suddenly completely drained, revealing a large expanse of white intestines inside. Su Li was extremely envious of the old Daoist's skill; the debridement effect was outstanding. If he could perform this, he would no longer have to worry about cleaning wounds during surgery.
Su Li looked at the man whose eyes radiated boundless hope and vitality, then glanced at the calm old Taoist. Finally, he shook his head and said: "No, the master has already intervened to help us, and that is a great kindness. I should not ask for more. As for this person's injury, let me give it a try."
Thus, when another man, whose belly had been slashed open and whose intestines were spilling onto the ground, appeared before him, leaning against a tree trunk waiting to die, Su Li, who had reached the limit of his endurance, suddenly reached out and grabbed the silently advancing solitary boat.
The Tianlie Mountain Range effectively separates the Northern Region of the Western Qin from the territory, making it difficult for the Hu people and their troops to traverse this great mountain
Su Li gritted her teeth slightly, but still raised her head to look at the old priest and said, "Sir, I would like to help this person, is that alright?"
Su Li scratched his head, expressing his frustration, and began to rummage through his bag to see what could be of use. However, if the intestines were severed, he still had a way to handle such a situation
How strange, the old man thought. This child of his had always been very sensible, never disturbing him while he was in deep thought. Since entering the northern region, the solitary rower had been burdened with heavy thoughts and constantly muttering to himself, remaining indifferent and unfeeling towards the frequent deaths occurring around him.
Su Li, upon seeing this, felt as if he had just awakened from a dream. He quickly approached Gu Zhaozi with a lowered gaze and said: "I request your assistance, my lord."
Su Li was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then asked: "Sir, is this talisman very valuable?"
So he took a deep breath and said: "Then you should give it a try, remember, you only have a quarter of an hour."
Nonsense! The old man said somewhat impatiently: "With so many dying people along the way, how much time do you have to treat each one individually? It would be better to give them a swift end, as that is the greatest help."
Thus, the southern region of the mountain is the most prosperous area and the most fertile land of Western Qin, while the northern region of the mountain is a place of chaos, rampant banditry, and a fierce local culture... You can never know whether the village where you are camping is a den of horse bandits or an ordinary village
"Foolish child, you don't even know what to do yet you say you want to help him." Gu Zhaozi smiled instead upon seeing Su Li's helplessness, thinking that this was exactly how an eight-year-old child should behave
"Very well, if you wish to give it a try, then come and do it yourself." The solitary rower, upon hearing this, stepped aside without a word, but in reality, he secretly held onto the 'Return to Origin Talisman,' ready to activate it at any moment
The Tianlie Mountain, where the Sword Sect is located, is situated within the territory of the great northwest nation of Xiqin. At this moment, Guzhaozi continues to head north with Su Li, and not only is the climate becoming increasingly cold, but the land also appears more desolate. The development direction of Xiqin is towards the southeast, as the northern borders must endure the constant invasions of the nomadic Hu tribes, remaining in a state of defense and warfare throughout the year.
In that moment of despair, a glimmer of hope blossomed, profoundly touching the heart of the solitary rower... This severely injured man found hope, even if it was just a sliver, but what about him? In this time when the prospect of achieving the Golden Core seems bleak and life is drawing to a close, where then is hope?
Su Li no longer paid attention to the condition of his master. When he approached the man, he was suddenly taken aback and at a loss for what to do. He was indeed a very good surgeon, but when he found himself without any sterilization tools, surgical instruments, or anything at all, he suddenly did not know what else he could do.
However, after witnessing numerous conflicts, one inevitably encounters injuries and death... After nearly a month in the northern region, eight lives had perished before Su Li. This gradually led him to become more silent. In his previous life, he was a doctor, a healer who died from exhaustion on the operating table! Therefore, he could not accept the feeling of life slipping away before him, as he believed that if he could intervene, perhaps he could save those lives.
"That's it, I'll help you this once, so pay attention!" The old man, for reasons unknown, changed his mind and directly used a talisman, applying it near the man's wound
Even Su Li, who possesses memories from two lifetimes, finds his horizons broadened by such a scene. He cannot imagine how the people living on this land manage to survive. It has been proven that they always have their own set of survival rules. In short, it can be said that there are almost no good people here
It is evident that this man does not wish to die, not at all. Therefore, when he hears that someone is willing to try to save him, a glimmer of hope suddenly shines in his eyes. He may not even know who is speaking to him, but the instinct for survival compels him to seize every bit of opportunity for life
The solitary boatman and Su Li journeyed onward without encountering any ill-fated bandits. It is hard to imagine that in this chaotic land devoid of order, there exists an unspoken understanding: solitary travelers such as Taoists, monks, as well as women and children should not be provoked. At this moment, the solitary boatman and Su Li represented two of these categories—Taoist and child—thus enjoying a rare tranquility, with no one daring to bring misfortune upon them.
Seeing Su Li lost in thought, the old priest irritably remarked again: "This person has had his intestines severed in three places, what can you do to save him?"
Seeing this smile, the old Taoist felt his mood lift considerably for some reason. He then stood by, watching Su Li walk step by step towards the man leaning against the tree stump. In that moment, the old Taoist suddenly felt a daze. He looked at the severely injured man, whose face was filled with despair as he awaited the arrival of death, and couldn't help but think, isn't that just himself?