Chapter Twenty-One: Success or Failure Hinges on This Moment

“In any case, my face is already ruined—do as you wish.” Chen Muxue’s tone held no trace of hope; instead, it carried a kind of relieved resignation, as if all her expectations had turned to ashes.

“You must believe me. Not only will I heal the burns on your face, but I’ll also cure the strange illness inside you. None of this is beyond me!” Su Zheng tried to reassure her once more.

She let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t need to comfort me. I know my own sickness.”

Chen Muxue shook her head slightly, and not a glimmer of hope could be seen in her large eyes.

“Words are pointless. Let me take your pulse again right now and get to the bottom of your illness!” Su Zheng knew she didn’t believe him, so he simply moved to examine her pulse directly.

Back at the Chen family ancestral residence, he had only sensed a mysterious current within her body and hadn’t yet discovered how it had formed. Now, with time on his side, he resolved to investigate thoroughly.

He summoned the ancestral teachings in his mind, concentrating with bated breath, and placed his fingers on Chen Muxue’s wrist.

Time flowed silently past.

After six or seven minutes, Su Zheng finally opened his eyes. There was a faint trace of anxiety hidden in his gaze.

His examination had been more meticulous this time, and thus he understood more: there was not just one current within Chen Muxue’s body.

He now discovered another obscure, secret current!

These two currents were slowly pooling together the accumulated toxins in her body, growing ever stronger, circulating with her blood. No one could say when they might suddenly erupt.

Su Zheng pondered for a moment, then his eyes grew resolute.

He decided to take a risk: using the exquisite needle technique from the Eighteen Volumes of the Celestial Physician, he would attempt to trap those two currents and gradually disperse them.

“Muxue, take off your top. For this acupuncture, some of the points are crucial, and there can’t be the slightest error.”

His eyes were clear and calm as he spoke.

Chen Muxue lowered her head, but after a moment’s silence, she began to slowly unbutton her shirt.

She didn’t truly believe in Su Zheng’s medical skills, but thinking of him as her husband, she forced herself to suppress her shyness and did as he asked.

“I am his wife. If he wants to look, then let him look!” she repeated to herself, her hands moving unhesitatingly.

Su Zheng’s gaze remained pure. Once he entered the state required for acupuncture, not a single impure thought crossed his mind. The heart of a healer is like that of a parent—at this moment, he saw only his patient.

Chen Muxue set her shirt aside and closed her eyes, silent. Only her long lashes fluttered restlessly, betraying her deep unease.

Suddenly, she felt a surge of warmth enter a spot on her back, instantly calming her heart.

Su Zheng’s hands moved with practiced grace, sometimes twisting, sometimes lifting, as silver needles were expertly inserted into her delicate skin.

This time, his technique was even more intricate and varied than when he had previously performed the Falling Snow Drifting Flower Needle. Even with his formidable constitution, beads of sweat formed on his brow.

After about a quarter of an hour, Su Zheng finally withdrew his hands. Chen Muxue’s upper body was now densely covered in silver needles, each one inserted at a different angle and depth—an unimaginable sight to any master physician.

He waited another ten minutes or so, then carefully removed each needle, his method for withdrawing them as precise as for their insertion, with the order and force varying for each one.

Once the last needle was gone, Chen Muxue’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Su Zheng’s face was grave; everything hinged on this moment.

Soon, Chen Muxue let out a soft cry and spat out a mouthful of black blood laced with golden threads.

Su Zheng exhaled deeply, knowing his treatment had taken effect.

For now, he had stabilized the illness within her. With a few more days of acupuncture, it could be fully contained.

But to achieve a complete cure would take far more than this.

He would need to gather toxins from five different poisonous creatures, refine them through a special process, and at the moment of ingestion, guide them with silver needles to thoroughly eliminate the two hidden currents within her body.

The world is full of poisonous creatures—scorpions, centipedes, vipers, and so on—but to determine which five were needed would require extended diagnosis and careful investigation, with only a slim chance of a final answer.

Yet Su Zheng’s face was filled with determination. No matter how difficult, he would root out the hidden sickness within Chen Muxue once and for all.

“All right, put your clothes back on before you catch a chill.” Su Zheng gently helped her with her shirt and offered comforting words.

“Don’t worry. This round of acupuncture was very effective. I’ve found a way to cure you. Give me some time, and I will make you well again.”

Her face was masked by gauze, so her expression was hidden, but Chen Muxue gave a slight nod.

Just then, her phone began to ring.

She glanced at the screen: it was Chen Jianguo calling.

“Muxue, do you know what time it is? Why are you still not home? I sent you so many messages—didn’t you see them? And what about that useless man? Did he do anything to you?”

“Dad, I’m fine, really. Su Zheng was treating me just now, so I didn’t check my phone.”

“Never mind that! I asked if that good-for-nothing bullied you!”

“Dad, he’s my husband.”

“You—you! What am I supposed to say to you? Come home at once—your mother is worried!”

“It’s late. I won’t come back tonight. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

“What?! You’re going to stay with that useless man? Muxue, are you out of your mind? Wait—I’ll get your mother to talk to you!”

There was a rustling on the other end, then Lü Hongmei’s voice came through.

“Daughter, are you trying to drive me mad? Absolutely not—you must come home tonight! We can’t let that wretch take advantage! Listen to your mother—do you hear me? Come back right now!”

“If you don’t come home tonight, don’t bother calling this family yours ever again!” Chen Jianguo could be heard shouting furiously in the background.

Chen Muxue fell silent, unsure what to say, and finally turned her gaze to Su Zheng.

“I’ll go back with you. Let’s not upset your parents,” Su Zheng said with a gentle smile.

“Thank you. I appreciate your understanding.” Her tone was softer than usual.

After hanging up, Chen Muxue and Su Zheng went to her mother’s room. Seeing that his mother was already asleep, they packed a few things, gave the servants some instructions, and left the villa.

By the time Su Zheng’s car finally pulled into the Liyuan Community, it was already deep into the night.

As soon as they entered, Chen Jianguo jumped up.

He pointed at Su Zheng and shouted, “You wretched boy! Scoundrel! Curse upon our family! You’re a disaster for us all!”

Lü Hongmei hurried to help Chen Muxue sit down, then wiped her own tears. “Oh, what did we do to deserve this in our past lives? How did we end up with such a debt collector? You’ve eaten and lived off us for two years, and this is how you repay us—with betrayal!”

“Dad, Mom! What’s wrong with you? Can you please calm down?” Chen Muxue said, unable to hide her displeasure.