Drawing the Poison

1,162 words

Han Li silently complained, but to maintain his image as a divine doctor, he had to put on a composed face, smiling without speaking.

His calm demeanor fooled everyone present into believing the pill’s effects were exactly as he had anticipated, which only deepened their admiration for him.

Sect Master Ma laughed heartily, a trace of smugness in his smile, as if Han Li was already his man. Perhaps he believed that, for the time being, he was still the most likely person to win Han Li’s allegiance, which was why he laughed so freely.

But soon, the situation changed.

“Not good!” Zhang Xiuer cried out in alarm.

“That black aura on Uncle’s face seems to be rising again.”

These words startled everyone. A few of the more impatient people hurriedly crowded around the bed for a closer look, the elder Zhao among them.

Han Li was slightly surprised when he heard this, but he did not push his way through the crowd to the bedside like the others.

However, Lady Li was an observant and tactful woman. She quickly scolded the two juniors, making them step back from the bed to leave room for Han Li, the divine doctor, to examine the patient.

Only after space had opened up before the bed did Han Li unhurriedly step forward and begin his careful observation.

After about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, Han Li finally confirmed that this was not a resurgence of black aura. It was merely a trace of residual poison that could not be completely cleansed, lingering on the face as a faint, barely perceptible black shadow.

Having reached this conclusion, Han Li’s eyes flicked slightly toward Zhang Xiuer. He felt the girl was making a fuss over nothing.

This slightly reproachful look went unnoticed by the others, but Li Feiyu, who had been staring at Zhang Xiuer the whole time, caught it. He shot Han Li a glare in return, clearly offended that Han Li had slighted the goddess of his heart.

Han Li was speechless. It seemed that Li Feiyu, now deep in the throes of infatuation, had definitively prioritized love over friendship.

He stopped bothering with this fool who had been addled by a pretty face and turned his attention back to Elder Li’s condition.

Aside from the lingering black aura on his face, the poisonous spots on his body had grown to the size of soybeans and then stopped changing, no longer fading. The man himself remained unconscious due to the residual poison.

Seeing this, Han Li knew that the contingency plan he had prepared would be needed. He was relieved that he would not have to struggle to cover up his earlier claims; instead, it would serve perfectly to demonstrate his foresight.

“Fetch a basin of clean water,” Han Li said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

This time, it was not Zhang Xiuer who was sent. Ma Rong volunteered and scurried out of the room.

Han Li turned back and addressed Elder Qian and Sect Master Ma gravely.

“I will need your help for the next step. Use your internal energy to force the remaining poison to a few specific acupoints. Then I will use a golden needle bloodletting technique to draw the poisoned blood out. Is this within your capabilities?”

Sect Master Ma’s eyes flickered uncertainly, but he still agreed. Elder Qian gave a cold, curt nod.

“Why the two of them? Am I not good enough?” Elder Zhao was displeased. He felt Han Li was looking down on him.

Han Li sighed inwardly. He knew he would have to explain himself to this stubborn old man.

“Elder Zhao, your Mixed Harmony Palm focuses primarily on external techniques, does it not? When it comes to the purity of internal energy, I believe Sect Master Ma and Elder Qian are more suited,” Han Li said gently, without impatience.

“This…”

The other man was left speechless by Han Li’s soft rebuff.

Han Li stopped paying attention to this muddle-headed old man, who was now looking somewhat chagrined. He turned to the others in the room and spoke in a commanding tone.

“Everyone except Sect Master Ma and Elder Qian should leave for now. The technique I am about to use to detoxify Elder Li is not suitable for an audience. Furthermore, the procedure requires absolute quiet and must not be disturbed.”

This statement stunned the people in the room. But Lady Li understood first. She bowed respectfully and said, “I entrust my husband’s life to you all.” Then, showing good sense, she was the first to leave the room.

With Lady Li taking the lead, the others, whether willing or not, had to file out one by one and return to the main hall.

After Ma Rong brought in a basin of clear water, Han Li immediately drove him out and tightly closed the door, leaving the bewildered crowd staring at each other in the hallway.

Time passed, quarter-hour by quarter-hour. No one knew how long it had been, but the bedroom door remained shut. Not a single sound could be heard from within.

This unnatural stillness made the waiting crowd restless and anxious. A shadow of unease crept silently into everyone’s heart. Even Lady Li, who had maintained a composed face until now, began to fidget, not to mention the hot-tempered Elder Zhao, who had already circled the main hall countless times.

Just as everyone in the main hall had completely lost their patience, there was a creak, and the bedroom door opened from the inside.

Everyone’s eyes snapped to the door as if by reflex. The atmosphere grew heavy and tense.

Han Li walked out slowly, a look of exhaustion on his face. Seeing the grave expressions of the crowd, he gave a slight smile.

“It’s fine. The residual poison has been completely expelled. Let Elder Li rest for one night, and he will wake up on his own tomorrow.”

Han Li said this with great confidence. In truth, even he had not expected the detoxification to go so smoothly, without a single hitch.

When Lady Li and the others heard this, their faces lit up with joy, sweeping away the oppressive mood of moments before. A few of the more impatient people were about to rush inside, but Han Li reached out a hand to stop them.

“Elder Li’s body is very weak right now. It’s not good to have a crowd of noisy people in there. Furthermore, Sect Master Ma and Elder Qian have expended a great deal of their vital energy to expel the poison and are currently regulating their breaths. I think it’s best if only a few people go in, ideally just the lady herself,” Han Li said gravely to Lady Li.

Hearing this good news, Lady Li had no objection at all. She quickly nodded her consent and, not even stopping to thank Han Li, hurriedly entered the bedroom alone.

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Reading Guide Decoding

The Doctor's Mask and the Lovesick Friend

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

This chapter offers a grounded look at how “internal energy” (neili / 内力) is treated in a martial arts context as distinct from a cultivator’s spiritual energy. Elder Qian and Sect Master Ma are asked to use their neili to guide the poison to specific acupoints—a technique rooted in traditional Chinese medical theory, where qi flows through meridians and can be manipulated for therapeutic or martial purposes. The “golden needle bloodletting” (金针放血) is another real practice from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), used to drain pathogenic factors like toxins or stagnant blood. In the world of xianxia, such mortal-world medical techniques are often shown as crude but effective precursors to the more fantastic healing arts of cultivators, reinforcing the layered nature of this universe’s knowledge systems.

Chapter Overview

This chapter is a masterclass in Han Li’s social survival tactics, where the battlefield shifts from blades and poison to reputation, patience, and bedside manner. Having successfully suppressed Elder Li’s poison, he now faces the trickier task of maintaining his “divine doctor” mask while dealing with the dynamics of power, suspicion, and one very lovesick friend. What begins as a straightforward detox session quickly reveals the subtle pressures of being seen as a valuable asset—every faction wants to claim him, and one wrong move could turn admiration into resentment. Han Li navigates this with his signature blend of calm authority and calculated silence, but even he can’t control everything, especially when a young girl’s sharp eyes and Li Feiyu’s protective instincts throw a wrench into the proceedings.

Key Plot Points

A false alarm from Zhang Xiuer (her cry of “black aura rising”) creates a moment of tension, but Han Li quickly recognizes it as only a trace of residual poison, not a relapse. This subtly undermines the girl’s credibility in the eyes of the reader, if not the characters.
Li Feiyu catches Han Li’s reproachful glance at Zhang Xiuer and glares back, prioritizing his crush over his friendship. The narrator dryly notes that infatuation has made Li Feiyu’s brain simple, adding a rare touch of wry humor to the otherwise serious atmosphere.
To fully remove the poison, Han Li enlists Sect Master Ma and Elder Qian, using a golden needle bloodletting method that requires pure internal energy. This sidesteps the hot-tempered Elder Zhao, who takes offense at being excluded.
Han Li clears the room, citing the need for quiet and the confidentiality of his technique. This practical move also gives him full control over the procedure and prevents any interference or scrutiny.
After a long, silent wait that stretches the nerves of everyone in the main hall, Han Li emerges with the news of success. He instructs that only Lady Li should enter, citing the patient’s weakness and the need for calm.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a delightful breather after the high tension of the poison crisis, but don’t let the calm fool you—it’s packed with character work. Watch how Han Li handles the politics of the room: he doesn’t argue with Elder Zhao, he gently outranks him with logic. He doesn’t panic at the false alarm; he observes, concludes, and moves on. And his decision to clear the room isn’t just medical prudence—it’s a power move, ensuring he remains the sole arbiter of the patient’s condition. Meanwhile, Li Feiyu’s brief, jealous glare is a hilarious reminder that even hardened martial artists turn into teenagers around their crushes. It’s a small but precious moment that humanizes him before the story inevitably throws more darkness their way. If you’ve been enjoying the slower, social-chess side of this arc, savor this chapter—it’s the calm before the next storm.