C4 Acute

Zhang Chuntao was speaking as she reached out to pull Shen Yong inside the house.

In reality, Shen Yong's rigorous physical training at the secret West Realm base had turned his body into something akin to iron and steel. To withstand the bitter cold of the snow-capped mountains, his constitution had been altered to endure the icy conditions. Shen Yong could lie in wait on the snowy peaks for three days and nights without food or water, without so much as stirring.

Yet, in the past five years, Shen Yong had spent much of his time in the solitude of the mountains, seldom encountering women.

"I'm okay! I'm not sick! I was just in the water tank, and I'm already cleaned off. No need for another wash!" he protested.

Feeling the warmth of Zhang Chuntao's soft hand, Shen Yong momentarily tensed and quickly withdrew his own.

"Shen Yong, there's no need to be bashful! I'm not a stranger—we're from the same village. What's there to worry about? Come on, let's go inside," Zhang Chuntao urged, taking his hand again.

"Ms. Chuntao, you just said you were too embarrassed to show your face, and now you're inviting me to bathe in your house? Aren't you worried about people seeing us?" Shen Yong asked.

"Oh, I apologize! I was just so overjoyed that your 'foolishness' was cured, I got a little carried away! Don't get the wrong idea! I am a virtuous woman who honors her duties," Zhang Chuntao replied, a blush creeping into her cheeks.

"Uh, no worries!" Shen Yong responded, his tone cool.

"Shen Yong, Zhao Dabiao caught you hiding in the water tank, and you even hit him. He's bound to spread the word! What are we going to do?" Zhang Chuntao asked, her voice tinged with panic.

Despite her apparent anxiety, Zhang Chuntao secretly hoped that Zhao Dabiao would indeed share the news. Love is in the eye of the beholder, and now, she saw Shen Yong with such fondness in every aspect.

She was eager to cling to Shen Yong, the tall, strong, and once simple-minded handsome man who was no longer simple-minded. Such a catch!

He simply couldn't be let go!

Eventually, if Shen Yong's parents couldn't cope with the village gossip, Zhang Chuntao planned to boldly step forward and insist that Shen Yong take responsibility for her.

She was poised to marry Shen Yong as if it were the natural course of things!

"Believe a bully? Who would do that? If he spreads lies, you just tell everyone he assaulted you! Then the whole village will be on your side!"

Shen Yong spoke in an even tone, "Ms. Chuntao, please bring me my military coat. It's time for me to head home."

"He's so tall and handsome, yet who knew he'd be such a wooden-head, completely clueless about romance. Hmph! One of these days, I'll have him wrapped around my finger!" Zhang Chuntao exhaled deeply, stealing a glance at Shen Yong and grumbling to herself.

But while Zhang Chuntao allowed herself such thoughts in private, she wouldn't dare voice them aloud.

"Alright! I'll fetch it for you!"

Turning on her heel, Zhang Chuntao went inside and fetched Shen Yong's military coat, assisting him as he put it on.

"Shen Yong, it's scorching out! Why would you wear such a heavy military coat? Aren't you hot?" she inquired.

"I like wearing it," Shen Yong replied, his tone detached.

No sooner had he spoken than Zhang Chuntao felt a sudden, stabbing pain in her lower abdomen, as if being jabbed by needles.

"Hiss—Ah! It's killing me!"

Zhang Chuntao gasped for air, pressing her hands firmly against her belly as she crouched down, wailing in agony.

"Ms. Chuntao! What's wrong? Your face looks terrible," Shen Yong asked, full of concern.

"My stomach is in agony! Please, help me to the bed inside," pleaded Zhang Chuntao, her face contorted in pain.

Without hesitation, Shen Yong lifted her up and carried her to the bed in the inner room.

Zhang Chuntao lay there, her body curled up, hands still clutching her abdomen, her complexion ghostly pale, eyes tightly shut as she cried out, "The pain! The pain! The pain!"

"Ms. Chuntao, judging by your symptoms, it seems you're suffering from acute cold in the uterus," Shen Yong diagnosed.

"Yes, that's what many doctors have told me before! But no matter how much medicine I take, it doesn't help. It's only getting worse!"

Zhang Chuntao spoke up, her voice heavy with concern. "It's quite serious!"

Shen Yong responded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

"Those doctors even said that my condition, Gong cold, might prevent me from having children in the future! Why is my fate so cruel? I really don't want to live another day!" Zhang Chuntao wept, tears streaming down her face.

Witnessing Zhang Chuntao's profound distress, Shen Yong intended to offer some comforting words to warm her heart.

But after racking his brain, he couldn't come up with a single reassuring phrase.

"Forget it! No point in empty platitudes! I'll just treat her. Once she's cured, the tears will stop naturally," Shen Yong thought to himself with a sigh.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, healing is about balancing the Qi and blood.

The principle is simple: if there's pain, there's no flow; if there's flow, there's no pain.

Zhang Chuntao's acute case of Palace Coldness was a classic example of blocked Qi and blood.

If he could just restore the flow, she would be completely healed, with no chance of a recurrence.

"Ms. Chuntao, I can treat your illness," Shen Yong declared.

"Do you really know how to treat people? I'm in so much pain I could die. Please, no more jokes," Zhang Chuntao implored.

"I can truly cure your illness," Shen Yong assured her with conviction.

"Really? But this illness isn't easy to treat! It's not as simple as you think! What if something goes wrong during the treatment?" Zhang Chuntao expressed her concern.

"You weren't afraid of dying just a moment ago, so why fear my treatment?" Shen Yong challenged.

After a brief hesitation, Zhang Chuntao adopted a resigned demeanor and said, "Fine! Go ahead! Treat me! I don't want to live anyway. Dying at the hands of a handsome man like you, I could at least be a flirtatious ghost!"

"Don't worry! I certainly won't be the death of you. I'm more concerned about you becoming a vengeful spirit and haunting me in the dead of night," Shen Yong joked with a smile.

"Enough! No more talk! It's frightening! Just treat me, please! The pain is so intense I feel like I need to urinate!"

Zhang Chuntao spoke with a sense of urgency in her voice.

"Alright, sit on the bed and take off your shoes! Just a few massages on the soles of your feet, and your acute uterine cold will be cured! You'll never experience pain again!" Shen Yong declared.

Shen Yong had already discovered a reflexology technique within the Immortal Doctor Secret Technique that could unblock the flow of blood and Qi throughout Zhang Chuntao's body.

"Is your healing method really that simple? Then what are we waiting for? Let's get on with the foot treatment! I'm all ready!" Zhang Chuntao eagerly said as she sat on the bed and nonchalantly kicked off her high-heeled sandals.

"Alright! Let's get started!" Shen Yong responded without further delay. He crouched down, cradling Zhang Chuntao's ankle in his right hand while his left thumb gently pressed into the arch of her foot.

In silence, Shen Yong activated the Seven-star Qi Refining Spell, channeling the green spiritual energy from the small sphere within his Dantian through his meridians, into his left hand, and finally from his thumb into Zhang Chuntao's foot.

The spiritual energy then made a full cycle through Zhang Chuntao's body, clearing any obstructions in her blood and Qi.

For good measure, Shen Yong massaged both of Zhang Chuntao's feet, and upon seeing her complexion return to a healthy glow, he withdrew his hands.

"Ms. Chuntao, are you still in pain?" Shen Yong inquired.

"Wow! It's really gone! I don't feel any pain at all! It's absolutely incredible!" exclaimed Zhang Chuntao, astonished.

"Great! I'm glad you're not in pain anymore. You're the first patient I've successfully treated!" Shen Yong said with a hint of pride.

"Shen Yong, you're amazing! Your hands may be a bit chilly, but after your massage, I feel warmth spreading throughout my entire body!" Zhang Chuntao expressed her gratitude, then hopped off the bed, wrapped her arms around Shen Yong, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Ms. Chuntao, why did you kiss me? Now my face is all wet!" Shen Yong, taken aback by her forwardness, wiped his face with a look of distaste.

At his reaction, Zhang Chuntao's enthusiasm cooled as if doused with cold water, and the fiery excitement in her heart was instantly snuffed out.

"Sorry about that! I got a little carried away just now—don't read too much into it!" Zhang Chuntao said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You see, I'm so strapped for cash that I can't offer you any money. Consider that kiss a moment ago as payment for your medical services! And if that's not enough, well, I guess I'll have to offer you my house instead!"