Shen Wan Ni blocked Shen Ruoxi's path, her eyes scrutinizing, "When did you learn medical skills?"
Shen Ruoxi replied with a faint expression, "What business is it of yours when I learned medical skills?"
As long as she remained steady, nothing would collapse.
Shen Wan Ni's face turned very ugly. Suddenly, she steadied herself and spoke with certainty, "You are not Shen Ruoxi, are you?"
Shen Ruoxi's heart sank. Had she been exposed?
No, how could Shen Wan Ni, a native of ancient times, know about something as unbelievable as transmigration?
She was bluffing her!
Wait, why would Shen Wan Ni ask that?
She was almost fooled by her; that question was highly suspicious!
The only explanation was—
Shen Ruoxi sized up Shen Wan Ni from head to toe. She still favored wearing light green clothes, her long hair flowed, her face was sweet yet very immature, but her eyes were exceptionally mature...
She must have guessed correctly. Shen Wan Ni was not a transmigrator; otherwise, her temperament would have changed drastically like hers. Since it hadn't changed, it could only be rebirth.
Shen Ruoxi took the initiative, "Cousin, I don't know what you mean by asking that, but I feel like you are quite different from before. Is it just my illusion?"
Shen Wan Ni's heart tightened. Had Shen Ruoxi noticed something?
Shen Wan Ni used anger to cover her guilt, "What nonsense are you spouting? How am I different? Shen Ruoxi, stop changing the subject; this is about you right now."
"I'm fine." Shen Ruoxi was frank. "Cousin, our two families have separated. What I do has nothing to do with you anymore. Please do not bother me again in the future."
Shen Wan Ni angrily retorted, "Shen Ruoxi, you are a menace! Why don't you just get married?"
Shen Ruoxi smiled faintly, "I originally thought you were very kind, but now I see I overestimated you." After speaking, she left her spot.
Shen Wan Ni stomped her foot and glared at Shen Ruoxi's retreating back, "Shen Ruoxi, I must find a way to marry you off!"
...
Qinghe County.
After parting ways with Shen Wan Ni, Shen Ruoxi turned and headed toward the County Town.
The deadline to repay the money was in two days. Gathering ten taels of silver in the village was basically impossible; she could only try her luck in the County Town.
"Ah—"
On the bustling street, a carriage was charging forward uncontrollably; the situation was critical.
The coachman shouted hoarsely and in panic, "Get out of the way, get out of the way—"
Suddenly, another carriage approached from the opposite direction.
"Bang bang—" The two carriages collided, startling the surrounding people into screaming. Some of the more timid ones huddled together.
The coachman was thrown out, hitting the ground and immediately passing out.
The carriage overturned sideways, shattering into pieces. The occupants tumbled out: a young man and a young pregnant woman who looked to be seven or eight months along.
The young man's head was covered in blood, looking terrifying, but he ignored it and crawled toward the pregnant woman beside him, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Madam, Madam, how are you?"
He shouted in alarm, "Quickly call a Doctor, quickly call a Doctor!"
"Hold on, someone quickly go ask the Doctor," a kind person immediately ran toward the nearby Jishitang.
The pregnant woman had already fainted. Not only was her head bleeding from the impact, but a conspicuous pool of bright red blood was spreading beneath her. It seemed the fetus in her belly was likely doomed.
The carriage coming from the opposite direction was not moving as fast and the collision was not as severe; it only overturned sideways. The man inside was tossed around violently, feeling dizzy and disoriented, but otherwise unharmed.
The young man lifted his wife to lean against him, anxious and worried, "Madam, hold on, just a little longer..."
"The Doctor is here, the Doctor is here!" A white-haired Doctor was pulled through the crowd by a kind person to stand before the pregnant woman and the young man. "You move aside quickly and let the Doctor save your Madam."
The young man pleaded, "Doctor, please, you must save my wife. She's fine, she just fainted. Please save her, I will pay any amount, please save her."
The Doctor did not answer the young man. He squatted down and took the pregnant woman's pulse. After a moment, he frowned, withdrew his hand, and shook his head, "Prepare for the worst!"
The young man's lips trembled as he begged, "Doctor, I beg you to save my wife. She is fine, she just fainted. Please save her, whatever the reward, I beg you to save her."
"I am powerless!" The Doctor shook his head and walked away, carrying his Medicine Box.
At this moment, the pool of blood beneath the pregnant woman had doubled in size. Considering how little blood a body holds, it was clear she could not be saved.
Everyone watching the scene felt it was a pity. She was about to become a mother, only to meet such a sudden disaster and lose her life. Even some kind-hearted people couldn't help but have their eyes redden.
Another Doctor was brought over. "Doctor, please quickly examine his Madam."
This Doctor was in his forties. He also took the pregnant woman's pulse.
The young man stared intently at the Doctor, his eyes bloodshot, his nerves taut, looking as if he would collapse upon hearing any bad news.
The Doctor sighed, then shook his head, "She still has a breath left. Say your goodbyes properly."
Saying that, he took out a Silver Needle and pierced the pregnant woman's Renzhong acupoint. The pregnant woman groaned in pain and woke up, her voice weak as a thread, "Husband..."
Tears streamed down the young man's face. He cried out in pain, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have taken you out for an outing, shouldn't have taken you out. I should be the one dying. I harmed you, I harmed our child, I'm sorry..."
Large drops of tears fell from his eyes. His grief was overwhelming, moving all who heard it.
The pregnant woman, tears welling in her eyes, gently stroked her belly and said, "My only regret in this life is not seeing our child born."
The young man kept apologizing and even slapped himself twice, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
"Husband, I don't blame you..." The pregnant woman's eyes slowly glazed over. She closed her eyes, her arm dropped, and the last tear fell.
"Madam, I'll take you home..." The young man wept as he held his Madam.
"Wait!" A crisp voice came from behind the crowd. The crowd quickly parted to reveal a slender figure, elegant and refined.
Shen Ruoxi hurried to the pregnant woman's side, took a Silver Needle from the Middle-aged Doctor's Medicine Box, her expression serious. After a dazzling flurry of needling, eighteen Silver Needles were placed in eighteen major acupoints on the pregnant woman. She lightly brushed her palm over the needles, causing them all to vibrate. Then the pregnant woman coughed lightly and awoke.
"Ah! She came back from the dead!"
"That's amazing! She's snatching someone back from King Yama!"
"Who is this Young Lady? That needling technique is incredible!"
The surrounding crowd was astonished, their eyes filled with wonder!
"Returning Yang Needle Technique!" the Middle-aged Doctor exclaimed. "I once read about the Returning Yang Needle technique in an incomplete ancient book. I thought it was a legend, but I never expected the Returning Yang Needle to actually exist."
Shen Ruoxi raised her clear eyes to scan the Doctor, then took the pregnant woman's pulse. "She suffered a blow to her abdomen, has a fracture elsewhere, and multiple internal injuries. If not handled properly, it could cause secondary damage. Go buy a Quilt, and have people carry your Madam home."