Xu Yafei's body trembled slightly as if she'd received an electric shock, and her face instantly turned crimson. She then felt a warm current originating from where Zhao Dong's hand rested, like a stream of hot air coursing through her body.
A look of shock appeared in her beautiful eyes. "What's happening?"
"Don't move," Zhao Dong said, his expression growing solemn. He sensed something was wrong and transmitted a wisp of Spiritual Energy into her body to quietly investigate.
Xu Yafei looked at his face, bit her lip gently, and let down her guard, allowing him to probe her condition.
After a moment, Zhao Dong withdrew his hand. "You're poisoned," he said in a low voice. "Did something happen to you in the past?"
Xu Yafei looked at him in astonishment. "You can tell I have poison in my body?!"
Zhao Dong took a deep breath. "And it's not just any poison. It's Bone Corrosive Poison!"
Xu Yafei gazed at Zhao Dong, a forlorn smile on her face. "I didn't expect you to be able to tell. That's right, I've been poisoned for two years."
"Bone Corrosive Poison is a slow-acting poison. Your blood and bones are already showing signs of corrosion. This toxin isn't something an ordinary person could get their hands on. Who did you offend back then?"
Xu Yafei shook her head gently. "Don't ask. It has nothing to do with you. I know this is one of the world's most peculiar poisons, almost impossible to cure. Hong Wu found many doctors to treat me, but they all said it was incurable."
Zhao Dong looked at Xu Yafei, hesitant to say what he knew. He had just discovered that the toxin had already spread throughout her entire body. If this continued, she would perish in as little as one month, or at most, within half a year.
He sighed softly. "This poison must flare up often, causing pain that's beyond what most people can endure. You must have been living in great pain."
"I'm used to it. I just have to endure it, and it eventually passes. Besides," she added, "maybe these painful days will be over soon anyway."
Although Xu Yafei said this with a smile, Zhao Dong could still see the unwillingness and regret in her eyes.
Zhao Dong suddenly asked, "What if I told you I could cure this poison? Would you believe me?"
Xu Yafei glanced at Zhao Dong and smiled faintly. "I wouldn't. Hong Wu has vast connections, and even the miracle doctors he found couldn't do it. What makes you think you can?"
Without another word, Zhao Dong lifted her nightgown, revealing an enchanting sight.
Xu Yafei gasped, her voice laced with nervousness. "What are you doing?"
"I'm curing the poison! Trust me!" Zhao Dong's expression was dead serious.
Xu Yafei rolled her eyes. "Don't think I don't know what's on your mind. If you want to look, just say so. There's no need for such a pathetic excuse."
Before Zhao Dong could process her words, Xu Yafei sat up and unbuttoned her nightgown. Staring at the scene before him, Zhao Dong felt his nose grow warm, a nosebleed nearly escaping.
Xu Yafei glanced at Zhao Dong. "Aren't you going to cure the poison? I'd like to see just how you plan to do it."
Zhao Dong smiled helplessly. He knew she thought he was trying to be a scoundrel, but that truly wasn't his intention.
"Do you have any silver needles?"
"Yes. There's a small first-aid kit in the living room cabinet. I think it has a few that the hospital gave me."
Zhao Dong quickly fetched the silver needles, climbed onto the bed, and sat cross-legged beside Xu Yafei. He said with a wry smile, "I know how to treat it, but I can't guarantee it will work. Don't blame me if it fails."
Xu Yafei looked at him without a word, her gaze seeming to say, I don't believe for a second that you can cure me.
Zhao Dong scratched his head, his cheeks flushing slightly under her stare. Looking at the picturesque beauty before him, he quickly composed himself. The techniques of the Tianxuan Nine Needles surfaced in his mind.
"First needle, Mystic Passage!" Zhao Dong channeled Spiritual Energy into his hand and instantly pierced Xu Yafei's Mystic Passage acupoint with the silver needle.
"Second needle, Spirit Return!" As another needle went in, Xu Yafei's body trembled, her hand unconsciously clenching the bedsheet.
"Third needle, Nine Nethers!" With his current strength, Zhao Dong could only perform the first three techniques of the set. He inserted several more needles in quick succession, and Xu Yafei's body began to change.
"Ah..." Xu Yafei let out a soft moan she couldn't suppress. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she quickly covered her mouth, overcome with shame.
Soon, Xu Yafei's skin began to flush as invisible currents of energy formed whirlpools that flowed into her body along the silver needles.
A look of shock appeared in Xu Yafei's beautiful eyes. "Zhao Dong... I feel so much more comfortable..."
Zhao Dong smiled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Is the pain fading?"
"Yes... This feeling is incredible. None of the methods used by those doctors Hong Wu found were effective at all!"
At this moment, Xu Yafei was utterly astonished. She never expected that Zhao Dong would not only be powerful but also possess such amazing medical skills.
"I'll combine this with a massage technique. While I can't get rid of the poison all at once, a few more sessions like this will definitely cure you." As he spoke, Zhao Dong placed his large hand on her abdomen and began to massage gently.
Xu Yafei's pretty face flushed, and she asked shyly, "What... what parts does the massage cover?"
"Your entire body."
"Is there another way? Or... could I please put some clothes on?"
"No," Zhao Dong replied, his expression completely serious.
Xu Yafei fell silent. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes, her face flushed crimson.
Zhao Dong also felt a feverish heat rise within him. In a situation like this, his blood was surging, and it was becoming difficult to maintain his composure.
Soon, Xu Yafei, biting her red lips, sensed something was wrong. Keeping her beautiful eyes closed, she asked, a mix of shame and annoyance in her voice, "Does... that place... have acupoints too?"
Zhao Dong coughed. His hand had, at some point, moved to rest on an intimate spot. "That area... no, it doesn't."
"Then why are you massaging it?"
"Because it feels good—no! I mean, because it's good for your circulation."
Xu Yafei gripped the bedsheets, her face filled with shame and anger. She knew perfectly well what Zhao Dong was thinking, but it just wasn't the right time to resist.
Zhao Dong removed the silver needles and comforted her, "It's all right, don't be nervous. We already know each other inside and out."
Xu Yafei's expression grew strange. Then, she pursed her lips into a smile. "I don't think you know my 'insides' that well. Last time... it seemed you weren't very impressive!"
Just as he was removing the last needle, Zhao Dong froze, his eyes fixed on Xu Yafei. "What did you just say?"
Xu Yafei's beautiful eyes darted about. Her body felt much more comfortable now. In fact, after Zhao Dong's massage, she felt rather flushed and restless herself. She had only said that to tease him.
Seeing the wicked glint in Zhao Dong's reddening eyes, Xu Yafei suddenly had a bad feeling. "I was just kidding..." she said hastily.
"Not impressive, huh? Then let's see how impressive I can be this time!"
Zhao Dong grinned devilishly and lunged for her.