MTLNOVEL Chapter 7: Saving Big Huang
"Big brother"
"Sniff"
"Sniff"
Xiao Meili was crying while Big Huang lay unconscious on the bed, his life hanging in the balance.
"If I hadn't left this morning, this wouldn't have happened," she sobbed, blaming herself for Big Huang's condition.
"No, this isn't your fault," Noir placing a hand on her head to comfort her. "They were after the gold coins. Even if you hadn't left, they would have done the same."
Noir knew the fault lay with him. He had been aware of the danger of possessing and openly displaying the gold, but he had been confident that he would become strong enough to protect himself and those close to him before anything bad happened. He had been wrong.
"I knew something like this could happen, but not so soon. I underestimated people's greed," he thought as he helped Xiao Meili clean the blood from Big Huang's body.
"How is his condition?" The inn owner entered the room, followed by a servant and an old man with weary eyes.
"He has lost too much blood; saving him will be difficult," Old Pai said as soon as he entered, even before approaching Big Huang.
"His face has lost all colour." He checked Big Huang's pulse. "His pulse is weak. I'll apply ointment to his injuries while you feed him this. After that, his survival will depend on him."
The old man's words were blunt and harsh, but they were true. The inn owner explained, "This is Old Pai, the only apothecary in the village. Even though his words are harsh, that's just how he is."
Noir nodded. He had no reason to argue with the old man, as he could feel Big Huang's weak pulse himself. He could only hope that Big Huang would survive.
Old Pai began applying a concocted ointment to the injuries while handing a paper of powder to Noir, who stood nearby. "Mix this with water and feed it to him," he instructed. "It will help his body recover from the inside."
Noir followed the instructions, mixing the powder with water and, with Xiao Meili's help, feeding it to Big Huang.
"Now, only he can save himself if he wants to survive," the old man said, finishing applying the ointment. "It all depends on his will to live."
"Isn't there any other way to save him?" Noir asked, unwilling to give up so easily.
The old man looked at Noir. "There is, but it's impossible to obtain in this place. If we could give him a Healing pill concocted by an alchemist, his chances of survival would be greater than fifty percent." Old Pai honestly gave the only option that offered a better chance, but as he himself pointed out, finding an alchemist in this remote location was impossible.
"Alchemist! Immortals are hard to come by in small villages like ours, especially those who can create miracle pills," the inn owner remarked, well aware of alchemists' capabilities.
"Alchemist!" Noir muttered as the system window opened before his eyes.
[System]
[Family in need. Save Big Huang and Xiao Meili while defeating the five remaining thieves who are after your wealth.] [Completed]
Reward: Seed of Cultivation (2x)
50 gold coins
Random Martial Art Manual
[System]
Noir
Balance: 67 gold coins
Cultivation: Second level Qi Awakening
Bloodline: Heavenly birth refining bloodline
Storage: Basic Qi cultivation manual (1)
Seed of Cultivation (2x)
Random Martial Art Manual
Noir's eyes drifted to the storage section, where the two Seeds of Cultivation were listed. A sudden thought struck him. "Will it work?"
Looking at Big Huang, whose life force was fading with each passing second, Noir made up his mind. He extended his hand, and the green Seed of Cultivation materialized in his palm.
"You are..." The old man's weary eyes widened in shock as he stood closest to Noir, while the inn owner broke into a sweat, fear gripping him. "Immortal... he was immortal all along."
The inn owner sighed inwardly. If, instead of accepting Noir's offer, he had given in to greed and tried something underhanded, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He could only shudder to think what might have happened to the thieves who had abducted his companions.
"Help me make him sit up," Noir instructed.
The servant, the inn owner, and Xiao Meili helped Big Huang into a lotus position. Noir then placed the Seed of Cultivation in Big Huang's mouth and, sitting back, used his Qi to help Big Huang absorb it.
"Will it work?" Xiao Meili asked. She knew Noir would never harm Big Huang, so she didn't question what he had given him. She could only hope that it would work.
Noir shook his head, admitting he didn't know the outcome. "Let's see." Qi erupted from his body, slowly entering Big Huang's. Although the Qi wasn't abundant, it was enough to help Big Huang absorb the seed.
Within minutes, colour returned to Big Huang's face, and a pained expression appeared as heat began to build inside him, becoming almost unbearable.
"He's done it..." Old Pai watched with wide eyes as Big Huang, who had been at death's door, now seemed better than before.
"No, this isn't enough," Noir said, trying to help Big Huang withstand the heat. He knew that Big Huang's improved condition was temporary due to the heat building up inside him. If he failed to endure it, things could worsen.
"Big brother, you have to come back."
"You can't leave us like this."
"Sniff"
"Sniff"
Xiao Meili began to sob, unable to bear seeing Big Huang's pained expression. At the same time, Big Huang regained consciousness and realized that Noir was helping him endure the heat, and he heard Xiao Meili's words in his ear.
His will to survive strengthened as he gritted his teeth to bear the pain.
"AAAAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
He yelled as he felt something forming in his abdomen during the most painful period. "You have to bear this pain. You can't just leave things behind, Brother Huang," Noir's voice came from behind, further fuelling his will.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"Thud"
"Fainted"
Big Huang fell face down and fainted, causing Xiao Meili to burst into tears. She looked at Noir, fearing Big Huang's death, but seeing Noir smiling, she calmed down.
Noir looked at Big Huang, whose body was now filled with Qi. He smiled in exhaustion, having used all of his own Qi. "Huff... succeeded."