Chapter 483 - 243: "Humanoid

Chapter 483: Chapter 243: "Humanoid

Zheng Xiu first performed a [Medical Principles] check on Mo Kuang.

[You cast ’Medical Principles’ on the target.]

[Check failed.]

[The target is hale and hearty. Father and son are safe and sound.]

’Do I fucking need you to tell me that?’

Zheng Xiu silently complained about how a failed check could produce such a nonsensical diagnosis, then immediately tried again.

This time, it succeeded.

Dense lines of small text floated up from Mo Kuang’s body.

First was [Deficiency of Essence and Qi].

Then [Yin Evil Entering the Body].

Followed by [Qi and Blood Deficiency].

More and more text flooded Zheng Xiu’s vision, dazzling him. Finally, it all cascaded down like a waterfall, leaving only a single, pure word: [Weak]. This formed a vast, scrolling barrage.

A thousand words could be summarized in one conclusion: Mo Kuang was currently extremely weak.

And then there was "Father and son are safe and sound."

’How strange.’

His "Masterful" level [Medical Principles] was already enough for Zheng Xiu to act as a half-assed Physician.

’Is... Is it really this straightforward?’

Zheng Xiu was a little unsure of his own judgment, so he cupped his hands and deferred to the real, certified Divine Doctor. "Divine Doctor, please make your diagnosis."

Situ Yong nodded. As several pairs of eyes watched him like tigers stalking their prey, he walked toward the bed, muttering, "Don’t look at me like that. When I say I won’t use my saber, I won’t. Don’t forget, I... *cough cough*... I am a man of Medical Compassion. Medical Compassion."

Situ Yong didn’t know the young man possessed a Miracle Technique and had already performed a diagnosis. He moved like lightning, his hand reaching for Mo Kuang’s pulse point.

Just then, Zheng Xiu recalled that Situ Yong had another nickname: "One Finger Decides Life and Death."

While Situ Yong was assessing the condition, Zheng Xiu thought for a moment, touched the spot between his brows, and cast [inspiration].

[You achieve Concentration!]

The Dice spun in the void, landing without a sound. This time, he triggered the additional effect of [No merchant is honest]. On a great success, the world before Zheng Xiu’s eyes instantly turned black and white.

Zheng Xiu looked closely at Mo Kuang’s abdomen. His brow twitched and his pupils constricted. Inside Mo Kuang’s abdomen, there was actually a hazy "humanoid figure," curled up in his belly like an unborn infant.

The "humanoid figure" inside the bulging belly periodically shifted through various poses—sometimes stretching its limbs, sometimes biting its fingers, sometimes lowering its head in thought. Zheng Xiu’s eyes widened, his sockets beginning to sting with a searing pain. Suddenly, the "humanoid figure" stopped moving. It abruptly "looked" in Zheng Xiu’s direction.

"Hee hee hee..."

BOOM.

Zheng Xiu felt a roar in his mind as his vision went black. He staggered back a few steps, clutching his eyes in pain. The next second, black blood trickled from between his fingers.

Ye, who was behind him, had quick reflexes and caught the teetering young man in a broad embrace.

The resilient embrace caught the young man, and a gentle voice asked, "Are you all right?"

"I’m fine."

Zheng Xiu pulled away, wiped the blood from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and pretended to be calm. Just then, Situ Yong finished his "One Finger Decides Life and Death" diagnosis, his expression grave.

"The ’thing’ in his belly appears harmless, but it’s continuously siphoning away his vital essence." Situ Yong closed his eyes in thought for a moment before softly stating his conclusion: "The day the thing in his abdomen is born will be the day he dies!"

*Hiss...*

Situ Yong’s words were like a death warrant. No one dared to doubt the judgment of the most renowned Divine Doctor in all of Daqian.

Zheng Xiu thought for a moment and asked, "How many days does he have?"

"It’s hard to say for sure," Situ Yong said. "But in my opinion, no more than seven days. And with each passing day, the ’infant’ in his belly will grow stronger."

Everyone fell silent.

Situ Yong gave the young man a deep look and stroked his beard. "Besides, what we should be most concerned about right now is not this man’s life. It’s..."

He trailed off.

But everyone present was highly accomplished in Path Mystic Skills. Xi’er and Jun Buxiao, in particular, were old hands from the former Ye Weiyang. Situ Yong’s unspoken words instantly enlightened them.

Their gazes immediately fell upon Mo Kuang’s bulging belly.

Zheng Xiu also looked at Mo Kuang’s large stomach, which was like that of a woman ten months pregnant.

He was certain that under the effect of [inspiration], something had borrowed Mo Kuang’s stomach as a womb, siphoning his vital essence to grow and develop merrily inside.

Situ Yong was right.

The thing they should be most worried about wasn’t just Mo Kuang’s life or death. After all, everyone has to die someday.

They should be more worried about *what* would be born from Mo Kuang’s belly in seven days.

For a moment, the expressions on Xi’er, Jun Buxiao, and Yin Qingqing’s faces shifted, each lost in their own thoughts.

Snake tugged on Ye’s sleeve, sensing the tense atmosphere in the room.

Ye raised a finger to their lips. "Shh."

The meaning was clear: adults are talking, so children shouldn’t interrupt.

"I understand."

Zheng Xiu’s expression was calm as he put the Red King Mirror back on his belt.

"For tonight, we’ll hold our position. This matter requires careful planning. Xi’er and Snake will take the night watch." Zheng Xiu pointed at Yin Qingqing. "You’ll sleep in the same room as me."

Yin Qingqing was shocked to hear this, but the next second, she obediently lowered her head and, without asking any questions, said, "Yes."

After this temporary decision was made, Zheng Xiu and Yin Qingqing went to the room next door.

Zheng Xiu ordered Yin Qingqing to sleep on the bed.

Yin Qingqing bit her lower lip, undressed down to her dudou, and slipped under the covers.

Zheng Xiu tucked the bed curtains in tightly for her and opened the window.

Hearing movement outside, Yin Qingqing held her breath.

She held it and held it, until there was no more sound from outside.

...

「Meanwhile.」

「Late that night.」

The night was as cool as water.

The moonlight was bright and clear.

In the dungeons of the Red King Mansion, when Zheng Xiu opened his eyes, he found a hand caressing his chest, as if reluctant to let go.

The next second, Feng Bei and Zheng Xiu were staring at each other.

"Why are you back?"

Feng Bei calmly withdrew her hand, her face showing no hint of anything unusual. A basin and clean water were placed to the side. Zheng Xiu knew he had missed out on something, but he was in no mood for romance. He quickly told Feng Bei what was happening on the other side.

Feng Bei’s expression changed when she heard the news. It seemed even she had never encountered something so bizarre.

After a moment, Feng Bei shook her head and sighed softly. "Normally, I would have taken action."

The "taken action" Feng Bei spoke of was meant in the most literal sense.

No matter what the thing in Mo Kuang’s belly was, or what threat its birth would bring to the world, she would have acted and ended it once and for all.

"You need to be careful."

Feng Bei knew that with Zheng Xiu’s personality, he would never abandon a subordinate. Acting uncharacteristically, she walked up behind Zheng Xiu and gently hugged him. "Should I go over?"

Zheng Xiu closed his eyes, enjoying the long-missed warmth from his Madam. He knew Feng Bei still harbored reservations; for her to initiate a hug like this was a brave first step out of the "shadow of Xie Luohe." After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu recalled the lurking Zhu and shook his head with a reassuring smile. "No need. You know my capabilities. If that thing really does come out, I’d actually prefer it. When it comes to a head-on fight, I’ve never been afraid of anyone. It’s this bizarre, tense situation that has me at a loss, tying my hands."

Feng Bei did indeed know of Zheng Xiu’s "capabilities"—they were quite impressive—so she felt at ease.

After spending a little more time with Feng Bei, Zheng Xiu adjusted his Traits slightly.

In the Heart Prison, he secretly swapped [Medical Principles] for [Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes].

’Now that the [Medical Principles] check is done, it doesn’t seem very useful anymore. Better to switch to a damage-dealing Trait.’

’As for a saber, there’s no shortage of those. Situ Yong has plenty.’

Before leaving, Zheng Xiu took advantage of a moment when Feng Bei wasn’t paying attention, gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and left.

After Zheng Xiu was gone, Feng Bei touched the spot where he had kissed her. She was stunned for a moment, then a small smile graced her lips as a happy blush rose to her cheeks.

If Zheng Xiu could have seen Feng Bei’s expression at that moment, he might have remarked with a sigh: the most skilled hunters often appear as the prey.

Having swapped his Traits, Zheng Xiu activated [Divine Travel].

After being upgraded, the range of [Divine Travel] within the Post Station had increased significantly. Zheng Xiu appeared high in the sky, looking down on the small town. In the distance, all the city’s lights were out, save for a single, exquisitely crafted pavilion, which was brightly lit and filled with decadent music.

A sliver of dawn was breaking on the horizon. The blissful time spent with Feng Bei had passed in the blink of an eye; an entire night had gone by without him realizing it.

Back in the room, Zheng Xiu solidified his form. Inside the bed curtains, Yin Qingqing, who had been tossing and turning, held her breath. She had heard the sound of the young man climbing back into the room.

「The next day.」

Everyone woke up.

Zheng Xiu began to assign tasks.

Jun Buxiao was responsible for gathering information in the town.

Xi’er was responsible for coordinating with the Government Office and obtaining a list of the victims’ widows.

As for Zheng Xiu, he decided to take Yin Qingqing with him and personally pay a visit to the Five Passes Temple.