Chapter 44

Shenma's Selection (44)

"Could it be...?"

Shamuxin's eyes trembled violently.

It was undoubtedly the wooden box he had been searching for so desperately.

Without realizing it, Shamuxin took a step closer to Dan Yakeshan.

For the first time, a fierce longing flickered in his eyes, which had been cowed by the presence of Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiewei.

"Here you go."

Dan Yakeshan handed the wooden box to Shamuxin.

"Thank you!"

Shamuxin snatched the wooden box and took out a key from his pocket, inserting it into the bottom of the box and turning it forcefully.

Click.

The box opened with a heavy metallic sound.

Dan Yakeshan, who had been curious about its contents, moved closer to Shamuxin.

"It's safe!"

Shamuxin, after checking inside the box, smiled brightly.

Dan Yakeshan tilted his head in confusion.

He had thought the box contained something extraordinary, given how much money Shamuxin made.

But the box was filled only with worn-out papers.

Shamuxin took out the papers one by one and examined them for a long time.

A moment later.

After confirming the contents of the papers, Shamuxin took out a fire poker from his pocket and began to burn them all.

The papers turned to ashes and scattered in the air, which Shamuxin watched with a heavy heart.

Finally, Shamuxin bowed to Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiewei.

"I will never forget your kindness."

Chao Yeliang shook his head.

"You should thank Dan Yishi, not us."

"Huh?"

Fan Jiewei grumbled at Shamuxin's puzzled expression.

"Do you know how much treatment fees he gave up for this?"

Yet, Shamuxin burned all the contents.

If he was going to do that, why did he risk his life to find it?

Fan Jiewei couldn't understand at all.

Realizing the situation, Shamuxin bowed to Dan Yakeshan again.

"Thank you very much."

His attitude was genuinely respectful.

"I will go to Zhencheng Pharmacy after I compose myself."

The group nodded solemnly, sensing the gravity of the moment.

As they headed to Zhencheng Pharmacy, leaving Shamuxin behind, Chao Yeliang spoke.

"I thought it was some great treasure he cherished so much, but it was just a bunch of letters."

"Why did he burn them?"

Fan Jiewei's question made Chao Yeliang tilt his head.

"Maybe he was worried they would reveal the children's whereabouts."

Shamuxin had many enemies from his life as a moneylender.

"He probably wanted to completely sever his ties with the children he helped before he died, for their safety."

Fan Jiewei nodded at Chao Yeliang's plausible guess.

"He wasn't a bad guy, just a foolish one."

Shamuxin, as promised, came to Zhencheng Pharmacy an hour later.

Dan Yakeshan immediately called him over and began taking his pulse.

Then, with a stunned expression, he asked,

"How can you move with a body in such a mess?"

Dan Yakeshan looked at Shamuxin and said,

"I said you had three months left, but from what I can see, you have at most a month. It's just that there are no immediate signs of an attack, but it could happen at any moment."

Shamuxin, initially surprised, soon accepted it with a resigned calm.

"I'm fine. I've already made my peace with it."

Shamuxin smiled faintly.

"I've achieved everything I wanted, so there's nothing left for me."

Suddenly, Shamuxin felt a strange sensation.

Not only Dan Yakeshan, who had pronounced his death sentence, but even Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiewei seemed indifferent.

Shamuxin suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

'Even though we've known each other for a while...'

They didn't offer any comfort, nor did they show any sympathy or pity.

'They're all as bad as I am. What did I expect?'

Still, Dan Yakeshan was somewhat surprised.

'After all, the saying "black ink stains the white paper" isn't just a saying.'

Xue Shuzun, Wang Shan Chaozi, and the expressionless woman with the demeanor of a high-level martial artist. What could a child have seen and learned among such monsters?

Then, Dan Yakeshan smiled and asked,

"If you could live longer, what would you want to do?"

"I don't know."

Shamuxin smiled bitterly.

"What could a man who will die in a month possibly hope for?"

Dan Yakeshan nodded at Shamuxin, who still didn't believe him.

"It might be difficult, but not impossible."

Shamuxin's heart sank.

"You mean I don't even have a month left?"

Chao Yeliang answered for him.

"You won't die even a month from now."

Fan Jiewei nodded.

"Right. With our Dan Yishi, it's impossible."

"Really? But this zhunhua rupoma..."

"Even if it were zhunhua rupoma's grandfather, it wouldn't matter. Our Dan Yishi would drag you out of the underworld if he had to."

Fan Jiewei's praise made Dan Yakeshan look uncomfortable.

"Even I can't bring the dead back to life."

Shamuxin's eyes widened at Dan Yakeshan's words.

"I can somehow treat zhunhua rupoma."

"Treat... zhunhua rupoma?"

Dan Yakeshan nodded at the still disbelieving Shamuxin.

"It would have been difficult in the past, but now we have many spirit medicines and the Weihua therapy."

Shamuxin couldn't decide how much of what he just heard was true. He looked at Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiewei, who seemed to take it all in stride.

Fan Jiewei asked Shamuxin,

"Hey, money ghost. You always say something, don't you?"

"Huh?"

"You can't live with debts, right?"

Shamuxin nodded hesitantly.

"Ah, yes. That's right."

There was a famous saying in the martial world related to this.

If you owe money to the Flame King, you have to sell your house to pay it back. If you owe money to the Ghost King, you have to sell your grave.

Chao Yeliang counted on his fingers.

"Let's see. I saved you twice, and the Wulin Alliance saved you once, so that's three times. And now, introducing you to a doctor who can treat zhunhua rupoma, this is the fourth time."

Fan Jiewei gave Shamuxin a disdainful look.

"The Ghost King really lends money everywhere. How many life debts do you owe?"

"Exactly three. My zhunhua rupoma hasn't been treated yet, right?"

Shamuxin's protest made Fan Jiewei glare.

"Are you questioning our Dan Yishi now?"

"Ah? No, no, I didn't mean to..."

"If Dan Yishi says he can save you, he will."

Shamuxin nodded meekly.

Fan Jiewei's killing intent felt like a tangible blade slicing his skin.

"Even if you die and are reborn several times, you won't be able to pay off this debt."

Chao Yeliang looked at Shamuxin with a meaningful gaze.

"But we'll settle the debt in this life, so we won't have to see you again in the next one."

Shamuxin nodded reluctantly.

"By the way, you said you're a martial artist?"

Dan Yakeshan asked.

"Yes, for now..."

Dan Yakeshan's suddenly serious expression made Shamuxin feel a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough,

"Dan Yishi, what's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Fan Jiewei asked.

Dan Yakeshan nodded.

"I can save his life, but... his dantian is too damaged. He won't be able to practice martial arts anymore."

"..."

Shamuxin nodded with a bitter smile.

"As long as I can live... it would be greedy to ask for more. I'm satisfied with that."

But Dan Yakeshan shook his head.

"Saving your life is the priority, but the quality of life after treatment is equally important."

"But..."

"Though it's difficult, there might be a way to restore his dantian... I'll try."

Shamuxin wasn't sure whether to believe or doubt him.

But since he was already in this situation, he had no choice but to believe.

"If it really comes to that, I'll do anything."

Fan Jiewei chuckled.

"You already owe us everything, don't you?"

"Ah! Yes... that's right."

Thinking about it, his debt collectors were none other than Xue Shuzun and Wang Shan Chaozi. One was terrifying enough, but the thought of being pursued by both monsters made his skin crawl.

"We can't delay the treatment. The longer we wait, the harder the recovery will be. I'll start the Weihua therapy tonight."

Dan Yakeshan took out a box of needles from his pocket.

"Mr. Sha, you need to build up your strength, so get some rest."

"But I'm not sleepy at all."

Dan Yakeshan smiled as he took out a needle from the box.

"You will be soon."

* * *

Two hours later.

"Master! You can't be serious!"

Feng Jinsheng's scream, almost a shriek, made Chao Yeliang, Fan Jiewei, and Han Xuehua rush over.

At first, they looked at Feng Jinsheng with puzzled expressions, but soon realized he was staring at the medicine bowl Dan Yakeshan was holding, his face pale. They then noticed a small magnetic bottle rolling at Dan Yakeshan's feet.

"Huh? That looks familiar."

Fan Jiewei tilted his head, but Chao Yeliang asked Dan Yakeshan with a shocked face.

"You can't be... putting... no, you're not, right?"

Chao Yeliang's disbelief and repeated questioning made Fan Jiewei realize something was seriously wrong.

"What is it? Why is Chao acting like this?"

Han Xuehua sighed softly.

"It seems he put Qingqing Shiyu in the medicine."

"What, what!"

Fan Jiewei's eyes widened in shock, mirroring Chao Yeliang's expression.

"Dan Yishi! Who are you giving that to?"

Dan Yakeshan pointed to the sleeping Shamuxin. Fan Jiewei began to hyperventilate.

"Phew. Phew. Chao, can you knock me out? I can't bear to see that money ghost swallow it!"

"Don't talk to me. My head hurts."

Chao Yeliang massaged his temples with his thumb.

To use the Qingqing Shiyu, which they had worked so hard to obtain, just for someone like Shamuxin was unacceptable.

"Can't be helped."

Dan Yakeshan smiled awkwardly.

"I promised to fix his dantian as well."

"But..."

"Otherwise, I'd be lying."

Chao Yeliang and Fan Jiewei exchanged glances and quickly nodded.

"It's fine. A little lie is necessary to be human."

"Right. I have to lie a few times a day to sleep well. I've already lied to Chao three times today."

"What? We'll talk about this later."

Chao Yeliang tried to stop Dan Yakeshan.

"Rather, if you were going to take it yourself, I wouldn't stop you. In fact, I'd welcome it. But not for him."

"Agreed. He's just a steward. Why does he need martial arts?"

Han Xuehua also chimed in.

"Even if he had martial arts, it would be just a hobby. Giving Qingqing Shiyu to him is like putting a pearl necklace on a pig."

Despite their persistent persuasion, Dan Yakeshan shook his head firmly.

"I want to do my best for any patient. And this is the best way now."

Unable to change Dan Yakeshan's mind, the group sighed regretfully.

Dan Yakeshan approached the sleeping Shamuxin, lifted his upper body, and slowly poured the medicine containing Qingqing Shiyu into his mouth.

Fan Jiewei couldn't bear to watch and ran out, while Chao Yeliang clenched his fists tightly.

Han Xuehua, with her furrowed brows, watched the scene intently.

Shamuxin, unaware of what he was swallowing, remained in a peaceful sleep.