Chapter 67: If It Can't Be Healed, Then Cut It Off
Yu Xiaogang was stunned. He leaned in for a closer look, then immediately flew into a rage. "No, this isn't right. You're taking advantage of someone in distress!"
In Yu Xiaogang's heart, what Zu Zong was doing now was no different from what Qian Xunji had once done to him.
Everyone around looked confused. Weren't they here to help Dai Mubai recover? Why was the master suddenly so angry?
Zu Zong remained calm. He took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and sneered. "Taking advantage? What do you mean by that? Zhuqing and I are in love and have known each other for years. And you think that guy behind the partition—who wrecked himself in a brothel—is worthy of Zhuqing? You said to repay evil with virtue. Fine, then tell me—how do you repay virtue?"
"Today, if Dai Mubai is healed and keeps pestering Zhuqing shamelessly in the future, what then? I'm guessing you don't know, 'Master', but if I hadn't been there yesterday, that Dai Mubai of yours would've tried something on Zhuqing."
"I can testify! Dai Mubai did try to ambush Zhuqing yesterday!" Ning Rongrong squeezed through the crowd, raised her hand, and shouted, her little face poking out.
"I can testify too," Meng Yiran added. As a fellow woman, she found Dai Mubai's behavior deeply disgusting. Just imagining a man like that stalking her, and resorting to force when he couldn't win her over, was terrifying. If someone ever did that to her, she believed even San would help her.
Thinking of this, Meng Yiran looked at Tang San. Under his girlfriend's gaze, even Tang San sighed helplessly and stepped forward. "I can testify as well."
That left Yu Xiaogang speechless.
Flender also sighed. If Dai Mubai hadn't destroyed himself in a brothel, he could have argued for guiding him to change. But now, if he still forced Zhu Zhuqing to uphold the engagement, he'd be the villain. He was biased, yes—but Zhu Zhuqing was also his student. He couldn't show such blatant favoritism. Besides, Dai Mubai had clearly brought this upon himself.
Flender said, "I'll go talk to him."
"No! Absolutely not!" came Dai Mubai's furious shout from behind the partition. Yet his voice sounded weak, clearly drained of strength.
Hearing that, Yu Xiaogang still wanted to salvage the situation. He rushed up to Ye Lingling and pleaded, "Miss Ye, could you at least treat Mubai first? I'll owe you a personal favor."
Zu Zong sneered silently to himself.
Ye Lingling didn't respond. She didn't care about any so-called "Master." She turned away coldly and said, "I owe Zu Zong a favor. You'll have to ask him. Also, if he hadn't spoken up, I wouldn't have come at all."
That completely crushed Yu Xiaogang's hopes.
Inside the partition, Flender was still earnestly trying to persuade Dai Mubai.
"Mubai, think about it. If you don't sign, you're going to lose your lower half. Even if you do marry Zhu Zhuqing, what then? A marriage in name only? I know a bit about the Star Luo royal family's rules. If you can't produce heirs, you're out. That's the end of your royal status."
Dai Mubai's body trembled. Hearing that only reminded him of his brother's ruthlessness. Wasn't he hiding here precisely to avoid being hunted down?
Truthfully, Dai Mubai didn't have much real affection for Zhu Zhuqing. He had only taken interest because she was beautiful and because their spirits could fuse—so he gave up the entire forest for her.
After thinking it through, Dai Mubai clenched his teeth and ultimately chose to swallow his pride to protect himself. At the same time, he silently vowed that one day, he would repay Zu Zong and Zhu Zhuqing a hundredfold.
Dai Mubai said, "Fine, I'll sign."
Not long after, Flender came out holding the signed agreement to dissolve the engagement. Zu Zong took a look and nodded in satisfaction.
Flender gave a bitter smile. "Now can Mubai be treated?"
Zu Zong nodded and stored the engagement termination document into his system storage space. "Treatment can begin now—but let's be clear: Lingling will give it her all, but if she can't heal him, don't blame her."
"Haha, no worries, no worries. If he can't be healed, that brat Mubai deserves it," Flender laughed. He didn't take Zu Zong's warning seriously. From what Ning Rongrong had told him, he knew the strength of the Nine-Heart Begonia. If she couldn't heal him, then the name of their Undying Sect would be worthless.
Zu Zong turned to Ye Lingling. "Lingling, begin."
Ye Lingling nodded.
A faint fragrance wafted through the air as a beam of white light descended from above. The light took the shape of flower petals, drifting gently down and passing through the partition to fall on Dai Mubai's body, slowly merging into him.
Dai Mubai's body trembled violently. His face visibly improved, and he even managed to stand up.
"I'm fine now! I'm fine! I have my strength back!" Dai Mubai walked out from behind the partition, shouting excitedly.
Flender also smiled and said to Ye Lingling, "Thank you so much, Miss Ye."
Just then, Ye Lingling shook her head and said coldly, "I only treated his internal qi and blood depletion. As for that... ahem, that part has completely necrotized. There's no sign of life at all. My Nine-Heart Begonia can heal, but it can't regenerate lost flesh, so…"
At that point, even the always-cool Ye Lingling blushed, her fair face turning red as she quickly ducked behind Zu Zong.
Crack.
Everyone could almost hear the sound of Dai Mubai's heart breaking.
Dai Mubai carefully scanned his body. The feeling of weakness was indeed gone—but there was still no sensation down below.
"No! You're lying! You're lying to me!" Bloodshot veins filled Dai Mubai's eyes as he roared at Ye Lingling, his face twisted in rage.
He lunged forward, trying to grab Ye Lingling behind Zu Zong.
Zu Zong looked at him coldly and was just about to lift his size-40 boot and kick him when Flender moved.
With a swift chop of his hand, Flender struck Dai Mubai on the neck and knocked him out. He sighed and said, "At this point, there's no other option. Mubai's lower half has become necrotic flesh. No matter how powerful the Nine-Heart Begonia is, it can't bring back the dead. I should've seen it coming."
He then turned to Tang San and said, "San, just cut it off."
Tang San: There's a phrase I really want to say—but I don't know if it's appropriate.
Half an hour later, with "attending surgeon" Tang San personally wielding the blade and "expert trauma care specialist" Doctor Ye Lingling assisting outside, Dai Mubai's operation proceeded smoothly. There were no complications. Once awake, he would soon be able to walk normally—he wouldn't need to lie bedridden for months or shove feathers down his pants like some palace eunuch. It wouldn't hinder his future cultivation either.
To express their sympathy for Dai Mubai, and at Zu Zong's suggestion, the removed portion of his lower body was preserved through anti-decay treatment—so that when the day came for Dai Mubai to be buried, he could still rest as a whole.
After this incident, Dean Flender, filled with regret and reflection, announced that with the exception of Ma Hongjun's special case, students were henceforth forbidden from seeking out brothels during their studies.
[End of Chapter]
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