Chapter Seventy-Four: The Invincible Benevolent

“Dr. Xiao, please explain it to my brother.”

Xiao Yuru hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Mandragora has a numbing effect on the nerves and can be used as an anesthetic, but…”

Her tone shifted. “But it’s very difficult for ordinary people to use directly, unless under a doctor’s supervision. Most Western doctors may not have the required medical skills.”

“Sharp eyes, Dr. Xiao,” Shi Yuantu gave her a thumbs up. “This was prepared by a renowned expert.”

Xiao Yuru nodded. Now that she had become a disciple of Xuanyuan Datang, she no longer had much regard for the so-called renowned experts.

“Let’s focus on the patient first.”

“All right.”

Shi Yuantu slowly pushed open the door. With the light streaming in, the corners of the room were immediately visible.

There was nothing in the room except a bed.

In the corner squatted a young man, his head buried deep between his knees, arms wrapped around his legs, rocking back and forth while muttering to himself.

“Ping’er, Dr. Xiao is here.”

If Shi Yuantu hadn’t spoken, things might have been better. As soon as he spoke, Shi Ping began trembling all over.

“Shi Ping, there’s no need to be afraid.” Xiao Yuru spoke gently and glanced at Qian Mingxun.

Qian Mingxun picked up the conversation. “Shi Ping, Dr. Xiao has performed even more complex facial reconstruction surgeries. Fixing your nose will be a piece of cake for her.”

“My nose?” Xiao Yuru let out a breath of relief. Most of her past procedures had involved noses and eyelids; this shouldn’t be too difficult to repair.

“Shi Ping, Dr. Qian may have exaggerated a little, but if you don’t let the doctor examine you, how can she prescribe the right treatment?”

Shi Ping’s rocking slowed after hearing Xiao Yuru’s words.

“Mm… mm…” Shi Ping looked up at Xiao Yuru, opening his mouth as if to speak, but could only let out muffled sounds.

The room had no lights on—only the glow spilling in from the doorway. Now, with Ye Qiu and Shi Yuantu standing in the entrance, most of the light was blocked. Xiao Yuru could only make out a vague outline.

She took two cautious steps forward and knelt down, about to say something encouraging, when Shi Yuantu switched on the light.

“Ah!” Xiao Yuru cried out in shock, falling to the floor.

This was hardly a human face.

In the dim light, she hadn’t seen Shi Ping clearly, which was why she’d dared approach. Now, in the sudden brightness, she could see him in full detail.

How to describe it? She hadn't noticed before, but this young man's head was abnormally small—perhaps only two-thirds the size of an adult male’s. But his face and eyes were green, his nose had no bridge, just two holes pressed directly onto his face.

To suddenly see such a face at such close distance—only someone inhuman would not be afraid.

“Mmm…” Xiao Yuru’s reaction seemed to provoke Shi Ping. His inverted-triangle eyes fixed intently on hers, the green pupils swirling back and forth.

“What is this…”

“Dr. Xiao, Shi Ping’s parents originally wanted a local shaman to treat him. But as doctors, we must believe in science. You’re a plastic surgeon—”

“Qian Mingxun, I am a plastic surgeon, yes, but I’m not omnipotent.” Xiao Yuru stood up, annoyed, but swallowed her words for fear of upsetting Shi Ping.

She spoke gently again. “Since you believe in science, you should know that a plastic surgeon’s abilities have limits.”

“Others might not, but you do, don’t you?” Qian Mingxun’s voice grew excited.

“I could use rib cartilage to reconstruct his nose, but as for the rest…”

“I already have solutions for the rest. Just help him with the nose,” Qian Mingxun interrupted excitedly, reaching for Xiao Yuru’s arm—only to be firmly intercepted by a steady, strong hand.

“Speak with your mouth, not your hands,” Ye Qiu said with a light squeeze, making Qian Mingxun grimace in pain.

“Sorry, I was just too worked up.”

“Yezi.” Ye Qiu let go and glanced at Xiao Yuru, then gently pulled her aside.

“Second Sister, something’s not right here.”

“Stubborn Yezi, the poor boy is already suffering so much. If there’s a way, we doctors should do all we can.”

Xiao Yuru paused, then added, “Besides, we have Yunyun and Shiyi with us now—maybe they’ll have ideas.”

Beyond the duty to heal, for an ambitious doctor, challenge is the path forward.

“I…”

Ye Qiu wanted to say more, but Xiao Yuru was already pouting, swaying his arm playfully in mock complaint. “Come on, Yezi, please say yes.”

With a helpless sigh, Ye Qiu relented. “All right.”

“I knew it, Yezi is always the best to me!”

With Ye Qiu’s consent, Xiao Yuru’s confidence surged.

She first instructed Shiyi to scan Shi Ping’s facial structure, then asked her to draft a surgical plan.

Qian Mingxun and Shi Yuantu were both visibly moved, with Shi Yuantu in particular shedding tears of excitement.

“Master, there’s something odd about this place,” came a voice.

Everyone was focused on the treatment plan and failed to notice that Ye Qiu had already left the room.

There were six rooms and two bathrooms on the second floor, a living room and kitchen below, plus two more rooms.

Ye Qiu circled the house but found nothing unusual at first glance.

“Master, I just recalculated the total floor area. The house should cover over 600 square meters, but according to the current scan, it’s only about 500.”

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“The first floor,” Yunyun added. “The innermost room.”

The layout of the first floor was two rooms on either side; the one on the left was next to the living room, the one on the right at the end of the hallway.

Casting a glance at the engrossed trio, Ye Qiu quietly made his way downstairs.

Creak.

The door opened. Inside was a storage room: three walls and a door, not even a window. Piles of miscellaneous items filled the space, nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first sight.

“Hmm?”

Though nothing seemed off on the surface, Ye Qiu carefully examined all three walls.

This was the first floor—there should at least be a window for light and ventilation.

“Yunyun, scan the room’s layout.”

“Master, there’s an issue with the right wall. It should be a standard wall, but it’s a full meter thicker than normal.”

The right side?

Ye Qiu scrutinized the right wall. The storage room was already cluttered and windowless, the air damp, and the wall beginning to blacken with moisture.

Thud, thud, thud.

He rapped on the wall.

Solid.

Seemed normal.

“Master, I’ve detected electronic equipment, and it appears to be a high-speed server. It’s currently dormant, but for me, extracting its data would be a breeze.”