Chapter 207: Underground Clinic
“The weather forecast is never wrong?”
That was yet another thing that defied Xu Zhi’s understanding. Back in the Federation, while forecasts were usually accurate, no one could predict the weather with absolute precision.
Eight years ago—Guangming Institute, lower levels—the weather forecast that never missed.
Xu Zhi took note of those key details. They didn’t seem to be any sort of secret. Maybe when she got a chance to be alone with Qi Yanxin later, she could ask about it.
Though her eyesight was blurry, Xu Zhi could still sense the little girl in the front passenger seat constantly sneaking glances back at her.
What is she looking at?
The next moment, Ye Ran’s words answered that question.
“Yanxin-jie, your little sister is so pretty! What’s her name?”
So young, and already showing signs of being a face-connoisseur.
Qi Yanxin smiled as she answered, and the girl gave a little “oh” before adding, “Sister Xiaozhi, your eyes are so beautiful.”
It wasn’t uncommon for siblings to have different last names in the slums, but eyes as beautiful as those—now that was rare.
Xu Zhi felt herself developing PTSD from hearing the words beautiful eyes. The phrase instantly dragged her back to the maddening, repetitive whispers that used to echo in her mind.
She didn’t respond, and though Ye Ran’s curiosity about her was strong, the girl knew her limits. Growing up in the slums taught her what questions shouldn’t be asked. Still, her curiosity reminded Qi Yanxin that she needed to buy Xu Zhi some clothes to conceal her looks.
In a place like this, being too eye-catching wasn’t a good thing. Sometimes, though, unusual eyes inspired fear rather than interest.
Before long, the car stopped in front of a small clinic. Xu Zhi thanked Ye Cheng, and with Ye Ran’s help, was lifted down from the car. There were no proper hospitals in the slums—only a handful of underground clinics run by unlicensed doctors. They all operated under the same unspoken rules: people rarely came without a numbered entry ticket—unless they were truly desperate.
That meant there wasn’t much of a crowd at the door, which was a relief for Xu Zhi, given her current condition.
But once Qi Yanxin led her inside, Xu Zhi couldn’t help feeling nervous again.
What if the doctor noticed something strange about her injuries—something that revealed what she really was?
Still, she didn’t plan to avoid medical treatment. In her state, without proper care she was practically useless. She had no other options, so she could only follow Qi Yanxin into this illegal clinic and hope for the best.
Risky, yes—but it was a risk she had to take. After all, there was no second option.
With her blurred vision, Xu Zhi tried to take in the surroundings. The clinic was small—she couldn’t tell whether it was clean. Toward the back stood a folding screen, which was currently pushed aside, exposing a crude-looking operating table. To the right of the entrance was a front desk, and behind it, a glass cabinet filled with medicine and reagents.
A single nurse sat behind the desk. Xu Zhi couldn’t see her clearly, but from her weary tone as she took Qi Yanxin’s numbered tag, it was obvious she worked overtime often.
Besides her, there was no other nurse or staff.
The bare-bones setup left Xu Zhi quietly appalled. She didn’t show it outwardly, but distrust welled up in her heart.
Still, this was the only place she could go. She’d have to treat the dead horse like a live one and hope for a miracle.
After checking their number tag, the nurse tugged on a string hanging beside the counter. The string connected to a small bell in the back room—signaling to the doctor that a patient had arrived.
“Coming, coming,” a drowsy-looking middle-aged man muttered as he pushed the door open. He was wearing a white coat.
Seeing Qi Yanxin holding Xu Zhi in her arms, he barely looked at them before gesturing casually toward a chair.
“Sit over there. What’s the problem? What hurts?”
Qi Yanxin gently set Xu Zhi down but hesitated at the question. Xu Zhi gave a weak smile and answered for herself, “Doctor, I think… just about everything hurts.”
The doctor, who was wearing a hearing aid, raised his brows and turned toward her.
“Trying to mess with me?”
But when he saw Xu Zhi’s pale face and limp figure slumped in the chair, he froze for a second. Her words might have sounded glib, but her condition clearly wasn’t normal.
“Dr. Zhuang,” Qi Yanxin quickly said, “my sister’s not lying. She’s really sick—covered in injuries, and she’s been running a high fever.”
Qi Yanxin didn’t actually know what was wrong with Xu Zhi, only what she could see.
Dr. Zhuang walked over and waved his hand in front of Xu Zhi’s face, watching her pupils’ reaction.
“Your eyes bothering you too?”
Xu Zhi gave a small laugh and nodded. “Yeah… I can’t really see much.”
“Xiaoman,” Dr. Zhuang called out.
“Eh?” The nurse looked up from her phone—she’d clearly been playing a game.
“Check the patient’s injuries.”
“Me?” She pointed at herself.
“Yes, you. Go.”
“Overtime pay.”
“I’ll give it to you,” Dr. Zhuang sighed helplessly.
Xu Zhi didn’t quite understand that exchange. Why would a nurse demand extra pay just to check a patient’s wounds?
The answer became clear once Xiaoman lifted her onto the operating table and drew the screen closed.
She didn’t physically inspect Xu Zhi’s injuries at all. Instead—she used her extraordinary ability.
“Don’t be nervous—it doesn’t hurt,” Xiaoman said breezily, as if comforting her.
Xu Zhi couldn’t see the process, but even in her weakened, powerless state, she still had the sensitivity of a transcendent being. She could feel the surge of energy as the nurse’s ability swept over her body.
Then, only moments later, Xiaoman suddenly gasped.
“Hh—!”
Even lying on the table, Xu Zhi could hear the emotion in that breath—shock, confusion, and… admiration?
“Dr. Zhuang! This is incredible!” Xiaoman shouted, pulling back the screen.
Dr. Zhuang hurried over, Qi Yanxin following anxiously behind.
“What’s incredible?”
Xiaoman pointed at Xu Zhi, her expression half-panicked, half-disbelieving.
“The corpse—it’s still alive!”
Xu Zhi: “…?”
Qi Yanxin: “?!!”
Even Dr. Zhuang, long accustomed to Xiaoman’s ridiculous comments, couldn’t help twitching at the corner of his mouth. “Quit spouting nonsense again!”
