Playboy: Medical and Martial Master

BOOM—!

A deafening explosion suddenly reverberated through the dense forest. An invisible shockwave surged in all directions, as if space itself was shattering from the force.

Sun Zhe, who was in hot pursuit of the red snake, screeched to a halt and spun around. His eyes trembled as he saw fire clouds soaring into the sky and flocks of birds taking flight in terror.

Yao Rao glanced back as well. ”Don’t get distracted,” she said. ”Let’s finish this quickly.”

”...”

* * *

Smoke and dust billowed amidst the splintered wood. After rolling on the ground several times, Bai Ran finally managed to struggle to her feet, rubbing her temples.

At this moment, all she felt was a buzzing in her head. Her ears seemed deaf, her vision was a blur, and her bones felt like they were about to fall apart. The slightest movement sent a piercing jolt of pain through her.

Several grenades had detonated at close range. If it had been an ordinary person, they would be half-dead at best, if not killed outright. Fortunately, she was a Martial Artist in the Qi Refining Realm. Her strong constitution, combined with using True Qi to protect her body at the critical moment, had saved her life.

”Husband!”

”Husband, where are you?”

Bai Ran spun around on the spot, her calls hoarse and choked with sobs.

”Don’t shout!” Suddenly, Han Xinyue’s low voice came from beside her.

Han Xinyue staggered to her side, clamping a hand over her mouth and forcing her into a squat. She whispered, ”Don’t shout. The snake is still here.”

Bai Ran gritted her teeth and shook her head fiercely, squinting to see ahead of her. Through her blurry vision, she could see the black snake writhing wildly under a pile of fallen trees. The nauseatingly thick stench of blood filled the air.

As her vision gradually cleared, she was shocked by what she saw. Only half of the black snake’s head remained. Its lower jaw hung loosely, connected only by a strip of skin. Its large eyes were gone, leaving two bloody holes that gushed blood. The sight was utterly terrifying.

Han Xinyue gestured for Bai Ran to be silent, then pointed toward Huang Qianggang, who was lying among the debris.

Bai Ran followed her gesture. Her eyes widened in horror, and her body went rigid as fat tears began to fall. ”Husband...”

At this point, Huang Qianggang was on the brink of death. A gaping, bloody hole in his chest was pouring blood. Inside the wound, a severed piece of the snake’s tongue was still faintly wriggling.

Only after the black snake had fled and disappeared did Bai Ran get up and run hastily to Huang Qianggang.

”Husband!”

”How are you?!”

Blood streamed from Huang Qianggang’s mouth and nose. His skin had started to turn black, a clear sign the snake’s venom had invaded his heart and was spreading through his body. He weakly opened his eyes, his expression filled with pain.

”Ranran, I... I think... I’m not going to make it...”

Bai Ran’s face was a mask of tears. She shook her head relentlessly. ”No, Husband, you’ll be fine! You have to be fine! I’ll get Ah Zhe right now! He can definitely save you!”

It seemed Huang Qianggang didn’t hear her. He slowly raised his bloody right hand to gently caress her cheek, his gaze gradually softening.

”Ranran, I’m sorry... I’ve... always been lying to you.”

”I have another woman... and a son with her.”

”I didn’t know how to choose... so I kept it from you.”

Tears streamed down Bai Ran’s face. She shook her head, choking out the words, ”I know. I’ve always known! Husband, please stop talking! You have to hold on! Ah Zhe will be here soon!”

Huang Qianggang’s eyes trembled slightly. ”If you knew, then why...?”

”...”

* * *

ROAR—!

A bellow like a bull’s abruptly echoed through the forest. Seizing the perfect moment, Yao Rao shot into the sky like a startled swan. Her longsword swung in a dazzling arc, delivering the fatal blow and severing the red snake’s head in one clean, decisive strike.

A Flood Snake with five hundred years of Cultivation was formidable, but it was no match for two cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm.

In the flattened clearing, the electric light around Sun Zhe slowly dissipated as he struggled to get up from the ground. Seeing the red snake’s severed head, he felt his scalp tingle with dread. The beast’s large eyes seemed to still hold some vitality, staring intently at him with an extreme hatred that gave him the chilling sense of being cursed.

Yao Rao walked toward him, one hand clutching her chest and the other holding her longsword. ”How are you?” she asked.

Sun Zhe shook his head, about to say he was fine, but a sudden surge of qi and blood made him spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. He had endured several blows from the red snake’s tail. Worse, using his Cultivation True Qi had caused his old injuries to resurface. He was now a spent force.

Yao Rao gave him a deep look. ”I’m sorry. The Ice and Fire True Qi has penetrated your very marrow. Even I can’t do anything about it.”

If she hadn’t said anything, it would have been one thing, but her words made Sun Zhe’s temper flare. He glared at her, ready to curse, but ultimately held his tongue.

Yao Rao changed the subject. ”Without you, I couldn’t have killed this Flood Snake.”

Sun Zhe turned and left without a word. Remembering the explosion, he was deeply worried for Bai Ran and Huang Qianggang. A moment later, he found Bai Ran sitting powerlessly on the ground, her head bowed as she sobbed. Huang Qianggang lay covered in blood, resting quietly on her lap, on the brink of death.

”Brother Huang!” Disregarding his own pain, Sun Zhe rushed over to check on him.

After a moment, he released Huang Qianggang’s wrist, his head bowing as his body trembled. At this point, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal could save Huang Qianggang. Just like the mercenary before, he had not only suffered a fatal wound but was also filled with an even deadlier snake venom.

In the silence, Huang Qianggang slowly opened his eyes, which were now streaming with dark blood. The True Qi within him dissipated, drifting away like mist. He looked at Sun Zhe with an almost pleading gaze and rasped, ”Doctor Sun... promise me one thing.”

Sun Zhe grasped his hand tightly and nodded. ”Brother Huang, just say it!”

”After I die, take care of... Ranran... Treat her well.”

Hearing this, Sun Zhe looked at the weeping Bai Ran, at a loss for words.

Huang Qianggang suddenly gritted his teeth. As if fueled by a final burst of life, he said in a low voice, ”You brat... you and Ranran have already... *cough, cough*... If you’re a man, you’ll take responsibility for her!”

Sun Zhe’s eyes trembled. ”You knew?”

Huang Qianggang said nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes as two streams of blackened blood trickled from the corners. Earlier, after he had confessed to Bai Ran, she had confessed to him about her affair with Sun Zhe. As they faced death, neither wanted to hold onto their deceptions any longer.

Huang Qianggang’s heart ached. Part of him wanted to strangle Sun Zhe, but he knew that once he was gone, Bai Ran would be all alone in the world. He could only entrust her to Sun Zhe’s care. At the very least, he hoped Sun Zhe could protect Bai Ran and get her out of Celestial Prison Mountain alive, back to the modern world.

”Sun Zhe, promise me!”

Sun Zhe nodded. ”Don’t worry, Brother Huang. I will definitely protect her.”

Huang Qianggang smiled, then turned to look at Bai Ran’s tear-drenched face. ”Ranran,” he said gently, ”in this life... I’ve wronged you... If there’s a next life... I will... not fail...”

The words came in fits and starts. Before he could finish, his pupils completely dilated, just like his life—ending midway before reaching its conclusion. His last spark of life vanished amidst Bai Ran’s heartbroken cries.

”Husband—!”

Bai Ran collapsed onto his body, crying her heart out.

His heart ached for Bai Ran. He suddenly noticed several broken branches piercing her body, blood gushing from the wounds. He immediately reached out to help. ”Sister-in-law, let me help you with...”

Bai Ran suddenly flung his hand away, screaming through her tears, ”Get away from me! Don’t touch me!”

”Hah, how ungrateful.” Han Xinyue’s cold laugh suddenly sounded from the side.

She stepped forward. Looking at Sun Zhe, she said in a coy tone, ”Divine Doctor Sun, why not help me first? I’m injured too. Besides, if it weren’t for me, those two would have been swallowed by that black snake long ago.”

”...”