Sold for 300, I Fight Back with Superpowers

”What is it?” Su Qing asked.

Mr. Gong frowned slightly, looking troubled.

Su Qing held Mr. Gong in high regard. It was his medicines that had provided the cover she needed to openly explain away the healing of her facial scars. For that alone, Su Qing was immensely grateful to him.

”Mr. Gong, please, just tell me what’s on your mind,” Su Qing said again. ”If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it without a second thought.”

Mr. Gong sighed and said, ”Su, I do have a favor to ask, but I feel it’s a bit of an imposition.”

”Let’s hear it first.”

”It’s like this,” Mr. Gong began. ”As you know, I’ve been treating young Zhi Han’s injuries lately.”

Su Qing nodded. She knew about this. Mr. Gong had been treating An Zhihan ever since he agreed to take him on as a patient. An Zhihan, upon learning that Mr. Gong had agreed to treat him because of Su Qing’s persuasion, had grown even more grateful toward her. They would talk on the phone occasionally, and An Zhihan had told her before that Mr. Gong’s treatment was working—his physical condition had improved significantly.

’Could there be a problem with the treatment?’

”Mr. Gong, has something gone wrong?” Su Qing asked quickly.

”Ah, young Zhi Han’s injuries...” Mr. Gong sighed. ”He survived that car accident all those years ago, but the damage was too severe. It compromised his body’s foundation. Fortunately, he’s been nourished with ginseng all these years. Plus, with the Century-old Purple Danshen you gathered from the mountains and those pieces of Huang Jing you gave me, young Zhi Han’s condition is much better than before. A good deal of his body’s deficiencies have been replenished. It’s just...”

”Just what?”

”As you know,” Mr. Gong said, ”Zhi Han’s spine was severely injured in that car accident. The damage was especially bad, and it affected the nerves. That’s why he’s been paralyzed all these years, unable to stand. Purple Danshen can help damaged nerves recover, but...”

Su Qing understood at once. ”But the potency isn’t enough. Even the Century-old Purple Danshen isn’t doing the trick, is it?”

Mr. Gong gave a helpless sigh. ”Yes.”

”Then what medicine do you need?” Su Qing asked. An Zhihan had helped her with that business in Xiangcheng. If he hadn’t given her Xiang’s contact information, she might not have learned about the Hetian Association and the Jiu Ying Gang so quickly. ’So, if I can help An Zhihan, I’m more than willing. After all, finding herbs in the mountains is a monumental task for others, but for me, it’s a simple matter of spending a little time.’

”It’s still Purple Danshen,” Mr. Gong said. ”Only, it needs to be at least eight hundred years old.”

”Eight hundred years!” Su Qing’s eyes widened in shock. ’That’s nearly a thousand-year-old Purple Danshen! It’s probably on the verge of gaining sentience.’

’Oh, right. No spirits allowed after the founding of the People’s Republic!’

’But still, an eight-hundred-year-old Purple Danshen would be incredibly difficult to find. No wonder Mr. Gong said earlier that his request was an imposition.’

”Indeed,” Mr. Gong sighed. ”What’s more, I’m not even sure if an eight-hundred-year-old Purple Danshen still exists in this world.”

”Mr. Gong, has there been any before?” Su Qing asked curiously.