Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 92 - 91: New Guests

"Welcome to—"

"Please... save my sister..." The person used all his strength to walk into the shop. Upon seeing the bright lights, it seemed like he lost all his energy, his legs giving out as he fell in front of Chen Xuan.

He saw that the boy’s clothes were stained with quite a bit of blood.

This was the first customer who interrupted his welcome speech.

The person indeed was carrying another individual on his back, who appeared to be a young girl, seemingly about the same age as the boy, around ten years old. Currently, her lips were pale, eyes tightly shut, and she showed no reaction despite being dropped on the ground. Chen Xuan reached out to check, discovering the girl had a severe fever, her forehead quite hot to the touch.

Sick but not seeking a doctor, instead running around in the wilderness, and coupled with the bloodstains on their clothes, could they be being chased?

"What’s going on? Is someone hurt?" Lin Qing came over and asked.

Chen Xuan didn’t answer immediately but first expanded the spiritual qi within him, enveloping an area of about two miles around the manor. He could sense seven or eight people moving nearby, but none were directly approaching the manor; their movement patterns more resembled locals living in the area. This indicated that the other party was temporarily free from pursuers, or they had managed to shake them off.

However, to be safe, he still pulled down the shutter door of the shop.

Over there, Lin Qing had already checked the physical status of the guests, "Neither has obvious external injuries; the blood on them is from others. But their breathing is very weak, and their blood pressure is abnormally low. The girl’s temperature is 39 degrees, her pulse chaotic – the situation is quite dangerous."

After speaking, she even pinched the boy’s cheek, "Hey, wake up! It’s no use... he’s already unconscious."

No fatal injuries, so feeding them Blood Orange would be useless.

Considering their vital signs were starting to drop, it indicated that without treatment, they were likely to go into shock and die.

"What should we do?" Lin Qing asked.

Chen Xuan realized that the shop really didn’t have much in the way of treating critical guests; professional help was needed for rescuing and curing them, "Let’s find a doctor."

...

The Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine beside the Hundred Herbs Hall was the nearest top-tier hospital to the Celestial Ridge District.

However, Chen Xuan did not directly send the guests to the big hospital for emergency treatment. The reason was simple: emergencies require identity registration and a clear explanation of the cause of illness. These two children are undocumented; Lin Qing can forge an electronic medical card for them easily, but concocting a complete and traceable identity is practically impossible. Once the hospital finds out, it will draw the police, leading them to him.

After all, his identity information is all authentic.

Chen Xuan first called the drugstore owner, Xu Wangxian, asking if he had any connections in this area.

Drugstore operators generally have close ties with hospitals, such as doctors sometimes recommending patients to buy medicine from outside pharmacies due to these relationships. And the fact that Xu Wangxian dared to take in large quantities of Blood Orange and Sweet Green Clear Pill suggests that his connections are broader than those of a typical pharmacy.

Sure enough, shortly after hanging up the phone, Xu Wangxian quickly called back.

"Young friend, I’ve found a doctor for you. If you’re in a hurry, you can bring them to me first; I have a few beds here and can perform some basic checks."

"Thanks to Boss Xu, I’ll be there right away."

"Alright, I’ll be waiting for you at the door."

Chen Xuan and Lin Qing each carried a child, took a taxi to the Hundred Herbs Hall, and sure enough, Xu Wangxian was waiting at the door.

"Young friend, come quickly."

His attitude towards Chen Xuan seemed much warmer than when selling medicine, directly guiding them to the second floor of the pharmacy, into a room with seven or eight beds, seemingly used for patient drips.

Inside sat two in white coats, one was Doctor Jiang whom Chen Xuan had met before, and the other seemed to have hurried over from next door, still wearing the Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine logo on his chest.

"Is it these two kids?"

Chen Xuan and Lin Qing laid the guests on the beds, "Yes."

"Do you know any possible reasons for the illness? Poisoning? Any snake bites?" Doctor Jiang asked while examining.

"I don’t know."

"The skeletal structure is fine; no obvious external wounds on the surface; the body is severely dehydrated, requiring blood tests. Here, we can first rehydrate, including glucose and adrenocortical hormones...," both soon made judgments.

"Do you have testing equipment here?" Chen Xuan asked.

"After drawing their blood, it will be taken next door for testing, rest assured, no records will be left." Xu Wangxian whispered.

He never once asked Chen Xuan about the origins of these patients.

Such a cooperative attitude made Chen Xuan feel as if Boss Xu is quite experienced in such matters.

Seeing the doctors busy and Lin Qing closely monitoring the two kids’ situation, Chen Xuan felt somewhat relieved, "Thank you, Boss Xu, for your help this time."

"Young friend, we call this mutual help," Xu Wangxian said with a smile, "If it weren’t for you visiting my shop, I wouldn’t have been able to get that ticket. If you ever need anything from me, just say the word."

Ticket?

Chen Xuan felt a jolt within, but he didn’t voice it, only nodded slowly.

"How’s the pill selling?"

Seeing this reaction, Xu Wangxian’s smile grew more amiable, "Extremely popular, the last batch was snapped up immediately upon arrival, now I only have reservation lists, absolutely no physical stock."

"Is the Sweet Green Clear Pill selling as well?"

"To be honest, it’s even more sought after than Blood Orange. From what I know, some are reselling it for seventy to eighty thousand per pill," Xu Wangxian truthfully revealed, "At least Blood Orange has to wait for injury to be useful; wealthy buyers get one or two as an emergency backup. Sweet Green Clear Pill is different, as people age, ailments only increase, especially chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, phlegm in the lungs... symptoms that can’t be treated otherwise; one pill provides comfort for ten to fifteen days, imagine how many people would want it."

Goodness... they’ve started treating it like a health supplement.

"What do you think its market size is?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.

"At least several hundred billion," Xu Wangxian’s tone was light, "No need for public advertising; internal circulation takes care of it. People universally fear death, the richer they are, the more they feel this way. As long as they’re told it’s beneficial, even if it’s not effective, they’ll rush to buy. Especially when it’s as effective as what you’re offering."

That’s great.

If Chen Xuan were to do alchemy alone, it certainly would not be cost-effective.

But now, several villagers in Hot Pepper Village have started learning Pill Medicine Study, basic herbs are plentiful in the Wanshan Wilderness, and over time, the village will naturally accumulate a large amount of pills.

If he asks Liu Shuyue for some, she certainly won’t refuse.

"However... I think young friend cares little for such worldly possessions, right?" Xu Wangxian stroked his beard, changing the subject, "To attain immortality, no amount of wealth means much. To live as long as heaven and earth, to shine as brightly as the sun and moon is the pursuit of immortals. Though I’m not of the Dao, I understand this reasoning, even more so should young friend."

What? Who said I don’t care?

No money, how will he arm his cultivation squad!

And what’s the notion of seeking immortals?

Nowadays, supernatural abilities are widely acknowledged, but such powers are randomly awakened, not sought out. As for living as long as heaven and earth, that’s pure fantasy.

The problem is, looking at the other’s "rest assured, I’ve figured everything out, young friend is indeed remarkable" expression, Chen Xuan could only respond with silence. The atmosphere had reached a point where saying he just wants money would be a buzzkill.

An hour later, Doctor Jiang brought back the test results.

"No internal illnesses, no poisoning, primarily due to severe physical weakness."

"Weakness?"

"Yes, the two likely went a long time without food or water, possibly reaching the point of autophagy. Another one or two days, and it might have triggered organ failure and uremia, putting them in grave danger."

"How are they now?" Chen Xuan asked.

"Still asleep, but all indicators are improving, they should be out of danger," Doctor Jiang explained thoroughly, "Ideally, they should stay here for observation for three days, continue administering nutrients to stabilize their condition, then after three days, start introducing some light meals like porridge."

Before Chen Xuan could speak, Xu Wangxian had already taken over the conversation, "No need, these two should return with young friend. IV drips can be administered anywhere; we’ll prepare the meds and send them over."

Doctor Jiang glanced at his boss, then quickly caught on, "Right, Mr. Chen, does that work for you?"

"If anything new arises, you can always call me," Xu Wangxian added.

This Boss Xu is certainly a sharp individual, Chen Xuan thought. Not only avoiding inquiries about their identities, but also realizing he feels uneasy leaving them at the pharmacy, and proactively offering a reason to send them back.

And Chen Xuan indeed didn’t wish for anyone to contact the guests before him once they woke up.

He smiled slightly and went along with it, "Alright, then I’ll trouble you."