Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Dongfang Yi carefully hid the dagger in the Storage Bag, then rode his skateboard to school.

Xu Xingguang stood by the street and finished a juicy pear before heading to Medicine Field 18. Next to the gate post was a power column, where Xu Xingguang parked her balance car and plugged in the energy line.

She arrived at the gate and started work, only to find that Granny Nan was not there, but her Black Eagle Tea kettle and the cloth bag she carried during work were.

After signing in, Xu Xingguang entered Medicine Field 18 and saw Granny Nan squatting intently on the ridge to the left.

Xu Xingguang crouched down beside Granny Nan, "Granny Nan, what are you watching?"

Granny Nan extended her aged index finger, pointing at a spot in front of her, her voice as soft as if afraid of disturbing something. "Look, it’s sprouting."

Following Granny Nan’s finger, Xu Xingguang saw a bunch of translucent little sprouts.

Seeing those sprouts, Xu Xingguang let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

This land is indeed suitable for the growth of Black Widows.

"Is this the Black Widow you mentioned? It sprouted." Granny Nan exclaimed in awe.

"Yes, in five days, all the seeds in this medicine field should sprout." She gazed at the transparent leaves and explained, "After maturing, the Black Widow will grow into a spherical shape. Peel off the outer black leaves, and you will see the crystal-like fruit inside."

Granny Nan contemplated, "Are the black leaves poisonous then?"

"Not at all." Xu Xingguang shook her head with a playful tone, "The black leaves happen to be harmless, they are originally semi-transparent leaves. However, the Black Widow’s toxin is so strong that it can erode even its own leaves. These leaves were supposed to be a powerful antidote, but after long exposure to toxins, they too become poisoned and blackened."

Granny Nan marveled, "Truly unheard of." It was her first time hearing of a medicinal plant that poisons its own leaves.

"Although the Poisonous Widow is highly toxic, there is an antidote." Xu Xingguang tapped her right index finger on the back of her left hand and smiled, "Those transparent leaves that weren’t completely poisoned by the Black Widow serve as its antidote."

Xu Xingguang smiled lightly and reflected, "Medicinal plants are like children; each has its temperament and preferences. As long as you give them enough patience and care, they will give you unexpected surprises."

Xu Xingguang gazed earnestly and gently at the transparent leaves, her eyes sparkling like stars blooming in the midnight sky.

Granny Nan could feel Xu Xingguang’s obsession and affection for medicinal plants.

"These medicinal plants have never been discovered in the Divine Martial Realm." Granny Nan asked Xu Xingguang, "Did you bring these from the Infected Zone?"

Granny Nan assumed that the Poisonous Widow was unique to the Infected Zone, a new kind of medicinal plant born from the Meteorite infection.

Xu Xingguang knew Granny Nan misunderstood but felt this misunderstanding could nicely explain the origin of the Black Widow, so she nodded and said, "Yes, it’s a new kind of medicinal plant from the Infected Zone."

Granny Nan looked at the translucent sprouts and suddenly changed the topic, "You casually told me about the characteristics and effects of the Black Widow, aren’t you reluctant?"

If a doctor were to discover a brand new medicinal plant, they would surely keep it secret, register it at the traditional medicine center, and name it themselves.

This is a kind of honor.

Xu Xingguang was initially stunned.

Understanding Granny Nan’s intent behind the question, Xu Xingguang found it amusing and said, "I’ve always believed that a doctor’s greatest value lies in using their lifelong knowledge to give back to the world, helping more patients recover."

"If a doctor doesn’t have the heart to heal the world, how can they earn the people’s respect?"

Granny Nan was moved.

Looking at Xu Xingguang’s excessively young face, she suddenly stood and bowed deeply to Xu Xingguang. "Miss Xu, your insight today has enlightened me greatly. It is fortunate to know and work with Miss Xu."

Xu Xingguang didn’t expect Granny Nan to offer such a grand gesture; she quickly stood up to reciprocate, "Elder Tan Nan, you are very kind."

This time, Granny Nan did not deny her identity; she sat on the ridge, reminiscing about her life. "I, Ying Tanan, have lived nearly two hundred years, and I have met countless skilled and respected medical elders in my life. Yet, even among them, very few have such an open mind as Miss Xu."

"When we entered Medical College, our first lesson was about ’saving lives and healing the wounded’. But as we grow older and our experiences expand, we forget the original intent of medicine, which is to serve the people and the nation, and to save lives."

Ying Tanan looked at the sky and sighed, "It’s as if the longer we live, the further we move backward."

Ying Tanan-like figures are not rare in the medical world.

She believed every learner, upon deciding to enter this field, once held the original intent of ’saving lives and healing the wounded’. But after staying in this field for long, they gradually forgot their purpose. Some commit all sorts of evil for money, some breach ethical boundaries for personal desire, some seek fame and fortune, and only a few persistently carry the benevolent heart to heal the world.

"You rest, I’ll get busy." Xu Xingguang stood up and left.

Ying Tanan saw her expertly don her sun hat and carry a small hoe, working diligently to dig channels in the medicinal field, feeling somewhat touched.

A few days ago, she had applied to Medicine King City to review Xu Xingguang’s data.

Xu Xingguang’s information had arrived in her smart brain last night, and after carefully reviewing it, she realized this girl was actually the Lady Captain of the Huo Family in the Infected Zone.

Information regarding the Infected Zone is edited into video footage and circulated every ten years among the people. Although they have no opportunity to visit the Infected Zone, they can understand the locals’ living conditions through these videos.

The Huo Family is the leading noble family among the top hundred financial conglomerates in the Infected Zone, controlling its economic lifeline.

The entire Infected Zone respects the Huo Family.

Xu Xingguang, as the Lady Captain of the Huo Family, surely leads a highly respected affluent life in the Infected Zone. Even in the Divine Martial Realm, perhaps only those like the City Lord’s Wife of Medicine King City could compare in status.

Yet the City Lord’s Wife of Medicine King City would not roll up her sleeves, don a hat, and do heavy work in the fields.

In fact, she even knows how to operate an excavator.

Ying Tanan marvelled, "She’s truly a continuously surprising young girl."

*

Five days later, Medicine Field 18 was covered with silver-white tender leaves, resembling a ground covered in frost overnight.

Ying Tanan surveyed the medicine field and found all the medicinal plants were growing vibrantly, with no sign of wilting, which deeply touched her.

As Xu Xingguang left work carrying her cloth bag, Ying Tanan called out to her.

"Have a cup of tea." Ying Tanan handed her a cup, which was a brand-new crystal glass, clearly prepared specially for her.

Xu Xingguang accepted the tea with both hands, took a sip of Black Eagle Tea, and found the slightly bitter tea long-lastingly fragrant after swallowing. She praised, "This is Imperial Tea-grade Black Eagle Tea, excellent tea."

Ying Tanan felt proud and said, "This was given to me by the Family Head’s Wife of the Ying Family, just a small packet, very hard to find."

Xu Xingguang smiled, "Then I must drink a few more sips, not waste a drop." She smiled and took another sip.

Ying Tanan laughed heartily.

Xu Xingguang placed the cup on the desk, clocked out, "Granny Nan, tomorrow is my day off, see you the day after."

Xu Xingguang walked to the power column, unplugged the energy line, and was about to return to the town, when she heard Ying Tanan say, "Bring your recommendation letter when you come to work the day after tomorrow."

Xu Xingguang was a bit surprised at first, but then her face blossomed into a bright smile. "Alright!"

She started the balance car, just stepping onto it, when she heard Ying Tanan say, "Bus number 8 goes straight to Golden Gate City, you haven’t had the chance to explore the city yet, have you?"

"Okay, then I’ll go into the city for a stroll." Xu Xingguang pressed the flight button and heard Ying Tanan say again, "Do you have money? I can advance you some intern salary."

Xu Xingguang turned back with a sweet smile at Ying Tanan, "Then I’ll trouble Granny Nan."

Ying Tanan signed her name on the payroll sheet, and handed it to Xu Xingguang, "Go to the town hall for it. With my advance note, they will help you process it."

"Thank you!"

Seeing Xu Xingguang fly hundreds of meters away in the blink of an eye like a gust of wind, Ying Tanan shook her head and laughed, "Little fox." She muttered, realizing Xu Xingguang had purposely lingered to get her to offer the money first.

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