People in Qin Dynasty: Opening the treasure chest, I took off!

Chapter 3 Cold Syndrome

Early in the morning, Xia Bing opened the door and saw her mother washing clothes in the yard.

The well water in late autumn was bone-chillingly cold. Her hands were soaking in the water, her knuckles turned white, but she was still vigorously scrubbing the patched hemp clothes.

"Mother." Xia Bing walked over and took her hand.

Cold as iron.

"The water's cold, I'll do it."

Xia Yufang withdrew her hand, wiped it on her apron, and said with a smile, "It's alright, Mother is used to it. You just woke up, go and rest for a while longer."

Xia Bing did not move.

He looked at his mother's hands—her knuckles were thick and rough, her skin cracked, and there were stains that couldn't be washed off under her fingernails. These hands had washed clothes and sewed patches for sixteen years, raising him to adulthood.

"Mother."

"Um?"

"Don't do these things again."

Xia Yufang paused for a moment, then laughed: "If we don't work, what will we eat?"

Xia Bing did not answer.

He turned and went back into the house, already having made up his mind.

......

These past few days, he has been collecting ordinary treasure chests within the territory of Zhao.

The treasure map was in his mind; he knew exactly what he was looking for. Under the cover of night, he went to the abandoned shrine in the west of the city, the dry well in the south, and the mass grave in the north…

I opened a total of twelve regular treasure chests.

The following items were found: 120 taels of gold, two Heaven-Mending Pills, one copy of the "Iron Shirt" manual, one copy of the "Eternal Spring Skill," one fine steel sword, and a quantity of wound medicine.

The gold was hidden under the bed, and the elixir was taken. The Iron Shirt and Everlasting Spring Techniques were absorbed by the Sacred Heart Manual.

System notification: The Sacred Heart Technique has absorbed the advantages of the Iron Shirt Technique, greatly enhancing its defense.

System notification: The Sacred Heart Technique has absorbed the advantages of the Everlasting Spring Technique, and the speed of internal energy recovery has been increased.

His strength soared from a third-rate Acquired Realm cultivator to the peak of the Great Perfection of the Acquired Realm.

He's just one step away from achieving perfection.

If martial artists in the martial arts world knew about this speed, they would probably be astonished.

But Xia Bing knew that this was just the beginning.

His gaze fell upon the dazzling mark on the map of his mind—

Diamond Chest.

Location: Side hall of the Zhao King's Palace.

......

In the afternoon, Xia Bing sat on the doorstep, watching her mother mend clothes in the yard.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the locust tree, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The mother, head bowed, moved the needle and thread with practiced skill and focused concentration.

This scene is so peaceful that it brings a sense of tranquility.

But Xia Bing noticed that her mother's hands were trembling slightly.

The cold yin meridian is severed, and it flares up once a month. Now it's late autumn, the weather is cold and the days of its onset are fast approaching.

He stood up and walked to his mother's side.

"Mother, let me take your pulse."

Xia Yufang looked up, somewhat surprised: "When did you learn how to take a pulse?"

"I learned it from an old Taoist priest." Xia Bing squatted down and placed her fingers on her mother's wrist.

The pulse is weak and feeble, indicating stagnation of Qi and blood, with cold Qi lingering deep within the meridians. This is a typical symptom of cold-induced yin deficiency.

Even more seriously, the chill was even more intense than during the last attack.

Xia Bing frowned slightly.

The medication is becoming less and less effective; if this continues, we won't survive the winter.

"Mother, have you felt unwell anywhere these past few days?"

Xia Yufang thought for a moment: "It's nothing, I just feel cold occasionally."

"Just cold?"

"Hmm...sometimes I feel tightness in my chest and can't breathe properly." Xia Yufang smiled. "It's an old problem, nothing serious."

Xia Bing remained silent.

He knew this was a sign that the cold was eroding his heart and lungs. If it continued to develop, the cold would penetrate his bone marrow, and then even a miracle wouldn't be able to save him.

......

As night fell, Xia Yufang began to cough.

At first, it was just a light cough; she covered her mouth, not wanting Xia Bing next door to hear.

But the cough became more and more severe. She bent over, her whole body trembling, and tears streamed down her face.

When Xia Bing pushed open the door, she saw her mother curled up on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her lips purple, and cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"Mother!"

He walked quickly over, placed his palm on his mother's back, and continuously poured in his sacred Qi.

Wherever the warm Qi passed, the coldness in her meridians was temporarily suppressed. Xia Yufang's cough gradually subsided, but her body was still trembling, and her teeth were grinding together.

Fifteen minutes later, Xia Yufang's breathing finally calmed down.

She leaned against the couch, completely exhausted, and didn't even have the strength to speak.

Xia Bing withdrew her hand, her brows furrowed.

The Sacred Heart True Qi can only suppress the symptoms, not the root cause. Each suppression lasts for a shorter and shorter time, but the coldness becomes increasingly severe.

If this continues, my mother's life...

"Bing'er..." Xia Yufang weakly opened her eyes, "Mother is alright...she'll be fine after a nap..."

Xia Bing grasped her hand, feeling its bone-chilling coldness.

"Mother, I'm going out for a bit."

"Where are you going so late?"

"Find medicine." Xia Bing stood up. "Medicine that can cure your cold ailment."

Xia Yufang was taken aback, then shook her head: "No need... Mother's illness has been seen by so many doctors, and they all say it's incurable... Don't waste your time..."

"It can be cured." Xia Bing said confidently. "I've found it."

Before Xia Yufang could say anything more, Xia Bing had already turned and left the room.

......

Under the moonlight, Xia Bing stood in the courtyard, looking up in the direction of the palace.

The diamond chest contains what he wants.

Phoenix Blood Essence can dispel all poisons and cure cold-related ailments. Dragon Essence Fragments can reshape the physical body and extend lifespan. There might also be Yin-attribute internal energy, allowing the mother's coldness to become the foundation for cultivation, turning misfortune into blessing.

He changed into a black outfit and strapped a steel sword to his back.

He freely ascended to immortality.

His figure was like a ghost, disappearing into the night.

Only the moonlight remained, shining on the old locust tree.

Under the tree, Xia Yufang leaned against the doorway, looking in the direction her son had disappeared, her eyes filled with worry and confusion.

"Looking for medicine... Why are we heading towards the palace?"

She shook her head, turned around, and went back into the house.

Bing'er has always been a sensible child, never causing her any worry. But this time, she felt something was amiss.

......

Meanwhile, Xia Bing had already traversed three streets and alleys, landing on a large tree outside the Zhao King's Palace.

He scanned his surroundings, sensing the atmosphere within the palace.

The guards patrolled in an orderly fashion. At the entrance of the main hall, a middle-aged man stood quietly, his aura restrained, indicating he was at least at the Great Perfection of the Acquired Realm.

Xia Bing narrowed her eyes.

It's a bit troublesome, but not unsolvable.

He took a deep breath, and with a flash, disappeared into the night.