RYEY – Chapter 234 The Revival Pill

After a moment of thought, Zhao Hui abandoned the idea. Once he sent Cheng Qiao back to the Hexi Corridor, he hurriedly left, not even willing to spare the time for a meal.

Cheng Qiao packed some food for Zhao Hui to take with him and quickly let little Cheng Li out. Over the past ten or so days, the boy had been holding it in badly. Just as he had been changed into a fresh diaper, Cheng Liguo returned.

“Cheng Qiao, you’re back! Come on, let’s go.”

Cheng Qiao looked at little Cheng Li helplessly. Sorry, little one, you’ll have to go back into the space; I can’t leave you alone in the cave dwelling.

Little Cheng Li gave Cheng Liguo a sharp look and then disappeared into the cave. Cheng Liguo rubbed his nose, wondering where he had offended his grandson—the look in his eyes was exactly like Zhao Min’s when he was angry.

Following Cheng Liguo to the place where they had last planted trees, Cheng Qiao froze. Rows upon rows of saxaul, tamarisk, and flowering shrubs, all desert-adapted plants, now appeared vividly green before her eyes.

“They survived… they really survived.”

Cheng Qiao muttered to herself. She couldn’t tell whether it was her father’s expert matting technique or the water from her space that made it possible.

“Dad, congratulations. Your idea was the right one.”

“Qiao, thank you. Without that water of yours, these saplings might not have survived. Can you stay for another two months? There’s another batch of saplings about to be transplanted.”

“Of course.”

Cheng Qiao agreed without hesitation. The environment here was just too harsh; once the wind blew, everyone would be covered in sand. Combating desertification was urgent.

Cheng Qiao wrote a letter to Li Huan, telling him she wouldn’t be home for another two months, and another letter to Liang Qingya, letting him know she had returned safely. Then she settled comfortably in the cave dwelling.

Little Cheng Li was starting to learn to walk. Both Yuan Guangming and Cheng Liguo couldn’t help but smile whenever they saw the little boy.

Jiang Meili, realizing that Li Bing had gone to the border, regretted her own pretentiousness and the missed opportunity to reconcile with him. So whenever she had free time, she came over to Cheng Qiao’s place.

Seeing Jiang Meili again, little Cheng Li smiled and offered her a small cookie. Delighted, Jiang Meili held his hand and pretended to nibble the cookie—but little Cheng Li simply popped it into her mouth.

“Oh, little Cheng Li, you’re so generous! That’s a cookie! Auntie was just playing with you.”

“Giggling…”

Little Cheng Li laughed. There were plenty of these cookies at home; he couldn’t finish them all, so he shared with this kind-looking auntie.

“Cheng Qiao, you have to teach your son not to be so generous; otherwise, he’ll be taken advantage of in the future.”

Jiang Meili chewed and swallowed the cookie, then pulled out an oiled paper package from her pocket, containing two greasily rich mung bean cakes.

“Here, I saved these especially for you. Eat slowly.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Oh! Little Cheng Li can talk now.”

Just as Cheng Qiao happily watched Jiang Meili tease little Cheng Li, Qin Guoqing arrived in a van. The moment he saw Cheng Qiao, he grabbed her and tried to get her into the vehicle.

“Stop! What are you doing, kidnapping someone?”

Cheng Qiao frowned. Her son was still in the cave—there was no way she would leave him behind. Besides, she didn’t even know what was going on.

“Sister-in-law, quick! Brother Li Bing—”

“What happened to him?”

Before Cheng Qiao could ask, Jiang Meili rushed out, worried.

“Brother Li Bing was shot in the chest, right at the heart. Now…”

“Cheng Qiao, what’s wrong?”

Cheng Liguo’s voice came, and Cheng Qiao immediately scooped up little Cheng Li and climbed into the van with him. Jiang Meili also jumped in; there were no seats left, but she sat in the back, desperate to see Li Bing.

The van shot off like an arrow. Yuan Guangming, just having washed his hands, saw Cheng Liguo and the others leaving. The cave door was wide open. He shook his head—thankfully, he was here.

After more than half an hour, they arrived at a military hospital. Cheng Qiao handed little Cheng Li to Cheng Liguo and quickly went upstairs with Qin Guoqing.

“Sister-in-law, Brother Li Bing is in there. Go see him quickly.”

Cheng Qiao pushed open the door. The ward contained only a single bed. Li Bing lay on it, pale and bloodless, while Qin Daqiang half-knelt at his bedside, a few doctors nearby showing helpless expressions.

“Cheng Qiao, please save him. Li Bing blocked a bullet for me. I beg you—save him!”

Qin Daqiang saw Cheng Qiao and crawled toward her on his knees, clutching her sleeve, his tiger-like eyes full of tears and desperation.

Cheng Qiao said nothing. She sat on the edge of the bed and placed her fingers on Li Bing’s pulse. Almost no movement could be felt; most of his life force was gone.

Leaning closer, Cheng Qiao whispered something in Qin Daqiang’s ear. His eyes lit up. He quickly stood and ushered everyone out of the ward.

The doctors were confused but obedient—they didn’t want to offend a military regiment commander—so they left, closing the door behind them.

Cheng Qiao pulled a small box from her pocket and took out a golden Revival Pill. She broke it and placed it into Li Bing’s mouth. The pill dissolved upon contact with water, gradually entering his stomach.

Placing her fingers on his carotid artery, she counted: ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes. Just as she began to feel a twinge of disappointment, she felt a faint pulse under her fingertips.

Delighted, she quickly checked his wrist. The pulse had returned—slow and weak, but he was alive.

Cheng Qiao disinfected some acupuncture needles with alcohol, loosened Li Bing’s shirt, and inserted the needles at key points to speed blood circulation, enhancing the Revival Pill’s effect.

Ten minutes later, Li Bing opened his eyes, staring at the white ceiling, disoriented. When he finally heard a familiar voice, he realized he had been saved.

“Brother, can you hear me?”

“You… it’s you who saved me, isn’t it?”

Cheng Qiao smiled and nodded. She hadn’t just saved him; she had also strengthened his constitution. His agility and overall abilities would improve even further.

The door opened. Qin Daqiang had been standing outside, ears pressed against it, heart racing. Hearing Li Bing’s voice inside, he excitedly pushed open the door and saw the once-pale Li Bing now showing a flush of color.