I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1899 - 330: Risk

Chapter 1899: Chapter 330: Risk

Humans are strange creatures; they do not entirely follow instincts like animals do. Instead, they are influenced by their environment, particularly by the opinions of others.

The saying "three men make a tiger" implies that a person who grows up in an environment full of belittlement and discrimination will inevitably feel inferior and sensitive.

Conversely, if one grows up in an environment full of admiration and encouragement, even someone with average talents will inexplicably feel confident, believing they are unique and remarkable.

This superficial characteristic of humans is applied in various fields, one part of which is the praise of ordinary people for doctors.

Phrases like "a healer with parental compassion" and "a benevolent heart with miraculous hands" are mostly encouragements rather than facts. The purpose is to elevate the status of doctors so they have a moral benchmark when practicing.

To be precise, Xiehe’s respect for doctors is about placing them on this standard.

Why?

The reason is simple. If doctors completely act according to human nature, then it becomes terrifying.

If you think carefully about the process of treating a disease, you’ll find it resembles robbery in many ways.

If you are robbed, you are no match for the robber; they threaten you to hand over your money, refusing to do so means risking your life, so you can only trade money for your life;

When you are sick and want to live, you go to a clinic for treatment. After the diagnosis, they prescribe medicine, requiring money to buy the medicine. If you don’t take the medicine, the illness will worsen, and in a few years, it might threaten your life. Given the desire to live, you buy the medicine to sustain your life.

The reason the three robbers in Xiehe are no match for one medicine seller is that for many ordinary people, the cost of a serious illness is equivalent to encountering highwaymen on the road.

The difference, however, is encountering a robber and having your money taken away. You feel angry, gnash your teeth, remember the robber’s face and build, and want revenge, even if it takes ten years.

But encountering a serious illness and spending money on medicine, losing all your wealth, you still manage to survive and remember the doctor’s face and build with gratitude.

Such situations arise due to information inequality, just like highwaymen having superior force, doctors also possess medical skills, making you willingly part with your money.

But on reflection, the essence of herbs is akin to food, and what makes medicine harder than martial arts?

This situation arises because of human beings’ inherent survival instinct, willingly giving up bargaining power and surrendering oneself to others.

Things were better within Unparalleled City because when the Xiling flood happened, Sun Jinfang, along with other doctors, merged into Red Cloud Mountain and later established Jinfang Pharmacy within the inner city, including doctors like Lu Xuening who were concealed among the populace in the fort.

But Lingjiang Central Region was less fortunate. With masses flocking in, coupled with the recently excavated Xiling’s damp and sweltering environment, the ground was full of waste, breeding insects and rodents. The fragile human body easily fell ill, and they could only turn to Xiling’s clinics for help.

Most of these clinics were controlled by clans or Commerce Alliances, and the treatment prices were exorbitantly unaffordable.

They made a fortune, caring little for those without means. After all, in the view of these ’people,’ patients who can’t afford to pay are basically meant to die.

But this is the logic of merchants, not the perspective of Unparalleled City. The Xiling Central Hospital, spearheaded by Mi Bai, aimed to cut off the profits of all clinics at the source.

However, cutting off people’s financial resources is akin to killing their parents, so the clinics in Lingjiang Central Region reacted like ants on a hot pot upon hearing the movement.

It’s a lie to say there’s no anxiety because anyone with insight can see Mi Bai’s intentions.

Unparalleled City not only wants to take the most lucrative advantage in Xiling but also aims to redefine the standards.

The former can be tolerated by the clans and Commerce Alliances, but the latter makes it difficult for them to withstand.

In another place, they would definitely find every means to disrupt, but this is Xiling.

This is Unparalleled City’s Xiling; this is the dean’s Xiling. No matter how much dissatisfaction they harbor, they can only put on a smiling face.

Watching the most precious land in Xiling become the largest clinic in Lingjiang Central Region and even the entire Longzhou.

...

In the year 1797 of the Dragon Continent Calendar, on the nineteenth day of the first month

The new year for the Tang Clan was spent on a large ship. For the land they were about to return to, the emotions of the Tang Clan members were very complicated.

Time can dilute many things, including hatred. If enough time passes, even the faces you think you’ll never forget will slowly blur.

If this is the case for personal experiences, even more so for children born later.

Take for example Tang Ziqi and Tang Zilin, the sons of the head instructor of the Marshal Star Pavilion.

The children born in eighty-five are now twelve years old, inheriting their mother’s looks and their father’s stature, the two sons appear exceptionally dashing.

On the ship filled with homesickness, the two half-brothers sat on the deck, with the introverted and quiet Tang Zilin captivated by the sea, while his brother, full of gestures and words, made grand promises alongside him.

"Xiling is our ancestral land, North Mountain is where the Tang Family ancestors are buried, this time we go back to reclaim the Tang Clan’s honor!"

"Everything the previous generations lost, I, Tang Zilin, will retrieve for them one by one!"

When he got into character, Tang Ziqi grabbed the deck railing with one hand, clenched his fist to his heart with the other, his eyes shining as if piercing through the sky.

Tang Zilin, resting his chin on one hand, turned to look at his brother’s dramatic posture and mumbled, "Father said that this time we go back mainly to recuperate, not for fighting."

This answer displeased Tang Ziqi, who patted the head-shorter Tang Zilin, saying, "Recuperating is for better fighting later. We’re the sons of the head instructor; we’ll surely charge the front in the future. Come, let me test if your martial arts have regressed!"

"Right now?"

Tang Zilin, with a bitter face, clung to stay put, "We’re on a ship, isn’t it inappropriate?"

"We are martial artists, there’s no reason to stop training just because we’re on a ship, come on, let’s go!"

As Tang Ziqi loudly called out while heading to the open area in the middle of the deck, he caught the attention of many clan members onboard.

Watching the dejected Tang Zilin walk toward the middle, many clan members who knew the circumstances covered their mouths, chuckling silently.

The son of the Tang Xingzong instructor’s concubine might be getting beaten again today.

...

Unparalleled City, Yunluo Garden

The quietly closed door, the periodic cries of pain, and Tang Luo’s tense expression all indicated that today was a significant day.

And the Unparalleled City’s expert, who originally intercepted Lu Xuening for peace of mind, heard devastating news.

"The lady is a Fierce Realm martial artist with an extraordinary physique, but during childbirth, this isn’t much of an advantage."

Lu Xuening frowned, "Childbirth among Fierce Realmers is rare, and the survival rate is extremely low. Firstly, because the mother’s body is strong, making natural delivery difficult, and secondly, because the baby is very fragile. Should the mother be even slightly careless, with any exertions of skill or Spiritual Power, the child’s life would be at risk. Thus, the lady must not only endure the pain but also control the skill and Spiritual Energy, refraining from any reaction. The dean must be mentally prepared."