TDU Chapter 346
Chapter 346 Desire for Death
Doctor Zhao was drenched in sweat as he examined Chen Junnan’s wounds.
He realised the situation was more complicated than it seemed.
Chen Junnan’s injuries weren’t simply cuts; they were mixed with contusions. It seemed the damage wasn’t caused by blades, but by sharp spikes. These spikes had penetrated his body, then moved vertically, carving wounds while simultaneously tearing vast amounts of flesh.
Under such agonizing pain, most people would have long lost consciousness. Yet this man remained awake.
Had he endured such injuries many times before?
"Xiōngdì." Doctor Zhao gently tapped Chen Junnan’s face. "You can’t fall asleep now. We don’t have anesthesia, only some basic tools to treat your wounds… You need to keep talking to me, understand?"
"Motherfu… this young master does not f*cking understand…" Chen Junnan’s eyes glazed over as he stared at the ceiling, muttering a curse under his breath, lost in thought.
Doctor Zhao rifled through the supplies prepared by {Passage to Heaven}. There were plenty of scissors, knives, and the like, but none met medical standards. Most seemed to be school stationery. There were no needles or thread; the only viable tool appeared to be...
He pulled out a stapler from the assorted items, opening it to inspect the staples inside. Given the rudimentary conditions, the stapler might actually be the best option.
Chen Junnan turned to Doctor Zhao, swallowing hard with a complicated expression. "Wait... can this young master say a few words first?"
"Sure, we need to keep talking regardless," Doctor Zhao replied. After reassembling the stapler, he separated its handle from the base and lowered his head to examine Chen Junnan’s wounds. "While I treat you, we have to keep chatting. You absolutely cannot fall asleep."
"You…" Chen Junnan glanced at Doctor Zhao helplessly. "I swear… every time you treat someone, you seem like a different person."
"Is that so?" Doctor Zhao didn’t look up. He grabbed the wound on Chen Junnan’s lower abdomen, then clicked the stapler body shut to clamp the edges together. Next, he used scissors to bend the protruding staples ends, smoothing them.
He found that this method truly allowed the wound to close temporarily, easing the tension in his chest.
After all, the blood would gradually clot. The only thing left to do now was to minimize the wound’s surface area to prevent excessive bleeding.
"Hey, don’t fall asleep," Doctor Zhao wiped the sweat from his brow and said again, "Tell me, what are your current thoughts?"
"I want to die," Chen Junnan said flatly.
"What? That’s not good…" Doctor Zhao panicked slightly. "This guy’s started talking nonsense. Unfortunately, we don’t have the means for a transfusion here. Just hang in there…"
Xu Qian and Yan Zhichun sat in a corner of the classroom, watching Doctor Zhao treat Chen Junnan but unsure how to help.
Yun Yao had left hurriedly shortly after entering the room; where she went, no one knew. Now, disregarding the two women, only Han Yimo as well as Ole Lu and Specs, who had brought Chen Junnan here, were present.
"Doctor, will he survive?" Xu Qian asked timidly.
"I can’t say for sure…" Doctor Zhao shook his head. "This kind of injury isn’t my specialty. Whether he lives or dies depends entirely on his luck."
"My luck’s run out… just let me die…" Chen Junnan reached out, trying to push Doctor Zhao away, but found he had no strength left at all.
"He’s completely out of it," Xu Qian asked with concern. "Would he even recover mentally if he survives?"
"Qian jie…" Chen Junnan forced a bitter smile at her. "Why won’t you ever believe me… Can someone please just end this young master’s life?"
…
Not long after, Yun Yao pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Chen Junnan was still alive, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Behind her followed several others: a tanned, delicate-looking young woman: Li Xiangling; an elegant woman in her forties: Auntie Tong; and a scantily clad young woman who hadn’t appeared in days: Tian Tian.
At Auntie Tong’s arrival, Ole Lu immediately stood, respectfully rubbing his hands together. "Xiao Chan, what brings you here?"
Auntie Tong furrowed her brows. "Don’t call me Xiao Chan… with so many children around."
"Ah! Yes, yes!" Ole Lu nodded quickly, then turned to the group. "Teacher Tong is here. Show some respect, everyone."
None of those present paid him any mind.
"Yun Yao jie…" Li Xiangling asked with confusion, "Why did you call me here?"
Yun Yao paused thoughtfully before replying, "Xiangling, Auntie Tong, Specs…you three are among the few {Reverberatees} who managed to maintain their memories from the last cycle. I want you three to bear witness."
"Bear witness…?"
Yun Yao reached under a table and lifted up the withered head of Terrestrial Snake, placing it on the tabletop.
The expressions of those present shifted noticeably.
This was neither a mask nor a human head; it was the unmistakable, enormous head of a Terrestrial-grade {Earthly Branch}.
"This is…?" Auntie Tong asked, visibly stirred.
"Auntie Tong, you are one of the founding members of {Passage to Heaven}," Yun Yao said. "Please speak impartially when the time comes."
Before Yun Yao could continue further, Chu Tianqiu pushed open the door and entered. Strangely, his ever-present shadow Kim Wonhun was absent this time.
After Chu Tianqiu entered, he glanced around the room and smiled faintly. "Hmm…Quite the gathering."
Yun Yao eyed him warily and asked, "Where are Zhang Shan and Xu Liunian?"
"Zhang Shan took Xiao Nian on a mission," Chu Tianqiu replied as he slowly settled into a chair directly facing the Terrestrial Snake’s severed head. Yet he acted as though he hadn’t seen a thing, and calmly asked Yun Yao, "What is it you wanted to say to us?"
"Since you asked, I’ll speak frankly." Yun Yao adjusted Terrestrial Snake’s head so those lifeless serpent eyes faced Chu Tianqiu. "Today, a man staked his life against an {Earthly Branch} and won. In other words, he accomplished what you, Chu Tianqiu, have failed to do all these years."
"Oh?" Chu Tianqiu raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. Where is he? I would like to meet him."
Yun Yao paused. The room wasn’t large; Doctor Zhao had been treating Chen Junnan’s wounds the entire time, yet Chu Tianqiu continued to feign ignorance.
"That man is Chen Junnan," Yun Yao revealed. "His existence proves that staking one’s life against Terrestrial-grade {Earthly Branches} is not necessarily doomed. With sound tactics, exceptional courage, and a serviceable {Reverberation}, anyone can challenge them."
Auntie Tong and Li Xiangling glanced at Chen Junnan’s injuries. They sensed Yun Yao might be clinging to a stubborn hope; although the man was not technically dead, he was no different from one who was.
"So it’s him?!" Chu Tianqiu stood excitedly. "Excellent. He’s probably better suited to head {Passage to Heaven} than I ever was, don’t you agree?"
TL Note: For Chen Junnan, just let him dieeee. Also what is Xiao Chu playing at? Why is he acting like that?
