The patient was in urgent need, so Kochou Shinobu didn't waste time. She personally went to retrieve the medicinal herbs Su Chen mentioned, and Kanzaki Aoi assisted her. With the three of them working together, Su Chen quickly healed the injured man.
Feeling sensation return to his leg, the villager's eyes widened.
"It moved! It moved! My leg can move!"
"Oh, thank you so much, Sir!" the man's brother grasped Su Chen's hand, his voice thick with gratitude. "My cousin's leg is really better! You're a miracle doctor!"
Su Chen just patted the man's shoulder. "It's alright. Next!"
Another stretcher was immediately carried in.
"What's wrong with you?" Su Chen asked, not looking up from his tools.
A weak, familiar voice answered, "I'm sorry... I'm so weak."
Su Chen's head snapped up. "Huh?"
He looked at the person on the stretcher and chuckled. It was Inosuke. It seemed Inosuke had broken bones, just like the man before him. Su Chen was amused that he, too, had been sent to the gynecology department.
He squatted down to check Inosuke's condition. The boy was lying obediently on the stretcher, which was completely out of character for him. It was clear he had fractures in his chest and back.
Su Chen stroked his chin, observing Inosuke. The external injuries were easy to treat, but a troubled mind was more difficult. The kid must have been crushed by losing to the Wind Hashira and Flame Hashira one after another.
Su Chen didn't say anything. With a few swift movements, he set Inosuke's bones back in place. He then wrapped his chest and, as a finishing touch, tied the bandage in a beautiful butterfly knot.
Inosuke just looked at Su Chen helplessly, repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm so weak."
"Next!" Su Chen called out.
The scorching sun gradually set, casting a dim orange glow over the Butterfly Mansion. It would be dark in another two hours.
Su Chen kept treating patients, one after another. Kochou Shinobu and Kanzaki Aoi assisted him, while Kanao silently kept score at the door.
He fell into a rhythm. As he healed each patient, his medical skills improved.
[You have healed the patient. Your medical skills have improved.]
After healing his 99th patient, he felt he had become proficient, gaining a deeper insight into the classic medical skills: observing, listening, inquiring, and feeling.
[This is the 149th injured person you have healed. You have gained enlightenment, and your medical skills have advanced to master level!]
Without even realizing it, Su Chen had become completely immersed in his work.
His progress was incredibly fast. His diagnoses were flawless, and his speed increased. Before, simple bandaging took him two seconds. Now, he could use both hands at once, bandaging two injured people at the same time without effort.
He still had time to tie a beautiful butterfly knot at the end of each bandage. Su Chen told the injured it was a souvenir of their visit to the Butterfly Mansion, explaining that the shape was modeled after Kochou Shinobu's hair clip.
When Shinobu heard this, she couldn't help but glance at him, her pretty face turning red. The village women held up their 'butterfly knots.'
"Oh, this little moth is quite cute," one chuckled.
"Exactly! Sir is a miracle healer. His hands can cure illness and catch moths!"
"Little girl, a boy as good as Sir... you should act fast. He kept glancing at the back of your head; he most likely likes you."
"Exactly! If I were thirty years younger, I would have made a move myself! You wouldn't even get a turn, little girl."
The women chattered on. The usually composed Kochou Shinobu felt her face boiling. She was the owner of the Butterfly Mansion, and she never expected to be teased by patients.
Usually, members of the Demon Slayer Corps came for treatment. To them, she was the Insect Hashira, and they wouldn't dare say such things. But these were villagers, and to them, she was just a beautiful 18-year-old woman. It was the perfect age for marriage.
Shinobu was also very beautiful, and the women adored her. They understood this girl already had someone in her heart; she blushed every time his name was mentioned. But she lacked initiative! So, the women wanted to help set them up.
Facing such a strong, repeated offense from the women, Kochou Shinobu finally couldn't bear it. Flustered, she quickly excused herself and fled the room.
Seeing the fun was over, the women quieted down and obediently lined up for Su Chen.
About fifteen minutes later, Su Chen had healed all the injured people. His reputation had spread, and patients had come from other departments, too. Some came for his superb medical skills, and some for the free butterfly knots. A few—mostly Demon Slayer Corps members—even came just to see the rumored romance between him and the Insect Hashira. They came to gawk, even if they weren't injured.
This had caused a bit of chaos earlier, but Shinobu had cleverly posted a notice: "Demon Slayer Corps members and onlookers are not allowed inside!" That improved the situation.
By the end, Su Chen had treated everyone except for the patients in the pediatrics department.
Kanzaki Aoi then began sending the healed villagers home, using the same Demon Slayer Corps members who had brought them up the mountain.
And with that, the second round of the rescue competition officially ended.
As Su Chen stood up, a graceful figure in a colorful haori returned. Kochou Shinobu was back. She didn't dare to look at Su Chen, walking directly over to Kanao to check the score.
Su Chen: 198 points!
It was just as she'd guessed. Su Chen's medical skills were top-notch. Even Shinobu herself couldn't treat patients that efficiently. Her mouth parted slightly in surprise. His skills were truly formidable. What else was this mischievous boy hiding from her?
Now it was settled. There was no need for a third round. First place was already decided.
Kochou Shinobu glanced at the pediatrics department next door. Over there, Kyoujurou and Shinazugawa were still working hard. Kyoujurou was serving tea, and Shinazugawa was handing out water.
Shinobu glanced at their scores.
Sanemi Shinazugawa: 18 points!
Kyojuro Rengoku: 17 points!
Both of them had managed to double their previous scores.