“What if I can cure the poison in your body?”

The moment Karl spoke, the stunningly beautiful woman halted mid-step.

“The poison in me is ‘Blaze,’ a toxin specially crafted by the imperial court. Unless the court alchemist who made it provides the antidote personally, there’s no cure.”

Without waiting for a reply, she resumed her weak, faltering steps toward the exit.

Yet to her surprise, Karl calmly added:

“Let me try. I might just be able to cure it.”

“…”

Truth be told, Karl had no intention of saving her—being linked to her could drag him into danger. But as a doctor in his past life, he couldn’t ignore a suffering patient. More importantly, he wanted to test his own medical skills: would the healing techniques he’d developed here, blending magic and medicine, actually work?

The woman turned, meeting Karl’s confident gaze. She hesitated slightly before speaking:

“How? You don’t even know the poison’s composition. What makes you think you can brew an antidote? I have at most six hours left.”

She truly didn’t believe he could succeed in time.

Karl replied without delay:

“No antidote needed. I’ll channel magic directly into your body to force the toxin out.”

“?????”

Her face froze in disbelief.

*Channel magic into the body to expel poison?*

If that worked, she’d have done it herself long ago!

Sensing her doubt, Karl explained:

“You can’t do it alone. The toxin didn’t enter your magic circuits—it invaded your meridians. Without knowing the meridian pathways, you can’t push it out.”

He’d already deduced this from the blackened veins on her wrist. To expel the poison, magic had to flow precisely through the meridians.

“Meridians?? What are those?” she asked, utterly confused.

“Think of them as a second set of magic circuits inside your body.”

“…………”

Silence fell.

She didn’t want to die—but wasting precious time here felt reckless. Still…

*What if?*

*What if he actually can?*

He wasn’t just some warehouse porter. He’d instantly slain two peak Gold-tier experts.

“Three hours,” she said firmly. “If you haven’t cured me by then, I leave. The document must reach its recipient—no delays.”

Karl nodded, pulled a wooden box from his Spatial Ring, and said:

“Take off your clothes.”

“??????”

She froze.

*This damn brat’s trying to take advantage again!!!*

Seeing anger flash in her eyes, Karl quickly clarified:

“Meridians can’t be traced through fabric. I need skin contact to locate the points.”

“…”

After a brief pause, she slowly untied her waistband.

Her purple-and-white top slid from her shoulders, revealing an allure few could resist.

Karl clenched his jaw, heart racing.

*This is healing. Not taking advantage.*

“Y-you turn around. Sit with your back to me.”

She complied. Her clothes pooled on the floor.

Before him lay a beautifully sculpted back marred by several bloody gashes.

Karl couldn’t heal the wounds—he lacked healing magic—but none overlapped critical acupoints.

He opened the box, took a silver needle, sterilized it with a lighter’s flame, then gently inserted it beside her spine.

“Mmm~”

A soft moan escaped her lips.

He repeated the process with a second needle.

“Magic entering the meridians may sting. Bear with it.”

“No problem.”

Karl activated his neutral magic energy. Silvery-white light flowed through the needles, seeping slowly into her body.

“Mmm~”

Her moans grew softer, then louder—coquettish, tempting. Karl’s pulse quickened, but he focused.

He guided the energy through her meridians, in and out, back and forth.

Her body warmed. Her breathing deepened.

Finally, he forced all the toxin toward her chest cavity.

*Hrk—!*

She coughed violently, spewing a pool of black blood onto the floor.

“This… the poison is really gone??”

She stared at the dark stain, then at her own hands. The crushing weakness vanished. Energy surged through her limbs. Disbelief flooded her face.

Karl wiped his brow, withdrew and sterilized the needles, then tucked them away.

“My theory was correct. The poison targeted meridians. Channeling magic through them expelled it.”

*Did the poison’s creator know about meridians too?*

She dressed quickly, turned to Karl, and blinked in quiet astonishment.

She never imagined this young man could actually save her.

“If you’re fine, leave now,” Karl said firmly. “My father-in-law might stop by. I’d rather avoid explanations.”

He had no desire to stay entangled with this villainous woman.

She stood, strode toward the warehouse door—then paused. Turning back, she met his eyes.

“Thank you. And… my name is Calis.”

With those words, her figure flickered and vanished.