The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 137
Marlon stood to the side and nodded. “Yes, her medical skills are exceptional. She has made significant achievements in treating rare and intractable diseases. My mother was cured by her.”
No one responded.
Leilani could feel the doubt and pressure in their gazes, but she was long accustomed to such scenes. Her expression remained unchanged as she walked straight to the bedside to carefully observe the old man’s condition.
He was roughly in his sixties. His complexion was ashen with a strange greenish-purple tint; his lips were black, and his breathing was faint but steady, as if he had merely fallen into a deep sleep.
“May I check his pulse?” she asked without lifting her head.
After a moment of silence, an aged voice spoke. “Please go ahead.”
The speaker was a white-haired old man standing at the foot of the bed. He looked about seventy years old, with an aura of authority between his brows. He was clearly the leader of this group of doctors.
Leilani placed her fingers on the patient’s wrist, closing her eyes to focus. The pulse was deep, choppy, and chaotic-fast one moment, slow the next-as if something were forcibly suppressing it.
Her brows furrowed slightly. She lifted the patient’s eyelids to check-the pupils were abnormally constricted, and tiny blood vessels radiated across the whites of his eyes.
“Poisoning,” she said, opening her eyes, her tone certain.
The room fell silent.
The white-haired elder narrowed his eyes. “What poison?”
“If I’m not mistaken…” Leilani gently opened the patient’s mouth to observe the coating on his tongue. “It should be the ‘Thousand-Strand Poison’.”
“Thousand-Strand Poison?” A slightly younger doctor couldn’t help but speak up. “What is that? I’ve never heard of it.”
The white-haired elder raised a hand to stop the others from discussing. He stared at Leilani with a burning gaze. “Are you certain?”
“Greenish tint under the tongue, blackened fingernails, a pulse that is deep and choppy.” Leilani withdrew her hand and listed the old man’s symptoms one by one, speaking logically and with confidence. “Based on the patient’s pulse, I can confirm these are typical symptoms
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of the Thousand-Strand Poison.”
“This poison originated from a tribe in Eldoria. It is a compound of seven different toxins. The victim falls into a state of suspended animation, appearing not to be in mortal danger, but in reality, their internal organs are slowly failing.”
However, this poison was generally more common in Eldoria; it had never been seen domestically. No wonder so many doctors had failed to identify it.
The white-haired elder remained silent for a long time before suddenly sighing heavily. “Marlon really found the right person.”
He waved his hand, and the other doctors exited the room one by one, leaving only Leilani and him.
“I am the Chilton family’s private medical consultant. You can call me Mr. Dillon.”
The elder’s expression softened. He could tell Leilani wasn’t an amateur; she had real skills.
“Regarding the Thousand-Strand Poison, fewer than three people in the country know about it. The fact that you recognized it at a glance proves you are indeed extraordinary.”
Leilani didn’t respond to the compliment. Instead, she asked, “How long has the patient been poisoned?”
“Seventeen days.” Mr. Dillon frowned deeply. “We used various methods to barely control the spread of the toxin, but we cannot wake him up. What’s trickier is that we aren’t sure if he was dosed with the complete Thousand-Strand Poison or a mixture of several of its components.”
Leilani thought for a moment. “I need to see all your previous test reports.”
“They are already prepared.” Mr. Dillon pointed to a nearby desk. “Regarding the payment, the Chilton family will not mistreat you. As long as you can help, the numbers are up to you.”
Leilani didn’t immediately agree. She shook her head. “Let me see the data first.”
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Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.