Chapter 67: Washing Hair in the Spirit Spring

Zhong Xiao returned to the dormitory, took off Song Ting Shen’s jacket, and hung it over the back of the chair. She then headed to the bathroom for a shower. Having been caught in the rain and spent the whole day rushing about, Zhong Xiao felt every part of her body was sore and weak.

While showering, a sudden thought struck her. Would bathing with the spiritual spring water from her space have any special effect? With this in mind, she entered her space, filled a large basin with spiritual spring water, and used a towel to gently wipe herself down, bit by bit. When washing her hair, Zhong Xiao immersed half her head in the spring water, closed her eyes, and relaxed.

She couldn't quite describe the sensation; it was as if her thoughts gradually paused, all the troubles that plagued her vanished, and her emotions settled into perfect calm. It felt like her whole being was floating on a tranquil, undisturbed sea. The water rocked gently, cradling her body and enveloping her skin.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before finally raising her head, covering her face with both hands, and brushing her hair back. The smooth yet sturdy feeling startled her. Zhong Xiao had always had good hair, though it was fine and soft since childhood. She had plenty of hair, but because each strand was so thin, gathering it all together made only a small handful. Now, however, gripping her hair felt inexplicably thicker and much more substantial.

She tugged it downwards and ran a comb through it. Far fewer strands fell out than before.

Space skill exploration point +1.

Feeling delighted, Zhong Xiao finished her shower, emerged from the bathroom, and filled her water bottle with spiritual spring water from her space, planning to bring it for Commander Song tomorrow—perhaps it would have remarkable effects.

As she was thinking this, the dormitory door swung open. The other nurses sharing the room returned, each wearing cloth masks and looking utterly exhausted and drained. Zhong Xiao greeted them; they managed a faint smile, removed their masks, and sank into their seats to rest.

She asked, as a gesture, “Is the situation at the hospital... really that bad?”

One of them sighed, “Bad doesn't even begin to cover it. We just lost two more, one of them wasn’t even an adult yet. I don’t know how we’re supposed to explain it to the family. I heard that family already lost several children to famine. They’d finally managed to raise one and sent them here, and now this…”

Zhong Xiao’s heart skipped. “Wasn’t there any medicine?”

She had already given the medicine to Song Ting Shen, who would surely have passed it to Zuo Lan and the hospital.

“Medicine didn’t help. It reached the brain. No response at all, not even the swallowing reflex. Even intravenous fluids couldn’t save them.”

“In just one afternoon, over ten cases turned critical. We’ll have to go back on night duty soon; we’re only here for a quick rest.”

Zhong Xiao thought for a moment, then poured a cup of water from her bottle into each of their mugs. “Drink this,” she improvised. “It’s a family remedy from my second grand-uncle’s house. Supposed to nourish the blood and energy.”

They all knew her second grand-uncle was Director Zuo Lan’s mentor, and the former director of the military hospital. Hearing this, they promptly took her advice and drank.

Afterwards, they remarked, “It doesn’t feel any different—just plain water, isn’t it?”

“The taste isn’t special, but it does feel a bit cooler.”

“That’s true! It’s the height of summer, and the well water on Taizhou Island is always warm. You can’t get a sip of cool water, so this really hits the spot.”

As they chatted, Zhong Xiao observed their reactions. Perhaps because they were already healthy and robust, the spiritual spring water didn’t have any obvious effects.

Just then, one of the nurses, sharp-eyed, spotted the green military jacket on Zhong Xiao’s chair. “Hey, Xiao Xiao, this jacket… it’s a man’s, isn’t it? Why is it so big?”

Zhong Xiao was about to reply when the nurse exclaimed in surprise, “Oh, isn’t this Commander Song’s jacket? How did his jacket end up here with you?”

Zhong Xiao hesitated, unsure what to say. As she fumbled for words, the dormitory door opened from outside. Zhong Xiao looked up—astonished to see Hou Manling.

Hou Manling’s gaze landed straight on Zhong Xiao’s spot, and upon seeing the familiar army-green jacket, her eyes instantly reddened. She strode forward and confronted Zhong Xiao.

“Why is Ting Shen’s jacket here with you? What were you two doing just now?”