Chapter 126: Treating Acne

Yun Hao knew the moment he saw Luo Cheng’s expression that the fellow must have something to ask of him. That was always the look worn by those two scoundrels, Qi Biao and Lai Shun, whenever they needed a favor.

"I wonder what counsel the Young Prince has for me?" Yun Hao turned to face the fierce warrior of the Sui and Tang eras. It was said that this man’s martial arts were extraordinary, ranking him seventh on the list of Sui and Tang heroes. Yet, no matter how Yun Hao looked at him now, he appeared to be nothing more than an adolescent in the throes of puberty.

"Hao... Brother Hao, are you a medical officer?" For some reason, Luo Cheng felt a bit nervous meeting Yun Hao. Perhaps it was a touch of embarrassment; in any case, his face and neck were flushed, and he spoke as if he were constipated.

"Indeed. If the Young Prince has any requests, please speak freely. If it is within my power, I shall certainly serve." Yun Hao mimicked Chai Shao’s mannerisms, clasping his hands together and speaking with the affected air of a precocious child. Since your Prince of Beiping’s estate wants to handle things by the book, I’ll play the part of the official. Between two lifetimes of experience, even Luo Cheng would find no fault in my conduct.

"Uh...!" Luo Cheng looked at his cousin, Qin Qiong, in a plea for help. Yun Hao’s way of speaking left him no room to maneuver. As a profession with a high technical threshold, a medical officer was fully entitled to refuse certain requests. For instance, if asked to treat someone, one could simply claim the condition was beyond his skill—what could they possibly do about it?

"Boy, stop putting on airs. This is my cousin. An obstinate affliction on his face has kept him sleepless night after night. Since you have the skill, see what you can do for him." A bear-like paw slapped the back of Yun Hao’s head, making Chai Shao gasp. No one in Jinyang dared act this way, not even Li Yuan. Knowing this kid’s penchant for petty revenge, Chai Shao was very curious to see what kind of misfortune would befall Qin Qiong.

Contrary to expectations, Yun Hao did not bare his teeth at Qin Qiong. Chai Shao sneered inwardly; the less this kid said, the more vicious his retaliation would be. He looked forward to seeing how wretched a man of such burly stature would look after being toyed with.

"The Young Prince’s condition is not, strictly speaking, a disease. It is a normal condition of adolescence, which most young men suffer from to some degree. It is simply more severe in the Young Prince’s case." Yun Hao scrutinized Luo Cheng’s face, feeling a bit awestruck. Even in an age plagued by heavy pollution, it was rare to see a complexion like this. In a later era, Luo Cheng would likely need to visit a specialized dermatology clinic. Yun Hao felt quite confident in treating this; there was no reason he couldn't handle what a common clinic could fix.

"Are you saying, Medical Officer Yun, that you can cure it?" Luo Cheng’s eyes lit up immediately. Yun Hao’s words implied a cure. Luo Cheng had reached the point of desperation, willing to seek any treatment for the bumps on his face. He had consumed countless medicines and seen countless doctors, yet nothing worked. At times, he had even considered taking a knife to peel the skin away himself.

"There are two methods. One is quick and effective, but the procedure is somewhat intense. The other is slow, but much more stable. Which would the Young Prince prefer?"

"The quick one!" Before Yun Hao had even finished speaking, Luo Cheng cut him off. He could not wait a single moment longer; hearing there was an immediate solution, he could not bring himself to choose otherwise.

"This method is quite violent. The slightest error could cause complications. You must be certain of your choice." Yun Hao confirmed with great gravity. This was, after all, Luo Cheng’s face. If anything went wrong, Luo Yi would surely carve patterns into his own.

"It matters not, no matter how violent. I, Luo Cheng, will bear the responsibility alone. Even if something were to happen, I would never allow anyone to cause trouble for Medical Officer Yun."

"Young man, do be careful, my cousin..."

"Cousin, say no more. My mind is made up!" Qin Qiong tried to intervene, but Luo Cheng cut him off. His face was already in such a state; it could hardly get any worse.

"Summon Xin’er, and bring my medical chest!" With a shout, a servant was dispatched to fetch her.

This medical chest had originally been acquired from Zhang Wenzhong merely to look the part, but he had never expected to actually use it. Before long, a servant brought Xin’er into the hall.

"Young Prince, please sit still. No matter what happens, do not move." Upon Yun Hao’s instruction, Luo Cheng sat cross-legged on the floor, his body as straight as a spear.

Yun Hao took out a silver needle, sterilized it over a candle flame, and pierced a pustule on Luo Cheng’s face. Acne was caused by secretions trapped under the skin. Because the pores were blocked, these secretions remained trapped for years, accumulating within the skin. The simplest way to treat it was to extract this filth.

He worked with the precision of an embroiderer, piercing and sterilizing the needle repeatedly. Soon, Luo Cheng’s face was riddled with tiny holes, but since the flesh was dead, there was no bleeding and no pain. Only the spots with white heads oozed pus.

Yun Hao ignored the gore and proceeded to lance every single pustule on his face. Then, he produced a small jar, placed a drop of alcohol inside, and, while it was still warm, swiftly pressed the rim against Luo Cheng’s skin.

It was a pity this was only an earthenware jar; had it been glass, one could have witnessed the spectacular sight of the pus being drawn out through the needle holes—a scene that would certainly have made anyone vomit three liters.

After a moment, Yun Hao removed the jar. The area was inflamed, and the pus had been cleared, replaced now by fresh blood. Yun Hao carefully dabbed the points with a cloth soaked in alcohol. There were few anti-inflammatory agents in this era, but alcohol was truly a divine tool.

At first, Luo Cheng felt a burning sensation and a powerful pulling force. But after the jar was removed, the substance Yun Hao applied felt cool and soothing, and he began to feel a measure of confidence in him.

Yun Hao repeated the process until he had covered every inch of Luo Cheng’s face. Luo Cheng felt fine, but the onlookers were terrified. Luo Cheng’s face was now completely swollen, resembling a boiled shrimp. The needle marks were no longer bleeding, but were weeping a yellowish fluid. Yun Hao wiped Luo Cheng’s face clean with alcohol and clapped his hands together. "Young Prince, the first stage of treatment is complete. For the next ten days, you must not step outside your room. If you are exposed to the wind, something terrible will happen."

"Understood!" If he could be cured, what were ten days of confinement? Even a month would be worth it.

"This is only the first step. Ten days from now, any remaining pustules will be treated with a second round of needling. Generally, two sessions are enough to heal your condition. Oh, right—you must use this to wash your face for the next few days." Yun Hao reached into his medical chest and pulled out a milky-white object.

"This is...?"

"This is called soap. The official price is five strings of cash per bar. Using this to wash your face will immediately remove the impurities. It is the one and only secret weapon for treating your condition, Young Prince! Do keep it safe."

Luo Cheng took the soap from Yun Hao, and a faint, elegant fragrance drifted from it. Upon closer inspection, the soap was as smooth as jade—clearly a fine item. Five strings of cash seemed like a bargain!

"Hahaha! Medical Officer Yun has cured my long-standing affliction; how could a mere five strings of cash suffice as thanks? Here is a jade pendant, a cherished possession of mine, to be gifted to you, Medical Officer Yun."

Chai Shao saw the pendant, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Judging by the quality of the jade and the craftsmanship, it was worth at least five hundred strings of cash. This kid—he was practically robbing the man!