lava

Chapter 9

"Has someone taught you this before?"

"No."

"Have you ever used this to save someone before?"

"No."

"Hmph, you only relied on a bit of luck and acted recklessly. If it weren't for Doctor Wang's intervention, how could Shi Er have survived?" Chen Rong pressed aggressively.

Wang Liu finally said, "Doctor Chen is mistaken. It was indeed this little girl who saved Shi Er. I only lent a small helping hand."

Chen Rong, his face dark, shouted, "Doctor Wang, don't protect her. Yunwu Mountain is a place for healing and saving lives. It has always been able to achieve this state by adhering to the rules. Those who make mistakes must be severely punished, otherwise how can we convince the public?"

Silence fell. Wang Liu and Xue Song were momentarily at a loss for words after Chen Rong's words. Indeed, the rules of Yunwu Mountain were strict and hadn't changed in decades. Seeing this, Han Xiao knew the situation was dire; she gritted her teeth, unsure what to do.

At this moment, a cold voice rang out from behind the crowd: "I want to see how arrogant your Cloud Mist Mountain is. Who is so bold as to touch my people, Nie Chengyan's people?"

Han Xiao was startled and looked up sharply. Hearing this, the crowd quickly parted to make way. Qin Jiao and Lu Ying pushed over an exquisite wooden wheelchair, upon which sat Nie Chengyan. He had lost a lot of weight, but his complexion was still good. His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a moon-white robe that covered his feet, obscuring his legs. He was calm and composed, as if he were sitting on a royal throne, not a wheelchair. Everyone around him stared intently at him, but dared not whisper a word.

"Xiaoxiao." Nie Chengyan didn't even look at Chen Rong, only calling out to Han Xiao.

"Yes, Master, I'm here," Han Xiao replied loudly, feeling her eyes welling up with tears. Her master had come; her master had come to save her.

"Come here." Nie Chengyan beckoned to Han Xiao as if no one else was around. Han Xiao ran over like a little puppy and stood next to his chair.

After seeing her stand properly, Nie Chengyan turned to Chen Rong and said, "Dr. Chen, tell me, how do you intend to punish someone who is my person, Nie Chengyan?"

Han Xiao was punished

Chen Rong's face turned pale and then red. He had been studying medicine under Elder Yunwu for nearly 20 years, and Nie Chengyan was someone he had watched grow up. This young master had been rebellious since childhood, always daring to go against Elder Yunwu in everything. He had even built a medical city to block the foot of the mountain. Unfortunately, Elder Yunwu only had this one grandson. On the surface, he was stern and indifferent, but Chen Rong knew that his master actually loved the young master very much. Now that the young master was openly going against him, he really didn't know how to deal with it. If he were to act arrogantly, the young master would definitely not let it go. But if he just let it go like this, with so many people around, where would he, the second master of Yunwu Mountain, put his face?

“Young master, without rules there can be no order. There are many servants on Cloud Mist Mountain. It is precisely because of the management of them in accordance with the rules over the past decades that the mountain is so orderly and well-organized. Today, this mistake has occurred in the pharmacy courtyard. According to the rules, each of them should deal with it. We will report to our master and follow his instructions.”

After much deliberation, Chen Rong pushed this hot potato onto the old man in the clouds and mist. His words were reasonable and justifiable, allowing him to save face regardless of whether he was punished or not.

Nie Chengyan replied, "I have no interest in the rules of your Cloud Mist Mountain, nor do I care how you manage your servants. But Han Xiao is my, Nie Chengyan's, maid, and I'm afraid you have no right to interfere. Furthermore, I would like to ask, why did my maid end up in danger while searching for medicine in this pharmacy? Why does Cloud Mist Mountain have a rule of allowing poisonous creatures to roam freely? Or is someone dissatisfied with me and wants to poison my maid, leaving me without anyone to care for her? Or perhaps they didn't kill her, so they fabricated a charge to drive her away, leaving me to fend for myself?"

Upon hearing Nie Chengyan's words, everyone's expression changed. The young master had been poisoned by the Cloud Mist Mountain, which was why he was in his current state. Many people in the mountain had heard gossip about this, but since the Cloud Mist Elder had remained silent, everyone had pretended not to know. There had been previous incidents of poisonous creatures escaping from the poisonous creature courtyard due to negligence; the servants in charge of the gate had been severely punished and banished down the mountain. But now, the young master was portraying this accident as intentional homicide, and given his previous poisoning, everyone was horrified. Those who had come to watch the spectacle were filled with regret; now, it seemed everyone standing there was a suspect, and they wished they hadn't come.

The rough servant guarding the poisonous creature courtyard, who had been drinking and fast asleep, was dragged over just in time to hear Nie Chengyan's words. Terrified, he immediately knelt on the ground, sobering up instantly. He knew perfectly well how severely his predecessor had been punished for his negligence last time. Today, he had clearly checked that all the cages, doors, and locks in the courtyard were in good working order before daring to slack off and have a few drinks, never expecting such a disaster.

Chen Rong stammered, unsure how to respond. A poorly worded response could leave him vulnerable to gossip and cause serious trouble. Just as he was pondering how to end things, the Old Man of Clouds and Mist finally arrived.

"Master." Chen Rong, Wang Liu, Xue Song, and five other young disciples bowed their heads in unison.

The old man in the clouds nodded slightly, his face cold and stern, and said in a deep voice, "Doctor Chen is right. Today's incident was caused by everyone's disregard for the rules. The door was not locked properly, there was no one to guard it, and people could come and go freely in the pharmacy courtyard, which led to the accident." He didn't ask any questions, clearly having been observing from the shadows for a long time.

Hearing this, Chen Rong was secretly pleased, as it served as proof of his earlier words. Then he heard the old man in the clouds call out, "Han Xiao."

Han Xiao nervously shrank back behind Nie Chengyan's chair, gripping the back of the chair, and replied, "Mr. Divine Doctor, Han Xiao is here."

“I heard that your brother has a leg problem, and you suggested that Dr. Xue examine his intracranial condition.”

Han Xiao heard some people laughing around him. He turned his head and saw that several young doctors and servants had mocking expressions on their faces. Han Xiao glared at them with dissatisfaction, then turned back and replied, "Yes, Divine Physician."

Why?

"What? Why?" Han Xiao didn't understand.

"I'm asking, what medical principles led you to this suggestion?"

What medical principles? Han Xiao was a little flustered. She was just a rough maid, how would she know so much about medical principles? If it came to discussing spleen and intracranial diseases, the medical principles and techniques were extremely profound. If she could explain it clearly, wouldn't she be a divine female doctor? Why would she need to go through all this trouble to seek medical treatment? Han Xiao pursed her lips, knowing in her heart that this was the old man Yunwu making her look bad in public.

"Han Xiao only knows how to take care of patients and only knows a little bit about medicine. She can't be said to understand medical principles," Han Xiao replied in a hoarse voice, gripping the back of Nie Chengyan's chair tightly.

Sure enough, after she answered, the surrounding laughter intensified. Han Xiao blinked, trying her best to pretend she was deaf.

"If you don't understand medical principles, how dare you say such things?" The old man in the clouds pressed on relentlessly, showing no sign of giving up.

Han Xiao bit her lower lip, and the surrounding whispers grew louder. Nie Chengyan suddenly said, "Xiao Xiao, I'm tired of sitting. Give me a shoulder massage."

"Yes, Master." Han Xiao replied softly and began massaging the acupoints on Nie Chengyan's neck and shoulders.

Nie Chengyan then said, "The divine physician is waiting for your reply, why don't you answer him?"

Han Xiao, busy with his hands, seemed to have found some courage again. He looked up at the old man in the clouds and said, "My brother's illness has been treated by fifty-six doctors. Sixteen of them said directly that they couldn't cure him, without prescribing any medicine or treatment, and told us to go home and wait to die. Ten doctors treated it as a leg ailment, but there was no improvement. The remaining thirty doctors made similar diagnoses: all of them had internal organ dysfunction, which had damaged the meridians in both legs, hence the weakness and inability to walk. They all said that the internal organs needed to be regulated and the meridians unblocked. However, all thirty doctors prescribed various medicines and tried various methods such as fumigation, moxibustion, cupping, and acupuncture, but none of them worked. Han Xiao just felt that if conventional treatments were ineffective, could we look for a method on an unconventional path? Internal organ dysfunction is certain, but none of the fifty-six doctors suspected that there was evil in the skull. So Han Xiao thought that perhaps a cure could be found in the skull. This has nothing to do with medical theory or skill; it's just a change of perspective."

After Han Xiao finished speaking, the old man Yunwu didn't say anything, just stared at her. However, several young doctors on the side whispered among themselves: "It's ridiculous. If you can cure diseases by turning a corner, then why do we learn so many medical theories and skills? Healing and saving lives is no joke. We should all follow the methods of our ancestors and obey our master's teachings."

Han Xiao, with her sharp ears, overheard a few words and felt indignant. She couldn't help but apply more force to her hand. Nie Chengyan gave a light "humph," and Han Xiao realized that she had used too much force and quickly slowed down.

The old man in the clouds spoke again: "The legend of 'resurrection through the heart' is just that—a legend. You dare to try it?"

Han Xiao didn't respond this time. She had acted too impulsively by stabbing the heart. In fact, she had never heard of the legend of stabbing the heart to revive the dead. She only knew that some snake venoms could paralyze the meridians and the heart, and that if the heart was not moved, a person would die. So, in her desperation, she thought of the method of stimulating blood circulation by stabbing acupoints and wondered if stabbing the heart would work. Then she stabbed it decisively.

Han Xiao turned to look at Wang Liu, who was listening to the old man of the Cloud Mist interrogating her, his expression suggesting he found the conversation quite amusing. Han Xiao recalled that after she stabbed Shi Er in the heart, this Doctor Wang quickly patted two major acupoints on Shi Er's chest and immediately gave him a pill. It was probably thanks to his help that Shi Er had survived; otherwise, would she have truly been harmed by her stabbing?

But she didn't respond, and the old man in the clouds and mist didn't give up: "Han Xiao, this Heart-Piercing Technique requires precise positioning, technique, strength, and speed. It's an extremely profound and sophisticated method. Have you ever learned it?"

"I've never learned it." Han Xiao wanted to sigh loudly, thinking to herself, "Will this ever end? If you want to punish me, then do it quickly. I, Han Xiao, have suffered a lot before, and I'm not afraid of punishment."

"Have you seen any other doctors use this?"

"Never seen it before." Han Xiao went all out, her voice brightening. Her sudden burst of energy in the face of the aggressive questioning made Wang Liu laugh.

"You've never learned or seen anything like this, yet you dare to put a needle into someone's heart? Where do you get the guts?" The old man in the clouds spoke in a cold and hard tone, which was definitely not a compliment.

"Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, but he had never studied or seen those herbs before. Where did he get the courage? Han Xiao got the courage from the same source." Han Xiao answered louder and louder, becoming completely self-righteous.

Nie Chengyan clenched his fist, coughed lightly a few times, and Han Xiao couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. This master was secretly laughing at her being forced into this state. She grabbed Nie Chengyan's arm and said, "Master, let me massage your arm. Once I'm punished and sent away, I won't be able to serve you anymore. While I'm still here, I'll make the most of you for a while."

Even Xue Song's eyes crinkled with amusement. This little girl was truly a treasure; even at this crucial moment, she still dared to crack jokes. Qinghao was in dire straits herself, but no matter how you looked at it, Han Xiao had saved his life. Grateful for her kindness, he kept giving Han Xiao meaningful glances, telling her to be humble and keep a low profile, lest she displease the divine physician again.

As expected, the old man of Yunwu said with a cold face, "You girl, you are audacious and reckless. Although you are not a member of Yunwu Mountain, if you are not severely punished, I'm afraid you will continue to use your half-baked and ignorant medical skills to harm people in the future."

"Indiscriminately harming people? That's a serious charge!" Han Xiao was about to impulsively argue when Nie Chengyan grabbed her hand. Han Xiao turned her head and saw Nie Chengyan staring intently at Elder Yunwu, seemingly waiting for him to continue. Seeing this, Han Xiao felt that her master would protect her no matter what, so she quickly restrained herself and obediently stood behind Nie Chengyan.

The old man from the clouds continued, "Today's matter will be thoroughly investigated by Doctor Chen, and all those involved must be punished according to the rules of Cloud Mist Mountain." Chen Rong's face lit up with joy, and he bowed to accept the order.

The old man of the clouds and mist continued, “Although I, Han Xiao, am not a member of my Cloud Mist Mountain, I have committed a crime here. In order to appease the people, I shall personally punish me. From today onwards, on the fifth and tenth days of each month, Han Xiao shall stay by my side and serve me with her medicine box. This punishment shall continue until Han Xiao earnestly repents.”

These words caused an uproar. Han Xiao was stunned. What was all this commotion about? Was the punishment really that severe? Was there a needle attached to the medicine box to ambush someone? She didn't understand. She looked down at Nie Chengyan and saw that his expression had already relaxed. She breathed a sigh of relief. With her master looking so calm, it seemed the punishment wasn't too harsh, and she could handle it. But what about the reactions of the people around her?

Han Xiao squatted down, ignoring everyone else, and asked Nie Chengyan in a low voice, "Master, what's the reason behind this punishment?"

Nie Chengyan looked at her. This girl, could she really be a reincarnation of a lucky star? Her face still had a touch of childishness, and she wasn't very tall, yet she seemed to have inexhaustible energy. Nie Chengyan smiled and patted her head: "Silly girl, there are many intricacies involved. The fifth and tenth of each month are the days when the divine physician personally sees patients. The patients on Cloud Mist Mountain are all from wealthy and noble families, and they suffer from difficult and complicated diseases. You'll be serving them with your medicine box, so you have to be extremely attentive. You must clearly remember and understand how the divine physician diagnoses, what medicine is needed, how to use it, and the methods of treatment. Otherwise, if you jeopardize the patient's life, you won't be able to afford the consequences."

Han Xiao slowly understood. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Was this real? She could follow the legendary doctor and learn how to diagnose illnesses?

She looked around, and seeing everyone's expressions, she understood. It seemed that carrying the medicine box for the divine physician was a job that everyone in the mountains would beg for.

Han Xiao was right. Elder Yunwu's medicine chest was indeed not easy to carry. Only his inner disciples were allowed to accompany him during his consultations. If someone was willing to carry his medicine chest for him, it meant that he was wholeheartedly cultivating and imparting medical skills to them. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone understood the underlying reason. Otherwise, why would no one ever actually serve as a servant to carry that incredibly heavy chest? It would always be the inner disciples vying to do it.

The young doctors who had just mocked Han Xiao now looked extremely displeased. Even Lin Zhi couldn't help but frown. Her father had carried that heavy medicine chest for years, and later he had even tried to recommend her to the renowned physician so she could learn more skills. If she could become the physician's personal disciple, she would likely rise in status in these mountains. But the physician always said the medicine chest was too heavy for a young woman to carry. Now, he was making that little girl carry it. Was this punishment? How could this be considered punishment?

Lin Zhi gritted her teeth and stepped forward: "Mr. Divine Doctor, this punishment is too severe. I'm afraid Miss Han is too young to bear it."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiao immediately stood up, raised her arms, and shouted, "Divine Doctor, I accept the punishment! I am willing to accept the punishment!" Her voice was extremely loud, and standing next to Nie Chengyan, it made him cover his ears and frown, giving her a disapproving look. Han Xiao chuckled foolishly and pretended to massage her master's shoulders again.

Nie Chengyan and the old man of the clouds exchanged a glance, then turned to Han Xiao and said, "Since the divine physician has made the decision, I can no longer protect you. You should just go to the divine physician to be punished on time. I'm tired of pushing me back now."

"Yes, Master." Han Xiao responded cheerfully, and the matter was definitely settled. She happily pushed Nie Chengyan away, leaving Lin Zhi standing there, but no one answered her.

Master-servant relationship

"Master, Master, tell me, am I really lucky? I get to carry the divine doctor's medicine chest!" Han Xiao pushed Nie Chengyan toward Yanzhu, chattering away all the way, unable to contain his joy.

"Don't be so smug. You're not that lucky. You even run into a snake while going to get some medicine," Nie Chengyan said calmly.

"This is called 'Han Xiao Encounters a Snake,' who knows if it's a blessing in disguise?" The thought of being able to see patients with the old man in the clouds and mist made her feel that life was incredibly wonderful.

Nie Chengyan didn't speak. His cold reaction finally made Han Xiao realize that something was wrong. Why did his master suddenly seem unhappy?

Han Xiao pondered for a moment, then said cautiously, "Master, you look great today. Your hairstyle and clothes are both excellent, and you look very dashing."

Nie Chengyan remained silent, but Han Xiao noticed his hand tightening on the chair armrest, a small gesture revealing his unease. Han Xiao, being quick-witted, immediately understood. Her heart swelled with gratitude. It turned out that her master, sitting in the chair as he left the house, was being stared at and scrutinized by others, and he was quite unhappy about it. However, he had forced a composed demeanor to help her out of the predicament, and now that they were outside the compound, his emotions were naturally suppressed.

Han Xiao bit her lip, wanting to express her gratitude, but looking around, she saw many doctors and servants taking the opportunity to pass by them or stand and talk, all secretly staring at their master. She could shoo them away or reprimand these onlookers, but she was afraid it would only add to her master's distress. In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of so many, how could she help her master avoid these stares and find some peace of mind?

Han Xiao suddenly pointed to the sky: "Master, look!" Her voice was very loud, but Nie Chengyan ignored her. However, all those who were secretly watching the excitement around them were startled and involuntarily looked up at the sky in the direction of her hand. But as far as they could see, there was nothing special about the scenery.

Han Xiao laughed heartily, "A bunch of idiots, you've been tricked! Master, let's run!" She pushed Nie Chengyan's wheelchair and took off running, her earlier prank giving her a legitimate reason to flee. The group of idiots around them were now truly dumbfounded. What was going on? Was this young lady not quite right in the head? It was pitiful for the young master; not only had he been crippled by a villain, but he also had to deal with such a dim-witted girl. Sighs rang out in everyone's hearts.

On the other side, Nie Chengyan wasn't sighing; he was furious. He already felt awkward sitting in this novel chair, always feeling uneasy and unsettled. If it weren't for Yuanzhi from the pharmacy rushing over to report that Han Xiao and Qinghao were trapped by a swarm of snakes in the pharmacy's courtyard and had burned medicinal herbs to escape, he wouldn't have come out sitting in this broken chair.

Setting fire to the medicine storeroom was a major taboo, especially since Chen Rong was in charge. Nie Chengyan was genuinely worried. He knew Han Xiao too well; with her temper and audacity, she'd burn down the house if she got into trouble. Chen Rong had recently clashed with Han Xiao, and now that he had her incriminating evidence, he wasn't going to let her off easily. So, without much thought, he quickly had Lu Ying and the others push him to the pharmacy. Fortunately, Han Xiao had combed his hair and dressed him in new clothes before he left, so he wouldn't feel awkward calling Lu Ying and the others in if he needed them, and it also gave him time to prepare his appearance before leaving.

To his surprise, he braved the stares of everyone who looked at him like he was a monkey to protect her, his heart filled with pent-up frustration and nowhere to vent, while she started acting crazy and making a scene. Okay, he wasn't frustrated anymore, he was angry.

"Han Xiao".

"Yes, Master, this servant is here."

"Stop." He would rather be seen sitting upright than fall to the ground and be seen with his crippled leg unable to get up.

Han Xiao seemed to know what he was thinking, and while pushing the chair away with all her might, she replied, "Master, don't panic. I've practiced pushing chairs around; there's no way I'll cause you to fall."

"You've even practiced?" He couldn't help but raise his voice.

"Yes, my lady." She answered breathlessly but clearly, "I was thinking that one day I would take you out for a stroll in this chair. This chair is so big that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to push it properly, so I took some time to practice with Qin Jiao and the others. Don't worry, my lady, I'm strong enough to push you around, and I can do it without any problems, whether it's turning corners, going uphill, or walking on flat ground."

He disliked the chair, but she was determined to take him out for a walk, even practicing and preparing beforehand… Nie Chengyan felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he listened to Han Xiao's panting breaths as she ran behind him. The scenery flashed by; the sky was high, the air was fresh, and he could faintly smell the fragrance of flowers and grass. A gentle breeze caressed his face, bringing indescribable comfort.

Has he not felt these things for so long?

Nie Chengyan closed his eyes, suddenly feeling a pang of sadness. These things, so ordinary in the past, had become incredibly precious to him. The chair turned right, and Han Xiao, as she had said, had no problem running and turning. But Nie Chengyan suddenly remembered the terrain beyond the turn. He abruptly opened his eyes, gripped the chair's armrests tightly, and shouted, "Han Xiao!"

"Yes, mistress, this servant is here." She was clearly very happy to have run, and answered excitedly while panting.

"You've practiced turning, going uphill, and on flat ground, but what about going downhill?"

But it was too late. The chair's two wheels rolled down the slope. Han Xiao screamed "Ah!" She couldn't pull it away with her strength, so she could only try her best to keep the chair steady and run down the slope, shouting as she ran, "Master, you have to sit tight and hold on to the handles!"

"Han Xiao!" he roared. What else could he do but hold the handle? He was so angry that his temples twitched. If she dared to throw him, he would skin her alive and tear her tendons out of her body.

Fortunately, the slope was muddy and covered with grass, which slowed the momentum. Lu Ying and Qin Jiao rushed over as soon as they saw the situation was not right, and the two of them caught the large wheelchair at the bottom of the slope.

Nie Chengyan was terrified. He had never felt so defeated in his life. His life and dignity were completely in someone else's hands, and by a mere little girl at that. He was both ashamed and angry, but then he heard Han Xiao laughing excitedly. He turned around and glared at her fiercely, but Han Xiao, oblivious to his surroundings, turned around from behind and hugged his arm: "Master, Master, look, this chair is really sturdy. It didn't break even after all this running. You feel much more energetic after getting some exercise, so going out for a walk is definitely beneficial, right? Right?"

Angry? He was clearly angry! He glared at her, about to give her a good scolding, but then he noticed something was wrong. She was leaning against his chair, very close to him. He reached out and pinched her chin, carefully examining her expression. Han Xiao was puzzled by his gaze, but she didn't struggle, letting him scrutinize her.