lava

Chapter 11

"Need not."

"Would you like some water, Master?"

"Need not."

"It's still early, Master, sleep a little longer. Gan Song will wake you up when it's time to take your medicine." Han Xiao went over and smoothed Nie Chengyan's hair.

Nie Chengyan nodded and carefully examined her attire: "Did you take the dagger?"

"Take it." Han Xiao patted his boots.

"Where's the little charcoal pencil?"

"I brought it with me."

"Where are the newly ordered booklets?"

"It's in the bag." Han Xiao checked it again.

“Be careful when you’re with that old man. He has a bad temper, and you need to be careful of others too. Don’t give them a chance to frame you. If there’s any danger, protect yourself first, but don’t cause trouble. Don’t be impulsive, don’t talk back, and if you feel wronged, just bear it and come back to me. I will stand up for you.”

"Yes." Han Xiao nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Master, I will definitely not let you down."

"Okay, then you should study hard. Don't ask too many questions when the old man is examining patients, so as not to affect the consultation. You can come back and ask me if you have any questions."

"Yes, Master." Han Xiao was deeply moved, her eyes welling up with tears. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, "Master, you're just like my father. When I took my younger brother to school when we were little, he gave him the same instructions." Nie Chengyan rolled his eyes at her. Like her father? She really dared to say that.

After the master and servant finished their conversation, Han Xiao set off in the morning light. She had two leftover steamed buns from last night in her small bag, worried that she wouldn't have time to prepare breakfast this morning, so she was saving them in case she got hungry. She wondered what the divine doctor's consultations would be like, and she was determined to carry the medicine box carefully so that no one could find fault with it.

Han Xiao arrived at the Medical Lodge in high spirits. It was a large courtyard complex about an incense stick's time away from the Su Medical Hall. Several large courtyards were connected together, and the disciples of Elder Yunwu lived here.

The servant guarding the gate, clearly acting on the instructions of the divine physician, led Han Xiao to the east courtyard after she introduced herself. As Han Xiao walked, she looked around, noticing many doors with plaques bearing the names of doctors. A sense of envy welled up within her; being a doctor must be such a privilege.

The east courtyard wasn't large; a plaque with the character "Nie" hung above the gate. Compared to the previous courtyards with their dozen or so large houses, the east courtyard was just a small one with four rooms. There was no one guarding the gate. The servant who had led the way told Han Xiao to wait a moment while he went inside to inform the gatekeeper. After coming out, he told Han Xiao to wait a little longer and then left.

Han Xiao waited patiently. After a while, Xue Song arrived with three young doctors in their twenties or thirties. Seeing Han Xiao there so early, they couldn't help but smile. He introduced the three doctors as Fang Qiao, Li Mu, and Yan Shan, all disciples of Elder Yunwu. Han Xiao bowed respectfully. The doctors couldn't help but glance at her a few more times because of her strange attire—a cushion and a cloth bag. At this moment, a servant came out of the courtyard and led the five of them inside to a side room. A hot breakfast was laid out on a large round table, and the group sat down to eat.

Han Xiao glanced enviously at the medicine boxes they each had placed at their feet, then obediently joined them in eating, trying her best to eat as much as possible. She didn't know how busy they'd been all day; she couldn't afford to go hungry, otherwise her mind would become clouded and she wouldn't remember the diagnosis process. The other doctors, seeing this little girl eating like a starving ghost, exchanged glances, wondering what their master had seen in her.

After finishing their meal, it was already broad daylight. The servant then led Han Xiao and the other four to a large room on the west side. The old man Yunwu seemed to be meditating and practicing martial arts. Everyone stood at the door with their heads bowed in respect. Han Xiao stole a glance and followed suit, looking down at his toes, feeling very nervous.

The old man in the clouds quickly finished circulating his energy and said, "All done."

Han Xiao was taken aback, wondering what had happened. Then she saw the four doctors bow in unison and say loudly, "Disciple greets Master." With that, they carried their medicine chests into the house. Han Xiao panicked. Everyone else had bowed before entering; what was she supposed to do? She wasn't a disciple, so she couldn't call him Master, nor was she a servant of Cloud Mist Mountain. Han Xiao simply said loudly, "Han Xiao greets the Divine Physician," and then entered with her head held high.

Her voice was extremely loud, attracting the attention of Elder Yunwu and the four doctors. Han Xiao stood straight and steady beside Xue Song, though her heart was pounding with anxiety. Fortunately, Elder Yunwu quickly looked away, and the doctor named Fang Qiao, who was in his early thirties, took out two prescriptions from his medical kit and explained the condition of the patient he was to examine that day.

The patient was rushed up the mountain last night. He was Mu Yuan, the seventeen-year-old young master of the Mu family, the current Grand General Mu Yong. He had accompanied his grandfather to the battlefield and was unfortunately injured by the enemy's poisonous Gu worms. When the Gu worms entered his body, his right wrist was cut. The Gu poison caused the wound to fail to heal for a long time, and his arm rotted. In addition, the Gu worms were still raging in his body. After a month of this, he was on the verge of death. The imperial physicians in the court had no choice but to rush him up Yunwu Mountain in the middle of the night.

Fang Qiao was the one who took over General Mu's care last night. He was the twenty-fourth disciple of Elder Yunwu. He couldn't solve this terminal illness, so he could only give Mu Yuan medicine to temporarily suppress the poison and apply some anti-inflammatory and de-corrosion medicine to the wounds, waiting for Elder Yunwu to come and save his life today.

After listening to Fang Qiao's words, the old man in the clouds thought for a while and then gave the order: "Box number five."

Han Xiao was still immersed in the story Fang Qiao had told her about General Mu Yuan's illness, and was feeling sorry for him when she suddenly heard Elder Yunwu mention something about box number five. Before she could react, Xue Song nudged her with his elbow and bowed to Elder Yunwu, replying, "Yes."

Han Xiao, somewhat naively, agreed and, at Xue Song's prompting, followed him into the inner room. Only then did she notice the simple furnishings: a low table, two bookshelves, and several futons, seemingly for meditation, practice, and rest. But upon entering the inner room, she was startled to find walls covered in medical instruments, a cabinet full of boxes and jars, and a long table laden with over a dozen large boxes—and these boxes were truly enormous. Han Xiao shrank back, secretly relieved that she had prepared beforehand.

Xue Song quickly led Han Xiao to the long table, pointed to the box marked with the number five, and said, "This is what we need to take today." Han Xiao nodded and was about to reach for it to leave when Xue Song stopped him. He opened the box and, while checking it, said to Han Xiao, "Before carrying this box, you must first check if everything inside is complete. Look, there are twenty bottles of emergency pills, ten bottles of medicinal powder, ten boxes of plaster, a packet of mugwort, three bundles of incense for detoxification, calming the mind, and refreshing the spirit, a fire tinder—you should test it first to see if it still works, a clean cloth..." He checked each item as he went, totaling sixty-eight items. Time was tight, so he spoke quickly and finished in a moment. There wasn't enough time to write it down in a notebook, so Han Xiao had to desperately memorize it.

Finally, Xue Song took two drawers from the wall and said to Han Xiao, "We need to bring these two too: knives and needles." He demonstrated that there were two empty compartments at the back of the medicine box, and the two drawers fit perfectly into them.

Han Xiao pursed her lips, nodding repeatedly in understanding. Xue Song finished doing all this before stepping aside, letting Han Xiao carry the box herself. When the two of them came out of the inner room, the old man of the Cloud Mist and the three doctors were no longer there. Han Xiao was startled; had she been delayed for too long?

"Don't panic, we'll catch up in a few quick steps." Xue Song was clearly aware of the situation. He led Han Xiao to a courtyard behind the mountain, and while walking quickly, he instructed her, "You must remember what medicine the divine doctor used, what needles and knives he used. When you come back, you must organize the box and make sure everything is in order before you leave."

Han Xiao kept running to catch up, nodding vigorously as she replied, "Understood, thank you for your guidance, Doctor Xue."

The two hurried along and finally caught up with Elder Yunwu. Han Xiao carefully followed behind the others, carrying the box on his back. When they arrived at a courtyard called Qingge, Elder Yunwu stepped inside first.

Han Xiao noticed that a carriage had just driven away from the courtyard, presumably a patient had recovered and come down the mountain. Han Xiao was happy about this and smiled as she followed everyone inside.

Upon entering a room in the courtyard, Han Xiao felt a sense of familiarity. The bed in this room was the same as the one she had seen in the rock-covered house, completely open and placed in the middle of the room. Two long tables were placed against the walls on either side. Fang Qiao, Li Mu, and Yan Shan stood on one side of the bed, while Han Xiao stood on the other side with Xue Song and the old man of the clouds.

Mu Yuan's condition was very bad; he was unconscious. In Han Xiao's opinion, this young general looked more like a dying man than Nie Chengyuan had been. Upon further reflection, Nie Chengyuan had been treated on the mountain for three months, which was longer than Mu Yuan's time.

The old man in the clouds carefully examined Mu Yuan's wrist and arm injuries, took his pulse for a long time, and then looked at his eyes and tongue before falling into deep thought.

Fang Qiao was somewhat anxious, but since the old man in the clouds remained silent, he dared not utter a sound. Judging from the divine physician's reaction, it seemed that General Mu's injuries were likely dire. Han Xiao waited to the side, not in a hurry, but her heart was itching to feel the young general's pulse. She had never heard of poison before and wondered what his pulse would be like. Seeing that no one had made a move for a long time, she boldly crept to the bedside and secretly touched the young general's wrist.

Seeing this, Li Mu and the others kept giving her meaningful glances, but Han Xiao was focused on listening to the pulse and ignored them. When the old man in the cloud turned around, she pretended to release Mu Yuan's wrist and stand up straight. Fang Qiao glared at her, but she looked at her toes, pretending not to know anything, secretly memorizing the pulse from earlier, thinking that she would find an opportunity to take out the booklet and write it down quickly later.

The old man in the clouds said to Fang Qiao, "Wake him up and ask him if he wants to live or his arm." Fang Qiao was startled: "Master?"

“The poison can be cured, but if his right wrist is not severed, he still cannot live. He can only choose between his life and his arm.”

"But Master, General Mu is a military officer..." In other words, without an arm, he probably doesn't want to live anymore.

"So wake him up. If he chooses to keep his arm, then send the consultation fee down the mountain with him. There's no need to waste any more time and energy." The old man in the clouds spoke coldly and ruthlessly, and Han Xiao felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

General Mu

Following his master's instructions, Fang Qiao applied the energizing ointment under Mu Yuan's nose and pressed several acupoints. Soon after, Mu Yuan woke up. He opened his eyes and saw the six people surrounding him. At first, his eyes showed surprise and doubt, but he quickly calmed down. Han Xiao thought that he should realize who they were now.

The old man of the clouds and mist didn't beat around the bush. He said to Mu Yuan, "I am the old man of the clouds and mist. You should know that you are seriously injured and on the verge of death. Your family sent you to my Cloud and Mist Mountain for treatment."

Mu Yuan nodded, and the old man in the clouds continued, "I have examined your injuries. The poison can be cured, but the rotting flesh is incurable. If your right wrist and forearm are not severed, even if the poison is neutralized, the rotting flesh will continue and spread to all parts of your body. At that point, you will still be doomed. So I only ask you, do you want your life or your arm?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuan trembled all over, unable to speak for a long time. After a while, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but the words seemed stuck in his throat. The old man in the clouds seemed to understand and said, "This is the last resort. The knife wound on your wrist is rotten from the poison. Your right hand will be useless if it is not amputated, especially since it has been delayed for more than a month. There is no other way. Although the poison has been suppressed, it has reached its limit today, so you don't have time to think about it. If you want your life, I will amputate your arm to drive out the poisonous worms. If you want your arm, I will send you down the mountain to reunite with your family and see them one last time."

The old man in the clouds spoke clearly and logically, but his words were cold and detached. Mu Yuan closed his eyes, his face ashen. Han Xiao's heart pounded with nervousness. She tried to put herself in his shoes. If she were also from a family of military generals, fighting on the battlefield and commanding respect, would she choose to lose her arm or her life in such a situation?

"Take me down the mountain." Mu Yuan's hoarse voice suddenly broke the silence of the room, startling Han Xiao. He, as expected, still chose the arm.

“Okay.” The old man in the clouds agreed readily, but at the same time Han Xiao also called out, “Wait a minute.”

Four pairs of eyes suddenly turned to her. Han Xiao glanced at General Mu Yuan, who was still waiting to die with his eyes closed, and then stammered, "Well, I, I mean, he just woke up, so maybe, I mean, he might not be awake enough to make such a decision right away..." Her voice trailed off as she spoke, because Mu Yuan opened his eyes and glared at her resentfully.

Han Xiao finally realized she was implying the young general was mentally unstable. After thinking for a moment, she shut up. She ignored the four men's expressions and stared at her toes. She overheard Mu Yuan slowly saying to the old man in the clouds, "Divine Physician, the imperial physician once said that my arm should be amputated to save my life. I agreed to let my family send me to Cloud Mist Mountain because I wanted to see if there was any hope of saving both my life and my arm."

"I'm sorry, the only thing I can do better than the imperial physician is to guarantee that the worms in your body will be completely eradicated so that you will never have a relapse. As for your arm, even a god couldn't save it."

"In that case, thank you, Divine Physician. If I, Mu Yuan, can no longer wield the broadsword and return to the battlefield, what difference is there between me and a dead man?" The young general's voice was resolute and unwavering.

“It’s not that I haven’t thought it through,” he continued. Han Xiao stared at the tips of her shoes; she knew he was looking at her. “Ever since the imperial physician advised me to amputate my arm, I’ve been thinking about this issue. I was thinking about it before coming to Cloud Mist Mountain. I’ve thought it through very clearly. Without the arm to wield the sword, General Weiyuan, the Iron-Armed Divine Blade, is a disgrace to live.”

Han Xiao clenched her teeth, feeling a heavy weight in her heart. She heard the old man in the clouds say, "In that case, Doctor Fang will arrange to send you down the mountain immediately. You should reunite with your family as soon as possible. Your poison will definitely take effect before dark." In other words, Mu Yuan's life could only last until tonight.

Mu Yuan thanked him softly, then closed his eyes again. Han Xiao felt he was trying to hide his sorrow and despair. The old man in the clouds took a medicine bottle from his medicine chest and said to Fang Qiao, "Give this medicine to his family. Give it to them when the poison takes effect; it will alleviate some of the pain and make their passing easier." Han Xiao, with his sharp eyes, noticed Mu Yuan's brow and eyelids twitch upon hearing this. The old man in the clouds added, "Send the young general down the mountain." Fang Qiao agreed and went out to instruct the servants waiting by the door to prepare the carriage.

The old man in the clouds stopped talking and walked out first. Xue Song and the other two hurriedly followed. Han Xiao looked at Mu Yuan again, then picked up his medicine box and followed.

The group reached the courtyard gate. Li Mu was discussing the condition of the patient with stomach bleeding he had treated last time with the old man Yunwu, wondering if his master could visit again today. Three servants were preparing a carriage at the gate. Han Xiao, listening to Li Mu's voice and looking at the tall, fine horse pulling the carriage, thought of the young General Weiyuan lying in the house behind her, waiting to die. Suddenly, she acted impulsively, ran forward two steps, and shouted, "Divine Physician!"

Her voice was extremely loud, and everyone stopped. The old man in the clouds turned to look at her, and Han Xiao knelt down with a thud: "Divine Doctor, please give Han Xiao a chance to persuade the young general."

Everyone was stunned. The old man in the clouds stared at Han Xiao for a moment and said, "Didn't the young general just make it clear that he didn't act on impulse? He has been injured for over a month and has been examined by the imperial physician. He is very clear about the outcome of his injury. His family and he must have advised him many times. Now that he has thought it through and made up his mind, wouldn't you be asking for trouble by interfering?"

Han Xiao gritted her teeth: "Divine Physician, if the young general had no will to live, he wouldn't have come up the mountain seeking a miracle before his death. If the Divine Physician didn't have pity on him, he wouldn't have given him medicine to alleviate his pain when he was about to die. Han Xiao doesn't have the medical skills of the Divine Physician, nor is she a god who can save the young general's arm, but Han Xiao has a few words she must say. Divine Physician, please have mercy and let me say a few words to the young general." She looked back at the carriage, where the three servants who had arranged it were staring at her in disbelief. Han Xiao pointed at them: "Anyway, it will take some time to prepare the carriage, so Han Xiao will take this opportunity to talk to the young general. We'll be out soon, so as not to delay the young general from going down the mountain to reunite with his family."

The servant putting on the saddle wanted to say that it would be done after this, but seeing the expressions on others' faces, he kept quiet. The old man in the clouds didn't speak, only staring at Han Xiao, who knelt there with his medicine chest on his back, his back straight, meeting his gaze directly. Xue Song, Li Mu, and the other two dared not speak; they had never before dared to object or disagree after the old man in the clouds had given clear instructions.

Han Xiao was actually quite uneasy. She didn't even know what she was supposed to do. She just felt it was such a waste to just wait to die. But she had no idea what she could do, or perhaps it was because no one else wanted to do anything that she impulsively wanted to do something.

"Alright, I'll allow you to say a few words. Once the carriage is loaded, I'll take the young general down the mountain." The old man in the clouds and mist's decision surprised everyone. The servant who was loading the saddle watched Han Xiao kowtow and thank him before rushing to the courtyard like his pants were on fire. He secretly sidled up to another servant and whispered, "Do you think I should take the saddle off, clean it properly, and then put it back on?" The servant replied, "Yes, and I'll change the cushions in my carriage too."

The old man in the clouds watched coldly as the three people loading the carriage inexplicably began to busy themselves. He snorted and led Xue Song and the other two into the courtyard, saying, "Let's go sit in the north room. I want to have some tea."

Han Xiao rushed into Mu Yuan's room carrying her medicine box. Fang Qiao, who was guarding the room, was startled by her imposing manner. Han Xiao said to him, "The divine physician has allowed me to speak a few words with the young general." Fang Qiao frowned, and seeing that no one came in to stop her, she got up and went out, intending to ask the old man of the clouds and mist.

Han Xiao ignored him. She patted the large medicine box while panting and said to Mu Yuan, who could not hide his surprise, "This is the Divine Physician's large medicine box. I heard that in the past only his disciples could carry it, but today it's my turn to carry it. I am a servant of Nie Chengyan, the city lord of Baiqiao City. My name is Han Xiao."

Mu Yuan frowned, not understanding what the little girl meant by running in and introducing herself. Han Xiao didn't know what to say either. She thought for a moment, put the medicine box on the table, then took out her small charcoal pencil and booklet. In front of Mu Yuan, she wrote "Han Xiao" in the booklet with her left hand and said, "This is my name."

Mu Yuan frowned even more: "Miss Han, I can read."

"Can you write with your left hand?" Han Xiao's question silenced Mu Yuan. He suddenly understood what this seemingly crazy girl had come back for.

Han Xiao continued, "When I was a child, I burned my right hand. Luckily, an old doctor next door applied some medicine to it with a folk remedy, and it healed completely without leaving a scar. However, I couldn't use my right hand at that time and couldn't write. I was very anxious, so I started to learn to write with my left hand. So now I can write with both hands."

Mu Yuan said, "Miss Han, you are young and do not understand. Military officers have the dignity of military officers."

“Dignity, I understand.” Han Xiao simply squatted down by the bed, closer to him so it would be easier to talk: “When I carried my brother to beg the doctor to treat him, we had no money. When the doctor dismissively told my brother and me to leave, I also felt quite undignified. But I knew that this would give my brother a chance to get treatment, so I still insisted on doing it. Seeing my brother still alive and well now, I feel especially dignified.”

Mu Yuan's heart stirred, and he finally took a serious look at the girl. Han Xiao continued, "However, I'm just a young girl, and I can't compare to the young general, but my master can. My master founded Hundred Bridges City. When the young general comes to Cloud Mist Mountain, he will definitely know about Hundred Bridges City. It was built by my master, which is amazing, right? However, he was injured half a year ago, and his Achilles tendon was completely severed. He will never be able to walk again. But my master did not give up on life. He can still go around in a wheelchair and manage Hundred Bridges City. Young general, Han Xiao is just a girl. I haven't read many books and I'm not very good at speaking. Actually, I don't know what to say when I come in. The divine doctor said that you must have considered it for a long time before making this decision, and told me not to cause trouble or make things unpleasant. But if I don't speak up, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Mu Yuan sighed and said, "Thank you, Miss Han. I understand your kindness, but the divine doctor is right. I have thought about it for a long time and I understand it very well."

"So, you still think your arm is more important than your life?"

“They are equally important, Miss Han. I started practicing martial arts at the age of three, and at fifteen I fought alongside my grandfather and father on the battlefield. My life is on the battlefield. If I can no longer wield a sword and become a cripple, I will surely be ridiculed by villains…”

"But you still have your left arm and left hand..."

“Miss Han, holding a knife is not the same as holding a pen, and practicing martial arts is not the same as writing.”

Han Xiao's eyes reddened. She gritted her teeth and asked again, "Young General, which of your family members are waiting for you at the foot of the mountain?"

“My mother, my father, and my grandmother.” Mu Yuan looked at Han Xiao and was amused by her sad appearance. “Miss Han, thank you. I know you meant well. I feel much better now.”

"Young General..." Han Xiao hesitated, but finally asked, "Do your family agree to you keeping your arm and waiting to die?"

Mu Yuan paused for a moment, then said softly, "Of course they agreed."

Han Xiao sniffed and shook her head: "When my brother had an attack before, he was very uncomfortable and would throw a tantrum, blaming me for being too controlling. If I hadn't gone through all that trouble, he might have been free by now. But I was always so cruel and insisted on tormenting him, wanting him to pull through. I don't believe your family can accept you leaving like this. They probably just don't want you to be too sad. You came up the mountain looking for a miracle, hoping to save both your life and your arm. They must also be hoping you can return safely."

Mu Yuan didn't speak. At this moment, Fang Qiao appeared at the door. Han Xiao saw his expression and knew that the carriage was ready. Han Xiao hurriedly asked again, "Young General, if it weren't for the poison, and you had only lost an arm on the battlefield, the army doctor could have cured you. Would you still want to die? How would you die? By taking your own life?"

"Han Xiao." Fang Qiao had to interrupt her; this girl had gone too far. Sure enough, Mu Yuan clenched his fists, provoked by her words. Han Xiao lowered her head and said softly, "I'm sorry, General. I just feel that someone as remarkable as you shouldn't have to end up like this."

Fang Qiao walked over and asked, "Young General, the carriage is ready. Are you still going to go down the mountain?"

"Yes," Mu Yuan said softly, but firmly. Han Xiao rubbed her eyes and stood aside. Two servants came in to lift the board from under Mu Yuan.

As Mu Yuan passed by Han Xiao, he said softly, "You're wrong. I'm nothing special."

Han Xiao stared blankly as the servants carried Mu Yuan away. Suddenly, she rushed up and followed, shouting to Mu Yuan, "Young General, every doctor said my brother would die within three months, but he didn't. Many things that seem impossible can actually be accomplished by gritting your teeth and persevering."

Mu Yuan was lifted onto the carriage, and Han Xiao grabbed his left hand in a moment of urgency: "Little General, I once thought that I could not carry my brother this far, and that I would not last long, but I dreamed that my father told me to be brave."

The coachman, Su Mu, smiled at Han and said, "Miss Han, we're about to set off."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qiao stepped forward and grasped Han Xiao's shoulder, saying to Mu Yuan, "Young General, may you have a safe journey." This double blessing caused Han Xiao a pang of heartache. Mu Yuan squeezed Han Xiao's hand and said softly, "Miss Han, perhaps I am not as brave as you."

The curtain was lowered, and the carriage, carrying Mu Yuan, drove out of Han Xiao's sight. Han Xiao sniffed and said to Fang Qiao, "Dr. Fang, I'm really sad."