Maestro de la ambigüedad

Capítulo 3

But the old man then said, "Tonight is Ayan's night of life or death. If he can survive tonight, he will live."

Han Xiao's heart sank. City Lord Nie was dying? So, after all this time, she really was just used as a bride to bring good luck? Wasn't it said that no matter how serious the illness, as long as Elder Yunwu was willing to treat it, it could be saved?

Han Xiao looked directly at the old man. Although she was flustered and nervous, she still asked bluntly, "Miracle Doctor, you haven't treated my brother's illness yet. Can you really cure him?"

"The four doctors of Baiqiao City, Cui, Li, Chen, and Wang, have all told me about your brother's illness. If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't have let you go up the mountain." The old man folded and put away Han Xiao's indenture and said, "Your brother's illness requires slow and gradual treatment, which takes time. So as long as he can stay on Cloud Mist Mountain, he won't die."

Han Xiao understood the implication: if Nie Chengyan lived, Han Le would have a chance to live—it was a gamble with her life. But even the slimmest chance was still a hope, and Han Xiao wouldn't let any opportunity slip by. She nodded to the old man, indicating her acceptance. In truth, she knew that she and her brother were the weaker party, and whether they accepted it or not, this was the only way.

The old man led Han Xiao into the courtyard, which was quite large, spanning two floors before reaching the main house. Several servants and a few men in scholar's robes carrying medical kits, who appeared to be doctors, stood in the courtyard. They all bowed and kowtowed to the old man. The old man ignored them and simply stood in front of the main house.

A doctor-like figure came over and handed a medical kit to Han Xiao, instructing her, "Miss, the young master's poison will start to take effect around 7 PM. You must roll up the cloth soaked in medicine in this kit and put it in his mouth to prevent him from injuring his teeth and tongue. The incense is for refreshing and boosting his energy. His external injuries are no longer a problem, and all the other necessary medicines have been administered. Please take good care of him while he watches over you."

Han Xiao panicked. Poisoned and injured, and she was left alone to guard him? She hurriedly asked, "Am I alone? What if something unexpected happens? I don't know what to do..."

“Miss, we’ve used up all the medicine available for the young master’s injuries and poison. Tonight is a night of life or death. If he can pull through, he has a chance of survival. We’re all waiting in the courtyard. If there’s any emergency, just call him. Remember, don’t let him fall asleep.”

A night of life or death! She only has one night to give her chance!

Han Xiao turned to look at the old man in the clouds, but his face revealed nothing of his thoughts. He simply said to Han Xiao, "Go in."

Han Xiao stiffened his legs, gritted his teeth, and stepped across the threshold.

A Night of Life and Death (Revised Version)

The room was dark; thick curtains completely blocked out the twilight outside. A candle burned in the corner, its pale light casting shadows and creating an eerie atmosphere. The air was thick with the pungent smells of medicine, blood, and body odor, making it difficult for Han Xiao to breathe. She resisted the urge to cover her nose and slowly walked into the inner room.

She was about to meet Nie Chengyan, the city lord she had heard so many legendary tales about. But Han Xiao didn't know whether she should feel happy or sad about this meeting.

The inner room was just as dark as the outer room, and the smell was even stronger. It was warm inside, apparently because braziers had been lit in the four corners. Perhaps to facilitate the rescue, the bed had been moved to the center of the room, with no partitions around it. A soft mattress covered the bed, and on it lay a young man of about twenty years old, who looked to be about the same age as the young master of the Long family. His hair was disheveled, and he was completely naked, with only a thin blanket covering his waist. The smell in the room was coming from him.

The scene was completely different from what Han Xiao had imagined, and Nie Chengyan was unexpectedly young. Han Xiao placed the medical kit on the table by the door and took a few steps closer to the room. Now she could see him clearly. Nie Chengyan's hair was tangled and dirty, haphazardly spread across the pillow. His face was deathly pale, tinged with blue, his eyes tightly closed, his thin lips pressed together, and a cloth was sticking out of the corner of his mouth—presumably the one the doctor outside had told him to put in his mouth to prevent him from biting himself. He looked like a ghost.

Han Xiao took a deep breath, looking at the numerous wounds on Nie Chengyan's body. The red scars were long, wide, and twisted, suggesting that the injuries he had suffered must have been deep enough to expose the bone. His hands were bound to the edge of the bed, and marks from the struggle were visible on his wrists. Thick bandages were also wrapped around his ankles, covering most of his calves.

He looked terrible, and the smell emanating from him made people hold their noses. But Han Xiao remained calm. He was Nie Chengyan, the one who built Baiqiao City to heal the sick and save lives. He was someone she, Han Xiao, admired and respected. There was nothing to be afraid of. She was his servant, there to take care of him.

The room was quiet; Han Xiao couldn't even hear Nie Chengyan's breathing. She moved closer gently, bending down to examine his injuries more closely. Just as she got nearer, he suddenly opened his eyes, startling Han Xiao so much she almost fell backward. She caught her breath, steadied herself, and calmly met his gaze.

Those were dark, yet gloomy eyes. Han Xiao had seen that look before; it clearly revealed a sense of world-weariness and hatred.

He stared at her for a long time, and Han Xiao didn't know how to react. She had imagined what Nie Chengyan would be like countless times, but the one in front of her was completely different from what she had imagined. She met his gaze, and finally, she actually smiled at him.

Han Xiao's smile made Nie Chengyan's glare become fierce. He narrowed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed, and his gaze seemed even sharper. Han Xiao felt uneasy under his gaze, and his smile was about to falter when he suddenly closed his eyes.

The air seemed to freeze again. Han Xiao quietly exhaled and carefully examined his injuries. She had worked as a servant for many doctors and cared for many patients, so she had considerable experience. Every injury was treated very well. Judging from the smell of the medicine and the color of the ointment, it must have been changed recently.

Han Xiao had nothing to do. She thought for a moment, looked at him again, then stood up and searched around the room. She took a wooden comb, a cloth, and a knotted rope, then squatted down and gently combed his hair.

The moment she touched him, he opened his eyes as if stabbed, his gaze piercing her like a knife. Han Xiao smiled reassuringly at him. She deftly combed his greasy, dirty hair into a bun on top of his head, wrapped it in a cloth, and tied it securely with a knotted rope. The hairstyle looked somewhat comical, but it made him appear much more neat and tidy.

"This feels much more refreshing and comfortable." Han Xiao finished the job and was clearly satisfied.

Nie Chengyan stared at her as if she were a monster. What would a dead person want to be clean and comfortable for? Han Xiao stared at him for a while, then finally remembered to introduce herself. So she said to him, "My name is Han Xiao, and I am your servant."

He didn't speak. She looked at his mouth and, remembering that it was gagged, reached out her hand. "Shall I take this?" she asked casually, but she had already started to act. Unexpectedly, Nie Chengyan took the opportunity to bite her finger hard.

He seemed to be biting with all his might, as if filled with hatred. Han Xiao cried out in pain and used her free hand to pinch his jaw, freeing her hand from his mouth. Nie Chengyan was both surprised and angry, seemingly not expecting her to dare pinch him. Han Xiao also stared at him in astonishment, never expecting such a powerful figure to bite. The two unconsciously locked eyes again, until finally he angrily closed his eyes, out of sight, out of mind.

In the courtyard, Xue Song, the doctor who had just handed Han Xiao his medical kit, was saying to the old man in the clouds, "Master, is this really appropriate? This little girl is so young, she doesn't know anything about medicine. Letting her stay with the young master, what if..."

"Hasn't her background been thoroughly investigated?" the old man in the clouds asked instead of answering.

"Yes," Xue Song replied. Ever since receiving Han Xiao's 20th letter, his master had sent people to investigate her. Xue Song knew this, and he also clearly remembered what the spy had written: "Han Xiao, an orphan girl of fourteen, brought her younger brother to seek medical treatment. Her brother is weak, his pulse is blocked, his internal organs are diseased, and he cannot walk."

According to Xue Song, the cause of this blocked pulse is difficult to discern. Acupuncture and moxibustion are needed to clear the meridians and regulate the pulse. As for the pathogenic factors affecting the internal organs, medication should be prescribed based on the specific symptoms after pulse diagnosis. However, the inability to walk is truly strange, suggesting a deep-seated illness and impaired pulse flow, making this a very difficult case. In the hands of an ordinary doctor, such a condition would likely not survive more than a few months. Yet, Han Le has been ill for two years, and Han Xiao has carried him to many places, managing to survive.

Han Xiao was incredibly persevering and exceptionally intelligent. Several doctors in Baiqiao City pleaded with Xue Song to help Han Xiao ask her master, the Elder Yunwu, for a chance. Xue Song had seen the prescription she had prepared for her younger brother; her understanding of pharmacology and medicine was extraordinary. Although she wasn't born into a medical family, she could clearly identify each herb and understand every step of the treatment. But what the doctors talked about most was this child's extraordinary good fortune. She had managed to descend Yunwu Mountain safely, and while working as a servant in the Baiqiao City clinic, none of the patients she treated had died.

Now that Master has come down the mountain to bring Han Xiao here, and has asked her to spend this night of life and death with the young master alone, could it be that he has also believed in the rumors of her being a "lucky star"?

Xue Song finally couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you mean to use her for a marriage to bring good luck?"

The old man remained silent for a long time. Xue Song was thinking there would be no answer when he heard the old man mutter to himself, "There's a kind of person... I've only met one... none of the patients he's treated have ever died. I wonder if Han Xiao is one of them... As for Ayan's injury, we've done everything we could..."

The old man in the clouds spoke very softly, and Xue Song, standing to the side, only caught snippets of his words, still not quite understanding his master's meaning. He bowed his head respectfully and stood aside, not daring to ask any more questions.

Han Xiao was unaware that her actions in Baiqiao City had been thoroughly investigated. She felt a pang of disappointment towards Elder Yunwu. As a healer, he studied medicine and dedicated himself to healing and saving lives. Elder Yunwu had many rules, which she could barely understand, but his belief in unorthodox methods like marrying for good luck was a blow to her admiration for his medical skills. However, facing the dying Nie Chengyan, she had no time to think of anything else. Remembering the doctor's instructions, she lit incense, prepared a cloth soaked in medicine, and carried it along with her medicine box to Nie Chengyan's side.

Nie Chengyan was on the verge of a poisoning attack and was breathing painfully when he saw the little girl return. He squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth: "Get out!" His voice was hoarse and gloomy, reminding Han Xiao of the feeling of her carrying her younger brother on her back on the autumn mountain path, her feet crunching on the withered leaves and stepping on the gravel.

"Yes, Master," Han Xiao replied smoothly, but her actions showed no sincerity whatsoever, revealing no intention of leaving. Seeing the sweat beading on his forehead and his body tensing, she knew he was about to lash out. She quickly folded a towel, rolled it into a strip, pried open his chin, and shoved it into his mouth. This time, she carefully and skillfully avoided his sharp teeth, swiftly withdrawing her hand. Seeing the flash of frustration in his eyes when he missed, she almost laughed. So this is how Lord Nie Chengyan of Baiqiao City is.

At this moment, Nie Chengyan no longer cared whether this clueless little girl could leave or not. He gritted his teeth. He was in pain, he was agitated, he wanted to kill, and he also wanted to die.

His whole body began to convulse, and his vision blurred with red mist, but he still saw a pair of concerned eyes—the little girl's. He closed his eyes, his mind filled with thoughts of that pretty face in his heart. Once, a pair of beautiful eyes would gaze at him with a mixture of shyness and joy. He had thought he would grow old with the owner of those eyes, but sadly, that chance was gone forever.

The pain surged and receded like the tide. Nie Chengyan felt as if he had just walked through the gates of hell. He didn't know how much time had passed, only that the wave of pain subsided and he was still alive. Hearing Han Xiao's soft movements beside him, he opened his eyes.

Han Xiao had placed a basin of water nearby and was wiping the sweat from his body. Due to the poisoning, his sweat was sticky and smelly, making him feel very uncomfortable. Nie Chengyan frowned, his mind a little foggy. Where did she conjure up warm water? Han Xiao smiled at him: "I found the hot spring pool behind the courtyard." Her expression and tone were as if she were chatting with him normally, as if she hadn't seen his ghostly poisoning reaction at all. She was quite bold.

The thick, soft towel wiped his sweaty neck, and Nie Chengyan felt so comfortable that he wanted to sigh. She took the towel out of his mouth, picked up a bowl, filled it with water with a small spoon, and fed it to him little by little.

How amazing! It conjured up a basin and then a bowl. Nie Chengyan was too weak from the previous wave of excruciating pain to struggle anymore. He swallowed the water and felt a little better.

He regained some energy and yelled at Han Xiao, who was wiping his shoulder, "Get lost!"

Han Xiao replied, "Yes, Master." But she showed no intention of leaving. She carefully avoided the wounds, wiping his body with gentle yet efficient movements; clearly, she was very skilled at caring for others. Where did that old man find such a maid?

Nie Chengyan couldn't help but ask, "What benefits did he give you?"

Han Xiao paused, realizing what was happening. She continued wiping diligently, answering, "I brought my younger brother here for medical treatment. We have no money, so I'm selling myself into slavery."

"If I die, you're all going to get out?"

Han Xiao was taken aback: "Yes."

Nie Chengyan laughed, his first laugh of the night, but it was devoid of any real joy: "Great, at least you have someone to be buried with you before you die." The malice in his tone was obvious.

Han Xiao vigorously scrubbed the cloth in the basin, clearly unhappy, which cheered Nie Chengyan up. Han Xiao wrung out the cloth and continued wiping Nie Chengyan's body. As she wiped, she finally couldn't help but say, "Master won't die, and my brother won't die either."

Nie Chengyan scoffed, "Fate isn't something you can control."

“My brother’s illness was initially diagnosed with, and the doctor said he wouldn’t live more than three months. But now it’s been two years, and he’s still alive. He will continue to live. So will you, Master.”

Nie Chengyan remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I can't walk anymore. My legs are useless. What's the point of living?"

“My brother’s legs are also paralyzed, but we still made it here. We crossed many mountains and passed through several cities.”

The person I love is dead.

"My parents have also passed away."

Nie Chengyan stopped talking and glared at her. If he could still move, he would definitely kick her out. Did she have to argue with him? Han Xiao seemed not to see his gaze and focused on wiping his body. She wiped all the way to his waist and pulled off the thin blanket covering his waist. Nie Chengyan was shocked and said loudly, "Don't touch me."

But he could already feel the warm, damp cloth rubbing against his sensitive areas, across his inner thighs, and down his legs. Nie Chengyan was both ashamed and angry, gritting his teeth in hatred.

Han Xiao casually wrung out the cloth again and said, "I've worked as a maid in many mansions, doing all sorts of menial tasks, like wiping bodies, combing hair, and taking care of bodily functions. I also often help my younger brother bathe. The master doesn't do any more than him, so there's no need to worry about it."

How old is your younger brother?

"Ten years old."

"I'll be twenty soon." Nie Chengyan gritted his teeth in anger. He was old enough to get married, how could he compare to a brat who wasn't even fully grown up? What did Nie Chengyan have that was better than him?

“Then the master should wipe himself clean even more. Even my brother knows that even if you are sick, you don’t need to smell bad.”

"You called me stinky!" No matter how disheveled Nie Chengyan is now, he was once a powerful figure who could command the wind and rain. How could he bear such an insult?

"I didn't scold him, but Master really doesn't feel well right now." Han Xiao's tone was relaxed and casual. She quickly finished her work, grabbed the basin of water, and left. Nie Chengyan felt the excruciating pain in his internal organs slowly creeping back in, and he tensed up again.

The towel, soaked in medicine, was rolled up again and placed in his mouth. He saw the little girl's calm, smiling face again. This time, he didn't close his eyes. He looked into her eyes, bright, dark eyes, without fear or hesitation. She looked at him firmly and steadily. He didn't know why, but even in the excruciating pain, he kept staring into those eyes. He thought he wouldn't make it this time because those eyes were gradually blurring before his eyes, and he was about to lose consciousness. But he didn't. When he regained consciousness, he saw her smile.

She removed the gag from his mouth, and he caught his breath. He began to curse her, her smile, her eyes, her thin frame, her argumentative nature, the house, the mountain—he cursed everything.

Then he noticed that she had been massaging his hands. He had been tied up for some time because of his struggles with his illness and his lack of cooperation with the doctors and servants. His hands were numb and painful, and he had forgotten what they felt.

She massaged him very patiently, starting from the emergency acupoint on the tip of his middle finger and pressing and pressing, moving downwards to the heart acupoint, the triple burner acupoint... all five fingers to the palm to the wrist, she massaged rhythmically and patiently.

Nie Chengyan sneered: "Hand acupoints are only used for health preservation and disease prevention. Do you think they will be useful for my near-death poisoning?"

"I'm not a doctor, I just want to make you feel better. Acupoints are interconnected. I saw in a hand manual that hand acupoints are useful too. I massage my brother every day, and he always says it feels good. Foot acupoints are the same, but Master's feet are bandaged, so I can't massage them." Han Xiao seemed not to understand his sarcasm and continued to massage earnestly.

When she mentioned the foot, his anger flared up again. Shouldn't caring for a patient also include taking care of their emotions?

Han Xiao ignored his angry glare. She took out a small booklet from her bosom, carefully examined his pulse and palm lines, and then made notes in the booklet with a fine charcoal pencil. Nie Chengyan took a breath and frowned: "You're reading my palm?"

"This servant doesn't know palmistry. I just memorized the lines on the palms when patients are sick. Different patients have different palm lines. I've memorized a lot. I didn't know palm lines could reveal illnesses." Han Xiao seemed a little excited as she said this, but then she thought better of it and stopped talking. This was Cloud Mist Mountain, after all; everyone here was a miracle doctor. She only knew a little bit, so it was best not to say anything carelessly. Many doctors didn't agree with palmistry, and few people used it to diagnose illnesses. She just had so many opportunities to look at patients' hands, so she memorized them little by little. Every time she found a common thread, she would be excited for a long time, feeling that she had learned something new.

Nie Chengyan closed his eyes, trying to stop thinking about how he had become this young girl's guinea pig for diagnosis, and he started to feel pain again.

The room was so dark, and wave after wave of pain assaulted him. He completely lost track of time, feeling that the night was incredibly long.

That night, he spoke far more than he could have imagined. He was a dying man; how could he possibly have the strength to say so much? She held his hand tightly, pressing and pressing until every acupoint on his hand ached. He was exhausted and weak, yet she kept him awake all night. He was furious; he wanted to strangle this girl. He told her he was going to die and to stop wasting his energy and get lost. She actually said that he was so energetic and eloquent, he shouldn't die. She was genuinely happy; she said her brother could be saved.

He was cursing her fiercely, completely ignoring the fact that, for someone who had just stepped into the gates of hell, his spirits were actually quite good. There was a noise at the door, and Nie Chengyan then realized that he seemed to have not experienced the pain of poisoning for quite some time.

Is it dawn yet?

Xue Song led in four men who looked like physicians and servants: "Miss Han, it's dawn. We've come to change the young master's dressing."

At this moment, Nie Chengyan suddenly didn't know what to feel. He hadn't died. Wasn't it said that there was no cure for the Green Snow Poison? Wasn't it said that he was doomed to die?

He turned his head and saw genuine joy on the face of the little girl named Han Xiao. She asked Xue Song, "Doctor, does that mean Master has come back to life? He won't die, will he?"

Xue Song nodded: "The most dangerous night is over, and there should be no major problems afterward. Miss Han, your master is waiting for you outside."

Han Xiao's eyes crinkled with joy. She was about to run out when Nie Chengyan called out to her, "Come here."

Han Xiao bit her lip, unsure of his intentions, but still moved closer to him as instructed. Nie Chengyan whispered in her ear, "Old Man Yunwu is my grandfather, and the poison I was afflicted with is Green Snow, a unique poison from Yunwu Mountain."

He was pleased to see the surprised expression on her face. A mocking smile played on his lips as he said softly, "Go."

Master-Servant Agreement (Revised Version)

Han Xiao stepped out of the house. The morning sun shone brightly, but Han Xiao felt a heavy weight in her heart. The old man of the clouds stood in the courtyard, in the same spot, in the same posture, as when he had brought her there yesterday. Had he waited like this all night?

Nie Chengyan's words echoed in Han Xiao's ears: "Old Man Yunwu is my own grandfather, and the poison I was afflicted with is Green Snow, a unique poison from Yunwu Mountain." These words were full of implications. Could it be that his hatred and misanthropy did not entirely stem from his injury and crippling? Han Xiao was somewhat frightened.

The old man in the mist before her had no discernible expression on his face. He naturally knew that Nie Chengyan was alive, but he didn't show any joy. The first thing he said to Han Xiao was, "What did you do to him?"