Maestro de la ambigüedad

Capítulo 23

There seems to be a smooth road.

Han Xiao packed some things and rushed to Xi's clinic without even having lunch. Lin Zhi had been sent there for treatment. Although Nie Chengyan was unwilling, he was afraid that Han Xiao would hold a grudge, so he didn't stop her anymore, only requiring her to return to Yanzhu every day.

Without Han Xiao by his side, Nie Chengyan felt a void in his heart. He sat there blankly for a while before calling Huo Qiyang and ordering him to bring that brat over to have lunch with him. Han Le obediently came over. Usually so cheerful and playful, he seemed a little listless today, like a brother to his sibling. But when he heard there would be good food, he perked up a bit.

The table was set, and apart from one vegetable dish, the rest of the four dishes and one soup were all medicinal cuisine. Han Le looked through all the dishes, pouted in dissatisfaction, and her expression was somewhat like Han Xiao's: "Where's the pork?"

"Go ask your brother-in-law for it." Nie Chengyan was furious; he was being so picky about food.

"Sigh, brother-in-law..." The little adult sighed dramatically, and the way he called him brother-in-law gave Nie Chengyan a strange feeling. Before he could even process it, Han Le said again, "It'll be a long wait."

“I’ve been giving you medicine to replenish your energy every day, but you still talk in a very labored way, dragging out your words in half-finished sentences.” Nie Chengyan got annoyed. You brat.

Han Le was somewhat puzzled, and thought to himself again that his sister was right when she said the city lord often got angry for no reason. Thinking of his sister, he couldn't help but ask, "City Lord, has my sister gotten into trouble again this time?"

“Your sister never just causes trouble, she always looks for trouble.” He became uncomfortable again when he mentioned this.

Han Le nodded vigorously: "And she's also stubborn."

"Not only is he stubborn, but he's also incredibly bold."

Han Le nodded again: "It's one thing that she's bold, but she also has no memory and never listens to advice."

"Hmph, one day she'll suffer a loss, and when she's crying and screaming and no one listens to her, she'll know what's what." Nie Chengyan felt like he had met a kindred spirit, and after venting his frustrations, he felt much better.

But Han Le, hearing his sister crying and wailing with no one answering, became indignant. He straightened his little back and said, "How can no one answer? We're here for you." Nie Chengyan's face flushed. He was about to argue that he was him, and they were siblings, not that close.

But Han Le continued on her own: "If it weren't for my sister's courage, stubbornness, and resilience, I wouldn't be where I am today. If it weren't for my sister, I would be dead by now, and my aunt would definitely sell her for money. When we left Mincheng, she even sent people to chase after us. My sister carried me on her back, burned the bridge, stole the boat, and climbed a mountain in one go. We suffered from hunger, cold, and wolves... There were also swindlers and robbers on the road... My sister-in-law, who helped us, told her not to be so stubborn. Since so many doctors said I was beyond saving, she should just let me eat and drink well until the end, and that would be enough. She was twelve years old, and in a few years she could get married. We would help her find a good husband. But my sister didn't give up."

As Han Le spoke, she became emotional, her large eyes brimming with tears: "Lord City Lord, if my sister weren't like this, she wouldn't be herself, and I wouldn't be myself. If anything really happens, I will definitely stand with my sister through thick and thin."

Nie Chengyan remained silent. He knew her temperament perfectly well; she wouldn't listen to punishment or be scolded, yet her gentle, soothing blows made his heart ache. Han Le looked around, pondered for a while, then leaned forward and whispered, "Lord City Lord, do you think the Divine Physician might not want to treat me anymore?"

Nie Chengyan stiffened slightly, then chuckled and said, "Why would you think that?"

Han Le stared at him and whispered, "I've been here for almost two years now. If it could be cured, wouldn't it have been cured long ago? If it can't be cured, shouldn't there be an explanation? But my body is getting stronger every day, but my legs are still not good. Do you think it's because the miracle doctor thinks my sister is still useful and is dragging things out so he can blackmail her?"

Nie Chengyan couldn't laugh this time. They really were siblings; Han Le, despite her young age, was so perceptive. He composed himself and said seriously to Han Le, "Lele, I can't control others, but I will protect you and your sibling to the end. Don't worry. Some serious illnesses can't be cured in a year or two. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Han Le carefully observed his expression, as if trying to discern the truth or falsehood in his words, then smiled, leaned over and put her arm around his: "With Lord City Lord's words, I feel at ease." He continued, "Lord City Lord, don't forget to tell my sister this as well. Although she must already know, otherwise she wouldn't be so bold and decisive, if Lord City Lord doesn't tell her, I'm afraid my sister will overthink things."

Han Xiao was indeed thinking a lot; this series of events had left her somewhat confused. At Xi's clinic, she first went to see Yan Shan. Yan Shan wasn't dead; she had only been carried away as part of an act, and in reality, she had been secretly moved to a different room. Su Medical Clinic was ordered to await investigation overnight, so naturally, there was no time to think about it in detail. At this moment, Yan Shan had improved and was fast asleep. Han Xiao then went to Lin Zhi's ward.

Lin Zhi's condition was vastly different from Yan Shan's. Her hair was disheveled, her face was ashen, and she was writhing and struggling in pain. Just like Nie Chengyan before her, her limbs were firmly bound to the bedside, and a roll of cloth was stuffed into her mouth to prevent her from biting off her tongue. To Han Xiao's surprise, Lin Zhi also had two knife wounds on her body.

"It was the divine physician who sent someone to inflict the wound. One of the poisons of Green Snow is that it makes wounds slow to heal. The wound on Young Master's body should have healed in a month or so, but it took three months to recover." Xue Song explained after seeing her expression.

Han Xiao nodded. Seeing the person who had intended to kill her now bound to the bed like a worm, suffering and begging for death, she felt indescribable emotions. Xue Song seemed to know what she was thinking, sighed, and patted her shoulder: "It's good that you're alright, Miss Han. Heaven still has eyes."

Han Xiao didn't know what to say. Just then, a servant came to call them for dinner, and Han Xiao took the opportunity to change the subject. She asked about the steps and methods of treating the poison, and Xue Song answered them one by one. After dinner, he showed her the medicine booklet, which recorded the treatment steps and medications used after Nie Chengyan was injured and poisoned.

"I treated her the same way I always have. I gave her water, medicine, acupuncture, and bloodletting. Her condition is similar to yours, and her pulse is the same. But whether she is Green Snow or not, we need to observe her further."

Han Xiao examined her carefully and asked softly, "How long can she hold on?"

“If left untreated, he will probably die in five or six days. When the young master was seriously injured and poisoned, he managed to survive for three months. In the end, when the medicine became ineffective, there was really nothing that could be done. That day, my master went down the mountain to bring you up. As for this Miss Lin, I can only say that it will take between ten days and three months.”

"How will Doctor Yan and the miracle doctor handle her situation?"

"Her..." Xue Song glanced at Lin Zhi, who was convulsing in pain inside the room, from the doorway, and didn't continue. Han Xiao understood; Doctor Xue was indeed helpless against the poison in Lin Zhi. It seemed that by the time she had endured enough time and the details of her symptoms were clearly determined, she would be dead. Xue Song continued, "Doctor Yan is usually a good person and conscientious. I don't know why he was so confused this time. Miss Han, please don't blame him; he has already been punished. He was devoted to medicine, but I'm afraid he will never have the chance to practice medicine again..." He was about to continue when he saw Lin Zhi struggling violently, as if trying to attract their attention.

Han Xiao and Xue Song approached, only to see her staring at them with wide eyes. Han Xiao and Xue Song exchanged a glance and suddenly realized what was happening. Han Xiao said, "Miss Lin, you heard right, Doctor Yan is not dead."

Lin Zhi had a roll of cloth in her mouth and couldn't speak, only making gurgling sounds in her throat. Han Xiao asked again, "I'm not dead, Doctor Yan is not dead, are you happy or sad?"

Lin Zhi's eyes were wide open, seemingly filled with anger, resentment, and hatred, yet tears streamed down her face. Han Xiao couldn't understand her expression, but he felt both angry and sad. Such a beautiful woman, skilled in medicine, and from a prestigious family—why was she so vicious, harming one person after another, and now she had even gotten herself into this mess?

Xue Song sighed from the side: "Miss Lin..." He wanted to say that he would try his best to alleviate her pain and let her die peacefully. But thinking about the pain of the Green Snow Poison, which was worse than any torture, he felt that it would be too arrogant for him to say such things. So he shut his mouth and said nothing more.

Having nothing more to do with Lin Zhi for the time being, the two changed rooms and discussed the treatment for the poison for half a day. Xue Song had already ordered a charcoal brazier to be added to the room to raise the temperature and had her drink plenty of water to promote the expulsion of the toxins. However, the first dose of medicine seemed to have no effect, and her pain tolerance was lower than Nie Chengyan's. Xue Song was worried that the treatment methods used on Nie Chengyan wouldn't work on Lin Zhi. Han Xiao inquired about the possibilities of bloodletting, fumigation, moxibustion, and using internal energy to expel the poison. Xue Song felt that, based on the past half-day's observations, the first two seemed unlikely to be effective, and Lin Zhi's body might not be able to withstand the latter two. The two discussed for a long time without reaching a conclusion.

After dinner, the two gave Lin Zhi another dose of medicine and removed the acupuncture needles again, but Lin Zhi showed no improvement. She was in so much pain that she couldn't sleep and could only endure the spasms. Han Xiao knew that the poison was too strong, suppressing the pain-relieving effects of the medicine. She checked Lin Zhi's pulse; her heart was beating abnormally fast. In this condition, she feared she wouldn't be able to endure it for two days. Xue Song also noticed something was wrong. After observing for a while, he changed the prescription, increasing the dosage of some of the medicine. He and Han Xiao then joined forces to administer acupuncture, along with emergency acupressure, and he used his internal energy to push Lin Zhi's pulse. After their efforts, they finally managed to control Lin Zhi's condition slightly. She seemed to be in less pain and was able to close her eyes and rest.

Han Xiao and Xue Song breathed a sigh of relief. They left the physician and servants to watch over them and went to sit in the courtyard for a while. Han Xiao washed his hands in a basin of water and asked Xue Song, "Doctor Xue, why did you study medicine?"

Xue Song was somewhat stunned. He should have answered such a simple question without hesitation, but he found it difficult to speak. He was originally an ordinary doctor from the common people. He had gone through great lengths to finally succeed in becoming an apprentice on Cloud Mist Mountain to pursue his ideals. He was not particularly talented, and there was no other way to succeed in his studies except through diligence. He had spent so many years on the mountain and had acquired medical skills, but the lofty ambitions he once had seemed like distant clouds to him.

Xue Song remained silent for a while before asking, "Miss Han, you love medicine, so why did you study it?"

Han Xiao's answer was not so difficult: "Medical skills can cure people's illnesses. When I was a child, I was very sick and it was the old doctor next door who cured me. At that time, I thought that if I also knew medicine, my parents, my brother, and my neighbors would not get sick. That would be great. But my father told me that I am a girl and cannot be a doctor."

Xue Song chuckled softly. Back then, his father had told him, "Son, you must become a good doctor."

Han Xiao continued, "I never imagined that in this lifetime I would have the opportunity to seriously learn how to heal and save lives, and that I would be taught by top-notch doctors. Speaking of which, Master is truly my great benefactor. I've made up my mind, even if I can't open a clinic to save people, life is so long, I will meet many people. If they are injured, sick, or in pain, I will save them as soon as I meet them, and I won't waste this skill."

Xue Song remained silent for a moment, then finally said in a low voice, "Miss Han, I've thought it through."

"What?" Han Xiao didn't understand.

“I’ve always been reluctant to leave the mountain, always thinking that I would have more opportunities to learn more and be more valued. But in the past two years, I have learned less and less, and even the number of patients on this mountain has decreased. Staying here is a waste of my skills.”

Han Xiao's eyes widened: "Dr. Xue, you mean..."

Xue Song nodded: "I shouldn't cling to these illusory reputations. I should go down the mountain and, like before, use my hands and medical skills to save more people." Han Xiao nodded excitedly: "Yes, yes, whether it's a minor cough or a cold, a hand injury from work or a leg sprain, a headache or lung disease, as long as it's an illness, we can treat them." It's not just about challenging difficult cases; saving every patient—that's what makes a good doctor, isn't it?

Xue Song smiled in agreement: "Once Miss Lin's matter is resolved, I will speak with my master." Disciples of Yunwu Mountain can leave the mountain as long as Elder Yunwu agrees. However, over the years, very few disciples have been willing to leave voluntarily. Although having the title of Elder Yunwu's disciple means they will have no worries about food and drink in the martial world, and will certainly earn a lot of money, and if they are lucky, they may even be able to get an official position in the imperial court, none of these can compare to gaining power and status in Yunwu Mountain. Staying on this mountain will bring fame and wealth.

Han Xiao was overjoyed by Xue Song's idea of leaving the mountains to treat the people. She excitedly held Xue Song's hand and was about to say something encouraging when she heard a loud cough from afar. Looking up, she saw Nie Chengyan.

"I thought you came to hone your medical skills and learn how to treat poisons, but instead you're holding hands and chatting happily?" Nie Chengyan's words made Xue Song's old face burn. He hurriedly stood up and bowed, "Young master, it's not like that with Miss Han. I'm getting on in years. I mean, we were just talking about practicing medicine, and Miss Han was kind-hearted and happy for me..."

Nie Chengyan gave a cold snort and waved his hand to shut him up. What's wrong with her age? He knew perfectly well that his mischievous girl loved to act cute with her father, so anyone who looked like her father in age couldn't be relied on.

He stretched out his hand to Han Xiao: "Come here." Han Xiao was in a good mood and skipped over: "Master, you've come to see your servant."

Did I say I was coming to see you?

"He didn't say."

"Then that settles it." Nie Chengyan denied it.

Han smiled and said, "I know without you saying it." Nie Chengyan held her hand and couldn't help but glare at her. She had run out looking hurt and heartbroken, making him worry all day. But now she was in a good mood, chatting and laughing. Besides, she could hold anyone's hand.

He pinched her hand hard in a fit of pique, and Han Xiao cried out in pain. He then let go and instructed, "Push me for a walk. Didn't you always say there's a beautiful forest there?"

"Yes, yes, it is very beautiful." Han Xiao waved goodbye to Xue Song, saying that she would come back later, and then pushed Nie Chengyan away, without thinking about how there could be places in Yunwu Mountain that Nie Chengyan did not know.

Upon arriving in the grove, Huo Qiyang wisely kept his distance, remaining at a distance. Nie Chengyan kept a straight face and remained silent for a long time. Han Xiao also managed to stay calm, sitting against his chair, looking at the moon through the shadows of the trees, feeling peaceful and at ease.

“Actually, Yunwu Mountain is quite beautiful too,” she said, and he remained silent. She added, “But I prefer Baiqiao City.” He was pleased and patted her head.

"Master, I know." What did she know? She didn't say, but Nie Chengyan felt he understood somewhat, but did he really understand? He wasn't so sure. This troublesome girl of hers could be anxious and saddened by the life and death of others, and could also be overjoyed by the smallest things. She seemed like a very simple person, but sometimes he felt she was much more complex than he imagined, just like Han Le. The two siblings were a very peculiar existence.

Night deepened, and she stayed beside him, gazing at the bright moonlight, feeling the cool breeze in the woods, thinking of Yan Shan, Lin Zhi, and the Old Man of Clouds and Mist. She suddenly felt tired. He gently stroked her head, watching her fall asleep on his lap. He sighed, wondering what was wrong with him; he could be silent in the middle of the night, lost in thought in the woods, and somehow find it quite comforting.

Han Xiao had a dream. She dreamt that she grew a beard and became a divine physician. She shouted, "Cloud Mist Mountain doesn't charge consultation fees, only medicine fees. Every doctor is ranked according to the number of patients they treat, regardless of difficulty. Treat all illnesses. Those who don't treat patients well will be driven away. Those with ill intentions will be locked up. Those who have malicious thoughts to harm people, well, hand them over to the master for disposal." Wait, something's not right. She's a divine physician, so where did this master come from? She was truly confused, so confused that the mountain beneath her feet trembled.

Huo Qiyang watched as Nie Chengyan held Han Xiao in his arms, then beckoned him over. He understood and pushed the wheelchair, taking the two huddled in a chair back into the house. Han Xiao seemed to be dreaming; he heard her mutter, "...Um, leave it to Master to handle..." He couldn't help but laugh.

As a result, Nie Chengyan actually replied, "Idiot, I won't accept anything you give me." Huo Qiyang couldn't help but grin and laugh silently.

It's faint and indistinct.

Han Xiao didn't sleep well that night. She seemed to have many strange dreams. In her dreams, she would sometimes become a divine doctor, gesturing and directing other doctors, and sometimes she would revert to herself, treating a patient whose face kept changing and whose symptoms were bizarre. One moment the patient's arm was gone, the next their heart was missing, and then they were poisoned. Yet, Han Xiao felt that there was only one patient. In short, she felt as exhausted as if she had run three laps around a mountain.

She woke up just as the sky was beginning to lighten, and sat up feeling a little dazed. She couldn't remember how she got back, but suddenly wondered how Linzhi's poisoning had progressed.

She hurriedly got up and saw that she had fallen asleep without taking off her clothes. Just like last time, the screen was also set up in front of her bed, and even the family precepts she had written herself were posted. Han Xiao scratched her head. Had she been punished again?

After a dazed wash, she came to her senses. Seeing that dawn was just breaking, and it wasn't yet time for Lin Zhi's first dose of medicine, she still had time to do some things. First, she washed the clothes Nie Chengyan had changed out of yesterday. Then, she tiptoed into the room to tidy up, fetched hot water, and kept it warm on a high charcoal brazier. She also changed the cover on Nie Chengyan's chair and wiped the chair clean. Then, she secretly opened the bed curtains, only to be startled to see Nie Chengyan staring at her with his eyes open.

"Master, you're awake?"

"How could I sleep well if you made so much noise all night?" Nie Chengyan seemed unhappy. He had waited for a long time to hear her working, but hadn't come to check on him. But he was unhappy almost every day, so Han Xiao had gotten used to it.

"This servant had so many dreams."

"Hmph." Of course he knew she liked to talk in her sleep. He heard that there seemed to be many people in her dream, but he wasn't in it. It was really infuriating.

"Master, would you like to sleep a little longer? I need to go to the Xi Clinic."

"I'm up, help me comb my hair and get dressed." His request was perfectly reasonable, and Han Xiao had no choice but to help him get up quickly. However, Nie Chengyan was not as fast as the average person when he got up. Just going to the toilet took him longer than others. In addition, he was particular about cleanliness, and by the time he finished, it was already dawn.

After Han Xiao finished tidying up, she said, "Please wait a moment, Master. Qin Jiao will come to give you acupressure massage in a little while. Then this servant will go to the clinic first."

"Serve me breakfast first, then tell them to set the table and invite Lele over too."

Han Xiao was taken aback and secretly became anxious, but she couldn't argue with him, so she quickly went to make arrangements. At the dinner table, Han Xiao stuffed her food into her mouth, and the speed at which she ate made Nie Chengyan frown: "Slow down, eat properly, why are you rushing?"

Han Le nodded vigorously. That's great! When others talk to her about her sister's faults, they usually have no influence. But now that the city lord is in charge, how can she not eat properly?

Han Xiao secretly rolled her eyes at her younger brother; the little guy was siding with outsiders. Although she was being scolded, she was still a bit anxious and stuffed two more pieces of side dishes into her mouth.

"You can only leave after I've eaten my fill." Nie Chengyan's words finally extinguished her thoughts. Han Xiao felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, while Han Le looked on with a pout, finally showing some sympathy. "Lord City Lord, didn't you promise to teach me accounting today? Why don't we eat faster?"

“Isn’t that what I’m doing right now? You can learn from me.” No one was going to give the child any face, so Nie Chengyan readily deflected Han Le’s attempt to subtly support him. Han Xiao and Han Le exchanged a glance and sighed inwardly.

After a slow and leisurely breakfast, Han Xiao was finally ready to leave, but Nie Chengyan called her back. She stopped, waiting for him to speak, but he opened his mouth and couldn't say anything. Han Xiao wanted to leave again, but was stopped again. This time, he asked her to come closer, and after thinking for a while, he said, "You need to stay calm. No matter what kind of poison it is, there will definitely be more to this story. You can't control other people's lives, but you have to take care of your own safety. Don't forget, you still have your younger brother."

Han Xiao nodded vigorously and asked softly, "Master, could you please ask the divine doctor when Lele's leg will be healed? I think..." She bit her lip and didn't finish her sentence, but Nie Chengyan knew what she was saying. His heart sank. These two siblings really thought the old man had a trick up his sleeve.

"Hmm. Let me ask." That wasn't what Nie Chengyan wanted to say, but somehow, the longer he spent with her, the harder it was to say certain things. The unbridled enthusiasm he had when he first wanted to get to know her seemed to have vanished. He'd never felt this way before; he felt constrained. Last night, when he went to see her, he had things to say, he'd thought them through perfectly in the room, but when he saw her, he couldn't say a word. Now, even a bold promise felt difficult to utter. Was it because he was starting to care? Or was he simply unsure? Watching Han Xiao's retreating figure as she walked out of the room, Nie Chengyan felt the situation was very unfavorable for him.

Before leaving the courtyard, Han Xiao turned a corner and glanced at Han Le. Han Le didn't hold her back; he just hugged her and gave her three words: "Be careful." Han Xiao patted his head. This younger brother was much more thoughtful than she was.

When Han Xiao arrived at Xi's clinic, Lin Zhi had already taken her medicine. Her complexion was even worse than yesterday, deathly pale with a bluish tinge, making her appear several years older. Xue Song was removing the acupuncture needles from her; each needle was black. Just as he finished, Lin Zhi suddenly convulsed and vomited up all the medicine she had just taken, even bringing up bile. The servants rushed over to clean her up, and Xue Song ordered that the medicine be prepared again, even if she couldn't drink it, it had to be forced down her throat. Han Xiao felt a pang of pity seeing Lin Zhi's pitiful state. She took Lin Zhi's pulse, and examined her eyes, tongue, and hands. Lin Zhi was extremely weak today, seemingly without even the strength to struggle. After observing her, Han Xiao followed Xue Song out.

“Her initial symptoms are very similar to the young master’s, but the poisoning is progressing much faster. It’s only been two days, and she’s already so weak. She couldn’t even take her medicine this morning. But the young master’s injuries were much more severe than hers.”

Could it be related to internal energy or physical constitution?

"It's hard to say now. She has a symptom that you don't have."

"Has she just aged?"

“Yes, but her pulse is too weak. I can’t tell now whether she really looks old or it’s just an illusion caused by her weak complexion.” Xue Song paused, then said worriedly, “If this poison isn’t Green Snow, then it’s too terrible.”

Han Xiao felt a chill in his heart. If this poison was not Green Snow, it meant that a master like the Cloud Mist Elder had created a powerful poison. If this poison were to spread outside the mountains, how many innocent people would be harmed?

"If it really isn't Green Snow, then I wonder what the person who switched the poison meant?" As Xue Song muttered this, Nie Chengyan had just received a letter from Long San. The letter stated that after spending so much time investigating and carefully comparing the symptoms of Green Snow poison given to him by Nie Chengyan, he could finally confirm that the poison appearing in the desert was Green Snow. The clues pointed to two corpses: one was the one he had heard about when they met in Baiqiao City nearly a year ago, and the other was from recent events. Based on the deceased's identity and the condition of the corpse, it was likely from a poison test.