Тонкая нить привязанности

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She turned around, knelt at his feet, and held his hands, saying, "As your servant, I will protect you; as your wife, I will protect you too. There is no difference. But the divine physician is right. For us to be together for a long time, it's not enough to just have love in our hearts right now. I will strive to be worthy of you, and you must also strive to resolve your inner conflicts."

"I have no other worries besides you."

"You keep moving people around, arranging them up and down the mountain. Aren't you just trying to give them a chance to slip up? You're still looking for that traitor, aren't you? You said you wanted revenge, and you've been investigating with Master Long for so long, but when the Divine Doctor wanted to go to the desert, you refused to discuss it with him. You two have excellent tacit understanding, yet you insist on doing the same thing separately."

Nie Chengyan argued, "Revenge can wait. It's more important to settle you two siblings down right now."

"Then why did you send more spies into the desert?" Han laughed. "You're worried that the Divine Doctor might not return, aren't you?"

“This is his old grudge. I am an innocent victim. If he wants to resolve it, let him do it. If he can succeed, my revenge will be much easier.”

"But what if he fails? What if he, like your parents, never returns, and you don't even know where he ended up? Master, won't you be sad?"

Nie Chengyan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "I'm not sad."

Han smiled knowingly, took his hand, and gently kissed his fist: "No matter what decision you make, I will be by your side. I just want to say that I don't care if others think I'm not good enough for you, but I will be very sad if the Divine Doctor thinks I'm not good enough for you, because he is your grandfather."

Nie Chengyan remained silent. Han Xiao suddenly reached out and rubbed his face, laughing loudly, "Look at your expression now, it's just like the Divine Doctor's. You two have equally terrible tempers. The Divine Doctor is so unlikable, so why do I like his grandson?"

Nie Chengyan snorted: "You're just like Lele, a brat who doesn't know his place and is clueless. You're not even that good-looking, so why did I fall for you?"

Han Xiao jumped up, hands behind her back, head held high, looking out at the scenery of Baiqiao City below the mountain, and laughed: "Of course, your taste is much better than mine." Nie Chengyan, teased by her, pretended to be angry with a straight face. Han Xiao laughed heartily, skipped to the bookshelf, waved her hand, and pointed to the medical books and classics filling the room: "Master, this room is a treasure beyond measure. I am now the richest servant in the whole world."

Nie Chengyan smiled, knowing she was just trying to make him happy. Her vibrant energy reminded him of when he first met her and she loudly replied, "Yes, Master, this servant is here." So many years have passed, but she hasn't changed at all. What she brings him is something he never thought he could receive.

He said, “If you don’t cling to that bullshit oath, I’ll give you the city at the foot of the mountain, and you’ll be even richer.”

Han Xiao put his hands on his hips and imitated a bandit's manner: "The city stays, the city lord can drive it away."

"You dare?" he laughed and cursed, his hand trembling as a long whip wrapped around her waist, gently pulling her into his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her: "If you dare to chase me away, I'll bite you to death."

The lingering kiss heated up the study. In the room filled with his grandfather's graduation research results, Nie Chengyan held his beloved. He thought about the knot in his heart that Han Xiao had mentioned. She really saw right through him, but could he untie it?

Nie Chengyan hesitated, but Han Xiao was firm and decisive. She patiently let him figure it out on his own, while she focused on treating patients and studying medical techniques.

The departure of the Elder of Clouds and Mist left Han Xiao without support; no one could back her up with her medical skills anymore, and she could no longer rely on the divine physician for help when she encountered difficulties. This seemed to have thrust Han Xiao into a battleground—a battle against herself. She had to overcome her fear of the unknown and learn to stand on her own two feet.

One day, trouble came to Baiqiao City. A burly man drove a carriage into the city. He drove the carriage to the busiest street in the city, and then pulled open the carriage frame, revealing two patients lying inside.

"I've heard that Cloud Mist Mountain is a sacred place for martial arts medicine, and that Elder Cloud Mist is the number one doctor in the martial arts world. I've come to challenge them!" The burly man raised a flag with the word "Challenge" written on it beside the carriage and said loudly, "My master is also the number one doctor in the world. Great teachers produce great students. My skills are not bad either. I've come here specifically to challenge Elder Cloud Mist's disciples. I ask them to treat patients at the same time as me. Whoever heals better and faster will win."

"So what if we win?" one of the people asked, while another hurried off to report to the city lord's mansion.

“Winning naturally means that our medical skills are superior. There are many doctors in this Hundred Bridges City, so let's all be witnesses.”

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances and whispered amongst themselves.

The burly man, hands on his hips and supporting the flag, boomed, "Disciple of the Cloud Mist Elder, come out and fight!"

Author's Note: Feng Ning seems to be quite popular, I like this girl very much too.

The old man of the clouds and mist has finally left, and Xiaoxiao is now a fresh and hot young doctor who has just graduated from her apprenticeship. These few chapters have served as a transition, allowing Xiaoxiao to learn medical skills and also explaining some of her emotions and supporting character identities. The real plot is about to begin!

In terms of time span, these chapters have progressed very quickly. The letter from the Old Man of Clouds and Mist mentioned that he had taught her for a year, and considering that they stayed in Hundred Bridges City for a while after the Old Man of Clouds and Mist left, Xiaoxiao is already over seventeen years old. I've seen some readers say they were confused about the timeline, so I'm clarifying it here.

About to depart

"Who's causing trouble in our city?" A loud young voice came from behind the crowd, and the onlookers quickly made way for him.

The burly man glanced at the speaker and saw that it was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "You brat, go play somewhere else."

The boy was Han Le. He paced around with small steps, tilted his head, and said smugly, "Didn't your mother teach you not to look down on people?"

The burly man, insulted, flew into a rage: "Who are you insulting?"

Han Le stroked her chin: "I didn't scold you. I was being so gentle and kind. It could only be called mockery, not scolding."

"Damn it, if I don't teach you a lesson today, I'm not a Lu!" The big man rolled up his sleeves and was about to pounce, but Han Le was not afraid and stood still. Before the big man's fist could hit him, Han Le's bodyguard Ye Zhu grabbed his fist and pushed him back, blocking him.

The burly man was clearly surprised that this young master had someone protecting him. He narrowed his eyes, looked Han Le up and down again, and asked, "Who are you?"

Han Ledao said, "Anyway, I don't have the surname Lu."

This left the big man speechless. He stammered for a long time, not knowing how to respond.

"Alright, alright, I was just joking with you. How can you be so impatient at your age?" Han Le glanced at the two patients lying on the carriage behind the burly man and said, "I am the young steward of Lord Nie's family in Baiqiao City. What is your intention in coming to our city to cause trouble?"

The burly man spoke in a loud voice: "I'm not here to cause trouble. I've come here because of his reputation, to challenge the disciple of the famous doctor, Elder Yunwu."

"Oh dear, what a pathetic thing to do. Why only challenge your apprentice? It would be so much better to spar with the master directly. It would save you a lot of trouble, and if you win, your reputation will be greatly enhanced."

"That won't do. A person should know their own limitations. My skills are no match for my master, let alone the Cloud Mist Elder. I only hope to surpass other people's disciples. That way, I'll feel at ease, and my master will also be proud."

Han Le raised an eyebrow and stroked his chin. He knew that the key to success was self-awareness, so he wasn't stupid. But bringing two patients to someone else's territory to challenge them showed how incredibly stupid he was.

"Then tell me, who is your master? And what will happen if you lose?"

"My master is Shi Tian, the medical sage of Jiangnan. If I lose, I will go back and study hard, and come back next time."

"Come again next time?" The onlookers were buzzing with discussion. "What a thing! If he wins, it'll save us a lot of trouble. But if he loses, they'll all come and cause a ruckus!"

Ignoring their reactions, the burly man shouted, "Please send out the disciple of Elder Yunwu for a battle!"

"What medicine did you give them?" A young woman's voice suddenly came from behind. The big man turned around sharply and saw a woman who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old taking the pulse of the patient in the carriage.

"Go away, little girl, don't get involved." The burly man waved his hand to shoo her away. This medical city was too strange; why did all the children like to get involved in things?

"Sister!" Han Le's eyes lit up, and she called out loudly, running towards Han Xiao with a bouncy gait.

People around her greeted her, "Miss Han."

The burly man, suspicious of the group's attitude, asked, "Who are you?"

Han Xiao thought for a moment and decided to give the safest answer: "I am Han Xiao, the servant of City Lord Nie."

The burly man glanced at the expressions of the people around him. It seemed she was telling the truth; everyone appeared to be respectful towards her, suggesting that this woman was favored by City Lord Nie. But the person he was looking for wasn't the city lord's chief steward, nor his favorite maid; he was looking for the disciple of the Cloud Mist Elder.

The burly man craned his neck and roared at the top of his lungs, "Disciple of the Cloud Mist Elder, come out and fight!"

"What medicine did you give them?" Han Xiao asked again. The two people had the exact same build, age, pulse, and symptoms. It was not easy to find such patients, and it was even more difficult to maintain their physical condition.

The burly man glared at him: "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Did Lord Nie send you to drive people away? I already said I'm not here to cause trouble, I just want to have a little medical exchange. I've already figured it out: two patients with the exact same constitution and symptoms, whoever cures them wins."

"What's your name?" Han Xiao asked again.

"My name is Lu Zhi," the burly man roared. "When will the disciple of the Cloud Mist Elder finally appear?"

"Lu Zhi, where did you come from? How long have you been traveling? What medicine did you give these two people?" Han Xiao continued to ask.

"They came from Pingyi Town, and it took them thirty-four days to travel. What kind of medicine did those two feed them? Humph, I won't tell you." Lu Zhi raised his head and said smugly, "I'll only tell you when I see Elder Yunwu's disciple."

"The 34th?" Han Xiao's expression changed slightly. She took out her needle bag, took out two needles, and inserted one into each of the two patients. Then she said to a doctor who was standing by watching the commotion, "Doctor Li, these two patients suffer from heart disease. They probably won't be able to endure such a long and bumpy journey for long. Hurry up and take them to your shop. After they wake up, remove the needles and give them some calming pills."

Dr. Li was called upon and couldn't refuse, so he quickly agreed. His clinic was right next door, so it was easy to arrange.

When Lu Zhi saw that the young girl was going to touch his patients, he immediately became anxious: "Who gave you permission to do this? I finally found two patients with the exact same pulse and symptoms. Do you know how hard it was for me to keep them in this state all the way? I'm keeping them to compete with Elder Yunwu's disciples. No one is allowed to touch them."

Han Xiao frowned: "You know you're suffering. These two people have heart, stomach, and intestinal problems. Don't you think they're suffering from all this? With these kinds of illnesses, it's best not to travel long distances unless absolutely necessary. Even if you have to travel, you should treat them carefully and slowly. Not only do you not treat them, but you also give them medication to keep them in a sick state. Where is your compassion? And you still have the nerve to call yourself a doctor."

When Lu Zhi heard this, he blushed with shame and stammered, "I was only thinking of choosing two people with the same symptoms for a fair competition. If I hadn't come all this way, how could I have found the disciple of Elder Yunwu? I just didn't think it through for a moment. Who says I don't have a benevolent heart? Of course I am a doctor, of course I do."

Han Xiao ignored him and called on the people next to her to help take the two patients to Doctor Li's shop. When Lu Zhi saw that no one was paying attention to him and that they were going to move his patients away, he got anxious and rushed over to grab Han Xiao's arm to stop her. Just as he got close to her, a long whip lashed out and lashed straight at his hand. Lu Zhi was startled and quickly turned back. He managed to keep his hand, but a small piece of fabric was torn off his sleeve.

"You dare touch her and see what happens." Nie Chengyan rushed over after receiving the news and witnessed the scene. He was so angry that he wanted to whip the big man's hand to pieces. In the past, he probably would have done so, but he had spent a lot of time with Han Xiao, and the thought that this man was a doctor and his hands were very important flashed through his mind. Seeing that he had not made a serious mistake, he only whipped him to scare him and gave him a light punishment.

"Lord City Lord." The surrounding crowd bowed in greeting. Lu Zhi finally realized who the newcomer was. No wonder he exuded such an imposing aura even while sitting in his chair. Lu Zhi quickly clasped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Lord City Lord. My name is Lu Zhi. I have brought two patients with the same symptoms from Pingyi Town. I would like to have our medical skills tested by comparing them with those of the doctor from Yunwu Mountain."

"Medical skills are not for competition. No one here will accept your challenge," Nie Chengyan rebuked him sternly.

Lu Zhi was taken aback, clearly not expecting to be rebuffed like this. He thought about it and was unconvinced, stubbornly saying, "Who says medical skills can't be compared? Let's have a contest and see who's better. It's like a martial arts competition. Which renowned physician in the martial arts world hasn't been challenged?"

"I don't allow competitions here."

"I won't accept that!" Lu Zhi shouted stubbornly, while Han Le, who was watching the commotion from the side, shook his head.

As expected, Nie Chengyan didn't take him seriously at all, only coldly saying, "Get lost." His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the loudmouthed Lu Zhi. He didn't want to leave, but he didn't dare to make any more noise. He had come all this way; how could he not have a competition?

"Master, we can't let him go." Han Xiao, after settling the two patients, came over and said, "He can't just abandon the patients and run away. He brought them here, so naturally he has to cure them and take them away."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi saw an opportunity and quickly said, "I'll treat one, and the doctor from Yunwu Mountain will treat the other."

"No, you have to treat both of them." Han Xiao said, her hands behind her back, exuding a rather imposing aura. Lu Zhi was stunned. Just now she was just a young girl, but now standing next to the city lord, she was quite intimidating.

Han Xiao said, "Since you call yourself a doctor, you should take on the responsibilities of a doctor. You brought these people here, so you have to be responsible for curing them. It's unfortunate that they are sick, but they cannot be used as tools for your competition. If you have the confidence to take on this challenge, you must be confident in curing them. After you've cured them all, send them home."

Han Le pulled out a small abacus from his waist and said, "Also, you can't use Doctor Li's medicine and herbs for free. Everything has to be charged. You're dressed shabbily. Do you have money or not? After you're cured, you'll have to pay back all the money. Otherwise, you'll be punished by doing hard labor for Doctor Li to pay off the debt."

"What? I'm here to compete, why should I give you money or work for you? If you don't want to compete, fine, but are you going to imprison me?" Lu Zhi's voice rose again in his anxiety. He really had no money, and he never expected that his hard work to take on this challenge would only bring him so much trouble.

Nie Chengyan coldly said, "You should be glad you didn't come a few years earlier, otherwise it wouldn't be as simple as just getting treatment and doing work."

Han Le excitedly raised his hand to ask for a job: "Lord City Lord, I'll supervise him. I'll settle his debts properly." Nie Chengyan glanced at Ye Zhu, who nodded, and only then did Nie Chengyan agree to Han Le's request.

Lu Zhi shouted that he wouldn't do it, but no one paid him any attention. Nie Chengyan and Han Xiao said softly, "Come back with me, you've been out all day." She had gone to the clinic to help treat patients early in the morning and had been gone for most of the day.

"I want to see those two patients again, and I need to keep an eye on him to make sure he treats them well." Han Xiao couldn't let go of anything that was on her mind.

"Didn't you just give Dr. Li instructions? Someone will be keeping an eye on him; you don't need to be here."

"Those two patients are in very bad condition..." Han Xiao wanted to try again.

"We'll see tomorrow. Let them handle it today; they definitely won't die." Nie Chengyan was displeased, his brows furrowed tightly. At the end, he lowered his voice even further and said, "My foot hurts. Are you going to talk to me or not?"

"Of course it makes sense, the master is the most important." Han Xiao sighed inwardly and quickly reassured him.

"Are you going home or not?"

"Go back, go back, go back right away." She turned to He Ziming and gave him a few instructions, mainly about the two patients' conditions and contraindications. She needed to keep an eye on Lu Zhi's methods and medications, and find out what medications he used to control the patients' conditions on the way. She also needed to find out if the patients had the same symptoms when they were found, or if Lu Zhi had manipulated them to have the same symptoms. As she spoke, Nie Chengyan glared at her from the side. Han Xiao had no choice but to quickly give the instructions and then pushed up her chair to go to the Nie residence with Nie Chengyan.

Don't be angry.

"You're always busy, even busier than me, the city lord. You do the math yourself, how much of your day do you actually spend with me?"

"Yeah, there are quite a few times when I spend more time with Lele than with Lele," she retorted fearlessly.

"Lele spends more time with me than you do."

"Lele is such a good boy," she replied with a smile. She pushed him back into the house, only to have him pull her into his arms and bite her: "You still don't know you're wrong."

Han Xiao kissed him on the cheek and said, "See? You told me to come back, so I came back, didn't I? I'm so obedient." She stroked his brow and said, "You gave Brother Huo a look. Is there something wrong with that Lu Zhi? And what about Lele? Is there anything amiss?"

“Since Lu Zhi is in my Baiqiao City, I’m not worried about what tricks he might pull. I’ve already increased the number of people watching him, so it should be fine. But he says he’s from Pingyi Town and studied under Shi Tian, the medical sage of Jiangnan. Shi Tian is Chi Yanxing’s eldest disciple.” Over the past few years, he has sent people to investigate and has indeed learned quite a few clues. Shi Tian has always claimed to be from Jiangnan, but in fact, he studied medicine with Chi Yanxing in the desert in his early years. Few people know this, but it doesn’t mean it’s an absolute secret.

Han Xiao was startled: "Could Lu Zhi's visit be related to your injury? The Divine Physician has been gone for so long, and now someone is suddenly challenging his disciple. It's too much of a coincidence."