Chapter 934: Not This Time

Editor: Henyee Translations

After returning to the village, the villagers each went to their homes to start fires and prepare lunch.

Jiang Zhanglin and Yi Chuanchuan emerged from the haystacks and entered the village, pretending to ask for directions.

The villagers, seeing them, became very panicked.

The village chief approached them and pushed them outwards, “Don’t say anything and leave quickly, otherwise when they arrive, you won’t be able to leave.”

Jiang Zhanglin hurriedly asked, “Old sir, who are ‘they’ that you’re talking about?”

“Where did you just come from?”

“You tell us what the problem is, and we’ll leave right away.”

The village chief, distressed, said, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but there’s no time. Please, just go. If you really must ask us something, come back at night. Don’t appear during the day. Go now.”

Seeing the village chief almost in tears, Jiang Zhanglin and Yi Chuanchuan suppressed their curiosity and quickly retreated to the woods.

Jiang Zhanglin placed his hand on Yi Chuanchuan’s shoulder, “Don’t make any noise. Let’s see what’s actually happening.”

Yi Chuanchuan nodded, “Okay.”

Once the village chief saw they were no longer visible, he sighed with relief and returned home, muttering to himself that this place was hell and hoping no one else would come.

About an hour later, a group of people dressed in black riding horses came along, ringing a gong, “Time to work, time to work…”

All the villagers came out of their houses, lined up, and then followed the men in black out of the village.

Yi Chuanchuan wanted to follow, but Jiang Zhanglin held his wrist, “We’ll stay here and wait. Let’s find out what’s going on tonight before we act.”

Yi Chuanchuan thought for a moment, his mind not as sharp as Jiang Zhanglin’s, and agreed, “Okay.”

The two hid again.

After a while, Yi Chuanchuan frowned deeply, “Why haven’t Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin come to find us? It’s been two hours.”

Jiang Zhanglin guessed, “Don’t worry, knowing their personalities, they’ve probably gone to a gambling den.”

Yi Chuanchuan realized, “Right, Du Zhaolin’s hands itch so badly he could almost eat them; running into a gambling place, he couldn’t resist!”

The two stopped worrying about them and waited patiently.

…

Disguised as Hong Feiyun, Zeng Huo entered a room to report, “Lord of the Left, the expert has been brought back.”

Left Emissary instantly looked up, “Bring him in.”

Hong Feiyun responded, “Yes.” She then went out and brought in a pale young man disguised as Chu Qingzhi.

Left Emissary saw the young man’s youthful appearance, and his expression changed instantly, “Hong Hall Master, are you mocking me?”

His voice spread, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply, reverting back to the bitter cold of winter.

Under pressure, Hong Feiyun quickly said, “Lord of the Left, this is Young Master Chu Tang, whose medical skills are unmatched. He will surely heal your son’s leg.”

Left Emissary’s voice was chilling, “And if he doesn’t?”

Hong Feiyun declared firmly, “Then you may dispose of me as you wish!”

Left Emissary glanced at Hong Feiyun, “You said it.” He stood up and approached Chu Tang, “Young Master, please come with me.”

Chu Tang bowed slightly, “After you.”

Following Left Emissary, Chu Tang was led to a serene and beautiful bamboo courtyard, “My son is in this house, please go in and treat him.”

Having been disappointed by many doctors before, Left Emissary couldn’t bear to hear another failure.

“Understood.” Chu Tang entered the house, which was simply yet comfortably furnished, tinged with the scent of medicine, slightly bitter.

Left Emissary’s son, Tao Qingxiang, 25 years old, had been paralyzed for ten years.

Inside the house, Tao Qingxiang was practicing calligraphy, surrounded by many of his own writings.

He looked up at Chu Tang, “I don’t need treatment, please leave.”

His voice was firm, containing suppressed irritability. Chu Tang sensed he was on the verge of exploding.

Chu Tang glanced at the calligraphy on the desk, “Heaven tasks great responsibility to such a person; first, it exercises his mind with suffering…” “What if I said I can cure you, would you still send me away?”

Tao Qingxiang didn’t believe a word, “You haven’t even taken my pulse or looked at my leg, and you say you can cure me? That’s too confident for someone as young as you, and younger than me. How can you treat me?”

Chu Tang replied calmly, “Does treating depend on age? Some older doctors are not necessarily better than the younger ones.”

Tao Qingxiang was at a loss for words. “Alright, anyway, I don’t need you. Please leave.”

Chu Tang crossed his arms, persistent, “I can truly heal your leg. Why don’t you give it a try? After so many attempts, one more won’t hurt, right?”

Tao Qingxiang, frustrated, snapped a brush in half, “Must you insist on reopening my wounds?”

Chu Tang replied evenly, “I’m here to heal you.”

Tao Qingxiang tossed the broken brush aside, creating a clatter, “Fine, try then. I want to see how you’ll cure me.”

Chu Tang took Tao Qingxiang’s pulse, then pressed on his leg, where the meridians had been forcibly severed, “Who did this?”

Tao Qingxiang hesitated, then responded, “It’s been too long. I don’t remember.”

Chu Tang countered, “Such incidents are usually remembered for a lifetime, aren’t they?”

Tao Qingxiang fell silent, his gaze dropping as he seemed to delve into painful memories.

Chu Tang continued, “I can heal your leg, but it will involve acupuncture now, and after seven days, I’ll reconnect the severed meridians.”

Tao Qingxiang was stunned. “Did I hear you right? You’re saying you can reconnect meridians?”

He could hardly believe it, “Are you joking with me?”

Chu Tang spread his hands, “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Tao Qingxiang clenched his fists, staring at Chu Tang, “How can severed meridians possibly be reconnected?”

Chu Tang stated confidently, “Others may not be able to, but I can. It’s up to you whether you believe me or not.”

Tao Qingxiang swallowed hard, his voice a mix of nervousness and anticipation, “Are you sure?”

Chu Tang affirmed, “Absolutely.”

Tao Qingxiang trembled slightly with excitement; the possibility of his leg being healed was overwhelming. “Then, let’s try it.”

Chu Tang nodded, “I’ll prepare everything and start the acupuncture shortly.”

Tao Qingxiang stopped him, “What do you need to prepare? I have all sorts of medical tools here, pick whatever you need.”

Chu Tang was curious, “Show me.”

Tao Qingxiang rolled his wheelchair towards a wall and tapped the armrest three times. A door in the wall swung open, revealing a secret room stocked with various medical instruments.

Chu Tang looked around, “You’ve collected all these medical tools?”

Tao Qingxiang nodded, “Yes.”

“Are you a doctor?” Chu Tang walked into the room, examining everything.

Tao Qingxiang had regained his composure, “No, but my dream was to become one. These are all part of my passion. The acupuncture needles are on the second shelf in the third row from the left.”