In a sense, then, Song Bingqing and Song Qin had saved her. But now that Jiang Chan was here, that debt no longer existed. What sort of person was Jiang Chan?
She valued her life above all else. Anyone hoping she would end it would have to wait another eight lifetimes. Without that tie, she would not feel indebted when facing Song Bingqing and Song Qin.
That was why she had eagerly left the valley as soon as she mastered Xianyue’s martial arts. No wonder Xianyue had lost the will to live. There were few animals, no one to talk to, and little life or vitality. Few people could endure it.
Even the strong-willed Jiang Chan had found that sunless valley oppressive and stifling. It was remarkable that Xianyue had remained there for more than a decade.
In Xianyue’s memories, the cliff was only about thirty li from the Feng clan’s territory. The Song family was much farther away, probably two days on horseback.
Song Bingqing and Song Qin had been fleeing their pursuers to seek help from the Feng clan. But before they reached it, they had been forced over the cliff. Fate truly played cruel tricks.
Glancing toward the Feng clan, Jiang Chan instead headed in the direction of the Song family. She wanted to see for herself what sort of person had stirred such complicated feelings in Xianyue.
When Jiang Chan arrived, Xianyue would turn thirteen after the New Year and was still only a child. Their meeting with Song Bingqing was four years away. Originally, Xianyue had not left the valley until twenty. Jiang Chan had brought that forward by seven years.
After all, one of Xianyue’s requests was to do everything possible to keep Song Bingqing alive. Waiting passively was not Jiang Chan’s style. She preferred taking the initiative.
Five days later, she finally reached Yun City, where the Song family lived. At a time like this, she was especially grateful for Xianyue’s medical skill. Within a month, everyone in the city knew that an exceptionally gifted young physician had recently arrived.
Jiang Chan had deliberately spread that news. Song Bingqing was weak and sickly and had sought countless treatments. If the Song family learned that a skilled doctor had come to Yun City, how could they remain unmoved?
During her first two months in the city, Jiang Chan kept busy. Using the connections and money she gained by treating patients, she opened a clinic. Of course, she served as both doctor and attendant.
Poor nutrition throughout Xianyue’s first decade had left her small and thin, resembling a little boy. Once settled in Yun City, Jiang Chan simply dressed as a boy. After all, a boy could travel through the martial world more easily than a girl.
Her clinic had been open for more than half a year, and business was good. Jiang Chan was not someone who looked down on others. When poor people came for treatment, she charged only a token sum for medicine.
For wealthy patients, it depended on her mood. If they were rich and unscrupulous, she made certain they paid dearly. As a result, opinions of her clinic in Yun City were decidedly mixed.
To the poor, she was a rare miracle doctor who helped those in need. To the rich, especially the unkind rich, she was someone they practically gnashed their teeth over.
But what could they do? Her medical skills were exceptional. However difficult a condition, once she took it on, it was generally cured within three months.
There had already been a dozen such cases in Yun City. The rich could only swallow their resentment. A doctor was not someone to offend. What if they needed her help one day?
The Song Residence
“Have you investigated everything?” With his hands behind his back, Song Qiyu looked anxiously at the steward before him.
“Yes, Young Master. This Doctor Xianyue came to Yun City after the New Year. We don’t know where he came from or who taught him, nor whether Xianyue is his real name. After settling here, he demonstrated extraordinary medical skills. Over the last six months, he has cured a dozen difficult conditions. His skill is truly remarkable.”
The steward respectfully reported what he had learned, admiration filling his words.
“In your judgment, whose medical skills are better, his or those of the doctors we’ve invited before?” Song Qiyu suppressed his impatience and sought the steward’s opinion.
“It’s difficult to say, but his methods are very unusual, and he uses medicine boldly.” The steward shook his head. “He isn’t as conservative as the previous doctors.”
“Alright. I’ll speak to Father and see whether we should invite him to take my sister’s pulse.”
“Doctor Xianyue has rather peculiar habits. He never makes house calls. Everyone has to visit the clinic personally. But he is compassionate. On the first and fifteenth of each month, he goes to the villages near Yun City to give free consultations.”
The steward shook his head. He too found Xianyue odd. If ordinary wealthy people complained of the price, he ignored them, yet he treated the elderly, weak, women, and children with great gentleness and courtesy.
“I understand. I’ll discuss it with Father.” After a moment’s thought, Song Qiyu went into the inner rooms.
Jiang Chan had no idea Song Qiyu had almost uncovered her background. Nor was she worried. Her real background lay at the bottom of an enormous valley. Anyone who truly wanted the truth could go down and investigate!
She continued her usual consultations. Now the clinic also had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy attended to customers and cleaned, while the girl followed Jiang Chan and learned elementary medicine. In their spare time, both learned some martial arts from her.
She had met the siblings by chance while providing free treatment in a village. Their parents were gone, leaving the seven- or eight-year-old children with only each other.
Jiang Chan also disliked constantly running around greeting customers. After examining their aptitude and character, she brought them back to the clinic. It was only two more mouths to feed. She could simply regard them as two young disciples.
Xianyue would probably be delighted to learn she had acquired two disciples when she returned. She feared loneliness and liked company. With these two, even if she never found a loving partner, she would not be so alone.
“Rendong, Master said this needs to be ground into powder, not cut into pieces.” The little boy spoke solemnly to the girl preparing herbs, his hands behind his back.
Rendong was only six. Small and weak, she naturally could not do everything perfectly. At her brother’s words, she hurriedly gathered the herbs and moved them to the grinding equipment.
Once she went to grind them, the boy, Dongqing, tidied the area she had disturbed and then joined her.
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