Jiang Chan practiced Xianyue’s various martial techniques herself, all taught by the granny who had raised her. Having reached the level of a divine beast in her previous life, learning martial arts now was hardly difficult.
Her aptitude and comprehension were good to begin with. Understanding one thing helped her grasp others, and her martial arts grew ever more refined. Eventually, her practice sent sand and stones flying through the courtyard, with gusts of wind all around. Dongqing watched with burning eyes while Rendong clapped her little hands.
“Master is amazing!”
The girl was very sweet-tongued. Dongqing smiled at her. “Master’s skill is hers. You need to work hard too, Rendong. Even someone as powerful as Master keeps practicing. We have to be serious.”
Watching the two earnestly wave their short limbs, Jiang Chan’s eyes gleamed. They were both well-behaved children, nothing like the spoiled little terrors people spoke of in later times.
Naturally, she preferred good children. Had their temperaments been bad, she would never have brought them to the clinic. She was not here to take on trouble.
Two hours later, she wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. “Alright, that’s enough today. Rest a little. Would you like to come to the Song family with me, or stay and look after the patient?”
She had examined Feng Feiyang’s injuries the night before. Although serious, none were in vital areas. She had treated them all, and he could leave now if he wished.
He would simply need to take care of himself afterward. Privately, Jiang Chan did not want much contact with him. He was Song Bingqing’s man. What business did she have spending time with him?
Dongqing blinked. He still resented being knocked unconscious yesterday. Taking Rendong’s hand, he said, “I’ve never visited the Song family. Could you take my sister and me, Master?”
“Clever little rascal!” Jiang Chan flicked his forehead, then looked at the bewildered Rendong and sighed. “If only Rendong were as clever as you.”
She merely blinked at them, plainly prepared to do whatever her master and brother said.
Dongqing glanced at her. “She’s still little. When she’s my age, she’ll understand more.”
“Master, I’ll fetch your medicine box. From now on, I’ll carry it for you.” Without waiting for an answer, he ran into her bedroom on his little legs.
Only then did Rendong react. Holding Jiang Chan’s sleeve, she suddenly said, “Master, I’ll carry your medicine box too.”
Jiang Chan rubbed her two little topknots. “Alright. You and Dongqing can carry it for me. When you grow up, you’ll have medicine boxes of your own.”
Talking and laughing, the three left the clinic, forgetting a certain man whose wounds had been treated. Jiang Chan admitted she was doing it deliberately.
In the clinic’s main hall, Feng Feiyang struggled awake. At the unfamiliar surroundings, he sat up alertly. The sudden movement pulled at the wound on his back, making him groan as a metallic taste rose in his mouth.
He remembered breaking into this clinic the previous night while fleeing in panic. Fortunately, there had been only two children inside, whom he naturally did not regard as a threat.
He was not cruel by nature. After pressing their sleep acupoints, he had intended to find medicine in the front hall, only to encounter Jiang Chan returning from the Song residence.
He had tried to knock her unconscious too, but things went badly wrong, and she knocked him out with a single palm strike. Remembering it, he pictured her cool, clear eyes.
In the dim light, he had not actually seen her face clearly. He remembered only her eyes, clear and wonderfully calm.
Circulating his internal energy a little, he discovered it now flowed smoothly, unlike its sluggishness before he was injured. Looking at his treated wounds, he felt embarrassed.
What a good person. He had intended to knock her out, yet she had put aside the offense and treated him. He almost wished he could go back to last night, drag his former self out, and slap him twice.
He was young and strong, and Jiang Chan had already treated his wounds. Even leaving now would not impede his movements.
Examining the neatly bandaged injuries, he thought this doctor was quite skilled, at least not much worse than his clan’s physician.
He climbed off the couch and slowly inspected the main hall. Its furnishings were simple. Three herbal cabinets stood against the wall, and the whole room smelled of medicine.
Before the cabinets stretched a long counter holding small gold scales, brown paper for wrapping herbs, and brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. Several chairs stood near the entrance, beneath a sign reading “Waiting Area.”
A small curtained doorway opened off the hall. Inside were several couches. He had awakened on the one nearest the door.
Beyond the hall lay a courtyard and several rooms. Although no one was there, Feng Feiyang would not intrude into someone else’s private quarters. Last night had been an emergency.
After looking around and finding no one, he still wanted to thank them in person. But he waited until noon, his stomach growling with hunger, and no one returned.
He could only shrug and leave. He knew his own injuries. The Feng clan had a residence in Yun City, but he had been so badly wounded last night that he had failed to reach it.
Jiang Chan had done it deliberately. She was deliberately avoiding him. She disliked Feng Feiyang. Xianyue might have been innocent and inexperienced, but Jiang Chan understood.
If he loved Song Bingqing so deeply, why had he married Xianyue? Marrying her without taking responsibility or giving her the life she wanted was irresponsible.
If he did not love her, he should have freed her early. Why waste her life? Xianyue had asked for a divorce in the previous life, but he always refused, citing Song Bingqing’s dying request that he look after her.
The reasons behind it all invited a sigh. Jiang Chan offered no further judgment and simply wanted no involvement with him. That was why she had deliberately brought Dongqing and Rendong to the Song residence to avoid him. The fewer complications, the better.
The three arrived early. Song Bingqing was still fast asleep and had not yet awakened.
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