Chapter 89

Doctor Zhang was a well-known and respected figure in the small town of Qingliu. As one of the few renowned doctors in the town, he was always treated with utmost respect and courtesy when people sought his medical help. He never imagined that one day someone would barge into his pharmacy, threatening him to treat a patient.

At this moment, heavy snow was falling, and there were certainly no constables patrolling the streets. Although there were still two apprentices in his shop, the current situation was such that they were no match for this "hero." If he refused to make a house call, he would be the one to suffer. Seeing Chu Huan about to smash things again, Doctor Zhang helplessly said, "Hero, please don't use force, please wait a moment...!" He then scolded an apprentice, "Why haven't you gotten up yet? Quickly go and get my medical kit!"

Chu Huan had kicked the door open, and the two apprentices had been too frightened to get up. Upon hearing the order, they hurriedly got up and fetched the medical kit. Doctor Zhang, carrying the kit, put on his cloak and hat, and then reluctantly followed Chu Huan out the door.

Rulian had witnessed Chu Huan's efforts to seek medical help and was immensely grateful. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, only repeatedly thanking Chu Huan, "Sir... Sir, thank you... thank you so much...!"

Chu Huan smiled slightly, glanced at Doctor Zhang, and said, "You should thank this skilled doctor!"

"Thank you, Doctor Zhang...!" Rulian said gratefully.

Doctor Zhang had a bitter expression, but he only nodded, following Chu Huan and Rulian through the alley to the dilapidated house. Rulian lifted the curtain and went in first, excitedly saying, "Master, Doctor Zhang is here to treat you...!"

Since Doctor Zhang had come, Chu Huan also hoped he would treat the patient properly. He lifted the curtain and let Doctor Zhang go in first. Looking back at his black horse, which was standing obediently nearby, with snow on its back, creating a beautiful scene in the snow.

Chu Huan hesitated for a moment and finally followed into the house. Inside, it was not as cold as outside, but the cold wind still blew, making it far from warm.

Rulian called out twice, but the person on the bed did not respond. When she went to check, she saw that the woman on the bed had her eyes tightly closed, her teeth clenched, and her face was pale and terrifying.

Rulian immediately panicked, tears streaming down her face. Doctor Zhang noticed a pool of blood on the floor beside the bed, sighed, and shook his head, saying, "Don't speak yet, let me examine her!" He sat down beside the bed. In such a poor household, there were no formalities. He took the woman's hand and began to feel her pulse.

Seeing Chu Huan standing nearby, Rulian, with a grateful expression, came forward and said, "Sir... Sir, troubling you again and again, I am truly... truly sorry...!"

Though she was young, her words were appropriate.

Chu Huan smiled slightly, waved his hand, and said, "It's not a big deal, you don't need to call me 'Sir.' If you like, you can call me Brother Chu. I am a few years older than you, so I can be called 'Brother'!"

Rulian, with her clear and bright eyes and fair skin, had a slightly more prominent nose than most people. However, due to her impoverished life, she was very thin and frail. Hearing Chu Huan's words, she hesitated, saying, "I... I dare not!"

Chu Huan, dressed in a cotton robe, seemed to have some status. Rulian, aware of her humble background, did not dare to presume.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Chu Huan smiled. "Just call me Brother Chu, there's no need to be afraid."

Rulian then timidly said, "Brother... Brother Chu!"

Chu Huan smiled and nodded, then looked over, frowning slightly.

After a moment, Doctor Zhang finally withdrew his hand and shook his head. Rulian, trembling, asked, "Doctor Zhang, how is my master's illness? When will she get better?"

Doctor Zhang shook his head and said, "Ancient books say, 'Yin and Yang are the ways of heaven and earth...!'"

Before he could say more, Chu Huan frowned and said, "Doctor Zhang, we don't understand these words. Please speak in a way we can understand, so we know the condition of the patient."

Doctor Zhang glanced at Chu Huan, secretly cursing, but still patiently said, "Actually, the patient has had stomach problems for a long time, not just a year or two...!" He paused and continued, "I estimate that the cold stomach has been present for at least seven or eight years. The patient did not take good care of herself, leading to a worsening condition. Now, all her organs are affected by the cold, which is a condition known as 'Jueyin.' You can see her complexion; her vitality is very limited...!"

Tears welled up in Rulian's eyes, and her frail body trembled slightly.

Chu Huan frowned and asked, "Can you save her?"

"No!" Doctor Zhang was straightforward. "If you can find a royal physician, perhaps they have the skills to bring her back from the brink. But in my opinion, this illness is already in its final stages, and there is no way to reverse it. If you have money, you can buy some warming herbs to prolong her life, such as ginseng. However, since all her organs are affected by the cold, only wild ginseng from Liaodong can help, not ordinary ginseng, which is not sufficient to control the cold in her body...!"

Rulian's face turned pale, and her expression was bleak.

Wild ginseng from Liaodong was not a common item, with very limited production. It was said that a single root of genuine wild ginseng was worth a thousand taels of silver, which was far beyond the means of ordinary people. Even wealthy families might not be able to afford it, let alone the poor.

This town, though a place of commerce, would not have a single household with wild ginseng, and even the pharmacies would not sell genuine wild ginseng from Liaodong.

Rulian, who was penniless, could not afford even ordinary ginseng, let alone wild ginseng.

Moreover, wild ginseng was in high demand but short supply, and even with money, it might not be available.

Doctor Zhang, knowing Rulian's thoughts, shook his head and said, "There's no need to think too much. Even if you get wild ginseng, it would only extend her life by a few months. The root of the illness cannot be cured." He stood up and said to Chu Huan, "Hero, it's not that I'm not trying my best, but there is truly nothing more I can do!" He opened his medical kit, took out two packets of medicine, and handed them to Rulian, saying, "These two herbs are warming, though not expensive, they can have some effect. Boil them and have her take them, but...!" He shook his head, put on his medical kit, and left without another word.

Chu Huan, seeing Doctor Zhang's expression, knew he was telling the truth. Looking at the woman's pale face and purple lips, and her body still trembling, he knew there was no hope.

Doctor Zhang bowed and walked out the door. Rulian, holding the two packets of medicine, stood there in a daze, staring at the woman on the bed.

Chu Huan followed Doctor Zhang out and asked, "Is there no other way?"

"I have done my best," Doctor Zhang waved his hand. "Hero, this is the end. Don't let her come to me again; even if I come, I will still say the same thing." He paused and said, "The cold here is very severe, which will only worsen her condition. At this rate, she won't last a month. Even with better care, she won't survive the winter...!" He shook his head, put on his medical kit, and left.

Chu Huan frowned, pondered for a moment, and was about to go in to offer some comfort when he noticed a rider approaching from a distance. He looked closely and saw a man in a black cotton robe riding a gray horse. In the snow, the man stopped about ten steps away, dismounted, and walked straight toward Chu Huan.

Chu Huan observed the man's face and saw that he was not tall but had a solid build. More strangely, he had a patch over his left eye, making him a one-eyed man.

When the man was about three or four steps away, he bowed and smiled, saying, "May I ask if you are Sir Chu Huan?"

Chu Huan's frown eased, and he thought of something, saying, "I heard there is a hero named Bai Xizi in Qingliu. Are you Bai Xizi?"

"Not at all!" the one-eyed man laughed. "I am Bai Gui. I lost an eye in the past and was given the nickname Bai Xizi, which I hope does not offend you, Sir Chu!"

"Are you here to see me?"

"Indeed, I have come to pay my respects to Sir Chu!" Bai Gui smiled.

Chu Huan knew that Bai Gui had once been a dominant figure in Qingliu, not a good person, but he wondered why he would suddenly seek him out, especially knowing he would be here.

Bai Xizi was good at reading people's expressions. Seeing Chu Huan's hesitation, he guessed his thoughts and said, "Sir Chu, your actions at Baling Hall and your transformation of it into Zhengqi Hall have earned my great admiration. I have set up a table at Yipinxiang and would like to invite you to join me for a few drinks!"

He was at least ten years older than Chu Huan but called himself "little brother," showing his respect and fear.

Chu Huan, who did not judge people by their appearance, knew little about Bai Xizi, but he appreciated that Bai Xizi had come in the snow to invite him for drinks, whether sincerely or not. He bowed and said, "Brother Bai, I appreciate your hospitality, but I cannot accept your invitation today."

"That's a pity!" Bai Xizi looked disappointed, glancing at the dilapidated house and asked, "Sir Chu, do you live in such a place?"

Chu Huan, unsure of Bai Xizi's intentions, countered, "What's wrong with this place?"

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