Chapter 16

The young girl was fine.

The young Daoist couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Suddenly, the young Daoist realized the atmosphere was a bit off and quickly changed the subject: "The tender leaves of the Dragon Scale Tamarisk from Greenwater Pond, oh, here we call it Three Spring Willow. The leaves were picked too late, about seven to eight days. And this packet of Dragonfly Grass, commonly known as Maiden's Waist, was ground into powder too carelessly. And this stack of Paper Flowers, the Yang family shop is really out of line. They agreed on three taels, but how could they be short by one qian?"

The young Daoist rattled off a long list of complaints, almost nothing was satisfactory, as if he had a personal grudge against the Yang family pharmacy. Finally, he concluded: "The shopkeeper's conscience has been eaten by a dog, but the herbs on the table are enough to boil and save a life. Of course, this is mainly due to the good constitution of this young lady Ning Yao, and the Yang family pharmacy has at most a half-copper coin's worth of credit."

The young Daoist slapped his head, spread out a plain white sheet of paper, and while writing, he instructed: "I almost forgot, I'll write you another prescription for boiling the herbs. This is a meticulous task, Chen Ping'an, you mustn't be careless. This prescription not only heals wounds but also strengthens the body, a superior method for warriors to maintain their strength through battles. The best part is its mild nature, which doesn't harm the body. It just takes more time and more herbs, which means more expenses. When to boil with a strong fire and when to simmer with a gentle fire, I've detailed it all on the paper, even the time of day for boiling is important. In short, for the next ten days, Chen Ping'an, you'll have to work hard. Men are meant to bear responsibilities; otherwise, how could they be called pillars of society? Don't shirk your duties and let the young lady look down on you..."

When he said "pillars of society," the young Daoist subtly shook his head.

The prescription took up only half a sheet of paper, but the instructions for boiling the herbs took two sheets. The handwriting was simple, square, and neat.

Chen Ping'an was a bit anxious and asked, "Daoist, are you not going to follow up on this? This is a matter of life and death. Wouldn't it be better if you personally supervised it?"

The young Daoist sighed, "I'm about to leave the town. There's a ceremony in the Nanjian Kingdom that I need to attend. I want to see it with my own eyes."

Chen Ping'an was even more helpless, "Daoist, but I can't read!"

The young Daoist was taken aback, then laughed, "It's fine. Lady Ning can read. Before boiling the herbs, just ask her about the details."

The young girl nodded.

Chen Ping'an wanted to say more, but the young Daoist suddenly remembered something and pulled out a small green jade seal from his sleeve. He blew on the seal face, then pressed it firmly onto the paper with the prescription. After lifting the seal, he looked quite satisfied, put it back in his sleeve, and handed the paper along with the other two sheets to Chen Ping'an, "Keep it well. Most books in the town are privately owned, and it's not easy to buy them. If you really want to learn to read, you can start with this prescription."

The young Daoist smiled at the girl, "A floating leaf returns to the sea, and where in life do we not meet again? Lady Ning, until we meet again?"

The black-clad girl replied solemnly, "Daoist Lu, until we meet again! Great kindness needs no thanks. If you need my help in the future, you can send a flying sword message to the Inverted Mountain, but remember to sign it 'Lu Chen,' otherwise, the Inverted Mountain might not allow the sword to enter."

Hearing the name "Inverted Mountain," the young Daoist was clearly surprised, but he held back, and the girl slightly shook her head. He quickly understood her meaning and didn't pry further. Some things were better left unknown to the young man in the room.

The young Daoist left the room first, not forgetting to pull Chen Ping'an's arm, "Chen Ping'an, I have some final words for you."

Chen Ping'an put the package on the bed and told the black-clad girl it was new clothes.

After that, the two went to the yard, and the young Daoist whispered, "With your memory, you must have recognized the characters on the first prescription. And with a scholar living next door, 'not being able to read' isn't the real reason you're trying to stop me from leaving."

Chen Ping'an replied, "With Daoist's abilities, you must know the reason."

The young Daoist laughed, "Do you think you're doomed, so you're afraid no one will take care of the young lady?"

Chen Ping'an nodded, "Since I opened the door, I have to take responsibility."

The young Daoist stood by the cart, placed his fingers together, and subtly swiped them. The white-sheathed long sword, which the scholar Qi Jingchun had inscribed with two characters of sword qi, quietly flew into the room. The black-clad girl, not wanting to scare Chen Ping'an, tacitly accepted the sword's overstepping. The young Daoist thought for a moment, subconsciously tapping his lotus crown with his finger, and finally said, "Before I came, an elder brother told me that doing things should be reasonable, and being a person should be humane... Since that's the case, I shouldn't be too rigid. Although everyone has their own destiny, the fundamental teachings of my sect differ from those of other Daoist sects... Meeting is a kind of fate, and this can be considered a good connection. I might as well go with the flow. The divination tube and the 108 sticks cannot be given to you; the cause and effect are too chaotic, and if they can't be sorted out, it's very troublesome. As for the private seal, it's a bit heavy. If I give it to you, once the town's restrictions are lifted, everything will be exposed. I wouldn't be helping you, but harming you. Sigh, should I give you some gold or silver? That would be too vulgar and unrefined, and I wouldn't have the face to do it..."

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping'an said firmly, "Daoist Lu, giving money would be very refined and not vulgar at all!"

The young Daoist smiled playfully, "You didn't understand the significance of the first two items, but why didn't you ask for them?"

The young man slowly replied, "A white bowl that can hold a large vat of water, a Daoist who can burn talismans to communicate with the underworld, a seriously injured and strange young lady, and a bag of 28 gold coins. Old Yao used to say our place was strange, but now I've seen it with my own eyes. If I hadn't met those two outsiders, I would have avoided all of you, and I wouldn't have opened the door today."

The young Daoist leaned against the cart and said solemnly, "The outsider woman pointed at your forehead, which is a despicable act of forcibly opening someone's acupoints, known in martial arts as 'pointing.' The technique varies in skill, and the intention can be good or bad. For example, your courtyard gate isn't sturdy, right? She deliberately hit it with a hammer. You can enter, but the foundation is damaged. Imagine, in the future, during storms and snow, the person who opened the door will be long gone, but you, the long-term resident, what will you do?"

Chen Ping'an hesitated, "I can endure hardship."

Looking at the straw-shoed young man who didn't seem to be joking, the young Daoist laughed, "This is the first time she harmed you. If you were strong and healthy, you could live to thirty or forty. But her palm strike to your chest was the real fatal blow. It not only damaged your body but also cut off your path to immortality... To be precise, you had a slim chance, but with the upheaval of heaven and earth, you might have had a chance to continue your cultivation. It's like a flood where many dragons and fish are caught. The lucky ones will have great gains, but even the unluckiest might catch a small fish or shrimp."

Chen Ping'an didn't show fear or panic, standing quietly without any pretense of calmness.

The young Daoist neither praised nor criticized, sighing softly, "Chen Ping'an, being young and indifferent to life and death isn't a good thing. Do you think living is best, but if you can't, and heaven doesn't let you live, then dying is fine, right? Because death is actually a chance for reunion?"

Chen Ping'an didn't deny it.

The young Daoist suddenly scolded, "Have you thought about what your parents would feel if they saw you in the vast underworld? When they see you, will they happily ask, 'Son, you're here too?' Can they rest in peace and reincarnate? Do you really think many people have the good fortune to be children or spouses in every life? I clearly tell you, don't even think about it! Even the leaders of major sects who can change the world don't have such power, let alone you, Chen Ping'an, a poor man who can't even afford three meals a day!"

By the end, the young Daoist was stern and serious.

The young man was at a loss, feeling fear for the first time in his life, his hands and feet cold.

The young man squatted down, hands on his head, not scratching it this time.

The young Daoist looked down at the small figure, "Enough, enough. To save you, I owe you a favor. I thought I could avoid it, but now I'll repay it all. I'll tell you three things, remember them clearly. First, when Lady Ning is better, take her to the south of the town by the stream to find a father and daughter surnamed Ruan. Remember, take her with you, otherwise, going a hundred times won't work. Even if you have to beg and plead, you must become their helper or apprentice, whether digging wells or moving stones, or forging swords and iron. It's a good place to stay. This way, Lady Ning will have repaid you, and you won't feel like you're taking advantage of her."

"Second, after the fifth day of the fifth month, go to the stream under the bridge often. Whether you pick stones or catch fish, go often, especially when you're troubled or have a sense of foreboding. As for the results, who knows with your luck, but at least 'diligence can make up for clumsiness.' If you still get nothing, you'll just have to accept it."

After saying the two things, the young Daoist started pushing the cart. Seeing the young man still squatting, he said, "Get up and help!"

The young man got up and helped push the cart, curiously asking, "Didn't you say three things?"

The young Daoist snorted, "I already told you, think about it yourself!"

The young man was taken aback.

The Daoist then gave some more instructions.

"Keep those copper coins, they're precious."

"Stay home more in the coming days."

"Smile more, always looking gloomy, and you're not even handsome. Who are you showing it to?"

Rattling on, the young Daoist seemed like an elder.

Pushing the cart out of the yard, the young man said he would push it out of Nibing Lane, and the young Daoist didn't refuse.

Walking down the lane, the Daoist finally said, "There's one more thing. According to my calculations, your parents' early deaths were not your fault."

The young Daoist paused for a long time, until the cart was about to leave Nibing Lane, then he said softly, "Not only that, your difficult life is due to your parents."

The young man was silent.

Finally, the young Daoist insisted the young man not see him off and pushed the cart away to the east gate.

Looking back, the young man was still standing at the lane entrance, waving enthusiastically, his smile bright.

He didn't look like someone who was about to die.

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