Chapter 43

(43) The Miracle of the Medicine

"This is a miracle! It's been completely cured!"

The doctor who was taking Nangong Xiang's pulse exclaimed in disbelief.

"Dad, stop it. Doctor Dan said she's already fully recovered."

This was already the third doctor to leave in such a manner.

After a moment,

Nangong Xiang let out a deep sigh.

"Can you stay a little longer...?"

Nangong Bai, who had just realized the reason, smiled bitterly.

"I know. But still... I just wanted to hear those words of recovery again."

Nangong Xiang was looking into the distance with a wistful gaze.

Seeing his daughter like this, Nangong Bai felt a bit complicated.

* * *

Inside the carriage heading from Wuxian to Hubei Province, exclamations burst out.

"The Wulin Alliance leader sure has a lot of money."

Fan Jiwei grinned as he checked the silver coins filling the box.

"How much is this? I thought it was just a little extra for travel expenses, but it's enough to buy several houses!"

Han Xuehua chuckled.

She could vividly imagine Nangong Bai's struggle over how much to give. Besides, even considering the treatment fee, he couldn't have just given a small amount.

At that moment, Dan Aoxian smiled and said,

"We won't have to worry about medicine costs for a while."

Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua looked at Dan Aoxian with disbelief.

They knew all too well that he would spend his fortune without hesitation on expensive medicinal herbs.

"Anyway, it's all thanks to the two of you."

In response to Dan Aoxian's praise, Han Xuehua nodded slightly, as if it was nothing.

On the other hand, Fan Jiwei beamed and leaned in close to Dan Aoxian.

"Right? I think I did pretty well. It's not something just anyone can do, you know. What was it called again? Weihua... Anyway, it's some kind of therapy."

"That's right. Uncle Fan is really amazing."

"Hehe. If you want to praise me, feel free to do so more."

"How did I end up with such a fool..."

Fan Jiwei glared at Han Xuehua, who trailed off with a look of disdain.

"That's what I should be saying! And what's wrong with receiving praise? Acting all dignified like Brother Chao is even more ridiculous!"

"Why did my name suddenly come up!"

Chao Ailiang shouted from outside the carriage.

The carriage jolted, likely because a wheel had hit a rock.

Fan Jiwei shouted out,

"Brother Chao! Drive the carriage properly! Is this your first time driving?"

"Yes! You brat!"

"Then get down and pull it yourself! Doctor Dan will be scared! You can use your inner strength now, right?"

"Ha...!"

Chao Ailiang, who had been rendered speechless by the absurdity, finally regained his composure and looked annoyed.

"When will you say thank you? If you're grateful, you should show it. Don't just brush it off with words! If you keep acting like this, I might not help you with treatment in the future."

Sighing deeply, Chao Ailiang felt like the ground had opened up beneath him.

His mouth was the root of all his troubles.

He had offered to drive the carriage out of gratitude for Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua's help, but it only fueled Fan Jiwei's mischief.

Dan Aoxian intervened,

"I'm fine. Don't be too hard on Uncle Chao."

"I'm not fine. I've been so worried about Doctor Dan's comfortable journey. Anyway... Oh?"

Fan Jiwei suddenly shouted.

"Brother Chao! I told you to drive the carriage straight, didn't I? This isn't the right direction!"

"What, man?"

"To get to Chang'an, we need to take the right road! Why are you leading the horses to the left? That's the road to Nanzhou!"

"Why are we going to Chang'an?"

"Didn't we plan to stop by Chang'an last time?"

Dan Aoxian answered for him.

"Ms. Shiwu said she's waiting. We should see her first in case something happens."

"Oh! That's right?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Fan Jiwei blamed Chao Ailiang.

"You should have sent us to Chang'an in the first place, not Nanzhou..."

"Right! I'm a fool! I've committed a grave sin!"

"If you realize it, then repent. Don't just brush it off."

Although she couldn't see his face, Dan Aoxian could easily imagine Chao Ailiang's expression.

"I'm fine even if we don't stop by Chang'an. I'm having so much fun right now."

"Really?"

Fan Jiwei smiled and asked casually.

"Then should you spend your whole life traveling like this?"

"That might not be bad, right?"

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Fan Jiwei asked again,

"Really?"

"But I do have something I need to do."

"What is it? If it's something I can help with, I'll do anything."

"I want to compile my parents' medical knowledge into one system this time."

"That's something I can't help with..."

Seeing Fan Jiwei's slightly dejected look, Dan Aoxian smiled and said,

"I can't leave the valley until I finish that. The amount of material is vast, and I've barely managed to organize it in order."

"Two people's medical knowledge will be reborn as Doctor Dan's."

Dan Aoxian nodded at Han Xuehua's words.

"It's like a homework assignment they left me."

Saying this, Dan Aoxian suddenly looked curious and glanced at the wooden box in the carriage.

"But what's inside that box?"

"Why? Curious? Want to break it open?"

Dan Aoxian waved her hands at Fan Jiwei, who had grabbed the box.

"No, it's fine."

Dan Aoxian quickly continued,

"It's said that there are mechanisms inside, and if you open it without the key, the contents might be damaged. That's why the Wulin Alliance didn't touch it, right?"

"Is that so?"

With a puzzled look, Fan Jiwei turned to Dan Aoxian, who revealed her curiosity.

"Still, it's really amazing. To install mechanisms in such a small wooden box."

"It's all about money, what else?"

"I hope we can reach Nanzhou soon."

What could be inside the box that he was willing to risk his life for? Dan Aoxian was most curious about that.

* * *

The carriage had passed the border of Gansu Province and entered Nanzhou.

"I'll head back to the Wulin Alliance. I've been away for too long."

Feng Jinsheng, who had switched places with Chao Ailiang, promised to meet them again soon and drove the carriage away.

"But how do we find him?"

Dan Aoxian's question made Chao Ailiang feel uneasy.

He had only told Shiwu to come near Nanzhou, without making any specific arrangements or setting a meeting point.

But if he told the truth here, Fan Jiwei would be delighted.

He didn't want to give him any unnecessary leverage.

"Let's go to a crowded place. It shouldn't be hard to find him."

Chao Ailiang led the group to the market, making an excuse.

However, they hadn't been in the market for long when Chao Ailiang couldn't help but laugh.

"There he is."

The moment of worry about not finding him was now a distant memory.

"Where?"

In response to Dan Aoxian's question, Chao Ailiang pointed to a spot.

Under a large tree by the roadside, many people had gathered around a small makeshift table.

"Middle! I'll bet on the middle!"

"Right!"

"No, left. I saw it clearly with my own eyes!"

People, seized by a strange excitement, loudly defended their choices.

A gambling game was in progress.

The gambler who had taken the bets from the gamblers lifted the three teacups neatly placed on the table simultaneously.

In that brief moment, people's reactions were starkly divided.

Some cheered, while most groaned.

It was a moment of mixed fortunes.

"He told you to hide quietly."

Chao Ailiang's words made Fan Jiwei grin.

"Well, he did a good job disguising himself."

Dan Aoxian asked curiously,

"What is he doing?"

"It's a gambling game called 'yabai.' He puts a bead under one of the three teacups and mixes them around. You bet on one of them, and if you guess correctly, you get double the money."

"If you guess wrong, the person moving the cups keeps the money, right?"

"Right."

"Then isn't it much more advantageous for the person running the game? Why do people make such unfavorable bets?"

"Most people think their luck will surpass the odds."

At that moment,

"Is this a scam?"

"Give me my money back!"

People who had lost money shouted in anger.

"Hey, you were quiet when you won, weren't you?"

The gambler's words made some people blush, but no one likes losing money.

"Get him!"

Someone lunged at the gambler, who was actually Shiwu in disguise, and everyone else followed suit. The scene quickly turned into chaos.

Amid the chaos, various curses, shouts, and screams filled the air.

But Shiwu, the instigator of the commotion, had already slipped away like an eel, collecting the money and disappearing over a wall.

"Ah? We lost him!"

Dan Aoxian's confusion was met with a relaxed smile from Fan Jiwei.

"Hehe. Don't worry, Doctor Dan. He's just a flea."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Jiwei's figure shot into the air.

Reaching a great height in an instant, Fan Jiwei then plummeted back down.

"He's heading towards the alley where the grain merchants gather."

"Let's go see."

Fan Jiwei carried Dan Aoxian and flew off. They quickly arrived at the alley where the grain merchants were lined up.

"Should I go catch him?"

Dan Aoxian shook her head at Fan Jiwei's question.

"Let's just watch for a moment."

Partly out of curiosity, but also with a serious intent, Dan Aoxian was thinking about the person they might be spending time with in the future.

Shiwu was walking around the grain merchants, loading the grains and food he had bought onto a cart and heading to the outskirts of the village. There, he distributed the items to the beggar children living in the back alleys of Nanzhou.

After finishing everything, he turned around.

Suddenly, a person dropped in front of Shiwu.

"Ah!"

Shiwu, who had been caught off guard, let out a gasp but soon recognized Chao Ailiang and sighed in relief.

"Have you come?"

Chao Ailiang, who had been staring at Shiwu, suddenly spoke.

"I have a sudden question."

"What is it?"

"Are you a bad person or a good person?"

Realizing his cover was blown, Shiwu smiled awkwardly.

"I was just bored and decided to have a little fun."

At that moment, Fan Jiwei set Dan Aoxian down.

"Introduce yourself. This is the person who will treat you."

"Huh?"

Shiwu looked back and forth between Fan Jiwei and Dan Aoxian, standing beside him.

Neither of them looked like the person who could treat him.

"Surely you don't mean this little girl will treat my fire poison?"

At that moment, Shiwu was enveloped by a terrifying feeling, as if his entire body was being slashed by a cold wind.

It was the killing intent from Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiwei.

"Ahem."

Feeling a sense of danger he had never experienced even when being chased by the Wulin Alliance, Shiwu involuntarily hiccuped.

He quickly bowed to Dan Aoxian.

"Nice to meet you. I am Shiwu."

"I'm Dan Aoxian. Nice to meet you."

As Shiwu lifted his head, he was startled.

He had just noticed the wooden box tucked under Dan Aoxian's arm.