However, Jiu Yue wasn’t in a hurry to plan her descent from the mountain.
Because Doctor Tang had grabbed her and insisted she learn some medical skills for self-defense!
"Don’t think just because you’re highly skilled in martial arts that you can do whatever you want. This time, you were just lucky. If you run into someone with ill intentions next time and they replace the knockout drug with poison, won’t you be in trouble?"
Doctor Tang frowned disapprovingly at her. "If I hadn’t realized it in time, your companion might’ve slept for three days and nights!"
Jiu Yue: "..."
Jiu Yue fell silent too.
It really was impossible to guard against everything!
Hu Lu and his gang adhered to a code of honor when it came to robbery, but accidents happened. To leave them an escape route and prevent trouble from reaching the village, Doctor Tang had been regularly dispersing knockout drugs in the woods around Tiger Head Village.
The villagers of Tiger Head Village always took the antidote before heading down the mountain.
...But this time, Jiu Yue and the Mute Girl, who had been brought up the mountain, hadn’t taken the antidote.
No wonder the Mute Girl had slept so soundly.
Jiu Yue sighed, rubbing her forehead. She was still too inexperienced.
"It’s rare to meet you, and since you’re here, it wouldn’t be right for this old man not to give you a little gift!" Doctor Tang pulled a small medicine bottle from his sleeve—the antidote to the knockout drug.
"If your companion hasn’t woken up by tomorrow morning, give her this. She’ll wake up within half an hour." Doctor Tang then made a firm decision. "Starting tomorrow, you’ll learn a few basic skills from me. Whether you’re wandering the martial world or returning to the palace, you’ll be better prepared."
He couldn’t help adding, "You have no idea how many tricks they have in the palace! You’d better be careful!"
Jiu Yue held the bottle and smiled. "Then I’ll trouble you for a few more days."
The next morning, the Mute Girl woke up groggily, opening her eyes to Jiu Yue’s bright, eager gaze.
"Good, you’re awake." Jiu Yue sighed in relief and put away the antidote. Noticing the Mute Girl’s slight frown, she brought over a bowl of warm water and helped her take a sip.
"How do you feel? Any discomfort?" Jiu Yue asked.
The Mute Girl shook her head slightly, looking around in shock at the unfamiliar surroundings. Hesitantly, she signed:
[Where are we?]
Jiu Yue replied casually, "Last night, we passed by a village. They were very hospitable and invited us to stay, so I brought you in."
The Mute Girl blinked.
She hadn’t expected such a simple, kind village in the borderlands.
But then Jiu Yue added, "There’s a very skilled old doctor in this village. I’ll take you to see him—maybe he can cure your voice."
This was the second reason Jiu Yue had stayed.
There were plenty of miracle doctors in the martial world, but they were elusive and preferred to stay low-key. Meeting one depended entirely on luck.
Now that luck had come knocking, there was no reason not to take advantage of it!
The Mute Girl clearly hadn’t anticipated such good fortune. Stunned, she met Jiu Yue’s smiling eyes and managed a small smile of her own.
[It’s alright. I’m used to it.]
She had been mute for many years...
"Used to it? That’s good! If he can’t cure you, at least you won’t be too disappointed." Jiu Yue cheerfully pulled her up. "Come on, let’s go try. If he can’t do it, we’ll just call him a quack from now on."
The Mute Girl: "..."
She chuckled helplessly and let herself be dragged along.
...
The night before, Hu Lu had received Doctor Tang’s approval for bringing the two back—he had done well.
But at the same time, Doctor Tang criticized him for bringing shoddy furniture into the village and demanded compensation.
Hu Lu: "..."
Not daring to argue, Hu Lu obediently went to find a sturdier table for Doctor Tang.
Now, he was carrying a solid wooden table toward Doctor Tang’s house when he ran into Jiu Yue and her companion. His attitude was respectful.
"Greetings, Miss Jiu."
Jiu Yue waved casually. Seeing the table, she immediately recalled the flimsy one from the night before.
Since she had played a part in its destruction, she took the table from him.
"This is for Doctor Tang’s place, right? We’re heading there anyway—I’ll carry it for you." Effortlessly hoisting the table, Jiu Yue chattered away as she led the Mute Girl onward.
Hu Lu stood silently for a moment before deciding to prepare some food for the two... According to Doctor Tang’s instructions, they were to be treated as honored guests.
Remembering how he had only casually called them "distinguished guests" the day before, Hu Lu wiped his face.
Right—they were to be treated as honored guests.
With mixed feelings, he turned around... only to spot Qian Chunqiu hiding behind a haystack, blushing shyly.
Hu Lu: "......?"
He strode over and smacked the back of Qian Chunqiu’s head. "I told you to apologize properly! What’s the point of hiding here? Now you’re embarrassed?"
Where was that boldness when you stomped on my foot yesterday?!
"Big Brother, stop scolding me!" Qian Chunqiu pouted, his gaze drifting back toward Jiu Yue. "I want to apologize... but I’m scared."
The moment he saw Jiu Yue, fear gripped him—a physical reaction.
Yet that fear only deepened his admiration for her!
"Big Brother, Big Brother, what’s her relationship with Doctor Tang?" Qian Chunqiu asked eagerly. "Is she going to stay in our village like him?"
Hu Lu shattered his hopes with another smack. "Wake up... Doctor Tang is just keeping her here for a few days. She’ll leave eventually."
Qian Chunqiu: "Ah..."
He sighed regretfully and withdrew his gaze, lost in thought.
Tianqi, Qinxi.
In a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, two men were engaged in a game of chess.
"Your Highness is still fond of risky moves, just like in the past," the man remarked as he placed a piece, his tone nostalgic.
But Sima Qing stared at the board, unmoving.
The man looked up, puzzled. "Your Highness?"
"Risky moves have high rewards," Sima Qing said slowly, returning his piece to the box. He leaned back with a faint smile. "But the cost is just as high."
"Your skill is truly unmatched, sir. I concede."
The man’s interest deepened as he studied Sima Qing.
Looking at the circle of white pieces he had captured, he suddenly smiled.
"It seems the price you paid this time has exceeded what you can bear, Your Highness."
Sima Qing stiffened.
Just then, a bloodcurdling scream came from inside the house. The man stood gracefully, his smile gentle.
"The poison is nearly expelled. I should supervise. Please make yourself at home, Your Highness."
"My thanks, sir." Sima Qing nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the stream outside, lost in thought.
"Doctor Bai! Save me! It hurts so much I’m dying!!!" Mei Wuchang’s howls threatened to bring the roof down.
Mr. Bai paused at the door, glancing back at Sima Qing sitting alone beneath the tree.
How strange.
Years ago, even when he was on the brink of death, Sima Qing hadn’t shown a hint of sorrow.
But now, he radiated a deep, pervasive melancholy... and it didn’t seem like grief over his own limited time.
Rather, it was more like sorrow over having too much time left.
What an odd man.
Shaking his head, Mr. Bai covered his ears and stepped inside, where Mei Wuchang was gnawing on the bathtub in agony.
Mr. Bai: "...What are you doing to my five-hundred-tael bathtub?!!"
...
The howls and wails inside the room were oddly melodious in their own way.
Sima Qing slowly closed his eyes, trying to steady his emotions, when suddenly, Mo Jin's grave voice reached his ears.
"Your Highness, trouble!" Mo Jin hurried forward, his expression solemn as he handed over a slip of paper.
Sima Qing, however, had no desire to open it.
"Do not bother me with matters from the capital," he said, eyes still shut.
Mo Jin couldn't hold back. "It’s not about the capital—it’s about the training camp."
Sima Qing frowned, and then Mo Jin continued, "Old Tao says... the dog Jiu Yue kept at the training camp has gone missing."
Sima Qing: "..."
Sima Qing opened his eyes, sat up straight, and his expression turned grave. Mo Jin quickly handed him the note.
From the shadows, Qiu Dongfang and Fu Yu sprang forward, crouching on either side of Sima Qing.
The note contained a lengthy message, but the gist was simple: the dog was gone.
The entire training camp had searched for three days and nights, combing through every corner of the vicinity. Old Tao had even gone as far as the prince’s residence... but there was no trace of it.
The dog had vanished without a trace.
