Her cheeks were stinging.
The wooden door closed, and footsteps approached, stopping suddenly not far from her.
The rain on her face also ceased.
Xi Fuhong wanted to open her eyes, but found her eyelids too heavy to lift.
Her body alternated between cold and hot, making her feel unbearable pain.
Before she fainted, she seemed to hear someone softly call her “medicine person.”
When Xi Fuhong awoke, she found herself in clean clothes, no longer on the street, but in a simple wooden house.
Her whole body ached, and as soon as she tried to sit up, she felt dizzy and fell back onto the bed.
The noise of her fall caught the attention of someone outside, and the wooden door creaked open.
It was Mu Er, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“You’re sick.
Drink the medicine and then sleep,” Mu Er said, bringing a bowl of medicine, which Xi Fuhong obediently took.
The medicine was bitter, but Xi Fuhong drank it all without even a frown.
Seeing her like this, Mu Er suddenly felt a bit emotional.
The last time she said goodbye to Xi Fuhong was when she and Shi Cuiyan were about to head to the Wulin Branch.
Half a year had passed, and now she was in such a state.
The once naive child from Fog Valley had become a beggar, almost dying on the street… Mu Er truly pitied her.
“Thank you, but I have no money to give you…” Xi Fuhong said, putting down the empty bowl and trying to get out of bed, but even that was difficult.
“Looking at you, I know you have no money.
I didn’t save you for nothing,” Mu Er said coldly.
“I see you probably have nowhere to go.
Instead of dying on the street, you might as well help my master a little.
For now, you can take Hua’er’s place in taking care of my master.
When Hua’er returns, you’ll be free.” This was not a request, but a statement.
Xi Fuhong lowered her eyes at these words and eventually closed them, not responding.
“My master’s cold poison is acting up.
Hua’er has gone to find herbs to temporarily ease the condition, and I can’t take care of my master alone.
Since you have nowhere to go, stay and help.
My master traveled with you for a while, which puts my mind at ease.” Mu Er checked Xi Fuhong’s pulse and then stepped back.
“It’s just a common cold.
You’ll be fine after taking the medicine.
I’ll take you to see my master later.” Mu Er told her to rest and left the wooden house.
Xi Fuhong couldn’t sleep.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The rain had stopped, leaving only the clear night sky after the storm.
She had no mind to admire the stars, closing her eyes again.
No matter what, there was no clear path ahead for her.
No road held meaning or hope.
Two hours later, Mu Er returned to the wooden house.
She led Xi Fuhong through most of the city.
The city was quiet in the deep night, with the cold wind howling.
Xi Fuhong pulled her clothes tighter and followed Mu Er’s steps.
After a few moments, they arrived at a quiet and secluded corner in the northernmost part of the city.
Mu Er glanced back at Xi Fuhong, seeming a bit hesitant, but finally just shook her head and opened the door to let Xi Fuhong inside.
As soon as she stepped over the threshold, a wave of heat hit her.
It was winter, yet it felt as hot as summer.
Xi Fuhong looked around and found five charcoal stoves in the narrow room, no wonder it was so hot.
After entering, Mu Er ignored Xi Fuhong and knelt by the bed, whispering a few words before signaling Xi Fuhong to come over.
“Master, I met Xi Fuhong on the road.
Hua’er is out looking for medicine these days.
Can I let her take care of you for now?” Mu Er didn’t lift the white curtain, so it was hard to detect any movement inside.
Xi Fuhong stood behind Mu Er, a bit worried.
The Divine Doctor had always been frail and suffered from cold poison.
She didn’t know how serious the condition was now.
She didn’t hear the Divine Doctor’s response, but saw Mu Er lean close to the curtain, nodding after a while and standing up.
“Master agreed.
Come with me,” Mu Er said to Xi Fuhong.
The two left the bedroom, and as soon as they stepped out the door, Xi Fuhong shivered from the cold.
Mu Er didn’t offer any comfort, just gave her a cold glance and led her to a small woodshed next door.
She opened the worn-out door.
Inside, there was no firewood, nor did it look like a bedroom.
The cold floor was covered with a few tattered blankets, making it a nest.
“You’ll sleep here for now,” Mu Er said, letting Xi Fuhong rest.
Staring at the closed wooden door, Xi Fuhong didn’t complain.
She understood her position.
As a mere passerby replacing the Divine Doctor’s disciple, what more could she hope for? Was Mu Er saving her a blessing or a curse? She sat on the tattered blankets, curling up against the wall.
Sleepiness overcame her, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, after settling Xi Fuhong, Mu Er busied herself with preparing medicine for Xue Baihua.
She carried a steaming bowl of medicine into the room.
Respectfully approaching the bed, she carefully placed the medicine on a low table, then lifted the white curtain.
The person behind it looked haggard, with no color in their face.
“Master, it’s time for your medicine,” Mu Er said, gently helping Xue Baihua sit up and handing over the bowl.
Like drinking water, Xue Baihua swallowed the medicine in a few gulps.
“This medicine… doesn’t seem to work… I won’t drink it anymore,” Xue Baihua said tiredly, lightly covering her mouth.
“Master, although this medicine doesn’t cure the cold poison, it helps a little.
You can’t stop taking it,” Mu Er said softly, as if comforting.
Since the master’s illness, she had been prone to mood swings.
This medicine had a calming effect, reducing the frequency and intensity of her outbursts.
“Mu Er… the medicine I asked you to prepare last time… is it ready?” Xue Baihua asked, adjusting to a comfortable position, drowsy.
“Yes, it’s been ready for days,” Mu Er replied while tidying up the medicine bowl.
“Good, then let the medicine person try it tomorrow,” Xue Baihua yawned.
Hearing this, Mu Er’s hands slipped, and the medicine bowl shattered.
“Mu Er?” Xue Baihua looked at the stunned Mu Er, puzzled.
“Master, that medicine…” Mu Er hesitated.
“What about the medicine?” Xue Baihua lazily squinted her eyes, staring at Mu Er, who broke into a cold sweat.
Mu Er knew her master was unpredictable, but she didn’t expect her to be so ruthless.
The medicine, called Lin Xian Dan, had a nice name but was actually an aphrodisiac.
Her master never made such vulgar medicines for others, but recently, on a whim, she accepted a commission from Xique Lou in the city to create an aphrodisiac to seduce men.
Now, letting Xi Fuhong test the medicine…
“Master, are you talking about Lin Xian Dan?” Mu Er hesitated for a long time before asking.
“Yes, give it to the medicine person and test its effects,” Xue Baihua said with a slight smile.
Mu Er was stunned.
Had her master forgotten Xi Fuhong? She had protected her before, but now she wanted her to test the medicine? It was as if time had turned back to when they were at Ling Xie Mountain, when Xi Fuhong willingly became a medicine person to save a girl, back to when her master didn’t care for her, back to when they didn’t know each other.
“Master, that’s Xi Fuhong,” Mu Er said.
“Not someone else, it’s your Ah Fu.”
Xue Baihua didn’t react to this.
“Mu Er, answer me, is she the medicine person?” Xue Baihua asked slowly.
Mu Er nodded, “Yes.”
“A medicine person is naturally someone who tests medicine for me.
There’s nothing wrong with that,” Xue Baihua said, her fingers sliding over the bed.
Indeed, a medicine person should test medicine, but the difference was that this medicine person was Xi Fuhong, her master’s Ah Fu.
Seeing Mu Er’s troubled expression, Xue Baihua yawned and sat up.
“Mu Er, why are you hesitating?” Xue Baihua asked with a smile.
Mu Er looked up at Xue Baihua’s smiling face and suddenly felt heartache.
Her master was tormented by the cold poison, and now she casually wanted Xi Fuhong to test the medicine.
If her master regained her senses and saw Xi Fuhong in pain, she would surely regret it deeply.
That’s why Mu Er hesitated, hoping her master would come to her senses.
“Mu Er, are you reluctant?” Xue Baihua asked, gently stroking her lips.
