“Let’s go, if Juan Er dies, I, as her father, don’t want to live either!”
“You just said the Divine Doctor doesn’t see male visitors, is it because of you?”
Xi Fuhong asked with a frown.
The Old Man nodded weakly, holding the child in his arms even tighter, “Juan Er, it’s all because your father is useless, making you suffer.”
Xi Fuhong felt troubled, wondering why this was different from the stories she had read.
As a healer, how could one be so heartless?
With the ability to help others, why refuse them?
She looked down at the little girl in the Old Man’s arms, already making a plan in her heart.
Although she was anxious about Sister Cui’s situation, this wouldn’t take much time.
“Old sir, how about I go instead?”
Xi Fuhong squatted down and said.
Hearing this, the Old Man looked up to meet Xi Fuhong’s sincere eyes.
“Didn’t you say the Divine Doctor refused to see you because you’re a man?
Let me take your daughter up the mountain for treatment.
The Divine Doctor will surely heal her.”
Xi Fuhong smiled, genuinely wanting to help.
After hearing Xi Fuhong’s words, the Old Man was moved to tears.
After being rejected by the Divine Doctor, he had asked the villagers for help, but they were cold-hearted and didn’t trust an outsider, leaving him helpless in the broken temple until now.
This plain-looking girl was willing to carry his daughter up the mountain for treatment, and he was so moved he almost knelt to thank her.
“Miss, you must be a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva!
Juan Er is blessed to have your help!”
“Old sir, don’t say that.
Let me take your daughter up the mountain quickly.”
Xi Fuhong helped the Old Man up, changing the subject awkwardly.
She wasn’t looking for gratitude, just felt sorry for the little girl, so young and already suffering from illness.
The Old Man quickly handed the child to Xi Fuhong and led her to the mountain entrance.
He said that from there, she would see a small house halfway up the mountain, where the Divine Doctor lived.
He also gave Xi Fuhong a bag of silver, saying it was for the girl’s treatment, and she promised to deliver it.
She carried the little girl up the mountain at night.
Although the path was flat, it was steep and difficult to climb.
After just half an hour, Xi Fuhong was drenched in sweat, thinking of the Old Man carrying his daughter up the mountain, feeling angry.
How could the Divine Doctor let an old man climb the mountain so laboriously and then turn him away?
Just then, a weak whimper came from behind.
“…Dad… Juan Er’s head hurts…” The little girl’s soft fingers clutched Xi Fuhong’s collar, murmuring.
Xi Fuhong’s chest tightened, and she gritted her teeth, “Don’t worry!
I’ll save you!”
Her legs trembled, and cold sweat poured down.
Xi Fuhong leaned against an old tree to catch her breath.
She had walked from night until dawn, finding the path excessively steep.
Initially, there was a clear path, but as she climbed higher, it barely qualified as a “path,” requiring her to climb rock walls to continue.
Looking back at the little girl on her back, her pale face mirrored her own pain.
Xi Fuhong pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and continued forward.
She stepped carefully, each movement causing the girl to jostle, intensifying the pain in her shoulder.
She could smell the blood, knowing the wound had reopened, but she dared not stop.
She had to reach the halfway point.
After an hour of climbing, Xi Fuhong finally saw the small wooden house the Old Man mentioned.
Nestled among peach blossom trees, the house stood there.
She ran forward, but as she neared, she tripped and fell, seeing a pair of beautifully embroidered shoes before looking up to see a delicate little girl standing in front of her.
“Idiot!
You fell for such a lousy trap!”
The little girl’s voice was clear, matching her sharp appearance.
Xi Fuhong thought this must be the child the Old Man mentioned.
After getting up, she held Juan Er in her arms, but the little girl frowned and stepped back upon seeing the child.
“Please ask the Divine Doctor to save this child.
She’s gravely ill.
Please help!”
Xi Fuhong offered the money bag, “This is the fee.
Please notify the Divine Doctor to help this child.”
“Hmph, the Divine Doctor doesn’t want to save anyone today.
You better leave.”
The little girl turned to leave, and Xi Fuhong quickly grabbed her sleeve, causing the girl to kick her away in annoyance.
“Why won’t the Divine Doctor save people?
As a healer, they should help others!”
Xi Fuhong persisted, grabbing the girl’s clothes, “Please, notify the Divine Doctor?
Saving a life is a great deed.
Please ask the Divine Doctor to see this child?”
“You’re so annoying!”
The little girl kicked again, “Who said the Divine Doctor has to save people?
Huh?
What rule says the Divine Doctor must exhaust themselves for you commoners?
I don’t care if it’s you or the child in your arms who dies today.
The Divine Doctor said no, so no, now leave!”
“I just hope the Divine Doctor will be generous and see this child,” Xi Fuhong carefully placed Juan Er aside and rushed to hug the girl’s leg, enduring the kicks and blows without letting go.
“Please!
The child is so young, it would be a shame if she died without seeing the world!
Her father sold his land to raise money.
Please, for their sincerity, ask the Divine Doctor to see her?”
The little girl, unable to shake her off, glared at her a few times before finally pouting, “Fine, I’ll report it, but I warn you, if the Divine Doctor says no, you better leave, or I’ll poison you both!”
Xi Fuhong quickly kowtowed in thanks, and the little girl glared at her for a while before turning to the house.
Xi Fuhong stood up, wiped the blood from her mouth, and tidied herself before picking up the little girl again.
Seeing the girl had been sleeping soundly since last night, not even waking during the commotion, Xi Fuhong frowned with worry.
About half an hour later, the little girl came out of the house with a reluctant face, pouting when she saw Xi Fuhong.
“Master said to let you in.”
The little girl was full of reluctance.
Instantly, the heavy burden in Xi Fuhong’s heart lifted, and her face brightened with a smile.
The little girl, seeing her so happy, grumbled in dissatisfaction, wondering what was wrong with her master.
Usually, if he said no, it was no.
Why was he so agreeable today?
If she had known, she wouldn’t have waited for him to finish writing the prescription before asking, she should have just tricked the fool down the mountain.
“Stop grinning like an idiot!
Follow me!”
The little girl scolded, turning to walk behind the wooden house.
Xi Fuhong glanced at the little girl in her arms, smiling as she followed.
They went around to the back of the main house, where there was a herb garden, with a small house on each side.
The little girl instructed Xi Fuhong to place the girl in the right house, then told her to come out quickly.
Xi Fuhong didn’t think much of it, carefully placing the girl down and ensuring she was still breathing before leaving.
When she came out again, the little girl handed her a set of clothes, telling her to follow.
“Go inside and clean yourself up.
Hmph, you’re filthy and dare to ask my master for treatment.”
The little girl pointed to a bamboo-fenced bathing area, glaring at her.
Xi Fuhong didn’t mind the girl’s harsh attitude.
Seeing the bath, she immediately stripped and jumped in.
She had long been bothered by her own smell, having rolled in mud during the rain, and after her clothes dried, they had a strange fishy odor, combined with the sweat from climbing, she smelled worse than the old beggars by the inn.
Xi Fuhong washed herself thoroughly.
