Chapter 31.2

In the main hall, only Xu Hua’an and Gu Sui remained.

With his hands behind his back, Xu Hua’an stood there. Gu Sui quickly brought over a chair for him. “Teacher, please sit. I’ll pour you some water.”

Xu Hua’an cast him a sideways glance before sitting down.

The place only offered plain boiled water, so Gu Sui poured him a cup. “Guan Yue made some Qi-nourishing tea. It’s especially suitable for you. I’ll bring you a packet later.”

Xu Hua’an remarked with a sneer: “No matter how good it is, it’s something Guan Yue made, not you. Do you need to take credit for it to gain favor?”

“You’re absolutely right, Teacher.” Gu Sui responded.

Xu Hua’an looked pleased with himself. “Guan Yue, no matter what she does, is always the best.”

“I agree.” Gu Sui added sincerely.

Attempting to build rapport, Gu Sui said: “Guan Yue told me that when she first arrived, you taught her so much. Without your guidance, she wouldn’t be where she is now. Her excellence is thanks to you.”

Xu Hua’an, holding his cup of water, suddenly sighed. “Guan Yue… this child carries a lot of pain in her heart.”

Back when Xu Hua’an first found Guan Yue on Daqing Mountain, she was a strikingly beautiful girl with eyes as sharp as knives. When a pack of wolves charged at them, he was trembling with fear, but Guan Yue didn’t even blink as she snatched the herb hoe from his hands and killed the entire pack.

After dealing with the wolves, she turned to leave. For reasons he couldn’t explain at the time, Xu Hua’an called out to her and brought her home.

In those days, Guan Yue often wore a cold expression. Xu Hua’an would try to amuse her, coaxing her into talking more, making her delicious food, and taking her to Qingxian County to see more people and experience the world.

Over time, she gradually opened up to him and to the era they lived in. Slowly, she began to smile, and her personality became livelier.

To this day, Xu Hua’an vividly remembers one evening at sunset, when the sky was painted with brilliant hues. She sat on the edge of a cliff, staring in a daze at Qingxi Village below.

When he called her to come home for dinner, she turned to him and said: “Teacher, I want to live well.”

In that moment, the shock he felt was beyond words.

He didn’t know what had happened in her past. All he hoped was that this little disciple he had taken in by some twist of fate would live as she said, to the fullest—year after year, in peace and happiness.

When Xu Hua’an met Gu Sui’s gaze, he saw a trace of heartache in the young man’s eyes. With just that one look, his reservations about Gu Sui dissipated. “I can see that Guan Yue really likes you. As her teacher, there are things I must say. If you ever dare to bully her, don’t blame me for being harsh with you. The Xu family is not one to be trifled with, and my disciple is not someone to be pushed around.”

Gu Sui chuckled. “Teacher, if you stay a little longer, you’ll see—it’s actually her who was bullying me.”

Just then, Guan Yue came out after removing the needles for Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui. “Tell me in detail—how exactly am I bullying you?”

She stood with her hands on her hips, her small eyes glaring fiercely.

Gu Sui glanced at Xu Hua’an with a smile.

Embarrassed, Xu Hua’an turned his head away.

Seizing the moment, Guan Yue pressed on. “Gu Sui, you’re slandering me!”

Gu Sui tried to appease her. “Yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Tell me, what do you want as compensation?”

Guan Yue grinned mischievously. “I want to eat ham.”

“This year’s ham isn’t ready yet.” Gu Sui replied. “There’s only one piece left from last year. Once it’s gone, you’ll have to wait until next year.”

“But I really want to eat it.”

Xu Hua’an, feeling sorry for his disciple, snapped at Gu Sui: “If she wants to eat it, give it to her! It’s just ham. I’ll make a trip to Jinhua later and buy a few more for you.”

Guan Yue’s face lit up with joy. “Teacher is the best.”

Hearing her compliment, Xu Hua’an grinned from ear to ear.

Just then, Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui came out of the room. While they didn’t look completely rejuvenated, their condition had clearly improved compared to the morning.

Xu Hua’an quickly gave up his chair for his elder brother. “Brother, how are you feeling?”

Xu Huaping placed his right hand on his chest. “I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but my chest feels a bit lighter.”

Zhang Mingrui nodded in agreement. “I feel the same. Before, I always felt that my chest is being blocked my something.”

Before meeting Guan Yue, both of them had frequently suffered from chest pain and palpitations. Since taking Guan Yue’s Yang Xin Pill, those symptoms had become less frequent, and they were able to sleep better. However, the lingering discomfort in their chests had persisted until now.

Guan Yue said: “From now on, I’ll give you acupuncture once a day. When things improve, we can reduce it to once every two or three days. As for the medicine, I’ll have it prepared daily, and Deng Baishu will deliver it to you. Just drink it on time.”

Cai Jin chuckled. “Mingrui used to see doctors with such a gloomy face, as if he was beyond saving. But here with Guan Yue, no matter how serious the illness is, it’s treated like a mild cold—just take the medicine on time, and you’ll be fine.”

Guan Yue touched her own face. “Am I that arrogant?”

Deng Baishu quickly chimed in, flattering her: “It’s not arrogance, Teacher. It’s confidence.”

Cai Jin added: “Dr. Deng is right. Confidence is a good thing.”

Xu Hua’an then asked: “Are there any dietary restrictions for them?”

“No, they can eat normally.” Guan Yue replied.

Xu Hua’an said: “Alright, then. I’ll have some dishes sent over later. Let’s have hot pot for dinner tonight.”

Every year, Xu Hua’an made a trip to Daqing Mountain because the spicy cuisine in this southwestern region suited his taste perfectly. In Hong Kong, where his brother lived, their household had always favored lighter dishes due to his brother’s poor health. He had been craving this kind of meal for a long time.

Guan Yue looked at Gu Sui. “Do we have hot pot base?”

Gu Sui nodded. “Yes, we do.”

Xu Hua’an waved his hand, dismissing them. “Good, you two go back to what you were doing. It’s not necessary for you to stay here; just bring the hot pot over later.”

Guan Yue and Gu Sui left immediately, as she had indeed been busy. Deng Baishu followed them to the cabin; he had already prepared the medicine for Zhang Mingrui and Xu Huaping and needed to take it back to the sanatorium. This way, it would be more convenient to prepare the medicine daily.

Deng Baishu asked curiously: “Teacher, where are they from? Their accents sound like they’re from the south.”

“Yes, they are from the south.” Guan Yue replied. “Don’t ask too many questions. Just focus on delivering the medicine every day.”

Deng Baishu nodded, not pressing further. “Are they having heart problems?”

“Yes, and you can take the prescription back and study it. If you don’t understand something, ask your dad.”

With Guan Yue’s permission, Deng Baishu quickly ran down the mountain with a large bundle of medicine.

Holding Guan Yue’s prescription, he ran to his father to study it together.

---

After reviewing the prescription, Deng Weimin stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I’ll go up the mountain with you tonight when you deliver the medicine. I’ll check their pulses for them.”

Deng Baishu was surprised. “Can you go up? Won’t there be issues with their confidentiality?”

“They’re from the south; it’s not a problem for me to visit.” Deng Weimin replied confidently.

Deng Baishu’s curiosity was piqued. Both of the patients had heart problems, yet the prescriptions were very different. He wanted to understand why Guan Yue prescribed the way she did.

Deng Baishu said: “Dad, then you need to help me prepare the medicine later.”

Deng Weimin slapped him on the back with one hand: “I want to go see a patient, and you dare to set conditions for me?”

“No, no, Father, keep your voice down. I’m not a child anymore! How do you expect me to find a wife if you don’t even think about my reputation?”

Deng Weimin paused to consider; this little brat had a point.

Deng Weimin gave him a stern look: “Still not getting ready to brew the medicine?”

Can’t beat him, but scolding him isn’t too much to ask.

---

Down on the mountain, Deng Baishu was busy with preparations while Li Dingbang and Fang Lin climbed Xiaoqing Mountain to see Zhang Mingrui.

Zhang Mingrui said: “If you have something to say, just say it. As a Chinese, I won’t turn down any help I can offer.”

Fang Lin replied: “Don’t worry, Sir Zhang, this won’t put you in a difficult position. For you, there are also benefits.”

Outside, there was a guard keeping watch, and when Guan Yue took their pulses, his words could be heard by those outside. They knew that Guan Yue was confident in curing their ailments.

With that, their original plan could proceed.

They hoped Zhang Mingrui would act as their agent in Hong Kong, helping them select valuable patients in exchange for treatment opportunities using their resources.

Compared to the Xu family, Zhang Mingrui’s network was broader. His influence wasn’t limited to Hong Kong; he was also quite influential among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.

With Zhang Mingrui’s presence, their path was cleared.

After two minutes of thought, Zhang Mingrui agreed and assured: “I’ll use my connections to spread the news.”

Li Dingbang smiled: “Then thank you, Si Zhang. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”

Zhang Mingrui replied with a smile: “Guan Yue said my condition can be cured in half a month.”

Li Dingbang chuckled: “Guan Yue tends to be conservative with her estimates. If she says half a month, then within two weeks, it’ll definitely be completely cured.”

A smile appeared on Zhang Mingrui’s face.

---

Guan Yue and Gu Sui were at home, preparing ingredients for a hotpot meal. When they saw it was almost time, they each picked up the portable stove, trays of spices, and vegetables and headed out.

Ahead of them by a step, Deng Weimin and Deng Baishu had already gone up the mountain.

After finishing the medicine, Deng Baishu suggested taking their pulses.

Deng Baishu introduced: “This is my father, Deng Weimin, a traditional Chinese doctor. He’d like to take your pulses.”

He casually added: “He’s also the teacher of my teacher.”

“Teacher of your teacher?” What did that mean?

Xu Hua’an caught on: “Oh, so you’re after my disciple, huh? Too bad my disciple didn’t fancy you. Talk about embarrassing.”

Xu Hua’an smiled smugly, and Deng Weimin furrowed his brow: “Who are you?”

That sent Xu Hua’an flying off the handle—after trying to poach his disciple, Deng Weimin didn’t even know who he was.

As soon as Deng Baishu spoke, he knew he had put his foot in his mouth. He tugged at his father and whispered: “This is Sir Xu, Guan Yue’s teacher.”

When enemied meet, sparks flew.

Xu Hua’an was furious, thinking Deng Weimin wanted to take his disciple.

Deng Weimin was frustrated, feeling that Xu Hua’an was an inept doctor who had somehow landed such a talented disciple as Guan Yue.

Xu Huaping saw the tension and quickly pulled his brother aside: “Don’t get angry. You’ve always been Guan Yue’s teacher. No one can take your place.”

Cai Jin and Zhang Mingrui exchanged looks, now understanding what this argument was really about.

Guan Yue and Gu Sui arrived with the vegetables: “Deng Baishu, you’re here. Have you given them the medicine?”

“Yeah.”

“Deng Baishu, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you so quiet?”

Xu Hua’an stomped his foot and ran over to find Guan Yue: “Tell me, am I the only one who’s ever been your teacher?”

Guan Yue responded: “You’ve always been, haven’t you? Who said otherwise?”

Xu Hua’an burst out laughing, deliberately glancing over at Deng Weimin.

Guan Yue turned to Deng Weimin: “Teacher, do you like hotpot? If you do, stay and join us—there’s plenty prepared.”

Deng Weimin also laughed: “Sure, I’ll eat anything!”

Xu Hua’an fumed: “Why do you call him teacher?”

Gu Sui could see it clearly; the two men were just jealous.

Gu Sui explained: “Doctor Deng’s house has many rare medical texts. Guan Yue calls him teacher so he can read Deng’s collection.”

Guan Yue added: “Those medical texts are very helpful to me.”

Xu Huaping quickly intervened: “Let’s all help set the table. We need to eat before it gets too dark.”

Cai Jin also chimed in: “I’ll go get some bowls. There are plenty in the kitchen.”

Deng Baishu dragged his father: “Aren’t you supposed to be taking their pulses? Now’s the perfect time—once you’re done, we can start eating.”

Deng Baishu took his father over to Zhang Mingrui to take his pulse, while Xu Hua’an was held back by Guan Yue: “Go get some firewood to start the stove.”

Xu Hua’an grumbled: “Just bossing me around. When am I going to get a meal cooked by you?”

Guan Yue smirked: “Heh, well, I guess you’ll just have to wait a while then.”

With that little interruption, by the time the hotpot was ready, everyone gathered to eat. The atmosphere improved significantly.

Deng Weimin and Xu Hua’an were seated far apart, not exchanging a word over dinner. Everyone ate quickly and quietly before making their way home.

On the way back, Deng Weimin sighed: “It’s all fate, isn’t it?”

After seeing Guan Yue’s prescription and then taking pulses for two other patients, he finally understood why Guan Yue prescribed the way he did. If it were him, he would never have done it like that.

Once again feeling regretful, he thought how fortunate it would have been if such a talented disciple had been part of the Deng family.

Before Xu Hua’an arrived, he had been Guan Yue’s teacher, feeling quite self-satisfied in that role. Today, seeing Xu Hua’an—someone who was the genuine teacher—made him wonder what sort of teacher he was.

Deng Baishu tried to cheer him up: “Dad, don’t be discouraged. I’ll study hard with Guan Yue. If she’s first, I’ll be second, that’s fine too.”

“Well, you better put in the effort!”

Deng Weimin had originally arranged for Deng Baishu to work as an assistant for Guan Yue, and he had made the effort to come here himself from the beginning with that in mind. It wasn’t favoritism toward his own son—his other disciples were all too proud and couldn’t lower themselves to learn under someone like Guan Yue. Only Baishu was thick-skinned enough to stick with it.

From that day forward, Xu Hua’an and his group settled on Xiaoqing Mountain, staying put because they weren’t allowed to roam freely. Aside from Guan Yue, Gu Sui, and Sir Zhang, no one else knew that four people from Hong Kong were living on the mountain.

For meals, their first day was spent eating in the cafeteria. After that, Xu Hua’an took over cooking while Cai Jin helped out.

Only then did Zhang Mingrui and his wife realize that Xu Hua’an had a good culinary talent.

Xu Hua’an laughed: “Being Guan Yue’s teacher isn’t just about medical skills—it’s also my cooking.”

Cai Jin smiled silently. She knew better than to let that comment slip. Otherwise, Old Deng would be furious.

---

Every morning, before going to the rehabilitation clinic, Guan Yue would visit Xiaoqing Mountain to take pulses and perform acupuncture on Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui.

Only after finishing with them would she go down the mountain to the clinic.

Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui felt better and better every day, a joy that radiated from their faces and made life seem full of hope.

For someone like Cai Jin, a wealthy wife, seeing her husband get better by the day while she prepared meals and took care of him, it brought a smile to her face every day.

Zhang Mingrui would rub her newly trimmed nails: “Come with me for a moment, thank you for your hard work.”

Cai Jin shook her head: “No trouble at all. Seeing you well makes me happy to do anything.”

Zhang Mingrui remarked: “It’s already been a week; we’ll be heading back soon.”

“Mm.”

Guan Yue was busy in the morning seeing patients, then went home for lunch. In the afternoon, she took a nap, read medical texts, or prepared medicines. Life was still as carefree as it had always been.

That day, after a nap, Guan Yue woke up, lying on the bed to gather her bearings.

“Arf arf~”

Guan Yue got up to see what was going on. Down below the treehouse, Gou Sheng was howling up at her.

“Arf~”

Guan Yue took a closer look and saw another smaller figure beside him.

Using her powers, she extended a vine to lift Gou Sheng and the pup up.

Recognizing the familiar tree vines, Gou Sheng didn’t run away but stood there waiting.

Once they reached the treehouse, Gou Sheng circled around Guan Yue, rubbed against her, and then ran over to the pup. He nudged it gently with his nose, then looked back at Guan Yue.

The pup was a little bigger than when Guan Yue had found Gou Sheng, but its legs were still weak. It stumbled and rolled over when nudged, whining pitifully, but couldn’t get up.

Guan Yue picked up the pup and held it in her hands. Gou Sheng immediately came over to nuzzle her.

Guan Yue asked: “Is it its legs?”

Gou Sheng made a low, mournful sound, as if he understood her, his ears drooping.

“Don’t worry, I’ll check it out.”

Holding the pup’s paw, her powers scanned the pup and she found that both front joints were not aligned, as though they were crooked.

Had it been hurt at birth and then healed on its own?

After a second check, she told Gou Sheng: “This pup is yours, isn’t it? Its legs are not right. I’ll need to fix its bones. Once they’re healed, it should be able to walk.”

Gou Sheng gave a low whine, looking up at Guan Yue with a subdued expression.

Guan Yue said: “If you’re not opposed, I’ll take it as your consent.”

Gou Sheng’er stood there without moving.

Guan Yue prepared the wooden splints and cloth to carefully align the crooked bones of the pup’s legs. The pup struggled, howling in pain.

Guan Yue bound its legs, saying: “Hold on a moment, I’ll give you some painkillers soon.”

Gou Sheng’er was licking the pup non-stop, trying to soothe it. The pup continued to cry, almost snapping at Guan Yue’s hand.

After securing the pup’s legs, Guan Yue went inside to find some painkillers and sprinkled them into the pup’s mouth. After a while, the pup finally stopped struggling.

“Just stay here for a few days until your legs are better, then you can come back and take it away.”

Gou Sheng’er gave a low howl, walking off to the side, then turned back to look at Guan Yue.

Guan Yue used a vine to lower Gou Sheng safely down from the tree.

---

In the evening, when Guan Yue returned for dinner, she was holding the pup in her arms.

Gu Sui immediately recognized it as a wolf cub.

Guan Yue explained: “I think it’s Gou Sheng’er’s son. Its legs are a little crooked, so I’ll keep it here for a couple of days.”

Gu Sui chuckled lightly: “So smart already? Knows to come to you for help? Gou Sheng’er is practically becoming a spirit.”

Guan Yue rubbed the pup’s back: “It’s easier to hold when they’re this young, so soft and fluffy.”

Gu Sui teased: “Just don’t bring it down the mountain—don’t want to scare anyone.”

“Mm, I’ll keep it up here on the mountain.”

The soft little wolf cub didn’t scare anyone, but the people outside did—the staff at the clinic were startled when a group of people approached the valley entrance in the morning, guns in hand, trying to force their way in.

“Everyone, get back! We suspect this clinic is harboring enemy agents. Cooperate with us on this investigation.”

One of the younger men swaggered forward, showing off, and fired a shot into the air. The nurses and doctors were so frightened that they quickly led the patients into hiding.

Wang Tiejun’s face flushed with anger—how dare someone fire a gun right at their doorstep? It was clear they weren’t taking them seriously at all.

The logistics staff of the clinic, along with the patients, were all from the front lines. Did they really think they could scare them with just a gunshot? They were dreaming!

Wang Tiejun exchanged glances with a few others and, while the young men were preoccupied, they tackled the three with guns, disarming them and quickly immobilizing their arms.

“Resisting arrest and assaulting officers—take them all in.”

Li Dingbang and Xiao Ma burst onto the scene, their usual smiling faces gone. Li Dingbang’s expression turned dark. “Let’s see who catches who today!”

Xiao Ma urged: “Brothers, take them down!”

A flurry of “ouch” and “ah” filled the air. The ones who had once felt invincible with guns in hand were now quickly restrained and tied up.

Li Dingbang ordered: “Take them down for questioning—where are they from?”

Xiao Ma replied: “Yes, Minister!”

---

Up on the mountain, Xu Hua’an and his group heard the gunshot and exchanged a worried look—what was going on?

A moment later, Deng Baishu ran up, panting. “It’s nothing, just an accidental discharge.”

Guan Yue glanced briefly at Deng Baishu and said: “Got it. What about the medicine for today?”

“Oh, I forgot. I’ll go get it now.”

With that, Deng Baishu dashed off again.

Xu Huaping chuckled: “At first, I was worried, but then I thought—this place is deep in the southwestern heartland. It’s as safe as it gets here.”

Xu Hua’an nodded: “True, life might be tough right now, but a peaceful life is still a good one.”

Guan Yue reassured: “Don’t worry, it’ll get better.”

After finishing her rounds, Guan Yue headed down the mountain to the clinic.

From Deng Baishu’s expression earlier, she didn’t buy the accidental discharge story.