Li Xue gasped as her eyes fell on the emblem. “The Crown Prince’s insignia! Does that an he tried to have us killed?”
Jin Shu studied the insignia in his hand, his expression calm. “Unlikely.”
“What do you an? This is the Crown Prince’s insignia, isn’t it?”
“It is,” he replied, “but think about it—what kind of assassins would carry their employer’s insignia? It’s practically a death warrant if they fail. Besides, he still needs … or rather, my mother. Killing would work against his goals.”
Li Xue frowned, her confusion deepening. “So if it wasn’t the Crown Prince, then who?”
Jin Shu shrugged nonchalantly. “Your guess is as good as mine. Though,” he added, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, “it could still be him.”
“Wait, what? But you just said—”
“He might’ve ordered them to carry the insignia so that if it was found, he could claim it on another prince's planting,” Jin Shu interrupted smoothly.
“So… it was the Crown Prince?” Li Xue asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
“Who knows?” Jin Shu tucked away the insignia in a corner of his earring. “And frankly, I don’t care. I’ve got more important things to worry about—like getting ho and healing my friend.”
***
By the ti Jin Shu and his companions arrived at Black Mountain City, the sun had long since set. The assassins’ attack had delayed them, and now the city gates lood before them, sealed so tightly not even a whisper of wind could slip through.
As they approached, a voice called out from the ramparts above. “Who goes there?” The sound echoed into the stillness of the night.
Jin Shu raised his head, squinting at the figure partially illuminated by torchlight atop the wall. “I am Jin Shu of the Jin family. I have urgent business. Would you open the side door?”
The figure hesitated, then called back, “Jin Shu, you say? Hold on.”
Monts later, a small slot in the iron door beside the main gate slid open, revealing a pair of scrutinizing eyes. “Are you truly Young Master Jin?” ca a voice from behind the door.
Jin Shu smiled faintly and stepped into the light cast by a nearby torch embedded in the wall. “Last I checked, I am still the young master of the Jin family.” His tone carried a hint of humor.
“Ah, it is you, Young Master Jin!” the voice exclaid.
The iron door groaned as it swung open, and a burly guardsman erged, bowing slightly. “Please, co inside, Young Master Jin.”
Jin Shu nodded and gestured for his companions to follow. They stepped through the narrow doorway and into the city, the heavy door creaking shut behind them. The oppressive silence of the night faded, replaced by the muted sounds of life within Black Mountain City’s walls.
Jin Shu’s first instinct was to imdiately take Dr. Chi to treat Fan Biyu. But as he glanced back at his companions, their weary, drooping eyes reminded him of the day’s trials. They needed rest. With a sigh, he relented.
“Let’s head to my ho and rest for the night,” he said.
Li Xue and Dr. Chi gave him silent nods of agreent.
The group arrived at Jin Shu’s residence without incident. He ensured everyone was settled before retiring for the night himself.
The next morning, they rose early and shared a quick breakfast. Jin Shu and Dr. Chi then set out for Dr. Bai’s courtyard to begin Fan Biyu’s treatnt.
As they stepped into the treatnt room, they found Dr. Bai already examining Fan Biyu. He straightened as they entered.
“Young Master Jin,” Dr. Bai greeted, his tone grave, “your friend remains in a coma with no signs of waking.” His gaze shifted to the unfamiliar face beside Jin Shu. “And this is?”
“This is Dr. Chi, a Divine Physician,” Jin Shu introduced. “He’s here to treat Fan Biyu.”
Dr. Bai’s brows lifted in surprise. “A Divine Physician? I didn’t expect you to find one so quickly. It’s an honor to et you, Dr. Chi.”
“Hm.” Dr. Chi acknowledged him with a curt nod before stepping past to examine Fan Biyu himself.
The room fell silent, save for the faint rustle of fabric as Dr. Chi worked. Seconds stretched into minutes as Jin Shu watched anxiously. Finally, Dr. Chi turned to face him.
“Her condition is severe,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But treatable.”
Jin Shu felt a surge of relief. “Then please, treat her. Is there anything you need?”
“Just a quiet environnt,” Dr. Chi replied simply.
“Okay, then we’ll leave you to it,” Jin Shu said, turning to leave.
“You can stay, young man. Just have everyone else leave,” Dr. Chi added without looking up.
“Uh…” Jin Shu hesitated, then gave Dr. Bai an apologetic smile.
Dr. Bai returned the gesture with a nod and quietly exited the room. Jin Shu moved closer to Fan Biyu’s bedside, settling into a chair opposite Dr. Chi.
“I didn’t take you for a player, young man,” Dr. Chi said with a light chuckle, his hands deftly unpacking his dical instrunts.
“Huh?” Jin Shu blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected comnt.
Dr. Chi’s smile widened. “Don’t play coy. You’ve got this little sleeping beauty here and the General’s daughter tagging along. Quite the entourage.”
Jin Shu frowned slightly, his tone calm but firm. “Fan Biyu is my mother’s disciple and a close friend. As for Li Xue…” He paused, then continued, “let’s just say I’m doing a favor for a man I respect.”
Dr. Chi let out a soft hum, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Jin Shu. “If you say so,” he replied, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
Jin Shu felt a headache coming on as his right eyelid twitched. “Didn’t you say you needed a quiet environnt? Just go ahead and ignore , then.”
Dr. Chi chuckled softly but didn’t respond. As Jin Shu watched him unpack his instrunts, he couldn’t help but notice how oddly familiar they looked. Though powered by qi rather than electricity, they bore a striking resemblance to modern dical tools.
When Dr. Chi retrieved a stethoscope, Jin Shu couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “Is that called a stethoscope?”
Dr. Chi’s head snapped up, his sharp gaze locking onto Jin Shu. “How… do you know its na?”
Jin Shu hesitated before offering a quick excuse. “Uh… I read about it in a book once.” He couldn’t exactly explain his knowledge ca from mories of another world. “Is it strange that I know its na?”
“Hm, not strange,” Dr. Chi muttered, his tone thoughtful, “but definitely uncommon.”
He said no more, returning his focus to setting up the instrunts.
***
The treatnt began with Dr. Chi placing his fingers on Fan Biyu’s wrist to check her pulse. Next, he placed a hand over her upper dantian, allowing his qi to flow into her body. Jin Shu watched as the old man picked up several unfamiliar instrunts, so of which he fiddled with, while others he positioned carefully on Fan Biyu’s body.
Hours passed in tense silence, broken only by the occasional faint clink of tools. A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Dr. Chi’s forehead as he worked.
Suddenly, he gasped. “Oh no!”
“What? What happened?” Jin Shu asked, alard.
“Her lungs are threatening to collapse,” Dr. Chi said hurriedly. “You need to place your mouth on hers and blow lightly to inflate them.”
“Lightly? Shouldn’t I blow harder?”
Dr. Chi’s brows furrowed in irritation. “Are you the doctor, or am I? Do as I say, boy!”
Jin Shu groaned but didn’t argue. Leaning down, he pressed his lips against Fan Biyu’s and blew gently.
What he failed to notice was the cheeky grin that montarily crossed Dr. Chi’s usually composed face.
As Jin Shu exhaled softly, Fan Biyu groaned faintly, her eyelids fluttering open. Jin Shu imdiately pulled back as her confused gaze focused on him.
“Were… were you kissing ?” she asked incredulously.
“No!” Jin Shu protested, waving his hands, his face heating. “I was helping with your treatnt. Right, Dr. Chi?” He turned to look at the physician for backup—only to find the man nowhere in sight.
The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by Fan Biyu’s faint groan as she tried to sit up. Jin Shu sighed, rubbing his temples. “That old man…” he muttered under his breath, already dreading the explanation he’d have to give.
He stepped forward and gently helped her into a sitting position. “I really wasn’t kissing you, I swear,” he said, his tone earnest.
Fan Biyu gave him a skeptical look, her brow slightly raised.
“How are you feeling?” Jin Shu asked quickly, eager to change the subject.
“Like shit… ah, I an, not well,” she corrected herself, her cheeks flushing as she realized her slip.
Jin Shu blinked, startled. This was the first ti he’d ever heard her swear. “L-let get the doctor to check on you,” he stamred, using the excuse to escape the awkwardness.
As he turned to leave, Dr. Bai appeared at the doorway. “Ah, Young Master Jin,” the older man greeted with a polite nod. “Dr. Chi has already left. He ntioned that Fan Biyu will need to rest for at least a week before she’s well enough to move. He also said his services are no longer required, so he’s heading back to the capital imdiately.”
Jin Shu gaped, stunned by the abrupt departure. “That old bastard…” he muttered as a full-blown headache settled in.
Dr. Bai’s eyebrows rose slightly as he gave Jin Shu a questioning look.
Realizing his slip, Jin Shu quickly apologized. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t an to say that out loud.”
Dr. Bai’s expression softened into a faint smile. “I suppose he left quite the impression,” he said mildly, stepping past Jin Shu to check on Fan Biyu.
Jin Shu sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. He could already tell the next few days were going to be exhausting.
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