Chapter 10: 第110章 怪医

Medicine Valley

“Knock, knock, knock—”

Walking alongside Feng Qianqing, Xin'er arrived at the Medicine Valley.

It was serene and elegant; a stretch of emerald lake lay before a wooden house, accompanied by the chirping of birds...

A cloth-clad old man opened the wooden door to find a man in red. He possessed sword-like brows and starry eyes, an excellent temperament, and a commanding presence. Between his brows, a regal air of a king was palpable. His cold eyes shimmered slightly with a trace of frantic panic, though he deliberately suppressed it.

Feng Qianqing raised his head slightly and tightened his hold on the girl in his arms. "Save her."

His voice trembled slightly, and that trace of panic transformed entirely into a burning, desperate gaze projected upon the cloth-clad old man.

Xin'er froze, lowering her head in silence, a sense of desolation and loss swelling in her heart...

"Drip..."

Blood slid down Feng Qianqing's arm, drop by drop, like a countdown to death...

"Young man, is this the attitude of one seeking medical help?" The old man slightly withdrew his smile, feigning anger. In truth, he saw through the entire scene; he held back his laughter, intentionally intending to toy with him.

The furrow in Feng Qianqing's brow deepened. After a long moment, his sincere gaze seemed as if it could pierce through the old man. "I beg you, save her."

The old man could tell how important this woman was to him. He stroked his beard. "Hahaha, young man! If a mere word of 'begging' were enough to move this old man, wouldn't my reputation as the Eccentric Doctor be for nothing?"

"You old geezer! What exactly do you want in exchange for saving her? Believe it or not, I'll kill you!" Xin'er's eyes burned with rage as she pressed a dagger against the old man's neck, the chill seeping into his skin.

The old man remained unbothered. Glancing at the dagger, he spoke to Xin'er with a mocking smirk, "Young lady, there are too many people in this world whom this Eccentric Doctor does not wish to save. Everyone holds a sharp blade to my throat, yet, am I not still standing here?"

Xin'er bit her lower lip and pressed the dagger upward. "You think I wouldn't dare!?"

The old man glanced sideways at Feng Qianqing. Those fierce eyes had not left him for a single moment; though angry, the anger could not hide the underlying urgency and sincerity.

This woman was truly important.

The old man retracted his gaze and grinned widely. "Young lady, if you kill me, I'm afraid the next one to die will be the one in those arms, and after that, it will be you." He paused, then looked at Feng Qianqing and asked, "Young man, am I right or not?"

Feng Qianqing's gaze gradually softened. He cast a brief glance at the person in his arms; her face was deathly pale and in extreme pain, with beads of cold sweat constantly seeping out. Feng Qianqing frowned, a dull ache throbbing in his heart.

"Xin'er, step back." Feng Qianqing looked at the old man again. "What must I do for you to agree to save her?"

The old man was in high spirits, his playful side emerging. "You—kneel down and beg me!" He stroked his beard, his face full of amusement.

"In your dreams!" Xin'er could not suppress her fury and stepped forward to rebuke him!

"Xin'er! Step back!" Feng Qianqing's gaze dropped, and bright red blood fell from his feet, drop by drop... His breathing was heavy. "Fine."

The old man laughed loudly three times, then turned to Feng Qianqing. "The world says that the Red-Robed Palace Master, Feng Qianqing, is bloodthirsty, cruel, and heartless. But seeing you today, are you actually a man of passion and righteousness, a romantic who would do anything for love?"

Feng Qianqing thought to himself that this man had keen eyes to have guessed his identity. Rumors said the Eccentric Doctor lived in isolation and ignored worldly affairs, but that wasn't entirely true.

"You know who I am?"

"Naturally. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you to kneel." The old man laughed triumphantly, looking utterly mischievous. The kneeling of the Red-Robed Palace Master was worth a thousand gold pieces.

Feng Qianqing naturally felt as though he was being toyed with, but as the body heat from his arms gradually grew cold, he could only swallow his pride.

With a muffled grunt, Feng Qianqing's burning gaze struck the old man's face as he bent one knee...

He finally understood why Chen Qimo would ever humble himself to beg.

Xin'er's nerves were taut. Aside from rage, there was an unspeakable bitterness in her heart. How could a man as proud as Feng Qianqing kneel for her?

Indeed, how mocking was it that the man she had cherished bitterly for seven years would kneel for another woman?

"That's enough," the old man's strong, vigorous hand reached out. Before Feng Qianqing could fully kneel, he was helped up. "Bring her inside!"

Feng Qianqing felt a surge of surprise in his heart; as expected of the Eccentric Doctor.

Xin'er let out a long sigh of relief, wiped away her crystal tears, and followed them into the wooden house.