"What do you mean by staring at me like that?"
After finishing her story of encountering the divine doctor, Li Wuya saw her brother and sister both giving her a look that said, "Keep on making things up," radiating their disbelief.
Li Sanlang crossed his arms, "Divine doctors usually appear and disappear without a trace. Many have sought them in vain. How did you manage to meet one in the Tian Shan Mountains?"
Li Wuya stood with her hands on her hips, her chin lifted, and her left leg shaking slightly, "I guess I got lucky!"
Li Erya added, "Are divine doctors so eager to take on apprentices? Just encountering a child and making them a disciple?"
Li Wuya's confidence waned, "Didn't I say enough? I'm clever."
Li Sanlang and Li Erya exchanged a helpless glance. They really couldn't figure out where their younger sister's unwavering confidence came from.
Li Sanlang spoke up, "There are many clever people in the world. Compared to others who sought medical advice in the Tian Shan Mountains, why would a divine doctor choose you?"
Li Wuya's confidence dwindled further, feeling that her older siblings were too smart, "Maybe it's because I'm adorable?"
Looking at her younger sister, whose cheeks had rounded due to improved food, Li Sanlang and Li Erya were unusually speechless.
Li Sanlang fell silent for a moment, then walked over to Li Wuya, took her hand, and said with a touch of dejection, "Wuya, it's big brother's fault."
"As the eldest son of the family, I should share the worries of our parents and support my younger siblings. But I can't do anything. For some matters, I have to rely on you, Wuya."
"Now, I'm working at the horse ranch, and it's months before I can come back. I'm worried about the family. If anything is going on, you must tell me. Don't keep it from me."
Seeing Li Sanlang suddenly appeal to her emotionally, Li Wuya shivered and withdrew her hand, mumbling, "If there's anything, I won't hide it from you, big brother."
Li Sanlang looked at his empty hand for a moment, then smiled, patting Li Wuya's head, "Big brother believes you. But, honestly, Wuya, did the divine doctor really take you as an apprentice? And did he really give you that divine prescription?"
Li Wuya's mouth twitched.
Older brother, you've become quite crafty after three months away!
You're even trying to outsmart your own sister!
"Yes, the divine doctor did take me as his apprentice, and he did give me the divine prescription."
Li Sanlang looked at Li Wuya, and the two locked eyes in silence.
After a while, Li Sanlang somewhat defeatedly averted his gaze.
His little sister was just too clever. Now he couldn't even tell whether she was speaking the truth or not.
"Have fun with Qilang. I'll help Mother pack."
Watching Li Sanlang's retreating figure, Li Wuya smirked, satisfied.
Look at that, he thought he could manipulate her words!
Li Erya looked at Li Wuya, who was beaming with pride and approached her, whispering, "Wuya, you're the one who raised me. Whenever you pouted, I knew you needed to pee or poop. Are you sure you're telling the truth?"
Li Wuya's mouth twitched again, seeing Li Erya adopting a tone like the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, she blinked her innocent eyes, "Sister, I'm really telling the truth."
Unable to get anything more out of her sister, Li Erya had to reluctantly believe that her younger sister, through a stroke of good luck, had stumbled upon a divine doctor in the Tian Shan Mountains and then luckier still, became his apprentice.
"You go have fun with Qilang!"
Watching Li Erya leave, Li Wuya turned to Li Qilang, who was picking at his toes and shrugged helplessly.
She didn't want to lie, but her medical skills needed some kind of origin, and the divine doctor from the Tian Shan Mountains was the perfect scapegoat for being her 'master.'
Early the next morning, Li Sanlang borrowed an ox cart from the village head and, along with Jin Yue'e and his three younger siblings, set off for the Dieling Pass.
In recent years, Northern Yan had frequently provoked Da Chu and the battles at Dieling Pass had never ceased.
When Jin Yue'e and her children arrived, a battle at the pass had just concluded.
It was a military stronghold, and outsiders were not allowed in or out.
Li Sanlang reported Li Changsen's name to the guards and waited at the gate for nearly half an hour before finally seeing Li Changsen rush out of the gate.
"The head of the family!"
"Father!"
Seeing Jin Yue'e and her children, Li Changsen couldn't hide his delight on his face, "Why did you all come?"
As soon as they approached, Li Wuya caught a faint scent of blood on her father and sensed his condition with her spiritual power, immediately furrowing her brows.
Her father had wounds on his arms, back, and calves. These wounds were only roughly treated and were still bleeding.
"Dad, we missed you so much!"
While outside, even though they all missed Li Changsen greatly, Jin Yue'e, Li Sanlang, and Li Erya were more composed. However, Li Qilang had no such reservations. He ran towards Li Changsen and hugged him tightly.
Li Wuya clearly saw a fleeting expression of pain on her father's face, quickly masked, and hurriedly intervened by pulling Li Qilang aside, "Qilang, you're quite grown up now. Still hugging Dad, isn't that embarrassing?"
Li Qilang pouted, seeming a bit unwilling. But upon meeting Li Wuya's warning gaze, he could only stand there, looking deflated.
"Head of the family, are you okay here at Dieling Pass?"
"I'm fine, as you can see, nothing happened to me." Knowing that his wife and children had come, Li Changsen changed into clean clothes specifically to hide his injuries from his family.
Jin Yue'e understood that Li Changsen was trying to ease their worries, so she didn't press further. She led him to a grass shed by the city wall.
These sheds were intentionally built, providing a place for the guards and their families to rest, as well as a place for communication.
"This is rabbit soup I made with blood mushrooms. Drink it while it's hot."
Jin Yue'e took a ceramic pot from Li Sanlang's hand, scooped a bowl of rabbit meat out quickly, and handed it to Li Changsen.
Li Changsen swallowed, the military camp's rations were decent, but they were just enough to fill the stomach. Meat was only served once every two weeks or so, and that was just a few slices of fatty meat.
"Where did you get the rabbit?"
Jin Yue'e smiled, "Your youngest daughter caught it." She then went on to talk about how their children had diligently practised martial arts over the past few months.
"Not only does martial arts have its benefits, but our family also has plenty of meat now. Besides this stewed rabbit, there are two roasted ones. You can take them back to enjoy later."
Li Changsen looked at his son and daughters in amazement. He had heard that Li Wuya and the others were now faster than horses, which astonished him.
Could it be that all four of his children were martial arts prodigies?
Seeing the plumpness on the faces of his wife and children, Li Changsen didn't hold back anymore and dug into the rabbit stew heartily.
Li Changsen had a large appetite, and he quickly devoured the rabbit, bones and all.
While he was talking with Jin Yue'e, Li Wuya walked over and kindly offered to give him a massage.
Li Changsen hesitated because of his injuries but, seeing his youngest daughter looking so filial, he endured the pain and allowed her to massage him.
With her spiritual power, Li Wuya surveyed Li Changsen's body and secretly healed his internal injuries. She didn't interfere much with the external injuries to avoid raising suspicions.
After massaging for nearly twenty minutes, Li Wuya stopped.
Li Changsen let out a sigh of relief, taking the water pouch that Li Qilang handed over and taking a gulp. However, his expression twisted immediately.
Li Qilang noticed and stood on his tiptoes, leaning into his father's ear, whispering about the source of the medicine. Li Changsen's eyes widened as he listened.
The divine doctor from the Tian Shan Mountains took Li Wuya as his apprentice?
And he actually gave her a divine prescription?
Was this for real?
Li Changsen looked to Jin Yue'e for confirmation.
Jin Yue'e helplessly looked at Li Wuya, "Your daughter said so, but whether it's true or not, I don't know. I've examined the medicinal ingredients she used, and they're harmless. You can rest assured to drink it."
Li Wuya turned her head away from her parents. Unless Old Man Chi personally debunked her claims, she was determined to play the role of the divine doctor's apprentice.
Um...
Ye Mo!
Li Wuya noticed Ye Mo limping out from the city gates.
Ye Mo also spotted Li Changsen's family and gave Li Wuya a glance. He then lowered his head and walked towards the grass shed at the far end of the city wall.
"Brother, I'll go check on him."
Li Sanlang observed Ye Mo for a moment and quietly advised, "Be careful."
"Don't worry, no one will notice me."
After saying this, Li Wuya skipped out of the grass shed.
Ye Mo emerged from the far end shed and saw Li Wuya playing with pebbles not far away. He hesitated for a moment and then entered the neighbouring shed.
Soon enough, Li Wuya entered the shed as well.
"Why did you all come?" he asked.
"Of course, we came to see my father." Li Wuya glanced at Ye Mo and noticed his injuries were worse than her father's. "Master, are you okay?"
Ye Mo smiled faintly, "Being alive is good."
Li Wuya fell silent for a moment, not pressing further. She smiled and said, "My siblings and I have all opened up our extraordinary meridians, and my lightness skill has also reached a small achievement. I can run to the foot of the Tian Shan Mountains in just two hours."
Hearing this, Ye Mo burst into laughter, "Little girl, are you trying to console me?"
Li Wuya was momentarily puzzled. How was she consoling him?
Ye Mo chuckled, clearing her confusion, "Are you trying to make me aware, before I die, that my techniques have been passed on?"
Li Wuya was rendered speechless, "I'm telling the truth." She then glanced at the medicine bottle in his hand and continued, "Besides, are you going to die?"
For someone who was still trying to find ways to buy medicine for healing, she didn't believe he would die easily.
Ye Mo seemed to have concluded that Li Wuya was lying, and he shook his head in disagreement, "Little girl, it's okay to occasionally tell a white lie to live a better life. But going to the extent of not even blinking your eyes while lying is not good."
Considering the limited time he had been teaching them the internal technique, they couldn't have opened up their extraordinary meridians in such a short time.
And even if one of his four siblings was an unprecedented martial arts prodigy, it was a stretch to believe that all four of them had succeeded. Even having one of them open up the extraordinary meridians was an incredible feat, let alone all four. And their lightness skills were considered slightly accomplished.
This was definitely an overblown exaggeration.
Li Wuya was truly at a loss for words and decided not to say anything further. She walked up to Ye Mo and, without another word, grasped his wrist, quickly transferring some inner energy.
Sensing the energy, Ye Mo was astonished.
How was this possible?
"Your siblings, and your brother, have all opened up their extraordinary meridians?"
Seeing Ye Mo's incredulous look, Li Wuya nodded with a smile, "I told you before, we are martial arts prodigies. If you don't believe it, you can try them yourself now."
Ye Mo stared at Li Wuya for quite a while, confirming that she wasn't lying, and a look of bewilderment appeared on his face, "This shouldn't be possible."
Li Wuya affirmed, "There's nothing that should or shouldn't be. Some things you might just have not encountered before. By the way, Master, when I practice my lightness skill, I always feel slow."
Ye Mo interrupted her, "Did you really run to the foot of the Tian Shan Mountains in just two hours?"
Li Wuya hastily nodded and even raised her hand as if making a vow.
Ye Mo looked at her with a complex expression, then after a moment, he asked, "How do you usually practice your lightness skill?"
Li Wuya immediately explained her practice routine, how she jogged around the military camp, tied sandbags to her feet, and transferred her true qi to her legs.
After explaining, she even ran two circles within the shed.
Ye Mo's expression grew even more complicated after seeing this.
How could such haphazard and unstructured practice yield results? Were they truly prodigies or just lucky coincidences?
"Your steps are too heavy, and the circulation of true qi is not smooth. True lightness skill is not just about running fast; it's about walking on grass, floating on water, and walking on walls effortlessly."
Li Wuya nodded fervently, "Yes, yes, yes, I felt my body was heavy. Master, how should I practice then?"
Ye Mo stood up and proceeded to teach Li Wuya a set of footwork, "After you go back, practice according to this footwork and complement it with the internal technique. In a few years, you should see progress in your lightness skill."
Years? Did she need that much time?
She probably did.
Li Wuya's eyes sparkled with excitement. As Ye Mo was about to leave, she thought for a moment and said, "Master, I brewed some medicine for my father. Would you like to drink some too? Wait a moment, I'll get it for you."
Watching Li Wuya dash away, Ye Mo felt a certain restlessness in his heart.
Could it be that he casually accepted apprentices and ended up with four martial arts prodigies?
Soon enough, Li Wuya returned with a water pouch in hand.
Ye Mo took the pouch but frowned disapprovingly, "What is this? It smells odd!"
Li Wuya mysteriously said, "This is something good."
Ye Mo looked at her and then opened the pouch, sniffing before his nose, "Is this medicine?"
Li Wuya made an affirmative sound, "This is truly something good for you. Drinking it will be beneficial for your health. Please don't waste it."
"Are you alright? If you are, I'll go now." Holding the water pouch, Ye Mo left without looking back.
Back at the camp, Ye Mo didn't go to his own quarters but headed for the infirmary.
The infirmary was a spacious room filled with strong medicinal and bloody scents, along with the stifling sounds of pain.
Upon entering, Ye Mo walked directly to the corner bed.
On the bed lay a pale and thin middle-aged man. He seemed weak, and now he was struggling to breathe.
Ye Mo removed the bloody cloth from the man's body, revealing a gruesome wound on his chest. He swiftly took out the golden wound medicine he had just purchased and began applying it.
"Don't."
The man's voice stopped Ye Mo, "Don't waste the medicine."
Ye Mo paused briefly before continuing the treatment.
The man sighed, "It's useless. Even if the wound stops bleeding, I still won't survive. My injuries are not superficial, they're internal."
Seeing Ye Mo continue applying for medicine, the man chuckled bitterly, "You've saved me once or twice, can you keep saving me every time? On the battlefield, someone like me, a powerless scholar, can only wait for death."
Ye Mo didn't say anything, finishing the treatment and then bandaging the wound with the now bloodied cloth. He then looked at the man and said, "Zhao Jing, you told me that as long as there's a chance, one should strive to live."
"We were sent to Dieling Pass for a reason. Zhuang Yutang is an upright man, and we're now his soldiers. Those people can't reach us here. As long as we survive on the battlefield, we're safe. Hold on."
No one wanted to die. Zhao Jing looked at Ye Mo with determination in his eyes, and his nose felt a bit sour. After a moment, he slowly nodded, "Alright."
Just then, the sound of a military horn echoed through the camp.
Hearing it, Ye Mo left the medicine with Zhao Jing, instructing him to apply it as needed, and quickly left the sick room.
Zhao Jing noticed that Ye Mo had forgotten to take the water pouch and wanted to call him, but by the time he realized it, Ye Mo was already gone.