Qin Liusi changed into a new attire and boarded a carriage, departing from the mansion and leaving the city. As she lifted the curtain of the carriage, she gazed at the lush greenery of the distant mountains and let out a sigh.
In just three short days, she felt stifled to the point of depression. Indeed, she was not well-suited for communal living.
"It's as if the young master has escaped a great calamity," Chenpi chuckled as he sat on the carriage shaft, listening to the sighs from within.
At this moment, Qin Liusi, in the eyes of others, appeared as a young nobleman. And in this guise, Chenpi and the others spontaneously addressed her as "young master."
Qin Liusi lazily reclined in the carriage, nibbling on a piece of candied fruit, and mumbled, "Your young master certainly thinks so."
She was considering whether to stay in the Taoist temple for a few days to seek some peace and quiet.
Chenpi chuckled softly.
Qingping Temple was just on the outskirts of the city, and the journey took only about two hours by carriage. If traveling on a fast horse, it would take just over an hour to arrive.
At that time, in one of the guest rooms of the temple, a servant carried a plate of fresh wild fruits inside and presented it to the young man sitting on the cushion.
"Master, it has been three days. Are we just going to wait here?" The servant asked, holding a fruit still moist with dew. "Should we have the Fire Wolf capture the Taoist priests here, and employ some severe methods to compel them to reveal the whereabouts of the physician?"
Taking a fruit with water droplets still clinging to it, Qi Qian glanced at him sideways and said, "Since when did you become so impatient? Bind the Taoist priests? Do you dare say such a thing?"
Ying Nan knelt in front, saying, "Subordinate is just anxious. These Taoist priests are unyielding, attributing everything to fate. Subordinate has grown impatient. If they truly have compassion, they should see our sincere request for medical assistance and tell us where the physician is."
He was an atheist, not believing in Taoism or Buddhism. Especially after following his master for so long, he was even more disdainful of these intangible things. In his view, strength and power were paramount.
For example, these Taoist priests. Bind them, and with some coercion, they couldn't reveal the physician?
"Master, are you perhaps believing in some sort of karma or retribution?" Qi Qian took a bite of the fruit and said, "I don't believe in karma or retribution. I'm just afraid of inadvertently offending that physician."
Ying Nan was stunned for a moment. Even the master was afraid of offending a mere physician?
Qi Qian looked at him and said, "Medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin. Those who can heal can also harm. Offend them, and they can change the ingredients of your medicine, or mistakenly puncture an acupuncture point, putting you in mortal danger."
"He dares!"
"Whether he dares or not, a true skilled physician is someone you'd rather befriend than offend. In this world, let alone you and me, who doesn't have some minor ailments? Making friends with a truly skilled physician is always beneficial." Qi Qian lowered his gaze. "We are here to seek medical treatment, not to make enemies."
Ying Nan's face was a little bitter as he said, "Subordinate has been shallow."
Qi Qian said, "Wait a little longer. The Taoist priest said that the person will appear in the next few days. Maybe good news from the north will also come to the city. If we still don't see any signs, we'll make other plans."
The key was that Gu Sheng had said that this physician was peculiar, and could only be appeased, not offended. Otherwise, even if you had millions of wealth, they wouldn't treat you if they didn't want to.
If this person could truly cure his grandmother's long-standing ailment, what harm was there in waiting?
"Yes."
"Master." The Fire Wolf hurriedly arrived, his face filled with joy. "That person has appeared."
Qi Qian stood up abruptly. "Really?"
"Just like the portrait, and I saw her treating someone," the Fire Wolf reported.
Qi Qian immediately walked out. "Lead the way ahead."