The two of them followed the chubby boy for about ten minutes, and from far away, they could see a huge sign with the character for "medicine" on it. As they approached, they could read the plaque above clearly - "Bai Cao Tang" (Herbal Hall).
"This is my home. Remember to come back tomorrow to repay me!" Without inviting the two of them inside, he went into the house.
"Xiao Shou, let's go back. It's been over an hour already. Tomorrow morning, I'll come back to repay him."
"No rush. Judging by that chubby guy's personality, he wouldn't fail to invite us in to have a look. So there must be something fishy inside. Let's go in and see what secrets this chubby boy is hiding!" With that, they pushed the door and entered Bai Cao Tang.
Inside Bai Cao Tang, the first thing Qi Shou noticed was a medicine cabinet directly facing the door. In the hall, there was a table where a half-naked boy was being treated with acupuncture by a middle-aged man. The chubby boy and another boy were sitting at a table near the main entrance. When the chubby boy and the boy next to him heard the sound, they put down the sticky bean buns they were about to eat and looked over.
"Chubby, why didn't you introduce us? Are these your friends?" Qi Shou asked.
"Who let you guys in? Didn't I say come back tomorrow to repay the money? It's not allowed for outsiders to be here when acupuncture is being performed. You better leave now." Lu Xin Sen stood up ready to kick them out.
"Chubby, your family runs a clinic, can't I come for medical treatment?" Hearing this, Lu Xin Sen hesitated, but considering that Qi Shou was still here despite his earlier warning, he reluctantly decided to continue driving them away.
"Xin Sen, it's okay. Since they've come for medical treatment, we shouldn't let my matter affect Uncle's business. Besides, if you drive them away again, after Yu Yu and I leave, you'll have to bear Uncle's punishment!" The half-naked boy spoke up.
"Xin Sen is sensible! I've told you before, remember what I said. If you miss a word, you'll have to go hungry for dinner this week!" The middle-aged man said as he continued with the acupuncture.
"You've memorized it well, but it's only in your mind, not in your heart. So you won't be having dinner this week! Don't feel wronged; you just didn't seize the first opportunity. It's not your father being cruel!"
Lu Xin Sen just nodded towards his father's back and didn't say another word. The boy next to him continued eating his bean bun while watching the drama unfold. After more than ten minutes, the boy's treatment finally ended. He turned around and looked at Qi Shou and Fu Gui sitting by the door.
"In the world, there are such spirited youths, truly unprecedented!" Qi Shou couldn't help but exclaim.
"Hello, I'm Chi Shui Shen. The one who hasn't spoken is Tian Yu Yu. You already know the chubby boy's name! You've seen how much the adults like me. It's not just because I'm the youngest among them! So, do you want to follow me as the leader? I can teach you how to please the adults. Then your young master will treat you better in the future, and you won't have to do so many menial tasks." The boy smiled and said to Qi Shou.
"I'm Qi Shou, not Xiao Shu Tong. And I'm not curious about your skill of pleasing people. If there's one thing I'm curious about you, it's why someone with such appearance has to wear a half-mask." When Qi Shou revealed his name, the hand of the middle-aged man who was arranging the silver needles also hesitated for a moment. But when the last question was asked, everyone except Qi Shou and Fu Gui looked at Shui Shen together. The flow of time seemed to slow down at that moment.
"Do you really want to see?"
"Of course!"
"I won't take responsibility if you're scared!" With that, Shui Shen took off the mask on his left face.
Qi Shou's words froze in his throat. How could he describe this face? When both divine love and hate, light and darkness concentrate on one person, it's the greatest fortune and curse. The right side was the epitome of beauty, while the left was the epitome of ugliness. The skin color on each side was the opposite; one healthy white, the other sickly purple-black. The pupil on the left was red, with gray-white cracks interwoven around it like threads. Even more terrifying, the blood vessels on the face were trembling rhythmically with the flow of blood. A strong feeling of nausea surged within Qi Shou's body.
"Scared, little Xiao Shu Tong?" Shui Shen said after putting the mask back on.
"Don't you feel sad? If your left and right faces were the same, you'd be the dream lover of every woman in the empire!"
"I'm not sad. I have family and friends. And Uncle said my condition can be cured! It was Uncle who helped me force the fire poison into my left face so I could survive. So whether it can be cured or not isn't as important to me as you think."
"Shui Shen, what Uncle says will definitely come true. In another two years, your face will be restored to its original state!"
"Shui Shen, you sure talk a lot with this kid! Did Xin Sen buy those bean buns for nothing? Finish eating quickly; let's go home!" This was Yu Yu's first sentence tonight.
"Yu Yu, you won't win Wan Er's favor like this! I think you should be as lively as her! Let's take these bean buns home to eat. Your house is just across from Xin Sen's. I still have over ten minutes to walk! I'll go first!" With that, Shui Shen ran out.
"Uncle Lu, Yu Yu is also taking his leave. Sorry for the trouble today!"
"Yu Yu is always so polite, mature beyond his years! Hurry up and come out to escort me home! Uncle won't scold Xin Sen!" Shui Shen's voice came from outside.
Watching Yu Yu run out, Lu Yunqi also showed a kind smile. His son's two friends were really good! Shui Shen was optimistic and indifferent, while Yu Yu was mature and stable. As for his own son? Careless yet talented.
"May I ask who's here for treatment?" Lu Yunqi asked Qi Shou and Fu Gui.
"Sir, it's me," Qi Shou said as he extended his wrist.
"Prince Qi, what a pleasant surprise. In this remote county in the Northern Frontier, to encounter one of the most important youths of the empire is truly unexpected!"
"Second Master Lu of the Lu Family, the renowned physician of the empire. I never expected to meet you here!" This attendant handed over an external medicine. It can make the intermittent smell on your body disappear, but excessive use can harm your liver and kidneys. Be cautious with the dosage!"