Since Ranran had never been like this before, Qiao lian was terrified and hurriedly sought a doctor at their temporary lodging. However, the doctor said that Ranran's pulse was so weak that it was barely detectable. She was likely nearing the end of her life, so he advised the couple to prepare for the worst.
After saying this, the doctor didn't even take the consultation fee and left in a hurry.
Poor Ranran who had also heard the doctor's words, actually comforted her parents with a smile, "Father and Mother, please don't be grieved, my illness had always...been a burden to you, and if I were to pass this way, you can be relieved. My life has been…..there has been nothing bad, with you as my parents, I am very contented."
The couple, helpless, watched their daughter trying to comfort them and cried in agony. At that moment, Qiao lian suddenly remembered the faceless immortal's prediction that their daughter did not have long to live.
Although she had not taken it seriously at the time, she now grasped at it like a lifeline. They had been traveling for two days and had just arrived in Yongcheng. The couple hurriedly asked the locals for directions to the western mountains. The local said, that's fortunate, the western mountains is not far from where they are, and there indeed lives an immortal and divine doctor named Su Yishui.
Hearing this, Qiao lian completely let go of any doubt and rushed with her husband to the western mountains in their donkey cart. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Qiao lian was ready to carry her daughter up the steep path. She saw the veiled immortal Su standing in a pavilion below, as if waiting for someone.
Qiao lian couldn't care less about his frightening appearance, she rushed over and kowtowed to beg the divine doctor to save her daughter's life.
Su Yishui came over, looked at Ranran lying in the donkey cart, took out a porcelain bottle, and had Qiao lian pour its contents into Ranran's mouth. In a short while, Ranran's waxen face gained a hint of color, as if a wilted flower had absorbed water and regained some vitality.
Master Su was indeed a divine doctor, and despite his ugly appearance, they were still grateful.
Ranran found the water very sweet. Once she regained her breath she asked "What medicine is this?"
Su Yishui, through his veil, said mildly, "It's water soaked with tree roots."
Ranran had wanted to sound out the prescription, but who would have thought that the divine doctor was so cunning, giving such a superficial answer.
Master Su stated that taking medicine only treated the symptoms and not the root cause. For Ranran to be healthy again, she had to stay behind. Given Ranran's condition, the couple was desperate and saw this as a ray of hope. However, they couldn't agree to leave their beloved daughter behind.
Ranran is also sixteen now, and they had to be cautious about gender boundaries. They are willing to stay as well, offering to work as servants without pay to thank the divine doctor and accompany their daughter during her illness.
Unfortunately, Master Su was very business-like, saying he preferred peace and quiet and didn't want outsiders staying on the mountain. They are free to leave with their daughter if they wished, but they had to leave a tael of gold as the fee for the treatment just now.
Qiao lian was dumbfounded, having never heard of such an outrageous consultation fee. Was the divine doctor trying to charge exorbitant prices? Su Yishui seemed uninterested to argue with the woman from the village. Without mentioning the fee again, he turned and went up the mountain.
Qiao lian, seeing him leave, immediately followed, calling out urgently. However, the divine doctor, was swift as the wind and disappeared in a moment.
Xue Lian gui, stopping Qiaolian, said softly, "Don't shout anymore. You've already angered him. Look at his old robe, washed pale without color. He must be struggling to make ends meet, so he wanted to charge more now that there is finally a consultation."
Qiao lian slapped her hand in frustration, "Don't you think I know that. But the price was too outrageous. There should have been room for negotiation. Why did he leave without a word?"
Qiao lian wanted to go up the mountain, but for some reason, she couldn't find her way in.
Eventually, they could only take their daughter back to the inn where they had stayed.
The innkeeper told them that only the nobles and wealthy could afford to seek medical treatment on **Xishan. Master Su was also very particular about who he treats. He only treats three patients a year regardless of their condition, each consultant at a fee of a hundred taels of gold.
**western mountains will be refereed to as XiShan from this point forth
Qiao lian was dumbfounded and asked if anyone would really seek his treatment at such a sky-high price. Wasn't that just throwing money away?
But the innkeeper looked at her as if she were a country bumpkin and said, "No one? There's a mad scramble for it! Gold has a price, but a divine doctor is priceless. If you don't believe me, tomorrow is the day he treats patients this year. You'll see for yourselves. It's a rare kindness that he made an exception to treat your daughter for only a tael of gold! This is an incredible act of benevolence. "
Qiao lian, being mocked by the innkeeper, felt uneasy. The next day, they hurried to Xishan again on their donkey cart.
But this time, they couldn't even get close to the mountain. The road and bridges at the foot of the mountain were blocked by all kinds of luxurious carriages.
It was said that many nobles and dignitaries had come to seek medical treatment, and just comparing their backgrounds and wealth, many had already been pushed out of the queue.
This time, only the burly man Yu Chen, who followed the faceless man, came down the mountain. He looked at a stack of visiting cards, seemed to randomly select three, announced the names and dispersed everyone else.
This upset those who weren't selected. One of the richly dressed servants huffed, "My Master is the son of the current Prime Minister Lin. Why did you choose some small officials to treat and neglected my master?"
Yu Chen sternly replied, "My Master treats illness based on the virtue of the patient. If the patient is a deceitful and wicked person, even the best medical skills can't cure them."
As Prime Minister Lin was notoriously corrupt and had framed many loyal officials, this statement quelled the anger of those who didn't get selected. Regardless, it was clear that Master Su was uncompromising, not sparing any face for the powerful elites.
The servant of the Lin family was furious. Coming from the capital, he had quite a temper. Upon hearing these disparaging words from an uncouth nobody about an esteemed official , he reached out to grab Yu Chen. But before his hand could touch Yu Chen, his clothes shone with a golden light, and the servant howled in pain, rolling on the ground.
It was said that Master Su was an immortal who had cultivated on the mountain, and even his two servants had received some celestial favor and were not ordinary people.
After demonstrating his supernatural powers, Yu Chen turned and ascended the mountain.
Those he named could freely go up, but others who wanted to climb the mountain were blocked by an invisible barrier.
This spectacle completely intimidated first-time seekers of medical treatment. The son of the Prime Minister, who was in a sedan chair, also reprimanded his servant, implying that they should not disrespect the immortal and return next time even if they failed this time.
It seemed that Master Su's medical skills were indeed extraordinary, as even the Prime Minister's son did not dare to offend him.
Observing from afar and hearing the crowd's discussions, Qiao lian was thoroughly convinced. She now realized how invaluable the opportunity to consult this divine doctor was.
Seeing her daughter's spirit waning again the next morning, Qiao lian was already desperate enough to sell herself to save her daughter, wanting to kneel and beg the divine doctor once more.
After the crowd had dispersed, she eagerly led her daughter to the mountain, but upon reaching the foot, it was as if the mountain was covered by a dome and they couldn't enter.
After several attempts and as dusk approached, Ranran couldn't bear it any longer and stepped off the cart to try to walk a few steps forward. She easily entered the mountain.
Seeing her parents are unable to follow, Ranran said, "Mother, stay with Father at the foot of the mountain. I'll be back soon."
Qiao lian had never let her daughter out of her sight, let alone on such a mysterious mountain. How could she be at ease letting her go alone?
But Ranran smiled and said, "If those masters wanted to detain me, neither Father nor Mother could stop them. I don't think Master Su is a bad person. We've already offended him, and it's a special favor that he's allowing me to go up the mountain. Please don't worry, Mother. I'll be back soon."
Qiao lian knew that her daughter, although physically weak, had always been perceptive. Moreover, her words made sense.
Seeing Ranran's cheeks, which had turned rosy after taking the medicine yesterday, had turned waxen again today, Qiao lian felt helpless. She could only hope for the best and let her daughter go up the mountain first.
So Ranran bid farewell to her mother and went up the mountain alone.
Strangely, after entering the mountain, Ranran's feeble body felt much lighter. Her chest, which had been stuffy, also breathed more freely. It was as if a fish trapped in a net was released back into the water, feeling indescribably comfortable.
She took a few deep breaths and then, lifting her skirt, followed the winding mountain path and began going up.
This mountain was different from Juefeng Mountain, with lush greenery everywhere, making it a refreshing sight.
Although there were many forks on the mountain, Ranran walked more and more as if in a trance, as if she had walked on this same path in a dream before. She actually did not take any wrong turn and smoothly reached the top of the mountain.
Upon reaching the top and seeing the dilapidated houses built against the cliffs, Ranran understood why the seemingly transcendent Master Su had to persist to earn more money – maintaining and rebuilding these old houses on the high mountain would indeed require a lot of gold and silver.
However, looking at the neglected and unimpressive courtyard, it was hard to tell where Master Su's money had gone.
Yu Tong, the woman with thick brows, was already waiting in front of the courtyard. Seeing Ranran, she said, "The Master is treating patients right now. You can wait in the east room."
After that, she led Ranran to a house adjacent to a garden.
Ranran, who had grown up in a village, had never been in any grand houses. From the cobweb-covered beams and corners, she could tell that this house was once exquisitely and elegantly built. Even the old curtains hanging by the windows had been made of fine silks and fabrics.
Even the wealthy Master Ding would have been reluctant to use such refined fabric for clothes!
Unfortunately, these fabrics were too old, severely faded, and exuded an air of decay. Although the floor and table were regularly cleaned, it was evident that maintaining so many houses on the mountain with just three people was a bit overwhelming.
Compared to the dilapidated house, the cakes on the table were truly attractive, looking like delicate cherry blossoms in bloom.
Ranran's stomach was already growling with hunger and she felt like eating the cakes. But she didn't dare to touch them and could only stare longingly.
Yu Tong kindly reminded her, "…My master has abstained from food for a long time. My brother and I, although we haven't reached the realm of immortals, also try to eat only one meal a day. These cakes are made of wax and can't be eaten. They're just placed here to fill the space on the table."
Ranran nodded in admiration. Clearly, Yu Tong, the housekeeper, was frugal with money but also had some elegant pursuits. If there were any visitors to the mountain, placing a plate of wax cakes could also save face.