"You lost." Xia Yunting landed and reached out to grab Xue Ying.
"Careful!" Rong Zhi suddenly cried out, flashing to tackle Xia Yunting to the ground, rolling several times.
A loud bang echoed from not far away. Turning their heads, the two saw a shocking pit where Xia Yunting had been standing moments before.
Xue Ying, who had been lying on the ground, retracted his fist with a look of regret.
The two were startled as they got a clear look at Xue Ying's appearance.
Under the moonlight, Xue Ying was covered in blood. Due to multiple fractures, his body was bent at an unnatural angle. His left arm hung limply, while his right hand's five fingers splayed out in five directions. His legs were broken into several pieces, yet he was still able to attack.
"What kind of thing is this? Doesn't it feel pain?"
Rong Zhi's lips twitched. She and Xia Yunting retreated a couple more steps before standing up warily, ready to parry any blow.
However, Xue Ying did not attack again.
He looked at his blood-soaked body, then at Xia Yunting, who was largely unharmed. Suddenly, he burst into hearty laughter.
"This is exhilarating, truly exhilarating! I've never felt this exhilarated before, hahahaha..."
"He's a madman," Rong Zhi silently concluded.
Xia Yunting's expression was grave, his eyes fixed on Xue Ying, seemingly searching for an opening.
"You don't need to think about it. As you are now, you cannot defeat me. I'll keep you alive for some fun. We'll meet again."
Xue Ying smirked and suddenly vanished. His speed was so great that neither Rong Zhi nor Xia Yunting could discern how he moved.
"This person is truly terrifying," Rong Zhi felt her hair stand on end. She turned to Xia Yunting, "How are you? Are you injured?"
Xia Yunting shook his head. "His strength far surpasses mine."
He had only been testing him just now.
It seemed that completely eradicating the Blood Drinking Pavilion would not be so easy.
After the two returned, Chen Xing suddenly reported that someone from the yamen had come to deliver a message. Tang Yuanjiang, Zhu Zhong, Li Hao, and Yun Heng, who were imprisoned, were missing. There were no signs of escape, as if they had vanished into thin air.
Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting exchanged glances; they already had an answer in their hearts.
Xue Ying was showing off his power.
However, his move also indicated that Xue Ying no longer intended to continue fighting them.
As expected, in the following days, the outside world was calm. No suspicious figures were seen, and the prefect's interrogations proceeded as usual.
During these days, Rong Zhi brewed herbal medicine for the patients in her courtyard in Lotus Village. The results were significant. The patients regained their strength and were willing to speak more. Those without serious ailments said goodbye to Rong Zhi and walked home. Even those who couldn't walk had visitors over the next two days; it seemed the village chief had informed their families.
So, Rong Zhi simply wrote out prescriptions for the visiting family members, instructing them to take the patients home and administer the medicine according to the prescriptions. After all, given the patients' physical conditions, receiving treatment at home was no different from receiving it here.
A few more days passed. Jiang Shi could finally get up and returned to Chen Xing's place to recuperate with the other hidden guards. Only one person remained in the courtyard: Young Master Zhang.
Rong Zhi looked at Young Master Zhang's dazed state. No one had come to pick him up, and Master Zhang was still bedridden. Gu Zhou was unreliable. The once-prominent eldest son of the Zhang family, for a time, had nowhere to go.
There was no other choice. Rong Zhi took him back to the ghost mansion in Yunshui Village.
She arranged for Young Master Zhang to stay in a side room and discovered the main house was bustling with activity, as if a discussion was taking place.
"General, things here have calmed down. Leave the rest to your subordinates. You should return to the imperial city as soon as possible. You've been away for so long; that old scoundrel Xing Jie might be saying all sorts of things about you behind your back."
"There's no hurry with that. Things here aren't finished. I won't leave until they are."
"General..."
"It's decided."
"Yes."
Chen Xing had no choice but to agree and retreated with the remaining hidden guards. As he left, he encountered Rong Zhi.
Chen Xing cupped his fists and said, "Madam."
"Just call me Lin Mo."
Rong Zhi asked, "Are you leaving?"
"Yes." Seeing her question, Chen Xing guessed that she had overheard his conversation with the General and was surprised that the General hadn't ordered her to leave.
Indeed, she was the one who had gone through the wedding ceremony with the General and had been helping him during this time. Perhaps the General truly had feelings for her... He couldn't afford to neglect her.
"Then, Madam, I bid you farewell." Chen Xing's attitude towards Rong Zhi became even more respectful. The others who followed him also said, "Your subordinate bids farewell," their respectful demeanor making Rong Zhi a little unaccustomed to it.
As she entered, Xia Yunting was looking towards the doorway, as if he had been expecting her.
"You brought someone back?" he asked.
"Yes, the young master from the Zhang mansion. No one came to pick him up, so I brought him back temporarily. I'll send him back to the Zhang mansion once Master Zhang is a bit better!"
She was a doctor who saw things through to the end and absolutely would not allow her patients to be neglected.
Xia Yunting didn't seem to have any objections. He nodded, then reached beside the bed and took out a bag of gold. "Do you need money?"
The glittering yellow color nearly blinded Rong Zhi.
She blinked, "What?"
"I had Chen Xing exchange it for ordinary gold."
Rong Zhi picked out a piece and looked at it. Sure enough, there were no "Xia" markings on it.
"Yes, I do!" Rong Zhi accepted it decisively, tucking the money bag away.
Money, no matter when, was never too much. She definitely needed it.
Seeing Rong Zhi's eager expression, as if she were afraid he might go back on his word, Xia Yunting curved his lips slightly.
The next day, Rong Zhi asked Chen Xing to inquire at the mass grave to see how Master Zhang's condition was and if Young Master Zhang could return home. However, Chen Xing returned saying he hadn't seen Chu Qingze at all. The gate of the mass grave mansion was locked. He then went to Zhang Chu's house to search, but still couldn't find him. He only heard from the servants inside that Miss Zhang's illness was recurring, so Chu Qingze hadn't left. He only returned to the mass grave at night. Chen Xing said he would inquire again that night.
Rong Zhi agreed but was somewhat worried about Zhang Yajing's condition.
Chu Qingze's strange illness, which prevented him from approaching women, was somewhat inconvenient. It would be better for her to go and see for herself.
However, before she could even step out the door, she was blocked by a pile of fruits and vegetables.
"Divine Physician Lin! We will never forget your great kindness in this lifetime!"
Rong Zhi retreated a few steps before she could clearly see that it was a woman holding a basket of vegetables, who then knelt with a thud. She placed the basket on the ground and began to kowtow repeatedly, muttering words of gratitude.
"Big sister, please get up and speak. I can't accept this."
She quickly helped the woman up.
The woman's face was beaming like a flower. "What is this? Divine Physician, you saved my husband's life. Even if I kowt to you a hundred more times, it would be deserved."
"Your husband is..."
"We are from the town. My husband's surname is Zhao. You rescued him from Swallow Mountain some time ago."
"Oh..." Rong Zhi nodded, not delving too deeply into who this patient surnamed Zhao was. After all, there had been too many patients at the time, and she couldn't remember all their names.
"We are humble folk and don't know what to give you. These are fruits and vegetables grown by ourselves, fresh and delicious. Please have a taste; it's the least we can do."
"Thank you then."
Rong Zhi didn't stand on ceremony. "How is Brother Zhao's condition?"
"He's much better. He can now carry water and chop wood without any problem." As she spoke, she wiped away tears. "I thought I would never see him again in this life and would have to live as a widow forever. Who knew heaven would bless us."
"After hardship comes happiness; it's a good thing," Rong Zhi smiled.
"Indeed, it's all thanks to Doctor Lin!"
The woman offered her thanks again and again before reluctantly leaving.
After the woman left, Rong Zhi let out a long sigh. As a doctor, there was no happier moment than this. The smiles on patients' faces after they recovered were more precious than gold or silver.
She didn't expect this was just the beginning.
Subsequently, several more groups of people arrived at Rong Zhi's house, some bringing large bags of silver, others bringing fruits and vegetables, or homemade pastries. Without exception, they were all there to express their gratitude, calling her Divine Physician Lin and repeatedly thanking her. Rong Zhi dealt with them until evening. By the time everyone had left, she was surprised to find that it was already dark.
Rong Zhi's lips twitched. If something like this happened again, she would let Xia Yunting handle it. With his icy demeanor, those people would surely be too intimidated to speak so much.
Despite the late hour, Rong Zhi still went to Zhang Yajing's house. When she arrived, it was already dark, and there were fewer lights than usual. She overheard two maids talking and learned that the servants here had seen Zhang Chu being arrested, so they had all quit their jobs for fear of implicating themselves. Consequently, the place was much quieter than usual.
Rong Zhi walked directly to Zhang Yajing's room and found Cui Xi dozing at the head of the bed. Zhang Yajing lay in bed, her eyes closed, but her breathing was unsteady, indicating her condition was not good.
Rong Zhi took her pulse and then frowned.
Weren't they saying Chu Qingze had been guarding here all along? How could her condition have worsened like this?
She woke up the sleeping Cui Xi.
"Ah? Who? What's wrong?" Cui Xi looked up blankly, her eyes meeting Rong Zhi's.
"Divine Physician Lin, what are you doing here?"
"Where is Chu Qingze?"
"Divine Physician Chu returned to the mass grave and said he'd be back soon. Oh, right, and Miss's medicine. It's probably cold by now."
With that, she scurried out and soon returned with the medicine. In her haste, she almost fell, but Rong Zhi steadied her, preventing her from spilling the bowl.
"Miss, it's time to take your medicine."
Cui Xi woke Zhang Yajing and gave her the medicine.
Zhang Yajing had a light sleep and soon woke up. She quickly drank the bowl of medicine and then asked, "Where is Divine Physician Chu?"
"Divine Physician Chu returned to the mass grave and will be back soon."
"Where is my father?"
"No news yet." Cui Xi lowered her head.
No news meant he was still being held.
Hearing this, Zhang Yajing couldn't help but cough.
"Zhang Yajing, come back to Yunshui Village with me. I will treat you."
Rong Zhi couldn't bear to watch. In this state, Chu Qingze was clearly not providing adequate care.
Zhang Yajing shook her head. "No, I must stay here and wait for news of my father."
"If you don't recover properly, even if news comes, you might not have the life to hear it."