Villagers saw them but didn't think much of it, assuming they were from the neighboring village.
Soon, Jing Heng led Yun Shu to a thatched hut.
The hut was dilapidated, and the yard was overgrown with weeds.
An old man was busy in the yard.
Upon seeing Yun Shu and Jing Heng enter, he was surprised. "Who are you?"
"We are friends of Elder Yin, here to pay our respects," Yun Shu replied.
The old man narrowed his eyes, a cold glint appearing in them, unlike that of an ordinary village elder. He said, "I don't know who you're referring to as Elder Yin. You've come to the wrong place."
Jing Heng made a move as if to attack.
Yun Shu shot Jing Heng a look and casually walked up to the old man. "We're looking for Elder Yin because we heard he once took in a disciple. We also wish to be taken as his disciples. Could we possibly ask Elder Yin..."
"Stop talking! I told you, you've come to the wrong place. Don't disturb us anymore, leave..."
Before the old man could finish his words, he felt a sharp pain in his neck.
He tried to retaliate, but it was too late. His body went limp, and he lost consciousness, collapsing.
Jing Heng quickly tied him up, gagged him, and carried him into the house.
A frail and emaciated figure lay on the bed, breathing weakly. His wrinkled face was ashen, clearly indicating he was at the end of his life, near death.
Yun Shu approached the bed and looked down at the ailing Elder Yin.
Elder Yin slept soundly, completely unaware of Yun Shu's presence.
She recalled Xiao Feng mentioning that Elder Yin's health was poor, but he had been taking medication and should have lived for a few more years. How had he deteriorated so drastically?
Could there be some hidden reason?
With a hint of suspicion, Yun Shu reached out to feel Elder Yin's pulse.
Upon checking his pulse, her brow furrowed sharply.
Just like Xiao Feng!
He had been poisoned with the same toxin!
Elder Yin suddenly opened his eyes.
When he saw the unfamiliar woman before him, he was startled. "You..."
"You and Xiao Feng have been poisoned with the same toxin. Who poisoned you?" Yun Shu asked directly.
Although Elder Yin was weak and near death, he guessed Yun Shu's identity. "You... you are Xiao Feng's mother?"
He glanced towards the corner of the doorway. The old man who had been watching him was now bound like a zongzi. It seemed Xiao Feng's mother was not a weakling or an ordinary young lady.
Suddenly, he looked at Yun Shu in disbelief. "You... how did you know?"
The poison he and Xiao Feng had contracted was very subtle, undetectable by ordinary doctors, and even most renowned physicians couldn't diagnose it.
Yet, she could tell!
Suddenly, he remembered rumors from a couple of days ago, saying she possessed medical skills? xxs壹贰
This medical skill...
Clearly, it wasn't the charade described in the rumors.
This medical skill...
Was enough to shock anyone!
Lu Hao wasn't the Divine Doctor. The rumors spoke of a female Divine Doctor. Could she be her?
For a moment, Elder Yin's mind raced with countless guesses. But as a splitting headache intensified, and he tried to analyze and think further, he found it increasingly difficult to breathe. He knew his time was running out.
Whether she was the Divine Doctor was not important. What mattered was that he didn't want anything to happen to Xiao Feng!
"I took Xiao Feng's pulse, and I've taken yours too," Yun Shu explained calmly.
Elder Yin was filled with admiration and sighed inwardly. The Regent had searched for so long for the Divine Doctor, and she was right under his nose. If he hadn't seen her today, he would never have guessed she was the Divine Doctor, even if he died.
"The Regent gave us the medicine. I took it willingly to repay a debt. This is what I owe the Regent, but Xiao Feng is innocent. Xiao Feng was used by Yun Yueyin. He was already pitiful, and he recognized me as his master. I... I can only betray the Regent on my deathbed and tell you... tell you about Xiao Feng's situation. The antidote is in the hands of Prince Zhan. We have to take a pill every three months, or the poison will take effect. You are the Divine Doctor, you must be able to concoct the antidote quickly, but... but Xiao Feng can't wait. He doesn't have that much time. If you calculate it, he needs to take the medicine the day after tomorrow."
"Prince Zhan will surely find a way to see him and force him to do things to get the antidote. You... you must tell Xiao Feng to comply. This time, obey the Regent, otherwise... otherwise, he will die suddenly."
Elder Yin's voice grew more urgent, his breathing becoming more ragged.
Just as he was about to gasp his last breath, Yun Shu's hand pierced his chest with a silver needle.
Instantly, Elder Yin felt his breathing become smoother, and his complexion eased.
He was still weak, but with great effort, he managed a smile. "You truly are the Divine Doctor. This is Xiao Feng's fate; he is not meant to die. As for me... even the gods cannot save me. Today was supposed to be the day the Regent gave me the antidote, but he cast me out last night, leaving me here to fend for myself."
This was his fate!
He had served the Regent for many years and should have known this outcome would eventually befall him.
Yet, this was his debt to the Regent!
Yun Shu pursed her lips, her expression grave. "Do you know where the person who developed this poison is?"
Elder Yin weakly shook his head. "I have never seen that person. It must have been before I followed the Regent. The Regent already had a poison to control people. In this world, there are always greater powers. I have studied it for years, but I have never been able to concoct an antidote."
"Do you have any unfulfilled dying wishes?" Yun Shu asked, her eyes shifting slightly.
Although Elder Yin had served Prince Zhan and done many wicked deeds for him, she was willing to fulfill his last wish, given that he had cared for Xiao Feng for several years and allowed him to grow up safely.
If she had met Elder Yin a year ago, she might have been able to give him a sliver of hope. But now, even divine intervention was futile; Elder Yin was at the end of his life.
His ability to speak now was only sustained by his will.
Elder Yin blinked, a look of daze on his face. It was as if a mist had descended, clouding his vision of Yun Shu. His body gradually felt lighter, and his consciousness began to slip away.
He opened his mouth.
With nearly all his remaining strength, he uttered his final words.
"At my grave, let Xiao Feng... call me... call me Grandpa."
The first time he met Xiao Feng, the boy had called him Grandpa. His heart had melted then, but he had sternly told Xiao Feng to call him Master.
In truth, he had longed to hear Xiao Feng call him Grandpa...
Yun Shu watched as Elder Yin breathed his last, her heart growing heavy.
Just as she was about to rise, there was movement outside the door.