Why do I have so many masters?

Bing Hongcai led the old man to Reviving Spring Hall in the middle of town.

This was the largest medical hall in the entire town; now, the tables and chairs from the great hall had all been thrown outside, and the poisoned townspeople were laid out on the ground. One by one, doctors moved among them, their brows deeply furrowed as they treated the townsfolk, while apprentices were busy brewing medicine in the back courtyard.

A row of red clay stoves lined up, the thick scent of medicine enveloping the entire hall and imparting a warm sense of tranquility to those within.

Many townspeople had already shown signs of recovery from the poisoning, weak though they were, but they had regained the ability to move.

A great weight lifted in Bing Hongcai's heart.

Meanwhile, the elder hurried inside without even thanking him, urgently walking over to talk with a young man.

Bing Hongcai was not the least bit displeased; he stood quietly with his saber in hand, observing the scene before him.

Although he had come to aid these poisoned townspeople, he felt as if his presence was not needed here.

This feeling was not unpleasant at all.

Bing Hongcai's lips curled slightly upward, he shook his head and walked in slowly, ready to see if there was any way he could help.

After asking several people, a middle-aged doctor finally raised his head and said irritably:

"If you truly wish to help, why not go see to that 'demoness'..."

A young man beside him shot him a glare and said in a low voice:

"Father!"

The middle-aged man huffed coldly and averted his gaze, no longer speaking. He focused solely on treating the poisoned townspeople beneath his hands, his eyes barely open yet covered with blood vessels, clearly under immense pressure.

The young man stood up and bowed to Bing Hongcai, saying:

"My father misspoke; I hope you won't take it to heart, sir."

Bing Hongcai, now intrigued by the phrase 'demoness' mentioned by the middle-aged doctor, smiled and shook his head, replying:

"There's no need for formalities, Doctor."

"Since I happen to be free at the moment, why not take me to see that... that person over there? How about it?"

The youth hesitated for a moment but then nodded, saying:

"Very well..."

"Please follow me, sir."

Bing Hongcai nodded and followed him, his curiosity unabated. Only after passing through a courtyard did he finally see the so-called 'demoness'. She was not the fierce and malevolent figure he had imagined but a girl of around fifteen or sixteen.

Even at a cursory glance, one could see the girl was exceptionally beautiful.

She was quietly checking the pulse of a patient, her eyes slightly closed, displaying a hint of obedience and charm that was quite striking.

Unlike the other doctors who were surrounded by many helpers, this girl had not a single medical apprentice nearby. Instead, three uniformed patrols from Great Qin clad in vermilion clothes stood by, swords in hand, watching her closely with expressions that dared not relax.

Bing Hongcai stopped in his tracks and asked:

"This girl… is she a prisoner in the city?"

The youth shook his head and replied, "No… this young lady is also a doctor. Most of us ordinary medical families are only able to treat common ailments like bruises, sprains, colds, and fevers. We are not adept at detoxifying."

"If this young lady hadn't come here, the situation might have been far more dire."

Bing Hongcai chuckled softly and said:

"That being the case, doesn't the entire town owe this young lady a tremendous debt of gratitude?"

"Why then is she treated like this?"

The youth pursed his lips, clearly reluctant to speak. Bing Hongcai had handled many cases before and, seeing this, smiled and pointed towards the three vigilant constables in the distance, implying with his words:

"If you are unwilling to speak, I can inquire with those three constables myself, but what they say may be quite different from what you believe to be true, right?"

"Are you certain you do not wish to plead her case?"

The young man seemed taken aback, looking at the patrol officer whose appearance commanded respect. He opened and closed his mouth before saying:

"…Can you ensure that young lady will come to no harm, sir?"

Bing Hongcai smiled, eyes crinkling, and shook his head:

"I cannot."

"But whether you speak up or not is up to you."

He was exceedingly astute, not committing to anything that could be used against him.

The youth sighed helplessly, and after a few moments, said:

"Very well… I will tell you."

He looked up once more at the serene and beautiful girl and said:

"This young lady…"

"…hails from Pharmacist Valley."

...........................

Meng Yuexue raised her hand and placed the poisoned townsman's palm back onto the woman's lower abdomen, then picked up paper and a brush from the ground to quickly write a prescription.

She had already shared several antidotes and methods for treating common poisons from Pharmacist Valley with the doctors here. The less severely poisoned people were left in the care of these experienced doctors for treatment.

Those who were closer to the source of the poison and thus more severely affected were all handled by her alone.

The townspeople around her looked at her with a mix of awe and reverence while the patrolling officers watched her every move with heightened vigilance.

As for the town's doctors, they already showed signs of disdain.

The girl pursed her lips.

After another glance at the prescription in her hand to make sure there were no mistakes, she handed it toward the direction where the patrolling officers stood, her eyes already moving onto another poisoned person.

Her eyes brimmed with resolve.

She had anticipated this kind of treatment the moment she uttered the words "Pharmacist Valley."

But she spoke them anyway.

She said, Pharmacist Valley, Meng Yuexue.

The misty clouds she had seen as a child still swirled in her mind, a once-famous sight in Fufeng, associated with the centuries-old apricot orchard and the prestige brought by generations of doctors treating people throughout the world. One could never abandon their past, and she was unwilling to forsake hers any longer.

The girl stood up and carefully moved to another patient's side.

It was a child, barely into his double digits.

Meng Yuexue knelt beside him, taking his pulse. As she looked at his pained and tender face, she spoke gently:

"Don't worry, I will definitely save you…"

"Pharmacist Valley?!"

Just then, a steady voice sounded from nearby. Meng Yuexue was slightly startled but her expression remained unchanged as she nodded and said:

"Yes."

Bing Hongcai looked at the calm girl beside him, his right hand gripping the handle of his knife, and said,

"Are you not afraid I will capture you?"

Meng Yuexue did not turn her head, responding indifferently,

"Scared."

"But in Great Qin, doesn't capturing someone require evidence? My act of saving people is true, and whether I was involved in the past incident is still doubtful; where there is doubt in the five penalties, there is clemency. Would you, sir, capture me and throw me back into prison just because I came out to save someone?"

Bing Hongcai paused slightly, then laughed and said,

"Of course not."

"You are only fifteen or sixteen years old. Unless you started speaking from inside your mother's womb, you couldn't possibly have been involved in that incident."

"I won't be capturing you."

Meng Yuexue's expression remained unchanged, but inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Bing Hongcai watched the graceful young girl before him, her composed demeanor earning his appreciation. He waved his hand to dismiss the constables, leaving only himself to watch the girl treat the sick. Suddenly he spoke,

"Do you know that the doctors outside are calling you a female demon?"

"They even had me keep an eye on you."

Meng Yuexue nodded, saying,

"I know."

Curious, Bing Hongcai said,

"Then why do you still act under the name of Pharmacist Valley? The name of this sect has been completely ruined, filthy and soiled."

"Even if you help the common people, you can't change others' perception of Pharmacist Valley. Of course, this is just my personal curiosity. If you prefer not to answer, it's alright."
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The girl paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, after being silent,

"I can't bear to..."

Bing Hongcai was taken aback, then saw the girl, her face dusty, lift her head, her eyes clear. The quiet smile on her lips also caused him a pang in his heart.

"I can't bear to let it go."

"And why throw it away just because it's dirty?"

"I will clean it."

"Little by little, someday, it will be clean..."

Sunlight scattered on the girl's face, and Bing Hongcai lost himself for a moment, unable to speak.

In the outer hall.

A villager whose condition had greatly improved was thanking a doctor with repeated bows, only to be waved off by the latter. The doctor's eyes were bloodshot and, somewhat brusquely, he pushed the villager aside, saying,

"If you are better, go to the side and don't block my way when saving people."

"Also, if you want to thank someone, thank that female demon, no, thank that girl. Don't bother me!"

"Next!"

................................

Inside Shaolin Temple.

A scholar and a boy sat opposite each other, playing a game of strategy.

Master Ying made his move casually, stating lightly,

"You've lost..."

On the board, the black pieces dominated like a dragon, gaining unstoppable momentum.

Wang Anfeng placed down a piece and exclaimed with admiration,

"Master, you are formidable."

"I am far from your equal."

The scholar slightly tilted his chin up, snorting coldly, and said,

"With your approach to Immortal Pavilion in Fufeng, this is the situation you are in."

"Ha... All you know is to listen to that thief, talking about face and reputation, have you let him eat your brains? You are going up the mountain to fetch wine soon? I'm afraid you'll end up delivering your fine head to the mountain!"

Wang Anfeng laughed and said,

"If it were a direct confrontation, I would indeed be like this. But, I have a plan."

"Please, Master, see."

Wang Anfeng stood up and made a few minor adjustments on the board with his hand.

Under the sunlight, the young man straightened up and pointed at the board, saying,

"This way, it can be broken."

Within the board, several black pieces had been replaced with white, a hidden strategy executed discreetly. Suddenly, a long knife appeared across the board, decapitating the dragon.

The situation was instantly reversed.

The scholar's lips curled up slightly.

.............................

At Giant Whale Gang's headquarters in Xi Dingzhou City.

Gongsun Jing's ears caught a familiar voice, and he opened his eyes wide, stood up quickly, and said,

"Young Master?"

The voice by his ear chuckled,

"Gongsun, long time no see."

"I was wondering if you might be interested in joining me in performing a play?"

Meanwhile, in the world of Shaolin Temple.

Somewhere in the desolate and broken sky.

A figure shot across the sky at meteoric speed, shouting,

"Ying, no matter what you do, I won't back down!"

"Reputation, reputation ah!!!"

A cold huff sounded in the air. The figure's speed surged instantly, almost turning into a morning star on the horizon, vanishing swiftly.

"Ah ah ah ah ah...."

PS: Second update.

Thank you 徵風萬里遙 for the generous reward, greatly appreciated.