Chapter 412: Chapter 408 I’m Even More Difficult to Mess With

Snowflakes fluttered through the air as a carriage descended from the neighboring mountain’s Wuxiang Temple, with an elderly man inside pulling his cloak tightly around him, furrowing his brow, and thumping his legs.

“Marquis, are your legs feeling numb again?” Aged servant beside him looked at him worriedly.

The elderly man looked out at the sprawling snowflakes, sighed, and said, “These legs are doomed to become useless, and I fear this report to the court can no longer be delayed.”

The servant moved the small charcoal stove closer to his side, massaging his legs, then hesitated and said, “Marquis, didn’t Master Hui Neng just mention that nearby Qingping Temple is holding almsgiving and a free clinic today? Perhaps a miracle or a turning point will occur.”

The elderly man grimaced and said, “Free clinics, they mostly cater to poor common folks, how could any doctor cure my chronic ailment? Not to mention, these last few years I’ve visited countless famous doctors and taken loads of medicine to no avail. It’s only gotten worse, entirely powerless and numb, my body is surely ruined. I hate that I can’t devote more decades to stabilizing and enriching our nation, it’s all nothing but a pipe dream now.”

The servant felt a tug at his heart.

“What I hate most is not just my age and failures, but that there’s someone to follow me should have been consolation enough. Yet, with the misfortune that befell Ding’er, is it possible that Heaven views my past deeds as too grievous and thus punishes my grandson and I alike, by stricken both our legs?” The elderly man’s eyes reddened, and he fiercely pounded his thigh, his face a mix of frustration and bitterness.

The servant hastily grabbed his hand, saying, “Please don’t do this.”

“When I’m incapacitated, I won’t be able to drag this out any longer, and the military power must eventually be handed over. The Yue Family Navy, should I really just let someone else take over?” The elderly man ground his teeth in anger.

The servant pursed his lips; his master was the fiercest Navy Commander of Da Feng, always stationed at the East Sea, a generation burner of tassels because of his illustrious military exploits, dubbed the Dongyang Marquis, his personally trained Yue Family Navy defeated countless sea islands and water bandits, famed far and wide, respected by folk as the Sea God General.

But perhaps due to constantly contending with water and often braving the elements, after long years on horseback, evil winds invaded his meridians, gradually turning his legs into unyielding, numbing arthritic limbs, leaving him too weak to stand without support.

Just as the Marquis mentioned, his ruin, and having a successor wasn’t enough, regrettably…

The servant said, “Marquis, Master Hui Neng is a revered high monk; surely he wouldn’t spout mere words. Perhaps among those doctors at the free clinic there’s a renowned physician. Let’s just give it a try, since we’re already here.”

Dongyang Marquis shook his head, holding little hope.

He even invited the Imperial Physician from the Palace who prescribed wind-dispersing remedies, but it barely scratched the surface, let alone addressed the root cause. What great doctors could there possibly be here in a small place like Li City?

“Marquis, giving it a try won’t hurt, especially since it’s a free clinic and costs nothing. Just think of it as scouting ahead for Young Master Ding,” the servant persuaded once more.

Dongyang Marquis shuddered.

“If all else fails, Qingping Temple is holding almsgiving, we could at least go to Daoist Temple to donate some Incense money, gaining some merit, perhaps enjoying divine protection.”

Dongyang Marquis snorted with laughter and pointed at him, “You old man, even you’ve started babbling like those women, believing all these Divine Dao things?”

The servant chuckled, “This servant has no other choice but to believe. Whether these Divine Daos are efficacious or not depends on belief, merely offering some peace of mind. Just like those Eastern Sea fisherfolk, don’t they also often pray to the Sea Dragon King for good weather and all to go smoothly?”

Dongyang Marquis fell silent for a while, then said, “Alright, let’s go add some incense oil then.”

The servant breathed a sigh of relief, as if afraid his master might change his mind, and hastily knocked on the carriage wall to signal, “Turn towards Qingping Temple.”

…

Having just managed to finish seeing the queue of patients, Qin Liuxi used it as an excuse to slip out of the medical tent to a tea stall to lazily pass time.

The stall’s owner recognized her, letting her sit by the stove to stay warm.

Qin Liuxi, grinning, sat on a small stool, added a log to the fire, and began chatting about everyday matters.

At that time, several tall horses approached and someone inquired about the location of the free clinic. Receiving the answer, they turned their horses around and rode back to the wagon.

The road was narrow and the wagon stopped right beside a tea stall. Qin Liuxi, gnawing on some roasted peanuts, looked over. Those atop the tall horses, dressed in short jackets and draped in heavy capes, each had a sword tied around their waist and bore an aura of evil, yet their faces showed righteousness. Could they be from the military?

The person riding the wagon must be wealthy or of high status.

Qin Liuxi couldn’t help but pinch her fingers, calculating, her eyebrows rising—work had come her way, and it was a big job.

The wagon halted, and two agile servants jumped down from the driver’s seat to the back, helping an old man down while whispering something to him.

Qin Liuxi could make out the mouth shapes—they intended to carry the old man.

The supported old man appeared, and Qin Liuxi’s eyes narrowed. The man carried a dignified and upright presence, his aura of evil heavier than even the servants’, iron-blooded and resolute. His cheekbones were pronounced, his forehead broad, his ears thick and large, with beads dangling, and his eyes sharp as an eagle’s, exuding an imposing air. When his gaze swept over others, it carried an intense, untouchable tiger’s ferocity.

This was a fierce general who could awe the four corners.

Dongyang Marquis was said to be walking, but in reality, all his strength was borne by the servants—he was almost being carried.

Soon, they reached the tea stall, and Qin Liuxi cheerfully spoke up, “Elder, are you here for the free clinic too? Want to let me have a try?”

Before Dongyang Marquis could respond, one of his attendants glared fiercely, “Impudent brat.”

Qin Liuxi shrugged.

Considering her young age, Dongyang Marquis assumed she was just being mischievous and said, “Never mind, let’s go.”

Watching the group walk away, Qin Liuxi shook her head, clicking her tongue, “Later I need to be alert; those people scared me so much that my heart was thumping wildly. Too much negative energy.”

The old lady at the stall chuckled, “Stop teasing, I saw those people aren’t ordinary folks to mess with, don’t stir up trouble.”

Qin Liuxi huffed, her face defiant, “I’m even more troublesome!”

The old lady smiled and shook her head.

Qin Liuxi ate another handful of peanuts and drank a cup of tea, then leisurely strolled towards the shack.

Meanwhile, inside the shack, Dongyang Marquis watched several people take turns checking his pulse and examining his legs, arguing and discussing his condition. He was gradually losing patience, giving a look to an old servant by his side, his gaze clearly expressing the futility of it all.

The old servant also felt helpless, wondering if indeed the heavens were blind.

Dr. Mao coughed, feeling slightly embarrassed, “Gentlemen, since we can’t determine how to treat this condition, why not ask Master Buqiu to give it a try?”

“Yes, yes, where is she? What happened to her?”

Just as Dongyang Marquis was about to dismiss the idea, Dr. Mao suddenly looked as though he had seen a deity, his eyes lighting up, and he waved his hands.

“Master, Master Buqiu! Please come over, take a look at this patient, and help us diagnose and prescribe!”

Everyone looked, and a youngster in a green robe with a Daoist bun, a dry straw hanging from his mouth, sauntered over casually.

Wasn’t this the same kid eating roasted peanuts at the tea stall just now?