Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Shen Yuan headed first to the Xie family ancestral residence.

The physicians in Qingyun County who were available had likely all gone to the Ji family.

The physicians by Xie Yulin's side were of a different caliber, after all. Shen Yuan wanted to give Ji Ping'an one more sliver of hope for survival.

Partway there, Shen Yuan encountered Xie Yulin's carriage.

Luo Yun, who was sitting outside the carriage, called out to Shen Yuan, "Registrar Shen!"

Shen Yuan reined in his horse, wondering why Luo Yun was here.

"Young Master Yulin sent the physicians. There are two of them, both highly skilled. The young master told me to tell you not to worry; the physicians and the medicinal ingredients will be of the best quality."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan's anxious heart settled a little.

He had let his worry cloud his judgment. After all, the Ji and Xie families were connected by marriage. With Xie Yulin right here in Qingyun County, it was impossible for him to stand idly by.

The group made their way to the Ji family as quickly as possible.

The room full of physicians was already at their wits' end, only able to wait and see how he was in the next couple of days.

When Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun heard that the Xie family had sent physicians, it was like finding hope in a desperate situation. They rushed outside to greet them.

The two physicians went in to examine Ji Ping'an, each followed by their own assistants carrying medical chests. Everyone else was asked to leave.

It was only then that Ji Mingfeng found a moment to thank Shen Yuan. "Thank you, Xiao Yuan, for bringing the Xie family's physicians."

Shen Yuan waved a hand dismissively. "It wasn't me who invited them. It was Fifth Granduncle who, upon learning of Brother Ping'an's condition, sent people."

Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun exchanged glances upon hearing this. They wouldn't dare think so highly of themselves.

Although the Ji and Xie families had some connections, their daughter had gone as a concubine to a branch family, not even as a principal wife, let alone a member of the main lineage.

For Xie Yulin to send someone to check, it certainly wasn't because of the minor ties between the Ji and Xie families.

The couple looked suspiciously at Luo Yun. Luo Yun merely smiled and, in a place Shen Yuan couldn't see, gently shook his head.

Seeing that the people from the Xie family had no intention of explaining, Ji Mingfeng and his wife didn't press further.

The Ji Family Teahouse.

Shen Yuan had a covert guard pass on a message to Ji Xingwang, explaining that he wouldn't be able to do the storytelling today.

For situations like this, they had backup plans ready.

The other storytellers at the teahouse were all learning the new chapter's content simultaneously.

If Shen Yuan was unable to perform, another storyteller could step in, ensuring the patrons' time wouldn't be wasted.

Many people came specifically to listen to Shen Yuan; they only wanted to hear him.

This time, they came but didn't get to hear him, which led to some grumbling.

Ji Xingwang gave each person a pot of tea and assured them that Shen Yuan would definitely come to tell the story tomorrow. The patrons understood that emergencies happen. Moreover, Ji Xingwang handled it quickly, gave a clear response, and the story was told as usual. The patrons' irritation came quickly but faded just as fast.

The two physicians from the Xie family agreed with the physicians from Qingyun County.

If the person still hadn't awakened after two days, the situation would likely be dire.

They reviewed the prescriptions from the local physicians, made improvements, and added several new medicinal ingredients.

These herbs weren't available on the market; they were precious medicinal plants only the Xie family possessed.

With these additional ingredients, the chance of survival increased.

The rest could only be left to time and to Ji Ping'an himself.

After the physicians came out and said people could go in to see him, Shen Yuan immediately stepped forward.

Looking at Ji Ping'an, pale and lying prone on the bed, Shen Yuan was momentarily stunned.

He crouched by Ji Ping'an's bedside, reaching out to touch his face but afraid of causing him pain.

The faint traces of blood seeping through the white hemp cloth on his back made Shen Yuan's breath catch slightly.

How severe must these injuries be?

Shen Yuan lightly touched the back of Ji Ping'an's hand with his fingertip, his voice low and hoarse. "Brother, you must live."

Shen Yuan didn't leave the Ji family until noon. At the entrance, he saw Qin Shisong.

"Boss Qin, you're here. Why didn't you go in?"

"Just passing by. I'm in a hurry to get to Fan Village." Qin Shisong didn't dare go in, afraid of hearing bad news.

No matter how much he disliked Ji Ping'an, he couldn't deny that among the officials in the yamen, Ji Ping'an was truly beyond reproach.

Shen Yuan looked at Qin Shisong's hastily treated wounds. Several places hadn't been medicated, and the bandaging hemp cloth was dirty.

"Go in. Your wounds also need proper treatment."

"No. The brothers are still waiting for me in Fan Village," Qin Shisong's expression was desolate. "Can't have them spending the night outside. I need to bring them home."

Shen Yuan knew this battle had claimed many lives.

"Bringing them home also requires manpower. Wait for me, I'll help you."

This time, Qin Shisong didn't refuse.

Shen Yuan was right; he needed manpower.

The two brothers who had followed behind for protection and ran back to the county town in the morning were already down, lying on the ground unable to move.

In Fan Village, there were fewer than ten people capable of moving the corpses.

They had fifty-three bodies alone.

Shen Yuan went into the Ji family and explained the situation to Ji Mingfeng.

Without a word, Ji Mingfeng sent the Ji family's servants and guards to help. He also had all the available flatbed carts from the Ji family hitched up to transport the bodies.

Shen Yuan also went and asked two physicians from Qingyun County to accompany them.

Seeing Shen Yuan bring out so many people, along with ox carts and horse carts, Qin Shisong bowed deeply to everyone and said solemnly, "Qin thanks you all sincerely."

On the way, the physicians re-treated Qin Shisong's wounds, bandaging them properly.

It was afternoon when they reached Fan Family Village.

The village was deathly quiet. As soon as they approached the entrance, the smell of blood filled the air.

Shen Yuan saw the ground was a deep, blood-soaked brown.

Many villagers in Fan Family Village were also severely injured. Shen Yuan had the two physicians treat them.

Qin Shisong said to the Martial Blades, "Remember to take off the leather boots from those who wore them and keep them safe. Make sure they don't get jostled off on the way. These are to be left for their families."

Once all the bodies were loaded onto the carts, Qin Shisong called out, his voice hoarse, "Let's go! Heading home!"

In Zhou Family Village, the body of Zhou Si from the Martial Blades lay in the dilapidated courtyard. The Zhou family knelt on the ground, collapsed over Zhou Si’s lifeless body, wailing in agony.

"My son! My son! How could you leave me, your mother? Open your eyes! Look at your mother one more time! Please, open your eyes!"

"Dad! Waaaah, Dad!"

"How could you be so heartless, abandoning us just like that? Zhou Si, our child will have no father from now on, and I will have no husband. How could someone so full of life just... be gone..."

Qin Shisong handed Zhou Si's leather boots to his mother. "These are his shoes. You can pawn these for a bit of silver."

Tears welled up in Mother Zhou's eyes as she looked at the boots, her heart breaking.

It wasn't just grief for the loss of a loved one, but also dread for the dark days to come.

With Zhou Si gone and no official Blade status, the family would have to resume paying taxes.

All that was left of the Zhou family was her, her daughter-in-law, and a seven-year-old grandson. With their breadwinner gone, how were they going to get by?

Mother Zhou clutched the leather boots to her chest, her sobs growing even more wrenching.

Yet, the Zhou family had it relatively better among the Martial Blades.

Some had bedridden family members who needed money for medicine.

Some had large families, all relying on the Martial Blade status to avoid taxes, just to keep their heads above water.

Some had only a mother or a father left, depending on their only surviving child, who was now also dead.

Others had only a young wife left behind, with a child still in swaddling clothes.

Every household faced hardship; not one was doing alright.

If their families had been better off, they would never have chosen to send their children into this life of certain death.

This job, seemingly prestigious but in truth soul-crushing, was only pursued by those with no other options, who would claw their way in just to survive.

As Shen Yuan followed along the journey, he grew increasingly silent.

It felt as though he had experienced numerous heart-wrenching partings himself, witnessing the sorrow and hardship behind each family.

How were people at the bottom supposed to live?

Two days passed in a flash.

Shen Yuan returned to Big Tree Village once to inform Shen Anniang about Ji Pingan's peril. Shen Anniang just told him to focus on guarding Ji Pingan and assured him that she would take care of everything at home.

During these two days, apart from his storytelling gig at the teahouse, Shen Yuan spent his time guarding Ji Pingan at the Ji residence.

Finally, just before dawn one morning, Ji Pingan woke up.

Hunger woke him.

His eyes hadn't even opened yet, but he was already asking for food.

The noise startled Shen Yuan awake. His eyes met Ji Pingan's gaze.

Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun were in the outer room. Hearing Shen Yuan call out, they immediately got up.

Seeing Ji Pingan open his eyes, the weight finally lifted from their hearts, and they couldn't stop thanking the heavens.

The physicians from the Xie family had also been staying at the Ji residence these past two days. They were the first to take Ji Pingan's pulse.

Follow-up care was still needed, but thankfully, his life was no longer in danger.

The cloud of gloom that had hung over the Ji family and Shen Yuan dissipated with Ji Pingan's awakening.

"Xiao Yuan, I want some soup," Ji Pingan said, noticing Shen Yuan's obviously worn-out look and the fact he’d lost weight, which bothered him. "I want that pork rib soup your aunt makes."

Ji Pingan figured that if he sent Shen Yuan home, Shen Anniang would surely make sure Shen Yuan ate and nourished himself properly.

Shen Yuan saw what Ji Pingan was doing.

"Brother, I *have* been eating these past two days. I just haven't had much appetite. Now that you're awake, I'm not worried anymore, and my appetite will slowly return." Shen Yuan was still haunted by fear. He stared into Ji Pingan's eyes and said, "I was so scared you were going to die."

Every person around him was incredibly precious, and Shen Yuan truly couldn't bear to lose anyone.

Ji Pingan joked, his tone light, "I haven't celebrated your birthday yet. This is the first time I'll be part of your birthday celebration. I wasn't about to kick the bucket just yet."

Only then did Shen Yuan remember that his birthday was approaching.

He counted; it was a little over two weeks away.

Shen Yuan returned to Big Tree Village. While Ji Pingan genuinely wanted Shen Yuan to rest, his craving for Shen Anniang's pork rib soup was also real.

Just as Ji Pingan had anticipated, as soon as Shen Yuan arrived home, Shen Anniang loaded him up with good food.

With his mind at ease, Shen Yuan ate and drank his fill, got drowsy, and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

This sleep lasted from evening until the next morning.

When he opened his eyes, Shen Yuan noticed someone sitting by his bedside.

"Oh, you're awake," Song Zijuan said, holding a clay pot filled with fragrant pork rib soup and sipping it with a spoon. "Get up and eat. You slept for an awfully long time."

Shen Yuan had slept deeply, feeling much more refreshed. He sat up and put on his shoes. "Brother Zijuan, aren't you very busy in the mountains? Why are you here?"

"Young Master Lin assigned me a different task," Song Zijuan said with a mysterious smile. "Guess what it is?"

Shen Yuan thought for a moment. "Is it related to me?"

Song Zijuan laughed. "Correct! Close protection for you. From now on, I'll be living in your house."

"Has something happened?" Shen Yuan knew about Xie Yulin's protective measures, but the hidden guards had never appeared before him unless he summoned them.

Even for close protection, having only Song Zijuan seemed odd.

Song Zijun said, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. Actually, it's not exactly close protection. It's just that I'll be focusing solely on you. I figured since I'm planning to teach Xixi anyway, staying at your place would be more convenient. A-Yuan, will you let me stay?"

Song Zijun stopped drinking his rib soup, holding the clay pot while gazing eagerly at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan chuckled helplessly, "Knock it off. You can stay; there's enough room at home."

"A-Yuan, you're really the best!" Song Zijun wrapped an arm around Shen Yuan's shoulder, speaking in an exaggerated tone.

Then, remembering the serious matter, he reminded Shen Yuan, "By the way, you'll see some unfamiliar faces in Qingyun County recently. If anyone tries to talk to you, don't respond."

"The story of *Love Between Human and Ghost* has spread to the North Country. They've sent people to approach you."

Shen Yuan asked, "Do they want to recruit me, or silence me?"

Song Zijun took a sip of the rib soup and clicked his tongue. "Both."

"If they can't recruit you, they'll silence you."

"Oh, and also, Master Lin asked me to tell you that he went back to Youyang early." Song Zijun released Shen Yuan and scooped up some ribs with a spoon. "He said you can give him the gift you prepared the next time you meet."

Shen Yuan wondered, "Why'd he take off so suddenly?"

Song Zijun didn't hide it and immediately told Shen Yuan the reason. "The North Country sent envoys to discuss trade matters. I don't know what they said, but the Emperor was so mad he drew his sword and chased them down. He didn't actually manage to hit anyone, but it was quite an unseemly scene. Master Lin went back to clean up His Majesty's mess."

After saying this, he remembered to caution Shen Yuan, "Don't tell anyone about this, okay? Talking about the Emperor behind his back could get me beheaded."

Shen Yuan: ...

"Took you long enough to remember that."

Late at night, under the willow tree by the lake at Weixianju.

A dancing girl, acting with great caution, tucked a small scrap of silk into a hole under a willow tree and quickly covered it up.

After an unknown amount of time, a black-clad figure arrived, dug out the silk, and examined the information on it.

"Magistrate Pang requests the Lord to kill Shen Yuan of Dashu Village."

"Offers an additional thousand taels and promises next year's iron supply."

The figure in black stared at the silk for a long time before putting it away. Then, they took out a small box, retrieved the brush and ink inside, and wrote on another small piece of silk.

"Add the deed to Cuiming Mountain."