The condition was unmistakable, the facial features of Down syndrome easily recognisable.
So, Liu Qingyan, after a single glance, said helplessly to the elderly woman, “Madam, your child’s condition is congenital, inherent from birth. There’s no cure through acquired means.
“You can’t help either?” the woman asked, her face full of worry. “I heard you’re the best doctor in the surrounding villages, with great skill. Please, take a look at my little Shuanzi. He’s only fourteen, not yet married!”
Liu Qingyan shook her head. “Madam, Shuanzi’s condition cannot be treated with medicine or remedies, but there are ways to improve his life.”
“What are they?” The woman’s spirits lifted.
“Talk to him more, teach him repeatedly. Over time, he’ll learn to do simple tasks on his own.”
“Simple tasks?”
Liu Qingyan nodded, explaining, “Like eating, changing clothes, using the toilet, or washing up.”
“I see…”
After a brief explanation, the woman left, her face a mix of disappointment and faint hope.
Next was another case of dementia.
Liu Qingyan sighed. “The old man is advanced in years, and his dementia has come with age. Unless you have rare treasures to reverse vitality, there’s no cure for his condition.”
Though the diagnosis was clear, it wasn’t as certain as the boy’s, so out of professional duty, Liu Qingyan took the old man’s pulse.
She frowned. “The old man’s body is very weak. He’s already demented, so why do you still let him overexert himself?”
The man looked helpless. “My father’s worked hard his whole life. Even with dementia, he can’t stay idle. I can’t stop him!”
Liu Qingyan shook her head. “Have him rest more at home, avoid overworking, eat well, stay warm, and show your filial piety.”
“Alright!”
The man, likely having consulted many doctors, wasn’t surprised by Liu Qingyan’s response. He stood, helped his father up, hoisted him onto his back, and left.
Finally, the last woman stepped forward, sitting across from Liu Qingyan.
After checking her pulse and switching wrists, Liu Qingyan exhaled in relief, finally facing a condition she could treat.
“Sister, you caught a chill some days ago, causing irregular menstruation. I’ll prescribe a remedy. Follow it, and you’ll recover in five days.”
“Wonderful! Thank you, Dr. Liu.”
The woman looked at Liu Qingyan, smiling, her eyes showing a trace of gratitude.
Her expression was fitting, but Lu Zheng sensed a lack of sincerity.
Still… people are different. She was polite enough on the surface, so what more could you ask?
Liu Qingyan smiled, took a sheet of paper, dipped her brush in ink, and swiftly wrote a prescription.
“Take it three times a day as prescribed.”
“Thank you, Doctor!”
The woman took the prescription, went to the pharmacy counter, collected her packaged herbs, and left slowly.
“Phew—”
Liu Qingyan stood gracefully, clearly tired from sitting so long, raising her arms in a gentle stretch.
Her figure was full and elegant.
“Lu Lang~”
Feeling Lu Zheng’s gaze, Liu Qingyan lowered her half-raised arms, letting out a playful chide.
“Huh? What?” Lu Zheng feigned innocence.
Liu Qingyan’s face flushed with shy delight, unable to hide the blush or the smile tugging at her lips.
To cover her embarrassment, she changed the subject. “Lu Lang, you were called to the county office this morning. Was something wrong?”
“No big deal!” Lu Zheng waved dismissively, exuding confidence. “Just a cowardly rat hiding in the shadows, no threat at all. If he dares show his face, I’ll drag him to the authorities for a reward.”
…
After half a day at Renxin Hall, Lu Zheng returned home, expending five strands of luck light to continue his cultivation.
So far, the luck light gained from defeating the ghost soldier and King Yelan had dwindled to just over a hundred strands, soon to drop below three digits.
But in return, his strength had surged significantly.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Lu Zheng recalled the morning at Renxin Hall, feeling something was off.
“Am I being paranoid?”
“Because of Duan Changzai’s words and those four portraits of the Southern Border sorcerer?”
Lu Zheng shook his head, frowning. “No, it’s not that.”
It was an instinctive warning, not something he consciously noticed but a signal his mind had picked up, alerting him to something unusual.
Like a sixth sense or sudden intuition, the higher one’s cultivation, the stronger the certainty.
With over a century of cultivation, Lu Zheng trusted this feeling wouldn’t be wrong.
“Could it be the Southern Border sorcerer?”
“Why?”
“For… Qingyan?”
Lu Zheng’s eyes sharpened, recalling the sorcerer’s purpose.
A kind-hearted woman who does good deeds!
Liu Qingyan, with her compassionate nature and countless lives saved, was a beacon of virtue. If she cultivated, her merits would likely carry her smoothly through the early stages.
She perfectly matched the target described by the deer demon.
“Damn!”
Lu Zheng leapt up. The sorcerer was likely targeting Liu Qingyan!
“Inform the Anomaly Suppression Division?”
Lu Zheng frowned. He had no evidence, and he wasn’t certain. If it was a mistake, it would be embarrassing.
“First, consult my sect!”
Checking the time, it was mid-Wei hour, enough time for a round trip.
Lu Zheng left, and once outside the city, he hurried to Baiyun Temple.
…
“Master’s not here?” Lu Zheng was stunned. What timing!
“Master and Uncle went to Yuyang Temple’s scripture conference. Senior Brother Yuanjing is overseeing the temple,” Yuanning said.
“Junior Brother, why visit the temple at this hour? Is something wrong?” Yuanjing’s voice came as he emerged from the Three Pure Ones Hall, approaching Lu Zheng.
“Greetings, Senior Brother!” Lu Zheng bowed, then said gravely, “Something feels off, so I came for help.”
He recounted his morning at Renxin Hall to Yuanjing.
Yuanjing mused, “You suspect one of those three is the Southern Border sorcerer?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “I was uneasy all afternoon while cultivating. I couldn’t pinpoint anything wrong and didn’t want to bother the Division, so I came here.”
“If so, he might act tonight.” Yuanjing’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll help you!”
Lu Zheng glanced at Yuanning. “Can you leave?”
Yuanjing waved dismissively. “What’s stopping me? Who’d dare attack Baiyun Temple? Yuanning, you handle tonight’s prayers. I’m going to the city.”
Without waiting for Yuanning’s reply, he turned and headed to the disciples’ quarters.
…
At early You hour, Lu Zheng and Yuanjing returned home.
After eating the dinner Aunt Liu prepared, Yuanjing went to the guest room. Lu Zheng readied his gear and sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, sensing the activity next door.
…
At early Xu hour, the residential area was silent, save for the whistling wind and occasional barking triggered by the night watchman.
At early Hai hour, the oil lamps in Lu Zheng’s courtyard were long extinguished. In the backyard, Lu Zheng and Yuanjing, using breath-concealing techniques, sat silently under the persimmon tree.
…
“Rustle—”
“Swoosh—Swoosh—”
Sounds of scaling walls and startled night crows reached Lu Zheng and Yuanjing’s ears. At least seven or eight people had climbed into the Liu household’s courtyard from the front.
Lu Zheng, “…”
Yuanjing, “…”
They exchanged curious glances.
Yuanjing blinked. “This Southern Border sorcerer has a lot of men…”
Lu Zheng gripped his sword hilt. “Did I get it wrong?”
They leapt onto the persimmon tree in Lu Zheng’s courtyard, which had grown taller from being watered with stalactite spring. From the tree, they could clearly see the neighbouring courtyard.
Eight people, unarmed, moved stealthily. One crept toward the front guest room, pulling a small tube from his chest and piercing the window paper.
“Sedative incense?” Lu Zheng frowned, eyeing a figure approaching the backyard.
It was the woman from Renxin Hall with irregular menstruation.
Lu Zheng was speechless, glancing at the seven men, muttering, “Damn, living recklessly, burning the candle at both ends. No wonder you’re irregular!”
“Pfft—”
A soft blow, and the sedative smoke entered the room.
After knocking out the two old servants in the front, the eight silently entered the backyard.
“Donkey, sedate the person in the main bedroom. The rest, follow me to take the sisters!” The burly leader ordered, leading the others toward the southern guest room.
“I was wrong.” Lu Zheng frowned, muttering, ready to act.
But Yuanjing grabbed him. “Wait, there’s someone else!”
Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed, spotting a dark figure standing silently in the backyard corner, making no sound.
“Damn, another one? A master?”
To enter the Liu courtyard undetected, even by him, meant no ordinary person.
As the leader approached Liu Qingyan’s room, the figure, hunched and leaning on a cane, shuffled forward slowly. “You can’t take these two flowers. They’re for my grandson’s brides, to bear me a fat great-grandson.”
“It’s you!” The woman from the morning gasped.
Lu Zheng grimaced. It was the elderly woman with the demented grandson.
What a twist! He’d been guessing which one, but two of the three were involved. Unbelievable!
The man called Donkey, who had sent sedative smoke into the main bedroom, saw the situation shift and leapt back to the group, warily eyeing the old woman.
The leader stared cautiously at her, asking quietly, “A cultivator?”
The old woman grinned, tapping her cane. A strange aura spread, filling the Liu courtyard.
“Indeed, a cultivator.” The leader’s eyes hardened, but he showed no fear. “By martial world rules, we share the spoils!”
His voice fell, his body shook, and blood energy surged. He was a martial artist who had cultivated blood energy.
