Jiang Yueli raised an eyebrow at him. Chu Fengchun gave a helpless smile. “No wonder you’re so tricky—turns out you’re a little girl. That explains your sharp temper. Dare to trick this old man… you’re only the second one.”
“What? You’ve been tricked before?” Jiang Yueli raised her eyebrows. Seeing him speak so calmly despite being deceived, she thought the old man wasn’t so bad.
“Years ago… that kid was far darker than you. Sigh, better not mention it.”
Memories too painful to recall—just thinking about being made to serve like cattle for three years by a junior brought tears to his eyes. Though the methods were different now, the result was the same.
People live with a face, trees live with bark—and he, a famed doctor of the world, must honor his word. Even if this girl hadn’t made him sign a contract, he wouldn’t go back on his promise. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have behaved obediently while with Bei Chen Yuan. Bei Chen Yuan hadn’t restricted him; he simply couldn’t escape, so he obeyed out of necessity.
Jiang Yueli wasn’t surprised he recognized her identity so quickly, though she was curious about the person he mentioned who was even darker than her.
Because of his injured leg, Chu Fengchun couldn’t walk fast. Jiang Yueli gave him some food and water to restore his strength. As dusk approached, it was clear they couldn’t descend the mountain tonight. Spending the night in the wild was too dangerous—they had to find a safe spot.
“On the way up, I saw a cave. We should stay there tonight and descend at dawn,” Jiang Yueli suggested.
Chu Fengchun, more experienced with the mountain’s dangers, nodded. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he leaned on Jiang Yueli, limping along until they reached the cave.
The cave wasn’t large—three meters high, two meters wide, and about four or five meters deep. It looked like it might have once been the den of a large animal, as there were traces of droppings, now dried. Jiang Yueli carefully scanned the cave, ensuring there were no immediate dangers, and they settled into a corner.
While light still allowed her to see, Jiang Yueli collected some dry branches. The cave was dark and damp; without lighting a fire, nothing could be seen. A small fire made it more comfortable.
“You haven’t told me your identity yet… why did you come looking for me?” Chu Fengchun asked, stirring the fire with a stick. Flames leapt and crackled.
Jiang Yueli smiled and didn’t hide the truth.
“I’m the daughter of the Zhenyuan General’s Mansion in Nanyao. My grandmother has had a persistent leg illness. I heard the Divine Doctor Chu Fengchun could heal her, so I went to your residence. When I found you weren’t there and learned you were gathering herbs on Tianmen Mountain, I came directly. Unexpectedly, I ended up saving you instead,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
Chu Fengchun’s mood soured. She had leverage over him, even though she sought his help. Clever girl, indeed. Her one-year claim in exchange for saving his life was fair. Compared to the three-year debt for half a ginseng root he’d endured with Bei Chen Yuan, this was a better deal.
“Nanyao’s Zhenyuan General’s Mansion? Do you know who I am?” Chu Fengchun asked cautiously.
The girl was bold—she was from Nanyao, and he was from Bei Chen. Did she not fear accusations of treason?
Jiang Yueli understood the question’s intent. But in her view, a doctor served all, regardless of borders. Chu Fengchun had no national restriction in her eyes. To be cautious, she concealed his true identity and presented him as an ordinary old man—just enough to assist her father. Her goal in securing his one-year “service” was to place him near her father to protect him in battle.
“Doctors know no borders. Saving lives is their duty. Isn’t your aid to Nanyao’s people sincere?” Jiang Yueli said firmly.
Chu Fengchun was stunned. Could such principled words come from such a cunning little girl?
“Well said. In gratitude for saving my life, I will honor my word. You shall have my service whenever needed for one year,” he said without reservation.
Satisfied with his genuine compliance, Jiang Yueli added, “Also, to protect you, we’ll keep your identity hidden for now. Though I don’t mind your title, it’s safer not to reveal it.”
Chu Fengchun nodded in understanding. Jiang Yueli let him rest while she stayed awake. He knew he needed to recover to descend safely the next day. Before sleep, he gave her a small pouch of beast-repelling powder to sprinkle at the cave entrance.
Though cautious, Jiang Yueli finally allowed herself a brief nap against the stone wall. Whether thanks to the powder or luck, no animals approached that night.
At dawn, with birds and insects singing, Jiang Yueli stretched. Chu Fengchun had not yet awakened, so she went hunting. Soon, she returned with two rabbits and a wild chicken. She placed one rabbit in her space for later, leaving one rabbit and the wild chicken for them to share.
She lit a fire, cleaned the game, and prepared it for roasting. When Chu Fengchun awoke, the delicious aroma roused him. Confined in the crevice for days, he had been starved of comforts. The sight and smell of roasted meat filled him with delight.
Jiang Yueli’s roasting skills were excellent—the rabbit and chicken were golden, sizzling with juices, and the scent filled the cave. They quickly ate, careful not to linger. With Chu Fengchun’s injury and the dangers of deep mountain wilderness, lingering too long could attract wolves or other beasts, leaving them with no escape.