“Don’t even mention it.” The girl in black stopped upon hearing Yu Sheng’s voice, then kicked the wheelchair irritably. “This guy went experimenting with medicines again! Not only did he cripple himself, but he also blinded me!”
The man in white spun around with the wheelchair, grabbing the armrests to steady himself. He smiled at Yu Sheng. “An accident, just an accident. We’ll recover within three months—nothing serious.”
Yu Sheng was still worried. “But how will you treat patients like this?”
“Don’t worry. Healing and killing are our specialties. Even if we were truly crippled and blind, it wouldn’t stop us from doing our work.” The man in white chuckled.
The servant beside them broke into a cold sweat. How could this eccentric speak of healing and killing as casually as eating and drinking?
The girl in black added, “If he were truly useless, he wouldn’t have traveled all the way here.”
“That’s good to hear.” Yu Sheng felt slightly reassured. “Let me take you to examine my father first. Later, I’ll host a banquet to welcome you.”
The man in white smiled. “The banquet can wait. As soon as I entered Lizhou Cheng, I heard you spent ten thousand taels of gold to bring the Sheng family as reinforcements?”
Yu Sheng thought to herself that bad news really travels fast. In just half a day, even the newly arrived Ghost Doctor had heard about Yujia’s troubles.
But upon hearing his words, she sensed his focus was likely on the “ten thousand taels of gold.”
Sure enough, the next moment he asked, “So, how much do you think your father’s life is worth?”
Without hesitation, Yu Sheng countered, “How much do you want?”
Their past goodwill was only enough to invite him here. To have the Ghost Doctor save a life naturally required a different price.
The man in white said leisurely, “Originally, my fee should never be lower than anyone else’s. But since we’re acquainted, I won’t be too greedy—”
“It’s fine. Just name your price.” Yu Sheng didn’t want to waste time on this.
Her only concern now was saving her father’s life. Though wealth and treasures were important, they couldn’t compare to a human life. Spending more was worth it.
“Very well.” The man in white smiled even more brightly. He took the girl in black’s wrist and declared to Yu Sheng with exaggerated solemnity, “The Ghost Doctor Ye Feibai, accompanied by my A-Mo, offers his services for a thousand taels of gold to save your father’s life.”
Kongqing, who had brought them here, was speechless: “…”
The servant stared in disbelief: “…”
Yu Sheng had no idea which version of the rumors Ye Feibai had heard, but she found it absurd that he would put on such an act at a time like this.
A-Mo was the first to lose patience. She shook off Ye Feibai’s hand and kicked the wheelchair again. “What’s with all this pretentious nonsense? Are you out of your mind?”
“Hey, how can you call this nonsense?” Ye Feibai released A-Mo’s wrist as if he had expected this, steadying the spinning wheelchair. “This is essential etiquette.”
“A thousand taels of gold it is, then.” Yu Sheng stepped forward to push Ye Feibai’s wheelchair.
Before he could speak again, she added, “Brother Ye’s etiquette is impeccable, but my father’s life hangs by a thread. We cannot afford any delay. Please come with me to save him.”
“Alright, you’re paying, so you call the shots.” Seeing her decisiveness, Ye Feibai followed Yu Sheng with A-Mo to Father Yu’s residence.
Guiyi did not allow outsiders to be present while treating patients, so only Ye Feibai and A-Mo remained in Father Yu’s room.
Yu Sheng had the servants prepare hot water, towels, and other necessities before having them all withdraw, closing the door behind them. Even she herself waited outside.
Uncle Li, having just finished handling the miscellaneous affairs of the estate, had someone bring an armchair for Yu Sheng to sit on.
Dicui quickly set up a small side table, placing two plates of pastries and a bowl of bird’s nest porridge on it, urging Yu Sheng to eat a few bites.
Yu Sheng sat in front of the door and ate two pastries. Her mind was preoccupied with her father, and she barely tasted the food, but for the sake of her health, she finished the entire bowl of porridge.
Uncle Li stared at the tightly closed door and said worriedly, “These two look so strange. Can they really save the master?”
The old steward thought to himself that it was only because the second master and the others were all kept busy by the eldest young lady’s order to check the accounts that they couldn’t attend to the master. If they had the time to come here, they would never have allowed these two odd individuals near the master’s sickbed.
The maidservants attended to Yu Sheng as she rinsed her mouth, clearing away the bowls and chopsticks. Feihong then presented a freshly brewed cup of Biluochun tea.
Yu Sheng took the teacup, lowered her head, and took a small sip. In a gentle voice, she said, “Guiyi Shengshou accepted my payment and will naturally do his utmost to save Father.”
“Guiyi Shengshou? Are these two odd individuals the legendary Guiyi Shengshou, who can revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bones? The one who, as long as he is willing to intervene, can snatch a person back from the King of Hell even if they have only one breath left?”
Uncle Li was greatly astonished. He spoke such a long sentence without pausing for breath that he nearly fainted from lack of air.
Yu Sheng replied, “Exactly.”
“Truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance,” Uncle Li sighed, then immediately clasped his hands together and prayed to the heavens and the gods.
He murmured incessantly, “May the gods protect us. Our master has done so many good deeds in his lifetime—distributing porridge and medicine every year, showing compassion for the poor and the weak. He is a truly good man. I beg the gods to grant him great fortune and a long life, and to let him wake up safely!”
While the old steward was continuously praying, Yu Xuan, who had returned to her room to wash up and change clothes, came over again.
Yu Xuan had clearly knelt for too long, injuring her legs, and her gait was unsteady.
Seeing this delicate half-sister who looked as if she might collapse with a gust of wind, Yu Sheng felt a sudden pang in her heart. “Didn’t I tell you to go back and rest?”
“I… I rested,” Yu Xuan said softly. “Father hasn’t woken up yet. Even if I wanted to sleep, I couldn’t.”
“Even if you can’t sleep, you must rest. The physicians are inside treating Father, and we must not disturb them.” Seeing Yu Xuan’s pitiful appearance, Yu Sheng reached out and patted her head. “Did you apply medicine to your knees?”
Yu Xuan hadn’t expected her elder sister, despite being so busy, to still care about her injured knees. For a moment, her heart was filled with warmth.
The young girl, who had endured hardship for so long, suddenly felt so moved by this kindness that she nearly burst into tears. Her eyes instantly grew moist, but fearing that her elder sister would dislike seeing her cry, she quickly lowered her head. “It’s nothing serious. It’ll heal in a couple of days.”
“So you haven’t applied any medicine?” Yu Sheng automatically interpreted the meaning behind her words and turned to ask Feihong to fetch some ointment.
She led Yu Xuan into the side room and personally applied the ointment to her knees.
“I… I can do it myself,” Yu Xuan said, utterly overwhelmed by the attention.
“After applying this, you need to use a skillful touch to work it in,” Yu Sheng explained patiently. “It’s inconvenient for you to do it alone. Lift your skirt, and I’ll apply it for you.”
Yu Xuan could no longer refuse and said, “Then… thank you, elder sister.”
Yu Sheng spent a long time applying the ointment to Yu Xuan’s knees and skillfully working it in. The two sisters, who had not been close before, ended up talking quite a bit today.
Yu Xuan finished dressing and pushed open the door, walking with Yu Sheng to Father Yu’s room. She murmured, “Will this doctor be able to cure Father?”
“Yes,” Yu Sheng’s voice was firm and calm. “Father will definitely recover.”
Hearing this, Yu Xuan, Uncle Li, and the others felt much more at ease.
He will recover.
He will definitely recover.
Everyone stood or sat outside the door until the sunlight in the courtyard gradually faded.
In the distance, the sun set in the west, and dusk enveloped the garden.
Ye Feibai and A-Mo had yet to emerge from the room, and the expressions of those waiting outside grew visibly heavy.
Uncle Li grew restless, pacing back and forth before the door.
Yu Xuan looked at Yu Sheng, several times on the verge of speaking but holding back.
Even Yu Sheng was about to ask Ye Feibai inside the room, “How is Father?” when suddenly, a hidden arrow shot from the eaves, aimed directly at Yu Xuan’s face.
Yu Sheng keenly sensed the danger and immediately pulled Yu Xuan aside…