Chapter 14: I'm Dead Serious This Time

Ying Ran's face showed a hint of hesitation, then she knelt in front of the man, saying, "Thanks a bunch, Mister. But there's another favor I'd like to ask. I hope you can grant it." With that, she immediately kowtowed on the ground.

"Go on, spill it," the man replied nonchalantly, but he didn't signal for Ying Ran to get up.

"I have a younger sister who has also learned some medical knowledge from our mother since childhood. I hope Mister can take her in as well," Ying Ran, still on her knees, raised her head and made her request.

"Oh? Where is she now?" The man immediately used his finger to point at Ying Huan Huan, who was gnawing on a chicken leg at the table. "Over there, the one with the twin braids."

Following Ying Ran's pointing finger, the man looked in that direction. He thought the younger sister looked cute and, since she had some medical knowledge, she could stay around as an apprentice. As for the Heartless Sect Master's side, it wouldn't be an issue to demand two girls with his status.

He turned back, lowered his head, and said to Ying Ran, "I agree. Now, are you ready to be my disciple?"

Overjoyed, Ying Ran immediately bowed three times, chanting a phrase with each bow, "Disciple Ying Ran pays respects to Master."

The man smiled in satisfaction, motioning for her to stand. "Get up. If you knock yourself silly, it won't be worth the trouble."

Ying Ran chuckled at the man's words and stood up. She asked, "Master, shall I fetch Huan Huan to pay her respects as well?"

The man gestured for her to wait. "Not in a hurry. Let me first inform the Heartless Sect Master. You're not ordinary kids. It's better to inform him first."

Ying Ran understood the situation and nodded appreciatively, displaying a grateful demeanor.

While Dong Li Er was eating, her attention was on Ying Ran's side. Judging from the Goatbeard Man's behavior, he seemed to hold some authority here. It was worth paying attention to him, and who knows, she might get some information about this place.

After Ying Ran finished her conversation, and everyone had almost finished eating, Goatbeard Man walked to the table. He asked, "Anyone else needs treatment? If not, I'm off to bed." With that, he stretched lazily.

"Sir, I still have some external injuries. Could you take a look?" After observing the man's treatment of Cong Wen Hu, Wang Ba spoke up, no longer holding back.

The man glanced at Wang Ba, then slightly leaned forward to look at the people behind him. He then sat back, instructing the medicine boy behind him, "Ping Er, give each of them an invigorating pill. Ze Er, give each of them a bottle of the white porcelain medicine."

"Many thanks, sir, many thanks." Wang Ba led the others in expressing gratitude, bowing respectfully towards the man.

Waving his hand dismissively, the man didn't say much. Wang Ba and the others understood and immediately dispersed.

After sitting for a while, the man saw Ying Ran was almost done eating. He bent down and said, "Alright, my disciple, stay here for now. Once I've sorted things out, I'll take you out."

Ying Ran nodded, "I understand."

Then the man took the two medicine boys and left through the gate, heading towards the Autumn Maple Pavilion on the mountaintop under the moonlight.

"Sis, did he accept you as his disciple?" Ying Huan Huan's eyes were full of surprise, both happy for her sister and somewhat melancholic.

"Yeah, Master..." Ying Ran hesitated for a moment, intending to say that Master had agreed to take both of them as disciples. However, she held back, thinking it would be better to give her sister a surprise when Master had confirmed it.

Ying Huan Huan's eyes welled up with tears, seemingly blocked by cotton, and she choked for a while before slowly saying, "Sis, I'm really happy for you."

After speaking, she nestled into Ying Ran's embrace, wanting to feel the warmth of her sister's hug again, but she wondered if there would be such an opportunity in the future.

Ying Ran allowed her sister to hold her. After her emotions had calmed down a bit, she stood up and left. Watching Ying Huan Huan's back, Ying Ran had a strange feeling that her sister seemed to have grown up in this moment.

.........

On the candlelit stand, the wick danced with the evening breeze, casting flickering shadows on Goatbeard Man's figure. Amused by the sight, he looked out of the window, realizing he had been sitting here for about a quarter of an hour, and the Sect Master hadn't shown up yet.

"You brat, back when I saved you, it was with all due respect. Now you're acting like you don't even know me," the man grumbled, beginning to vent his frustrations.

Listening to Goatbeard Man's complaints, the Heartless Sect Master chuckled from behind the screen, then walked around it, approaching the man. "After all these years, Hu Yao Shi's temper hasn't changed a bit."

"You little rascal, it's all because of you that I'm in this state. You know, I have three things I despise: walking, waiting for others, and being threatened. Yet here I am, waiting for you. I'm cursing you justifiably," Goatbeard Man said, looking irritated as he reached for an empty teacup and presented it to the Heartless Sect Master.

The Sect Master remained unfazed; he found the banter somewhat endearing. "Hu Yao Shi, enjoy the tea."

Even though Goatbeard Man grumbled about the Sect Master's mockery, he wore a smile on his face, showing he took no offense.

"By the way, I'd like to talk to you about two people," Goatbeard Man casually mentioned after blowing on the tea and taking a sip.

"Oh? Which two have caught your eye this time?" The Heartless Sect Master spoke nonchalantly, his eyes seemingly glancing towards the two medicine boys waiting outside.

Feigning ignorance of the look, Goatbeard Man grinned. "They are in the Wuyuan. There's a girl with remarkable medical talent, and I initially wanted to take her in. But she has a sister, and it seems I have to take them both to soothe my disciple's heart."

"You said the same thing last time," the Sect Master replied without lifting his head.

"You... Hmph, this time I'm dead serious," Goatbeard Man said, pretending to be angry and turning away.

Unperturbed, the Heartless Sect Master smiled and poured a full cup of tea for Goatbeard Man. "Hu Yao Shi, enjoy the tea."

Glancing at the tea in his cup, Goatbeard Man grumbled, "You little rascal, you're not cutting me any slack. You're just mocking me with this tea."

Although he complained, Goatbeard Man's face showed nothing but contentment, and he drank the tea with gusto.

"By the way, I want to discuss taking in these two. I know they're different from ordinary people. If you insist, I can only take one," Goatbeard Man said, suddenly serious.

"Why is that?" the Sect Master asked.

"They are descendants of Physician Yan," the Heartless Sect Master replied truthfully, trusting Goatbeard Man with this information.

Knowing the significance of Physician Yan in the medical world, Goatbeard Man's expression turned solemn. Although he personally didn't believe the accusations against Yan, the circumstances were beyond his control. Feeling a pang of regret, he decided to take this chance to bring Yan's descendants under his wing.

"I want both of them," Goatbeard Man said with determination.

"In that case, you can't have either. Choose one," the Heartless Sect Master insisted.

With a wry smile, Goatbeard Man knew the Sect Master's unyielding nature. Although he had insisted on taking both, he couldn't make up his mind at that moment.

"Fine, fine. I'll take one. Let me talk to them first and then let you know which one I'll take," Goatbeard Man conceded, waving his hand as he left.

The Heartless Sect Master nodded, then picked up the teapot, pouring himself another cup of tea. Sipping it leisurely, he paid no more attention to the departing man.

Goatbeard Man, muttering to himself, walked out. "You little rascal, when you need my help, I'll make sure to raise my price. Hmph, hmph~"

......

A Good Night's Sleep

Aside from the hard bed and thin mattress, Dong Lier felt like the room itself was subpar. Nevertheless, she was content. At least, she didn't have to worry about wind and rain. Satisfaction, it seemed, was a matter of comparison.

When Dong Lier woke up, the sky was just beginning to brighten. She pushed the door open, finding the others still asleep. She returned to her room to stretch and practice some martial arts, taking advantage of the quiet morning.

As Dong Lier was finishing her routine, she heard the sound of a gong outside.

"Get up, everyone!"

Responding to the call, they saw a man in black leading a group of children dressed in gray standing in the courtyard.

"You have fifteen minutes to change your clothes. Run around the mountain, and the first ones back can have breakfast. Those who come later will go hungry."

With these words, the man in black signaled the gray-clad attendants to distribute black clothes in front of everyone's doors. Afterward, they retreated and brought in another batch of people, placing the same dishes from the previous night on the tables.

Dong Lier, with a hint of suspicion, recalled the information she gathered. There were supposed to be three life-and-death trials upon entering the Heartless Sect. However, running around the mountain didn't seem like the third trial.

The others, hearing the man in black, rushed to change. Wang Ba and the rest quickly disappeared as soon as the gong sounded. Dong Lier and her companions, Ah Long, Cong Wenhu, and He Fei, were among the last ones.

"You don't need to rush. I won't catch up. You go first," Cong Wenhu said.

"You look much better than yesterday, and your wounds haven't bled again," Dong Lier remarked, seemingly ignoring Cong Wenhu's words.

"It only hurts occasionally. It's really good medicine. Thank you," Cong Wenhu said, glancing at Dong Lier with gratitude.

"How about you, He Fei?" Dong Lier asked.

"The wounds have scabbed over. I just can't run fast. It's not because of pain," He Fei replied, giving Dong Lier a smile.

"That's good."

Dong Lier and her group continued their leisurely run. It was more like a brisk walk than a run.

After a while, Dong Lier began to feel hunger pangs. She regretted her impulsiveness in expressing her hunger to Ah Long, but she wasn't sure if it was due to exhaustion or embarrassment that her face turned a bit red.

Ah Long, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned. "Lier, you wait. I'll be right back." With that, he sprinted off. If Dong Lier hadn't been following him all this time, she would have suspected that a wild beast was chasing him from behind.

"Sorry, I've troubled you," Cong Wenhu said, panting.

"Don't think too much. I voluntarily decided to accompany you. I'm just really hungry. It was just a casual remark," Dong Lier quickly explained.

Cong Wenhu smiled, no longer concerned. His previous doubts about Dong Lier had completely disappeared. Dong Lier was a sincere and straightforward person. Even if she had ulterior motives for coming here, he believed she had her reasons, and he was willing to contribute to her cause.

Seeing the sun high in the sky but still unable to see the end of the road, He Fei and Cong Wenhu, exhausted, stopped and leaned against a tree root by the side of the road.

"I can't... Lier, I really... can't run anymore," He Fei gasped, unable to complete a sentence.

Cong Wenhu, looking equally pale, also had beads of cold sweat on his forehead. He could barely speak. "I can't... Dong Lier, you go ahead. We can't keep up."

Dong Lier, relatively unaffected compared to the two, felt a sense of urgency. Even though she was skilled, she could only bring one person with her.

Dong Lier was still contemplating her next move when she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Surprised, she wondered how someone could fall behind when her group was already at the back. She raised her eyes to carefully observe the person approaching and, as they drew nearer, she recognized him as Ah Long.

"Ah Long? How did you end up coming from behind?" Dong Lier asked.

"You mentioned being hungry, so I went to get some food," Ah Long replied.

As he spoke, Ah Long wiped the sweat beads from his face with his hand. Then, he crouched down, untied the coat strapped to his back, revealing several steamed buns, wild fruits, and something wrapped in layers of tree leaves.

"So... you ran back, then ran around to catch up with us again?" Dong Lier inquired.

Ah Long nodded.

Dong Lier looked at the person in front of her, drenched in sweat, and couldn't help but smile. She wasn't sure if she was laughing at his seemingly silly actions or just happy that someone would go to such lengths because of a casual remark she made.