Chapter Forty-Two: The Apprentice of the Sage of Medicine

“Sister Yuling, Madam is quite busy today, so you might need to wait a bit longer.”

“Can’t we see Madam first?”

“No, you know what she’s like.”

“Alright.” Helplessly, Yuling walked over to the two of them and apologized, “Lord Shengwu, Madam has a lot of patients today. I’m sorry, but we may have to wait a while.”

“It’s fine, Yuling. We’ll just sit and chat,” Ren Xingtian reassured her.

“Sister, you’re back?” A girl who looked exactly like Yuling walked over.

Yuling stepped forward happily, “Ying’er, I brought a few friends over for something. How are you?”

Yuying hugged her sister and gave her a kiss. “Busy, but I’m happy to see you.”

After exchanging a few words, Yuling introduced, “This is my younger sister, Yuying. This is Lord Shengwu and his… guide.”

Hearing this introduction, Ren Xingtian protested, “Why am I the guide now? Yuling, explain yourself. Little sister, I’m actually quite formidable.”

But Yuling ignored him and continued to speak to her sister. “Ying’er, Lord Shengwu is here to deliver something to Madam. Could you let us see her first?”

Yuying glanced back at Li Qiutong and asked, “What do you want to give to Master? I can pass it on for you.”

“It’s something very precious, entrusted to me by someone Madam once knew. I must give it to her personally,” Li Qiutong insisted. After all, Jianan had stressed the significance of the Jadeite Needle, so Li Qiutong dared not mention it casually.

Yuying felt a bit awkward at such a request, but seeing her sister’s pleading look, she finally relented. “I’ll explain it to Master, but whether she’ll agree to see you is not up to me.”

“Thank you, Ying’er.”

Li Qiutong also nodded gratefully. “Thank you. I trust she will agree.”

With that, Yuying walked into the inner room, opening a door that was left slightly ajar and entering carefully.

Inside, two people sat facing each other.

“Your illness isn’t serious. Relax, and make sure to eat on time. If you have any trouble, come find me.”

“Thank you, Madam. I don’t know how to repay you.”

The woman smiled. “Living in good health is the best thanks you can give me.”

After the man expressed his gratitude several more times, he left the clinic.

Seeing her exhausted master, Yuying stepped closer, her concern evident. “Master, if you’re tired, you should rest a bit. There aren’t many patients left today.”

Qin Shuyu waved her hand with a smile. “Ying, this is nothing. I’m fine.”

“Master, there’s something I want to ask you.”

While gathering up the things on her desk, Qin Shuyu said, “Go ahead, what is it?”

“My sister brought two people to the clinic today. They say they have something to give you,” Yuying said, carefully.

Qin Shuyu sighed, “Yuling? I should never have let her work at the hotel—too many different people around, not good for her.”

“So Master, you don’t want to see them?”

“Never mind. Since Yuling has brought them here, I’ll meet them,” Qin Shuyu said slowly.

“Alright. Thank you, Master. I’ll bring him in now.”

In the main hall.

Yuying walked up to the three who were waiting in boredom and said to Li Qiutong, “Master has agreed to see you. Please follow me.”

“Wait here for me. I’ll be back soon,” Li Qiutong said, picking up his bag and following Yuying inside.

When they reached Qin Shuyu’s room, Yuying knocked and announced, “Master, I’ve brought the visitor.”

“Come in,” a mature, gentle voice replied from within.

As Li Qiutong entered with Yuying, he was immediately struck by the intensified strange fragrance in the room. As his gaze settled, he finally saw the disciple his grandfather had spoken of.

A pale red dress accentuated her mature charm, yet her skin was so fair and delicate that it was hard to believe she was already in her thirties. Most striking was her beautiful face, where maturity and gentleness shone in her eyes, leaving a deep impression.

She looked up at Li Qiutong, her gaze filled with warmth and kindness. The love of beauty lives in everyone’s heart; perhaps this was why so many were drawn to Madam Qin.

“Master, this is Young Master Li Qiutong,” Yuying introduced.

Li Qiutong bowed slightly, avoiding Qin Shuyu’s gaze, and greeted her respectfully. “Hello, Madam Qin.”

Qin Shuyu nodded gently. “Hello, Young Master Li.” She was immediately favorably impressed by the young man before her: polite, gentlemanly, and with an air of uprightness.

With introductions complete, Qin Shuyu got straight to the point. “Young Master Li, you have something to give me?”

Li Qiutong glanced at Yuying. “It’s very valuable. I’d like to give it to Madam in private.”

Madam Qin was silent for a moment, then said to Yuying, “Ying’er, please step outside.”

Yuying wanted to stay, but seeing her master’s firm expression, she quietly left the room.

Seeing this, Li Qiutong expressed his gratitude. “Thank you for trusting me, Madam.”

“There’s something about your bearing that keeps me from doubting your intentions. Now, tell me—what is it you wish to give me?”

Li Qiutong nodded, took a slightly worn box and a creased letter from his bag, and handed them to Qin Shuyu. “The journey was a bit rough, so…”

Qin Shuyu smiled easily at his embarrassment. “It’s alright. These are for me?” As she spoke, she reached to open the somewhat old-fashioned box.

“Yes, my grandfather asked me to bring you this letter and…” Li Qiutong was cut off by Qin Shuyu’s gasp of surprise.

“This is…the Jadeite Needle.”

“That’s right, the Jadeite Needle,” Li Qiutong affirmed.

Suddenly, Qin Shuyu looked up at him, her expression grave. “Then your grandfather must be Li Baicao?”

After Li Qiutong confirmed once more, Qin Shuyu no longer looked at the sacred artifact of the healer. Her voice caught as she murmured, “I can’t believe he’s still alive, and that he has such a grown grandson now.” As she spoke, a tear of excitement fell onto the table.

Realizing Li Qiutong was still present, she wiped her tears with her sleeve, trying to compose herself before asking, “Is he… is he well?”

Li Qiutong could only answer honestly, “Grandfather passed away two months ago.”

That merciless news extinguished the hope that had just risen in Qin Shuyu’s heart. She could only cover her endless pain and disappointment with silence. Then she picked up the somewhat yellowed letter, opened it, and saw the familiar handwriting, neatly written as follows:

Yu’er, it’s been nearly twenty years since we last parted. I wonder how you have been. By the time you read this letter, I will likely have passed away long ago. I have long debated whether I should write to you at all, for perhaps all I can bring you is sorrow, but in the end I decided to write, to tell you about my experiences and thoughts over these twenty years.

All these years, I have saved countless lives. Many people are grateful to me, even admire me. Yet I have never felt any sense of accomplishment in my heart. Perhaps everything I have done was to make up for my failings towards my father. That’s why I left without warning, heading for Zhenbei Pass. I was very lonely then, and even considered giving up. But when I saw you come looking for me, for some reason hope and courage rekindled in my heart. You know what happened next: I was attacked, but perhaps fate was not ready to claim me, and so I survived by luck.

But after that, it was as if my heart had died. No matter how many lives I saved, it seemed I could never atone for what I owed my father. I lost all hope. I just wanted to live out the rest of my days in obscurity. Yet fate is unpredictable. Two years later, during a heavy snowfall, I found an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. I named him Li Qiutong. I watched him grow up day by day, cooked for him, told him stories. He accompanied me to gather herbs and grind medicines, just as my father had accompanied me all those years ago. Those days were the lightest and most comfortable of my life.

Later, when that boy suddenly wanted to learn martial arts, I gave him that bizarre manual we found by chance in Zhenbei Pass, hoping he’d give up. But to my surprise, he actually made something of it. Watching him persevere in his practice day after day, I realized I no longer wished to stop him. Everyone has the right to choose their path. I found satisfaction simply in seeing him happy. Perhaps that is what a true father feels: never blaming a child for their mistakes, but doing all one can to help them and rejoicing in their happiness. I think that’s how my father looked at me, too. I came to terms with myself, no longer feeling guilty, for with his support and trust, his son became the greatest healer in the land. And these are what I wish to give to Qiutong as well.

But as Qiutong grew older, I realized my own health was failing; the debts of the past must always be paid. You have probably met him already—a somewhat shy and simple child, one I think you will like. He is strong, but knows little of the world and the hearts of men. I hope you can help him. That is my one request of you.

Finally, perhaps by now you are married, with children of your own. But forgive me this confession, twenty years late: I want to tell you, I, Li Baicao, have always loved you. From the moment I saw you at eighteen in the Hundred Flowers Garden, I loved you. But I always held back, afraid your family would not approve of you marrying a man fifteen years your senior. That hesitation lasted twenty years. I regret it, but there is nothing I can do except bare my heart to you at the end of my life.

Forgive me, Yu’er. I hope that in the next life, I can meet you again at your most beautiful.

In the quiet sickroom, Qin Shuyu read the entire letter through her tears. For twenty years, she had always believed Li Baicao was still alive, always waiting for him—only to receive, at last, the words she had waited for, when the man himself was already gone.

Watching the tear-streaked Qin Shuyu, Li Qiutong had no idea what to say.

After a long while, Qin Shuyu finally steadied her emotions, looked up at Li Qiutong, and asked, “Qiutong, did your grandfather ever tell you about me?”

Hearing that familiar and gentle form of address, Li Qiutong was momentarily confused. “No, Grandfather only asked me to give you this letter and the Jadeite Needle, and said you were his only disciple.”

Qin Shuyu, not sure whether to feel joy or sorrow, found the child before her increasingly endearing.

“Qiutong, do you have any family left?” she asked.

Li Qiutong counted. “I have two sworn brothers, and a… guide.”

“Guide?” Qin Shuyu was amused by the strange term.

“Qiutong, your grandfather was once your only family, wasn’t he?” she asked gently.

Li Qiutong nodded, a little downcast.

Then, Qin Shuyu stood up, walked slowly over to him, and, gazing at the boy who was nearly her height, gently embraced him.

“It’s alright, child. Your grandfather entrusted you to me. I have no children of my own. Would you like to be my godson?”