Chapter 144: Li Ping'an's Recovery

The rear Yi Yuan was set up in a dilapidated temple, and the icicles hanging from the eaves looked like transparent curtains. Li Ping'an lay on a makeshift bed of planks, staring blankly at the spiderweb strung across the beam. His leg injury throbbed like a drill in his heart, yet his mind was filled with the brothers at the front.

Still trying to act tough? Lin Xueqing came in carrying a tray of medicine, the hem of her white coat stained with mud spots, and she said the whole medical team counted on you to be the most dishonest.

Li Ping'an forced a strained smile, loosening his clenched jaw: The brothers are fighting for their lives in the snow, and I'm just idling here......

Idle? Lin Xueqing lifted the gauze, revealing pus and blood mixed with ice shards; another two days and your leg will have to be sawed off!

While changing the dressing, Li Ping'an winced in pain, shivering, and as she turned to prepare medicine, he quietly retrieved Spiritual Spring from the space and took two swallows. A coolness slid down his throat, and the burning pain in the wound eased considerably.

Strange. When Lin Xueqing returned, she was stunned; the swelling had subsided far too quickly.

We've been training in martial arts since childhood, so we recover fast. Li Ping'an quickly changed the subject: any news from the front?

The enemy launched a counterattack along the 37th line. Lin Xueqing re‑bandaged, her technique gentle; your battalion is now led by an instructor, and yesterday they captured an enemy ammunition depot.

Li Ping'an just exhaled in relief when he noticed the dark bruises under her eyes: Haven't you slept for days?

The wounded keep being sent here, and there are too few doctors, so I have to do the rescue. She forced a smile and said a young soldier missed home, crying under a blanket at night......

Snowflakes drifted outside the window, and the charcoal brazier crackled. Li Ping'an slipped another sip of Spiritual Spring, feeling a surge in his body: How are the wounded doing?

Mostly frostbite. Lin Xueqing sat on the bedside, her cotton pants frozen to her leg; a tear ripped skin and flesh... before she could finish speaking, she suddenly turned her head.

Li Ping'an saw her shoulders trembling slightly. This girl who never blinks during surgery was now as fragile as paper. He hesitated, then handed her the water flask: Have some hot water.

Lin Xueqing took it, took a sip, and her eyes widened suddenly: This water......

I made this remedy myself. Li Ping'an hurriedly interrupted, It invigorates the mind and speeds recovery!

She glanced thoughtfully at the flask and said no more. From the Yi Yuan came the sound of horse hooves, and the messenger shouted: Doctor Lin, a new batch of medicines has arrived!

They're here! As she rose, she swayed, and Li Ping'an instinctively reached out to steady her. A strand of hair brushed his cheek, carrying a faint scent of lily water.

Take a rest. He frowned, If you keep pushing yourself to the breaking point and collapse, if you collapse, no one will rescue us wounded!

Lin Xueqing pointed outside the door: Another dozen or so snow‑blind soldiers have just arrived.

After she left, Li Ping'an tried moving his injured leg and found he could bend it. The Spiritual Spring worked too well; he was both pleased and worried it might arouse suspicion.

He was woken in the middle of the night by moans from the next room; after drinking Spiritual Spring he decided to help. Leaning on his crutch, he moved to the doorway of the ward and saw Lin Xueqing changing a wound, humming a Jiangnan folk tune.

What, you're up? She looked up, saw him, and hurried to help him.

He heard a sound. Li Ping'an noticed a dry golden dahlia pinned to her collar, this flower......

It was sent by that little girl from Han City. She whispered, having followed the evacuation team to the rear.

The kerosene lamp flickered intermittently. A feverish young soldier shouted that he was cold; Lin Xueqing draped her own coat over him. Li Ping'an silently moved the charcoal brazier closer, the firelight lighting up the side of her face.

What are your plans for the future? he broke the silence.

When we win, I want to open a small clinic. I tuck the blankets for the wounded, and asked, 'And you?'

I'll make sure to take good care of my sister in Beiping and watch over her family. Li Ping'an smiled, When I'm a bit better, I'll treat the wounded together with you.

Lin Xueqing: You're still a wounded yourself; just take good care of yourself, okay?

It's fine; I might be able to walk normally tomorrow. He pointed to his injured leg, See, now I can walk slowly!

At that moment a wounded patient wouldn't stop coughing; after taking his pulse, Li Ping'an said, 'Your lung meridian is hot.' He pulled a small paper packet from his pocket, powdered loquat leaf, and gave him a sip.

Strangely enough, the patient recovered shortly after drinking it. Lin Xueqing looked at him in surprise: You're really something!

Just average, third in the world. Li Ping'an smugly stroked his non‑existent beard, saying that when peace returns, we'll open a clinic together— you Western medicine, I Chinese medicine.

Both were stunned by the remark. Lin Xueqing's ears flushed red as she lowered her head to organize the medicine box. Li Ping'an quickly coughed, I meant......

Report! The messenger burst in through the snow, Battalion Commander! The enemy has broken through the defenses; the wounded must be evacuated immediately!

The tense atmosphere dispelled the awkwardness. Lin Xueqing immediately organized the evacuation, and Li Ping'an helped gather the equipment. Though his leg injury hadn't healed cleanly, he always managed to find the most effortless way to lift the stretcher.

Your technique is impressive. Lin Xueqing couldn't help but praise.

The Eight Extremities Fist trains for clever force. He planted one leg on the ground and steadily lifted the stretcher.

The evacuation convoy staggered through the snowy night. A young patient was feverish and babbling nonsense; Lin Xueqing gave him the last piece of medicine. Li Ping'an saw her steps faltering and quietly dripped Spiritual Spring into her flask.

Take a sip of water. He handed over the flask, Don't overexert yourself.

Lin Xueqing tasted it carefully: This water is indeed unusually sweet......

Li Ping'an's heart leapt, but he saw she had already turned to tend to other wounded. The snow fell heavier, and he, holding the rear guard, suddenly grabbed Lin Xueqing: There's a situation!

Gunfire cracked. Enemy troops flanked from the side, the guard squad returned fire, and the stretcher team descended into chaos.

Prioritize the wounded! Li Ping'an shoved Lin Xueqing forward, ducking behind a tree himself. He grabbed a stone, hurled it with force, and a machine gun went silent with a pop.

Battalion Commander! On the right! Tie Zhu arrived with the reinforcement unit.

Li Ping'an targeted the enemy's weak points, and despite his crippled legs, his technique was precise. In the melee he saw Lin Xueqing rescuing a wounded, and a bullet struck the tree beside her.

Watch out! He tackled her, and they rolled into a shell crater. The woman in his arms was as light as a feather, yet her heartbeat thumped loudly.

Injured? Both shouted in unison.

Gunfire thinned, and Tie Zhu reported the enemy repelled. Li Ping'an helped Lin Xueqing to her feet, noticing her palm was scraped. Just as he was about to fetch Spiritual Spring, she pressed his hand: Let's go back and talk later.

At daybreak they arrived at the new settlement, a deserted mine shaft. The wounded huddled by the campfire for warmth; after Li Ping'an settled them, he saw Lin Xueqing washing bandages in the snow at the cave entrance.

Here you go. He handed over the flask, a family‑secret formula.

This time she didn't decline; after drinking, she examined the flask: Li Ping'an, you have many mysteries about you.

When we win, I'll tell you slowly. He said softly.

The sunrise leapt over the mountain peak, the snow glinting with golden light. Lin Xueqing slipped a dried golden dahlia into his hand: Keep this for me; when spring comes, we'll plant it by the Han River.

Distant artillery fire resumed, but this time the two parallel rows of footprints in the snow felt more tangible than anything else.