Chapter 352: He

After Yue Fei's death, Qin Gui's reputation was already ruined.

He was condemned by all, with the people's resentment boiling over; now, when the common folk heard that Doctor Shi was colluding with Qin Gui, their loathing was plain to see.

Why abandon being a proper human and become a beast?

Doctor Shi was met with hostile glares and a grim face; he could only choose between bringing honor to his family or serving Qin Gui—he chose to serve Qin Gui, and thus his family was shamed.

"Master Gu, as healers, our priority is curing the sick and saving lives."

Doctor Shi said, unwilling to continue the topic.

"Fine, fine, fine."

Gu Qing said: "What's wrong with me curing and saving lives in Hangzhou?"

Gu Qing did not press Doctor Shi further on Qin Gui, primarily because Xu Xian had not yet formally married, and Bai Suzhen had not yet been won over—he chose to present himself as a modest gentleman.

"Of course it's wrong—grossly wrong!"

Doctor Shi said: "All the people you treat are my long-term patients—you're deliberately stealing them from me!"

The patients Doctor Shi treated all bore invisible "hooks" inside their bodies; after a while, they would be compelled to return to him. He used this method to acquire a grand house in Lin'an. Now that he saw Gu Qing could remove these hooks, Doctor Shi naturally panicked.

"Doctor Shi, that's your mistake. The legs belong to the patients—they'll go wherever they can be cured quickly and cheaply…"

As Gu Qing spoke, he casually glanced at Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, who stood silently among the crowd, observing. His heart stirred—he felt today was truly divinely guided, that Doctor Shi had come to him on his own. He added: "Using strange herbs in secret to damage the body and force patients to return to you—that is not the way of a healer."

The moment he uttered "secretly using strange herbs," the old woman beside Li Qingzhao stiffened, remembering her own chronic ailment.

"Don't spout nonsense!"

Doctor Shi shouted: "If you don't believe me, let's compete…"

As he spoke, Gu Qing stepped forward, standing before Doctor Shi, and with a golden needle, lightly pierced his skin. The furious Doctor Shi felt a sudden dizziness; when he turned his head, Gu Qing appeared to be leaning crookedly against the ground. He sneered: "Gu Qing, what trick are you playing? Trying to scare me by standing crooked?"

After shouting at Gu Qing, Doctor Shi looked around and saw everyone else leaning crookedly. He snapped back to awareness and saw Gu Qing holding a mirror before him.

In the mirror, Doctor Shi saw his own eyes askew, his mouth constantly twitching into a crooked grin.

"Doctor Shi, your eyes are crooked."

Among the onlookers admiring the peach blossoms, someone who knew Doctor Shi called out loudly.

Seeing his own twisted eyes and mouth in the mirror, Doctor Shi turned pale with shock. He hurriedly took his own pulse and examined himself, but after frantic efforts, achieved no result.

"Do you know why?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

The ordeal had left Doctor Shi ashen-faced and speechless. Gu Qing leaned close and whispered: "You see things crooked because your heart is crooked."

After speaking these words, Gu Qing calmly withdrew the needle. The man's crooked eyes and mouth gradually returned to normal, his gaze straightening.

But though his eyes were restored, his face was utterly ruined. In the peach grove, all witnesses had seen that Doctor Shi was far inferior to Doctor Gu—his reputation was shattered.

Gu Qing walked over to Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing and asked with a smile: "Does this interfere with our continued stroll?"

"Of course not."

Bai Suzhen said gently: "You were attending to something important just now." As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Qing twice.

The three walked slowly through the hills, admiring the peach blossoms. Xiao Qing had not yet let go of her resentment toward Bai Suzhen; she felt that in just two days away, Bai Suzhen had not only drawn near to Gu Qing but also taken over her home. Her words carried subtle barbs, but Bai Suzhen only smiled lightly, without sharpness, her eyes constantly scanning the crowd, searching for her benefactor.

"Are you looking for someone?"

Gu Qing asked tentatively.

Bai Suzhen nodded slightly. Gu Qing, favored by the Queen of Flowers and possessing sufficient virtue, was someone she trusted. She said: "I owe a debt of gratitude that I must repay before I can attain true enlightenment. Before coming to Hangzhou, a master divined for me—he said today, he would appear."

The twenty-second day is the Festival of Flowers; on Bao Family Hill, peach blossoms bloom like brocade. Those destined to meet, though a thousand miles apart, will find each other; an old friend reins his steed, saddle in hand.

Hearing this, Gu Qing realized the original prophecy had changed. Thinking that Xu Xian would marry in four days, he scanned the crowd and asked: "How do you plan to repay your benefactor?"

Bai Suzhen shook her head: "I haven't decided yet. I'm only one trial away from completion. Once I repay the debt, I will leave the mortal world forever."

Bai Suzhen was confident she would depart.

Gu Qing's gaze turned toward Xu Xian's position. On the mountain path beside the peach grove, Pei Yaoqin was about to enter her bridal sedan, while Pei family members helped Xu Xian onto a tall, fine horse.

To be honest, this was awkward for Xu Xian. Though educated, he had little experience riding horses; during his journey from Suzhou to Hangzhou in the drama, he had traveled by sedan.

Now, after being helped and steadied, he finally sat properly on the horse. The Pei family led the reins ahead, and Xu Xian sat firmly in place.

"Look at my disciple—is he like your benefactor?"

Gu Qing asked directly: "He's just mounted his horse."

Bai Suzhen followed Gu Qing's gaze and saw Xu Xian seated on the horse. To be honest, she had seen Xu Xian before, but back then, the Queen of Flowers had so dazzled him that his eyes were fixed on her—Bai Suzhen had judged him as ordinary.

Now, hearing his name, she recalled his hatred of snakes. So when she looked at Xu Xian, she held no hope—she merely followed Gu Qing's lead and cast a subtle spell to observe him.

In an instant, Bai Suzhen's gaze pierced through seventeen hundred years, seeing Xu Xian's many past lives—and before that, the little shepherd boy who had saved him.

"It's truly him!"

Bai Suzhen lowered her hands, staring blankly as Xu Xian rode the fine horse, calmly passing beneath the hill. Her heart grew chaotic and unsettled.

"Well?"

Gu Qing smiled cheerfully: "Doesn't my disciple look like a groom? He's about to marry."

"What?"

Bai Suzhen was startled again.

(End of Chapter)