Chapter 489

When the rain stopped, the first ray of dawn also shone on the wharf.

The strictly regulated Winter Prison was buried underground and had been operating under the Divine Capital's security system for nine years; now that the victims had seen the light of day and the evidence was conclusive, the Taiping Taiping Cao Bang no longer had any barriers.

Di Jiu, who had become famous for taking on the case alone, was now sitting in a wheelchair, his lips still pale, leaning over the desk to verify everything that had been searched and reported.

Pei Ye, who had bandaged his wounds slightly, leaned to the side: "Are there any fish that slipped through the net?"

Di Jiu shook his head: "You killed all the big ones; as for the small fry, let them slip if they slip."

He turned his head to look at Pei Ye: "When I sent you, I was still thinking about what to do with an Immortal Platform head; you had no authority, and Tongjun only said you would be of great use when necessary... I just didn't expect it to be this kind of use."

"Was it useful?"

"Useful, useful," Di Jiu sighed lightly, but seeing that both their faces were equally pale, like sick ghosts, he couldn't help but laugh, "Although we both almost met the King of Hell, the suffering I endured seems to be less than yours."

Pei Ye also laughed: "This is because my True Qi hasn't recovered, so I appear weak; in a few hours, I'll be much better. But if you want to stand up and walk, I'm afraid it will take weeks or months."

"..." Di Jiu lowered his head to flip through the ledger, "The divine physician from Mount Taishan Medicine Hut said I'll be seven or eight-tenths better within half a month."

Pei Ye "Oh"ed and tilted his neck, paused: "Mount Taishan Medicine Hut indeed has superb medical skills... it's just that the fees are too expensive."

"..." Di Jiu looked at him strangely, "Are you very short of money?"

"Living in Changan is not easy."

The two chatted idly until several clerks from outside the courtyard carried the West Hall's wharf account books in; several small mountain-like stacks of books fell heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Di Jiu put down his pen and nodded with satisfaction: "There is much to be gleaned from the dealings here."

Pei Ye's expression changed slightly, remembering the memory of searching account books in Xiangzhou City years ago; he covered his arm and left, boarding the carriage that had been waiting outside the courtyard.

The Taiping Taiping Cao Bang was too huge an organization; sorting out the bones and veins from its corpse would always take two or three days. Pei Ye intended to wash his hands of it, rest for two days, and then go directly to the Cultivation Library to ask for the results.

As for now, he really had to go to the medical clinic to take a look.

Although he said he would be much better after his True Qi recovered, that was based on his experience of heavy injury and combat; his current injuries were not fatal, but they could by no means be considered light—for example, at least within ten days, he could only hold his sword with his left hand.

According to Di Jiu's instructions, Pei Ye came to the East Street of the Cultivation Workshop; the nearest Mount Taishan Medicine Hut medical building was indeed standing here, looking much the same as the one in Shao Long Prefecture, also seven stories high. Pei Ye walked into the main hall, his external wounds were too conspicuous, so a physician immediately came to ask and led him into a quiet room on the fifth floor.

It was still a reassuring environment; the heavy wooden door closed, leaving only silence. There were no windows, and a few bright fire candles provided moderate light. After registering his name and taking a blood sample, the physician asked him to wait quietly, saying that someone suitable would be arranged to treat him soon.

Pei Ye lay on the clean bed and waited quietly; he was already somewhat familiar with this specially shaped bed—it was comfortable to lie on, and it was also convenient to hand over certain parts of his body. He thought about these thoughtful measures everywhere and couldn't help but sigh again at the staggering consultation fee.

After waiting for who knows how long, the door behind him was finally pushed open, and a light, clean footstep walked in.

Pei Ye lay there and said muffledly: "Physician, can you list a bill for all the expenses here in a while?"

He would take it to Xu Chuo or the Three Offices to pay later... he thought.

Then the girl's indifferent voice sounded behind him: "You've been in the Divine Capital for more than ten days, are you still this poor?"

Pei Ye's body stiffened, and he slowly turned his head.

Behind him, Qu Xin was lowering her head to take out acupuncture tools; she was still in a simple, light gray long robe, her slightly parted hair tied up, her young, cold, clean face looking like she was chatting about daily life.

Pei Ye was silent for a moment, turned his head back, and lay on the bed again: "Why are you here?"

"You are my untreated patient; naturally, I followed you to the Divine Capital," Qu Xin washed her hands carefully and put on cold hand-gloves. "But I waited for you at the Divine Capital medical building for ten days, and you never came back."

Pei Ye was stunned and opened his mouth. At this time, he remembered that when he ascended the Jade Sword Terrace with his lonely sword, he indeed hadn't told the girl; later, when he came to the Divine Capital with injuries, he felt much better after getting out of prison. Under Qi Zhaohua's arrangement, he received medicine, but he had never thought that she would follow him over. Without knowing his whereabouts, she had waited for ten days at the medical building.

It was also because he had left the medical building as a patient; after finishing his business, he should have returned to the medical building.

The youth was somewhat moved, but felt a bit embarrassed, and said: "Then you didn't have to run so far."

"No," Qu Xin said indifferently, "When you left the Shao Long medical building, you didn't cancel the medical cabinet; I kept it for you for three more days, you need to pay another twenty-one taels of silver."

"... Are you sick?"

Qu Xin walked up and waved her hand to fetch a basin of clear water: "Take off your clothes."

Pei Ye took off his top muffledly, revealing the turned-out flesh and twisted arm, and said in a low voice: "Right arm broken, with shattered parts; one knife wound on the abdomen and back each, deep to the bone, plus several internal injuries."

Qu Xin's cold hands rested on his spine, which was hot from the injury; gentle True Qi spread through his body, while her other hand recorded the injuries.

"Then are you just coincidentally in this medical building?"

"No, they called me after they knew you came," Qu Xin said. "You are someone I have recorded; in the future, if you get injured and come to Mount Taishan Medicine Hut, I will be the priority to treat you."

"... You seem a bit presumptuous..."

"I don't record everyone I treat; it's because your constitution is quite special."

"What's special about my constitution?"

"Easy to save."

"..."

"And you get injured at every turn, and every time it's different."

Pei Ye suspected he heard a trace of faint satisfaction in this tone, but he didn't have time to question it, because soon the girl pressed a small elixir against his mouth. Pei Ye recognized it; it was for anesthetizing patients before surgery. He opened his mouth and swallowed it, soon falling into a drowsy sleep.

When he woke up again, all the wounds had been properly bandaged, and his body felt a warm, lazy comfort; he must have taken something internally as well.

Qu Xin was brewing a small pot of medicine nearby while studying medical books.

Even though she always made him roll his eyes, he had to admit that this girl's medical skills were simply miraculous. Pei Ye waved his right arm slightly and felt that he could already hold a sword.

"Are you going back to Shao Long after treating me?" Pei Ye turned his head.

"Hmm, there are still a few medicinal herbs in other prefectures I want to see," Qu Xin didn't look up. "But I often return to the Divine Capital. There are many difficult and complicated cases here, and people don't default on consultation fees."

"..." Pei Ye pretended not to understand, "Then if you are going back to Shao Long, help me bring a letter by the way."