Chapter 167: 【Trouble Arrives】 (Part 2)

The one who sealed Zhou Ju's acupoint was a scholar; he wore a khaki-colored long robe, his hair tied in a Daoist-style topknot, with long eyebrows and narrow eyes, a sinister expression, and spoke in a low voice: "If you want to live, just come with us honestly."

Knowing the times makes a hero; now that we've fallen into enemy hands, struggling and resisting only brings self‑harm. Hu Xiaotian nodded and smiled: "Sir, I don't seem to know you—did you get the wrong person?"

The scholar said, "Exactly! It's you we want!" He and another man hauled Hu Xiaotian and Liang Da Zhuang to their feet, pushing them toward a nearby residence. As they reached the gate, the door opened and a short, fat man stepped out, saying, "Third brother, did you get him?"

The scholar had them bring the captives inside, then he stayed behind to look out, making sure no one was following before closing the gate and barring the door from within.

Although Hu Xiaotian hadn't been in Qingyun long, he had already offended many people, and he silently wondered which enemy was targeting him. Liang Da Zhuang had just revealed his identity, yet these men showed no reaction—clearly they were not afraid of trouble. This really was a hassle; previously, with Murong Feiyan by his side protecting him, he'd never worried about safety, but Murong Feiyan was now tending to Le Yao and wasn't in Qingyun County. Liang Da Zhuang's combat ability wasn't even up to his own, so in this predicament he could only rely on himself to find a way out.

Passing through the front courtyard and the second gate into the inner residence, he saw lights blazing in the east wing annex. A figure emerged—Hu Xiaotian saw clearly it was the Divine Doctor of Xichuan, Zhou Ju.

Zhou Ju looked at Hu Xiaotian, quite surprised, and exclaimed, "Sir Hu… how did you come here?" He then noticed the medicine boy standing beside Hu Xiaotian and instantly understood everything. He shouted angrily, "Zhou Xing, you beast, dare to frame Sir Hu!" He lunged to strike the boy with a palm, but the short, fat man grabbed his wrist and shoved him to the ground.

The medicine boy Zhou Xing burst into tears: "Master… that person is beyond saving… they threatened to take your life, and only now did I recall Sir Hu… please don't strike my master." He rushed forward as if to grapple with the short, fat man, but the latter kicked him in the abdomen, sending him sprawling. Before Zhou Xing could get up, the short, fat man drew his saber with a clang, pressed it to the boy's neck, and snarled, "If you fail to heal my young master today, I'll have all of you pay with your lives."

Hu Xiaotian thought this guy was senseless—damn it, is he missing a brain? What does your young master have to do with me? Although Hu Xiaotian had indeed been a little afraid earlier, worrying someone might retaliate against him. If they'd just hauled them here and killed them outright without question, he'd feel terribly wronged. But after arriving here, seeing Zhou Ju and hearing the medicine boy and the short, fat man's exchange, Hu Xiaotian roughly guessed: surely Zhou Ju had been kidnapped to treat an illness, and the patient must be gravely ill. Since Zhou Ju himself was helpless, that's why they'd come after him.

Listening to the conversation between Zhou Ju and the medicine boy Zhou Xing, it seemed Zhou Ju hadn't given himself up; it was Zhou Xing acting on his own who had betrayed him.

The short, fat man glared ferociously at Hu Xiaotian and snapped, "Hurry up and treat my young master, or I'll chop him with one blow if you delay."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly burst out laughing.

Everyone clearly hadn't expected him to laugh at a time like this; they all froze, thinking, "Is he not right in the head? No normal person could laugh in such a situation."

The short, fat man rubbed his nose and said, "Laugh? Laugh at your grandpa. Believe it or not, piss me off and I'll chop you with one blow."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "No way! If you've got the guts to chop me with one blow, then when I die your young master will have to be buried with me—it's the same as you chopping your own young master. Come on! I'm waiting."

"'Uh…' the short, fat man was stopped short by Hu Xiaotian's outburst."

"'Damn your mother's head!' Hu Xiaotian actually pointed at the short, fat man's nose and walked over, making Zhou Ju and Liang Da Zhuang break out in a sweat; no one could imagine Hu Xiaotian daring to insult someone in this situation."

"Hu Xiaotian's face showed no fear whatsoever: 'You short winter melon, you dare threaten me—if you've got the guts, chop me! Didn't your family teach you manners?' He wasn't just being reckless; he knew full well that since they'd gone to such lengths to abduct him to save someone, they wouldn't lightly harm him. He was probing their limits to see if they were wary of hurting the hostage."

"The short, fat man was dumbstruck by Hu Xiaotian's insults, only then reacting as he raised his saber and said, 'I'll—' Before he could lunge, his two companions seized him; the scholar shouted, 'Old Five, stay calm.' He gave a glance, and another pulled the short, fat man aside. The two whispered a few words, then had the medicine boy and Liang Da Zhuang taken to the west room under guard—these two were also hostages to coerce Hu Xiaotian into obedience."

Hu Xiaotian saw this and silently realized how important the injured young master was to them; their true purpose in kidnapping him was to save a life, which meant he still retained at least some leverage.

The scholar approached Hu Xiaotian, now wearing a completely different expression, and bowed with a smile: "Sir Hu, we had no choice but to do this; please forgive our offense." From his words it was clear he knew Hu Xiaotian's identity. Yet the more he knew, the graver the situation—knowing Hu Xiaotian was a court official, they still dared to abduct him, proving they were no good.

Hu Xiaotian replied, "It's not just a simple offense—kidnapping a court official, making threats, unlawful confinement; together these crimes likely call for execution."

The scholar laughed, "Sir, there's no need for threats; our crimes already carry the death penalty, so adding more makes no difference. To us, living another day is a gain; even if we happen to die tonight, we have no regrets."

Hu Xiaotian felt a headache upon hearing that; "Damn, they're all desperate outlaws—this is trouble, they don't fear death! Does that mean it'll be hard for me to escape today?" He asked, "What do you want from me?"

The scholar said, "Our young master suffered grave injuries; hearing that Sir Hu's medical skill is superb and unmatched, having saved the Wan Family's Second Young Master and Eldest Daughter-in-Law, we therefore invite Sir Hu to treat our young master's wounds."

Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly, "Fame brings trouble, as does strength—though saving lives is good, spreading the word isn't either, and now the problem has come knocking." He exhaled: "Saving lives is inherently good; if you had politely asked me according to propriety, I would certainly not refuse, but you instead used such despicable means to trick me here, so…"

The scholar replied, "If Sir Hu knew our true identities, he surely wouldn't help us save anyone."

That wasn't wrong—if Hu Xiaotian knew he was being asked to aid bandits, he'd have nothing to do with them and would let them fend for themselves.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Doctor Zhou is the foremost divine doctor of Xichuan; if he can't cure it, I may not be able either."

Zhou Ju, hearing Hu Xiaotian mention him, flushed with embarrassment; since arriving in Qingyun he'd suffered one setback after another—first failing to cure the Wan Manor Eldest Daughter-in-Law, and now, although these bandits have dragged him here, he still has no remedy for the patient; if he could heal the wounded man, the bandits wouldn't have sought Hu Xiaotian.

The scholar gave a hollow chuckle, then his eyes flashed a hint of cold malice: "If our young master dies, you'll all be buried with him."

Hu Xiaotian knew he'd run into serious trouble tonight; he nodded and said, "I've seen many who ask for a doctor, but forcing someone to treat is a first for me. Very well, let me first examine the patient." He went to Zhou Ju's side, gave him a look, and asked, "Doctor Zhou, what's the patient's condition?"

Zhou Ju replied frankly, "It's not looking good; you'll see for yourself, Sir."

Hu Xiaotian entered the room and, by the lamplight, saw a man lying on the bed, his face pallid, eyes shut, lips equally ashen—classic signs of anemia, clearly unconscious; the white sheet covering him had been stained red by flowing blood.

Zhou Ju slowly pulled back the sheet; the man's upper torso was bare, a horrifying wound marred his abdomen. Hu Xiaotian instantly judged it a blade injury; looking lower, the man still wore black trousers—likely night‑attire. A sudden shock hit him as he turned his gaze to the face; the image of that lightning‑lit countenance from the night flashed in his mind—the wounded man before him was unmistakably the night‑intruder who had tried to abduct Le Yao from the Wan Manor, a flower‑picking thief.

Hu Xiaotian was stunned beyond measure—fate works in mysterious ways; he never expected the flower‑picking thief, after fleeing, to wander back into his path. He didn't need to ask the medical history; he knew the wound in the man's belly had been inflicted by Murong Feiyan's sword. If he'd finished the thief off then, it would have been over and done, sparing all this trouble—but sometimes you must eradicate the root, as the saying goes, 'cut the weeds and pull out the roots.'

Hu Xiaotian regretted, regret aside, the immediate crisis had to be gotten through first.

Zhou Ju said, "The wound is too deep; I've only managed to staunch the bleeding for now—I can't do anything else." His expression showed some embarrassment; in fact it wasn't that his medical skill was lacking, but he had no experience treating acute abdominal trauma, his limited surgical knowledge extending only to bandaging external wounds and setting fractures—such an injury was beyond him, especially with internal organ damage, and as an ancient practitioner with no anatomical knowledge, he simply had no way to proceed. (To be continued…)