Chapter 180

Qin Yutong said, "Doctors have no right to choose patients; every life deserves respect. We cannot investigate who a person is or what they've done before saving them—whether they are good or bad, what fate they deserve—only heaven can judge. All we can and should do is use our abilities to save lives. Someone who does not respect life does not deserve to be called a true doctor."

Hu Xiaotian had never heard such noble words before; Qin Yutong's remarks were a model of medical ethics. He nodded, looking at her anew. She not only had superb medical skill but also extraordinary wisdom. He smiled, saying, "Because of your words, I agree to your request."

Qin Yutong said, "Thank you, but I'm no longer interested." She said that and turned to walk into the room.

Hu Xiaotian stood there dazed, again feeling the sting of a hot face meeting a cold butt. He shook his head, then snapped his fingers: "You've got spirit—I like it!"

When Yan Nujiao came out, her eyes were red and swollen from crying—of course she was crying tears of joy; her brother had just awakened, but only briefly before falling back into unconsciousness. According to Mister Meng, he was out of danger and his life was saved.

Facing Hu Xiaotian again, she no longer held the initial hostility; she said softly, "You have nothing to do here—go back."

Hu Xiaotian noticed that most women change faces faster than flipping a page; Yan Nujiao was no exception. He laughed, "Miss Yan seems to have forgotten something important."

Yan Nujiao said, "Once my brother recovers and leaves, I will naturally release Wan Tingchang; it's not the time yet."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Miss, you really go back on your word!"

Yan Nujiao said, "Officials are mostly deceitful and sinister; you don't look like a good person either. If I handed Wan Tingchang over to you, who knows you wouldn't send troops to chase us? I'm just making sure you have misgivings—more security is always better." Clearly she was breaking her promise, yet she spoke with convincing confidence.

Hu Xiaotian really felt both amused and exasperated; anyway, he never cared whether Wan Tingchang lived or died—all he wanted was to leave safely. If they wouldn't let him go, he couldn't just start a fight over such trash; it really wasn't worth it.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Yan Nujiao's pretty face and sighed, "Youthful beauty, flower-like countenance—what a fine young woman, why become a bandit?"

Yan Nujiao said, "Officials aren't necessarily more conscientious than bandits; corpses litter the fields, the people cannot survive—this is all because of you corrupt officials."

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly; this lass was indeed sharp-tongued. He actually understood that some of what Yan Nujiao said made sense: the Dakang court is in disorder, officials **, and the people's suffering is largely due to the court, while bandits and mountain pirates account for only a tiny fraction.

This place is after all a settlement of the Black Miao Tribe; Hu Xiaotian shouldn't linger, so he quickly went down the stilt house. Murong Feiyan and the two others remained where they were waiting; seeing Hu Xiaotian return safely, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Murong Feiyan asked, "How was it? Did they give you trouble?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Nobody dares to give me trouble—none have been born yet."

"Bragging!"

Ma Qiao looked around nervously, whispering, "Let's leave quickly, lest unexpected complications arise."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "They plan to keep your young master a few more days; let's discuss it when we get back."

When the group was about to leave, a resonant voice came from above the stilt house: "Sir Hu, please stay!"

Hu Xiaotian turned and saw Mister Meng descending from the stilt house. Actually, Hu Xiaotian was also curious about everything he'd seen here, especially the leech blood transfusion he'd just witnessed—a scene that has appeared in martial arts novels. He understood a complete theory of blood transfusion. What struck him as most mysterious was the powder Qin Yutong used to test blood types; it must contain some ingredient that reacts with different bloods to produce a color change.

Hu Xiaotian vaguely guessed that the several Black Miao men who came to donate blood were likely type O, since O red blood cells lack A and B antigens and are usually called universal donors.

A-type red blood cells carry A antigen, and the serum contains anti-B antibody; B-type red blood cells carry B antigen, and the serum contains anti-A antibody. The corresponding antigen and antibody react, causing the blood to agglutinate.

There is still much professional knowledge about blood types; Hu Xiaotian doesn't know Qin Yutong's theory for selecting blood types—perhaps today was just a coincidence, or perhaps all those donors were type O, or maybe Yan Boguang, that flower-picking bandit, is actually the so-called universal recipient AB type. Hu Xiaotian suddenly recalled Qin Yutong's first blood test on Yan Nujiao; her blood type should differ from her brother's, meaning Yan Boguang cannot be type AB. It seems he will need to improve his medical equipment and start cross-matching tests.

Mister Meng was stalwart; standing before Hu Xiaotian he was half a head taller. Though Hu Xiaotian wasn't short, he still had to look up at Mister Meng, whose height was roughly estimated at nearly two meters—such a sturdy build is uncommon.

From Mister Meng's recent address, Hu Xiaotian realized his identity was no longer a secret; he smiled and said, "Mister Meng, what advice do you have for me?"

Mister Meng said, "I never expected Sir Hu to still be a national medical sage."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't deserve that!"

Hu Xiaotian remained calm and composed, but the companions who came with him—Murong Feiyan and the others—were all on high alert. After all, this is a Black Miao settlement; for now we don't know whether these Black Miao are friend or foe, yet everyone could see that Mister Meng and Yan Nujiao are very familiar, so we cannot rule out the possibility that the Black Miao have teamed up with the Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandits against us.

Mister Meng keenly sensed the wariness of the few around him toward him, and said calmly, "Sir Hu, no need to worry; our Black Miao people have always obeyed the law and followed Dakang statutes, and will never harm you." He gestured to Hu Xiaotian: "Sir Hu, I have something I'd like to ask you privately."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, feeling that although Mister Meng seemed a bit aloof, he was probably not a villain; plus he himself wanted to discuss medical matters with him, so he followed Mister Meng back into the stilt house.

Mister Meng invited Hu Xiaotian to sit on a rattan chair, personally brewing a pot of tea. The teapot and cups he used were all made of bamboo tubes, quite unique; the brew was not tea leaves but some unknown tree leaf, producing a dark brown liquid with an exotic fragrance. Since Hu Xiaotian didn't know what herb it was, he didn't dare drink it outright.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian hesitate to drink, Mister Meng sensed his concern and said softly, "Sir Hu, a few years ago I served as a consultant at Xuantian Guan; I understand Dakang's laws, I harbor no rebellious intent toward the current court, and I mean you no harm." He took a sip of tea and slowly set down his cup.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, thinking Mister Meng wouldn't openly endanger a court official; if he appeared too hesitant he'd only invite ridicule. He took a sip—the tea entered bitter and astringent, but left a sweet aftertaste with a lingering fragrance—and couldn't help praising, "Good tea!"

Mister Meng said, "It's not exactly fine tea; it's just the leaves of the black maple I picked from the rear mountain, dried and used for brewing—it does have some blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effects. If you like it, take a pack back with you." He leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, and said, "I am Meng Zizai; I once served as a consultant at Xuantian Guan for five years, and off and on stayed in the capital for nearly ten years. Though I left the capital less than seven years ago, I never expected the capital to produce a medical expert like Sir Hu."

The fact that Hu Xiaotian is a county magistrate from the capital is no longer a secret. After hearing Meng Zizai's words, Hu Xiaotian gained a preliminary impression of him: it's unexpected that this reclusive Black Miao physician from the southwest, who once served at Xuantian Guan—the foremost of the capital's three great medical halls, where imperial physicians are trained, holding a top rank in Dakang's medical world—could have sat there for ten years, meaning his medical skill is anything but ordinary. Thinking back, when he had been feeble-minded for sixteen years, his father had summoned every renowned physician in the capital, yet he never knew whether this Mister Meng had ever treated him; if Meng truly left the capital seven years ago, then even if he had seen Hu Xiaotian, it would have been seven years prior, and he likely wouldn't recognize his current appearance.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I'm not a medical expert; I'm just fairly familiar with human anatomy."

Meng Zizai asked, "Sir Hu, how did you become so versed in human anatomy? Who was your teacher?"

Hu Xiaotian certainly wouldn't tell the truth; if he tried the same line he used to scare off Li Yifeng on Meng Zizai, it probably wouldn't work—Meng Zizai possesses a powerful aura rarely found among physicians.

Hu Xiaotian said, "My master has passed away; he forbade me from speaking his name, and I swore an oath before him—I ask Mister Meng to understand." This explanation was reasonable; Meng Zizai had no grounds to press further, for one cannot compel someone to break an oath, especially since Hu Xiaotian is a local official of the Qingyun region.

Meng Zizai asked, "Sir Hu, did you come from the capital?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "I've been there, but I'm not familiar with it."

Meng Zizai added, "Yet your accent shows you're a native of the capital."

"My parents are both from the capital," Hu Xiaotian said; when he lies, he never blushes or races his heart.

Meng Zizai said, "I've lived most of my life, and I've only ever seen someone undergo abdominal surgery to treat a wound once before; today is definitely the second time. Sir Hu, do you know Mount Sumeru?"

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