Chapter 474: 【Divine Doctor of the Miao Lands】(Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, you are Qin Yutong's martial uncle, my situation must have already been told to you by her; in fact, anyone with eyes can see my attire and understand that I am now a eunuch, this line of questioning is tantamount to asking the obvious, yet he still wore a full-faced smile and said: "So-so, at least I'm still alive in this world."

Meng Zai nodded, then sized up Hu Xiaotian from head to toe: "Lord Hu, where are you currently employed?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not exactly a promotion; I'm currently serving as a eunuch in the palace, and the Zajia is no longer an official either. Master Meng, if you think highly of me, just call me Hu Gonggong." His words carried dissatisfaction; this old fellow really isn't kind—even a blind man could tell I'm a eunuch, and you still ask knowingly.

Meng Zai lightly stroked his silver beard and said softly: "Not bad at all!"

Hu Xiaotian almost got angered into flipping over by Meng Zai; I rely on, you invited me just to laugh at me, and on top of that to mock me a few sentences. When I was at Qingyun, I never offended you, so there's no need to be so vicious. At my age, you should be a respected and renowned physician, yet you'd even rub salt in a wound? Not kind at all, you really aren't kind.

Meng Zai seemed completely unaware of this, sighed and said: "Born in troubled times, merely staying alive is already no small feat."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Meng seems to be doing well enough; just that Qingyun Mountain has clear waters and lush scenery, simple folk customs. When I last saw you, you had already retired, so why are you back in the capital? Could it be that Master Meng still can't let go of this mortal world?"

Meng Zai said: "It's not that I cling to this mortal world seeking tranquility—it's not that easy. To be frank, I encountered some troubles in Xichuan, truly unbearable, so I returned to the capital."

Hu Xiaotian gave an oh. Seeing Meng Zai's expression didn't look like he was lying, he probed: "How is the situation in Xichuan?"

Meng Zai said: "I never concern myself with political affairs; whoever rules the land is a matter for the Han people, what does it have to do with us Black Miao people?"

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed him as an old slippery fellow; trying to extract information about Xichuan from his mouth is not that easy either.

At that moment a blue-clad girl walked in, holding a tea tray. The girl had delicate features. Hu Xiaotian saw her and felt her face somewhat familiar; after thinking carefully, he had seen her before—she was the blind girl Fang Fang who sang for a living at Yan Yun Lou, except the girl before him now had bright, clear eyes, lively in her gaze, not blind at all. Those eyes looked neither nearsighted nor presbyopic.

The girl noticed Hu Xiaotian staring at her face, her pretty face involuntarily blushed, she lowered her head, secretly blaming this guest for being so rude—doesn't he know the principle of not looking at what is improper?

Meng Zai also couldn't help but frown slightly. He gave a low cough to remind Hu Xiaotian to mind his manners.

Hu Xiaotian not only did not withdraw his gaze, but leaned forward a bit and whispered: "Are you Fang Fang?"

Fang Fang hearing Hu Xiaotian's voice also felt it somewhat familiar. Though she had met Hu Xiaotian before, she had never seen his appearance, so she dared not confirm.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is your father here? How is his health?"

At that moment Fang Fang finally determined that the person before her was the scholar's son Hu Xiaotian who had saved her and her father at Yan Yun Lou; she instantly became excited, tears welling up, she fell to her knees with a thud: "You are Hu Gongzi, my benefactor above. Please accept my bow, Fang Fang."

Hu Xiaotian recognizing her wasn't meant to make her thank him; he hastily reached out to help her up, but then thought that men and women should not be intimate, his helping her seemed presumptuous, so he withdrew his hand and hurriedly said: "Miss Fang, please rise quickly, no need for such great ceremony."

Meng Zai, unaware of their story, looked bewildered. At that moment another person entered from outside—it was the veiled talented woman Qin Yutong. Seeing the scene, she was also startled, thinking Hu Xiaotian was up to no good, and said coldly: "Hu Gonggong, what are you up to again?"

Hu Xiaotian disliked Qin Yutong's tone the most—what are you doing? In broad daylight, what could I possibly do? Moreover, saying this in front of Meng Zai, this is at Xuantian Guan. Hu Xiaotian said: "Miss Qin, you seem very interested in whatever I do."

Qin Yutong heard from Hu Xiaotian's words his dissatisfaction toward her, and said softly: "Fang Fang, you have nothing to do here."

Fang Fang said: "Senior sister, Hu Gongzi is my benefactor; if it weren't for his help, my father and I would likely have already fallen into dire straits."

Qin Yutong said: "Oh!" Her beautiful eyes showed no ripple, her voice as usual calm: "Anyone with a sense of justice would do the same."

Fang Fang was taken aback; in her impression, her senior sister had never spoken to anyone so harshly.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Miss Qin, I agree with that—it's really no big deal, so Miss Fang Fang, please don't take it to heart; if you think highly of me in the future, just call me Hu Dage, or Hu Gonggong is fine too."

Fang Fang bit her cherry lip, only then realizing Hu Xiaotian's current identity; in this short time his status must have undergone earth-shaking changes. In fact she had also heard of the Hu family's misfortune, but never imagined Hu Xiaotian would actually enter the palace as a eunuch.

Fang Fang whispered: "Then I'll go first." As she left, the duty of pouring tea fell to Qin Yutong, who remained calm and composed; though young, her mindset was truly extraordinary, always keeping her emotions hidden. She poured tea for Meng Zai and Hu Xiaotian, then said softly: "Where did Senior Brother and Hu Gonggong meet?"

Meng Zai laughed: "On the street, we could say it's some fate, so I invited Lord Hu to come for a chat."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Meng, I am no longer an official now; please just call me Hu Gonggong, then I'll feel more at ease."

Meng Zai sighed: "I never expected that in just over half a year so many things would have happened." He lifted his tea cup, took a sip, then said: "Hu Gongzi, I heard you performed surgery on the Emperor; your medical skill is truly divine."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Just a minor trick; compared to the vast medical knowledge of Xuantian Guan, as vast as stars and seas, it's nothing—like a petty witch facing a great one."

Meng Zai said: "Hu Gongzi, you are truly too modest."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not that the Zajia is modest; I've heard that in the world only the owner of Xuantian Guan, Master Ren, can truly be called unmatched in medical skill. Compared to Master Ren, my meager ability is like a firefly trying to rival the bright moon—no talk of medical skill at all."

Meng Zai and Qin Yutong exchanged a glance; in their memories, this fellow had never seemed so modest before.

Meng Zai's eyes shone brightly as he sized up Hu Xiaotian up and down; Hu Xiaotian felt a bit creeped out being stared at by a man—being looked at by a woman would be more comfortable. Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Is there something wrong with my face?"

Meng Zai said: "Have you recently been bitten by any poisonous insects, Hu Gonggong?"

Hu Xiaotian was startled by the question; if yes, it should have been when Wen Ya was bitten by a poisonous scorpion in the Bright Moon Palace. Meng Zai's eyesight is indeed formidable; thinking further, Meng Zai is the divine doctor of the Black Miao Tribe, Qimi Tian is also a Black Miao, the Wuxian Sect was founded by Black Miao people, so for things like poisonous insects he is naturally an expert; being able to tell at a glance that I was once bitten by poisonous insects is normal. Yet Hu Xiaotian didn't admit it, putting on a look of deep thought: "Maybe I was bitten by bedbugs a couple days ago."

Meng Zai furrowed his two white brows: "If you trust me, Hu Gonggong, I can take your pulse."

Hu Xiaotian was about to reach out his hand, but then doubts arose: I look in the mirror every day, how come I haven't noticed anything different? Qin Yutong has seen me multiple times before and never mentioned this; Qin Yutong is Ren Tianqing's favored disciple, also Meng Zai's martial niece—even if she can't fully master their skills, she should have learned at least thirty percent; if she saw something wrong with me, she wouldn't hide it from me. Moreover, thinking back to today's encounter with Meng Zai, it's too much of a coincidence; I glanced at Qin Yutong, only to see her gaze directed elsewhere. Psychologically, Qin Yutong's current behavior is a kind of avoidance; Meng Zai said I was injured by poisonous insects, which should have drawn her attention.

Hu Xiaotian immediately judged this matter suspicious; Meng Zai likely wasn't telling the truth. After so many days, just by surface observation to claim I was bitten by poisonous insects—hah, who are you fooling? This old fool really thinks I'm that easy to deceive? With that thought, Hu Xiaotian naturally wouldn't cooperate with his pulse-taking, smiling: "Although the Zajia's medical skill isn't as high as Master Meng's, I still know my own condition well enough; there's no need to trouble Master Meng today." Since cultivating the Formless Divine Skill, his meridians have undergone great changes; he doesn't want outsiders to see his body's secrets, especially someone like Meng Zai, a medical expert.

Meng Zai clearly hadn't expected Hu Xiaotian to refuse so readily; his expression instantly turned cold.

Hu Xiaotian saw Meng Zai's unfriendly face, he also had no intention of lingering here; he stood and said: "The Zajia still has palace duties to attend to; I'll take my leave first."

Meng Zai has a strange temper; after being slighted by Hu Xiaotian, his mood soured, he said coldly: "Don't bother seeing me out!" He didn't even bother to get up.

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed at Meng Zai's narrow mind; he clasped his hands and rose to leave. Qin Yutong saw him out, leaving Meng Zai's small courtyard, then sighed: "Actually my martial uncle means well."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Miss Qin, it seems you don't understand me; I dislike owing people favors."

Qin Yutong fixed her beautiful eyes on him and said: "Hu Gonggong, it seems you hold some prejudice against me."

Morning prayer for guaranteed monthly ticket! (To be continued~^~)