Chapter 57: Why Don't You Go Seek Refuge with the Cheng Family

"Pfft! Ha ha ha!"

An Luo couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud, quite uncharitably.

Although Yi Jiang really was pitiful, she truly couldn't help herself.

At that moment, she seemed to see a head full of black lines over Chen Ying.

Chen Delin straightened his face and glared at the guard beside him.

"Hurry up and help the little young master up!"

"Yes, yes, yes."

With the guard's support, Yi Jiang stood up from the ground, teary-eyed, rubbing his own knees.

Seeing his pitiful appearance, even if Chen Old Master had more anger in his heart, it dissipated at this moment.

But he still kept a dark face the whole time, reaching out to pick up his troublesome grandson.

"Does it still hurt? When we get back, Grandfather will help you apply some medicine."

Then he nodded toward Tian Qin.

"We'll head back first."

After watching her father and son leave, Chen Ying looked toward the burly man crouching not far away, seemingly searching for something on the ground.

The more she looked at this person, the stranger he seemed.

That had just been a perfect chance to take credit, yet he had looked completely indifferent.

Moreover, judging from his behavior and speech, he likely came from a respectable background—so why would he willingly stay in this godforsaken Liu Fang Land?

"You're called…"

The burly man briefly looked up and replied.

"Gu Shang."

Chen Ying nodded.

"How have you felt these past few days in the manor? Is your Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) in good health?"

After learning this man had saved Yi Jiang, she had recruited him into City Lord's Manor as a guard, and secretly instructed that his Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) only needed to work one hour a day.

It was also a form of repayment.

Speaking of this, Gu Shang stood up and solemnly expressed his thanks.

"Many thanks for Lord Chen's concern."

As he spoke, a look of worry appeared on his face.

"I'm fine, but my Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) caught a chill a few days ago and has been coughing every day, so I'd like to stay and gather some herbs. Please grant me permission, Lord Chen."

Hearing this, Yu'an also thought of the kindly old grandfather he had mistaken for a bad person that day.

The old grandfather was sick?

The little fellow pressed his lips together in a conflicted manner.

Being sick felt so awful, and last time the old grandfather had even gotten hurt saving him…

【Fairy Sister, can Yu'an's medicine cure the old grandfather's illness?】

An Luo thought for a moment.

A cold, a cough…

"Of course! Yu'an, do you remember which one is the cold medicine for adults? A few more of the little brown pills."

Hearing this, Yu'an squirmed a few times in his own mother's arms, turned around, faced away from everyone with his back, and reached into his clothes, rummaging around.

Soon, a rustling sound arose. Fortunately, there were many birds chirping in the woods, so the sound wasn't obvious—apart from Tian Qin, who was holding the little fellow, no one else heard it.

But to be safe, Tian Qin still carried the little fellow a few steps to the side, deliberately stepping on dry leaves as she went.

Doing her best to cover for Yu'an.

The little fellow even deliberately popped the pills out, wrapping them neatly in the clean oil paper he carried with him.

【Finally done!】

Clutching the two small packets of medicine, Yu'an turned around, then solemnly raised his hand to wipe the fine beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, stretching his arm toward Gu Shang.

Tian Qin set the little fellow down on the ground.

Gu Shang suddenly felt his thigh patted by a gentle force.

Every muscle in his body tensed instantly; he even lifted his foot, instinctively wanting to kick out.

But luckily, he held back.

Looking down, he saw a little child grinning with a row of tiny teeth, waving a paper packet in his hand.

"Uncle, here's the medicine, to save the old grandfather."

As he spoke, the little fellow shook the smaller paper packet in his left hand.

"The white ones, one pill at a time, every day…"

As he spoke, the little fellow secretly grew vexed and hung his little head.

【Fairy Sister, Yu'an forgot.】

An Luo gently reminded him.

"The white ones, one pill at a time, twice a day morning and evening; the little brown pills…"

Yu'an looked up again, shook the larger paper packet in his right hand, and earnestly instructed in his baby voice.

"…the little brown pills, three pills at a time, three times a day."

Finally, the little fellow tilted his little head, his big dark eyes wide open.

"Uncle, did you remember?"

"You must take the medicine exactly as instructed."

Meeting his clear, big eyes, and the baby fat on his cheeks that trembled with every word, Gu Shang was at a loss for a moment.

Like a sticky rice ball that would dent at the slightest poke

Come to think of it, are all little children this soft and squishy?

Seeing that he had no reaction, Yu'an puffed out his cheeks.

Why is this uncle so dumbstruck?

He wouldn't let the old grandpa take the wrong medicine, would he?

He asked again.

"Did uncle remember?"

Only when the paper packet was stuffed into his hand did Gu Shang nod blankly in a daze.

"I remembered."

After saying that, he felt it was somewhat childish.

Can this little child really treat people?

Will this medicine really work?

The key thing is, he actually somewhat believed it!

Seeing his expression, Chen Ying beside him burst into laughter.

"I was just about to say, I'll have the Imperial Physician go check on Yuanchen Daozhang later, but I forgot — Lady Da has quite a few miraculous medicines on hand."

Saying that, he patted Gu Shang's shoulder.

"Rest assured and give it to your Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu))))))))) to take. This medicine truly has miraculous effects."

Hearing this, Gu Shang cupped his fists in salute.

"Then this Subordinate will take his leave first."

Chen Ying nodded.

"Go ahead."

Watching Gu Shang's hurried departing back, Chen Ying explained softly.

"I only just a few days ago got to the bottom of it. This Gu Shang was never a criminal to begin with — he merely encountered Yuanchen Daozhang when gravely wounded, was saved by the Daoist Priest, and then accompanied the Daoist Priest all the way to Beihuang City, staying by the Daoist Priest's side ever since."

Hearing this, Tian Qin sighed softly.

"How rare indeed."

Chen Ying also heavily exhaled a breath of stale air from his chest.

"Who says it isn't?"

Only Cheng Qiuruo beside him slightly furrowed her brow.

For some reason, she always felt this Gu Shang looked somewhat familiar.

But she had never met this person before?

……

Speaking of Gu Shang, he hurried home with two packets of medicine.

The courtyard they lived in was very small and very shabby, but it was indeed one of the few in Beihuang City that had a stone-stacked courtyard wall and a wooden gate.

The courtyard wall and gate had all been built by him, bit by bit.

He had just pushed open the door when a heart-wrenching coughing sound reached his ears.

"Cough, cough, cough……"

Hearing the sound, Gu Shang's face was full of worry. He followed the sound and quickly ran into Chu Fang.

"Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Master (Shifu)))))))))!"

Yuanchen Daozhang was just starting the fire. Hearing his voice, he stood up, covered his mouth, and coughed twice more.

"Cough, cough!"

"Why are you back so early today?"

Gu Shang supported him into the courtyard, then fetched a chair for him to sit down.

"We agreed I'd start the fire and cook when I got back. Why did you go into Chu Fang again? How many times have I told you — the smoke and dust in there is heavy, it'll make your illness worse."

Yuanchen Daozhang smiled and waved his hand at him.

"Alright, stop nagging for now. You sit down and rest a while too."

"You haven't told me yet — why are you back so early today?"

"Oh, right."

Gu Shang squatted down and took out the two paper packets, one large and one small, from his clothes.

"I heard this medicine can cure your illness."

Yuanchen Daozhang took them and opened one to look.

"I've never seen this kind of medicine before. Was it given to you by that little child from the Cheng Family?"

"In my opinion, you should stop being a guard at the City Lord's Manor and go seek refuge with the Cheng Family instead."

Gu Shang gave him a helpless look, got up, went back to the room, and poured a cup of warm water.

He took the paper packet back, then took out one white pill and three brown pills, placed them in his hand, and finally handed over the warm water.

"Didn't you used to urge me to leave Beihuang City as soon as possible?"

Yuanchen Daozhang tilted his head back, swallowed the pills with the warm water, then shook his head with a mysteriously smiling face.

"Times are different now."

"Before, I told you to leave because I didn't want you wasting your time in this quagmire."

"But now……"

Yuanchen Daozhang looked at him deeply and spoke with earnest weight.

"The Cheng Family people are no ordinary folk, and that little child is even more exceptional."

Then Yuanchen Daozhang narrowed his eyes, leaned back against the chair, as if murmuring in a dream.

"A Gu."

"Only by relying on the Cheng Family can your vengeance be avenged."

"Only they can help you take back what belongs to you…"