Chapter 9

Niu Dingtian

That night, Yan Huixi, who had been on guard at the Imperial Medical Office all day, just entered the courtyard gate with her maid Yun Ling, then lifted her sleeves and skirt, hurriedly taking quick, short steps as she ran toward the inner courtyard.

Lin'an City

She was already uneasy, and the sudden fright made the ground beneath her give way in an instant, causing her to stagger and be about to fall to the ground.

Yun Ling

Yan Fangyu

Divine Doctor Yan

She only felt a warm softness in her hand; because the object she held was too soft to press firmly, in panic she squeezed it hard, and in an instant steadied the newcomer.

King Wu of Zhou

King Zhou of Yin

Huai Prefecture

Yan Huixi, after reacting, her pretty face flushed, quickly stepped back a yard, and in a soft, mellow voice with a slight tremor said:

Muye

Sun and Moon Mountain Villa

Imperial Medical Bureau

Lightning Wave Microstep

Four Great Huai Medicines

Who are you? How did you get here?

Then, as if realizing something, he looked at his young lady with a look of sudden understanding and said:

Young lady, do you know each other?

Um, may I ask, young lady, are you Miss Huai xi?

Niu Dingtian's skin was not thin, nor was he embarrassed; the matter at hand was urgent, and he merely put on the appearance of a modest gentleman. After a pause, he solemnly clasped his hands toward Yan Huai xi and asked:

Seeing this person not answer, and again calling her by her personal name, Yan Huai xi's face, which was just about to recover its composure, flushed again with a blush.

After a moment, suppressing her shame and annoyance, she replied warily:

Indeed it is Huai xi; sir, why have you come uninvited at this late hour?

Miss Huai xi, please forgive my impertinence in disturbing you; your father, Mr. Yan, is a guest at my humble residence, and due to some reasons he cannot come in person, so I, acting on Mr. Yan's commission, have come specially to fetch Miss Huai xi for a reunion.

As for your personal name, the favor, also told by Mr. Yan, to prove this, moreover.

Furthermore, Mr. Yan's ancestral home is Huai Prefecture, and your name is taken from the meaning of Huai Niu Xi.

Niu Dingtian directly ignored the questioning tone in the other's words, immediately stating the reason; this fellow did not want to see himself, a person of integrity, be defamed instead.

What bad intentions could a scholar have?

The two characters Huai xi indeed came from Yan Fangyu.

As expected of Divine Doctor Yan, even when naming a young lady he does not forget his old profession; upon receiving the name, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but think.

The character "Huai" carries the meanings of longing and yearning, as well as embracing.

The character "Xi" refers to the setting sun, the last glorious moment of the day, night, and the passage of time.

Longing for beautiful years, or embracing the sunset, just from the literal meaning one can see a poetic and picturesque, fresh and unworldly ambience.

But when spoken by Yan Fangyu, this Divine Doctor Yan, it definitely means the meaning of Huai Niu Xi, from the "Four Great Huai Medicines" Huai Prefecture Niu Xi, originating from the pharmacological classic Shennong Ben Cao Jing.

It is said that when King Wu of Zhou attacked Zhou, when his army reached Huai Prefecture, it was the sixth month, the weather scorching and unbearable, and furthermore the soldiers, having marched far and fought, eight or nine out of ten were exhausted and fell ill.

Because the people of Huai Prefecture had long hated and resented King Zhou of Yin, they took out their own cultivated chrysanthemum and rehmannia to brew water to relieve the soldiers' heat, used boiled cow knee soup to adjust tendons and bones, and also let the soldiers eat Chinese yam to nourish their bodies.

Several days later, the righteous army of King Wu regained its vigor, immediately marched north, secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Muye, and in one fell swoop captured the capital Chaoge.

After King Wu of Zhou ascended the throne, to repay the kindness of the people of Huai Prefecture, he bestowed the name 'Four Great Huai Medicines' upon chrysanthemum, rehmannia, cow knee, and Chinese yam, and they became tribute items for successive royal households.

Niu Dingtian was aware of this allusion.

Moreover, that day, seeing himself as a lamb among tigers with no hope of escape, Yan Fangyu also feared that his precious daughter would be frightened, so he steeled himself to stake the reputation of the scholar Niu, and in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, he told Niu Dingtian such a private matter about his daughter.

Yan Huai xi, upon hearing this, also believed Niu Dingtian's words, but for a moment felt at a loss.

My father, since that day when he entered the palace to stand duty, suddenly vanished; I inquired repeatedly at the Imperial Medical Office to no avail, the palace only said they didn't know, and today I suddenly heard the news, yet I do not know what to do.

Miss Huai xi, quickly gather your belongings and follow me away; the commotion just now has likely alerted the spies monitoring outside the courtyard, and my not using the main gate earlier was also a helpless move, for I truly did not wish to alarm them.

Niu Dingtian had already sensed the movement outside; seeing Yan Huai xi looking pitiful and still hesitating, he suppressed a bit of guilt in his heart and hurriedly urged:

He did not wish to alarm the elderly eunuch in the palace again; last time he had already suffered greatly, and now he had no confidence of overcoming him, and if he were delayed and his whereabouts discovered, even the Mountain Villa of Sun and Moon would not be safe.

Therefore, after sending Yan Huai xi back to the villa, he must leave the city overnight, drawing the palace's attention outside Lin'an City.

Quick! Surround them! Form ranks! Don't let anyone inside escape!

No sooner had the words fallen than a confused clatter of footsteps was heard from outside the courtyard, followed by the sound of armor closing in.

Miss Huai xi, I have offended you.

Niu Dingtian, seeing this scene, also dared not hesitate any longer, directly raised both arms, one person per arm, and held the two in his embrace.

Although the point of contact felt two soft mounds, he had no time to savor it, and immediately exerted the Lotus Microstep to its fullest.

Niu Dingtian tightly held the two bodies, swift as a flying duck, fluttered into the formation, elusive as a ghost, moving unpredictably, sometimes perilous, sometimes safe, sometimes forward, sometimes back; in just three breaths he burst out of the encirclement, and in an instant vanished from sight.

Quickly put me down!

No shouting!

Put me down!

No shouting!

You're pinching my hair!

After delivering the bashful Yan Huai xi and the silly maid to the rear courtyard of the villa and handing them over to Chen Jin'er, having instructed the guards, Niu Dingtian quickly changed into a set of nightclothes and hurried toward the inner city.

When he reached the inner city wall, he saw shadows already darting about, Niu Dingtian leapt like an eagle spreading its wings, his feet barely touching the ground, and he was already on the upper floor.

Immediately, a Splitting Sky Palm, carrying a fire basin, struck toward the beacon tower on the city wall, and in an instant smoke rose everywhere, the flames shooting into the sky.

Then, gathering all his inner strength, he shouted toward the imperial palace interior:

"None! Bird! Old! Thief!"

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Ou! Yang! Ke! Already! Arrived!"

"Fast! Fast! Come out! Meet death!"

As soon as the shout fell, a black shadow flew from within the city; Niu Dingtian saw this, thought to himself: "All set!" and immediately exerted his full strength, racing toward the city outskirts.

One ahead, one behind, the two black shadows, within a few breaths, fled out of Lin'an City.

(End of chapter)