Chapter 9: Doctor 'Lai

Towering trees reached the sky, the mountain woods still dim and gray; occasional shafts of light pierced through to guide the way. Thorns lay thick in every unguarded corner — no one knew what the dense thickets concealed; perhaps a fierce beast lurked behind, watching. Upon entering the deep forest, Han Xian's father and the other three hunters tensed their muscles, not daring the slightest carelessness. The twelve youths also distinctly felt the atmosphere grow taut; each braced themselves, scanning their surroundings.

"Many hunters lose their lives to arrogance. The dangers hidden in the deep forest — no one knows where they'll strike. Maybe it's an insect underfoot, or some beast that's been trailing you. And at all times, absolutely never let your guard down. Even when you've bagged prey, you must be extraordinarily careful. Many fierce beasts in the deep forest, for the sake of food, have more patience than anyone. Once they seize an opening, they'll kill you without hesitation. Dealing with them, you can only be careful, careful, and careful again — stay on guard for their appearance." Han Xian's father spoke while leading the way ahead, instructing this batch of youths entering the mountains. He didn't know how many times he'd said these words, yet still quite a few people lost their lives because of them.

One person was an exception — he didn't take it to heart at all. The fortune-telling old daoist followed at the rear with a couldn't-care-less air, not treating it seriously in the slightest. Han Xian's father frowned tightly at the sight; if an accident happened, the fortune-telling old daoist would get others killed. Helpless, he could only move him into the middle of the group. Ning Ze walked up beside the fortune-telling old daoist and asked, "Why are you tagging along? Want to get us killed?"

The fortune-telling old daoist didn't mind in the least, replying as if it were only natural: "I'm the banker for this wager, after all — what's wrong with coming to see how things stand? Besides, you've all run into the mountains to hunt; where am I supposed to eat? Can't very well starve to death, can I? This old man endures mountains and rivers alongside you youngsters just to scrape a meal — is that easy?"

The people around heard this and their faces twisted; who knew how much they cursed inwardly. Ning Ze's gaze held a thread of hostility, staring until the fortune-telling old daoist's spine turned cold. Can't afford to offend him — the fortune-telling old daoist could bend and stretch — he hurriedly explained: "Just a joke, just a joke. Isn't it because everyone's too tense? I was livening the mood. I'm actually a doctor — if anyone gets hurt, with my years of experience wandering the jianghu, I can at least save a life."

The fortune-telling old daoist spoke with a face full of solemn seriousness; he convinced even himself. If Ning Ze didn't know his character, he'd probably have been fooled. The others heard this explanation, and the contempt they'd held earlier turned to shame on their faces, even tinged with a bit of gratitude — leaving Ning Ze somewhat at a loss.

"Enough. No more talking. Stay alert — we have to reach the cave before nightfall."

Before they reached the cave, three youths had been scraped by thorns in the deep forest. Fortunately it wasn't serious — just broken skin. The fortune-telling old daoist fished a bottle of medicinal powder from his pocket, applied it to the three with a show of professionalism, then produced white cloth to bandage them. Ning Ze watched in a daze — this acting was too convincing; a jianghu drifter really has a trick or two. The fortune-telling old daoist's standing in everyone's eyes rose several notches. Finally, when the group arrived at the cave, Han Xian's father even came over specifically to thank the fortune-telling old daoist.

Is this still the old daoist Ning Ze knows? Liu Lü'er and Wang Pangdun were both baffled — had everything they'd seen before been an illusion? No, Ning Ze was certain this was the fortune-telling old daoist's disguise. What on earth was the fortune-telling old daoist up to?

Twelve people. Excluding Ning Ze, Han Xian, Liu Lü'er, Wang Pangdun. There was a pair of brothers — Han Da, Han Er, Han Xian's clan brothers. The Lan siblings — Lan Feng, Lan Yue. The remaining four — Han Yu, Han Shan, Han Linlong, Lan Lin. The whole village was interrelated by blood and marriage; basically everyone knew each other well. This hunting competition vaguely split into four teams: Ning Ze, Liu Lü'er, Wang Pangdun as one; Han Xian, Han Da, Han Er as one; Lan Feng, Lan Yue, Lan Lin as one; and Han Yu, Han Shan, Han Linlong as the last.

In the cave, after each had eaten dry rations and rested well, Han Xian's father finally announced the hunt's start. He stipulated they must return to the cave before dark — no one could guarantee safety in the deep forest at night; daytime was relatively safer. The youths' blood boiled — finally they could show their skills. Weapons in hand, they chose directions, and team after team quickly vanished into the deep forest. Wang Pangdun and Liu Lü'er entered the woods first. Ning Ze didn't follow out; instead he stayed in the cave, boiled a pot of water, and leisurely brewed tea to drink.

Han Xian's father and the three hunters each tailed a team, and they went out too. Only Ning Ze and the fortune-telling old daoist remained in the cave.

"Why aren't you going out to hunt? Still have the leisure to drink tea here — if we lose, we'll lose everything! Tsk tsk, this tea's not bad — pour me another cup." The fortune-telling old daoist outright snatched Ning Ze's tea and drank it, then shamelessly asked for another.

"What's the rush? A hunting competition isn't won by just charging in — you need brains. Besides, would this young master lose?" Ning Ze took out a fresh cup, poured the fortune-telling old daoist another, still utterly composed, not the least bit anxious that others had gone hunting first.

In the deep forest, Han Xian thrust his long spear — a rabbit was already a dead soul under his spear. Han Da and Han Er stood guard at the side.

"Han Da, you said just now that Ning Ze didn't come out of the cave to hunt — did you see clearly? Then what's he up to? And where did Wang Pangdun and Liu Lü'er go?"

"I stayed behind and waited a long time — didn't see Ning Ze come out. Impossible I was mistaken." Han Da affirmed firmly.

"Never mind him. We'll just hunt more. As long as we bag enough, whatever schemes he cooks up are useless. You two go set traps; I'll go ahead and scout for game."

Lan Feng's team of three were jointly hunting a stag. The stag's leg was caught in a trap, but its ferocity only grew — its massive antlers thrashed wildly, fending off the three's attacks. "Hurry, kill it. Let them be shocked when they see — one stag is enough to keep them chasing for a long time. Heaven really is helping us."

Lan Lin hurriedly took out a lasso, coiled it a few times, and accurately looped it over the stag's antlers. He sank his qi to his dantian, crouched, and pulled. The stag's antlers were restrained. Lan Feng didn't want to miss the chance — the longer it dragged, the more dangerous. She set down her bow, drew her blade, and closed in for the kill. The stag, seeing Lan Feng approach, panicked and surged with force, twisting its antlers — Lan Lin was actually yanked off his feet and thrown to the ground, the tremendous force making him roll several times. Lan Lin still didn't let go of the rope.

"Lan Yue, come help! Pull the rope together!" When Lan Yue and Lan Lin both held the rope, the situation was already under control. In the end, at the cost of Lan Lin's injury, Lan Feng used her blade to sever the stag's head. The three no longer had their earlier excitement — killing a trapped beast had cost an injury. The team couldn't help a sense of frustration. They packed up the prey, but had no spirit left to hunt further; the three could only head back.

Han Yu's trio busied themselves in the woods for half a day and didn't even glimpse a rabbit's shadow. They'd set out full of confidence, wanting to take the lead. Helpless, they could only continue searching aimlessly. The hunter following behind them shook his head — he'd already seen these three youths utterly lacked hunting aptitude. They didn't even have basic patience; no prey found and they grew restless, recklessly running about with no regard for their lives.

Wang Pangdun and Liu Lü'er knew a hunter was protecting them from behind, and had nothing to hide. The two sawed wood, dug earth — purely setting traps. They busied themselves for half a day; the hunter behind couldn't make heads or tails of it. After the traps were set, Liu Lü'er got lucky — on the way back she even bagged a pheasant incidentally.

Lan Feng's trio returned first. Seeing Ning Ze in the cave brewing tea, they froze, thinking: What trick is Ning Ze up to? The fortune-telling old daoist saw Lan Lin injured, immediately set down his tea, cleaned the wound, applied the medicinal powder — he performed the doctor's role with utmost dedication.

"Thank you, er, how should we address you?" The three wanted to give thanks but realized they didn't know what to call him, then turned to ask Ning Ze.

Ning Ze didn't know his name either. His mind turned, and he said with a grin: "Him? His surname is Lai. You can call him Doctor Lai." The three didn't find it suspicious at all, and chorused "Doctor Lai" in thanks. The fortune-telling old daoist was both furious and embarrassed, yet had to play along — his face turning red. The key was the three thought the fortune-telling old daoist was shy, and kept praising his benevolent heart as a healer.

Ning Ze held back laughter at the side, nearly bursting. The fortune-telling old daoist cursed inwardly nonstop: Ning brat, belly full of bad water — just you wait, Dao-ye'll make you suffer a huge loss sooner or later.

As the sky gradually darkened, the hunting teams returned one by one. Except for Liu Lü'er and Wang Pangdun, every team had injuries — keeping the fortune-telling old daoist jumping up and down busy. Chorus after chorus of "Thank you, Doctor Lai" — Ning Ze laughed until his stomach nearly hurt. Later even Liu Lü'er and Wang Pangdun called him that. No one exposed it; the party himself just played along. Swallowing his broken teeth, the fortune-telling old daoist's "Doctor Lai" was stuck for good.

"Ning Ze, what game did your team bag today? Bring it out and let's see." Han Xian clearly knew Ning Ze hadn't gone hunting, yet asked on purpose.

Ning Ze also understood Han Xian wanted to mock him, so he generously admitted: "I didn't go hunting. Today we only seem to have bagged a pheasant — mm, roast pheasant's pretty good, I like it." Watching Ning Ze sip tea so lightly, only now did everyone realize Ning Ze truly hadn't gone out to hunt.

"Are you scared? Hiding in the cave, afraid to go out? If you want to concede, just say so — no need to be exposed and lose face." Han Xian laid out his day's haul: one rabbit, three antelopes. He'd checked early on — Han Yu's team only caught a rabbit; Lan Feng's team had the stag as a threat, but with injuries and no other game, they were basically no threat. Han Xian couldn't figure what ghostly scheme Ning Ze was cooking up — provoking him to see if he could probe some hint.

"The outcome's still unknown — don't jump to conclusions so early. Tomorrow we'll naturally see the verdict. That said, if I don't even leave the door and still bag more than you, wouldn't that be humiliating for you? To spare your face, I've decided I'll go out tomorrow." Ning Ze lifted his tea, drinking as he spoke, not forgetting to needle back.

"Good! Good! Good! Let's see what you can produce tomorrow." Han Xian was thoroughly enraged, his heart flustered from the retort: Ning Ze always had ghostly schemes — did he have some plan? If worst came to worst, he'd go to that place. Tomorrow he'd definitely bag a big kill, crush him in one blow, and see if he could still be this calm.

Han Xian's father knew some things. He was also curious what Ning Ze was doing. Benign competition during the hunting contest was something he was happy to see. They'd been competing since childhood — he had no leisure to stop the two from fighting.

The bonfire flickered. Enjoying the harvest from a day's hunt, Ning Ze personally roasted the meat. Wang Pangdun's "pot" didn't get used. Ning Ze really had a hand — seasonings fully prepared, he sprinkled a kind of inexplicable grass seed. The rich aroma made anyone who smelled it feel hungry. Swallowing sounds came nonstop; the sizzling fragrance of fat was simply criminal. If not for the dangerous deep forest, one would think they were on an outdoor cookout.

If only there were a few pots of small wine — that would be perfect. When the others started eating the meat, the fortune-telling old daoist uncharacteristically didn't snatch any. Ning Ze thought he was putting on airs of restraint, and directly cut a large piece to hand him.

The fortune-telling old daoist's eyes dimmed a few degrees, voice low: "First time." An inexplicable thread of bleakness and bitterness.

Ning Ze looked at the fortune-telling old daoist in surprise — seemed unnecessary to keep such precise count. He asked doubtfully: "Old Daoist, you still remember how many times you've eaten roast meat? Aren't you usually dying to mooch endlessly? Sudden change of character?"

The fortune-telling old daoist felt slighted, his dignity insulted. He rallied to retort: "Hmph, Ning brat, you don't know shit. How could this old daoist be the kind of person you imagine?"

"Fine then. I'll make roast meat every day — let's see if you'll leave after ten meals." Ning Ze muttered to himself with a mischievous face.

"Young Master Ning, no no, I was joking. Too much roast meat gets cloying — gotta watch the flavor balance, right?" The fortune-telling old daoist seemed to have his vital spot seized, and didn't dare act arrogant anymore.

Amid the horseplay, the long night arrived — showing how laughter is always fleeting. The youths' passion and optimism froze at the bonfire. Han Xian's father and the rest, with their steady gazes seeing the younger generation grow, felt inner joy soften their eyes. The future was unclear, but at least right now was beautiful.

Beicang Village. After the villagers prayed for the hunters, they gradually fell asleep, hoping to see good results tomorrow. Outside the village, in the darkness, a pair of pupils kept staring at the village — who knew what they wanted to see. Night concealed his figure. What fate awaited Beicang Village tomorrow?

Xiayu City. The city gates stood wide open. The cavalry commander led the Black Riders charging toward Beicang Village. Inside the City Lord's Manor, the Xiayu City Lord watched the direction the Black Riders departed, who knew what he was thinking? Was his decision right or wrong?