Sunset, sunrise. Moon sets, moon rises. Stars scatter, stars disappear.
Right now, I'm lost in thought, staring at the sky for three days and three nights in front of an old woman's house.
After Shun Jin's duel against King Fong ended in the girl's victory, she was severely injured in various internal organs. Ribs pierced her lungs, her liver was half-shattered, intestines swollen, kidneys almost severed, and various muscles in her arms and legs were torn apart beneath her skin.
Even with the white snake robe, the gap in ability between Shun Jin and King Fong was simply too great. It was a miracle that she could defeat someone whose cultivation was three levels above hers and still survive.
So what about Shun Jin? I took her to a healer I know. She's an old woman skilled in healing. Ye Jing and I always relied on her whenever we were severely injured after fighting one of the devil cult's branch leaders.
The healer's name is Quowun.
A unique and rarely heard name. I even believe she's the only person in all of China with that name.
Currently, Shun Jin is receiving intensive care from the healer for days. I'm waiting in front of her house, just in case she needs me to fetch something for Shun Jin's treatment.
Coincidentally, the Jin kingdom is very close to the healer's residence. About five mountains from the Jin kingdom, I could carry Shun Jin and run for an hour to reach Healer Quowun's residence before Shun Jin lost consciousness.
Usually, Ye Jing and I would need about two to three days to see Healer Quowun, even when we were severely injured. She's not a famous healer, but her abilities surpass even the most renowned ones. So, going to her, no matter how far or how critical our condition, was always the best choice. She's also the only healer who can repair a damaged or crippled dantian. Her healing abilities and knowledge are truly out of this world. I suspect whether Healer Quowun is actually like the spirit king, from another world. But whatever she is, she's still as fierce as ever.
She lives in a simple hut surrounded by various herbal plants as her garden. Near the garden, behind lush fruit trees, she also cultivates various rare flowers, plants I don't recognize, and other things I can't even call plants. Like the corpse of a rat turtle hanging in front of her door, for example. She truly is a genuine healer.
After three days passed, Healer Quowun finally emerged from her house.
"So, how is she?"
"Heh, if you had brought her here three seconds later, the girl would have been beyond help because there was a Qi energy explosion that almost reached her heart. She's quite strong and has an iron will to survive with so many internal injuries. Even though her cultivation level is still very early. I don't understand how she could survive such horrific injuries."
"She just defeated a king who killed her father with her own hands. Moreover, that king was 30 times stronger than her." I rubbed my nose, feeling proud to show off my disciple's achievement.
Healer Quowun, who had opened her eyes and mouth wide, immediately slapped me with a hot iron spoon.
Slap!
"No wonder she's dying. You crazy demon. What were you thinking, letting your disciple fight someone 30 times stronger than her?"
I sneered. "That was her own wish from the very beginning when I took her as my disciple. Her life and death are her choice. You old hag."
"Who are you calling an old hag, you crazy brat? Three days ago, in the afternoon while I was sound asleep, you broke down my door and told me to heal a dying girl in your hands. This time, I won't let you off cheaply."
Quowun muttered various curses from A to Z. I just grinned seeing her like that. To me and Ye Jing, she was like our grandmother who liked to grumble and get angry in her old age.
"Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say, grandma. You're already old and you're still asking for payment from us?"
"Heh, nothing in this world is free, crazy demon." Quowun said while pulling out some plants in her field.
It was morning, and she told me to water her plants in exchange for her being busy healing Shun Jin. I did it quickly and easily even before a leaf from a tree blown by the wind fell to the ground.
Then Quowun returned to her house and said;
"You should thank this girl, crazy man. The only reason she managed to survive her injuries is because she didn't want to leave you lonely."
The door closed. I didn't answer anything and just stared blankly at a snail slowly making its way to the wet field.
"Shouldn't she be thanking me? That's strange."
I said to the snail I caught. It wiggled its head and tail before hiding inside its shell.
The next day, in the same morning as usual, Shun Jin walked out with a limping gait from Quowun's house.
She looked a little thinner, so much so that I could clearly see her collarbones below her neck. Quowun's Qi healing technique not only depleted her internal energy, but also the patient's physical energy. This was because the Qi healing technique worked both ways to not overly burden Quowun. Both women looked pale, but other than that, they were fine.
"She'll be back to normal after a week. Give her easily digestible food. Her stomach will rupture if you make her eat pills or monster or spirit beast cores. Take good care of that girl, Long Yi."
I didn't nod. Shun Jin looked at me like a sick child who needed more attention and treatment.
"Alright, name your price, old hag. We need to leave soon because we don't have much time." I said while pulling Shun Jin's hand.
Quowun shook her head. "Just give my regards to your friend." She grinned as she said it.
I fell silent. I forgot I hadn't told her about Ye Jing's passing.
But without saying anything, Quowun, just by looking at my dark gaze, knew what it meant.
"So he's dead, huh? Tsk, young people nowadays waste too much of their time and lives. Well, at least one of his wishes came true."
Quowun, walking towards the garden, chuckled as she spoke.
"A wish?"
"That child, Ye Jing, once told me. 'If I die first, grandma, find Long Yi someone to stand by his side. He's been single for too long. He'll end up like you in old age.' That child was as impudent as you, Long Yi. But seeing you have a disciple, it seems I can also feel a little relieved. You two are like grandchildren to me. It's natural for a grandmother to be happy to see her grandchildren live normal and happy lives."
I grinned hearing that. "Since when did you consider me your grandchild, old hag? I'm just taking advantage of your abilities and healing knowledge."
The old woman, Quowun, laughed. Laughed loudly as if she hadn't had such a hearty laugh in years at something she found humorous.
I laughed along with her. Shun Jin beside me looked at us both in confusion.
"What are you two laughing about?" The girl said softly, hearing us laugh non-stop. She didn't get her answer because we were busy laughing.
"Hahaha... Never mind, hurry up and go, crazy demon. You have business to settle to save your disciple, don't you? At least you're growing as a human, Long Yi. That's enough."
That was the last sentence from Quowun, who immediately focused on tending to her garden.
I turned around and took Shun Jin away without saying anything else except.
"Thank you, old hag! Next time I'll bring you Sichuan sweets!"
"Having someone who still cares about you, even if you rarely meet, is a blessing from heaven. It's proof that you are still human."
That's what Ye Jing said, hoping it was an absolute truth for me, who had already become a demon.
***