Yang Ning dropped the rolling pin and sprinted toward the master bedroom. Yang An followed closely behind. As soon as he entered, he was hit by a pungent smell of medicine. A kerosene lamp was lit in the room, its flame flickering from the breeze caused by the opening door, making the dimly lit room feel heavy and stuffy. His brother-in-law, Li Yan, lay on the bed. Originally a big, burly man, he had thinned down considerably. His complexion was a sallow, jaundiced yellow, and his lips and eyelids were entirely bruised and purple. "Wife... Erlang..." Li Yan called out hoarsely to the Yang siblings. Seeing her husband injured like this, Yang Ning's barely stopped tears almost broke like a snapped string of pearls again. She quickly walked to the bedside and tightly grasped his hand. "Husband." Li Yan forced a smile. "Why the long face... Haven't I woken up?" "I thought you were never going to wake up!" Yang Ning choked out, wiping her tears. "You've been unconscious for a whole day and night. How are you feeling now?" Standing beside them, Yang An also asked with concern, "Are you feeling any better, Brother-in-law?"
"Much better." Li Yan nodded. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the white bandage wrapped around Yang An's head. "Erlang, how did you get injured..." Before he could finish, Li Yan's expression changed. "Did those scoundrels from the Wang Family Moneyhouse beat you?!" Yang An lied, "No one beat me. I wasn't paying attention and took a fall." "Don't lie to me! What kind of fall gives you a head injury like that! It must have been those bastards from the Wang Family Moneyhouse. It must be Wang Gou'er and his pack of wolves bullying you!"
Hearing the name Wang Gou'er. Yang An's heart sank. Wang Gou'er was a notorious thug in Yunzhou City. In his early years, by relying on his ruthless fighting style, he caught the eye of a nobleman and stepped onto the path of martial arts, becoming a ranked martial artist. Later, he opened the Wang Family Moneyhouse. Backed by powerful forces, Wang Gou'er acted with absolute impunity. Once he set his sights on someone, even if they sat on mountains of gold and silver, their family would end up destroyed! Because Li Yan had killed the ferocious beast raised by the nobleman to save people. Not only did they need money to treat his legs. They also had to raise funds to compensate the nobleman. In desperate need of money, the Yang siblings had no choice but to seek out Wang Gou'er. The contract they signed stated the money was to be repaid in two months. Yet Chen San came to collect the debt today! It was simply pushing people too far!
Not wanting Li Yan to worry, Yang An smiled and said, "Don't overthink it, nothing like that happened." Yang Ning also changed the subject, "Husband, you've been unconscious for so long, are you hungry? Erlang, you must be hungry too, right? There's porridge simmering in the pot! Wait here, I'll go bring it to you!" "Erlang, keep an eye on your brother-in-law." Leaving those words, Yang Ning hurried to the kitchen.
Lifting the massive, millstone-sized copper pot, she saw only a thin layer of porridge left at the bottom. Using a ladle, Yang Ning scraped the bottom of the iron pot completely clean, just barely managing to fill two bowls. Grumble~ Over the past two days, Yang Ning had only eaten a small half-bowl of rice herself. She was hungry right now too. Taking advantage of the remaining heat in the pot, she poured half a bowl of cold water in, swished it around to get the leftover grains of rice stuck to the bottom, and poured the cloudy white water into a bowl to drink as thin gruel. She even licked the ladle clean, wasting nothing. After eating. Just as Yang Ning grabbed a white cloth to wipe her mouth. She thought for a moment, put the cloth down, and deliberately left a trace of rice soup near her lips.
Carrying the two bowls of thick porridge, she returned to the master bedroom. She smiled at Yang An and Li Yan, "Erlang, Husband, eat quickly while it's hot." Yang An had also been unconscious for most of the day. His stomach was completely empty. Smelling the aroma of the rice porridge made him hungry. Taking the golden bowl of porridge from Yang Ning's hands and inhaling the scent of millet, his appetite flared, and he gulped down a few mouthfuls noisily. In no time at all, he finished the whole bowl. Still feeling hungry, just as Yang An was about to ask Yang Ning if there was any more, he noticed that his sister had only brought two bowls. One for him. One she was feeding to his brother-in-law. Then what did she eat? Yang An hurriedly asked, "Sis, why aren't you eating?" "I just ate in the kitchen. You eat up," Yang Ning said, smiling as she wiped the rice soup from the corner of her mouth, sitting on the edge of the bed and feeding Li Yan with a spoon. Yang An felt relieved. Still hungry, he asked, "Sis, is there any more?" "Yes, once your brother-in-law finishes, I'll boil some more for you. You need to eat more to recover quickly." Yang Ning's slender, willow-leaf eyebrows curved beautifully when she smiled. She blew the hot steam off the porridge and fed it to Li Yan.
The porridge had barely entered his mouth when Yang An saw his brother-in-law suddenly start coughing violently, spitting out the mouthful he had just eaten! Yang An quickly put down his bowl. He reached over to gently pat Li Yan's back. Once he felt a bit better, Li Yan, his face dark yellow, lay on the bed with his eyes closed. He simply couldn't keep anything down. He couldn't even drink water! "What's wrong? What's happening! Didn't he just say he was feeling a bit better?!" Seeing Li Yan, who had just woken up, suddenly fall severely ill again, Yang Ning panicked. "Erlang, watch your brother-in-law. I'm going to get Old Doctor He from next door!" Yang An said, "Sis, I'll go." "Your head hasn't healed yet, don't run around," Yang Ning said as she rushed frantically out the door.
Looking at Yang Ning's exhausted figure. Yang An's heart ached terribly. He sighed, grabbed a towel, and was about to wipe the sweat from Li Yan's neck when Li Yan, who had seemed on the verge of passing out again, opened his eyes. Overjoyed, Yang An said, "Brother-in-law, you're awake!" Li Yan smiled faintly and asked, "Erlang, has your sister gone far?" "Yes, she's gone far." Seeing Li Yan acting like this, Yang An asked with some hesitation, "Brother-in-law, you weren't faking it, were you?"
"As expected, you're the smartest one in our family." Li Yan let out an honest, albeit weak, chuckle. Yang An got a bit angry. "Why would you do that?!" Pointing to his own legs, Li Yan smiled bitterly. "I'm crippled. The world is cruel; how are you and your sister going to survive in the future dragging a useless cripple like me around? If I die, I won't be a burden to you..." "Li Yan! What kind of b*llsh*t are you talking about?!" Yang An was furious.
Although Li Yan was a large, burly man, dark-skinned like a farmer—looking completely mismatched when standing next to his beautiful sister—his nature was incredibly honest and gentle. Yang Ning was soft on the outside but tough on the inside. When Yang An was little, he got beaten by her rolling pin quite often. And every time, it was his brother-in-law, Li Yan, who stepped in to block it. When he reached school age, if Yang An lost a fight outside and didn't dare tell Yang Ning, he would secretly tell Li Yan, and the next day, his brother-in-law would take him to get his revenge. When he came back from school, Li Yan would always buy him large meat pies. In Yang An's heart. His brother-in-law was just like his sister. Both were indispensable family members in his life.
Calming down, Yang An comforted Li Yan, "Brother-in-law, don't overthink it. My sister and I will definitely find a way to cure you, we definitely will!" Li Yan shook his head and sighed, "It's no use, Erlang. I know my own legs. They can't be cured. Besides, because of me, our family owes Wang Gou'er silver. That b*st*rd is the kind of man who would chew up people's bones to squeeze the oil out of them." "If we can't pay back the silver, he will keep coming." "He is a ranked martial artist. You and your sister can't deal with him. I'm already crippled; continuing to live will only drag you two down." "I don't want to be a burden..." "What do you mean by burden! Aren't we family!!!" Yang An growled, clutching the towel.
Tears welled up in Li Yan's tiger-like eyes. He grabbed Yang An's arm, took a deep breath, and said, "Erlang, listen to me! Although your brother-in-law is just a minor clerk in the government office, I at least have an official status. If I starve to death instead of eating, it won't be counted as suicide. When the time comes, you and your sister can collect a few dozen taels of silver in pension." "Furthermore, I've been on the battlefield and earned merits; I have a noble title." "After I die, go to the yamen and bribe Registrar Qian to let you inherit my title. Then you and your sister will still get a few taels of silver every year." "Wang Gou'er is ruthless." "Take the silver and flee Yunzhou immediately." "Take good care of your sister in the future. And whatever you do, do not tell her about this. She wouldn't be able to handle it."
Listening to these words. Yang An felt as if his heart was being sliced by a knife, the pain making it impossible to speak.
"Old Doctor He, please hurry!" Old Doctor He lived diagonally across from their ward, so Yang Ning had fetched him in no time. Hearing the approaching footsteps. Afraid that Yang An wouldn't agree and would tell Yang Ning the truth, Li Yan grew desperate. He yanked Yang An's arm, gripping it so tight it hurt. "Erlang! Yunshen! You must promise me! If you don't promise me, even if I die, I won't be able to rest in peace!" Yang An's heart wasn't made of stone. How could he possibly agree to this?
Seeing him refuse to nod, Li Yan, in his agitation, actually tried to bite his own tongue. Shocked, Yang An hurriedly shoved the towel into his mouth, but it still couldn't stop him! Watching the blood begin to seep from the corner of Li Yan's mouth! Yang An nearly shattered his back teeth from gritting them so hard. "I promise! Brother-in-law, let go quickly, I promise you, okay!!!" Right before Yang Ning and Doctor He entered the room. Li Yan smiled as if a massive burden had been lifted, looking as though he could now die with no regrets.
Yang Ning returned. As soon as she entered, she said anxiously, "Old Doctor He, please take a look at my husband quickly!" "Alright, alright, Madam Li, don't fret." Following the voice, Yang An saw a man approaching seventy, his hair completely white, leaning on a walking stick as he followed Yang Ning through the door. This was Old Doctor He. The only physician in their Wanshou Ward. Yang An stepped away from the bed, and Yang Ning helped the doctor sit next to Li Yan, where he carefully began taking his pulse.
Old Doctor He's medical skills were quite excellent. In the past, whenever Yang An caught a cold or suffered a minor ailment, a diagnosis and a few prescribed herbs from him would usually cure it within half a day. Holding Li Yan's wrist. Old Doctor He's brows furrowed tightly. He hurriedly pried open Li Yan's mouth to inspect the coating on his tongue, then pulled back his eyelids to examine his pupils. Moments later, he asked angrily, "Which quack doctor prescribed nine-leaf orchid for Buliangshuai Li?!" "Nine-leaf orchid is an isolating herb!" "It's commonly used to treat poisoned individuals to block their meridians! Buliangshuai Li's waist bones and tendons are already injured; what he needs most right now is to stimulate blood circulation and clear the meridians. Using such a harsh medicine will only worsen his injuries! It will cause all the meridians in his waist to sever completely!"
The nine-leaf orchid was exactly the medicine prescribed by Huichun Hall! The moment he saw Chen San at their door. Yang An had faintly guessed that the Wang Family Moneyhouse and Huichun Hall had colluded to set a trap for their family. Even though he was mentally prepared for this. At this moment, a surge of violent rage still rushed to his head. Yang An couldn't understand or fathom how their family, simply living their lives, could have offended Wang Gou'er's gang enough to be framed so viciously!
Looking at the unconscious Li Yan. Yang Ning fought back her tears. Right now, she no longer hoped for Li Yan to stand up again; just him staying alive would be enough. "Old Doctor He, why does my husband keep falling unconscious and remain unable to eat?" "Unconscious? Unable to eat?" Old Doctor He was slightly taken aback and carefully examined Li Yan again. Li Yan had already made up his mind to die. No matter how skilled Old Doctor He was, he couldn't diagnose the root cause. After all, there is no medicine to cure the "disease of poverty." After working for a long time. Old Doctor He could only prescribe a recipe to nourish the blood and replenish Qi. "Old Sir, is my husband truly beyond saving?" Yang Ning asked with immense difficulty, clutching the prescription. Old Doctor He sighed and shook his head.
Yang Ning spaced out for a moment. Her legs gave out, losing all strength, and she slumped onto the edge of the bed. Having seen enough of partings between life and death, Old Doctor He knew that words were useless at a time like this. Not wanting to disturb them, he leaned on his cane, picked up his medical box, and prepared to leave. Yang An suddenly supported his arm. "Old Doctor He, let me walk you out." Old Doctor He was a bit surprised.
Supporting Old Doctor He, Yang An walked him out of the Yang family courtyard toward his home. Halfway there. Yang An pulled open a hidden pocket in his sleeve, took out the broken silver he had saved up over the years, stuffed it into the doctor's hand, and bowed respectfully. "Old Sir, is there really no possibility of curing my brother-in-law's injuries?" Looking at the silver in his hand, Old Doctor He sighed, "Buliangshuai Li's injuries are extremely severe, reaching deep into his spinal cord. The chances of a cure are very slim, unless you can find a spiritual herb capable of reconnecting tendons and bones, otherwise..." "Does Old Sir know where one might find such a herb?" Unwilling to give up, Yang An continued to ask.
Old Doctor He stroked his gray beard, taking a few extra glances at Yang An before speaking. "Such a spiritual herb does exist. It can be found in Yunling Mountain outside Yunzhou City, and it's called the Black Jade Lotus." "Unfortunately, it is the dead of winter right now. The ground is frozen, and heavy snow has sealed the mountain. The snowy peaks are swarming with ferocious beasts. To make matters worse, that herb only grows on sheer cliffs, often guarded by these beasts. Even the most experienced mountain traversers wouldn't dare go pick it at this time of year."
Black Jade Lotus, is it? Yang An rejoiced internally, and carefully asked Old Doctor He for the exact description of the Black Jade Lotus, learning that it was shaped like a lotus and completely pitch-black. Having crossed countless bridges and eaten more salt than most have eaten rice. Old Doctor He had long become exceedingly shrewd in reading people. Seeing through Yang An's thoughts, he advised, "Erlang, you must think thrice before acting. The world is harsh, and Buliangshuai Li has already fallen. If you take this risk and something happens to you, how is Madam Yang supposed to survive alone?" "Living well is the greatest repayment you can offer your closest family." "This old man has said enough; saying more would be out of place." "Yang Erlang, no need to see me any further." A cold wind carrying snowflakes blew between the two. Old Doctor He shoved the silver back into Yang An's hands, and leaning on his cane, hobbled back to his own courtyard. "Thank you." Facing the old man's retreating back, Yang An bowed deeply.
Returning home. Looking at his despairing sister. And his brother-in-law, who had fallen into a deep slumber, preparing to starve himself to death. Yang An said nothing. He returned to his room, wrapped himself in several layers of padded cotton clothes and leather armor, tightened his belt, tucked a short knife in it, slung a longbow over his shoulder, and secured a quiver full of arrows on his back. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight. Without looking back, he stepped into the wind and snow, heading straight for Yunling Mountain! "I'm sorry, Brother-in-law, Old Doctor He." "I understand everything you both said." "But... asking me to abandon my family just to survive—I cannot do that."