Qin Liuxi changed into a different outfit, mounted the carriage, and left the residence to depart from the city. She parted the curtains and gazed into the distance at the lush, green forests, exhaling a long sigh.
Just three short days had been enough to suffocate her nearly into depression; she truly wasn't suited for communal living.
"Young master seems like he's fleeing from a great disaster," Chen Pi, sitting atop the carriage shaft, chuckled upon hearing the sigh from inside.
At this moment, Qin Liuxi, in the eyes of others, was dressed as a young man, and whenever she adopted this appearance, Chen Pi and the others would instinctively address her as "young master."
Qin Liuxi slouched lazily inside the carriage, pinching a piece of candied fruit and popping it into her mouth, she mumbled, "Your young master wholeheartedly agrees."
She even considered whether to stay at a Daoist Temple for a few days to hide and enjoy some tranquility.
Chen Pi laughed softly.
Qingping Temple was just on the outskirts of the city, and the carriage ride would only take a little over two hours; with a fast horse, it would take just over an hour to reach.
Meanwhile, in one of the guest chambers of Qingping Temple, a servant brought in a plate of fresh wild berries to a young man seated on a cushion in the room.
"Master, it has been three days already, shall we just wait here doing nothing? Why not let Huo Lang tie up the Daoist priests here, and after eighteen types of torments, they'll surely confess where the Daoist doctor can be found."
Qi Qian picked up a berry, still beaded with water droplets, and glanced sideways at him, saying, "When did you become so impatient? To tie up a Daoist priest, you dare say such a thing!"
Ying Nan was kneeling in front, saying, "Am I not just anxious? These Taoists are impervious to oil and salt, speaking only of fate and divine will. I have been impatient for a long time; if they truly had compassionate hearts, they should disclose the whereabouts of that Daoist doctor to us, considering our sincere prayers for healing."
He was an atheist, not believing in either Taoism or Buddhism, especially after spending so much time with his own master, he scorned such illusory things, believing that strength and power were truly important.
Just like with these Taoist priests, if they were captured and subjected to threats and bribes, wouldn't they reveal where the Daoist doctor was?
"Master, you surely haven't started to believe in this Taoist karma and retribution, have you?"
Qi Qian bit into a berry and said, "It's not that I believe in karma and retribution, but I'm afraid of inadvertently offending the Daoist doctor."
Ying Nan was stunned, could his master really be afraid of offending a mere doctor?
Qi Qian eyed him and said, "Medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin; a doctor capable of healing is also capable of poisoning. If offended, they might change one ingredient in a medicine or misidentify an acupoint, leading you to your death."
"It doesn't matter if he dares or not. A real Divine Doctor, one should seek to befriend rather than make an enemy. In this world, not just you and I, who doesn't have some minor ailments? Befriending a truly skilled Divine Doctor can only be good with no harm." Qi Qian lowered his gaze, "We're here to seek healing, not to make enemies."
Ying Nan's face turned slightly red, and he said, "It is my shallowness."
Qi Qian continued, "Wait a bit longer, the Daoist said that the person will surely come to the mountain in the next few days. Maybe Ying Bei will also bring good news from the city. If we still cannot find him, then we'll make another plan."
The key was that Gu Cheng mentioned, this Daoist doctor has a peculiar temperament, and could only be treated nicely, not offended; otherwise, even with millions of wealth, he would not treat you if he said so.
If he truly could cure his grandmother's old ailment, what's the harm in waiting?
"Master," Huo Lang rushed in with a face full of joy, "That person has appeared."
Qi Qian suddenly stood up, "Really?"
"Just like the one depicted in the scroll, and also, I saw her treating someone."
Qi Qian immediately went out, saying, "Lead the way."