Teng Hu had discarded his previous formal Daoist robes in favor of plain cloth attire. This change stripped away some of the overbearing arrogance he had displayed at Baoshen Pavilion, yet a lingering haughtiness remained in his every gesture. His hands, once tinged with a dark, ominous energy, were now concealed beneath two layers of celestial silk gloves. To an uninformed observer, he truly looked like some transcendent immortal physician from a secluded medicinal valley.
Seeing the disciple from the Tiankui Sect approach with a fawning smile—a mixture of reverence and fear—Qin Jiuye felt a wave of revulsion. The ominous premonition in her heart grew sharper. Sure enough, she watched as Teng Hu whispered something into the disciple's ear. The disciple nodded repeatedly in agreement before turning toward the gathered Huang Guzi. Straightening his back with an air of self-righteousness, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Master Teng Hu has come today specifically to distribute medicinal aid! He requires this space; all of you, move aside!"
As soon as these words left his mouth, the Huang Guzi, who had been waiting expectantly all morning, erupted in a chorus of discontent. Resentment simmered among these vendors who made their living in the cracks of society. However, after their initial outburst, most only dared to grumble under their breath. Ultimately, they picked up their straw mats and resignedly surrendered the spots they had occupied since dawn.
Everyone knew that Master Teng Hu was not someone to be trifled with. They were only there to earn a few silver coins; they had no desire to lose their lives on the desolate shores of Lixin Lake.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd dispersed in small groups, leaving only one person remaining.
It was a thin, small woman whose movements were sluggish. Though she didn't look old, she walked with a heavy, dragging gait.
The Tiankui Sect disciple knitted his brows and immediately stepped forward to berate her. "Still not moving? What are you dawdling for!"
Qin Jiuye turned slowly, offering a sheepish, placating smile as she tried her best to look harmless. "Brother, I see this place is quite spacious. It wouldn't be crowded even with seven or eight more people..."
The man glanced at her plain, unremarkable face and his expression immediately soured. "Do you not understand human speech? Will you leave on your own, or shall I 'escort' you out?"
Qin Jiuye’s smile vanished instantly. Daring not to delay any further, she hoisted her medicine chest and retreated toward a corner.
Drawing from her experience on the first day, she had woken up early to secure a good spot to better observe the situation. Her straw sandals had been stepped on countless times and she had lost several strands of hair in the scuffles, only to find that none of the key figures she was waiting for had appeared. Just as she was thinking of changing her strategy to work from the rear, the area was cleared. She felt a deep sense of indignation.
But what could indignation do? There hadn't been a single day in all these years when she felt truly satisfied, yet Heaven had never seen fit to open its eyes and rescue her from this dismal life.
Because she had been a step slow in leaving, by the time Qin Jiuye retreated to the fringes, every other spot was already packed.
The few patches of relatively flat ground were occupied by burly men. Clearly regulars at these martial gatherings, they huddled in groups of three or five. Whenever someone approached, they bolstered each other's courage and threw menacing glares. Qin Jiuye scanned the area and was forced to circle around to the other side.
Puddles left by the receding tide remained in the hollows of the jagged reefs, making the ground damp and unpleasant. However, the solitary Huang Guzi were not picky. They found some dry reeds to cushion their seats and settled in. A few elderly women even shared their mats with the younger ones, making the atmosphere significantly more harmonious.
Qin Jiuye managed to find a spot sheltered from the wind and sat down. Just as she set aside her basket and medicine chest, she heard a woman's voice nearby recounting something with excitement. Her tone was somewhat similar to Tang Shenyan’s.
"...And as I was saying, the name of this place, Xuanyu Shoal, is truly marvelous. Legend has it that a certain Prefect who served here, wanting to demonstrate his integrity, hung the dried fish sent to him as bribes right here to show he refused them. To commemorate him, later generations named this place 'Xuanyu'—the Shoal of the Suspended Fish. Master Teng Hu choosing this place to practice medicine and distribute charity is a way of using the past to illustrate the present, proving his own path to virtue..."
The woman continued her non-stop chatter, but Qin Jiuye found it hard to listen.
She felt that "Suspended Fish" was likely meant literally. The place probably got its name simply because it was open and well-ventilated, making it a spot where fishermen would dry their salted fish.
And at this moment, squeezed among a group of Huang Guzi, she was the saltest of salted fish.
As a salted fish, how was she supposed to flip over and leap through the Dragon Gate?
Looking up at the "prime real estate" occupied by Teng Hu, Qin Jiuye suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable anger. They were both healers; he had simply entered the martial world earlier than she had. How could the gap between them be so vast now?
At this thought, she couldn't help but let out a cold snort. "And here I thought the martial world valued ability. In the end, it’s just another place where people get by on their reputations."
As soon as she spoke, the "storytelling" woman became upset and immediately retorted.
"Who says he has no ability? That is Master Teng Hu."
The woman stood up as she spoke, and only then did Qin Jiuye get a good look at her. Like her, the woman wore the tattered bamboo hat typical of a Huang Guzi. She had a sturdy build that was somewhat intimidating, but her face looked young. Above her tiny, bean-like eyes were two very mobile eyebrows that twitched nervously along with her animated expressions, giving her a strangely comedic look.
Qin Jiuye looked away and gave a disdainful huff. "So what if he's Teng Hu? Does being Teng Hu mean he doesn't have to follow the rules? Even the Fox Immortal enshrined in the village next to mine knows the rule of 'first come, first served' for offerings."
Whether it was her imagination or not, as soon as she finished that sentence, Teng Hu, who had been busy with his head down, suddenly looked over.
Qin Jiuye immediately shrunk her neck and pulled down her bamboo hat in a very cowardly fashion.
Seeing this, the woman with the bean-sized eyes couldn't hide her schadenfreude. "I thought you were some tough nut who was going to stand up for us today. Turns out you're just another coward."
Qin Jiuye fell silent, tacitly accepting that she was indeed a "coward."
She pulled out her remaining piece of stale steamed bread and tore off a large chunk. Staring at the cloth-clad Teng Hu, she ground the bread into crumbs between her teeth.
Seeing her eating, the woman beside her also pulled out a bun and began to munch, continuing the conversation between bites. "Don't stop talking now. What do you sell? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Qin Jiuye didn't turn her head; her gaze remained glued to Teng Hu. "What I sell is none of your business."
"How is it not my business?!" The woman, despite having half a bun in her mouth, managed to keep droning in her ear. "If we're in the same trade and sell similar things, we're competitors. I advise you to find another place to wait for work. With me here, you won't sell a single bottle of medicine..."
Annoyed by the incessant chatter, Qin Jiuye finally snapped. "Tiger-Slaying Pills. I sell Tiger-Slaying Pills."
The woman froze, taking a moment to process this. Her fingers curled, squashing the remaining half of her bun out of shape. "In broad daylight, how could you... how could you..."
Qin Jiuye glanced at the woman's suddenly bashful expression and found it amusing. "Humans have seven emotions and six desires; it's perfectly normal. What's wrong with Tiger-Slaying Pills? Isn't it said that the Luosha Sect even practices the Great Art of Yin-Yang Harmony? Why don't I see anyone going to denounce them?"
The woman finally let go of her mangled bun. After thinking it over, she seemed somewhat convinced and started talking non-stop again. "Your logic isn't bad. Everyone else is thinking about the wound medicine and antidote business, but you thought of human desires. You might actually win by surprise and make a fortune. That's fine then; we won't have to fight over customers. I'm quite generous toward my juniors. I've made a name for myself after all these years. You look like a fresh face, so it's understandable you haven't heard of me, but in the future, you should call me Seventh Aunt..."
Seventh Aunt’s voice, muffled by the bun, rang incessantly in Qin Jiuye’s ear. Eventually, the latter grew accustomed to it, her mind drifting as she began to analyze the current situation.
Today, Teng Hu didn't seem to be following any particular sect. The people dressed as celestial attendants he brought along also looked unfamiliar; they were definitely not the same group of Daoist boys from Baoshen Pavilion. This suggested he had likely severed ties completely with the people of Fangwaiguan.
Yesterday, Wang Xiao’s words had implied that Yuan Qi also knew about the secret recipe. If that were the case, Yuan Qi’s appearance with Teng Hu at Baoshen Pavilion that day was clearly because he had reached some private deal with Teng Hu—perhaps to use the other's power to claim the recipe in the chest for himself.
But why did they part ways afterward? Was it simply because the recipe in Baoshen Pavilion vanished and the trail went cold?
What was Teng Hu’s true goal? Was it the same as Fangwaiguan and the others—to obtain the secret recipe? Or was it something else...
As Qin Jiuye’s thoughts swirled, another round of combat on the lake came to an end. Three or five people were carried off by young disciples in boats. Each sect came forward to claim their own, and after confirming no limbs were missing, they carried them onto Xuanyu Shoal. Teng Hu then stepped forward with two medicinal attendants to personally examine and treat them.
Initially, the young martial artists being carried off the field were very wary. But upon recognizing the Great Physician Teng Hu, they actually struggled to their feet despite their broken limbs to bow in greeting. They even seemed flattered when he questioned them about their injuries.
Qin Jiuye watched while chewing her bread, feeling inexplicably bitter and annoyed.
She didn't believe these people hadn't heard of Teng Hu’s ruthless reputation. Yet, they still chose to bow before the strong, putting on a show of respect. How was this scene any different from the group of sycophantic, hypocritical elites she had seen at the Su Manor birthday feast?
She could hardly believe the martial world was like this too—or perhaps she had always been in the martial world. The so-called "waters of the martial world" were a blend of human sweat, tears, and blood. Wherever there were restless crowds, there was the martial world.
Perhaps noticing her gaze was fixed on Teng Hu, Seventh Aunt leaned in with a knowing look and offered some unsolicited advice. "Don't be fooled by Master Teng Hu’s plain looks; many beauties in this martial world have lost their hearts to him. After all, if you're looking for a partner to spend your life with, isn't it better to marry a doctor than some poor soul who might die by a blade at any moment? Master Teng Hu’s personality might be a bit eccentric, but he is a healer at heart. Look at how patient, kind, and thorough he is with those injured disciples..."
If the silver was right, she could be a hundred times more patient, kind, and thorough than this "Master" Teng Hu.
Qin Jiuye curled her lip dismissively, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Teng Hu’s movements.
Her original intention was just to judge his diagnostic techniques, but after watching for a while, she discovered something else.
Having traveled since childhood and tasted the bitterness of the world, she was more observant of people and things than most. Teng Hu did indeed seem much more restrained than he had been at Baoshen Pavilion. He stepped forward to help check wounds, treat injuries, prepare medicines, and explain conditions with perfect decorum. However, those hands, encased in two layers of silk gloves, frequently brushed against the hem of his plain cloth robe.
He was secretly wiping his hands.
Every time he touched a patient, he would remove the outer layer of gloves and rub his fingertips harshly against his robe, as if the invisible filth would penetrate the fabric and touch his skin if he were even a second too slow. It was a subconscious, uncontrollable reaction, proving he felt not a shred of sympathy or pity for those waiting for his treatment. To him, even touching them was unbearable.
Indeed, he was an exceptionally skilled physician, but he lacked a healer's heart. He merely viewed the study of medicine as another path to "martial power," with the ultimate goal of dominating the world rather than saving it. He wanted to trample the people of the world under his feet, not have them line up for his help.
Seventh Aunt’s voice continued to drone in her ear, but Qin Jiuye’s focus had already drifted elsewhere.
"What exactly is he holding?"
Seventh Aunt, who had talked herself hoarse, was clearly unhappy at being interrupted. She followed Qin Jiuye’s gaze and gave a distracted, dismissive answer.
"Probably some unique secret medicine or something. I heard there are many more people using underhanded tactics this year; the number of poisoned victims is several times higher than usual." As she spoke, she reached into her small bamboo basket and pulled out several jars and bottles, a smug look on her face. "I was right to bring these Pure Heart Pills. I won't have to worry about finding buyers later."
Qin Jiuye glanced at Seventh Aunt and shook her head inwardly.
Not long ago, someone had been selling fake Pure Heart Pills made from years-old beeswax. The old Daoist from Mount Min had eaten them and lost his hair for three months; now his head was as bald as a desert, and he had to wear a headwrap just to be seen in public. If anyone tried to sell Pure Heart Pills now, they’d likely have their legs broken and be tossed into the lake.
If this Seventh Aunt wasn't a fool, then she certainly wasn't a veteran of the medicine trade. She probably just thought selling medicine was profitable and had picked up some stock from somewhere to try and make a quick buck.
Since they had just met and didn't know each other's depths, Qin Jiuye decided to keep her mouth shut and turned back to watch Teng Hu.
"I don't mean in his hands. I mean the thing that's been in his sleeve the whole time."
Only then did Seventh Aunt squint to look closer. She noticed that the sleeves of Teng Hu’s robe were exceptionally wide today. There did indeed seem to be something glittering inside his sleeve. It looked larger than a noble's incense sachet, but smaller than the filigreed gold cages used for roasting tea.
"Now that you mention it, there does seem to be something..." Seventh Aunt strained to see for a while longer but couldn't make out anything else. She waved it off. "It’s probably some unique secret technique of his, brought out today specifically to save people. What does it matter if you know?"
Qin Jiuye pursed her lips and said nothing.
If a man like that had a heart for the common good and a desire to do good deeds, then Qin Jiuye could achieve enlightenment and become a Buddha right then and there.
She was certain that Teng Hu’s presence here was for another purpose entirely. Many of the disciples who had lost were only scratched; they weren't worth his personal attention. The reason he refused to miss a single one was as if he were confirming something, excluding something, or looking for something...
Qin Jiuye was lost in thought and didn't notice the movement around her until a deep, booming voice rang out.
"Is there anyone who can heal? Come with me."
Qin Jiuye looked up to see another fast boat docking. A dark-faced man in Daoist robes stepped off.
As soon as he spoke, the Huang Guzi huddled in the corners all turned their eyes toward Teng Hu, who stood in the prime spot. However, the latter showed no reaction. The crowd was momentarily stunned, and whispers began to break out. They had thought today would be a wasted trip, but as the saying goes, "Heaven never blocks all paths." Another chance to pick up a job had appeared. The previously listless crowd suddenly came to life, everyone stretching their necks excitedly. Some of the bolder ones were already rubbing their hands, preparing to step forward.
Qin Jiuye narrowed her eyes.
Others might not know why Teng Hu remained silent, but she felt she could guess.
Sure enough, the dark-faced man continued to shout.
"Abbot Yuan Qi of Fangwaiguan is seeking a physician! Those who are capable will be handsomely rewarded!"
His voice fell, but for a long time, no one answered. The Huang Guzi who had been eager to move a moment ago froze in place.
It wasn't surprising that no one stepped forward despite the reward. Everyone knew that since the disaster of the Qingping Path, Fangwaiguan had been severely weakened. Yuan Qi himself was reportedly hanging by a thread; the slightest disturbance might send him to his grave. Who would want to rush in at such a time and risk their life? In the martial world, earning money was one thing, but a single mistake could cost you your head.
This was likely why Teng Hu hadn't moved either.
If even a Great Physician couldn't cure a dying man, how would anyone else dare to take the job?
Seeing that no one spoke, the man gave a signal, and a Daoist boy behind him stepped forward carrying a wooden tray.
The boy pulled back the thin cloth covering the tray, revealing a pile of gleaming white silver.
"The Abbot only has a cold and a bit of a headache. Whoever can relieve his pain will receive this silver."
The white silver glittered in the sun, tempting the desires of these "small fish and shrimp." If they could land this job, they could call it a day and go home happy. If it really was just a cold and a headache, it would be fine—but who knew if that was the truth?
While everyone was debating with themselves, the first brave soul stood up.
"I'll do it!"
The woman in the tattered bamboo hat stood up with a rustle. She rubbed her hands, smoothed the two stray hairs at her temples, took a deep breath, and walked over.
"Anyone else?"
The dark-faced man was still asking. Qin Jiuye watched Seventh Aunt’s scurrying footsteps and felt a final struggle in her heart.
Previously, she had tried everything to get close to the Fangwaiguan boats to no avail. Now, she could board one openly. This was a golden opportunity.
So good that it made her feel unsettled and anxious.
Perhaps because the information she had recently learned had changed her perception of Fangwaiguan, her intuition told her they were not just innocent victims. As Wang Xiao had said, they were likely just one of many opportunists who had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.
But regardless, seeing Yuan Qi and searching for clues about the secret recipe was her purpose for coming to the Sword Assembly, wasn't it? If she acted too cautiously now and chose to retreat, how would she be any different from her former, useless self? She might as well take off the half-jade pendant from her waist and return it, apologize to Old Qin, and crawl back to Guoran Pavilion to continue decocting medicine.
Another burly man stood up and rudely pushed past Seventh Aunt.
Qin Jiuye took a deep breath and finally stood up slowly.
The dark-faced man was about to leave when he caught sight of her. He urged her impatiently, "Are you coming or not? If you are, hurry up."
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Qin Jiuye adjusted the bamboo hat on her head, picked up her battered medicine chest, and followed. "I'm right here."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
悬鱼矶 | Xuanyu Shoal | Literally "Suspended Fish Shoal." A location near Lixin Lake.
打虎丹 | Tiger-Slaying Pill | A type of medicine Qin Jiuye claims to sell; implied to be an aphrodisiac or stamina enhancer.
七姑 | Seventh Aunt | A talkative Huang Guzi (itinerant healer) Qin Jiuye meets.
素心丸 | Pure Heart Pill | A common medicinal pill mentioned by Seventh Aunt.
