Crane Rain Medicine Manor quickly returned to its usual tranquility. Bai Hehuai only lay in bed for one more day before she could no longer restrain herself and began preparing for the manor's reopening. After the recent turmoil, the reputation of Crane Rain Medicine Manor spread even further throughout Nan'an City. Patients came in an endless stream, but Su Muyu set a rule: only twenty-three consultations per day, and unless absolutely necessary, the manor would not make house calls.
With this rule in place, many patients were turned away, some of whom were in desperate need of treatment. Unable to bear it, Su Muyu and the others came up with another solution. Xiao Chaoyan had been learning medicine from Bai Hehuai during this time, and to everyone's surprise, she showed remarkable talent in the medical arts. With Bai Hehuai—a teacher hard to find anywhere in the world—guiding her, she had already surpassed many ordinary physicians in treating minor ailments. Thus, the manor was divided into two sections: one where Bai Hehuai handled serious, urgent, or difficult cases, and another where Xiao Chaoyan treated minor injuries, colds, and fevers. Along with Su Muyu, who prepared medicine with astonishing speed, Su Zhe, who casually handed out Buddhist scriptures, and Su Changhe, who collected fees and ate watermelon every day, many people said that even if they weren’t sick, just visiting Crane Rain Medicine Manor would leave them feeling refreshed.
A few days later, a middle-aged man with a medicine chest on his back and a wisp of refined beard entered Nan'an City. He stopped at a teahouse to rest and casually asked, "I heard there’s a place called Crane Rain Medicine Manor in this city?"
The waiter set down his teacup and glanced at the man’s attire. "Indeed there is. A Miracle Healer presides there. Judging by your attire, sir, are you also a physician?"
The man nodded. "I know a bit of medicine, just enough to get by."
"If it’s just 'a bit,' then I’d advise you not to join the crowd at Crane Rain Medicine Manor. Lately, quite a few physicians have come to challenge the Miracle Healer’s reputation, only to lose decisively. Those who refused to accept defeat were even beaten out by the manor’s guards." The waiter chuckled. "Nan'an City has countless beautiful sights, sir. No need to invite trouble."
"Oh?" The man smiled faintly. "Is the Miracle Healer still seeing patients these days?"
The waiter nodded. "Of course. Every single day."
"That’s rather interesting." The man took a sip of tea.
The waiter looked puzzled. "Isn’t it natural for a physician to see patients?"
"Would you kindly point me the way?" The man placed three copper coins on the table.
The waiter swept the coins into his sleeve with a wave. "It’s not far. Walk three streets ahead, pass three intersections, and you’ll see an inn called Fulai. Turn left and walk one more street, and you’ll find Crane Rain Medicine Manor."
"Thank you." The man drained his tea, shouldered his medicine chest, and left. Following the waiter’s directions, he soon arrived at the gates of Crane Rain Medicine Manor. Gazing at the four characters on the plaque, he smiled slightly before stepping inside.
"Here for treatment?" Su Zhe blocked his path with a Buddhist staff. "Major or minor illness? Acute or chronic?"
The man shook his head with a smile. "Not for treatment. I’m looking for someone."
Su Zhe glanced at the medicine chest on the man’s back and snapped, "Get out!"
The man sighed helplessly. "I’m looking for my little martial uncle."Su Zhe was taken aback for a moment before suddenly realizing, "You... you are... the Medicine King Xin..."
The man slightly lowered his head and replied softly, "Indeed."
Su Zhe hastily stepped aside to make way. Bai Hehuai, who had been attending to patients, looked up at the commotion and saw the middle-aged man standing at the door with a medicine chest on his back. She waved cheerfully, "Little Baicao!"
Xin Baicao's lips twitched slightly. Back when this little girl first arrived at the valley, unfamiliar with everything, she would cry every day, wanting to go home. It was the gentle-natured Xin Baicao who took care of her daily, even carrying her up the mountains to gather herbs, patiently explaining the properties of each plant, which sparked her initial interest in medicine. Rather than being her junior in the sect, he was more like her true teacher. But this girl, relying on her higher seniority, started calling him "Little Baicao" once they became familiar, despite him being over a decade older. Now, after years apart, even as he had become the renowned Medicine King, she still called him "Little Baicao," taking quite the liberty.
"Little Baicao!" Bai Hehuai called again, waving her hand vigorously, afraid he hadn't heard.
Xin Baicao cleared his throat, bowed, and clasped his hands in salute, "Greetings, Martial Uncle!"
Su Muyu and Su Changhe exchanged amused glances. Su Changhe shook his head, "I never imagined the Medicine King Valley's hierarchy was so strict... If I were the Medicine King, I wouldn't stand for this."
Su Muyu stepped forward, guiding Xin Baicao inside, "Senior, please come in and rest. Have some cool tea. Once Miracle Healer Bai finishes with her patients, I'll bring her to see you."
Xin Baicao observed Su Muyu's gait and breathing, frowning slightly. Just from these few glances, he could tell this man was undoubtedly a peerless master. Yet such a master was acting as Bai Hehuai's assistant, which struck him as rather odd. He took the teacup from Su Muyu's hand, glanced at the calluses on his palm, and asked with a smile, "You're a swordsman, young master?"
Su Muyu hesitated briefly, "Perhaps you could say so."
Xin Baicao set down the cup, "May I ask your relationship with my martial uncle?"
Su Muyu thought for a moment, "We had a chance encounter. I sought the Miracle Healer to treat an elder in my family. During the treatment, we became friends and later jointly funded this Medicine Manor. The 'Rain' in the manor's name refers to me."
Xin Baicao nodded, "I see. May I know your esteemed name?"
"Su Muyu," he replied calmly.
"A fine name," Xin Baicao acknowledged, then paused, his expression shifting dramatically, "The Su Muyu I've heard of?"
Su Muyu scratched his forehead, "Perhaps it is me."
Xin Baicao drew a sharp breath, "Before my master passed, he asked me to look after this little martial uncle. But she's so willful, she wouldn't even listen to him, let alone me. She left the Medicine King Valley early to wander the world alone. I imagined our reunion would be shocking, but never this shocking. She actually opened a Medicine Manor... with Dark River?"
Watching Xin Baicao's expression, Su Muyu found it somewhat amusing, "Indeed. We kill, she heals—seemingly complete opposites. Opening a Medicine Manor together is truly beyond belief.""I get it now." Xin Baicao suddenly shed his previous refined demeanor and slapped his thigh hard. "It must be love, it's gotta be fucking love!"
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