Since the day the uninvited Master of Burning Wheel Valley arrived, more than ten days had passed.
Today was the first day of the fourth lunar month. Although the light rain from the sky still drizzled without end, Xu Ping’an was already fully dressed and ready to head out.
On the first, tenth, and twentieth of each month, these three days were his charity clinic days.
As long as there wasn’t a torrential downpour or a flash flood, he would generally go to offer free medical consultations, rain or shine.
As a doctor, this was a small demand he placed upon himself.
“Qingxuan, you don’t need to come with me today.”
Xu Ping’an lowered his head, looking at his still-drowsy Lady in front of him, a gentle smile curling at the corner of his lips.
“Mm~ Husband, come back early~”
Pei Qingxuan lifted her head and looked at her husband, her large, sparkling eyes brimming with affection.
“Mm, I’ll be sure to come back early. Breakfast is already made—have some yourself later, and when I return this afternoon, I’ll make you something delicious.”
“Mm!”
His Lady obediently nodded her head. Seeing her so adorable and well-behaved, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
He patted Pei Qingxuan on the head, tightened the rain cloak on his back, and stepped out of the room.
As soon as he left the door, he saw Zhao Pingzhi in the courtyard, wearing a hooded jacket and clearing weeds.
“Sir? It’s still drizzling outside, where are you headed? Shall I drive the cart for you?”
“No need.”
Xu Ping’an waved his hand.
“This courtyard needs someone to look after things when I’m away, so stay behind and keep an eye on it. Later, go to my pharmacy—in the medicine cabinet, on the fifth row, seventh drawer—take out a dish of incense and light it. The incense burner is on my desk.”
“And why is that?”
Zhao Pingzhi gazed at Xu Ping’an before him.
Since that day, aside from deep respect, he felt nothing else toward Xu Ping’an.
This ordinary-looking man, his energy and blood were no different from any common person, yet he could so effortlessly deal with an immortal!
Though he didn’t know what methods Xu Ping’an used, at the very least, Zhao Pingzhi now understood why this seemingly ordinary physician dared to live outside the Myriad Demon Mountain Range.
“That’s incense to ward off mosquitoes and wild beasts.”
“So that’s it. I understand. Please rest assured, sir, I will light the incense soon.”
“Mm.”
Pei Qingxuan was leaning on the window lattice, waving at him.
Li Yuer and Liu Yingying watched him leave.
Today, the charity clinic was in Little Creek Village.
Xu Ping’an looked in the direction, glanced at the sky, and nodded.
With his Chaos Golden Eyes, he could tell at a glance that the rain wouldn’t get any heavier, so he followed the path and walked out.
“Hmm, I wonder how Shen has been lately. Last time I treated him, I could feel his time was nearly up—probably only a few days left.”
Recalling this, Xu Ping’an gradually disappeared at the end of the path, fading into the misty rain.
Xu Ping’an went to offer free consultations, while the young girls in the small courtyard gathered together.
With nothing much to do on a rainy day, Liu Yingying, who couldn’t stand idleness, brought out a set of Beast Chess and called the other girls over to play together under the main hall.
Her slender fingers picked up the Lion, leaped across the river, and captured the opponent’s Dog. Liu Yingying immediately beamed with delight.
“Hehe~ I won again!”
Li Yuer smiled and nodded, not taking it seriously at all—she was just playing for fun.
In fact, she wasn’t interested in these games that girls usually played.
After all, thinking about her own upbringing made it clear.
She was almost raised as the Shizi, so she only ever learned the Six Gentlemanly Arts, and played Go and Chinese Chess. When had she ever played childish games like Beast Chess?
Moreover, if she actually played seriously, she feared that even if everyone in the courtyard joined forces, none could defeat her alone.
“Yu’er, you lost—let me play! This time, I’ll definitely win!”
Pei Qingxuan rolled up her long sleeves, revealing her snowy-white arms, and sat down with a fierce, competitive air.
Naturally, Liu Yingying refused to back down.
“Bring it on, who’s afraid of who?!”
“Who’s afraid of who? Hmm?”
The instant the voice sounded, Liu Yingying’s excited expression froze.
Outside the courtyard gate stood a carriage. Next to the carriage, a man and a woman stood.
“D-d-dad!? Mother?”
The other girls also noticed the carriage at the gate by now. Pei Qingxuan and Li Yuer both looked over with curiosity.
“So that’s the current head of the Liu Family? This is my first time seeing him,” Li Yuer chuckled softly, utterly unconcerned.
Though the Liu Family was a top clan in Liuyexian, in all of Southern Prefecture, they could only barely count as first-class.
As the ‘only son’ of the Zhennan King, she certainly had no need to curry favor.
Pei Qingxuan was likewise unconcerned; after all, to her, these were all outsiders.
But Liu Yingying was different. When she saw her father’s gaze burning with anger, she shrank away like a mouse before a cat, her whole body curling up.
“Come out!”
“F-father…”
With a roar, Liu Yingying trembled all over, sprang up from her seat, and shuffled with tiny steps out the courtyard gate, standing before the man with her head bowed, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Look at you, a proper young lady, yet you dare to live openly in a man’s house? How is the Liu Family supposed to show our faces in public after this?!”
“Is Xu Ping’an here?! Have him come out to see me!”
“Father, this isn’t Ping’an’s fault, it was I…”
“Silence! When men speak, it’s not your place to interrupt. Stand aside!”
Liu Chengdong barked angrily, turning to glare at the small courtyard. At that moment, Zhao Pingzhi came to the gate, his expression calm as he faced the furious Liu Chengdong.
“I’m sorry, sir, but my master has gone out to offer free consultations and likely won’t return until evening. Would you like to come in for some tea while you wait?”
“No need!”
Liu Chengdong sized up Zhao Pingzhi coldly, suppressing his anger.
“Tell Xu Ping’an that I’m taking Yingying away. She won’t be coming back to this courtyard again—he’d better give up!”
“Father?! I…”
“Quiet!”
“I’m telling you, I’ve already contacted the Elder of Fiery Peak. At noon today, they’ll send people to take you to Floating Cloud Sect. From now on, you are to focus on your cultivation—stop thinking about this Xu Ping’an!”
Yet, a trace of gloom flickered in those bright, watery eyes.
“Father! I don’t want to go!”
“Don’t want to go? It’s not up to you! Come, take her away!”
Just as Liu Yingying was about to resist, several old women quickly climbed down from the other carriage.
They each grabbed Liu Yingying by the arms, talking over each other, and before long, they dragged her, half pulling, half carrying, toward the carriage.