Chapter 483: A Path to Survival
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A bronze bell hung by the door, but Ning Yuan dared not disturb the Divine Healer. He simply set his father down nearby and knelt before the clinic entrance.
It wasn't that Ning Yuan wasn't anxious; rather, he didn't want to lose his father.
Even without the bell, Miaomiao knew someone had arrived.
Because someone had informed Yu Lan, who then told Su Cheng. Yet Su Cheng remained silent, merely signaling Yu Lan to relay the news to Miao Miao—that it had nothing to do with her.
"Miaomiao, someone's here for the clinic."
Miaomiao's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced around. This was the young miss's birthday celebration.
By all logic, even if the sky were falling, it should be postponed—let alone for some ordinary patient!
What could possibly be more important than the young miss?
Any sane person would know how to prioritize.
But Miao Miao still wanted to go see. Though she didn't know what to do, she believed this world should be one where everyone is equal.
"Master Su, a patient has arrived at the clinic."
Su Cheng smiled and countered, "Today is Qinghan's birthday. Shouldn't Miao Miao take a break?"
Miaomiao understood perfectly well, but she still felt her patients came before everything else.
"Miaomiao still wants to go see them."
Su Cheng said nothing, merely waving his hand to signal she should decide for herself.
After about half an incense stick's time, Su Cheng gave a resigned smile and ruffled Qinghan's fox-like head beside him.
"Qinghan, drink this first. Your master has some business to attend to."
Ye Qinghan nodded. She understood what her master was thinking. She didn't mind; as long as her master was happy, that was all that mattered.
Su Cheng then called to Youwei, and they descended the mountain.
"Master, where are we going?"
"Youwei, of all my disciples, you are the one who causes me the least worry."
"This is what a disciple ought to do. Master has broken your heart for me—how could I dare to be spoiled by your favor?"
"Qinghan, I hope she can let go of some of her obsessions."
"Shiyao, I hope she can have fewer worries."
"Jue'er, I wish she could carry fewer burdens."
At this point, Su Cheng's gaze settled on Chu Youwei as he spoke gently.
"As for Youwei, I hope you'll indulge in a little more pampering."
Chu Youwei understood Su Cheng's meaning perfectly: "Master, if I were to start acting spoiled, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it~"
"Hehe, even if Yuwei were to tear me apart, I wouldn't have a single complaint."
Master's words made it abundantly clear—he felt he owed her something.
She too felt he owed her, but she didn't want repayment.
To her, true closeness meant mutual reliance—you owe me a little, I owe you a little, bit by bit.
If everything were calculated so precisely, wouldn't that make them no different from strangers?
"Master, is this hinting that I should attend to your bedchamber?"
"Uh… Are you doing this on purpose?"
"Master, rest assured. Youwei won't stand on ceremony with you. If I ever lack anything, I'll speak plainly to you."
"Then perhaps I've been overthinking it. After all, seeing you so quiet and reserved every day, I couldn't help but worry about you…"
"Hehe, Master needn't worry. Youwei understands."
With that, Su Cheng said no more, though he had already made up his mind: Chu Youwei must also possess his spatial anchor.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to rest easy.
"Come to my quarters tonight. I have something important to give you."
"Is it your bloodline, Master?"
Su Cheng couldn't help but laugh. But this disciple was different from Ye Qinghan—he couldn't quite figure out Chu Youwei's intentions.
He knew she meant no harm, but whether she was joking or serious, he couldn't tell.
Regardless, he would never touch Chu Youwei. That was Su Cheng's absolute limit.
From the moment she chose him, Su Cheng knew he had lost.
Just as he'd never won a single game of chess against her, she understood Su Cheng better than he understood himself.
If Ye Qinghan relied on mind-reading and Xiao Ai on reading body language, then Chu Youwei relied on experience.
"You've gone bad."
"All thanks to my master's excellent teaching~"
"It's all because your master spoiled you! Now you dare to tease your master!"
"How could Youwei dare~"
Chatting and laughing, the two strolled leisurely down the mountain and found the clinic.
Though called a clinic, it was little more than a dilapidated shack—though slightly better than that rundown courtyard in Su City.
Such a place was hard to find within Lingxian Hall, yet Miao Miao spent most of her time here—except when venturing out to gather herbs or search for the Fragmented Dream Flower.
Three years have passed, and she is no longer the Miao Miao of old. Though still as weak as ever, the world now hails her as the Divine Healer of the Ice Lantern Flower.
Through her own efforts, she opened up the market for Ice Mist Flowers, successfully establishing them as a recognized medicinal herb.
For while others charge money for healing, she demands flowers in payment.
And it must be wild Ice Mist Flower—never cultivated.
Public opinion of her was divided. Some called her unreasonable, for wild Ice Mist Flowers were exceedingly rare, growing in remote, untouched places and nearly impossible to find.
Others accused her of treating only the wealthy, for who among the poor could afford Ice Mist Flowers? Only the rich had the means to hire people to search for them.
Yet others clung to hope, insisting that her mother's illness had been cured by this very Ice-Wisp Flower's divine healer.
"If only the world were free of illness, who would mind dust gathering on the shelves of medicine?"
"Youwei, what do you think?"
"It's intriguing. What do you think, Master?"
"I won't be watching."
Standing before the door, Su Cheng signaled Chu Youwei to suppress her cultivation. The two of them would wait here.
"Immortal, can my father still be saved?"
"The fact that you can see me means he can be saved."
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!"
"He's been poisoned. Wait outside. I must perform acupuncture on your father."
Ning Yuan nodded while stepping back, then knelt at the doorway and kowtowed twice before turning to see Su Cheng and Chu Youwei.
"Are you here for treatment too?"
Ning Yuan scrutinized Su Cheng and Chu Youwei from head to toe before replying, "I'm not sick. It's my father who's ill."
"I see." Su Cheng nodded with a smile and continued, "So you found the Ice Mist Flower too, and that's why you're seeking treatment?"
"Yes. Are you here seeking treatment too?"
Su Cheng paused, then nodded.
"Heh, yes. I'm here seeking treatment too. My illness has baffled countless renowned physicians across the land. I had no choice but to come here to seek the Divine Healer."
"Are you a cultivator?"
"You could say that."
"Cultivators get sick too?"
"Of course."
"Then you likely have hope. People say the Divine Healer of Lingxian Hall is a disciple of Immortal Su, having received his true teachings. With miraculous hands that bring spring back, he cures all ailments."
"I've heard of that reputation. But young man, you don't seem to be a cultivator. Finding a single Ice Mist Flower would be no easy task for someone like you."
Su Cheng had expected to hear the youth sigh. Even if he felt saving his father was worth it, finding an Ice Mist Flower was no simple task for an ordinary person.
But to Su Cheng's surprise, Ning Yuan not only refrained from sighing or complaining, but instead saw this as a heaven-sent opportunity!
"It's not difficult. Compared to gold and silver, what is an Ice Mist Flower?"
"If the Divine Healer demands a hundred taels of gold, my father will likely die of illness in bed."
"Though the Ice Mist Flower is rare, doesn't it also offer us poor folk another path to survival?"
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