Chapter Seventeen: Beg Me

There lay the herbalist girl, Yezelan, with a half-filled basket of medicinal herbs on her back. She was sprawled on the ground, pressing her hands tightly against her thigh, clearly injured. As Chu Yun approached, he saw two small puncture marks on her coarse blue linen trousers, and under her pressure, black blood oozed out. Clearly, she had been bitten by a venomous snake—and not an ordinary one, either. The severity of the blood suggested the venom was potent and her life was in grave danger.

As a physician, Chu Yun could not stand idly by while someone perished before his eyes. He asked, “Miss Ye, what kind of snake bit you? Let me help treat your wound.”

To his surprise, Yezelan lifted her head, scowling coldly. “Get lost. I’d rather die than accept your help. And you—a good-for-nothing—what can you possibly do? I bet you’re just looking for an excuse to take advantage of me.”

Chu Yun was left utterly speechless by her words. He couldn’t help but retort, “You think I want to take advantage of you? That’s absurd. I’m a doctor. I saw you were bitten and in mortal danger, so I offered to help. If you don’t appreciate it, fine, but must you look at me with such suspicion? It’s infuriating.”

Yezelan shook her head with a sneer. “A doctor? When did you, a notorious layabout, become a physician? Don’t think I don’t know what’s going through that mind of yours. Go away—leave me alone!”

Chu Yun was even more exasperated. He truly didn’t want to argue with her, but being misunderstood left a sour taste. He pointed to the basket on his back. “If I’m not a doctor, then how do I recognize all these herbs I’ve been gathering?”

At his words, Yezelan took a closer look at Chu Yun’s basket and was startled to see that it contained not wild weeds or vegetables, but genuine medicinal herbs. She was momentarily taken aback before asking, “How do you know all these herbs?”

Chu Yun replied, “I’m a doctor—of course I know medicinal plants. Not only can I identify them, but I can tell you all about their properties.”

He pulled out a handful of fish-tail herb. “This is fish-tail herb. It’s warm in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, and slightly toxic. But it can relieve cough and asthma, activate blood and remove stasis, and expel parasites. It’s used for colds, coughs, asthma, bruises, and external bleeding.”

He then took out another plant. “This is fire-coal moss. It’s neutral in nature, slightly sweet and bitter. It promotes blood circulation, unblocks the channels, and stops bleeding by astringency. It’s classified as an astringent hemostatic herb. Decoctions or poultices can treat rheumatic pain, lower back and leg pain, postpartum abdominal pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and external injuries.”

He reached for another herb, but Yezelan interrupted, more astonished than ever. Had she not seen this with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it. Who in Chujia Town didn’t know Chu Yun as a notorious ne’er-do-well? When did he become a doctor? Not only that, he seemed to possess extensive, detailed knowledge about the properties of medicinal herbs.

Unable to contain herself, she raised a hand to stop him. “Enough.”

Chu Yun asked, “Now do you believe I’m a physician?”

Yezelan nodded, her curiosity piqued. “Weren’t you a lazy good-for-nothing? How did you suddenly become a doctor?”

Chu Yun answered, “Ask around town and you’ll hear—I dreamt of an immortal, who imparted to me the art of medicine.”

So that was it. Yezelan nodded again, accepting his explanation without the slightest doubt.

Chu Yun sighed inwardly at the superstitions of this backward place. Such a far-fetched story, and she believed it so easily.

He continued, “Now do you believe I want to save you out of goodwill, and not because I intend to take advantage of you?”

Yezelan turned her face away, embarrassed. “Sorry, I misunderstood you earlier.”

Chu Yun waved it off. “It’s nothing.”

With that, he got up to leave.

Seeing him ready to depart, Yezelan was momentarily stunned. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes,” Chu Yun replied without looking back, continuing on his way.

Yezelan was even more perplexed. “You’re not going to help me?”

Chu Yun responded, “Why should I help you?”

Yezelan was at a loss for words—he had a point. Why should he help her? Just now, when he kindly offered assistance, she refused and accused him of having ulterior motives. Wasn’t it reasonable for him to be upset?

She apologized again, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Chu Yun said, “Don’t worry about it. There’s no need to apologize.”

Nevertheless, he kept walking.

Baffled, Yezelan couldn’t help saying, “If so, why are you leaving instead of helping me?”

Chu Yun finally turned back. “You want my help?”

Yezelan nodded.

Chu Yun replied, “Ask me nicely. If you ask me nicely, I’ll help you.”

At this, Yezelan became indignant. “A scoundrel is always a scoundrel. Even if you’ve inherited medical skills from an immortal, you’re still a shameless rogue. Get lost—I don’t need your help. I can handle this myself.”

Chu Yun smiled faintly. “If you don’t want my help, then I’ll be on my way.”

With those words, he left without a backward glance.

“He’s really leaving!”

Yezelan watched as Chu Yun grew smaller in the distance, fuming in frustration.

But Chu Yun wasn’t truly leaving. As a doctor, he could not bear to ignore someone in mortal danger. Moreover, Yezelan was a herbalist—he needed to get to know more herbalists through her to purchase medicinal ingredients from them. Gathering herbs himself was a waste of his talent and time.

He only pretended to leave. In reality, he was searching for herbs nearby that could neutralize snake venom. Although Yezelan hadn’t told him what kind of snake had bitten her, nature always provides antidotes for poisons in areas where venomous snakes dwell. Otherwise, there would be no small animals living nearby.

Chu Yun surveyed the area and found that only wild buckwheat grew here, a herb capable of counteracting most viper venoms. He dug up some wild buckwheat roots and returned.

But as he approached Yezelan again, the scene before him stunned him—so much so that he shouted, alarmed and urgent.

“Stop! Stop right now! What do you think you’re doing?”