Chapter Fifty-Three: A Deep Sea of Blood and Hatred

Luo Feng’s expression grew grave upon hearing Chu Yun’s words. “That’s right. Although Young Master Qi is awake now, the real trouble may have only just begun. I fear the Witch Doctor Sect will do everything in their power to prevent you from curing Young Master Qi. And if, after all this, you fail to cure him, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Chu Yun nodded. “Exactly. The King of Qi had already lost all hope for his son’s illness, but now that hope has been rekindled. Should the outcome prove disappointing, his despair will only be greater than before. So we must be ever vigilant.”

Luo Feng leaned in to whisper, “Doctor Chu, you needn’t worry too much. I think the King of Qi values your talent greatly. Even in the worst-case scenario, you likely won’t lose your life. But as for titles and fiefs, those would be much harder to obtain.”

“Indeed,” Chu Yun sighed.

He certainly didn’t wish to work himself to the bone, risking his life for others without hope of reward or security.

“Doctor Chu, I’ll go rest now. I’ll be staying here in the Eastern Palace. If you feel exhausted and can’t hold on, don’t hesitate to send for me.”

With that, Luo Feng turned to leave.

Chu Yun remained at Young Master Qi’s bedside, watching over him with utmost care, like the most attentive of companions, carefully observing every change and strictly managing the decoctions to prevent any mishaps.

Yet barely an hour had passed before Luo Feng returned.

Seeing this, Chu Yun felt a surge of gratitude and couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Luo, why have you come back so soon? Didn’t you go to rest? Don’t worry—I can still manage.”

Luo Feng smiled. “Doctor Chu, I brought someone to see you.”

Even before he finished speaking, a young woman entered from outside.

She was fresh-faced and lovely.

Chu Yun was stunned at the sight of her.

It wasn’t her beauty that took him aback, but her identity—she was none other than the herbalist, Ye Zhelan.

“Lord Luo, what is she doing here in the capital?”

Chu Yun was deeply surprised.

Luo Feng replied, “On the very day we left Chu Family Town, I arranged for someone to bring her to the capital. I was about to rest when word came to my house that Miss Ye had arrived, so I returned home and brought her here to assist you.”

Chu Yun was genuinely grateful. “Thank you, Lord Luo! I trust Miss Ye greatly—her help will make things so much easier for me.”

Ye Zhelan, being a herbalist, already had some enmity with the Wu Family Apothecary of the Witch Doctor Sect.

Moreover, he had saved Ye Zhelan once before.

He believed Ye Zhelan would not betray him.

Most importantly, as a herbalist, Ye Zhelan could identify every herb, making it much harder for anyone to tamper with the medicine.

When Ye Zhelan heard Chu Yun say how much he trusted her, she blushed and grew shy.

Luo Feng, however, looked surprised. “Doctor Chu, you trust Miss Ye so much? Do you know that the medical hall I bought was originally her family’s?”

This revelation stunned Chu Yun.

He had no idea that the medical hall had once belonged to Ye Zhelan’s family.

Gathering his thoughts, Chu Yun asked, “Rumor had it the original owner of the hall was wiped out?”

Ye Zhelan’s eyes brimmed with tears and her expression grew fierce with hatred. “Thirty-nine members of my family were indeed slaughtered by the Witch Doctor Sect. If Uncle Liang hadn’t taken me up the mountain to teach me about herbs that day, I wouldn’t be alive now…”

At this, she could no longer hold back her tears.

Her small fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her flesh until they drew blood.

Chu Yun was shocked by her words.

Yet he puzzled over why, given such a bloody feud, she had insisted on selling her herbs to Master Wu and not to him the first time they met.

Could it be she truly thought him some kind of lecher then?

He recalled that the original Chu Yun was a good-for-nothing wastrel and gave a wry smile.

Luo Feng said, “Miss Ye and the Witch Doctor Sect have a vendetta of blood. I believe she would never help them against us.”

Chu Yun nodded. “I trust Miss Ye as well. With her assistance, there shouldn’t be any issues.”

He then added, “Still, we must not grow complacent. Lord Luo, take some of the hundred taels of gold I tricked out of Zhou Bing and use them to smooth things over throughout the Eastern Palace. Only then can we be sure nothing goes wrong.”

Luo Feng burst out laughing. “Doctor Chu, you truly are a clever man.”

He took ten taels of gold, exchanged them for a thousand taels of silver, and distributed them generously throughout the Eastern Palace to ensure Young Master Qi was well cared for.

From then on, Chu Yun, Luo Feng, and Ye Zhelan took turns standing watch, maintaining constant vigilance to prevent any sabotage.

Most who received their silver did their jobs diligently.

Thus, four days passed without incident.

The Witch Doctor Sect never even had a chance to make a move.

Young Master Qi’s condition improved greatly—he could now manage small meals and would soon be able to leave his bed and walk.

The King of Qi was overjoyed to see his son recovering. Upon learning that Chu Yun had spent gold to smooth things over, he rewarded him with another hundred taels of gold.

In the end, not only did Chu Yun not lose out, he actually gained ninety more taels of gold.

Meanwhile, the Witch Doctor Sect was beside themselves with rage.

Zhou Bing summoned several high-ranking members of the sect for a meeting.

He said bluntly, “What have you all been doing? Why has Young Master Qi’s condition improved so much? I hear he can already eat. Do you realize what will happen if Chu Yun cures him? Not only will our sect’s reputation suffer greatly, but our secrets may be exposed!”

The high-ranking members looked embarrassed. After a moment’s hesitation, they could only offer the same explanation: “Grandmaster Zhou, Chu Yun, Luo Feng, and a girl named Ye Zhelan have been taking turns standing guard. Our people planted in the Eastern Palace haven’t had any chance to act.”

But one voice dissented, “Actually, in these circumstances, I don’t think there’s much to worry about.”