21 The World of Martial Arts (2)

The divine physician was a woman of breathtaking beauty, as ethereal as snow upon a branch or the moon hanging in the twilight sky. Though a faint smile played upon her lips, the expression in her eyes remained detached, as if nothing in this world truly concerned her. She was so young that it was hard to believe her medical skills had reached such a miraculous, almost supernatural, level.

Master Hua bowed respectfully and asked, "My youngest son lost his sight to illness when he was a child. May I ask if the divine physician can cure him?"

The physician cast a fleeting glance at Hua Manlou and replied, "I can." Her tone was as light as a breeze, as if the task were effortless. Master Hua was overjoyed, his face flushed with excitement.

Then, the physician asked with a light laugh, "But why should I treat him?"

Though she looked like a celestial being, she possessed no pity for the suffering of the world; instead, she treated life as a mere game. In her eyes, all things in the world fell into only two categories: the interesting and the dull. If something amused her, she would treat it without asking for a penny; if it bored her, even the moon and stars would be of no use.

Master Hua quickly added, "I have prepared a humble gift, and I hope the divine physician will accept it." He signaled his servants to bring out the treasures from the carriage and display them one by one outside the small pavilion. The Seven-Flower Purple Leaf Grass, the Fire Ganoderma, the Floating Light Brocade, the Nine-Heavens Ring-Pei... each of these rare treasures was worth a fortune, a display of wealth only the Hua family could afford.

Hua Manlou, however, shook his head inwardly. Judging by the physician's style, she was not the type to be swayed by riches. As expected, the physician did not even step out of the pavilion to look. "I have no interest in these," she said.

Lady Hua grew anxious. "What is it that the divine physician fancies? Even if I have to scour the heavens or the earth, I will find it!"

The physician remained smiling, yet unmoved. Seeing his parents humble themselves so deeply for his sake, Hua Manlou spoke up: "Since the divine physician is unwilling to treat me, we need not force the issue. Perhaps it is fate. I have long since grown accustomed to the darkness; it does not affect my life in the slightest. Being unable to see is of no consequence."

Hearing this, the physician looked at him with newfound interest. "I only said I wasn't interested in these items," she remarked. "I never said I wouldn't treat him."

This divine physician was truly peculiar; she insisted on watching the play from the sidelines, only agreeing to act once the performance satisfied her. The Hua parents, however, cared little for her whims, repeatedly offering their thanks.

The physician looked Hua Manlou up and down. "The way of heaven is such that for every gain, there is a loss. Since you wish to regain your sight, you must lose something else to maintain the balance."

Hua Manlou asked, "And what would you have me lose?"

The Hua parents grew tense. Would she break his leg after curing his eyes? If that were the price, they would rather not have the cure!

The physician continued, "What you lose will have no impact on your life. As for what it is..." Seeing their anxious expressions, she teased, "I will tell you once the treatment is complete." The parents hesitated but ultimately decided to proceed.

"You may all go," the physician said. "Leave the patient here. Come back to collect him in two months." The parents departed, leaving their son behind, though they left all the treasures at the pavilion.

...

The System had given Yun Yao a mission: to become world-renowned. That was why she had intentionally snatched a man from the sword of Ximen Chuixue. In truth, regardless of whether the Blood Rakshasa could turn over a new leaf, he was destined to die. Even if he never raised a weapon again, his old enemies would eventually come seeking his life. Why should a murderous villain be given a second chance? Being able to cheat death and live a few days longer was already a gift from her.

Yun Yao checked the system list; the mission progress was one-quarter complete. Curing this blind man would surely advance her goal significantly.

She settled the man into a vacant room and laid down the rules: "You may move about this room or the courtyard. Beyond that, you are forbidden from entering any other room in the pavilion, or you shall bear the consequences."

Hua Manlou nodded. "I understand."

"You will be here for two months," Yun Yao said. "Let me familiarize you with the space first." She walked to a table and tapped it, signaling its location. Hua Manlou immediately noted its position and reached out to touch it.

A blind man in a new environment relies on touch to map his surroundings, and Yun Yao served as his guide, leading him step by step to understand everything around him. It was an intimate act, one that quickly built rapport and trust. Yun Yao was patient, for she found the process quite interesting. Hua Manlou felt that she was not as detached as she seemed; at the very least, she was gentle with her patient.

Yun Yao pushed open a window, and a faint fragrance drifted in on the breeze. Hua Manlou smiled, his dark eyes seemingly catching a glimmer of starlight. He was a man as refined as jade; even with his flaw, he was incomparable, and should he regain his sight, he would surely be peerless.

"Are there many purple clouds blooming on the mountain?" he asked.

"Your sense of smell is quite sharp to distinguish that," Yun Yao replied.

"I am blind," Hua Manlou said, "so my other senses have had to become more acute."

Yun Yao pondered for a moment. "Since you are bored on the mountain, why not come gather herbs with me starting tomorrow?"

Hua Manlou nodded. "Very well."

The next day, the weather was fair and breezy. They went to the back mountain together. Yun Yao gave him a Golden Stamen flower to smell before they began their search. It was one of the ingredients for his treatment, and it was notoriously difficult to find. She could have left this task to those who came seeking her help, and they would have been eager to oblige, but that would have been dull.

By the end of the day, Hua Manlou had found several more Golden Stamen flowers than Yun Yao. While gathering, he caught a unique scent he had never encountered before. "Divine physician," he asked, "what flower is this?"

"Just call me Miss Yun," she said. She glanced at the plant. "That is a Night Orchid. It is a very rare species. The flowers are a bluish-purple, and when the wind blows, they dance like fluttering butterflies."

Listening to her description, Hua Manlou could imagine how beautiful it must be. He sighed, "I truly wish I could see what it looks like."

"When your eyes are healed, you will see it," Yun Yao replied.

"May I keep it in my room?" he asked.

"You may."

Hua Manlou dug the flower up, root and all, and brought it back. Yun Yao gave him a beautiful pot to plant it in. He tended to the Night Orchid with great care, looking forward to it blooming further. He gently stroked the petals and leaves, tracing their shape in his mind.

At the same time, he could not help but imagine Miss Yun's appearance. It was a pity he could not touch her, so he had to rely on his intuition. Miss Yun must be beautiful; her voice was like the morning mist in the mountains—gentle yet carrying a touch of coolness. She was aloof and unconventional, a woman who played with the world, making her impossible to fathom. She was likely the type with skin like ice and bones of jade, with brows like spring hills; she would smile softly, yet maintain a certain distance.

No, he couldn't quite picture her at all.