Xia Wenjin managed to suppress the urge to cough, but she looked up at him with a smile and said, "I’m fine! Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you not to co here? You should leave quickly!"
Looking like this and saying she’s fine?
Huangfu Jingchen couldn’t utter a single word.
The previous Xia Wenjin enjoyed verbally sparring with him, her words laced with sarcasm, and that was when she was doing well. Last ti and this ti, however, she was gentle and good-natured, which made Huangfu Jingchen realize she was pretending.
She was pretending to be fine and urging him to leave, not wanting him to worry.
Huangfu Jingchen felt a lump in his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He forced a smile and said, "Wenjin, this ti I invited a very skilled elder who will definitely cure you!"
At this mont, the Undying Poison Doctor strolled in leisurely.
The light at the door dimd slightly, and Xia Wenjin unconsciously looked up. Her eyes, initially laughing, were now filled with surprise, and she blurted out, "Master..."
As soon as she said this, not only Huangfu Jingchen was stunned, but the Undying Ghost Doctor was also taken aback, and even Xia Wenjin herself was montarily shocked.
Huangfu Jingchen tentatively asked, "Wenjin, do you know this elder?"
Xia Wenjin regained her composure, realizing that her exclamation earlier was abrupt. But this was indeed her master from her past life. All her dical and poisonous skills were taught by the Undying Poison Doctor. Even the poison formula of Wu Li, the Poison Venerable from centuries ago, was given to her by her master.
Seeing him suddenly, her heart was filled with shock and joy. Coupled with the tornt of the epidemic, her energy was depleted, and her self-control faltered; her mind wasn’t as sharp as it usually was. She had forgotten that the past life was the past life, and this life was this life.
In this life, she had not yet t the Undying Poison Doctor.
But in her past life, at this ti, she also hadn’t t the Undying Poison Doctor. It was three years later, through a chance encounter, that they got acquainted.
The tiline of eting her master in this life was much earlier, as if many things were different.
Xia Wenjin steadied herself before saying, "Junior Xia Wenjin, greets the esteed elder, Undying Poison Doctor!"
The familiarity and joy in Xia Wenjin’s eyes just now were seen clearly by the Undying Poison Doctor, but he was puzzled. Although he was over one hundred years old, his mind was sharp, his eyesight wasn’t failing, and his mory was excellent. How could he not rember eting such a lit... little thing?
Neither male nor female!
However, this neither male nor female child, no, little girl did indeed know him.
Huangfu Jingchen did not introduce her, yet she directly paid her respects. Although she did not call him master again, her voice carried respect mixed with longing and suppressed joy. Even if it was just a hint, the old and savvy Undying Poison Doctor could certainly tell.
If the Undying Poison Doctor before him had white eyebrows, a white beard, and white hair, clearly looking like a centenarian, with Xia Wenjin’s intelligence, her guess would not be surprising. But the Undying Poison Doctor aged backwards, appearing no more than forty, despite being over a hundred years old. Had he not ntioned it himself, even Huangfu Jingchen wouldn’t recognize him upon eting him.
But Xia Wenjin did indeed recognize him?
Huangfu Jingchen was already stunned.
The Undying Poison Doctor, however, curled his lips with disdain and said, "I thought this lad’s precious sweetheart would be so beauty. But she’s so skinny, sallow-faced, pale as a ghost, and neither male nor female. What’s so good about that?" Turning to look at Huangfu Jingchen, he had a lecturing tone: "Boy, your taste is too peculiar!"
Xia Wenjin: "..."
What kind of nonsense is this precious sweetheart? She was only wearing n’s clothing for ease of diagnosis, how did she beco neither male nor female? Indeed, this old man still had a venomous tongue!
Huangfu Jingchen: "..."
What should he say about this Poison Doctor elder? Previously, when he had inquired whether Wenjin was male or female, after telling him, the Undying Poison Doctor had persistently referred to Xia Wenjin as his precious sweetheart.
The term was technically correct, but he worried that Wenjin might not like hearing it.
Especially now, when she was still ill.
If it affected her mood, even a little bit, consequently affecting her illness, he didn’t want that at all.
He cautiously watched Xia Wenjin’s expression and, seeing she didn’t seem angry, felt a bit relieved yet more worried.
Xia Wenjin’s complexion was too poor, and she had just coughed up blood.
On the table, the white paper stained with bright red blood was so striking.
Xia Wenjin quickly gathered the blood-stained paper, folding it to cover the blood traces.
She wanted to throw it away, but it contained her newly devised dical formula, products of nurous calculations and experints, and couldn’t be discarded.
Huangfu Jingchen was stung by the sight of the bloodstain, his eyes reddening with worry. Fearing that the Undying Poison Doctor’s words made Wenjin uncomfortable, he said, "Wenjin, the Poison Doctor elder is just joking with you. Please quickly let the Poison Doctor elder examine you!"
The Undying Poison Doctor scoffed, "I do not have the ti to joke with a little girl, especially one so plain-looking." He glanced at Xia Wenjin: "Little girl, don’t think calling master will make treat you differently. I agreed to treat you because this kid made a deal with . Once the deal is done, we’re even!"
Xia Wenjin found it amusing. The Poison Doctor’s tongue was as sharp as ever. In her past life, as master and apprentice, they hardly fit those roles, but that was only on the surface. The Poison Doctor valued her, sharing all his dical and poisonous expertise. However, at that ti, she devoted herself to assisting Huangfu Yuxuan’s great cause, managed information from various places, and plotted for Huangfu Yuxuan. Though intelligent enough to deduce from one fact others, she only learned a fraction of the Poison Doctor’s skills.
Later, the Undying Poison Doctor wandered the world, and the two never t again.
But the year she spent learning under the Poison Doctor was the most carefree year since she was sixteen.
Lately, as she researched solutions to the epidemic, she deeply regretted not learning more, having encountered a renowned master but being distracted by matters concerning Huangfu Yuxuan. Now, she hated not having enough when she needed it. If she had developed a cure sooner, how many more lives could have been saved?
The Poison Doctor had a sharp tongue but lived freely and purely. Though he could be mischievous and joke around, sotis even teasing her, it was all without malice. Such days, devoid of scheming, she never encountered again in her past life, right until her death.
Being able to see her master again, even if in this life he might not accept her as his apprentice, and he didn’t know who she was, his sharp tongue still just as familiar—she enjoyed it!
Xia Wenjin didn’t worry about her illness. The mont she saw the Undying Poison Doctor, she knew that the problem she couldn’t solve would be effortlessly resolved by her master.
She smiled and asked Huangfu Jingchen, "What sort of deal did you make with the Poison Doctor elder?"
The Undying Poison Doctor lacked neither silver nor items, sought no fa or fortune. After all, whatever he wanted, a multitude of people would happily offer him the best if he asked.
In the past, to refine the Heart Cleansing Pill for the Emperor, he consud nearly half the National Treasury. Although half of it was for purchasing the herbs needed for the refinent, the other half was his reward!
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