Chapter 32
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The next day, the group finally returned to Medicine Valley.jNewcHwOYCBTFMIcJNZkYLYKFbMszj
Jinbao, who had followed his young master on travels around the world in his early years, had heard many legends about Medicine Valley in the martial arts world.LuyIPcJqSonnzLRmhMzpOEWKAsupJo
zIyzhbAsJcbbhMqIt was said that the master of Medicine Valley, Que Linpei, was the fourth-generation successor of the Que family. Each member of the Que family possessed extraordinary medical skills, and their disciples and followers were spread across the world. Even the imperial physicians in the royal palace were influenced by the Que family’s medical teachings.lLGuwFXNsagBseDFMptSRGlxRFasjX
jcylwiVupGlvkgGFor hundreds of years, the Que family had held an extremely revered position in the martial arts world, with no one daring to offend them. After all, who in the martial world hasn’t been injured or fallen ill? People from all walks of life, from great martial families to royal nobles, had received the Que family’s help. With the prestige of the Que family head, even those from the highest echelons of society had to show them respect.wurGycTtFUBWKwdNHwJdDibmfGxyip
XMWsMqdhXtIpqAyJinbao was thrilled at the thought of visiting such an extraordinary place and witnessing the legendary Medicine Valley, which was said to be the epitome of all medical knowledge in the world.mgHnKHmfBcFlJxatMOoEfDoyWQcqag
HeHyjNqkUzJjZwSHe had always imagined Medicine Valley to be a mysterious valley filled with rare flowers and herbs, inhabited by many reclusive experts.fAqNhCTbGbTxwcLJxKgfmKaPgybzdQ
ygZPxfxbXNKOpxIBut upon arrival, his first impression was one of slight disappointment—Medicine Valley appeared to be just a very large manor with the name “Medicine Valley.”VsHZUCYAjjbMpMRtdpYXLmdkcfuyZh
gaoqSPyCpbEJBRJIt wasn’t until they entered the manor that he realized, with dawning awe, that the vast, majestic mountain range behind the estate was actually the backyard of Medicine Valley.ApSLXEKSmGTiVonAeAAWTcFhGCcLAb
kpbgjzlMjciCZDRThis revelation left the young boy utterly stunned.vsMssDkeaFrlBzmUzYzLJlwAyXVoht
LXTzvhItohqEseoJinbao had always thought that he had seen more of the world than most people.IFXDaczWNKLGucPultdSgUDLjJhOEg
gAxaLzgCEUJBSClHe had been the personal attendant to the only son of the richest man in Jiangnan, and had seen all sorts of rare treasures and delicacies. The Jin family’s mansion occupied hundreds of acres with thousands of servants, and he had thought it was on par with the imperial palace.GdaJsgRSRwdXgLXddlQeaqJqPpFQso
YuGaRqoXzUGWlJwBut now, seeing the Que family using several mountains as their backyard, he realized how narrow his experience had been.BRwFMmMrzrWfNWKCuZhLERxhWJNHLf
FarScwjIplaXwldHe stole a glance at Que Siming and suddenly felt as if he had taken advantage of him. If he had known that Que Siming came from such a vast and wealthy family, he wouldn’t have repeatedly flaunted the cart of betrothal gifts his young master had prepared for Que Siming.sQvtqWgHREKNcmNKkIdwxGMUbfKzad
lfkGtadDGlSSivSThe group entered the inner courtyard from the main gate, riding for the time it took an incense stick to burn.TrUAkIMGNCEmlNNUidbmlzBJxvpflm
HdDmFigAHrdkyblFrom a distance, they saw a middle-aged man with snow-white temples standing with his hands behind his back at the door.oXwkXjuvqmNpvhBqKNDjoOAGbTKCRx
uVmdZGggFDYicekQue Siming was the first to dismount. “Master.”ZXHwxOEDJOHeIGXkhEoUHhwMcvNMZY
OecLHdjOInBNprrJinbao, hearing that this was the legendary head of the Que family, the renowned “Immortal Doctor” Que Linpei, quickly jumped off his horse and looked at him with wide-eyed admiration and a bit of nervousness.kcuSPTtuepulRDJZRhwMyHHTkSfVOa
gweNUEgNISRpuUtQue Linpei was not tall and was slender, his long robe hanging loosely on his frame, giving him an ethereal and scholarly air. His face was gentle and kind, making him seem very approachable. However, despite his warm and loving appearance, no one in the martial arts world dared to underestimate him. His family’s “Ghostly Hands” technique was powerful enough to shatter stone and metal, and it was the only non-physical weapon ranked in the top five of the weapons manual.sDrmZGOavChlHetjfrpnomSOKigdIZ
DKAJIzSAycQTRMzQue Linpei laughed heartily, “Siming, come here and let your master see you—no missing arms or legs, I hope?”zRROSHRwPyOoNmhWVKQtEChNsLzPZd
dJEcjVjfaGOZFMAQue Siming smiled and said, “Your disciple has returned safe and sound.”bXyJAtDKbsEviyhiukOWldMFywdKwc
HNHqLuuZGNAsAhKQue Qingyuan was also helped down from his horse and slowly walked to stand beside Que Linpei, his gentle voice calling out, “Father, your son has returned.”rJOCbwgGeTLwyzkLdgKlqiGuaOPFdW
ddeYNfINSbOsDXK“Ah, Qingyuan has returned too. Good, very good!” Que Linpei laughed heartily, patting their arms. “My children have all come home. It’s rare for you two brothers to be together these days. Let’s go inside and talk.”JsHjgIXGzFdhhxPSbQroqcoTBbndOJ
HGdekrzjTLrhWeZQue Siming quickly added, “Master, let me introduce someone to you.”qNAalVXaXqiJHvjSGvSrLCaJACbIzE
bizqcQHiiYEUQbJHe pulled over Jinbao, who had been standing there in a daze. Suddenly being brought in front of Que Linpei, Jinbao’s face turned bright red—partly from the nervous excitement of meeting a legendary figure of the martial world, and partly because he felt as though he were meeting his future father-in-law.qlTDbTfFPSSXUrZNcUgIQVUxoObYyI
DLoaUZILLiZeYmuQue Linpei then noticed the unfamiliar face. “And this young man is…?”OBuEvVVrkcMeTpahpmWZLJwSLmxqzR
ZbZgngbCSujfZBX“Master, he’s my friend, Jinbao. We unexpectedly ran into Yu Mingjing, and I was fortunate enough to be saved by him.”LqckwdKdeLTIiVLNBoSalUiQBqpUEB
BpTThgomfqExFzR“Oh, so he’s Siming’s savior.” Que Linpei clasped his hands in salute to Jinbao and said, “Young Brother Jinbao, I must thank you.”clzydscIpgKWvyosJtdUSdxyAhaXfQ
SFUmBZRkTePpKXwJinbao, startled, quickly returned the salute and bowed deeply, stammering, “No need, no need. You’re too kind, Elder.”iAzfKwzbWlxXrTmCdHoxvBPLlyXLsK
QXcNVyIAhFjMgkuQue Linpei, amused by Jinbao’s earnest and somewhat foolish anxiety, chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “Good, good—young people are always welcome. Come on, let’s head inside. You’ve been on the road for a long time and must be tired. We’ll rest and talk.”zxONwsDWOidtkFPJPApITHCxPNDfAV
DLzanxAZDLLFruEIn the main hall, only Que Linpei, his two sons, Chief Steward Xiao, Que Siming, and Jinbao remained.BrFccLVtBJiCuKhpcnggFaIojKzsBG
AmQevUTxnAGKfDKAfter Que Siming finished recounting the dangers they faced along the way, Que Linpei stroked his beard and sighed repeatedly.bzzDHUKfaEsJUjiTsXuuHciGdanGvO
REjGNZKfSpsKypA“Ah, that treacherous Yu Mingjing… it’s been over ten years, and he still refuses to give up.”njvakFJyreIfwtCFZyBaWFNiCsLDFv
KEAQcCQUwZyUxTYQue Siming snorted coldly, “Even if he were to give up, I would never let him off.”qknhYJJtDgJTHycfuuqgQrihdwwMjo
zFApQavljuEAqpiQue Linpei frowned and waved his hand dismissively. “Siming, I don’t like hearing such impulsive words from you. You must think things through carefully. If you throw your life away in pursuit of revenge, that would be the act of a fool.”YinjCHxrYoAOLWMncdgxvmdFmkDMlx
fhkhGsYqrhKLOYaThere was clear defiance in Que Siming’s expression; he moved his lips as if to argue but ultimately swallowed his words.nMECnuvGBfuKpYLsjbCzvkPVbDcLbb
aTMMwkMMvVBVCudQue Linpei continued, “However, the masked man that Brother Jinbao encountered is indeed surprising. From what you described, it was effortless for him to capture you both, yet he let you go. That’s quite strange. Who could he be?”AFcGBHBzEoWZRPOaDPYBGLjeKUNnVp
diTpbmKCKmPCQuFQue Siming shook his head. “I’ve pondered it endlessly and still can’t figure it out. The man is incredibly skilled. When I fought him, I struggled with every move. His martial arts are on the same level as yours, Master.”nYheHoOISFiutDisQlJgrGdizTDmQh
hmOfgTgMWTNGIDGChief Steward Xiao, puzzled, interjected, “With Master’s level of skill, there are only a few in the martial world who can compare, and those who can are all well-known figures with prestigious backgrounds. There’s no way they would spend years by Yu Mingjing’s side, hidden in the shadows. Moreover, such advanced martial arts aren’t mastered overnight, no matter how talented one might be. If this person is as powerful as Second Young Master says, he must be over forty and should have already made a name for himself. Why would he resign himself to being an unacknowledged henchman of Yu Mingjing?”kZXOYItkEsakPgJXjeMkrPdmiPZmkw
UsfpVMQHmKTXaFB“That’s exactly what baffles me. This masked man seemed to appear out of nowhere one day and has been by Yu Mingjing’s side ever since.”pbpUysIaQLrJFmKAuwEQTWarJrJEWD
HVIXNMIdhenZUYjQue Linpei pondered this for a moment and then asked, “Siming, you said that both you and Brother Jinbao fought against this masked man?”oidyhZYQsvtQdXoQbjsHiRQLJeMzxV
XiouxHQyAvtNlsX“Yes.”pjPcfTsmmkVIPIciooboQXFaJMWMGd
BIwHTgufDvrArMN“You two are likely the only ones who have fought him and lived to tell the tale. Do you remember any of his martial arts techniques?”ovsMLalVPRhEhjeRlkkJtlYqPYIBfa
VgyElCGfHkWmukgJinbao, feeling a bit ashamed, replied, “I’m embarrassed to say that after barely exchanging two and a half moves with him, I was defeated. I couldn’t discern anything from his techniques.”csCzcrTgbCyjdxyLeiolZzgWTdUhXm
cRoypNBQIeHwVipQue Siming added, “I do remember them, but I’ve never seen such a style before.”zZxJvTqOFkiWnyzZsYXLPmuKpZJycz
KgTsHTGaSXizzpG“Siming, demonstrate a few moves for your master.”ttFEPkVUARcLTuaMvlDxFFojBumMub
LCFqMrUoojGTjIZQue Siming nodded, stood up, and moved to the center of the hall. He carefully recalled the details of his fight with the masked man and began to replicate the opponent’s techniques.AygkDIKVKOOPUBmKSFJYJCOgqgLIeX
RxBeJpNYdnnvtlsFrom the moment Que Siming began, both Que Linpei and Chief Steward Xiao’s expressions changed drastically. As they continued to watch, their faces grew increasingly grim, and they exchanged a worried glance, both deeply concerned.nhUaSubNxUrunkLebzAEMNxRHnhiOf
whhAtYpvmXdPhjLQue Qingyuan, ever observant, noticed this. Although he didn’t know martial arts and couldn’t understand what Que Siming was doing, he could read the serious expressions on his father and the steward’s faces. His intuition told him that this was a matter of grave importance—otherwise, it wouldn’t have unsettled two men who had faced countless dangers before.ppOizUNGWCpVMztYKVpXyCUtIDeeKZ
sMCmlMssiUNwRsCQue Qingyuan cautiously asked, “Father, Uncle Xiao, do you recognize this style?”bAsRqMhfvoiyMOukTvcLsMnTMLvVxb
yuhpTrqWTeCOgQbQue Siming also paused, his sharp eyes scanning their faces. “Master? Uncle Xiao?”BMqaqvxRGUqHWutAQJOAGCkodoQkHv
uLFfiQcAlYgchFKChief Steward Xiao was about to say something when Que Linpei waved him off, signaling him to remain silent.aPTsmHvUuvSMkejYTSdIaTqxRPnYrS
WXPRSdvRuPlvcrJThis only made the situation more suspicious, and Que Siming pressed further, “Master, do you really recognize it? Who does it belong to?”VmqxQSshpvqPuajCDZbDjwjEkgRQcQ
TcdCVXyveLHgGEYQue Linpei sighed and shook his head. “I can’t say for certain yet.”VVDgbWeNqGmBNcLdZrfudGipRVjvIP
cRKIFMfjkyAawjX“Then at least tell me your suspicion, and I’ll have someone investigate.”zLliYwPlDohbDjEZYPmvnesFiHogKb
KxLkKYtJyyTQlcw“That’s not something I can share now. We need to let your Uncle Xiao look into it. Speculating at this point could cause unnecessary panic and serve no purpose.”TEeRvVSfkWoeNlvPQAkUmImudKxcps
vwAnGyutkGYvlEbQue Siming wanted to ask more, but Que Qingyuan, sensing the tension, discreetly tugged at his sleeve.KPHAKwxicsfKIaIKJzYGAVbsJQHECA
VGbEBOcyiguvkjiQue Siming thought for a moment and then relented. “Alright, I trust that Master has his reasons.”QhXmOJvMowvgboAngVrYoXeABsTgAV
sXgMtOtYGXdGTbx“Indeed. Let me think this over before making any conclusions.” Que Linpei, suppressing the unease in his heart, changed the subject. “Siming, come with me to the pharmacy. I need to check the blood parasite inside you. If we’re running out of time, we’ll have to strike first.”bumFTODyylYhMPcRKBsQCkLLrRxsYY
tMkgmeLKxhKKfmrThe group rose and followed Que Linpei out.jwbkgpuFlMbDdhcMiMqVUcZASfdBkq
rHYIBAbxqVpeuaEJinbao, walking at the back, noticed Que Siming falling behind to walk with him. In a low voice, Que Siming said, “Don’t follow us.”ZDDhftvhmQelLUbfMGvaiWztzdmqGw
PgjPacrwNIYwQji“Why not?” Jinbao asked, puzzled.niMhrArwFcrlGtgOMsMjnMOnWCjWTr
zdkexpMgUnKXFJc“Just don’t. I don’t want you to see this.”rAMAdeucOOUKVPebcoEKBbhCwYVpqV
xgAnQKkNFncQYwD“But why?” Jinbao insisted, thinking that he should know about Que Siming’s condition.uskfTYejolrPLaOVcqcWMLvxUeLZkC
GNIhEDGPHRbdeLN“I’ll explain later, but for now, you can’t watch. Why do you have to ask so many questions?” The physician was visibly irritated. The last thing he wanted was for Xiaohu to see him lying there, helpless and vulnerable.gERGtxSvLnfVuyphrCNqkXFtQzzjji
xluIYZErkncCYvQJinbao frowned, feeling both hurt and frustrated, as he looked at Que Siming.AUzmdQEqyLtHHHdjoVrvfVvMfhUnHD
lFZVAQIRjyfqBgBQue Siming quickly squeezed his hand and then let go just as fast. “Be good. I’ll come find you tonight.”JgisITwcaMkiHKVcHGlFKhyJmzRHQB
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