“The Fort Master requests that Miss Feng pay a visit to the rear quarters.” The South Gate Team Leader clasped his hands together and replied with great deference.

Feng Jiu’er stared at him, brow creasing. “I didn’t mishear — he truly said… request?”

Her arched brows drew together lightly, and she turned her head to look at Zhao Yusheng.

“Didn’t they say that Nanman Fort put out word that over a dozen people had died inside, and the fort master concluded I was the one responsible?”

Xing Zizhou’s words were ones Feng Jiu’er had never doubted — she simply could not understand what turn of events had brought this about.

Zhao Yusheng returned Feng Jiu’er a look of bewilderment, then shifted his gaze back to the group of men standing before them.

“What exactly is going on?” He fixed his eyes on the South Gate Team Leader and asked in a firm tone.

The South Gate Team Leader straightened up and looked at them.

“It is true that eleven people died inside the fort, and so the fort master issued orders to strengthen the defenses and bar entry to anyone. But in truth, the fort master never fully concluded that Miss Feng was responsible — his hand was forced.”

“Upon learning that Miss Feng had led her people into the fort through the western side, the fort master sent me here to invite you in.”

“And that is all?” Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow once more and asked.

“Miss Feng is indeed astute — there is rather more to it than that.” The South Gate Team Leader exhaled softly.

“The fort master said that if Miss Feng can restore the Elder Fort Master to health, and moreover prove that your people did not poison the eleven in our fort, then from this point forward, he will defer to you in all matters.”

“Defer to me in all matters?” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest crossing her expression.

“Yes.” The South Gate Team Leader nodded.

Feng Jiu’er gave a nod in turn, then asked in a measured tone: “What has happened to the Elder Fort Master?”

“I will speak plainly — the eleven members of that household all died from poison.” The South Gate Team Leader’s expression grew heavy as he brought the matter up.

“And last night, the Elder Fort Master had also been over to their home for tea.”

“The Elder Fort Master was also poisoned?” Feng Jiu’er’s voice came again.

“Yes.” The South Gate Team Leader nodded. “Miss Feng, I believe you had no part in this, but the fort master had no choice but to make the decision he did.”

“The Liang family is to be greatly pitied. The dead were not only the eleven — there was also an older sister-in-law who was with child. Two lives lost in one.”

“It all happened so suddenly, and the clanspeople inside the fort could hardly take it in. The fort master’s first priority was naturally to protect the lives of the others.”

“Very well — I think I understand now. Lead the way.” Feng Jiu’er drew a slow breath and waved a hand.

Zhao Yusheng, however, creased his brow and stepped in front of Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, be careful — this could be a trap!”

“It is not a trap!” The South Gate Team Leader countered at once, urgency rising in his voice. “Miss Feng, every last physician in our fort has concluded that the Elder Fort Master will not last until nightfall.”

“Miss Feng, I have heard that you are a divine physician. I beg of you — please, first save our Elder Fort Master.”

The moment those words left his mouth, the South Gate Team Leader bent his long legs and sank to his knees.

“Miss Feng — time is of the essence. Please, I implore you to save this life first.”

Following the South Gate Team Leader’s lead, every man behind him knelt down in turn.

“Please, Miss Feng — save our Elder Fort Master!”

At the sight of this, Zhao Yusheng stepped aside, making a path, and turned to look at Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at Long Feiyan beside her, then shifted her gaze to the people kneeling before her.

“Lead the way. Take me to see him — though let me be clear from the outset: I am merely a healer, not an immortal.”

“Thank you, Miss Feng, for your willingness to lend your aid.” The South Gate Team Leader gave a deferential bow, straightened, and stepped to one side. “Miss Feng — after you!”

Regardless of how skilled Feng Jiu’er’s medicine truly was, she was now their last hope. Seeing her nod, the South Gate Team Leader let out a quiet breath of relief.

Under the South Gate Team Leader’s guidance, Feng Jiu’er and her party quickly left that gloomy ravine behind and arrived in a place that felt somewhat familiar.

They passed through the stone caves at the front, and at last came to the rear quarters the South Gate Team Leader had spoken of.

Spotting the South Gate Team Leader approaching with the group in tow, the two manservants keeping watch at the door of the Elder Fort Master’s chamber immediately came forward to receive them.

“Miss Feng — please come in.” Both men spoke in unison.

Everyone present had already learned that the fort master had sent the South Gate Team Leader to receive Feng Jiu’er. With saving a life as the most urgent matter, no one had any heart left over to take issue with anything else.

The South Gate Team Leader looked back and waved a hand. “Miss Feng — please!”

Feng Jiu’er continued forward and walked into the cave complex.

The fort master, it seemed, had heard the sound of their arrival. He came out from the inner chamber.

He was in the main hall when Feng Jiu’er entered.

“Miss Feng.” The fort master saw Feng Jiu’er and immediately clasped his hands in greeting.

“Where is the patient?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the fort master and asked in a quiet voice.

In truth, she bore this man no ill will. The fort had indeed lost over a dozen people, and the fort master had his own difficulties to contend with.

Even so — if he was going to invite her in, could he not have done it sooner? He had put them through an entire hour and more of exertion for nothing.

“In there.” The fort master immediately gestured toward the inner chamber.

Feng Jiu’er asked nothing more. She stepped inside.

Noticing that Jian Yi moved to follow her in, Long Feiyan looked at Zhao Yusheng and gave a light cough.

Zhao Yusheng stopped mid-step and looked back.

In the end, both of them remained in the main hall and did not enter the inner chamber.

Inside the inner chamber, the fort master’s wife was seated not far from the bed, her own complexion far from well. A serving girl stood at her side.

The two physicians, seeing the fort master enter with others, immediately made way, bending at nearly ninety degrees at the waist.

They could not save the Elder Fort Master — guilt and apprehension weighed on them in equal measure.

No one blocked the way. Feng Jiu’er walked straight to the bedside.

She looked at the elderly man lying there with his eyes closed, reached out, and pressed two fingers to his neck to feel his pulse, then lifted his eyelids to examine them.

“Fort Master, the Elder Fort Master has been poisoned for too long. The situation is not very optimistic.” As she spoke, Feng Jiu’er continued her examination of the Elder Fort Master.

Everyone watched her unusual technique, yet not one of them dared move forward to interfere.

“What does Miss Feng advise we do now?” The fort master asked in a low voice.

Feng Jiu’er sat down on the edge of the bed, lifted the Elder Fort Master’s hand, and placed her long fingers on his pulse. She raised her eyes and met the fort master’s gaze.

“He can be saved.”

Those three simple words sent a ripple of relief through every person in the room.

“How do we save him? No — Miss Feng, name whatever you require. As long as you bring my father back, I will…”

“Jian Yi — send Zhao Yusheng out, then bring Xiao Yingtao in, and make sure to bring the medicine case.” Feng Jiu’er cut the fort master off.

“The Elder Fort Master has been poisoned too deeply to wait long. I will first use silver needles to buy us time. Tell Zhao Yusheng he must return within half a quarter-hour.”

“Understood.” Jian Yi dipped his head and turned to walk out.

Just as the fort master was about to speak again, Feng Jiu’er continued: “Fort Master — please have the South Gate Team Leader accompany my people outside.”

“With Zhao Yusheng going out right now, there will certainly be interference. If there is not enough time, I fear there will be nothing I can do.”

“Very well.” The fort master gave a nod and immediately turned to step forward.

Jian Yi, unwilling to leave Feng Jiu’er’s side for even a moment, conveyed the matter to Zhao Yusheng in the shortest time possible. By the time the fort master came out of the inner chamber, Jian Yi was already on his way back.

The people outside the chamber quickly saw Zhao Yusheng and the South Gate Team Leader depart together.