Very hot, burningly hot.

Chi Can withdrew his hand, his brows knitting together.

He stared fixedly at Qiao Zhao, his eyes black as ink stones, making it impossible to read his emotions. After a long while, as if bestowing charity, he extended his slender fingers and gently poked her burning, flushed cheek with his fingertips.

The unconscious young woman suddenly grasped his hand.

Chi Can startled, reflexively pulling outward, but his hand was gripped even tightly. The young woman kept her eyes closed as tears streamed down silently.

The unconscious young woman wept without sound. Though her eyes remained closed, every line of her face revealed her heartbreak—this grief, suppressed in silence, seemed especially magnified.

Chi Can couldn’t say whether it was sympathy or something else, but ultimately, he didn’t move.

He let the young woman hold his hand and cry silently until hurried, chaotic footsteps echoed in the corridor. Only then did he withdraw his hand and turn his head.

Seeing Yang Houcheng carrying a white-haired, white-bearded old man on his shoulder, Chi Can was somewhat surprised: “So quickly?”

Yang Houcheng’s face beamed with joy. He deposited the old man from his shoulder into a chair and exclaimed excitedly: “The little lady’s luck is incredible! I hadn’t even reached the city gates when I encountered such a great divine physician!”

What did he mean by “such a great divine physician”?

Chi Can expressed his confusion with his gaze, then looked toward the elderly man in the chair.

The old man leaned against the chair back—he was unconscious.

Chi Can looked toward Yang Houcheng again.

Yang Houcheng scratched his head and explained: “You don’t know—this Physician Li has an extremely eccentric temperament. When the Empress Dowager once invited him to the palace for consultation, he made all sorts of excuses to refuse. Since I was afraid he wouldn’t come, I knocked him out with a hand chop.”

Chi Can’s eyebrows twitched, as if remembering something. He suddenly looked toward the unconscious old man, his voice rising: “Physician Li? Could this be the legendary Physician Li who can revive the dead and mend bones?”

“That’s him! That year, when Physician Li entered the palace to treat the Empress Dowager, I saw him. I never imagined that when I went into the city to find a doctor for the little lady, I’d run into him. Heh heh heh, this must be good karma.”

Yang Houcheng felt proud of his decisive action—encountering this divine physician as they brushed past each other, unhesitatingly delivering a hand chop, then carrying the man off and running.

Chi Can’s expression changed. He sighed and asked: “Your martial arts haven’t gotten rusty, have they?”

“Hm?”

“I don’t know about your karma, but trouble is certain. If we get pursued and hunted later, clean up your mess.”

“That can’t be—” Yang Houcheng glanced at Physician Li.

“Such a great divine physician just drops on your head like a meat pie? Without stirring up some trouble, I don’t believe it.” Chi Can said coolly.

“This young friend still has some self-awareness!” An angry voice rang out. Physician Li opened his eyes, stood up from the chair, swayed a bit before steadying himself, then lifted his foot to walk outside.

Yang Houcheng hurriedly blocked his path: “Physician Li, do you remember me? That year when you entered the palace—”

“So you do recognize me?” Physician Li interrupted Yang Houcheng.

“Ah, I do.” Yang Houcheng nodded.

“You recognize me yet still knocked me unconscious?” Physician Li flew into a rage, showing not a trace of the legendary immortal bearing of a master. He pulled out a handful of small silver needles and scattered them like a goddess scattering flowers.

He had simply gone out of the city to gather one medicinal herb when this bastard boy walked past him. Without even raising an eyebrow, the boy suddenly reached out and knocked him unconscious. It was infuriating!

“Divine physician, please calm down! We have a little sister who’s fallen ill. We were anxious, so we resorted to this desperate measure.” Yang Houcheng dodged about with his head covered.

“Even if it were the Heavenly Emperor himself, this old man wouldn’t treat him!” Physician Li dusted off his sleeves, lifted his foot to leave, then halfway turned back and said matter-of-factly: “Oh, those silver needles of mine are poisoned.”

As his words fell, Yang Houcheng collapsed unconscious.

Chi Can’s expression changed. He stood up and pursued, “Divine physician, please wait!”

As he rose, Physician Li, who had turned back, immediately spotted Qiao Zhao lying on the bed.

Physician Li’s steps halted. Completely ignoring Chi Can, who had approached, he hurried to Qiao Zhao’s side and sat down with a thump.

He stared intently at Qiao Zhao, taking her pulse and conducting visual examinations, completely immersed in his world.

Chi Can bent down to drag Yang Houcheng up when he suddenly spun around, drawing the sword at his waist to meet the attack.

Three men charging through the doorway surrounded him, making the already small room cramped and oppressive.

After just one exchange, Chi Can knew he was in trouble.

These three were death warriors—not only were their skills formidable, but they fought with complete disregard for their lives. Though his martial arts weren’t poor, fighting three against one was impossible.

What was the relationship between these three and Physician Li?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when pain shot through his shoulder, causing Chi Can to grunt involuntarily.

At this moment, Physician Li’s impatient voice came: “If you want to fight, get out and fight! Don’t interfere with my patient treatment!”

These words seemed to cast a binding spell on everyone in the room. The three who had charged in immediately stopped, with one saying: “Thank goodness you’re unharmed!”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the unconscious Yang Houcheng in the chair, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

Truly unexpected—with several of them protecting Physician Li’s journey to the capital, someone had managed to abduct him right under their noses through a surprise attack!

If their master learned of such an error, it would be enough to kill them several times over.

“Get out!” Physician Li roared with full vigor.

The three men showed extreme deference to Physician Li. They immediately replied “Yes,” turned to leave, and didn’t forget to take Chi Can and the unconscious Yang Houcheng with them.

Once outside, facing the three men radiating killing intent, Chi Can took out a handkerchief to press against his shoulder wound and smiled faintly: “Gentlemen needn’t be so tense. Once the divine physician has examined the patient, you’re free to do as you please.”

He assessed the three men, then continued: “I assume you three are also requesting the divine physician for consultation. Surely you wouldn’t want complications. We have no other intentions—we simply encountered the divine physician by chance and asked him to see a patient. From the looks of it, the divine physician is quite interested in our patient. Moreover, it wouldn’t be good if we disturbed the gentlemen of the Jinlin Guards.”

This speech contained three meanings: First, it indicated they knew Physician Li and their identities weren’t simple—if the three killed them, the trouble would be considerable. Second, it pointed out that Physician Li was interested in their patient; continuing to fight and angering the divine physician would create even more trouble. Third, there were Jinlin Guards in the vicinity, and attracting their attention would be more than just trouble.

In essence, he was conveying one message to the other party: part on good terms, and let no one create complications.

Chi Can’s words indeed had an effect. The three exchanged glances and silently sheathed their weapons.

Jinlin Guards had also come to the city. If they killed these people and attracted those mad dogs’ attention, it might cause trouble for their master. Their mission was to safely escort the divine physician back to the capital—everything else could be compromised.

The two sides outside reached some sort of understanding and waited quietly.

Inside the room, after Physician Li withdrew his needles, Qiao Zhao finally slowly opened her eyes.

A familiar face came into view. For a moment, she didn’t know what time or place this was, and blurted out: “Li… Grandfather?”