Feng Jiu’er had not expected that someone as fierce and wolfish as Lei Shenbao would have subordinates this loyal.

Looking at the Old Patriarch’s expression, his sorrow did not seem feigned.

The Old Patriarch sighed softly, turned his head again to look at Feng Jiang, then glanced at Feng Jiu’er standing on his other side.

“I heard the Master found a physician with remarkable medical skill, one who’s also well-versed in poisons, to come here. Would that be this young lady?”

Feng Jiu’er had always carried a commanding presence, and she had been walking alongside Feng Jiang the whole time.

The Old Patriarch guessed she must be the woman the Master had spoken of.

“Old Patriarch, greetings!” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands toward him in salute.

“Greetings! You are… Physician Long?” the Old Patriarch asked, testing the waters.

After all, that this young girl was supposedly a miracle doctor was still hard for him to believe.

“That’s right.” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands again, then withdrew her gaze and looked ahead.

“Truly, a woman need not yield to men, and one should not judge by appearances!” The Old Patriarch looked at Feng Jiu’er, smiling.

“Physician Long, please don’t mind me! It’s not that I doubt your ability — it’s just that your age caught me quite off guard.”

“You flatter me, Old Patriarch!” Feng Jiu’er turned her head again. “I’m not all that skilled. Master Lei has overpraised me.”

“So modest! Physician Long, far too modest!” The Old Patriarch shook his head with a smile, then turned to look at his son.

“Zhicheng, look at Physician Long — younger than you by several years, yet already accomplished, while you remain idle and unaccomplished. You need to work harder!” the Old Patriarch sighed.

“Understood, Father.” The Young Patriarch, Zhang Zhicheng, nodded.

After responding to his father, Zhang Zhicheng looked at Feng Jiu’er’s profile, but said nothing further.

“Master Bao, Physician Long, I’m afraid we’ve made a poor showing for you! Ha ha…” The Old Patriarch’s voice rang out again.

Before long, they had led Feng Jiang’s group to a house.

“Master Bao.” The Old Patriarch cupped his hands toward Feng Jiang. “This place has been prepared for you.”

The Old Patriarch glanced around, then withdrew his gaze and spoke again. “I hadn’t realized so many of you would be coming, so I only prepared one house.”

“There are only four rooms inside — if that’s not enough, I’ll find you another place.”

“No need. This will do.” Feng Jiang knew that Feng Jiu’er would not want their group scattered.

This place was situated to the west, at some distance from the houses on either side — suitable enough.

“But you all…” The Old Patriarch looked a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine, this is enough.” Feng Jiu’er looked at him and gave a slight nod.

“The three of us sisters can share one room — no need for the Old Patriarch to trouble himself.”

“Besides, I think this place is really quite nice. The Old Patriarch has chosen us a fine spot.”

“Physician Long, there’s no need to stand on ceremony! You’re guests sent by the Master — honored guests, all of you.” The Old Patriarch smiled.

“If it’s all right, why don’t we head inside? I’ll have wine and food sent over, and we can have dinner first before discussing further. How does that sound?”

“We’re in your debt, Old Patriarch.” Feng Jiang nodded.

“No trouble at all!” The Old Patriarch shook his head and turned to Zhang Zhicheng.

“Go have someone prepare a meal and bring it over.”

“Yes, Father.” Zhang Zhicheng nodded, turned his horse, and rode off.

“Master Bao, will you need anyone to come attend to you?” The Old Patriarch turned back and asked quietly.

Feng Jiu’er dismounted, and Feng Jiang followed suit.

“No need,” Feng Jiang said flatly.

Feng Jiu’er turned back and gave the Old Patriarch a smile.

“Old Patriarch, you really don’t need to be so courteous. The reason Master Bao and I get along so well is that neither of us is one to fuss over small details.”

“You’ve prepared us a house, and even arranged food and drink — we have no further requests.”

Feng Jiu’er left those words behind and looked at the people behind her.

“Qiao, go pick out the rooms first. Yinan, carry Qinchun inside. Everyone else can take their time sorting out the rest.”

“All right.” Qiao Mu nodded.

Feng Yinan nodded as well and turned toward the carriage.

Their belongings were few to begin with; Jian Yi and Yang Sheng had them carried inside in no time.

Feng Jiang stayed behind, and Feng Jiu’er also went into the house.

Qiao Mu chose the largest room on the ground floor and pushed open the large window — outside was nothing but green.

Grass, woods, mountain peaks — the deep emerald of late autumn in the south.

The room was spacious, though it held only one bed.

Aside from a bit of crowding at bedtime, everything else was quite satisfactory.

Feng Yinan set Yue Qinchun down on a long bench, and Feng Jiu’er checked her injured foot again.

Jian Yi and Yang Sheng brought in clothes and daily necessities, then the three men left the room.

“Jiu’er, I feel much better,” Yue Qinchun said, pressing her lips together as she looked at the woman crouched before her.

“It’s fine, you’ll be able to walk by tomorrow.” Feng Jiu’er set down Yue Qinchun’s foot and stood up.

“Thank you!” Yue Qinchun pressed her lips together again.

Feng Jiu’er rubbed the top of her head, then turned and put the medicinal ointment back into the medicine chest.

“Jiu’er, Zhao Yusheng sent word — still no news for now.” Qiao Mu came back from the window and handed Feng Jiu’er a small slip of paper.

Feng Jiu’er took the note and glanced at it.

The note crumbled to ash in her palm.

“No news isn’t necessarily bad news. I believe Father would support my decision too.”

The battle with Feng Qiongcang was bound to come sooner or later. If her strength wasn’t sufficient, then even if she found her father, she might not be able to protect him fully.

Thinking back on it, Feng Jiu’er decided that if it really was Han Ying who had taken her father away, that would be better than if it were Feng Qiongcang.

Han Ying was fond of her father, and surely wouldn’t let him suffer too much.

It was just that this woman was a freak too!

Feng Jiu’er had seen with her own eyes how Han Ying had tried to take liberties with her wounded father — she had no idea what kind of days he was living through in her hands.

Feng Jiu’er clenched her fist, turned, and walked out.

The sky had already darkened by the time the wine and dishes the Old Patriarch had prepared were brought over.

In front of the ground floor of the house was a small hall.

It wasn’t a large space — two rows of long tables had been set up in the middle, each laden with food, with two chairs beside each table.

“Please, please!” The Old Patriarch waved as people came out.

Eventually, everyone had gathered.

Besides the Old Patriarch and the Young Patriarch, there was also a woman about the Old Patriarch’s age and a young girl.

The Old Patriarch and that woman sat at the innermost long table, while Feng Jiang and Feng Jiu’er sat at the long table facing them.

Beside Feng Jiu’er sat Jian Yi and Qiao Mu; further out sat Feng Yinan and Yue Qinchun, with Yang Sheng seated at the very end.

On the Old Patriarch’s side, besides the Old Patriarch and the woman, there was only the Young Patriarch and a girl who looked about ten years old.

Two maidservants poured wine for everyone, then withdrew to one side.

“Come, let’s drink a cup together first, shall we?” The Old Patriarch raised his wine cup, smiling pleasantly.

“There’s no need to force the young ladies — a small sip will do.”

Among Feng Jiang’s group of seven, nothing seemed to happen outwardly, but in fact, nearly all of them had used silver needles to test the food and wine in front of them.

Everyone raised their cups together, took a small sip of wine, and set their cups back down.