A sudden rainstorm washed over the mountains, filling the air with the damp scent of grass and earth. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the thick clouds, illuminating the glistening dewdrops on the grass along the winding village path. Kang Kang helped A Yuan carefully avoid puddles as they emerged from the hillside where they had been hiding. The fall had been sudden and unexpected, but fortunately the slope wasn't too steep, and a thick layer of decaying leaves and soft mud had covered them. Aside from their clothes being covered in mud and A Yuan's newly bandaged arm wound throbbing slightly, they were both unharmed.

Even more surprisingly, as I looked up and around amidst the mud and grime, the thatched cottages and earthen walls nestled against the foot of the mountain, surrounded by sparse bamboo fences, and the crooked old locust tree at the village entrance... all seemed so familiar.

“It’s Liuxi Village.” Kang Kang’s voice carried a hint of relief, as he wiped a bit of mud from his cheek. “I stayed here for a while three years ago while practicing medicine with my master.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared on A Yuan's pale and tired face. She looked around at the quiet little village, where only the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking could be heard: "So that's how it is. What a coincidence."

The two had just stepped onto the muddy dirt road at the village entrance, wet from the rain, when a man carrying a hoe, heading towards the fields, suddenly stopped. He squinted, looking Xiao Chengkang's face, smeared with mud yet still handsome, up and down incredulously from a few steps away.

"Oh my God!" The man slapped his thigh, the hoe clattering to the ground. He grinned, revealing teeth stained yellow from smoking, and his booming voice startled the birds in the treetops. "Isn't this... isn't this Brother Kang?! It really is Brother Kang back?!"

That shout was like a large stone thrown into a calm pond. The gates of several houses nearby creaked open, and people poked their heads out.

"Young Master Kang? Is it really Young Master Kang?"

"Oh dear, the master physician's esteemed disciple has returned!"

"Quick! Go call Aunt Wang and Uncle Li! Young Master Kang is back!"

In an instant, the small village of Liuxi seemed to awaken from its slumber. Several elderly people with gray hair, leaning on their canes, hurried out, their faces beaming with undisguised joy; a few teenagers also curiously gathered around, crowding around the adults' legs, their dark eyes fixed on the unfamiliar visitors. On each dark, simple face, etched with the marks of time, radiated the most genuine and pure joy and closeness. Those calls of "Brother Kang," carried in a thick local accent and with unreserved enthusiasm, instantly enveloped the two men.

Kang Kang was caught off guard by this unexpected reunion. He could only clasp his hands in greeting and respond with a gentle smile, "Uncle Zhang, Uncle Li, Aunt Wang... it's me, I'm back." His gaze swept over the familiar faces, and the scenes of treating patients, administering medicine, and keeping watch over them three years ago clearly appeared in his mind. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. "I had a little accident on the way and fell down. Thank you all for your concern."

He naturally turned to the side, making way for the somewhat awkward A-Yuan beside him: "This is Miss A-Yuan. I met her on the road. She was slightly injured and is traveling with me for the time being."

"Hello, Miss Ayuan!" Everyone greeted her warmly, their friendly gazes falling on Ayuan.

"Young Master Kang, hurry, hurry back to your old house! We've kept that house for you!" The old man, called Uncle Zhang, squeezed forward, his withered hand tightly gripping Xiao Chengkang's arm with astonishing strength. "Nothing in the house has been touched! It's spotless!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Aunt Wang squeezed in, her voice loud and clear. "I'll go get you a newly dried straw mat! And some eggs! Look at all this mud on you... Did you fall and hurt yourself?" As she spoke, her eyes scanned Kang Kang and A Yuan with concern.

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Kang Kang and A Yuan were practically surrounded by the crowd, who escorted them with words of comfort and concern until they reached a quiet courtyard at the edge of the village. The courtyard wall was made of rammed yellow mud, some sections of which had crumbled, revealing the straw beneath. A thick layer of thatch covered the top, its color a deep, dark hue from the rain. Pushing open the creaking old wooden door, they found themselves in a small courtyard, with some unknown wild grass growing in the corner—a peaceful and serene space.

“This is it,” Kang Kang led A Yuan into the slightly larger room on the east side. The furnishings inside were extremely simple: a bed, a table, a chair, and a half-worn rough pottery water jar. But it was kept exceptionally clean and spotless, clearly indicating that someone had been carefully cleaning it regularly. “My master and I used to live in this room.”

Sunlight streamed in through the narrow wooden lattice windows, casting dappled patterns of light on the earthen floor. The air was filled with the scent of dry earth and faint herbs—a familiar, comforting aroma of bygone days.