Chapter Ten: A Life in the Mortal World, Part Two
Because Meng Sheng had informed him in advance, Di Huan was already in the courtyard early that morning, chopping medicinal herbs and waiting for his guest. He felt his injuries were severe and had been well cared for by the doctors. Meng Sheng, feeling responsible for what happened that day, had also been visiting him. Although Di Huan promised to give them gold as a token of gratitude, he still did some odd jobs to help out before leaving. He was originally in good health; he had fought the enemy to exhaustion on the battlefield, fainting multiple times, and then been thrown from mid-air by a demon, lying in bed for five months before fully regaining consciousness. After getting out of bed, he recovered extremely quickly and was now completely healed, with no aftereffects, appearing as if nothing had happened.
Di Huan heard from Meng Sheng that one of the other two cultivators who saved him was over forty years old and unable to come due to other matters, while the other was about the same age as her. Therefore, when he saw Ming Jin carrying a lantern and walking in, he knew her identity. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and Di Huan wanted to properly thank anyone who saved him.
Di Huan was half a head taller than Ming Jin, but his imposing figure remained undiminished by his recent bed rest. Since being able to get out of bed, he had been practicing boxing in the courtyard, and his condition was as good as ever. He already had several scars around his face, and this latest injury left a shallow scar on his neck. He lacked any of the ruthless, decisive air he was known for; he smiled cheerfully upon seeing Ming Jin, quite different from the battlefield hero Ming Jin had imagined.
Seeing Di Huan's enthusiastic thanks, Ming Jin was a little at a loss. Meng Sheng, who knew his personality well, pulled him away with a few words. Ji Zhen originally only intended to see if it was an old friend, but after nearly twenty years apart, he dared not pretend to recognize him. On the contrary, Di Huan recognized Ji Zhen the moment he noticed her: "Doctor Ji, I didn't expect to meet you here again."
"It's been a long time, General Di."
Upon hearing this, Mingjin knew that this person was none other than Jizhen's old friend. So, without disturbing their reminiscing, and knowing they had to set off before dark, Mingjin went with Mengsheng to celebrate the Lantern Festival. As for the old story of Jizhen and Di Huan, Jizhen only told Mingjin about it after they returned to Kongyun Mountain.
When Ji Zhen and Di Huan first met, Ji Zhen was nineteen years old. She was walking in the mountains with her master Cheng Zhilin, preparing to go to the nearby battlefield to perform a ritual to exorcise evil spirits.
A person does not immediately become a ghost after death. As long as a cultivator who knows exorcism magic performs a ritual during this time, the possibility of becoming a ghost can be eliminated. Therefore, some cultivators leave their sects and become independent cultivators, responsible for searching for information about ghosts, while others disguise themselves as coroners, itinerant doctors, or military doctors to hide in the world, just to avert future disasters as soon as possible.
Ji Zhen's master, Cheng Zhilin, was a disciple of Elder Hui Fu, styled Jing Tang, of Kongyun Mountain. However, Cheng Zhilin did not formally undergo the apprenticeship ceremony; he only received guidance from Hui Fu during his travels, and the two had a year-long teacher-student relationship while hunting ghosts. Hui Fu was the first elder of Kongyun Mountain. At that time, cultivators did not use their real names, but only used aliases they acquired after cultivation for others to address them. Therefore, Ji Zhen followed Cheng Zhilin and always addressed Hui Fu as Elder Jing Tang.
Ji Zhen was a disciple that Cheng Zhilin had taken in. According to Cheng Zhilin, she and Jing Tang had been separated for nearly two years, and she had been exorcising ghosts in different places. One day, exhausted and groggy, she prepared to descend the mountain. As she walked along an unfamiliar mountain path, she faintly heard a terrifying scream. The further Cheng Zhilin walked, the louder the sound became, turning eerie among the trees, leading her to believe it was some kind of malevolent spirit causing trouble, yet she felt no trace of it. When she got closer, she discovered it was just a two- or three-year-old child sitting on the mountain, crying.
Seeing that there were no villages or inns in sight halfway up the mountain, Cheng Zhilin couldn't understand why a child wasn't alone there. The child's hands were covered in mud, and she touched her face when she cried; she looked almost like a mud ball when Cheng Zhilin appeared. The child's clothes were old, probably hand-me-downs from her older sister, and she wasn't even wearing shoes, but thankfully, her feet were only covered in mud and she wasn't cut. Regardless, Cheng Zhilin carried the child down the mountain and settled in an inn at the foot of the mountain.
Cheng Zhilin searched for a long time at the foot of the mountain but didn't hear of any family losing a child. However, since he had already found the child, he couldn't just abandon her. In addition, he had a mission to complete, so he took the child with him and set off, naming her Jizhen.
At the age of nineteen, the two women, master and apprentice, were on their way to a battlefield to exorcise evil spirits. As they walked lightly along the road, wearing straw hats and carrying bamboo baskets, they happened upon a small combat squad. They were probably retreating from the battlefield, but since they had no flags, Cheng Zhilin couldn't tell which side they were on.
Seven people sat huddled together, all covered in soot, and several had bruises on their faces. When the master and apprentice approached, they merely glanced at them calmly without moving, then looked away.
A few steps away from them, a man lay on a wooden plank. He had been struck by three arrows in the chest, bleeding profusely, his face deathly pale, slightly ashen, and his arms and legs bore numerous wounds from sharp weapons. The wounds were unbandaged, protruding in varying depths on the outside of his body, a pool of blood. He was still alive; Ji Zhen could see his weak breathing, but the others were probably powerless to save him, or perhaps too weak to carry him forward.
Cheng Zhilin was not yet fifty at the time, but his health was poor. Moreover, Ji Zhen's skill level was sufficient to complete his apprenticeship. So Cheng Zhilin picked up a stone and sat down next to him, letting Ji Zhen treat the man's wounds.
"Master, what about them?"
"You should focus on saving lives." Cheng Zhilin straightened his clothes, not taking Ji Zhen's words to heart.
Hearing Cheng Zhilin's words, Ji Zhen immediately began to act. Ji Zhen was carrying some medicinal herbs; he gave the man a ginseng slice to keep him breathing, then decisively removed all the arrows from his body. The first and second arrows stirred up a shallow cloud of dust when they hit the ground, while the third arrow, thrown down, happened to hit both of them, creating the only crisp sound in this desolate place. Afterward, Ji Zhen sprinkled white medicinal powder on the wounds and wrapped them with strips of cloth from his bamboo basket.
Although Ji Zhen possessed medical skills, he had already traveled a long way beforehand. Furthermore, the patient was not only tall but also completely unconscious, so when Ji Zhen turned him over and wrapped the wound with cloth strips, his arms occasionally struggled to support his weight. Cheng Zhilin and Ji Zhen remained silent, and the remaining people were also very frightened, standing or sitting with their heads craned and necks bent, watching from a distance. Only the young man sitting furthest away from them, the master and apprentice, came over and supported the injured man's upper body, allowing Ji Zhen to concentrate on bandaging.
"Old Hao, Third Brother, set up the pot and boil some water."
Two people responded and prepared their things. The others also got up. Two went to find some water nearby, and the other two went to gather some firewood.
Although the injured person is still unconscious, their breathing has become much easier. However, if a better environment cannot be found for recuperation, every extra moment spent outside will exacerbate the patient's predicament.
The group, clearly led by the young man who had first assisted Ji Zhen, moved steadily according to his instructions. Seeing this, Ji Zhen and Cheng Zhilin knew they didn't need to worry too much; as long as these men could find a doctor, the seriously injured and unconscious man could recover. Since they were also soldiers, they didn't want to ask too many questions, so they packed their things and prepared to set off again.
"Master, I'm going to wash my things over there where they're getting water."
Cheng Zhilin nodded.
The water source wasn't far from the path where they rested. Crossing a patch of lush grass and passing through a small grove of shade, they found a quietly flowing, narrow stream. The stream was so narrow that Ji Zhen could easily leap from one bank to the other with a little effort. Birdsong filled the woods, and as Ji Zhen looked up, she saw several birds flying out of the trees in a flock. The water was clear and cold. The current wasn't gentle; Ji Zhen could hear the rumbling sound of water crashing against rocks not far upstream. She had heard Cheng Zhilin talking to someone while washing her hands, but it was too far away to make out the details. She didn't pay much attention, simply squatting on the bank, pressing her hands into the water, watching it slowly flow through her palms and fingers.
"Thank you both for your help today." When he returned, Ji Zhen's hands were still wet from the river. He wanted to shake them off, but then thought it would look bad, so he hid them behind his back.
"My name is Di Huan."
Di Huan and his men were separated from the enemy on the battlefield. Being troops sent from the capital, they lacked a complete grasp of the surrounding terrain and were unsure of their location. Adding to their confusion was the presence of a wounded soldier. They sat listlessly by the roadside, unsure of what to do. Di Huan had originally been a grain transport officer following the rear of the army. However, after leading his guards to repel an enemy attack on their supplies, the general learned of this and, upon receiving a report to the emperor, promoted him to a high-ranking position leading a marching force. Unfortunately, his promotion was short-lived, as they were immediately attacked by the enemy, powerless to defend themselves and losing contact with the enemy, inevitably leading to a period of despondency.
Ji Zhen had lived in seclusion with Cheng Zhilin since childhood, cultivating in seclusion and having no concept of family or country. He only interacted with outsiders for two or three months a year, so he was completely unaware of and indifferent to the war. Cheng Zhilin was different. She met Jing Tang when she was nearly thirty years old and became a cultivator, and Di Huan was in her motherland, so she couldn't help but worry.
Cheng Zhilin and Ji Zhen were originally heading to a nearby border town where a major battle had recently taken place, and they needed to get there for a ceremony. Although Di Huan wasn't entirely sure of the route, he knew that his own troops were stationed in the town, so he decided to ask Cheng Zhilin and Ji Zhen to accompany them. Cheng Zhilin noticed that more than half of their group were around twenty years old, likely seeing a battlefield for the first time, and thus decided to go with them. She was about to call Ji Zhen to prepare for the journey when she realized he wasn't around.
"Zhen'er?"
"Master has arrived."
Behind Cheng Zhilin and Di Huan, Ji Zhen gracefully jumped down from a tree and landed steadily on the wild grass. She walked over with a rustling sound, and Di Huan only noticed when she got closer that she was holding several bird eggs in each of her hands.
"Let's continue moving forward," Cheng Zhilin simply instructed.
Ji Zhen agreed, then went to Lao Hao and Lao San, who were cooking, and asked them to cook the food for the wounded soldier.
When Ji Zhen and Cheng Zhilin arrived, it was not yet noon. About an hour after noon, the group set off. Di Huan and Cheng Zhilin led the way, with Ji Zhen following at the very end. They persevered for more than a day and finally reached their destination. The city had also taken in many other scattered soldiers. After verifying their identities, Di Huan led everyone into the city, feeling a sense of relief.
A ceasefire is currently in effect. Having not yet received news from the commander-in-chief, General Shu, who is defending the city, is both waiting for news and reorganizing the city's military affairs. Currently short-handed, General Shu, with Di Huan's assurance, decided to have Cheng Zhilin and Ji Zhen care for the wounded. Although everyone is seriously injured, fortunately, they are all external wounds. Ji Zhen can see the condition of the wounds and their recovery progress at a glance, and the wounded soldiers can also see them, eliminating the need for lengthy explanations. Cheng Zhilin is in poor health and unable to use magic; she had previously walked into the city, so she is even less strong. She only cares for the lightly wounded and those who cannot be treated, while the others are cared for by the other two military doctors and Ji Zhen. These two doctors have been in the army for many years, and although Ji Zhen works alongside them, he has learned many emergency medical techniques.
After nearly two months of staying there, General Shu received a message from the commander-in-chief and prepared for battle. Upon seeing this, Cheng Zhilin realized that they had stayed too long, so she told Ji Zhen that when General Shu left with his army, they should also prepare to move on.
That day, all the hustle and bustle of the city was behind Ji Zhen, who was washing strips of cloth in the backyard. No one was around, and she was slacking off with her water magic, watching the water in the basin slap the cloth strips against her skin and listening to the splashing sound. Ji Zhen found it amusing and looked down at the basin, chuckling to herself.
Then a hand patted Ji Zhen's right shoulder.
"Dr. Cheng, are you alright?" Di Huan asked worriedly.
Ji Zhen, engrossed in her own little game, hadn't noticed anyone around her. Di Huan's sudden arrival startled her. Coupled with her recent use of water magic, she worried that Di Huan might have seen her, and a wave of anxiety washed over her. Thus, a mixture of surprise and worry appeared on her face, easily discerned by Di Huan. Di Huan had been watching Ji Zhen busy with the two military doctors for a long time, and knowing that military affairs were far more demanding than treating patients outside, he worried that Ji Zhen would be exhausted. Seeing her expression now, he felt his suspicions were correct.
Ji Zhen initially doubted who "Doctor Cheng" was, but then he remembered that although Di Huan often visited the wounded soldiers' tents, he only inquired about his own injuries, and the two had never discussed personal matters, only exchanging questions and answers. He figured that Di Huan probably didn't even know his name, so he explained, "I'm fine, General Di, you don't need to worry about me. I don't share my master's surname; my name is Ji Zhen, Ji as in Ji River, Zhen as in Zhen Wood. What brings you here, General Di?"
"I am not a general, not even a deputy general. Doctor Ji, don't listen to Lao Hao and Lao San's nonsense. It would be bad if General Shu and the others heard it." Di Huan hurriedly explained, "My nickname is Zheng Nan, Doctor Ji, you can just call me Zheng Nan. In the next few days, we will be following General Shu to meet up with the commander-in-chief. After this parting, we probably won't see each other again, so I came to bid farewell to Doctor Ji."
Ji Zhen didn't understand these words. She didn't understand many things and principles of the outside world, such as separation in life. For cultivators, as long as both parties wanted to see each other, they could always find a way to meet again. As for separation in death, the evil spirit had also told her that if one was determined to remain entangled, their souls could reunite in the underworld. However, she and Di Huan didn't have any deep affection for each other, and she probably didn't need to see him again afterward. She felt that she really needed to say goodbye properly to complete the phrase "from beginning to end."
"I heard from Doctor Cheng that you two are going to continue on your way. I wonder where you're going?" Di Huan found a small stool and sat down next to Ji Zhen.
"This is where my master studied medicine. He felt unwell and wanted to go back there to recuperate. I had never been there before, but I heard it's a small town surrounded by mountains and rivers, with lush vegetation. My master's master, who is also my grandmaster, although I've never met him before, is currently planning to open a new clinic and needs help, so my master wants to go back to help." After washing the items, Ji Zhen got up to spread them out on the wooden rack to dry. Seeing this, Di Huan took the other half, and the two of them wrung out the water together, spread them out on the rack, and laid them out.
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