Chapter 74: The Doctor Nan Xiaoxiang

Chapter 74: The Doctor Nan Xiaoxiang

Inside the inn.

Outside, the night had reached its darkest hour. Thick clouds obscured the moon, leaving the earth enveloped in the final quiet moments before dawn.

Inside the room, the candlelight flickered. Luo Luo and Chen Yin sat quietly to one side, not daring to make a sound.

As always, Qing Ying leaned against the doorway, her gaze cold as she surveyed the scene.

By the window, Nan Xiaoxiang lightly placed her delicate hand on Ya Ya's wrist, her slender fingers gently tapping at the tiger's mouth.

After a long while, she withdrew her hand and said in a calm and detached tone:

“Severe exhaustion, depleted vitality, and irreparable physical frailty. If she were an ordinary human, I’d be advising you to prepare for her funeral.”

“Fortunately, she’s a member of the Spirit Clan. For a Spirit who has taken human form, her meridians are slightly more resilient than those of ordinary mortals. I can temporarily sustain her life with golden needles.”

“Three parts each of chai jie, su shi hua, longan, and dried ginger. Boil for two hours. Two bowls per day. I’ll provide the next prescription in three days.”

Luo Luo’s eyes lit up instantly, and she exclaimed in excitement, “That’s wonderful! Ya Ya will be saved!”

Chen Yin also breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you.”

“You trust her so easily?”

From the doorway, Qing Ying’s wary expression remained unchanged. “A mortal doctor treating a member of the Spirit Clan—are you really that confident in her abilities? Isn’t she concerned about the differences between Humans and Spirits?”

Chen Yin was about to reply when Nan Xiaoxiang calmly retorted:

“Otherwise, what? Do you plan to treat her yourself, or perhaps call for a veterinarian?”

“You—!”

Qing Ying’s beautiful eyes flared with anger, but Chen Yin quickly stepped in to mediate. “Stop, stop! None of us are doctors, so why don’t we listen to what the doctor has to say?”

Nan Xiaoxiang shot the two of them a glance with her fox-like, elongated eyes before sitting at the table. She took a sip of tea and said softly,

“Once a Spirit transforms into human form, their body’s meridians and organs are no different from those of ordinary people. Even you so-called cultivators—until you ascend to immortality, aren’t you all just mortal flesh and blood?”

“You eat grains and drink water like any other mortal. The only difference is that you’ve learned a few spells and techniques. Without the protection of spiritual energy or specialized body tempering, how much sturdier are your bodies compared to an ordinary person’s?”

“Calling you immortals is merely a courtesy. You don’t really take yourselves for true deities, do you?”

“Don’t underestimate the art of medicine,” Nan Xiaoxiang said with a calm and unwavering tone. “Medicine isn’t as simple as you think.”

Her words were unruffled, completely unperturbed by the presence of cultivators, even as her sharp remarks left Chen Yin with a chill down his spine.

Qing Ying’s expression fluctuated for a long moment before she finally huffed and turned away in silence.

Chen Yin could only offer a sheepish smile.

What a presence this doctor has.

Not only was she unfazed in front of several cultivators, but her sharp and incisive words had Chen Yin breaking out in a cold sweat.

“All right, their condition has stabilized,” Nan Xiaoxiang said as she slowly rose. Her beautiful eyes landed on Chen Yin. “Now, if you’d be so kind as to escort me back, I’ll prepare the next prescription for you.”

“I’m deeply grateful,” Chen Yin said, bowing again. He then turned to Luo Luo, instructing her to take good care of Ya Ya and the others, before leaving the room with Nan Xiaoxiang.

“Miss, given the urgency earlier, if I acted rudely, I hope you can forgive me,” Chen Yin apologized again as they left.

Nan Xiaoxiang seemed not to hear, remaining silent for a long moment before suddenly speaking in her soft, melodious voice:

“I have only one question for you.”

“When you stood outside my room earlier… did you peek at me while I was bathing?”

“Absolutely not,” Chen Yin swore, patting his chest with confidence. “Even if I were a lecher, there’s no way I’d act inappropriately under such circumstances. Someone’s life was at stake—I wouldn’t lose sight of priorities like that.”

“Oh? So what you’re saying is, if no one needed saving, you might have stayed and spied?”

Nan Xiaoxiang’s gaze seemed to pierce directly into his soul, leaving Chen Yin momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief silence, he coughed awkwardly and shamelessly said,

“Well, who’s to say? If I didn’t need to save someone, I wouldn’t have even gone to your residence in the first place.”

Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t reply, instead lowering her gaze with an air of feigned nonchalance.

“Immortal, you’re rather eloquent.”

—Translation: You’re good at dodging the question.

Chen Yin chose to pretend he didn’t catch the subtext, grinning as he scratched his head.

“Well then, shall I escort you back?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Nan Xiaoxiang spoke, her expression uncharacteristically awkward:

“Is there… a way to return that doesn’t involve flying?”

Chen Yin: “...?”

What am I supposed to do, summon a car from my system store and drive you back?

He was still figuring out how the system worked and didn’t plan to use it lightly until he understood it better.

“Uh, but flying is the fastest way…”

“A slower method will do,” Nan Xiaoxiang said seriously.

Chen Yin hesitated. He didn’t mind taking his time escorting her, but let’s not forget—Xiang’er and his senior sister were still asleep.

If he didn’t return before dawn, who knew if they’d worry?

“Sorry, doctor lady, but I’m in a bit of a rush.”

He thought for a moment and said, "How about this: if you're really afraid of heights, just close your eyes. I promise that by the time you open them, you'll be home—fast and convenient. How's that?"

Nan Xiaoxiang’s eyes still held a trace of hesitation as she murmured, "I won’t fall, will I?"

"You won’t! Worst case, just hold onto me tightly."

Upon hearing this, Nan Xiaoxiang glared at Chen Yin, her eyes filled with both anger and embarrassment.

Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly and tentatively added, "Well… if you’re not comfortable with that, how about… I hold onto you instead?"

“...Do all you cultivators take such liberties with women?”

“...Sorry.”

In the end, she relented.

<+>

On Changming, Nan Xiaoxiang kept her eyes tightly shut, her hands clutching Chen Yin’s belt with a grip that betrayed her unease. The wind roared past her ears, and her legs felt weak, as though the slightest looseness would cause her to collapse entirely.

Chen Yin, however, was still in a leisurely mood and glanced at her tightly shut eyes.

He had to admit, Nan Xiaoxiang’s beauty would stand out even in the cultivation world, let alone among ordinary mortals. Her unadorned face, dressed in a plain white gown, neither overly bright nor overly subdued, carried an elegance akin to plum blossoms standing resolutely in the snow.

Yet, more than her looks, Chen Yin admired her courage and composure.

To ordinary mortals, cultivators were lofty beings unrestrained by earthly laws, capable of deciding their lives with a whim. It was natural for most mortals to feel nervous or terrified in the presence of a cultivator, careful not to say anything that might cause offense.

But Nan Xiaoxiang faced them with poise, speaking as though they were equals, even retorting sharply against Qing Ying earlier. Such confidence was rarely seen in a mortal woman.

“Miss Nan, have you treated cultivators before?”

“In Yanxia Prefecture, my Xiaoxiang Medical Hall is the only place that treats cultivators,” she replied, her tone calm despite her trembling body.

“That’s impressive… Who taught you medicine, Miss Nan?”

“Half of it is ancestral, the other half self-taught.”

“With such talent and beauty, you must have many admirers, right?”

At these words, Nan Xiaoxiang fell silent for a long time before sighing softly, “Why speak in circles, immortal? If you fancy my appearance, the worst you could do is find a secluded place and force yourself upon me. This roundabout talk is hardly becoming.”

Chen Yin nearly stumbled midair.

“...Wait, do I seem that despicable to you?”

“Whether you are or aren’t, what right does a mere mortal like me have to judge?” Nan Xiaoxiang’s expression remained calm. “The moment I was taken by an immortal, I prepared myself for the worst.”

“Why not be forthright? After all, what can a mere mortal woman do to resist an immortal?”

Chen Yin struggled for a long moment before finally blurting out, “Miss, do you have a persecution complex?”

“...”

“I was just making conversation. How did you manage to imagine all of that?”

Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t respond. She kept her eyes shut, her body trembling as she tried to maintain her composure—a sight that stirred pity.

Chen Yin sighed.

Her fears weren’t unfounded. Mortals had no way to resist cultivators. If she encountered a righteous one, she would be safe and sound, but if it were someone unscrupulous, she could indeed face a tragic fate with no one to care.

Could it be that she truly, as she claimed, came prepared for the worst before leaving?

Chen Yin’s curiosity deepened, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Even knowing the risks, you still chose to treat the little foxes?”

“If an immortal truly meant to harm me, not treating them wouldn’t change my fate.” Her tone was steady. “So why not perform one last act of healing and find some peace in myself?”

“I don’t practice medicine for others—I do it because healing brings me joy.”

Chen Yin teased with a smile, “I thought you might secretly poison the little foxes to force me to protect you.”

“The thought did cross my mind,” she said, her eyes half-lowered, “but I gave it up.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to save people. Not harm them.”

Her tone was so natural, so matter-of-fact, that Chen Yin fell silent.

<+>

After a while, Nan Xiaoxiang suddenly felt solid ground beneath her feet. She opened her eyes and realized they had arrived at her residence.

“All done,” Chen Yin said beside her. “I kept my promise and brought you home safely.”

“Did you truly have no intention of harming me?” Nan Xiaoxiang’s gaze wavered.

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Yin flicked her forehead lightly.

“Don’t always assume the worst about people,” he said lightly. “There are still good people in this world.”

“...Like you?”

Nan Xiaoxiang softly touched her forehead and blinked.

“All right, I don’t have much to offer, so take these spirit stones as payment for your services and the medicine.” Chen Yin handed her a small pouch from his robes. “In a few days, if the little foxes improve, I’ll bring them here to recuperate. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Nan Xiaoxiang was silent for a moment before smiling gently.

“A doctor treats without discrimination.”

“I’ll do my best.”

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