Night talks prompt the heart

  Chapter Thirteen: Inviting a God is Easy, Sending Him Away is Hard

  Min An wiped his sweat: "It's laughable, it's just a temporary embarrassment, nothing more."

  Two men in brocade uniforms ran over from a distance, bowed to Fei Yi and respectfully asked him to continue on his way. Fei Yi turned around and walked towards the street entrance, throwing back a sentence: "The young master has never liked these side-door left-way doctors like Jianghu Langzhong, you and Wu Ren should retreat early."

  Min An followed the shadow of Fei Yi's body and looked over, only to discover that at the southern end of the street, a magnificent gate tower stood tall. Eight guards stood in a row, wearing elegant uniforms and holding official swords, firmly guarding the entrance. On the pillars of the building hung two strings of large red lanterns, with purple gold powder sprinkled on the lantern mouths, reflecting a brilliant light. Min An looked through the nanmu wooden door into the interior, but could only see eight rows of snow-white jade lanter

  Min An secretly cursed, and only after the crowd dispersed did he notice the grandeur of this inn. Looking at its majestic appearance, it was clear that it was a place specially prepared for the royal family to rest in Qingquan County. Min An suddenly remembered that he and his master had just performed tricks in front of the inn, attracting a large crowd to cheer, and the commotion below might have already disturbed the noble people resting in the building. If Li Peinan, who had always suppressed the witch doctors and Taoist priests, was staying here, then he and his master's prospects would be even more bleak.

  Min An secured the donkey cart and turned back to look for his master. A servant with a refined appearance approached Wu Ren and whispered something in his ear, Wu Ren's face showed a difficult expression, as if he was considering it for a moment, before saying to Min An: "You go ahead to the post house and wait for me, I have an errand to run, at Old Master Ma's residence."

  Min An pressed on: "Which Ma old master? Didn't you say you don't look at officials?"

  Wu Ren waved his hand and left: "Ma Mie's reputation is well-known, I dare not offend him. I'll go take a look first."

  Min An led the donkey cart to the post house beside the official road for lodging. After feeding the donkeys, he crawled into a low earth hut and was bitten by mosquitoes as big as millet grains all over his head. He slapped the mosquitoes everywhere, tied a bundle of mugwort to smoke out the mosquitoes and eliminate the strange smell in the room, and saw Fei Yi walking in from the courtyard gate with moonlight shining on her clothes.

  Min wiped off the grass clippings from his sleeve mouth and sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard. Fei Yi asked, "Isn't Wu Ren coming back?"

  Min An replied: "Master has performed several grand divine dances, gained some fame, and was invited by wealthy families to treat illnesses. When he will return is really uncertain."

  Fei Yi didn't respond and sat on the stone bench, waiting. He was used to being quiet, and coming to Min An's place could be considered entering someone else's territory, so he just sat quietly without exchanging pleasantries with the host, not thinking much of it. Min An waited for the scent of mugwort to dissipate but couldn't bear the coldness that filled the entire courtyard, occasionally trying to strike up a conversation with Fei Yi.

  Of course, Fei Yi was also someone who listened more and spoke less. Even when he did speak, it was only a few brief words. Min An followed the rules of his master and told Fei Yi that his master had been the chief imperial physician in the palace twenty years ago, but due to some incident, he was implicated and demoted out of the palace, after which he wandered around Jianghu. During the time when he was being sued, Master scattered his family and carried a bad reputation, from then on swearing that even if it meant deceiving people by pretending to be a Taoist priest, he would never again treat illnesses for officials big or small in the officialdom.

  Fei Yi hastily asked upon hearing this: "Why are the innocent family members of government officials not being punished? Why is Wu Ren also not being punished?"

  Min An smiled bitterly: "When Master fell into trouble, Mistress rolled up her belongings and eloped with a military officer, becoming an official's family member. That's probably why Master made the rule not to treat officials or their families."

  Fei Yi didn't say a word, lost in thought. Min An kindly reminded him of these past examples, merely not wanting him to run into Wu Ren's stubbornness, letting him prepare first. Now it seemed like there was no other way except staying by Wu Ren's side to learn acupuncture.

  Min An looked at Fei Yi's thoughtful expression and smiled, "That girl you mentioned, who would do anything for her, is really lucky. You're still waiting here in the middle of the night for Master to return, seeking a cure for her."

  Dew gradually got heavier, and big drops fell on the grass leaves. Fei Yi sat still, like a moonlit statue. Min An stretched his neck to smell the fragrance of his clothes and asked: "Hey, mosquitoes seem not to bite you?"

  Fei Yi took down a silk sachet from her waistband, pinched it between her fingers and swung it back and forth. "The incense blended by Xiao Xue can repel mosquitoes, rats and ants; wherever I go, I am immune to all poisons."

  Min An took the sachet and held it to his nose, taking a deep sniff. A fragrance of agarwood and sandalwood wafted up, and before it had dissipated, the scent of jasmine and angelica came through, like two layers of invisible clouds that drifted apart in the breeze, each releasing its most delicate and lingering mist.

  Apart from the knowledge of flowers and grass that he had learned in his life, Min An didn't really understand incense and perfumery. But after smelling this exquisite sachet, he couldn't help but admire the skillful hands of Xiao Xue, whom he had yet to meet. Fei Lan held onto the sachet's silk tassel, pulling it back into her own fingers, and said lightly: "Xiao Xue's things can't be casually given away; if you want something, I'll send it to you separately next time."

  Min felt a pang of regret, and said with a flat mouth: "Too petty." He walked back into the house, unpacked his luggage, nailed it to the four corners of the window, and made a mosquito net. The smell of grass and wood ash filled the room, he took out the incense pieces he usually used and sniffed them under his nose, and slept on the earth bed for a night.

  The next morning, Min An finished washing up and walked out the door to find Fei Yi sitting in the courtyard all night. His robes had some dew on them, and even his dark eyebrows were misty with water vapor. Min An muttered, "Isn't this fool cold?" He walked up to Fei Yi and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to meet Master."

  The motionless figure of Fei stood up, shaking off the dew on his collar, and replied: "No need, bring Wu Ren to the mansion after you find him." After giving this order, he walked out of the courtyard gate and boarded the waiting carriage outside.

  Thank you Mao Qiu, Mu Tou Mi, Zhu Er Duo's landmine = 3 =

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