Chapter Twenty-Four: Where to Go and Where to Come From

  Chen Yi's evil intentions were not visible on his face, but they had already made Ning Qing a bit embarrassed. She blushed and glared at Chen Yi with her cute nose, saying seriously, "Ziying, don't belittle me. Your medical skills are far superior to mine. Many things you said today, even my master wouldn't understand, let alone us. I've never seen Master ask for advice from anyone like this before. You're the first person... Even Daozhen Dashi, whom he has always respected, has never been treated this way!"

  When Ning Qing said this, Chen Yi felt a bit embarrassed and didn't know how to explain it. He had to force himself to gloss over: "I only know some superficial things, I really don't dare to accept such praise from Master Sun Daochang. Many things I just recite from books, but I don't have actual experience, so I also don't dare to diagnose people's illnesses. What if the situation is different from what's recorded in those medical books? Then I wouldn't know how to proceed. Moreover, prescribing medicine depends on the individual's symptoms and constitution, each prescription is different... these things I also don't know how to distinguish. So... I shouldn't be the one you ask for guidance and instruction, it should be me asking Master Sun Daochang and your fellow disciples for guidance instead!"

  Ning Qing shook his head firmly, "No, I know Master's temperament. He has always been proud and arrogant, never asking for advice from anyone without reason, unless it's someone with extremely profound knowledge; Master is also very accurate in judging people, he thinks you are extraordinary, that must be the case, absolutely no mistake. Some of your affairs, we don't know, but Master must be clear... otherwise, he wouldn't treat you like this!"

  "What does he know about me?" Chen Yi suddenly became interested and also felt a bit nervous.

  "I don't know!" Ning Qing shook his head, "But I do know that he's aware you're not an ordinary person, which is why he's treating you with such courtesy. He's never been this nice to anyone else before, and that includes us few disciples too!"

  Hearing Ning Qing say this, Chen Yi's face showed a grateful expression. "Elder Sun treats me with such courtesy, I am truly grateful and also want to tell him about the things I learned from that lost medical book, perhaps it will be very useful for him!"

  "My master would be delighted to hear you talk about these medical theories," Ning Qing said, her face filled with a longing expression. "Ziying, when you have time, also share your knowledge of medicine with me, some of the diagnostic methods you know, and...and..." Ning Qing's eyes rolled around for a moment before she continued: "You can also teach me many other things you know, so I can learn more about treating illnesses, and even the art of poetry. Would that be okay? Listening to your poems is truly wonderful, I've never heard anything like it before...your talent is really unmatched..." Ning Qing said, her face filled with an expression of admiration.

  "Qing'er, I really don't understand that much, and in terms of learning, I'm not even comparable to those book-smart scholars. I really don't dare to teach you..." Chen Yi felt a bit embarrassed, if Ning Qing's clever little maid asked too many questions, his identity as a time-traveler might be discovered, or she might find out more about the unusual things on him that didn't belong in this era, which wouldn't be good.

  Ning Qing's face showed a hint of resentment, and she glared at Chen Yi, "You're looking down on me, you're looking down on someone with my Daoist identity, that's why you said that, right? You must be looking down on me..."

  "Where would I, how could I possibly look down on you? I'm actually afraid that you'll look down on me, a person with unknown identity!" Seeing Ning Qing's tantrum, Chen Yi hastily smiled and explained, "If you really want to listen, next time I can tell you about the medical knowledge I know, okay?"

  "This is just about right!" Ning Qing's face broke out into a satisfied smile, with a hint of slyness, "You can't go back on your word, you know!"

  "That's... I'll definitely make it happen!" Chen Yi felt like he had fallen into Ning Qing's trap!

  Ning Qing also noticed the doubt on Chen Yi's face, and immediately stood up. "Then I'll leave now, need to rest, we can talk again tomorrow..." Ning Qing said as he walked towards the door, when he reached the doorway, it seemed like he suddenly thought of something, turned his head around, "Zi Ying, Master once said that you are an extraordinary person, today I also believe what Master said! Someday you must tell me about your past, I know there's a lot you haven't told me, you're intentionally hiding from me, but... you must tell me, otherwise in the future I won't speak to you again!"

  He said and walked out with a complacent face, leaving Chen Yi alone in a daze.

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  In the next few days, Sun Simiao continued to provide free medical consultations for the people in Chang'an City. However, his consultation period was shorter than originally planned and only lasted three days. After three days, he mysteriously disappeared again and returned the next day.

  During these days of free clinic, Sun Simiao also had a very detailed discussion with Chen Yi about the pathology and treatment of asthma and its complications. After disappearing and reappearing, he continued to discuss this aspect with Chen Yi, which made Chen Yi somewhat puzzled, unable to figure out what this old Taoist wanted to do, or what he wanted to ask him.

  But what Sun Simiao was going to do next shocked Chen Yi greatly.

  Two days after reappearing after his disappearance, Sun Simiao suddenly decided to lead a few disciples back to Zhongnan Mountain.

  "Zi Ying, I want to return to Zhongnan Mountain to prepare some medicine. In the past few days, I have listened to your lectures on medical principles and felt deeply moved. I want to use the medical principles you mentioned to think of a better way to treat asthma, so I plan to go back and try out some new medicines."

  "Ah……Sun Daochang, you're going back to Zhongnan Mountain already?" Chen Yi was very surprised. Before coming to Chang'an, Sun Simiao had said that they would be staying in Chang'an for a long time, but he didn't expect them to leave so soon! These past few days, he had been cooped up in the inn, not venturing out or visiting relatives and friends. With Sun Simiao deciding to return, Chen Yi was at a loss for what to do!

  "Ziying, I suppose you won't follow us back to Zhongnan Mountain, but instead stay in Chang'an to continue searching for your relatives!" Sun Simiao said with a smile: "You can continue to live here, after some days we will come again, and come here to find you!"

  "But, Master Sun Dao... I'm a bit reluctant to leave you all!" As he said this, Chen Yi immediately thought of that lovely little Taoist nun, Ning Qing.

  "Are you going back to Zhongnan Mountain with us?"

  Chen Yi suddenly didn't know how to answer. Should he stay in Chang'an and look for the person he wanted to find, or follow Sun Simiao back to Zhongnan Mountain?

  If it weren't for Ning Qing, this lovely little Taoist nun, he should have made a good decision, but these days of living with her day and night, some special feelings have arisen, making it difficult for him to make a decision all at once.