Chapter 34: Qin Qiong's Knot in His Heart

  Sun Simiao was carrying a medicine basket and climbing slowly, on the Tianchi Peak shrouded in clouds and mist. The road was originally not easy to walk, and after a recent rain, it became even more difficult to walk.

  The fog is about to clear, and Sun Simiao suddenly sees a young man in white robes running out of the cave, followed by more than a dozen men in black clothes. Sun Simiao was so frightened that he thought he had encountered robbers. But thinking again, as an old man with nothing but herbs on him, he wouldn't be of interest to robbers. Besides, who would come to Tianchi Peak to rob? Wouldn't they starve to death? With these thoughts, Sun Simiao's heart calmed down, and he smiled while stroking his beard, watching the young man running ahead.

  Fang Yi ran up to Sun Simiao and bowed, "Sun Daozhang, you're really hard to find!"

  Sun Simiao was puzzled, and after helping Fang Yilove up, he asked inexplicably: "Young master, I don't know where you are from, what brings you to find me, it seems like an urgent matter, otherwise you wouldn't have come all the way to Tianchi Peak."

  "Sun Daochang, sorry about that. I got too excited and forgot to introduce myself. My name is Fang Yiai, a native of Chang'an." Fang Yiai also realized he was a bit too excited, not even introducing himself properly.

  "Ah," Sun Simiao looked at Fang Yilove with interest, nodded and smiled, "Fang Gongzi, what is your relationship with Qiao Gong?"

  "I dare not deceive Sun Daochang, Fang Qiao is indeed my father, and Fang Yizhi is my elder brother." Fang Yiai said with a mix of pain and joy.

  "No wonder you look so much like Qiao Gong, I didn't expect you to be the second son of Fang Xiang Ye" Sun Simiao said and walked towards the misty cave with his medicine basket on his back. Fang Yi Ai followed him with a smile, while Ling Long and the twelve guards stood at the entrance of the cave, watching them quietly.

  After sitting down in the mountain cave, Sun Simiao asked with his legs crossed and a smile: "Second Master, I don't know what you're in such a hurry to find me for?"

  "Sun Daochang, I'll be straightforward, this time I came to ask you to help me treat General Qin's injuries!" Fang Yiai said without hesitation. Sun Simiao furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before saying: "Second Master, please forgive an old man for being unable to agree to your request. You should know where General Qin's problem lies, I really don't have the confidence to cure his injuries!"

  "Sun Daocang, as long as you do your best to treat me, I won't blame you no matter what the outcome is. Yilove will never force you." Fang Yilove thought that Sun Simiao was worried that if he couldn't cure him, he would get into trouble, so she comforted him.

  "Second Master, it's not that I'm heartless, but General Qin has not only physical wounds, but also a wounded heart! Even if I were more skilled, I couldn't cure the human heart!" Sun Simiao sighed and shook his head.

  Fang Yiai saw that Sun Simiao was still refusing, and suddenly became flustered. He immediately knelt down on the ground and hastily said: "Sun Daozhang, please agree to me! As long as you agree to treat General Qin Qiong, I can agree to anything!" Fang Yiai actually knelt down to Sun Simiao, which was something that no one had expected. Qin Hu saw this situation and angrily said: "You old scoundrel, our young master personally came to invite you, but you still put on airs. Do you believe me? I can have you tied up and taken to Chang'an right now!"

  "Shut up! Uncle Tiger, back off! This has nothing to do with Master Sun!" Fang Yiai shouted loudly as soon as she saw Qin Hu and the others wanting to get rough.

  Sun Simiao looked at Fang Yiai kneeling on the ground and sighed, asking: "Second Master, can you tell me what is the relationship between you and General Qin?"

  "Sun Daochang, General Qin is my master!" Fang Yiai said firmly. Sun Simiao smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Second Master, get up, I've promised you, but I don't dare guarantee that I can cure General Qin's injuries!"

  "Really?" Fang Yi'ai asked, and Sun Simiao nodded in agreement. He immediately jumped up from the ground and said excitedly: "Don't worry, I've already said it before, Director Sun, you just need to do your best, my master's injury is very clear to me. By the way, Director Sun, can you tell me what my master's heart disease is?"

  "Second Master, do you know what General Qin Qiong's greatest pain is?" Sun Simiao paused for a moment, gazing at the flickering flames in the cave and said softly, "The slaughter was too heavy, heaven will naturally bring down punishment, no sons or daughters, his lineage cut off, this is General Qin Qiong's heart disease."

  "I understand, thank you for pointing it out, Master Sun." Fang Yiai sincerely bowed to Sun Simiao. Sun Simiao did not expect that Fang Yiai would grasp the key point so quickly and praised him in his heart: "What a young man with both emotions and righteousness!"

  After persuading Sun Simiao, Fang Yiai had Qin Hu prepare a horse-drawn carriage in the town, and they rushed back to Chang'an day and night. After entering the south gate, Fang Yiai did not return to the Fang Mansion, but instead went directly to the Qin Mansion on North Street. Fang Yiai tied up the horse and then walked to the side of the carriage to help Sun Simiao down, while Qin Hu had already run in to inform Qin Qiong. As for Linglong, she was arranged by Fang Yiai to be sent back to the Fang Mansion by Qin Yong and Qin Wu.

  After passing by the martial arts arena, he saw Qin Qiong leaning on his cane and standing at the entrance of Zhengfang Gate with a smile, looking at him. Fang Yiai saw this familiar scene and suddenly knelt down happily, "Disciple pays respects to Master and Mistress, I wonder if the two elders are in good health recently?"

  "Haha, Jun'er get up, do I look like I have a problem? " Qin Qiang laughed and walked over to help Fang Yili up from the ground, scolding with a smile: "You little monkey, didn't you say you were going out to play? How dare you deceive me! Humph, we'll settle this account later!"

  Qin Qiong smiled and looked at Fang Yilove, who was grinning from ear to ear, then turned to Sun Simiao standing beside him and bowed his hands, saying: "Sun Daozhang, I apologize for the trouble. Jun'er is still young and doesn't understand things well, so he made you rush all the way to Chang'an. Uncle Bao feels very apologetic about it. We've prepared some light wine in the hall, please don't decline, Sun Daozhang!"

  "General Qin smiled and said, 'Treating illnesses and saving lives is what doctors should do. General Qin is a hero of our time, but unfortunately, my medical skills are not refined, so I dare not guarantee that I can cure the injuries on General Qin's body!' Sun Simiao returned a courtesy, looking at Sun Simiao with his white beard fluttering in the wind, he indeed had an air of immortality about him."

  "Jun Er, aren't you going to welcome Director Sun for me?" Qin Qiong saw that Fang Yiai was still standing aside with a silly smile, and immediately used his cane to tap Fang Yiai's calf. Fang Yiai rolled her eyes and smiled wryly, saying: "Director Sun, you'd better follow me into the house quickly, or else my master will hit me with his cane again."

  "Shameless!" Qin Qiong cursed with a smile, and then made a inviting gesture to Sun Simiao.

  After the three of them sat down, Qin Qiong said with a full breath: "Sun Daochang, this time you may have come in vain. I know my own body, and I'm afraid you can't cure me."

  Sun Simiao strode into the room, his white eyebrows furrowed as if to say, "See? It's not that I don't want to treat him, it's just that your master won't let me." Fang Yiai scratched her head, this matter was indeed difficult to resolve, but she still tried to persuade him, saying: "Master, Sun Daozhang has already arrived, you can't just let him come for nothing, can you? Let him try, who knows, maybe he'll be able to cure him?"

  "Haha" Qin Qiong smiled despondently, and slightly closed his eyes. "Even if I'm cured, what's the point? I, Qin Qiong, have no children, and am destined to disappoint my ancestors. What's the meaning of living on?"

  Qin Qiong's voice was desolate, and it wasn't until this moment that Fang Yilove understood the pain in Qin Qiong's heart. A hero who had stood tall and proud, yet ultimately cut off the incense of the Qin family, how could he not be heartbroken? Fang Yilove thought for a moment, then finally made up her mind, "Master, who says you have no children or grandchildren? Don't you want to hold your grandson in your arms?"

  Qin Qiong's tiger eyes suddenly shone brightly as he stared at Fang Yiyue and asked seriously, "Jun'er, what do you mean by this?"

  "Master, I've thought about it long ago. When I have children in the future, I'll choose a boy and name him Qin, to inherit your legacy!" Fang Yiai said naturally, perhaps for others this was a difficult thing to do, but for Fang Yiai it wasn't, giving his son a Qin surname wouldn't make him any less of a Fang Yiai's son.

  "Jun Er, is this true?" Qin Qiong excitedly stood up directly.

  "Master, how dare I deceive you? Do I need to make a poisonous oath?" Fang Yiai said with a helpless gesture. Qin Qiong waved his hand excitedly and burst out laughing, "Jun'er, why be so serious? I trust you, that's all. Alright, I agree!"

  Sun Simiao looked at Fang Yu with a satisfied nod, indeed he had not misjudged this young man, who was truly a person of great kindness and gratitude. "General Qin, congratulations to you! You've taken in a good apprentice!"

  "Sun Daochang, I'll be troubling you from now on," Qin Qiong said with a smile, cupping his hands together. Sun Simiao nodded, as long as Qin Qiong cooperated, things would go smoothly, and this way, Sun Simiao felt more confident at least.

  Sun Simiao looked at the wine cup in front of Qin Qiong and shook his head, saying, "General Qin, I'm afraid this is going to offend you, but I'm afraid you won't be able to drink this wine again before your body recovers!"

  "Ah!" This time Qin Qiong was indeed a bit embarrassed, this person who had fought for a lifetime, you don't let him drink wine and it's really a bit unbearable. However, thinking of his future grandson, Qin Qiong firmly nodded, "Alright, Master Sun, I'll listen to you, if you don't let me drink wine, then I won't drink wine!"

  Fang Yu Ai couldn't help but smile when she saw Qin Chong working in harmony with her. Things were finally off to a good start.

  After dinner, Fang Yi Ai rode his horse towards the Fang Mansion. As for Sun Si Mian, he was naturally arranged by Jia Shi to stay at the Qin Mansion.

  Behold the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty's years, a mix of intoxication and infatuation, orioles singing and dancing, flowers burying the tears of beauties!