At the entrance of Returning Spring Hall Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Modu.
Qin Yu, a greenhorn country bumpkin who had just emerged from the deep mountains, stood beneath the ancient plaque engraved with the four characters "Dispensing Medicine to Save the World." His heart was pounding with excitement!
After taking several wrong buses, getting lost seven or eight times in the subway, and even having a 'friendly' spar with a hot-tempered taxi driver because he couldn't pay the fare, finally reaching a consensus for a free ride... he had finally found the renowned Returning Spring Hall in Modu, as mentioned by his Master!
Watching the endless stream of patients entering and exiting the clinic, and the busy yet orderly clinic staff and apprentices in their uniforms, Qin Yu's heart thumped rapidly!
Senior Sister!
Senior Sister Qingyan!
She must be in there!
He was finally going to see her!
He wondered... what she looked like? Was she pretty?
Hehehe... my Master said that Senior Sister Luo was his most accomplished disciple in medicine, and not only was her medical skill superb, but she also looked like a celestial fairy descended from the heavens!
She must be a hundred times prettier than that young woman with the exposed midriff he met on the train, right?
Thinking of this, Qin Yu became even more restless, eager to rush in and catch a glimpse of his Senior Sister's peerless, fairy-like face!
He enthusiastically took large strides, about to charge into the clinic.
However, just as he reached the entrance, he was stopped by two clinic attendants guarding the door.
The two attendants sized him up—
He was wearing coarse cloth clothes, with a pair of muddy, tattered cloth shoes on his feet, carrying a bulging snakeskin bag on his shoulder, and his face showed a bit of a country bumpkin's naivety and... well, an unhidden lecherous look?
By all appearances... he didn't look like he was here to see a doctor?
"Young man, are you here to see a doctor or...?"
How could Qin Yu care about any of that?
How dare they stop him?
His face was filled with displeasure, and he waved his hand dismissively, speaking in a tone that he thought was very heroic but others found a bit rude:
"See a doctor for what? I'm perfectly healthy!"
"I'm looking for your person in charge! Luo Qingyan!"
He paused, puffed out his chest, and showed a triumphant expression as if to say, "I'm very familiar with your boss."
"I'm her Junior Brother! Her biological Junior Brother! Quickly, tell her to come out and see me!"
Junior Brother?
The two attendants were both stunned by his words, exchanging glances.
When did Divine Doctor Luo... gain a Junior Brother? They had never heard of it?
However, although the young man was shabbily dressed, he spoke with full vigor, and his eyes were also... quite intimidating, so he didn't seem to be spouting nonsense.
Coupled with the title "Divine Doctor Luo's Junior Brother," they didn't dare to be negligent; what if it was true?
After all, Divine Doctor Luo's lineage had always been quite mysterious.
The attendants didn't dare to offend him easily, so they could only say with a forced smile:
"So it's Divine Doctor Luo's Junior Brother! My apologies! Please wait a moment, I'll go in and inform her right away!"
...Inside Returning Spring Hall, in an elegant quiet room.
Luo Qingyan was meticulously organizing some difficult medical cases that had accumulated recently, occasionally discussing treatment ideas for a certain case in a low voice with an Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner with white hair and beard sitting beside her.
Since the last "East-West Medicine Showdown," Returning Spring Hall's reputation had reached an unprecedented peak, but it also brought her greater pressure and responsibility.
Just then, the attendant from earlier ran in, panting, and bowed to report:
"Divine Doctor Luo, outside... there's a young man claiming to be your 'Junior Brother,' asking to see you by name."
"Junior Brother?"
Luo Qingyan's eyes flashed with obvious doubt upon hearing this.
When did I... have a Junior Brother?
She recalled her childhood, when her family invited an old gentlemen from the mountains to their home specifically for her to apprentice under, to learn medicine.
Could it be that her Master, after returning to the mountains, took on other disciples in his later years?
Although her heart was full of confusion, it concerned her esteemed Master, so she couldn't just turn him away.
Whether it was true or false, she decided to meet him herself.
"Let him in."
...Soon, Qin Yu, led by the attendant, swaggered into the room.
The moment he first saw Luo Qingyan, sitting gracefully on the sofa, looking up at him—
He instantly froze!
His eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, almost drooling!
Good heavens! My goodness!
This... this was his legendary Senior Sister?
This was far beyond what that old man could describe as beautiful!
She was a hundred times, no! A thousand times more beautiful than his Master described!
Her skin was as white as snow, her features were like a painting, with a graceful nose and cherry lips, and her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall... especially that ethereal, otherworldly aura about her, as if she were a fairy who had mistakenly descended from the nine heavens into the mortal world!
For a moment, all thoughts of his Master's last wishes and other matters were completely thrown out of Qin Yu's mind!
Only one thought whirled frantically in his head—
Beautiful! Too beautiful!
This Senior Sister... he was going to make her his! No one else should even think of trying to snatch her from him!
And Luo Qingyan, the moment she saw Qin Yu, her delicate brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.
This young man in front of her was wearing coarse cloth clothes that were out of place in this bustling city, and his face carried a certain rustic simplicity and naivety, which was quite normal for someone who had just come to the big city from the mountains.
But his eyes... those undisguised, hungry wolf-like eyes that shamelessly scrutinized her, filled with desire!
They made her feel extremely uncomfortable and disgusted; this feeling... was like being targeted by a hooligan.
Her wariness and dislike in her heart intensified.
Despite this, she suppressed her displeasure, and her voice became cold as she asked:
"Who are you?"
"And why... do you claim to be my Junior Brother?"
Qin Yu was brought back to his senses by Luo Qingyan's clear, ethereal voice.
Only then did he remember the "main purpose" of his trip.
He quickly took out the greasy, tightly wrapped package from his arms.
Then, he respectfully presented it with both hands, his tone full of pride and anticipation:
"Hehehe... Senior Sister! Fairy Senior Sister! Don't be so quick to ask!"
"Look at this! This is the treasure my Master gave me! Once you see it... I guarantee you'll understand everything!"
Luo Qingyan looked at the somewhat worn package with a mixture of doubt and belief.
Although her heart was still full of suspicion, she extended her slender, jade-like hand and took it.
She carefully unwrapped the layers of kraft paper.
Inside, lay a set of varying sizes, faintly glowing silver... silver needles!
And... a tattered volume of medical texts, its pages yellowed and edges damaged due to its age!
Luo Qingyan only took one look!
Her delicate body trembled violently!
The style of these silver needles, and the familiar handwriting on the tattered medical text, bearing her esteemed Master's unique character... there was no mistake!
This... truly belonged to her Master!
Back then, her Master had also imparted a portion of this tattered volume, along with all his lifelong knowledge, to her without reservation!
Seeing these objects brought back memories!
Scenes of her daily life with her Master, diligently studying medicine, flooded her mind like a tide!
Luo Qingyan's eyes immediately reddened.
She looked up, and her gaze towards Qin Yu finally lost some of its distance and wariness, gaining a touch of complexity and... recognition.
Her voice also softened considerably.
"These are indeed Master's things."
"So... are you truly Master's... Junior Brother, whom he took on later?"
Seeing that his Senior Sister had finally recognized the token, Qin Yu immediately broke into a simple, proud smile, nodding repeatedly.
"Hehe! Yes! Senior Sister! I am his last disciple, Qin Yu!"
But then, the smile on his face quickly faded, his eyes filled with sadness and sorrow, and his voice became low.
"It's just... Senior Sister..."
"Master... passed away... a month ago..."
"What?? Master—?!"