Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Hua Jiunan didn’t say a word after hearing them out. He turned around, about to kowtow to the white figure.
But the white figure blurred to the side, easily dodging him.
“No need to bow, young master physician.”
“If one day you can overcome the Mystery of the Womb, just remember today’s kindness.”
“I am Xie Bi’an!”
The black figure spoke right after him. “I am Fan Wujiu!”
A gust of yin wind swept through.
The two figures disappeared-along with Old Li.
After a short while, the biting cold returned, and the falling snow carried on as if nothing had happened.
Only then did Chang Huaiyuan and Hemp-clad Grandmother show themselves again.
“Young master physician, what did those two say to you just now?”
Hua Jiunan repeated everything that had happened, not missing a single word.
“Grandmother, Brother Chang-please help me. Save Sister Qianyue.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother was hot-tempered to begin with, and now she was practically smoking with anger.
“So this is them picking on me because I cultivate the righteous path and won’t take lives?!”
“Don’t worry, my good grandson. I like that girl Xiao Yue more than anything-I won’t let her turn into some short-lived ghost!”
Chang Huaiyuan was far steadier than Hemp-clad Grandmother.
“Don’t worry, young master physician. Since you’ve personally asked, Chang Huaiyuan will make sure it’s done.”
Yet inside, the Chang Family Patriarch-the very man known for killing and conquest-was in turmoil.
*Even those two called him young master physician… Who exactly is this boy?*
From that day on, Chang Huaiyuan held Hua Jiunan in even greater regard.
Hua Jiunan kept vigil until dawn before finally getting up to check on Deaf Granny.
He was truly worried about her health, so he didn’t dare mention what the white figure had said.
Deaf Granny looked awful. She didn’t even eat breakfast-she went straight into the courtyard.
Staring at Old Li’s coffin, two streams of cloudy tears slid down her cheeks.
“You came to see me last night, didn’t you? Then why didn’t you wake me up?!”
“You Old Dead Man!”
After cursing him, she shuffled over to the small pine tree.
“Elder Pine… the Old Dead Man is gone.”
“I won’t feel at ease burying him somewhere else. Could we bury him at your feet?”
“If you get lonely, at least you’ll have someone to talk to.”
“And in a few years, when my own lifespan runs out, bury me at your feet too.”
By northern custom, the day of the funeral came three days later.
The whole village put down their work to see Old Li off on his final journey.
Everyone was steeped in grief-no one noticed Old Fourth Tian hidden among the crowd.
His forehead had turned dark, and his cheeks were an iron-blue.
He looked eerie-downright terrifying.
Once the procession left the village, animals could be seen waiting on both sides of the road.
They copied humans: first kowtowing to the coffin in salute, then bowing toward Hua Jiunan.
Hua Jiunan didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect. He bowed back with Wang Qianyue beside him.
The villagers clicked their tongues in amazement, saying the grandfather and grandson must have done countless good deeds, and the animals had come to repay their virtue.
The coffin never stopped along the way. It was carried all the way to East Mountain Peak.
In the morning sun, the old pine on the mountain seemed gilded in gold, glittering brilliantly.
What was even stranger was this:
Everywhere else lay under thick snow-yet beneath the pine tree, the ground was spotless.
As if someone had swept it clean ahead of time.
The crowd burst into tears again, unwilling to part with him as they finally lowered the coffin into the earth.
After Old Li died, Deaf Granny’s condition only worsened.
Every day, she spent more than half her time sitting beneath the small pine in the courtyard, dozing in a haze.
Hua Jiunan was frantic, but there was nothing he could do.
This wasn’t an illness medicine could cure-it was grief lodged in the heart.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the new term to start.
But how could Hua Jiunan possibly be in the mood for school?
One, he was worried about Deaf Granny’s health.
Two, he was worried about his little sister, Wang Qianyue.
More than half a month passed. No matter whether it was Chang Huaiyuan or Hemp-clad Grandmother, neither could find the filthy things that wanted to harm Xiao Yue.
Left with no other choice, Chang Huaiyuan simply moved into Deaf Granny’s house, protecting them in secret.
Hemp-clad Grandmother kept searching for leads.
Deaf Granny might have been weak, but her head was still clear.
“Xiao Jiu, school starts tomorrow. Why aren’t you packing your things?”
“Grandma, I… I’m not feeling well. I want to wait a few days before going.”
The old woman gave a soft sigh.
“A good child doesn’t lie.”
“I know you’re worried about my health.”
“Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ll live long enough to see you get into university with my own eyes!”
Wang San also tried to persuade him.
“Xiao Jiu, don’t worry-go to school. I’ll take good care of Mother.”
Hua Jiunan had no choice.
The next day, he went with Hu Wa from the village to register at school.
Even though he’d just turned sixteen, Hua Jiunan was already 1.8 meters tall.
He was fair-skinned and handsome to begin with.
After ten years of practicing Ancient Martial Arts, his presence was even more striking-full of vigor and spirit.
Standing among his peers, he looked like a crane in a flock of chickens.
From that moment on, the girls started paying attention to him.
After all, it was only a Town-run High School-there weren’t many students.
Hua Jiunan’s cohort was only big enough to be split into two classes.
The entire school-teachers and students combined-didn’t even reach three hundred.
When the teacher called roll, Hua Jiunan drew attention again.
Student numbers were assigned according to entrance scores.
Hua Jiunan was Number One.
The teacher calling names even added an extra line:
“Hua Jiunan’s middle school entrance exam score wasn’t just first among you-it was first in the entire county!”
“From now on, take him as your example. Study hard, and strive to get into a good university!”