Chapter 209: Duanmu Rong (Please subscribe and support)

The group landed on the island and headed toward the medical clinic. Upon reaching the small courtyard’s entrance, they noticed a wooden plaque hanging on the doorpost, inscribed with some writing.

“Huh? I don’t recognize any of these characters!” Tianming scratched his head in confusion.

“That’s the script of the Yan Kingdom. It’s normal you don’t understand it, but I think you can’t fully read the Qin Kingdom’s characters either,” Xiao Xie teased.

“Heh…” Tianming smiled awkwardly, then quickly changed the subject, pointing at the plaque. “What does it say?”

“Hehe… Sister Rong is a masterful healer, but there are three kinds of people she absolutely will not treat. First, people from Qin. Second, those with the surname Gai. Third, those injured by sword fights resulting from reckless brawling,” Yue’er explained with a smile upon hearing Tianming’s question.

“What kind of rule is that?” Tianming asked, puzzled.

“Stop with all the nonsense!” Shao Yu patted Tianming’s head, interrupting him.

...

Xiao Xie took a moment to appraise the surroundings and felt a certain anticipation about meeting Duanmu Rong. After all, a woman who could captivate a man like Gai Nie must be extraordinary.

Following Yue’er, the group slowly entered the courtyard, where a woman in white stood. She appeared to be about twenty years old, with an oval face, long eyebrows, and fair, clear skin—an elegant and refined young lady.

“Sister Rong!” Yue’er brightened upon seeing her.

“Yue’er, is everything going smoothly?” Duanmu Rong gave a rare, gentle smile as she asked.

“It is, but Sister Rong, why don’t you take a break?” Yue’er looked at the slightly weary Duanmu Rong with concern.

“Miss Rong,” Shao Yu and the others called out together.

“Mm,” Duanmu Rong glanced at them and nodded faintly.

Xiao Xie also took the opportunity to observe Duanmu Rong carefully. He nodded to himself; her appearance placed her on the same level as the Murong sisters—though she seemed a bit cold. Yet this stern expression only added to her aura of an icy goddess.

“These gentlemen are?” Duanmu Rong noticed Xiao Xie and the others and asked Shao Yu.

“Miss Rong, this is Brother Xiao Xie, and these two ladies are his attendants. They helped us before and offended some people from the Flowing Sands, so we brought them along,” Shao Yu respectfully introduced the three. Then he patted Tianming and smiled, “As for him, his name is Tianming; he’s my newly recruited junior.”

“Who’s your junior?” Tianming protested loudly, like a small beast with its fur standing on end.

Lowering his voice, he whispered to Shao Yu, “Hey, this woman is Yue’er’s sister! Yue’er is so lovable, but this one always looks like someone owes her money.”

“Keep your voice down,” Shao Yu said with an exasperated look, patting Tianming. Didn’t he know the proper tone when asking for help? If he angered Duanmu Rong and she refused to treat Gai Nie, what then?

“What’s wrong with this patient?” Duanmu Rong ignored their whispered banter and slowly approached Gai Nie, who was being carried behind the group, asking calmly.

“This time, our village was attacked by Qin’s Eagle Claw troops. Luckily, this senior came to our aid and repelled the enemy, but he was gravely injured, so we came to ask Medical Immortal Rong to treat him,” Shao Yu quickly explained.

Listening, Duanmu Rong examined Gai Nie’s wounds carefully. After a while, she straightened and said coldly, “My clinic has three no-treat rules—Uncle Liang should know them.”

“I know,” Xiang Liang nodded, though puzzled by her question.

“Have you ever seen any exceptions?” Duanmu Rong asked sharply.

“Well…” Xiang Liang began, already grasping her implication.

“This man is a swordsman, isn’t he?” Duanmu Rong stated outright.

Xiao Xie couldn’t help but smile with interest. As the so-called Medical Immortal of Mirror Lake, Duanmu Rong’s skill was unquestioned. Recognizing a swordsman was easy for her. For the Xiang family to try hiding this was simply naive.

“Miss Rong, how can you be so sure he’s a swordsman?” Shao Yu asked stubbornly.

“Look at his hand and arm muscles and bones; these are the distinct marks of someone who has practiced swordsmanship for years. He definitely uses a sword and is quite skilled,” Duanmu Rong said deliberately, examining Gai Nie’s arm.

“This senior was severely wounded while saving the Chu family,” Shao Yu argued.

As Shao Yu persisted, even Murong Feng and Murong Huang behind Xiao Xie shook their heads in disbelief.

Duanmu Rong sneered disdainfully, “Hmph! Still lying!”

She extended her slender fingers, pointing at the Xiang family members. “The bruises on the rest of you were caused by blunt weapons, but his wounds are from a sharp blade. If he’d been injured saving you, I would treat him—but that’s not the case!”

Her words stunned Shao Yu, Tianming, and the others—they hardly dared believe she could reconstruct most of the truth from such subtle evidence.

Xiao Xie found it a bit strange to see the slight curl of Duanmu Rong’s lips and the all-seeing look in her eyes. She reminded him of a famous detective, like the eternally youthful Conan, analyzing cases with this very expression.

Seeing Shao Yu and the others so overwhelmed, Duanmu Rong said calmly, “Take him out.”

“Wait!” Shao Yu hurriedly stopped her, holding up the banner of the Mohist Grandmaster. “The Mohist Grandmaster advocates universal love. Heroes of the Six Kingdoms respect him greatly. Miss Rong, as a disciple of the Mohists, are you truly going to let him die?”

“Yue’er, see them out,” Duanmu Rong ignored Shao Yu and turned to Yue’er.

“Mm,” Yue’er nodded obediently.

Shao Yu called out anxiously, “Miss Rong, though he’s a swordsman, he was injured fighting the Qin army!”

Tianming finally lost his patience. Hands on hips, he angrily pointed at Duanmu Rong. “You strange woman! You won’t treat this one or that one. I think you should change your three no-treat rules to just one: no treating anyone. Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

“I have other patients. You may leave,” Duanmu Rong said coldly, flicking her sleeve.

Xiao Xie chuckled softly. For some reason, it seemed almost all divine healers had eccentric personalities. From Ping Yizhi in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer to Hu Qingniu in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, compared to them, Duanmu Rong’s temperament was almost mild.

“I... I’m going to tear down your stupid wooden plaque,” Tianming muttered, choked by her words, and turned toward the gate, clearly intent on dismantling Duanmu Rong’s signboard.