22. The Jianghu (3)

For the next few days, the two of them went up the mountain together to gather herbs. During this time, many people came seeking medical treatment, but Yun Yao turned them all away; they could not even make it up the mountain.

One day, while on the mountain, they heard the mournful cry of a beast. Upon investigating, they found an injured wildcat. The creature bared its teeth at them, putting on a brave face. With a flick of her finger, Yun Yao sent a silver needle flying, paralyzing it to avoid being bitten.

"Let us head back for today," she said, before picking up the cat.

They returned to the small villa together. Yun Yao treated the cat's wounds, carefully applying medicine and bandaging it. A short while later, the cat awoke, realized it had been saved, and began to act quite docilely. Yun Yao stroked its head with great delight. Others offered her precious treasures, which she ignored completely, yet she was willing to nurse a wildcat back to health.

Hua Manlou found her immensely intriguing. A person whose character can be read at a glance is dull; the more mysterious one is, the more captivating they become.

Soon, the medicine was prepared, and Yun Yao began to treat Hua Manlou’s eyes. She administered a sedative to ensure he would feel no pain at all. Hua Manlou fell into a long dream. When he awoke, he felt a slight ache in his eyes, which left him stunned, followed immediately by overwhelming joy. For the longest time, his life had been one of darkness, but now, two windows that had been sealed shut had suddenly appeared in that dark world, waiting only to be pushed open to welcome the sudden arrival of light.

"Miss Yun, thank you so much!" Hua Manlou said, his voice filled with gratitude.

His eyes were wrapped in white gauze, leaving only his firm nose and refined chin visible, yet his facial structure remained extraordinary.

"Your eyes require a period of rest," Yun Yao said. "You must avoid bright light during this time. Tell me if you feel any discomfort."

Hua Manlou nodded with a smile.

In the evening, Yun Yao came to change his dressing. She unwrapped the gauze and leaned in to examine his eyes closely. The two were suddenly extremely close, almost face-to-face. Hua Manlou’s breath hitched for a moment, and his fingers subconsciously gripped the hem of his robe.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Yun Yao finally drew back and said, "I am applying the medicine now; tilt your head back."

Hua Manlou obediently tilted his head. Two drops of medicinal liquid fell into his eyes, making them look like they held the stars.

Yun Yao used fresh gauze to wrap his eyes again, layer by layer. Her cloud-like sleeves brushed against Hua Manlou's face from time to time, bringing with them a faint, lingering fragrance. He had never been in such intimate contact with a woman before; for a moment, his heart drummed against his ribs, and he could not help but hold his breath.

Noticing this, Yun Yao said, "There is no need to be nervous. I am the physician, and you are the patient—nothing more."

Hua Manlou’s breathing eased, but a sense of disappointment rose in his heart. Yun Yao revealed a faint smile, her eyes glimmering with expectation.

For the next month or so, Hua Manlou spent his time in a long, patient wait. He could not wait to see the world. Because he had to avoid bright light, he was confined to the villa, which inevitably became a bit dull. Yun Yao brought out the "Nine Heavens Ring Jade" zither. "This belongs to your family anyway; play it when you are bored."

Hua Manlou played a song.

"Are you playing 'Three Variations of Plum Blossoms'?" Yun Yao asked.

"Indeed," Hua Manlou replied. "I did not expect Miss Yun to be so well-versed in music."

"I wouldn't call myself well-versed," she replied. "Just a passing familiarity."

Since they had nothing but time, the two chatted about music, which soon led to discussions of poetry and prose. The refinement Yun Yao displayed was entirely that of a young lady from an educated family, not at all like a typical wanderer of the martial arts world. Hua Manlou added another trait to his impression of her: cultured and polite. His mental image of her shifted once more, gaining an air of elegance. He looked forward to the day he would see her even more.

Time flew by, and finally, the day arrived to remove the bandages. Counting from the day he went up the mountain, it had been exactly two months. Such precise timing—she was truly a miraculous doctor.

The Hua family parents rushed over in a hurry, and upon entering, they saw their youngest son sitting in the villa with his eyes still covered.

"For such an important moment," Yun Yao said, "why don't you let your family remove the bandages for you?"

Hua’s mother stepped forward to remove the gauze, her hands trembling as she did so. As the cloth fell away, Hua Manlou opened his eyes. It was like a person who had spent a long time in a dark room pushing open a window; light flooded in instantly. He saw the azure sky, the lush green grass, and his parents, whose faces had long since blurred in his memory. The previously pitch-black world suddenly became vibrant and colorful.

He could not help but tear up. "Father, Mother, I can see."

His parents were overcome with emotion, tears streaming down their faces as well.

After a while, Hua Manlou’s emotions settled, and he looked around with anticipation for the person who had given him the gift of sight, but he could not find her. She had left, though he did not know when. His parents were also puzzled as to why the divine doctor had suddenly disappeared.

Yun Yao had left quietly, leaving behind only a note detailing the price of regaining his sight: he would never be allowed to see her face as long as he lived.

The mere thought of the expression on Hua Manlou’s face filled her with joy. He had anticipated this for so long, having imagined her appearance countless times in his heart, yet he would never be able to see her—he must be heartbroken and bewildered, surely? She was like a sun to him, having brought him light. He could see all things in the world, yet he would never see the person who had lit that light for him; was this not an endless tragedy? From this day forward, he would never forget her, and in his heart, he would beautify her infinitely. A person one can never see is the most beautiful person in the world.

Hua Manlou was a blind man; the entire martial arts world knew this. But now that his eyes had been cured, it was nothing short of a miracle. The reputation of the "Divine Doctor" spread like wildfire, reaching even the ears of the Imperial court. Countless people rushed to Mirror Lake with heavy rewards, only to find the place empty.

Upon hearing the news, Yun Yao felt relieved she had left quickly, or she would have been bored to death. She traveled through mountains and rivers, occasionally healing poor people who could not afford medical care. The patients were deeply grateful, calling her a living Bodhisattva. Yun Yao urged them not to reveal that a young, beautiful woman had healed them, treating it as a favor in return. She did not want to expose her whereabouts. The patients agreed repeatedly, stuffing her bags with fruits and vegetables, all of which Yun Yao accepted.

One day, people from the Divine Marquis’s Mansion sought her out, asking her to heal Wujing’s legs. Yun Yao spent some time and eventually cured Wujing, receiving a promise from the Mansion: they would grant her one favor in the future, provided it did not go against morality.

Not long after, people from the Yihua Palace also approached her, asking her to heal Lianxing’s disability. Hearing that the Yihua Palace was like spring all year round and breathtakingly beautiful, she decided to make the trip.