Mu An was stunned. “Divine Doctor, you truly have a divine insight! A month ago, I did indeed visit a strange place. But… a flower could actually gain spiritual intelligence? Can a mere flower really become sentient?”
Wen Qingchen scoffed, “Don’t underestimate the power of all living things. Demons and monsters are actually everywhere.”
Mu An wanted to argue but couldn’t, thinking of the妖花 (demon flower) that had once been inside him. He then considered something and said reverently, “If only there were immortals present. If there were legendary immortals, they would surely be able to subdue these demons and monsters!”
Wen Qingchen shrugged and said noncommittally, “Relying on others is not as reliable as relying on oneself. Besides my elder brother, I only trust myself.”
Mu An didn’t press the matter further and seriously thanked her, “Divine Doctor, your miraculous skills have saved my life. I truly don’t know how to repay you. I imagine someone of your caliber would not care for material wealth, so I…”
Wen Qingchen cut him off, “No, Young Master Mu, you misunderstand. I’m actually very fond of the smell of money.”
“Uh…” Mu An swallowed awkwardly. This was not the detached, otherworldly figure he had imagined.
Wen Qingchen smiled and said, “There’s no need for formality. I know your family’s business is prosperous, and though you may not have much else, you must have plenty of money, so feel free to throw as much money at me as you like.”
Mu An: “…………”
—
Mu An left with a complex expression on his face. Perhaps the contrast between Wen Qingchen’s image of a detached, otherworldly sage and the reality was too great, leaving him in a daze until he finally departed.
Before leaving, however, he left behind a large stack of silver notes and promised to bring two boxes of gold back as soon as he returned.
Wen Qingchen was very satisfied, as she especially enjoyed people who would ‘throw money at her instead of words.’ She invited Mu An to return with more difficult cases in the future, assuring him that she would solve them!
Mu An hurried away, terrified.
—
“Qingchen, what illness did he have? Why did he leave so much silver?” Wen Huanji, in his wheelchair, came in with a puzzled look on his face.
Wen Qingchen smiled and said, “It was just a minor issue, but Young Master Mu is a generous person, so he left this much behind.”
Wen Huanji found it strange. He had heard that Mu An was on the brink of death when he arrived. How could he be so lively after such a short time? Was Qingchen’s medical skill really that impressive?
Wen Qingchen stuffed half of the silver notes into Wen Huanji’s arms and laughed, “Brother, you’re running out of medicine. I’ll go gather some herbs and be back soon!”
Wen Qingchen didn’t wait for Wen Huanji to respond and quickly ran off, fearing that he might ask more questions.
Wen Huanji watched her retreating figure with a deep, complex expression in his eyes.
Wen Qingchen went back to the medicinal herb gathering spot, continuing to pretend to gather herbs as a cover until her elder brother’s leg healed.
To pass the time, she returned to the pond where she had rested before.
The pond was still crystal clear, and Wen Qingchen was surprised to see a new tray with clothes placed on the ground.
“It’s been so many days. Haven’t these clothes been taken yet? Is there really no one? Hm? Another gemstone?”
She walked over to the tray and saw that, on top of the clothes, there was another blue gemstone.
The blue sapphire sparkled brilliantly, set into a piece of delicate clothing. The softness of the fabric made the gem even more radiant.
“A newly placed gemstone?”
Aside from the sapphire embedded in the new piece of clothing, all the other clothes were identical to those she had seen last time.
Wen Qingchen decided to sit by the tray and wait for the owner of the clothes to appear. If this did indeed have an owner, she should return the gemstone she had taken last time.
