Chapter 111: Sight and Sound

I stood there for a long time, touching my lips and gazing at the night sky, now devoid of any presence.

"Master, was it a good taste?" Ayuduo suddenly asked.

"Ahem." I coughed twice and replied, "Not bad."

"Do you want to try mine?" Ayuduo said, pouting her lips toward me.

"I'll pass on yours. I'm afraid I'd end up with a mouthful of bugs if I kissed you." I imagined the scene and found it somewhat chilling.

Ayuduo rolled her eyes at me and said, "Then go kiss your Mingxue."

I felt a surge of impulse. There is a certain charm to a young girl, and a unique allure to a young woman. Yet, I suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. In truth, I rarely saw her throughout the year, and our relationship was purely a physical necessity. If she weren't maintaining this tie with me, she likely would have remarried long ago, along with her daughter.

I arrived at the stilt house where Mingxue lived; she and her daughter were already asleep. I sat by the bedside, watching her quietly. Just as I rose to leave, she startled awake. Upon seeing me, her face lit up with joy, and she lunged at me, making no effort to hide her longing. We became intertwined, merging into one, climbing to the peak time and again.

Mingxue sighed contentedly in my arms, clinging to me like an octopus.

"Mingxue, I..." I began, unsure of how to start.

"Are you leaving again?" Mingxue asked.

"I... have you ever thought about remarrying?" I hesitated, but let the words out.

Mingxue seemed to understand what I was thinking. She chuckled softly, "I have, but I haven't met anyone like that yet. You Han people are so over-analytical. You and I, we have a mutual need; there's no need for responsibility. If one day I stop liking you, I will find someone else I like without hesitation."

Hearing this, my heart felt lighter.

"However, you only come once in such a long time; I haven't had my fill yet." Mingxue whispered, her body beginning to writhe like a snake.

The battle resumed, and it wasn't until dawn that we finally ceased our activities.

...

The plane cruised steadily in the stratosphere. I sat in business class, half-reclined, eyes closed to rest. Just then, I caught a delicate, elegant fragrance, and a woman took the seat next to me.

I opened my eyes to look—she was a young woman with short, neat hair, dressed in a high-end professional suit. She struck me as the "career woman" type. Noticing me observing her, she glanced back and gave a polite nod. After sitting down, she opened a fashion magazine and began to read.

I closed my eyes again. If this were in the past, I certainly would have tried to flirt with her; it would be a shame not to charm such a beautiful woman. But now, my mindset had changed; I didn't want to spend energy on a woman of no consequence.

Suddenly, the plane's intercom crackled: "Is there a doctor on board? An elderly passenger has fainted and requires emergency care."

Hearing the announcement, I instinctively jumped up. *Oh well, might as well go take a look.*

By the time I reached the economy section, a middle-aged man was already administering first aid. His technique was professional; he was likely a doctor. A quick glance told me the old man had fainted due to a cerebral hemorrhage, though the bleeding seemed quite severe.

"Have the ice and towels arrived yet?" the middle-aged man asked urgently.

"Coming, coming!" A flight attendant brought over the ice and towels. The man wrapped the ice in a towel and pressed it against the old man's forehead, using the cold to stimulate blood vessel constriction and slow the bleeding.

Suddenly, the old man began to convulse, and a pungent odor rose from his lower body—he had suffered incontinence.

"This is bad, the bleeding won't stop. We don't have Lixueping or magnesium sulfate. Wait, blood pressure medication—who has blood pressure medication?" the man shouted. Someone immediately handed over medicine, but at this point, the old man had completely lost the ability to swallow.

"Let me try," I said, stepping forward.

The middle-aged man stepped aside, eyeing me skeptically. "It's hopeless; this old man won't last five minutes."

I didn't speak. Instead, my movements were swift as lightning; I inserted over a dozen needles into the old man's head. Then, with a gentle flick, the needles began to vibrate in a rhythmic pattern. A short while later, the old man's eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Many looked at me with shock and admiration.

"Is this traditional Chinese acupuncture? I always thought it was a myth. I'm truly enlightened," the middle-aged doctor said, astonished.

"Chinese medicine is vast and profound; I only know a superficial bit," I said with a laugh, putting on a modest display of arrogance.

I retrieved my Nether Needles and said, "Although I've stabilized his condition, he still needs to get to a hospital. Surgery is inevitable for this ailment."

I turned around and saw the woman who had been sitting next to me staring at me. I returned to my seat, and she followed, taking her place beside me again.

"Are you a doctor?" she asked.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Which hospital do you work at?" she continued.

"A wandering physician, with no fixed abode," I chuckled.

The woman smiled, clearly disbelieving. She said, "Let's introduce ourselves. My name is Ran Yan. And you?"

"My name is Li Yan," I said casually. Times had changed, and it was better to reveal little of my true identity, so I went back to using the name Li Yan.

"Dr. Li, it just so happens I'm feeling a bit unwell. Could you take a look for me?" Ran Yan asked.

I scanned her. Her aura was calm, and her fate... seemed ordinary? This woman was clearly wealthy or powerful, yet her aura and various signs all pointed to a very average reading.

*No, this woman has masked her fate,* I thought to myself. *Like Huo Sirui, she must be a descendant of a top-tier aristocratic family. From birth, a master would have obscured her destiny to prevent enemies or rivals from exploiting it. Therefore, this woman's background is certainly extraordinary.*

"Extend your hand and let me see," I said.

"Oh? Are you reading my palm?" Ran Yan asked.

"Chinese medical diagnosis relies on observation, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse. Examining the lines of the palm is the first step," I bluffed.

Ran Yan looked at me and extended her hand with a smile. "Alright then, Dr. Li, I hope you won't disappoint me."

I took Ran Yan's hand. It was smooth and delicate, like the finest silk, as if it might slip through my fingers if I weren't careful. Her palm was white with a rosy tint, and her fingers were long and slender like spring onions. Without a doubt, these hands were exquisite, and probably very pleasant to use—a quick session would likely send one's soul to the heavens.

I shook off the impure thought and blathered, "Judging by Miss Ran's hands, your blood and energy are a bit deficient."

Ran Yan raised a delicate eyebrow. This guy was talking nonsense.

"You see, you've lost too much blood. Remember to nourish yourself," I continued.

"Dr. Li, don't you think you're mistaken? I haven't been injured, so how could I have lost too much blood?" Ran Yan asked.

I chuckled, suddenly leaned in, and sniffed near her.

"What... are you doing?" A sharp glint flashed in Ran Yan's eyes, and she suppressed the murderous intent in her heart.

"Smelling. Observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking—this is only the second step. Miss Ran, there is clearly a scent of blood on you," I stated.

Ran Yan paused, then a wave of shame and anger washed over her. Her chest heaved violently as she fought the urge to hack the man in front of her into pieces. It was true; there was a scent of blood because she had just started her period.

"You must be careful these next few days. Women belong to the Yin; during your period, it is Yin upon Yin. Given your destiny, you are prone to attracting unclean things. You must be careful," I said, patting her hand before letting go.

Ran Yan took a deep breath and said with a forced smile, "Dr. Li, since you've seen that I have issues, you must tell me how to resolve them."

"Easy to solve. Boil porridge with red dates, longan, and brown sugar to nourish the blood. As for the Yin destiny, you need to find a man full of Yang energy, stay by his side day and night, and the crisis will resolve itself," I laughed.

"Dr. Li, you could just say that man should be you," Ran Yan sneered.

"I... I cannot. I, Li Yan, adhere to ancient rites and dare not overstep," I said righteously.

Ran Yan stared at me, looking like she wanted to spit in my face. *Ancient rites? I don't know who it was that wouldn't let go of my hand earlier and was sniffing around me like a pervert,* she thought.

Ran Yan took a deep breath and tried a different tactic. "Dr. Li, may I ask what you are going to the capital for?"

"Going to... mind your... own business," I shrugged, laughing at the way her expression changed from shock to suppressed rage.