Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Zhao Nuanyue had previously worried that her master might secretly harm Elder Gu. However, after having the Little Red Carp probe Gu Qingyu, she learned that his physical condition was actually fine. The superficial symptoms weren’t enough to cause any real damage to his body.

Only then did Zhao Nuanyue come to completely trust Sun Haoran, her master.

Elder Gu was a man with incredible future prospects. Zhao Nuanyue didn’t want Sun Haoran to stray onto the wrong path; as long as he continued to follow Elder Gu, a bright future awaited him.

They had entered the twelfth lunar month, and the New Year was fast approaching. Heavy snow once again began to fall on Nianqiao Village, continuing for the entire night.

Elder Gu fell into a coma. Ever since he had returned from his check-up in the county town, people had been frequently visiting Nianqiao Village to investigate his condition, both openly and in secret.

Zhao Nuanyue grew very anxious. Hua Yusen noticed her unease and met with her that night in the cave outside the village.

Elder Gu would be leaving soon. As his personal bodyguard, Hua Yusen knew that he would have to leave as well.

`Nuanyue...` Hua Yusen began, looking at her as she busied herself making flatbreads. The tip of her nose was beaded with sweat from the heat, but her hands never stopped moving.

Hearing the hesitation in Hua Yusen’s voice, Zhao Nuanyue felt a wave of melancholy, sorrow, and reluctance wash over her.

`Is Elder Gu leaving?` Zhao Nuanyue asked softly. She didn’t look up, afraid she would start crying the moment she did. She had been fighting back her sorrow all evening.

`Yes. I’m going back with Elder Gu. It’ll probably be in the next few days,` Hua Yusen said. `Although we’ve achieved our initial goal, danger lurks everywhere. I can’t let you, Nuanyang, and the Little Red Carp come back with me.`

Zhao Nuanyue hadn’t wanted to go back anyway. Compared to the invisible dangers of Jincheng City, even low-life scum like Li Siming and Wang Dadan in Nianqiao Village were pathetically weak.

She wanted to stay in Nianqiao Village and wait for the political situation outside to stabilize before returning.

`Yes, I don’t want to go back either,` Zhao Nuanyue said with a nod. `It’s too dangerous there. I can’t help you, so I don’t want to become a burden.`

Hua Yusen breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid she would insist on going back with him. He simply wouldn’t be able to look after her, let alone protect her and her younger siblings.

If anything happened to them, he would blame himself and regret it for the rest of his life.

`I’ll talk to Uncle Miao and Aunt Li and ask them to ensure your safety,` Hua Yusen said. `As long as you’re careful, you shouldn’t be in any major danger.`

Once Elder Gu was gone, Nianqiao Village would return to being an ordinary, peaceful little village, with no outside forces getting involved.

`Yes, I know. But you...` Zhao Nuanyue reminded him, `...keep the seashell I gave you with you. It’s a very good thing. I had a dream that it’s very useful.`

Even if he didn’t believe it, Hua Yusen would do as she asked just because it was a gift from her. He wanted to put her mind at ease.

Wearing the seashell she gave him felt like having her right there by his side.

Just as Hua Yusen and Miao Dahai were preparing to take Elder Gu to the county hospital, a group of several dozen people arrived. Hua Yusen recognized the leader—it was Wang Hao, a man from his unit, though his affiliation was covert.

`The higher-ups have ordered us to escort Elder Gu back to the city,` Wang Hao said. As he shook Hua Yusen’s hand, he gave it two firm squeezes—the secret signal.

’Everything is going according to plan!’

Hua Yusen breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. `He’s inside. I’ll take you in.`

When they went inside, Wang Hao’s heart ached at the sight of Elder Gu’s sallow, emaciated state. Even though he knew it was all part of a ruse, it was clear Elder Gu had suffered a great deal for it.

When Miao Dahai heard that a group of people had arrived in Nianqiao Village and gone straight to the Dragon King Temple, he was startled. He threw on a thick, cotton-padded jacket and hurried over to see what was happening.

Seeing Wang Hao and his men lifting Elder Gu onto a wide stretcher, Miao Dahai rushed forward. `Who are you people? What are you doing taking him away?`

Hua Yusen turned to Miao Dahai and said, `Uncle Miao, thank you for taking care of us this past year. Elder Gu has now been reinstated to his post. Here are the documents.`

Miao Dahai was stunned. He had always thought Hua Yusen was a bit too attentive to the old men and had harbored some suspicions, especially since Hua Yusen also knew so many people in the county town.

’So Hua Yusen was the one protecting Gu all along!’

Miao Dahai took the documents and, after looking them over, found his suspicions completely confirmed.

It wasn’t just Gu Qingyu and Hua Yusen leaving this time; Sun Haoran was going with them.

`Oh, you’re all involved in important matters. I don’t understand any of it,` Miao Dahai said, unsure how to describe what he was feeling. `I can only wish you a smooth and safe journey.`

Hua Yusen and Sun Haoran gathered a few changes of clothes and a box of medicinal herbs, preparing to depart.

Old Sir Qian, Old Madam Qian, and He Qiang came out to see them off, their eyes filled with a mixture of envy and worry.

’This time, they were returning to a future where life and death were uncertain. Who knew what the road ahead held?’

Zhao Nuan Yang held the Little Red Carp, his gaze shifting from Hua Yusen to Gu Qingyu on the stretcher. He kept his lips pressed together, saying nothing, but a hint of melancholy had crept into his eyes.

’Hua Yusen is leaving. What will my sister do?’

’But it’s okay. She still has me, Nuanyang!’

Zhao Nuan Yang felt that he had grown up. He was healthy again and could now protect his sister and the Little Red Carp.

The Little Red Carp watched the tearful goodbyes and sighed to herself. ’My sister’s love life is so full of twists and turns!’

’I hope Hua Yusen doesn’t let my sister down. If he does, I’ll definitely get revenge for her!’

Hua Yusen looked at Zhao Nuan Yang. `Nuanyang, I’m entrusting Nuanyue and the Little Red Carp to your protection.`

`Of course. They’re my sisters,` Zhao Nuan Yang replied calmly. `As for you... you and Uncle Gu, take good care of yourselves.`

Hua Yusen nodded. He then gently pinched the Little Red Carp’s cheek before his gaze settled on Zhao Nuanyue. He nodded once more and said softly, `I’m leaving.`

`Have a safe trip,` Zhao Nuanyue said, packing a thousand unspoken words into that one phrase. She hoped they would all be safe.

Next, Sun Haoran looked at Zhao Nuanyue. `Nuanyue, the materials I gave you—memorize them well. Once your foundation is solid, your future studies will be twice as effective with half the effort.`

`Yes, I’ll remember, Master,` Zhao Nuanyue replied with a nod. ’Those are the skills I’ll need to survive in the future,’ she thought. ’I won’t give up. I’ll study as hard as I can.’

Yang Guanghui, Li Qiong, Wang Yuan, and the others all came to say their farewells to Hua Yusen and his party.

Everyone stood at the entrance of the Dragon King Temple, gazing for a long time as the group slowly walked away, eventually disappearing into the vast, falling snow.

Wang Yuan stood at the very back, her heart leaping with joy.

’Gu Qingyu is gone,’ she thought. ’When I go home for the New Year, I won’t have to come back to this godforsaken backwater. And no one knows I did anything to hurt anyone. As long as I keep my mouth shut, no one will ever find out.’