Chapter 86

The night was pitch-black, the streets deserted.

If it was the timid Jiang Sheng, she certainly would not dare to go out, afraid that a bloody mouth would emerge from the dark night to swallow her.

But Wen Zhiyun was different, he liked the darkness, where he could not see his own five fingers. It made him feel safe, and allowed him to lose himself in distraction and wandering thoughts.

His brothers at home were becoming more and more outstanding. The eldest excelled in writing and became a teacher. The second was eloquent and had accurate judgement, expanding the family business from little Xieyang County to the Prefecture City.

The third trained and got injured in order to protect the family, yet he still did not forget to train the servants to guard everyone.

Even now, Wen Zhiyun still remembered his anger and helplessness when his third brother was attacked.

He was angry that those high and mighty existences went too far in bullying people. He felt helpless that all he knew was some medical knowledge, he knew nothing else.

Perhaps he could have rushed over to bandage his third brother when he was injured.

But he could never stand in front of his third brother and defeat the enemies.

Wen Zhiyun did not like this feeling of weakness and helplessness.

Unconsciously, he had walked to the vicinity of the clinic in the dark night.

Previously, he thought that five taels of silver a month was enough, but today when he heard that his eldest brother as a teacher earned a full hundred taels, he finally realized how laughable a frog at the bottom of the well he was.

Why had everyone else progressed while only he remained utterly unchanged?

How he wished to become stronger, to be even more outstanding, to be able to protect everyone in the family.

The lost and confused little Wen Zhiyun sat down in front of the clinic. Candlelight from inside shone down on him, illuminating a handsome yet weak face.

He was like a lost puppy from someone's home.

Wu Suowei, who had just returned late at night, sighed and leaned against the stone lion at the clinic entrance. He asked in as gentle a tone as possible, "Doctor Wen, why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night and sitting here instead?"

Wen Zhiyun jerked up his head. Perhaps it was rare to hear Doctor Wu speak so gently, or perhaps it was because he had suppressed too much guilt and self-blame, but tears welled up in his eyes. "Doctor Wu, am I...very useless?" "I don't know anything, I can only diagnose the pulse and do bandaging. Any doctor in the clinics can do these things. I don't know what my purpose in life is. Whenever there is danger, I can only hide behind my brothers and watch them get injured."

Saying it all in one breath, his tears flowed even more freely.

Wu Suowei felt somewhat helpless. "Then what do you want? Isn't being a doctor who heals people your aspiration?"

"It was before." Wen Zhiyun shook his head numbly. "But not anymore." He loved medicine, but medicine could not protect his loved ones.

Little Wen Zhiyun clutched his head in anguish.

Wu Suowei sighed again. With the alcohol wearing off, he murmured, "Who told you medicine is useless and cannot protect your family?"

Wen Zhiyun was startled.

"In this world, those who can heal are also those most capable of killing. It's just that most do not realize this, nor are willing to believe it." Wu Suowei's expression flickered in the candlelight and shadows, his tone solemn.

Medicine had always been a double-edged sword since ancient times.

Red crane's top could be used in medicine, but could also choke the throat and lock the blood, killing in one strike.

Those fictional stories where needles filled the sky were fantasy, but a medic with superb skills could steadily insert a single silver needle into an acupoint and take a life.

Looking at the whole world, those who truly attained a certain level in medicine no longer just studied healing, but killing.

Life and death were originally intimate and inseparable.

Saving lives could be for the sake of taking lives. Killing could also be for the sake of saving lives.

"Little Zhiyun, remember this: specialization is better than diversification. If you attain mastery in one thing and take it to the extreme, you will become the supreme existence." Wu Suowei's expression flickered in the candlelight and shadows. "Do not look down on medicine. Study it well. Whether to kill or save in the future will rest in your thoughts in a moment."

Sitting on the steps, Wen Zhiyun looked up.

In the pitch black night sky, his face was so fragile, his lips so alluringly red, his eyes full of hope. "Doctor Wu, will you teach me?"

Teach me, to kill.

Wu Suowei's eyes flashed, seemingly regretful, but some words once spoken could not be taken back.

He was silent for a while, then said softly, "I hope you do not regret walking down this path."

Without waiting for Wen Zhiyun to reply, he strode into the clinic. "It's late today, go back and rest. Come back tomorrow."

This was agreeing to teach him. Wen Zhiyun was ecstatic. He staggered to his feet and bowed deeply to the clinic.

Turning around, he returned to the courtyard.

The previously lively people had dispersed, seemingly busy with their own matters but in truth keeping an eye on the entrance the whole time.

Not until the wooden door was pushed open and Wen Zhiyun entered did Xu Mo breathe a sigh of relief, Zheng Ruqian's snacks become tasty again, Fang Hengchang exhale heavily, and Chang Yan finally close his eyes in relief.

Jiang Sheng bounced over, not asking where he had gone or criticizing him for going out so late. She just pulled his hand and beamed, "Fourth brother, third brother has been practicing too hard recently, his legs are covered in bruises. Can you take a look and see if there is anything to make them go away?"

Wen Zhiyun smiled. "Yes, first apply a hot towel, then massage with flexible oil. The bruises will disappear in three days."

"Then what about the sore and stiff arms and legs from over practicing?" Jiang Sheng's big eyes blinked.

Wen Zhiyun pondered briefly. "Alternating hot and cold, along with stretching the muscles, to relax the tense body."

For this kind of soreness from over practicing, as long as one did not stop the next day, it would slowly dissipate. On the contrary, if one stopped, the pain would intensify.

Jiang Sheng seemed to be lost in thought. Then she beamed brightly again, "Fourth brother knows everything, fourth brother is so amazing!"

In the past, Wen Zhiyun would have just smiled shyly. But now he understood that his younger sister had noticed his lack of confidence and was deliberately praising him to encourage and empower him.

However, Jiang Sheng, true courage came from unmatched strength.

Only when he became strong himself could he hold his head high without reservations.

"Still, thank you, little Jiang Sheng." Wen Zhiyun took his sister's hand and said gently.

Jiang Sheng did not understand, but still smiled broadly.

Was it her imagination? She felt that after going out for a bit, her fourth brother's back was much straighter than before.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Wen Zhiyun went to wait in front of the clinic, ardently anticipating.

Fang Henchang continued training the eight servants, striving for them to be able to face danger sooner.

Xu Mo had intended to report for duty at the county office, but recalling yesterday's conversation at the county office entrance, he pondered and instead went to find Fang Henchang.

"Third brother, do you know if the new county magistrate is surnamed Bian?" Xu Mo asked.

Fang Henchang was startled.

Xu Mo continued, "I heard that there is a lady from the Royal Wang family. Could this county magistrate be related to you in some way?"

Fang Henchang's mother was precisely the legitimate daughter of the Wang family.