Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Lin Yuzhen’s eyes grew misty as she gently caressed her daughter’s cheek, her heart aching with tenderness.
Ye Fengyun instructed softly, “Wife, you must get some proper rest. After all, you’re carrying our child now.”
In the past, Tang Shihan would have shot him a sharp glare. But now, she found that Ye Fengyun wasn’t quite as disagreeable as he used to seem. Even if he was still—well, unattractive.
Tang Shihan laid a hand on her belly, an involuntary smile lighting up her face. For the first time, she sensed the tiny life growing within her, a feeling so new and wondrous that she was filled with awe. Was this what it meant to be a mother?
Her eyes shone with an affectionate radiance.
Ye Fengyun rose to his feet and said, “Wife, you get some rest. I’ll go fetch some medicine to help you recuperate.”
With that, Ye Fengyun set out for the National Medicine Hall.
He was an old acquaintance of Master Yun’s, so when he arrived, he didn’t bother with small talk. He handed over the prescription at once.
Master Yun glanced at the prescription, puzzled. “These are all remedies for nourishing a pregnancy. What’s a man like you doing with these?”
Ye Fengyun rolled his eyes. “Of course they’re not for me, they’re for my wife.”
“You’re married?” Master Yun looked surprised.
Ye Fengyun replied half-jokingly, “Didn’t you hear? I’m the live-in son-in-law of the Tang family.”
“What? A son-in-law? How could the Tang family do such a thing? You’re a genius, destined to become a leading figure in traditional medicine, and they made you a matrilocal husband?” Master Yun was indignant. “That’s a waste of talent!”
He leaned forward earnestly. “Xiao Ye, why don’t you come practice medicine at my National Medicine Hall? The Tang family clearly doesn’t see your worth. You’re a thoroughbred, you need a true patron.”
Ye Fengyun replied, “Master Yun, just get the medicine for me, please.”
Seeing that Ye Fengyun had no intention of accepting his offer, Master Yun could only sigh in resignation.
“Oh, by the way, Xiao Ye, weren’t you looking for six rare medicinal ingredients? I’ve found out where you can get them—Li Hu has them.”
“Li Hu? I only know a Lu Hu,” Ye Fengyun said.
Master Yun explained, “Li Hu is the boss of the Black Tiger Gang, which holds sway over the southern district of Yunchuan City. They’re a powerful underground force—on par with the Hongyun Gang in the north. That’s why people say, ‘Black Tiger in the south, Hongyun in the north.’
“Li Hu is known as Brother Tiger. He has an ancestral jade pendant which holds a sacred water said to protect him. I once saved his life, so I have some ties with him. The other day, I visited and saw with my own eyes that the sacred water in his pendant is the very Tianshan Rootless Water you’re searching for.”
Ye Fengyun said, “Take me to see Brother Tiger.”
“This…”
Master Yun hesitated. He knew Ye Fengyun’s temperament—free-spirited, irreverent, and liable to offend someone as formidable as Brother Tiger. Medical skill was one thing, but Brother Tiger was not someone who could be won over by healing hands alone. He was a man who’d danced on the edge of a blade.
“Xiao Ye, there’s no need to rush. I can introduce you to Li Hu, let him get to know you first. Once he’s interested, then you can meet him—it’ll be safer that way.”
Ye Fengyun replied, “It’s fine. I’ll be safe now, too.”
“But—”
“As long as I get the Tianshan Rootless Water, I’ll agree to practice at your National Medicine Hall. But I have a condition: I’ll only see patients one day a week.”
Master Yun fell silent at that. After weighing it carefully, he finally nodded.
“All right. But Xiao Ye, when we get there, let me do the talking. Don’t say anything rash—Li Hu is not someone to be trifled with.”
Ye Fengyun, growing impatient, said, “All right, all right, I know. Lead the way.”