290: Chapter 290 The Patient, Delivering Medicine

Bai Nianci gently pressed her lips together, her expression carrying a hint of apology.

"Senior Sister, I still have something I haven't delivered yet."

She casually shook the basket of medicine on her back, producing a faint clattering sound.

"These are all prepared for a patient, and I need to go hand them over to him."

Hearing this, Senior Sister Liu furrowed her brows even deeper.

"A patient?"

"What kind of patient needs this much medicine?"

She stepped forward and carefully inspected the contents of the medicine basket.

Although separated by oilpaper, with her years of medical experience, she only needed to sniff the scent to identify the ingredients within.

"Heart-Protecting Pill, Peiyuan Powder, and this Purple-Leaf Ginseng..."

The more Senior Sister Liu looked, the more alarmed she became.

These were all potent medicines used to sustain a dying life; if an ordinary person were to take even a bite, they would likely suffer from a severe inability to absorb such intense nutrition.

"Nianci, just what kind of person have you met?"

Bai Nianci sighed, and the image of that handsome-faced youth surfaced in her mind.

She thought for a moment, deciding not to specifically mention Chen Ran's name, instead shifting the topic:

"It's a patient I met by chance."

"His body is plagued by Evil Qi, his Meridians are extremely damaged, and his Lifespan... is already running out."

"Plagued by Evil Qi?"

Senior Sister Liu gasped inwardly.

Things like Evil Qi were extremely sinister and tyrannical.

If an ordinary Martial Artist were to come into contact with even a shred of it, they would run the risk of Qi Deviation.

If the Evil Qi entered the body and eroded the Meridians, it was practically an incurable illness that even immortals would find hard to save.

"No wonder you need to prepare so many medicinal ingredients to sustain a life."

Senior Sister Liu sighed, the sternness in her eyes turning into helplessness.

"The ways of the world are unpredictable, and human lives are like blades of grass."

"In this Jianghu, countless people die every day for various reasons. Although our Ciyin Medical Valley practices medicine to save the world, we cannot save everyone."

"Since you have already promised them, then go."

"However, remember to go and return quickly, and do not delay your journey."

Senior Sister Liu did not know the identity of that patient.

In her view, that was merely an ordinary Martial Artist who had been heavily injured in a Jianghu vendetta.

With Bai Nianci's martial arts cultivation, looking across the capital city, she was also quite an adept hand.

Furthermore, Ciyin Medical Valley was on good terms with the imperial court, so who would dare to make a move against the Disciple within the sect?

As long as she didn't provoke those old monsters of top-tier forces, self-preservation was more than enough.

Therefore, she wasn't overly worried.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Bai Nianci slightly nodded and turned to walk outside the courtyard.

At noon in the capital city, the streets had already grown lively.

Bai Nianci carried the large medicine basket on her back, walking on the bluestone slab road.

She had grown up in the Medical Valley since childhood and had rarely witnessed the bustling outside world.

Passing by a candied hawthorn stall, the bright red hawthorns coated in syrup looked extremely tempting.

Bai Nianci stopped in her tracks and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Young Miss, care for a skewer?" the vendor greeted enthusiastically.

She felt her pockets, pulled out a few copper coins, and bought a skewer.

Taking a bite, it was sweet and sour, truly delicious.

Eating as she walked forward, she hadn't gone far before she was attracted by a wave of cheers.

A circle of people was gathered ahead; it turned out to be an acrobatics troupe performing fire-breathing.

Bai Nianci squeezed into the crowd, watching with rapt attention.

That fellow spat a mouthful of wine onto the torch, and a fire dragon soared into the sky, the heat wave rushing against her face.

She applauded along with the crowd, even forgetting to eat her candied hawthorn.

After watching for a while, she suddenly patted her head.

"Oh no, I'm here to deliver medicine!"

She quickly squeezed out of the crowd and quickened her pace toward Changle Bridge.

Yet she hadn't walked two streets when a shop selling rouge and face powder by the roadside trapped her attention again.

At the entrance of the shop were placed various exquisite porcelain boxes, emitting a faint fragrance.

Several brilliantly dressed young misses were making their selections.

Bai Nianci couldn't help but draw close, picking up a box of rouge to sniff.

"Young Miss, this is top-quality peach blossom powder; applying it guarantees you'll look gorgeous," the proprietress said with a smile.

Bai Nianci's face flushed red, and she hurriedly put it down.

"I... I don't use this."

Just as she wanted to leave, a jewelry stall nearby caught her eye.

On the stall were all sorts of pearl flowers and hairpins, sparkling under the sunlight.

She picked up a magnolia hairpin and gestured with it against her head.

"So pretty," Bai Nianci muttered softly.

While gazing intently, she suddenly remembered the medicine basket on her back.

"No, no, delivering the medicine is what matters!"

She quickly put down the hairpin and jogged all the way.

With much difficulty, she finally arrived beside Changle Bridge.

This was one of the most bustling areas in the capital city.

The hawkers' shouts and pedestrians' conversations blended together, making it extremely lively.

Bai Nianci stood under a willow tree at the head of the bridge and let out a long sigh of relief.

"I've finally reached the agreed-upon location."

Time ticked away drop by drop.

The sun gradually rose higher, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the willow leaves, casting mottled light and shadow upon her skirt hem.

She waited for a long time, yet she still didn't see that agreed-upon figure.

Bai Nianci's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a trace of confusion rising in her heart.

"Could it be that his condition worsened, and he couldn't make the appointment?"

She pondered to herself, a flash of worry crossing her eyes.

With Chen Ran's terrible physical condition, if the Evil Qi suddenly erupted, he could collapse at any moment.

If any true accident happened, these medicinal ingredients probably wouldn't be able to be delivered.

Surrounding pedestrians came and went, and quite a few people noticed this woman standing at the head of the bridge.

Bai Nianci's appearance was already extremely beautiful, coupled with her cold, ethereal temperament; amidst this bustling marketplace, she resembled a white lotus aloof from the world.

Passing pedestrians slowed their paces one after another, unable to help glancing sideways frequently.

"What a vibrant and lovely Young Miss."

"Which noble family's Young Miss is this, why is she standing here alone?"

"Seeing her carry a medicine basket, could she be a female doctor?"

"Such a pretty Young Miss, I wonder who she is waiting for."

Several young scholars gathered not far away, lowering their voices to whisper, their gazes full of amazement and curiosity.

Even a wealthy Young Master who fancied himself debonair waved his folding fan and wanted to step forward to strike up a conversation, only to be softly refused.

Bai Nianci withdrew her gaze, turning a deaf ear to the surrounding discussions.

She merely gazed quietly at the end of the long street, waiting patiently.

A gentle breeze swept past, lifting a few strands of dark hair at her temples.

Just when she thought she wouldn't be able to wait for anyone today and prepared to turn and leave,

From the distance, the steady sound of footsteps suddenly arrived.

Bai Nianci's heart stirred slightly, raising her gaze to look.

At the end of the long street, a slender figure was walking slowly forward; the newcomer wore black clothes, with a posture as upright as a pine.

"Sorry for the delay, I came late."

By the bank of Changle Bridge, weeping willows swayed gracefully.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps of branches and leaves, casting mottled light and shadow on the bluestone-paved street.

A gentle breeze swept past, causing layers of fine, shimmering light to ripple across the river's surface, stinging people's eyes into narrowing slightly.

Chen Ran, dressed in black, stood quietly before Bai Nianci and said apologetically:

"These past few days, I was entangled in mundane affairs, coupled with a relapse of my old illness, my body felt somewhat unwell, hence I came a bit late."

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze landing on Bai Nianci's pure and refined face.

Hearing this, Bai Nianci's clear eyes held no dissatisfaction.

In her view, the person before her was merely a pitiful individual tormented by Evil Qi.

"Young Master exaggerates."

"Young Master's internal Evil Qi has not yet been eradicated, and the Meridians are extremely damaged. You should have been resting quietly in the first place; being able to come to the appointment is already not easy."

Bai Nianci shook her head slightly, her tone soft and gentle.

Chen Ran looked at the massive bamboo-woven medicine basket on her back, his gaze shifting slightly.

The medicine basket was stuffed with oilpaper packages of all sizes, emitting a rich, fresh fragrance of herbs.

These medicinal ingredients were obviously gathered by her with immense effort and thought.

"Making Miss Bai wait for so long, I truly feel bad about it."

Chen Ran spoke in a calm tone, slowly opening his mouth.

"There is a teahouse not far ahead. If Miss Bai does not disdain it, would you grace me with your presence to drink a cup of clear tea, serving as my apology?"