Chapter 30: Boasting and Bragging

Of course, during the process of bandaging her wounds, it was unavoidable that he came into close contact with her skin, and had to lift her clothes, exposing some private areas. Fang Xian himself was unconcerned, but Fengxia’s face blushed as red as a monkey’s bottom, so ashamed she could barely lift her head.

“Miss Fengxia, the bleeding has stopped and the wound is bandaged. Though I may have overstepped some boundaries, to a divine physician, there is only the patient—never desire. Please don’t take it to heart,” Fang Xian said to her as he finished.

Fengxia looked up at him in surprise. She found his gaze clear and his expression serene. Instantly, she felt her heart lighten, her regard for Fang Xian growing, and she grew ashamed of her own wayward thoughts.

“Thank you, Young Master Fang,” Fengxia said, bowing respectfully.

“I don’t know the grievances between you and the Gray-clad Gang, nor do I wish to meddle. But you’re badly hurt; if you leave alone, I fear those from the Gray-clad Gang may try to harm you. If you don’t mind, come with us to Qingyang City and recover. When you’re well, you may leave whenever you wish,” Fang Xian nodded to her.

“Then I will trouble you, Young Master Fang,” Fengxia replied after a moment’s hesitation.

“You can call me Brother Fang, and may I call you Sister Fengxia?” Fang Xian said, helping her onto his horse, then mounting behind and drawing her into his embrace, his chest pressed snugly against her back as he whispered in her ear.

He spurred the horse onward, and Fengxia could only lean tightly into his arms, feeling the heat of his body and the strength of his arms. For a moment, her body felt weak and unsteady.

“Daniu, go back and tell the young chief that as soon as the son-in-law leaves the mountain, he’s out flirting everywhere. We’d better keep an eye on him,” someone in the group behind them said quietly, keeping a respectful distance of more than ten paces from Fang Xian.

“If you say that, you’re wrong. The son-in-law is saving a life—there’s nothing dirty about it,” Daniu replied after a long pause.

Three hours later, by afternoon, Fang Xian and his party arrived at Qingyang City and booked a small courtyard at an inn. When Fang Xian helped Fengxia down from the horse, she could hardly stand.

It was not because of her injuries, but because along the journey, a certain fiery presence had been pressed persistently against her most private place, leaving her body limp and her secret place unbearably slick and unsteady.

“Sister, are your wounds too severe? Let me help you inside to rest,” Fang Xian said, supporting her as they entered the room. At the doorway, Fengxia gritted her teeth and insisted on standing by herself, holding onto the doorframe.

“Thank you, Brother Fang, but I’m fine. I can manage on my own. You must be tired after the journey—please go and rest,” Fengxia forced herself to say, even though her legs trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you sure? Do you want me to check your injuries again?” Fang Xian asked softly, his warm breath brushing her face, nearly making her lose her balance.

“Brother Fang, I’m really fine. If I need anything, I’ll call for you,” Fengxia replied, her face still flushed, unable to meet his eyes.

“Very well, then rest. I’m in the room next door—call me if you need anything,” Fang Xian said with a smile, turning to leave. Fengxia let out a sigh of relief, hurriedly closed the door, and leaned against it for a while before she found the strength to reach the bed.

Not long after, someone knocked at the door, startling Fengxia. “Who is it?”

“Miss, it’s the inn attendant—I’ve brought you hot water,” came the reply. The attendant explained the water was sent at Fang Xian’s request, and it was a large bucket.

Fengxia discovered there was a bathing tub behind a screen beside the bed. She quickly poured the hot water in, added some cold, and began to gently cleanse herself. Because her wound couldn’t get wet, she didn’t dare enter the tub, but instead carefully wiped her body with the warm water, especially the sticky, uncomfortable place between her legs. Only after a thorough cleaning did she finally feel relieved.

Meanwhile, Fang Xian did not rest after settling in. Instead, he sent men to purchase writing supplies and spent hours composing over thirty notices. Daniu and the others were tasked to deliver them to every clinic and to post them in the busiest parts of town.

“I, Fang Xian, am a divine physician of great virtue. Passing through Qingyang Commandery, I wish to forge good karma. I will be consulting at the Fortune Inn on the east side of the city for several days, specializing in difficult and complicated illnesses. The poor will not be charged; the wealthy may pay as they wish. If you have a sick family member, bring them to the inn for treatment.”

In one bustling market, a crowd gathered as an elderly scholar read the notice aloud, causing much discussion.

“He must be a fraud. Who in the world can cure all illnesses?” someone shouted.

“I think he’s genuine. He doesn’t charge the poor and lets the rich pay as they please. What’s there to cheat?” another argued.

“Calling himself a divine physician of great virtue—such arrogance! Who does he think he is?” others scoffed.

“Well, time will tell. Fang Xian claims he’ll be consulting in Qingyang for several days. If he’s a fraud, won’t it become obvious?” someone else sneered.

“Let’s spread the word to our neighbors. If any household has a sick member, let them try the divine physician—especially those with mysterious illnesses. What if he really can help?” a kindly soul suggested.

“I thought of someone—Old Master Cai from Qingyang Academy. He’s had abdominal pain for years, his belly swollen like a drum, and no cure to be found. Why not notify his family and have them bring him to the Fortune Inn?” someone said, jogging off to deliver the message.

“I heard the commandery lord’s wife developed hysteria last year. Even the imperial doctors in the capital couldn’t cure her, so she was sent home and locked away. Who dares notify the commandery manor? There might even be a reward!” cried another, prompting a rogue to snatch down the notice and dash off.

Besides the markets, over twenty clinics received Fang Xian’s written invitations. Most dismissed them, but some sent word to regular clients whose families had long suffered from incurable illnesses. Whether Fang Xian’s boasts proved true or not, it could only help their own standing—if he cured the patients, wonderful. If not, it was no loss to them.

Still, few believed in Fang Xian at first; for now, no patients came, though onlookers gathered outside the Fortune Inn to watch for any activity.

Fang Xian paid it no mind. He had Daniu and the others scatter throughout the city’s taverns, dining and spreading tales of the divine physician Fang Xian: how he had cured the Five Venoms Sect Master’s deadly poison, restored sight to the long-blind, revived women who had died in childbirth—stories that grew more miraculous with every telling.

“Brother Fang, your men have all gone out to eat. Why haven’t you joined them?” Fengxia asked carefully as she sat with Fang Xian, who had ordered food to be brought to his room and invited her to dine with him.

“I can’t leave you unattended. You’re wounded and shouldn’t exert yourself. If the Gray-clad Gang comes looking for trouble, what would happen? Having saved you, I must see you safe,” Fang Xian replied with a gentle smile, making Fengxia blush once more.

“Thank you, Brother Fang,” she murmured as she ate.

“By the way, you’re a disciple of the Hundred Flowers Ravine. I’ve heard your sect has a master even stronger than a Grandmaster of the Transformation Realm. What realm is that?” Fang Xian asked as they ate.

“That’s my grandmaster, Madam Peach Blossom. She’s a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm,” Fengxia replied, evidently understanding the realm above Transformation. Fang Xian’s eyes lit up in interest.

“With such a powerful backer, why would the Gray-clad Gang dare oppose your sect if they don’t have a Grandmaster?” Fang Xian asked, puzzled.