Chapter Seventeen: The Location of the Forbidden Land

Xie Qingtang was not someone with a saintly heart. The years spent on the mountain, coupled with what she had experienced as a child, had long since molded her into a person who always repaid grievances and confronted them head-on. Moreover, Wang Miaor was clearly here to cause trouble for her; if she kept retreating timidly, it would only make others think she was easy to bully.

As soon as her words fell, the onlookers burst into laughter. Even Gu Xiujin, seated in his wheelchair, hadn't expected Xie Qingtang to say such a thing, and a smile curled at his lips.

“Xie Qingtang, how dare you call me stupid? I’m an intern doctor at Gu’s Hospital!” Wang Miaor cried out in fury.

Feigning dissatisfaction, Xie Qingtang dug at her ear, glanced up at Wang Miaor, and snorted coldly. “Oh, so you’re still just an intern doctor. I thought you were acting so high and mighty because you were already a formal doctor at Gu’s Hospital.”

“You—” Wang Miaor pointed at Xie Qingtang, so angered that she was speechless for a moment.

Xie Qingtang continued, mercilessly, “By the way, Intern Doctor Wang, don’t forget our wager. Over the next year, not only must you refer all your patients to my Benevolence Hall, but you must also tell each one of them that traditional Chinese medicine is not a fraud.”

“I—” Wang Miaor nearly coughed up blood from rage, and Zhou Jinfan, ever eager to stir the pot, added, “What do you mean ‘I’? Don’t tell me you’re so dull you’ve already forgotten the bet you just agreed to?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget. Xie Qingtang, I’ll remember you,” Wang Miaor gritted out through clenched teeth.

Xie Qingtang smiled and nodded with polite mockery. “Well, I’m truly honored. It must be quite difficult for Intern Doctor Wang to remember my name.”

“Boss, aren’t you still finding new ways to say Intern Doctor Wang is stupid?” Zhou Jinfan chimed in with feigned astonishment.

Their duet left Wang Miaor pale and trembling, nearly unable to stand, while the crowd watched as if enjoying a play, thoroughly entertained.

“Apologies, my assistant speaks without thinking. Whatever he hears, he says,” Xie Qingtang crossed her arms, openly admitting her earlier words were a subtle insult to Wang Miaor’s intelligence.

Unable to endure the barrage, Wang Miaor stomped her foot, eyes reddening, and fled Benevolence Hall.

After the farce ended, the onlookers, seeing nothing more of interest and that the patient was now fine, dispersed from the entrance of Benevolence Hall.

“Divine Doctor, how much for the consultation and the sachet?” The man’s mother approached timidly, pulling from her pocket a worn handkerchief with money wrapped inside.

Xie Qingtang smiled, took twenty yuan from the handkerchief, and said, “Ten for the consultation, ten for the sachet.”

“Ah, that can’t be right—it’s so cheap? This is all my money, I’ll give it all to you. I know it’s not enough, but we still have some at home. We’ll bring it to you as soon as we return,” the mother said anxiously, knowing that the hundred and eighteen needles Xie Qingtang had used could not possibly be so inexpensive.

But Xie Qingtang insisted on only ten yuan for the consultation and ten for the sachet, leaving the family gazing at her with gratitude, momentarily at a loss for words.

“If you truly wish to thank me, why not tell me the location of your mountain’s forbidden area?” Xie Qingtang offered with a smile.

At her words, the family’s faces turned instantly fearful, and the three shook their heads in unison. The man, his tone earnest, cautioned, “Divine Doctor, you know that I ended up like this because I entered the forbidden area. It’s really not a place to go.”

“Don’t worry, I’m just curious. I wouldn’t risk my life so lightly,” Xie Qingtang assured them, promising repeatedly she wouldn’t venture there carelessly. Only then did the man hesitate, finally divulging the location of the forbidden area.

After sending off the patients, Xie Qingtang’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Gu Xiujin, seated behind her, remarked, “You weren’t just casually asking about the forbidden area, were you?”

“Of course not. Didn’t you hear what the man said? There are many precious medicinal herbs in the forbidden area. For a doctor like me, such treasures are rare and invaluable. Naturally, I want to see for myself,” Xie Qingtang replied matter-of-factly.

Gu Xiujin wheeled himself closer and continued, “There’s something strange about that forbidden area. You saw the man’s condition—aren’t you afraid?”

“Gu Xiujin, you’re making me laugh. I’m certainly not afraid, and that man wasn’t possessed—he was poisoned, which triggered a rare illness hidden in his body,” Xie Qingtang chuckled.

During the diagnosis, Xie Qingtang had thoroughly examined the man’s condition. He had a peculiar illness lurking in his body, suppressed since childhood by a medicinal herb he’d consumed, preventing any symptoms. But when he entered the forbidden area, he was poisoned, which brought out the illness, causing his madness and violent behavior.

Through acupuncture, Xie Qingtang treated the illness, and the sachet was to clear the remaining toxins, with its calming properties ensuring the man would no longer be affected.

“So, according to my deduction, the so-called forbidden area is simply full of poisonous plants, preventing villagers from collecting herbs. In such places, the medicinal herbs are often very old and rare—how could I miss such an opportunity?” Xie Qingtang’s eyes gleamed.

Seeing her so intrigued, Gu Xiujin merely said, “Whenever you decide to go, let me know—I’ll go with you.”

“Gu Xiujin, don’t be ridiculous. In your current state, you can’t possibly accompany me. Just stay home and take care of your health,” Xie Qingtang refused him without the slightest hesitation.