Baicao Hall in Crisis
“Someone broke into Baicao Hall. Escaped from prison just a few days ago. Name’s Wutong Scholar,” Yan Sheng said. “He was rescued by his best friend—someone who’s gone mad with qi deviation. Name’s Zhong Jin.”
“They fled to Jiangnan. Wutong was injured, on the verge of death. Zhong Jin, in desperation, went looking for a doctor. That’s how he ended up in Anping Town—and at Baicao Hall. He took Doctor Qi hostage.”
“Is Doctor Qi alright?” Hua Rongyue asked.
“He’s okay for now. One of our agents left behind at the clinic reported it,” Yan Sheng replied. “I figured you might not be able to handle it alone, so I’m sending Jiang Lianhuan with you.”
Upon hearing that, Hua Rongyue instinctively glanced at Jiang Lianhuan, who had stepped out with her.
Looking every bit the picture of a refined gentleman, Jiang Lianhuan seemed like a stranger. When he asked, “What do you need me to do?” Hua Rongyue had to pretend like she didn’t know him at all.
“Help her rescue Doctor Qi,” Yan Sheng said. “Be careful—both of them are dangerous.”
“Understood.” Jiang Lianhuan nodded calmly.
This tone… felt very different from when he was with Yi Linglong. Hua Rongyue glanced sideways at him. For someone she had prepared dozens of contingency plans against, she suddenly found herself needing none of them.
Same face, totally different attitude. So it was true: temperament alone could completely change a person’s presence—even to a lunatic.
And that was a huge relief.
Thank you, dear Heavens. Even just for this, Hua Rongyue swore to continue being the most upright person she could be.
Back at Baicao Hall, Doctor Qi was still administering acupuncture—an absolute professional, calm under pressure even with a patient bleeding out beside him.
But even he couldn’t reverse fate. He could feel the man’s breath growing shallower and weaker.
Still, his expression remained composed, his hands steady. From behind, Zhong Jin couldn’t tell anything was wrong—he only knew the doctor was treating his brother.
Outside, Xiao Han hadn’t gone far. Most of the patients had run off in panic, leaving him alone to worry. The man Zhong Jin had brought in was drenched in blood—he wasn’t confident Doctor Qi could save him. And if he failed… would the muscle-bound man kill the doctor out of rage?
Xiao Han grimaced. Maybe it was time to cleanse some bad luck—his life had been smooth sailing until he joined Baicao Hall. Since then, disaster after disaster.
He shot a glare at the diseased-looking datura tree at the gate.
I’m chopping that thing down.
To fetch reinforcements, he’d need to rent a carriage and ride hard for a full day just to reach his home. Truthfully, he hadn’t expected Wan Fulián to actually return with help—he just wanted her to get away.
He wiped the blood from his mouth, gritting his teeth at the mess. Just my luck to get beaten up in front of all those patients. I’ll drag them all back here for revenge someday…
Hua Rongyue and Jiang Lianhuan were racing back in a carriage.
Neither spoke a word.
Taking advantage of the silence, Hua Rongyue replayed the story of Jiang Lianhuan and Yi Linglong in her mind. Back then, Yi Linglong had no idea who Jiang really was—the first time they spoke, it was Jiang who initiated it.
Now knowing his identity, she wasn’t sure if this was all some long-laid Six Gates trap—or just another one of his unpredictable whims.
“When we arrive, don’t move. I’ll handle it,” Jiang Lianhuan said flatly.
Hua Rongyue nodded, her feelings complicated.
This distance… was exactly the kind of detached, gentlemanly interaction that Yi Linglong had always longed for but never received.
Honestly, Hua Rongyue felt a little smitten. As long as he’s not crazy, he’s really quite tolerable.
“Then… you go handle them, and I’ll find Doctor Qi?” she asked cautiously.
“Fine,” Jiang said casually.
Hua Rongyue nodded like a bobblehead.
She absolutely planned to vanish the moment she could. Out of sight, out of mind.
As soon as they arrived, Jiang Lianhuan dismounted silently. Hua Rongyue disappeared from view in a flash, leaving him behind.
Jiang Lianhuan arrived at Baicao Hall. He glanced inside. Empty.
Faint noise came from the back. He followed the trail.
Blood on the ground. Scattered herbs.
Something had definitely happened.
He checked the room with the most commotion. Blood on the bed. No people. Only a fat cat hiding under the firewood.
Where was everyone?
Meanwhile, Hua Rongyue had stopped in front of the hall, frowning at the strange bloodstains near the datura tree.
They were smeared and overlapping—unclear where they started or ended.
Instead of entering the building, she crouched to study the marks, then suddenly looked down the alleyway.
The blood trailed off… in the other direction.
She sprinted back inside, grabbed a rarely worn outfit, threw it on as a disguise, and took off running.
As an assassin, blood trail tracking was second nature—her gut told her Doctor Qi had just left, and the drops were no more than two minutes old.
Still time.
She didn’t even call out to Jiang Lianhuan.
Jiang Lianhuan exited the clinic and tried to ask around—but the entire street was deserted. Everyone had run off during the earlier commotion.
No leads. Where the hell was Hua Rongyue?
He clicked his tongue in frustration. Fine. He’d just search every alley one by one.
Hua Rongyue was already closing in.
She spotted Doctor Qi, Zhong Jin… and—wait, was that Xiao Han? Bleeding again?
What was he doing here?
Here’s what happened:
Doctor Qi realized the patient truly couldn’t be saved. Standard treatment would only delay the inevitable—better to try something new, even if it meant risking his own life.
So he administered one last life-extending needle and solemnly told Zhong Jin, “I can’t save him.”
“What?!” Zhong Jin growled, red eyes blazing.
“We’re missing a key herb,” Doctor Qi said calmly, sounding almost like Hua Rongyue herself. “Only the next town has it. I might stand a chance with that.”
Zhong Jin panicked. His thoughts clearly weren’t all there. He wanted to save his brother, but feared that if he left, Doctor Qi would escape.
Doctor Qi was known across the region as the best healer around.
So Zhong Jin came up with a “perfect” plan—he’d take both Doctor Qi and the Wutong Scholar with him.
And just like that, Doctor Qi became a hostage, slung over his shoulder like a sack of rice.
From a distance, Hua Rongyue thought he looked like a scrawny chicken.
Ironically, Doctor Qi had just wanted to buy time. He didn’t expect to be carried off for his trouble.
And Xiao Han?
He saw Doctor Qi being taken and rushed in to stop it—only to eat another punch and get laid out again.
That’s the state Hua Rongyue found him in. Beaten up—again.
“Still you?” Zhong Jin snarled. “Are you asking to die?”
Xiao Han didn’t answer. He just got up, glaring with eyes that looked like he was about to fight again.
What are you doing? Hua Rongyue thought helplessly from her rooftop perch. Now is not the time for a death wish!
Could he please soften his expression just a little?
And where was Wan Fulián? Hua Rongyue scanned the area. Now she was missing too.
Zhong Jin’s expression was turning uglier by the second.
Hua Rongyue saw Xiao Han looking miserable and bruised. She knew she had to act fast—or he’d be killed.
She began to move, inching forward silently, avoiding looking directly at Zhong Jin to keep from alerting him. Humans are sensitive to being watched—let alone martial artists.
—This was true assassin behavior. She was entering “the zone.”
The situation was too urgent—she had to push herself.
Her breath slowed, her steps went silent. From the rooftop, no one noticed her.
Zhong Jin hadn’t paid much attention to Xiao Han at first. But now he was getting annoyed.
He gently set down the Wutong Scholar—but didn’t let go of Doctor Qi.
Hua Rongyue locked on to his hands—clearly the hands of a brawler, thick with calluses.
“If you’ve got the guts, say that again,” Zhong Jin growled, killing intent flaring.
He thought the Wutong Scholar was now stable thanks to the life-saving needle, which gave him a false sense of calm.
Plus, Xiao Han was just that irritating.
“Where are you taking Doctor Qi?” Xiao Han rasped. “Put him down. Go wherever you want after that.”
Doctor Qi jolted.
He felt a twinge of emotion—and a dawning realization.
So this guy isn’t trying to be annoying… it’s just his natural talent.
Zhong Jin wasn’t the kind to take such talk lightly. Energy surged through his palms—this next strike would be fatal.
At that moment, Hua Rongyue’s leg muscles tensed—and just as Zhong Jin raised his hand—
She leapt from the rooftop.
In an instant, Doctor Qi saw only a blur of motion.
He couldn’t even register it—but it was close. And fast.
Zhong Jin’s hand split open from palm to wrist, blood gushing like a broken faucet.
Before he could react, the mystery figure kicked his other arm hard enough to send shockwaves into Doctor Qi’s head.
Then—thud—he fell, dropped unceremoniously as Zhong Jin recoiled, both hands wounded.
Zhong Jin looked up, furious, toward the source of the strike.
A masked figure landed gracefully, holding a simple yet deadly blade. No blood stained the edge.
No one recognized Hua Rongyue—she’d taken the time to disguise herself before dropping in.
They just saw a mysterious warrior, calm and efficient.
Doctor Qi was stunned.
Who… who is this heroic figure?
Little Pink Starfish 
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