Another long wait finally ended with the descent of night.
However, there was no moon tonight, and darkness enveloped everything.
The only sound on the entire mountaintop was the howling mountain wind.
Yue Jiu asked me, "Mu Ye, are you afraid of the dark?"
I shook my head and replied, "No."
"In a little while, it will be midnight. By then, we should be able to find the Bai Mu grass."
"Yes, after waiting all day, Brother Yue must be tired too."
"Not really, just a bit bored."
"Me too."
He plucked a black hair from his head, held it between his fingers, and blew gently.
The hair instantly transformed into a small, exquisite lantern.
From the lantern emanated a radiant light, like the sun that belonged in the heavens,
captured by him and confined within the lantern.
I leaned in curiously, exclaiming in surprise,
"How lovely! How did you make that?"
He smiled gently and said, "Just a small trick. It's for you."
Overwhelmed, I accepted the lantern with both hands and shook it.
I wanted to see if there was anything inside.
After a moment, I thanked him slowly,
"Thank you, Brother Yue. This little lantern is truly lovely."
"I'm glad you like it."
He looked up at the night sky, faintly twinkling with starlight.
Then, feeling the mountain wind from below the cliff,
he suddenly leaped off. Startled, I cried out in alarm,
"Brother Yue!"
I scrambled to the edge of the cliff and looked down in shock.
Suddenly, a figure soared up from below and landed beside me.
"Is this it?"
Casually, he handed me the Bai Mu grass he held,
with a large lantern hanging from it.
"So, so amazing! But didn't you say it only appears at midnight?"
I was dumbfounded, feeling as if everything had happened too quickly, like a dream.
Seeing my confusion, he explained,
"I actually saw it when I came during the day, but I wasn't entirely sure.
I just calculated the time, and it was perfect, so I went down to pick it."
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I let out a sigh of relief.
Then, I stood up from the ground, relaxed, and said,
"You scared me to death! I thought you were going to give up on life."
"How could I? I have no reason to give up."
"But, Brother Yue, you're just too amazing! That was so cool just now."
I was filled with admiration, wishing I had such skills.
"Really? I didn't even feel it."
"Yes, it was incredibly cool."
"What is 'cool'?"
"Um, it's like, even more handsome."
"Hahaha, you're too good at giving compliments."
"Hehehe," I giggled foolishly.
I thanked him again, "Thank you, Brother Yue. If it weren't for you this time, I would really be finished.
I don't have much to thank you with, only some gold coins."
As I spoke, I took out the bag of gold coins from my embrace, intending to give them to him.
He waved his hand and said, "It's just a small effort. This is exactly what I was looking for."
"Hehehe, then I truly have nothing to repay you with."
"No repayment is needed. Meeting you is also fate.
I'll go back with you.
I was planning to ask Physician Luo for these herbs myself anyway."
Hearing him say this, I became a little worried.
Did Brother Yue intend to severely reprimand Physician Luo?
If so, it wouldn't be unacceptable, as long as no lives were harmed.
So, I readily agreed, "That's great! Let's go back then."
"Alright, let's go."
And so, I went up the mountain and brought back a person.
After we descended from the mountaintop, we saw the thatched hut in the hollow valley,
still lit by candlelight. It was already late at night.
I wondered if they had slept yet.
Before Yue Ge and I could get close, we heard Xiao Cai calling from afar.
"Sister! You're back!"
I looked closely.
I saw Xiao Cai's small figure standing in the lamplight in front of the thatched hut.
We were still in the darkness, and I wondered how he could see us.
I guessed it was probably because he saw the light from the small lantern I was holding.
So, I waved back and replied,
"Xiao Cai! I'm back!"
Hearing the sound, Physician Luo emerged from the inner room, his expression unchanged.
Seeing a strange man following behind me,
his already expressionless face grew even more somber.
We slowly walked to the front of the thatched hut.
Xiao Cai ran over happily and took my hand.
He immediately noticed the small lantern in my hand.
He asked curiously, "Is this also a lantern?"
"Yes."
I handed the small lantern to Xiao Cai, who carefully took it.
He examined it meticulously and with great concentration, exclaiming,
"Wow, it's so beautiful."
Yue Jiu Cong's gaze met Physician Luo's.
Yue Jiu Cong smiled slightly and slowly walked up to him, cupping his fists in greeting.
"Physician Luo, I trust you are well."
"I heard you would come in a few days, I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."
"How could a junior trouble a senior? So I came ahead of time."
"It's good that you've come. Come, have a seat."
"Thank you."
Physician Luo still wore a scowl, looking displeased with everyone.
I, holding two bundles of herbs, was excitedly about to tell him,
but he spoke first, "Where is my carrying basket?"
"It fell off the cliff."
"And the herbs?"
"I brought them."
He looked at Yue Jiu Cong and said, "Give the herbs to this great hero."
I mechanically stepped forward and handed the herbs to Yue Jiu Cong.
Unhurriedly, Yue Jiu Cong took out a small red wooden box from his embrace and slowly opened it.
Inside lay a blood-red pearl.
As Physician Luo reached out, he quickly closed the box and retracted it, saying,
"Physician Luo, by rights, this Blood Coral Pearl should be yours.
But these two herbs were picked by Mu Ye, so they should belong to her."
Physician Luo did not get angry, but smiled faintly.
"Give them to whomever you wish."
Saying this, he turned to go back into the house. Yue Jiu Cong suddenly drew his sword and blocked his path.
Just as I had thought, Brother Yue was going to teach Physician Luo a lesson for me.
"What do you mean by this?"
Physician Luo sensed something was amiss.
Yue Jiu Cong smiled slightly.
"Nothing, I just heard someone likes to bully people.
I need to ask when that person became so stone-hearted."
Physician Luo ignored him and walked around him. Yue Jiu Cong stepped sideways to intercept him.
He pointed his sword at him again and asked,
"What will it take for you to properly treat Mu Ye's friend?"
"What? Are you here to plead for her?"
Even with Yue Jiu Cong's sword pointed at him, he did not lower his proud head.
Instead, he questioned Yue Jiu Cong,
"What if I am?"
"Too bad, I dislike it the most when people force me to do things."
"Then that's perfect, I quite enjoy seeing people repent."
Saying this, Yue Jiu Cong thrust his sword forward.
Physician Luo dodged sideways and threw a handful of green powder.
With a flick of his sleeve, he attempted to strike Yue Jiu Cong.
Yue Jiu Cong calmly swung his sword, cutting his sleeve in two.
Physician Luo threw more white powder again, then flicked several green leaves towards Yue Jiu Cong.
Yue Jiu Cong casually slashed them away, then leaped forward with his sword.
Physician Luo hastily dodged. It was clear that Yue Jiu Cong did not intend to harm him.
However, the two still fought fiercely,
sometimes flying onto the rooftops, sometimes landing in the vegetable patch.
Physician Luo, who usually only seemed to handle herbs, surprisingly had good martial arts skills.
I picked up Xiao Cai and hid to the side.
Xiao Cai watched them exchange blows, neither gaining the upper hand, with a worried look.
He was afraid his master would get hurt, and also afraid the stranger brother would get hurt.
He wriggled free from my grasp and ran forward, shouting,
"Stop fighting, Master! Big Brother!
Big Brother, please let Master go.
He's a stubborn person. I'll try to persuade him."
Recalling, Physician Luo wasn't as bad as people said.
If one genuinely sought medical help, he would go to great lengths.
Perhaps he was testing one's courage and sincerity.
And I had already passed his test, so there was no need to cause further trouble.
So, I stepped forward and shouted to both of them,
"Brother Yue, thank you for helping me. I can handle my own affairs.
Please stop fighting, don't make Xiao Cai sad."
Hearing my words and Xiao Cai's,
Yue Jiu Cong finally sheathed his sword and returned to my side.
Physician Luo also flew to Xiao Cai's side.
He picked him up and patted his little head, comforting him,
"Don't be scared, Xiao Cai. Master is fine."
Xiao Cai cried, "Master, you weren't like this before.
You didn't bully people. What's wrong with you now?
You're always picking on this sister. Didn't you promise to save that brother?
Why did you go back on your word? Also, you told me not to bully people casually.
How can you break your own promise now?"
Physician Luo rubbed his little head, his eyes filled with melancholy.
It seemed he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.
Yue Jiu Cong also took the opportunity to give him an out.
"I've only heard of Physician Luo's excellent medical skills, but I didn't expect his martial arts to be equally impressive.
You could say, you're no less than me. My title as a great hero should be passed to Physician Luo."
Physician Luo curled his lip and retorted dismissively,
"Stop flattering me. I won't help her."
There was no other way. It seemed I had to resort to this tactic.
I plopped down and knelt before him.
"Physician Luo, I've never knelt before anyone.
Today, for Ah Li, I beg you to save him.
He is a good person. He was stabbed by the Wan Xue Spider and poisoned while saving me.
If you can save him, I'm willing to trade my life for his."
Seeing my sincerity, he sighed and asked me again,
"Is it worth it for a friend?"
"It is! He was willing to risk his life for me, so how could I abandon him?
Therefore, please save him. I'll do anything."
I bowed my head deeply.
He finally relented, waving his hand and saying,
"Enough, enough. Since you have passed all my tests,
I will save him with peace of mind."
Hearing that he finally agreed, I couldn't help but shed tears.
Yue Jiu Cong pulled me up. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he said with satisfaction,
"You are truly a good girl. Now you can rest assured."
I choked back my sobs, wiping my tears, and nodded.
He smiled and handed me a white handkerchief. I asked in surprise,
"I have a handkerchief Brother Yue gave me to wipe sweat.
Brother Yue, how do you have another one? Did a girl give it to you?"
Seeing that I had figured it out, he smiled sheepishly.
He then pushed the white handkerchief towards me, saying,
"Use them. They're of no use to me anyway."
"Is it alright? Something someone gave you."
"It's fine, I have plenty."
Hearing him say this, it was not difficult to infer that he was very popular with girls.
No wonder, Brother Yue was handsome, skilled in martial arts, and had good character.
Any girl would like him.
However, the custom here was to give a handkerchief to someone you liked? I learned something new.
Then he said to Physician Luo,
"Physician Luo, thank you."
"Hmph. I just felt that something should be done."
"Since the problem is solved and I have obtained the herbs I wanted,
I will take my leave."
I looked at the pitch-black surroundings and felt it wouldn't be safe for him to travel at night.
So, I persuaded him, "Brother Yue, why don't you stay here tonight and leave tomorrow?"
Physician Luo also spoke, which was rare.
"Since she has said so, you should stay for the night.
However, I don't have any extra beds.
If you don't mind, you can share a room with Mu Ye."
"Ah!!!"
Physician Luo's words stunned me. I didn't expect him to be so mischievous.
Yue Jiu Cong laughed heartily.
"Since you both insist, I'll stay for one night.
I won't go to Mu Ye's room. I'll sleep on the rooftop tonight."
Saying this, he leaped up and flew onto the rooftop.
He lay down on the newly laid thatch. At night, the mountaintop always had a chilling cold wind.
Sleeping on the rooftop for a night would surely lead to a cold the next day.
But there was a difference between men and women, and we couldn't share a room alone.
So, I thought of another solution.
I went back to my room, brought a quilt, and called out to him,
"Brother Yue, it's cold in the mountains. Cover yourself with this quilt."
Yue Jiu Cong waved his hand, "No need, I'm fine."
"You need it. Come down and get it."
Physician Luo, overhearing this, couldn't help but interject,
"Your room only has one quilt. If you give it to him, what will you cover yourself with?
If you're really worried about him, you can share it with him."
"Physician Luo!"
He said something embarrassing again.
Yue Jiu Cong burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Physician Luo.
I didn't expect you to be so good at joking.
Don't trouble her. I know her good intentions."
Physician Luo looked at one on the roof and one on the ground, guessing,
"The two of them are quite a good match.
But I don't know the relationship between Mu Ye and her friend.
If there's no relationship, I could try to match her with Yue Jiu Cong."
Although he thought this, he was not a matchmaker.
How could he interfere in such matters? So, after some thought, he gave up.
Yue Jiu Cong said to me,
"Mu Ye, take it back.
We who sleep on the rooftop never use quilts.
Using a quilt would actually affect our sleep. Go back."
"Really don't need it?"
I was still a bit worried.
"Really don't need it."
Seeing his firm assurance, I couldn't say anything more.
I could only return to my room with the quilt.
Physician Luo also turned around silently and was about to go back into his room. Yue Jiu Cong called out to him,
"Physician Luo, your rooftop is quite comfortable. Come and sleep with me tonight."
Physician Luo curled his lip and said,
"You sleep by yourself. I'm not suited to sleeping on the rooftop."
"Alas, you still can't quite appreciate the joy of the rooftop."
"Enough, go to sleep. It'll be dawn soon."
"Indeed. Let's sleep."
After saying this, Physician Luo returned to his room.
Yue Jiu Cong, leisurely, gazed at the sky, which emitted scattered starlight.
I also took off my shoes and lay on the bed, feeling very happy.
Turning to look at the window, I thought about tomorrow.
Physician Luo would wholeheartedly save Ah Li.
I thought about what Ah Li would look like when he woke up.
Thinking this way, I unknowingly fell asleep. It was an easy night to fall asleep.