Jun Yelan carried Lan Yan back down the mountain and immediately went to see Doctor Lin for her leg.
"Doctor Lin, she sprained her ankle on the mountain. Please take a look."
Doctor Lin glanced at the two of them and shook his head helplessly. "Are you going to put her down or not?"
Thus, Jun Yelan gently placed Lan Yan down. She sat on the couch and, seeing their serious expressions, laughed, "It's really not a big deal."
"Let me tell you, if this leg becomes serious, you'll have lasting problems with walking," Doctor Lin warned as he examined Lan Yan's foot. "I told you to stay back earlier, but you just couldn't help worrying about someone."
Jun Yelan clenched his fists upon hearing this, his eyes filled with self-reproach and concern. He had to heal his meridians; only by becoming strong enough could he protect those he cared about and shield them from danger.
Doctor Lin saw Jun Yelan's reaction and nodded slightly. It seemed this Snake Clan member did have a heart.
Lan Yan observed the exchange of glances between the two, realizing Doctor Lin would indeed treat Jun Yelan. She finally felt at ease, a faint smile on her lips.
After the examination, Doctor Lin said, "There are no major issues. Don't run around recently; rest well. As for you, come with me to the back to grind the medicine and prepare a medicinal bath."
"Doctor Lin, I can help too," Lan Yan offered, raising her hand.
She was immediately refused by Jun Yelan. "No, you stay here. I'll go." He followed Doctor Lin.
Doctor Lin seemed pleased. He gathered the medicinal herbs into a basket and handed it to Jun Yelan. "These are for external use. Grind them into powder and put them here. Then, go boil water and pour it into the large tub in the room."
This was originally the task for his apprentice, but the apprentice had committed an offense and was now being punished to sweep the floors in the back.
Jun Yelan nodded. "Alright." He took the basket aside, sat down, and began pounding the herbs.
Doctor Lin looked up. From this position, he could see Lan Yan inside. Fortunately, it wasn't just the young girl with one-sided affection; her feelings were reciprocated.
He stroked his beard and walked inside.
Jun Yelan worked quickly, finishing grinding the medicinal powder and preparing the bath.
"Take off your clothes and get into the tub," Doctor Lin instructed. Jun Yelan complied.
Lan Yan hobbled over, blinking her eyes, and asked, "Do you need my help?" She had experience with bathing.
As soon as she spoke, she was unceremoniously ushered out, only able to sit by the doorway and peer inside expectantly.
Jun Yelan couldn't help but look outside as well.
"Focus!" Doctor Lin said sternly. "Your meridians have been severed for a long time; they cannot be reconnected in a single day. You need to soak here for three days, and you must not concern yourself with anything that happens during this time."
"Also, because the meridians are being reconnected, it will be excruciatingly painful, a bone-piercing agony. It's not too late to regret it now."
Jun Yelan merely looked at Lan Yan's figure outside the door, his eyes filled with determination. "Even if it costs me half my life, I will do this." He stepped into the tub without hesitation, immediately breaking out in a cold sweat, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, his face had turned ashen.
Doctor Lin applied the ground powder to Jun Yelan's wrist and opened the door to leave.
Lan Yan, who had been waiting for a long time, walked over and asked, "Doctor Lin, how is he?"
"His will is strong; he will endure. As for you, I told you to rest, so stop worrying." Doctor Lin almost sighed; this worrying nature was very similar to his son's.
Lan Yan was indeed worried about Jun Yelan's health. Since Doctor Lin had said so, she could only reply, "Alright, I'll listen to you." She returned to the front hall, propped her head, and waited.
Meanwhile, in the back of the mountain, the apprentice saw a one-handed man take the medicine packet from him. "Will this really keep my master from finding out?"
"Of course," Du Yin smiled. "If you don't do something, your master is going to take Lan Yan as a disciple. Then, you'll be kicked out. You don't want to be homeless, do you!"
The apprentice hesitated. He had barely escaped the floods in his hometown and then met Doctor Lin. He didn't want to lose this opportunity. He nodded. "Okay, I'll put it in."
He turned and left, pouring the medicine packet into the tub of soaking herbs. As he did, his hand trembled, and the packet fell to the edge of the tub. He quickly left.
Du Yin, having watched the apprentice complete his task, revealed a triumphant smile and stood in the back of the mountain.
Doctor Lin, seeing that enough time had passed, entered the room, poured the herbs from the tub into the bathing vat, and then went out.
Jun Yelan continued to soak. Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his body, followed by an icy chill. He couldn't help but frown as blood rushed to his head, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He realized something was wrong but couldn't get up. He could only tap the tub with his fingers.
No one was outside the door.
Lan Yan in the front hall felt uneasy and walked towards Jun Yelan's room. She couldn't see anything and turned to leave when she heard a faint sound. She quickly pushed the door open.
Seeing Jun Yelan's pale complexion, she cried out in panic, "Doctor Lin!"
Jun Yelan, in his daze, saw a figure and closed his eyes in relief.
Doctor Lin rushed in, shouting, "Bring me the acupuncture needles from my table!" How could this have happened so suddenly? He glanced at the water in the tub; the color was wrong!
"Get him out first."
"Okay." Lan Yan and Doctor Lin each took a side and pulled Jun Yelan onto the bed.
Doctor Lin took Jun Yelan's pulse by the bedside.
Lan Yan, worried, ran over with the acupuncture needles. She watched Doctor Lin perform the acupuncture and took a towel to wipe the sweat from Jun Yelan's forehead.
Two hours later, Jun Yelan's complexion finally calmed down. He was placed back into the bath tub with fresh water.
Lan Yan breathed a sigh of relief, tucked Jun Yelan in, and then looked at the bathtub. "Only a few of us are here, so the one who tampered with it must be one of us."
She thought of the apprentice outside the room, besides the three in the room. She said, "Doctor Lin, he is your apprentice. Would you be willing to let me handle him?"
Doctor Lin had also guessed who was responsible and said, heartbroken, "He is no longer my disciple."
With that, Lan Yan glanced at Jun Yelan and then went out to apprehend the apprentice.
The apprentice was still holding a broom. Seeing Lan Yan approaching angrily, he lowered his head.
Lan Yan saw his obvious guilt and kicked over the broom. "Tell me, who told you to do this?"
"You, what are you talking about!" the apprentice stammered.
Seeing the apprentice deny it, Lan Yan wasn't in a hurry. She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the main entrance. "You poisoned the medicine; you should be imprisoned. If you don't want to reveal the mastermind, then take the blame for him!"
She was too lazy to continue arguing, closed the door, and shut out this troublemaker.
"No, Master, save me!" the apprentice cried from outside the door, but it was no use. He fell into despair and was taken away by the constables Lan Yan had called.
After he left, Du Yin emerged, gritting his teeth. "No, we absolutely cannot let Jun Yelan recover his martial arts. It seems we have to use the people left behind by the Master!"