7 Days CXS - 3

CHAPTER 3: Day Three

Physicians are not hard to come by; in fact, within the Shen Manor, they are dime a dozen. Among them are no lack of minor living Hua Tuos and secondary Bian鹊es [note: legendary ancient physicians] of varying renown in the jianghu, all gathered right here in the Shen Manor, swarming together whenever Eldest Brother's concubines have so much as a slight headache or fever.

I’ve always enjoyed robust health and have never run into any serious injuries, so I haven’t had much chance to test the prowess of these estate physicians. As such, whether they are good or not isn’t my place to say. But if you ask me, handing a severely wounded flower thief who starts coughing blood the moment he wakes over to those doctors who only spend their days tending to women leaves me somewhat lacking in medical confidence.

There are good physicians outside as well; I, Shen Heng, have traveled the jianghu for a spell and still carry a shred of face. The trouble is that the Shen Manor is currently on high alert, and if I were to pick someone of dubious character who happened to harbor wild, delusional ambitions toward Ah-Ke, it would be akin to inviting a wolf right into the house.

Calculating it all down, there is only one person whose medical skills are brilliant and whom I can fully trust—a figure known throughout the jianghu as "Seven-Step Smile," also respectfully addressed as the Seventh Young Master, Ouyang Qi.

One rumor about his moniker says it refers to his lightning-fast swordplay; if anyone can manage to block seven of his moves under his blade, they should consider themselves lucky. Another rumor speaks of his medical prowess; if he casts a glance at you, and as you walk within seven steps, you manage a single smile, then no matter what terminal illness you have, you are saved.

He isn't considered core family of the Shen Manor, but his relationship with Eldest Brother is quite good, second only to the closeness between Shen Pian, myself, and Eldest Brother. One piece of evidence for this is that, as part of the defense against flower thieves, he was banished to the kitchen.

This is the only time I’ve ever questioned a decision made by Eldest Brother.

Ouyang is great in every respect, except for one thoroughly undesirable flaw.

He chops people up just like an ordinary person chopping vegetables, and chops vegetables just like an ordinary person chopping people.

With the day growing late, Shen Pian first returned to the pigsty to check in on his gilts, leaving me behind in the stable to feed Treading Snow a bit. Afterward, I carried the flower thief and the straw to a safer, quieter spot out of Treading Snow’s direct line of sight and laid him flat. Once dawn broke, I planned to sneak off to the kitchen while fetching water and wiping down Treading Snow, and lure Ouyang out to treat his injuries.

And by the way, make him bring a couple of steamed buns.

Musing thus, I drifted into a light doze.

In my half-slumber, I could hear that the flower thief’s breathing was still rather faint, though he had breath in him, occasionally blowing a piece of straw upward and brushing against my skin with an itchy tickle.

The next morning, as soon as I crawled out of bed, I made a bee-line straight for the kitchen.

Ouyang was already up, brandishing a broom in the small courtyard outside the kitchen to practice his renowned Thirteen Forms, sending the chickens flying and kicking up a suffocating cloud of dust.

Seeing me approach, he arched an eyebrow.

"Why isn't the Second Young Master properly feeding his horses, running over here for what?"

As I rubbed my hands together with a flattering smile, he coldly cut off my words: "Today I don't have any steamed buns here!"

"No, I... I..." I gave a dry cough. "Ouyang, I’m asking you to go save someone."

As a general rule, anyone with exceptional medical skills is loath to save people. This is an unwritten convention of the jianghu.

Ouyang, however, is the exception; he loves saving people. As long as that person lets him take a look and cracks even a slight smile.

Naturally, as a result, Ouyang almost never smiles under normal circumstances, always wearing a deadpan expression. Even though he is remarkably handsome, a subtle chill always lingers between his brows and the corners of his eyes, sending a cold shiver down anyone's spine at first glance.

Still, after interacting for so long, I had a rough idea in my head of what kind of types would make him crack a smile.

For instance, when he looks at me, it’s as if he’s looking at his father’s killer.

But when he looks at Ah-Ke, it's like watching a stand-up comedian.

External foes are easy to ward off, but domestic ones are hard to guard against.

It took all the pulling, dragging, and sweet-talking I could muster to finally make him nod and agree to come take a look.

Putting everything else aside, I still had a fair bit of confidence in that flower thief's looks. Even though he’s a man and Young Master Ouyang probably wouldn't bend over backward laughing like he does when he sees Ah-Ke, if he could manage to evoke a gentle smile from him, the man’s life could be saved.

Yet I miscalculated after all. When we parted the straw, Ouyang didn't smile; instead, he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

"A peerless beauty..."

If I hadn't heard Ouyang murmur those very words, I genuinely would have thought that while I was asleep the day before, I had failed to keep watch and let Treading Snow kick Yin Cheng right across the face.

"I'll save him," Ouyang said earnestly. "For all these years, this is the first time I've ever encountered someone who could make my heart flutter."

"Then what does that make Ah-Ke?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

"The Fourth Young Miss is radiant as a flower and exquisite as jade, intoxicating to behold."

"What about Third Bro?" I remembered that out of ten times he saw Shen Pian, nine of those times would feature a slight smile.

"...Hmph, the Third Young Master is dashing and refined, enough to make one's heart yield."

"What about Eldest Brother?"

Ouyang's expression twitched slightly.

"...The... the Manor Lord... he... he... is heroically formidable, enough to make one's heart palpitate with awe."

"Then what am I?"

Ouyang swept a glance over me, a mix of disdain and pity.

"Pardon my bluntness, Second Young Master, but your looks truly break one's heart."

A divine physician is indeed a divine physician; his methods are extraordinary. When Ouyang left, he mentioned that the fellow would likely wake up by evening; and sure enough, while I was chewing on a steamed bun and replacing Treading Snow's evening hay, I heard a soft groan by my feet. Looking down, I locked eyes straight with his gaze.

You—

Seeing my face, he furrowed his brows slightly, then immediately turned murderous: "Beast, what are you trying to pull again!"

I sat down beside him, causing his body to visibly flinch.

"To subject me to such humiliation—even if I, Yin Cheng, turn into a ghost, I will never let you go!"

Presumably because the acupoints Ouyang had pressed hadn't worn off yet, he couldn't move either, his voice shrill and piercing enough to make one's skin crawl.

I hastily broke off half a steamed bun and haphazardly shoved it into his mouth, forcibly cutting off his voice.

Yet, biting down on the bun, he stared fixedly at me, slowly letting tears slip down his jade-white cheeks, looking achingly pitiful.

A stir went through my heart, and just as I wanted to open my mouth to comfort him a bit, I saw him tilt his head and pass out once more.

"He choked."

Ouyang, who had been dragged over once again, delivered a concise and straightforward diagnosis.

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