“I am a physician from Jongan academy! If you need help, please come to me!” Yu Lin screamed out again. No one wanted to approach her as they all just stood by their houses. Yu Lin stopped screaming as she just continued to sit there. She had known that from past experience that she was not going to get much from wasting her energy. She had to wait for someone to come to her first.
After half an hour or so, a woman finally approached her approached her. The woman was carrying a baby in her hands. Her face was wrinkled with grief and her eyes cloudy with fatigue.
“Are you… really a physician?” she asked, her voice was hoarse and her lips chapped.
“Yes. I am really a physician,” Yu Lin replied. The woman’s pupils trembled as she handed Yu Lin her baby. Her baby was letting out loud cries of discomfort.
“My baby… my baby… please save my baby!” she begged as tears rolled down her dirty cheeks. “I… don’t have much… but please, I will give you anything you want! Please just save my child!” Yu Lin gently picked up the child from out of the woman’s hand.
Yu Lin bit her lips as she looked at how the only thing the baby had around it was a dirty rag. She took in a deep breath before placing her fingers on the baby’s forehead. She felt its temperature was too high to be normal, and yet the baby’s complexion showed that what he was suffering from was more than just a fever. She set the baby on the table and slowly removed the baby’s blanket to find small bite marks. Some of the bite marks had puss oozing through them.
“What is this? Rat bites?” Yu Lin asked as she looked up at the mother. The mother face flushed red for a moment before she looked down in shame.
“Our… our house is… our house is not in the best shape. We don’t even have a bed… our only choice is to sleep on the floor and sometimes…” tears sprung out of her eyes as she covered her mouth.
Yu Lin didn’t ask any more questions as she paid her attention back to the crying baby. She looked down at her herbs and started to pack two separate bags for the woman. One she tied with a red string and the other she tied with a blue string. After she was done she took some herbs and brought out her mortar. She mashed the herb up and when it was slimy she pasted them onto the bite marks. After that, she took the rag and passed it back to the woman and wrapped the baby in a new clean cloth. When she did so, the baby had stopped crying.
“You can take him back,” she said as she handed the baby back to the woman along with the two packages of herbs, “this is not hard to prepare. The one with the red string you can mash up if you have a mortar, if not then chew it up and then place it on his wounds. The other one you can burn in your house and the smoke will keep the rats away,” she told her. The woman bowed deeply to Yu Lin many times.
“Thank you! Thank you!” she said.
“Stop. You can stop now,” Yu Lin said to her and she did as she wiped her tears away.
“How… how can I pay you back?” she asked. “I only have this body of mine and nothing else to give.”
“Good,” Yu Lin said, “what I want is a part of your body.”
“Huh?” the woman looked at Yu Lin with fear in her eyes.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Yu Lin quickly said as a chi energy stone appeared in her hand, “all I need is a little bit of your chi energy,” Yu Lin said as she held out the chi energy stone in front of the woman. The woman looked up at her with a blank face, as if she couldn’t believe what Yu Lin was saying.
“T-that… that’s all?” she trembled. Yu Lin nodded her head.
“This is all I want,” Yu Lin said. Tears burst out of the woman’s eyes as she set her palm over the chi energy stone. After a moment she pulled her hand away and the stone was now a fourth full of chi energy.
“I don’t have a huge chi center, so this is all I can give to you,” the woman said.
“No, this is enough. Thank you,” Yu Lin gave her a reassuring look. The woman smiled and gave Yu Lin another bow.
“Thank you physician,” she said before sniffling and walking away, rocking her baby.
Yu Lin let out a small breath as she saw her carrying her child away. She stared in the distance for a moment before realizing that people were now peeking out of their houses. She cleared her throat.
“Please come! If you need help, please come see me! I will charge you whatever I have charged the previous woman, so please come!” she yelled out. When she yelled this out people slowly, one by one, started to inch towards her. Yu Lin let out a sigh of relief as she welcomed them.
-
He Lan and Mei Rong paroled the forest together as they kept their eyes out for any beasts that could potentially harm the village.
“Xiao Lan?” Mei Rong suddenly asked. He Lan jumped a bit surprised before he looked down to see a frown on Mei Rong’s face.
“Y-you haven’t called me that in a long time… what’s wrong?” he asked.
“You… you haven’t forgotten about her?”
“Her? Who are you talking about?” He Lan frowned. Mei Rong looked up at him.
“You know who I’m talking about!”
“Who?”
“Du Yu Lin! I’m talking about Du Yu Lin!” she exclaimed. He Lan stopped walking. He looked through the forest with a complicated expression.
“I… I-”
“Emergency! We need help!” He Lan turned his head to see Li Ying running towards them and he started to run towards her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jin Long saw a group of demon beasts running towards the village! We need to go help now!” she yelled. He Lan’s eyes widened as he nodded and they started to head towards the village.
-
A couple hours passed before the last one in line finally came up to Yu Lin. It was an old woman with wrinkles spread throughout her face.
“What’s wrong, elder?” Yu Lin asked. The old woman looked down at her and gave her a small smile.
“I am getting headaches these days before I go to sleep. Is there anything you can recommend me?” she asked.
“Please sit, let me examine you,” Yu Lin said as she patted on the part of the table that was empty. The old woman took her seat as Yu Lin placed her fingers on the old woman’s forehead.
“You… what is your name?” she asked as Yu Lin picked up her wrist and felt her pulse.
“My name? Why do you want to know?” Yu Lin asked as she gently pulled down the bottom part of the old woman’s eyelid.
“I am curious. Can you not tell an old lady your name?”
“No. I’m sorry elder, my name is Du Yu Lin,” Yu Lin felt the old woman’s upper arms and nodded as she started to make a package for the lady.
“Tell me, why is a female in a male uniform?” the old lady suddenly whispered. Yu Lin froze for a second, before turning her head to the old lady.
“Elder… how you can tell?” she asked. The old lady gave Yu Lin a small laugh before reaching into her sleeves and pulling out a necklace. The necklace was made out of a leather string and had a stone pendant. The lady put the necklace over Yu Lin’s head before settling it on her neck. Yu Lin looked at her confused. “Elder… what is this?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“This is… a favor I am repaying a certain someone.”
“Favor?”
“About a few years ago a young lady came to me with this necklace. She told me of my son’s fate and told me that if I wanted to save my son I should do as she said. At first I was skeptical, but I would rather be safe than sorry. I did as she said and my son was saved. To return her favor she ask that if I ever meet a physician who’s name is Du Yu Lin, I give this to her. She also told that Du Yu Lin was not a normal physician. It’s only that I finally understood what she meant,” the old lady chuckled. Yu Lin frowned.
“What was her name?”
“I’m sorry physician. She told me that when the time comes she will meet you and that when she does she has a lot of things to tell you, but… she never gave me her name. All I can tell you is that if you keep that necklace on then one day, you will meet her one day,” the old lady said. Yu Lin nodded her head as she finished preparing the old lady’s medicine.
“Please boil this to drink after dinner. It shall help you with your headaches,” Yu Lin handed her the package.
“Thank you, physician,” the old lady said as she gave Yu Lin a bow. Yu Lin also gave her a head bow out of respect. The old lady placed her hand over the chi energy stone and left some chi before leaving. Yu Lin watched the old lady walk away and she was in deep thought for a moment before she started packing her things. She stood up and her back was faced towards the busy street.
“Yu Lin!” she felt someone tap her shoulder and she turned around to see Yang Yang standing there with a smile on her face. “Did you make a lot of money today?”
“Money? Ah… so-so.”
“So-so?”
“Mhmm. So-so,” Yu Lin nodded her head.
“I see…I came to get you. you want to head back to the entrance together then?” Yang Yang asked.
“I still need to pack. You can head on before me,” Yu Lin said. Yang Yang frowned before nodding her head.
“Alright. I’m leaving first!” she said as she started to walk away. Yu Lin looked at her and shrugged before continuing her packing.
“New student,” she felt another tap on her shoulder and she looked behind her to see Sartuo there, “we should get going. Teacher Li told me to come get everyone so he can get a headcount.”
“Okay. Go on ahead first, I still need to pack.”
“Alright,” he said before leaving her. Yu Lin went on to pack again.
“Yu Lin,” she felt another tap on her shoulder and she turned around to see Chen Hua standing there.
“Yes?”
“Did you get a lot of patients today?”
“So-so,” Yu Lin said as she turned back to continue packing.
“So-so? What’s that suppose to mean?”
“It means,” Yu Lin turned back around as she finished putting everything in her endless bracelet, “that I got enough,” she answered him. Chen Hua let out a laugh before nodding his head.
“Okay then. You want to head back together?”
“Sure,” Yu Lin replied. The two started to head back to the entrance.
“You are not a chatterbox it seems,” Chen Hua suddenly said.
“Mhmm. I… I don’t like speak much.”
“Is that so? I see… but you have quite an interesting voice.”
“Interesting voice?”
“Un. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone have such a husky voice.”
“That’s all it takes to make a voice interesting?”
“Of course not! It’s just… your voice doesn’t necessarily sound like a male or female. That’s the interesting part.”
“Ah… I see.”
“But that not’s a bad thing! It’s a go-”
“Chen Hua!” they turned around to see Yamanaru standing there, “I need some help!” he called out. Chen Hua frowned before looking at Yu Lin.
“You return first, I will go see what’s wrong,” he said. Yu Lin nodded and Chen Hua ran towards Yamanaru. Yu Lin just shrugged and was beginning to turn around when she felt someone’s hand grab her arm and force her around.
“I am warning you,” Qian Su hissed in her face, “to pack your bags and get out of Jongan academy! Or else...” Yu Lin pushed her arms off and glared down at her.
“Or else what? What are you going to do to me?” Yu Lin asked. Qian Su narrowed her eyes at her.
“Y-y-you,” she pointed at Yu Lin, “You just watch. If you don’t leave… you will not live a happy life here!” she hissed before bumping Yu Lin’s shoulder and stomping her way towards Chen Hua. Yu Lin just rolled her eyes before continuing to walk to the entrance.
Yu Lin was closed to the entrance as she saw Yang Yang waving at her. She gave a slight wave back, but her arm stopped mid air when she suddenly heard a scream behind her.
“Help! Help!” cries rang out and she turned around to see all the patients she just help run towards her. Behind them were four Demon Silver Clawed Apes who ran full speed at them. The apes were three times the human’s size and their eyes glowed a bright red, indicating they were in rage. Yu Lin’s eyes widened as she saw one of the kids she had checked up being picked up by the ape. The child cried out as he was being lifted into the air. She stomped her foot down as she leaped towards the ape.
“Ahh! Mommy!” the child cried as his mother cried out for him down below. Yu Lin pushed herself upwards and in midair she twisted her body as her leg landed on the apes upper arm and the ape roared as it dropped the boy. Yu Lin put her feet down to make herself fall faster as she caught the boy in her arms.
“Thank you! Thank you!” the mother cried out as Yu Lin handed her the boy.
“Run!” Yu Lin ordered as she gave the mother a push and turned her head back towards the apes. She balled her fists, ready to fight as all four apes surrounded her.
“Kaaaakkkk!” one of them bared its fangs at her as it swung at her with its fist which had large claws hovering on it. Yu Lin jumped to dodge it and as she was in the air another ape swung at her. She saw the ape’s arm coming and she lifted her leg up. When the ape’s arm came she kicked it and she heard the ape cry as a bone snapped.
Another ape tried to grab her arm as she was falling and she swung her body upwards, landing her kick into the ape’s arm. The ape squealed as it let her go and she was back down on the ground. She kicked one of the apes in the abdomen and the ape moved to the side as she started to run away. She didn’t leap as she wanted to lead the apes after her, and after her they came. She ran towards the direction of the entrance as she saw other apes coming from the other way.
“Hide! Run away!” she screamed to the stall owners as they started to run into buildings. Yu Lin kept running and she looked behind her to see a woman still trying to pack some things. Yu Lin clenched her teeth as she was going to run back to help her, but realized that the apes were completely ignoring that woman and not only were they ignoring that woman, they were ignoring everyone around them and going solely for Yu Lin. Yu Lin frowned, confused, but was a bit glad as she didn’t have to defend anyone else.
She ran outside the village as she left the entrance and the apes charged at her. She pushed her heel down to break as she turned to face the apes. She concentrated on her chi as her skin began to toughen up, becoming as hard as leather. She clenched her fists as the first one came and focused her chi onto her fists, and her legs.
“Arrgh!” she yelled out as she punched the first one in the stomach. The ape fell down and she continued punching the others in the faces and other critical spots to make them fall.
One of them reached out to scratch her, tearing her leg pants but her skin was too tough to pierce through. She clenched her teeth still feeling the pain of the nail as she kicked the ape's fist, breaking through its claws and reaching its knuckles. The ape screamed as it backed away holding its fist.
Yu Lin didn’t stop as she saw new ones coming and old ones were getting back up to fight her. Her eyebrows furrowed together. ‘Why are they still getting back up? They usually stop and lose their rage once they are knocked down and will return to normal. Afterwards, they will go and run back to the forest. Why are they still getting back up?!’ Yu Lin asked herself as she continued to fight them.
“KEEEEEEKKK!” Yu Lin closed one of her eyes to bear the pain as she heard one of them screech loudly. She looked above one of the apes to see an ape about five times the size of a normal human running at her. This ape had a silver streak of hair running down its back and Yu Lin knew this one was the king of this pack. ‘As long as I defeat this one, then the others shall all retreat… or at least I hope,’ Yu Lin thought as she kicked another one in the face. She stomped her feet and leaped back to give herself some distance with the rest of them. She breathed in and concentrated at the king ape coming as she gathered her chi energy together. ‘Just one good hit and this might all end… just one go-’
“M-master!” she heard Nie Fu’s voice calling out to her side and she saw Nie Fu running towards her, presumably to help her. A distance behind Nie Fu she saw Zhi Shu, the other Medicinal Studies students, and the elves flying closer. She shook her head.
“Go away!” she yelled at Nie Fu. She didn’t want him to intrude into the fight because she didn’t want another burden. She didn’t feel too worried though, because so far the only one the apes had seemed to be coming onto was her.
“But mas-” Yu Lin did not hear Nie Fu’s voice as she saw the king ape suddenly turned his head. The king looked at Nie Fu, and grinned as it started to run towards Nie Fu. Yu Lin’s eyes grew as she was confused, but now she also had to hurry.
“Sir Su! Run!” she yelled to him but Nie Fu’s face had turned pale and Yu Lin had remembered him telling her he was sick. Yu Lin clenched her teeth as she changed her course of direction and started to leap towards him.
Yu Lin was fast, but so was the ape as it reached closer and closer. Sweat trickled down Yu Lin’s forehead as she saw Nie Fu tried to run back. Before Nie Fu could get far he fell down and held on to his stomach. He looked horrified as his jaw and eyes trembled at the sight of the ape getting closer and closer. ‘I won’t reach in time to defend. I won’t be able to,’ in that moment Yu Lin clenched her teeth as she made a choice.
-
Mei Rong rushed towards the entrance as He Lan and the other seniors were taking care of the demon apes at the back of the village. Mei Rong almost reached the Medicinal Studies teacher when she saw that another healer had fallen. Adrenaline pumped through her as she started to run. As she ran she saw a familiar figure run towards the healer that had fallen. Her eyes widened as she came to a full stop. The white strands of hair, the red eyes, and the white spot gave away the person. Mei Rong would’ve had enough time to help the healer, but instead, her hand that had held the store trembled as her pupils shook.
“Du… Du… Du Yu Lin?” she muttered before she saw Yu Lin wrap her arms around the healer, as a mother would do to protect her child, and the ape's claws came down at Yu Lin’s back.