BFDNS 071

Chapter 71: Evil Wind

“Uncle Pang still hasn’t returned this late?”

It was already evening. Pang Boyi sat on the edge of the bed supporting his forehead, wearing a heavy cloak over a padded dark robe. His complexion was poor as he asked the young servant attending him.

The servant shook his head. “In the morning, a mule cart came from the Pan residence saying they needed to fetch a physician. But it’s been several shichen since they left, and I don’t know when Uncle Pang will return.”

“The Pan residence?” Pang Boyi was slightly surprised.

He had rarely managed to fall asleep earlier, and when he woke, Uncle Pang was already gone. He had assumed Uncle Pang was out on his usual business.

Afterward, Pang Boyi’s headache had been unbearable. After taking calming pills, he had been drowsy and half-conscious, with no energy to ask where Uncle Pang had gone.

Only now did he finally feel somewhat better.

Pang Boyi said to his personal servant, “Go to the Pan residence and ask where they went to fetch a physician.”

For him to still not have returned this late, could they have left the county seat?

…

The valley was perpetually shrouded in darkness. During the day, light leaked through the canyon crevice that hung like a line in the sky, refracting in thin, elongated beams on all sides, dotting the emerald green valley cliffs.

Now, shortly after entering the hour of Shen (6pm), the light seemed to hide itself. Vision grew hazy, and the mountain shadows appeared to converge toward the center at this moment, making the traveling merchant caravan seem even smaller and more pitiful.

The atmosphere suddenly took on an urgent quality, and everyone wanted to reach the inn as quickly as possible.

“Whoa, “

“Whoa, “

The vehicles stopped one by one as the drivers silently hung lanterns on the carriages.

The traveling visibility brightened somewhat, and the convoy set out again.

Inside the carriage, Xu Yi lifted a corner of the window curtain to look outside.

It was pitch black, and he couldn’t see much in his line of sight, only dark, looming giant shadows everywhere. The terror of traveling came entirely from these mountain shadows.

The temperature in the valley dropped even lower at nightfall. In just this short time, Xu Yi felt his fingertips growing cold where they rested by the window.

He withdrew his hand and looked at the lantern burning inside the carriage.

The lantern’s frame was made of bamboo, with thin bamboo paper pasted on all four sides. It could be opened up and down to light the wick in the oil dish inside, then closed again so the light wouldn’t be blown out by the wind. Placed on the low table in the middle of the carriage, it was fairly stable.

Besides this, charcoal burned in the carriage, dispelling much of the cold seeping in from all directions.

Uncle Tang sat cross-legged with his eyes closed in meditation. Xu Yi wasn’t talkative, and with no one speaking to him, he closed his eyes and mentally reviewed the patient cases he had studied.

After a long while, the convoy’s forward speed slowed.

Outside, excited voices shouted, “The inn is ahead!”

At this, Xu Yi opened his eyes and found Uncle Tang had opened his as well.

The two exchanged a glance, then discreetly lifted the curtain to look ahead. Sure enough, they saw two very large lanterns glowing in the distance.

The shadows of the lights flickered, and they could vaguely make out buildings behind them.

This location was remote and sparsely populated. If not for the many merchant caravans passing through on this route, there might not even be an inn here.

Having spotted the inn, the convoy soon stopped outside its entrance.

Everyone disembarked. As soon as Xu Yi climbed down from the carriage, another person appeared beside him, the fierce-looking, unapproachable-seeming burly man.

He glanced over, and the burly man also looked toward him.

The two didn’t speak. After the drivers pulled the vehicles inside the inn, a boy about sixteen or seventeen years old came out.

“Are you guests staying at the inn?” he inquired.

Uncle Tang stepped forward, nodded at him, and said, “We need five ordinary rooms and five kettles of hot water.”

Hot water at the inn cost money, without payment, one couldn’t use it. Everyone had been traveling most of the day and wanted to use hot water to soak their feet before getting a good night’s sleep.

However, the shop boy said, “The inn doesn’t have enough rooms. We only have three available. Do you still want them, guests?”

Uncle Tang and everyone else fell silent.

Only three rooms, how were they supposed to stay? With Xu Yi joining this merchant convoy trip, they had thirteen people in total. Even five rooms would have been cramped.

Uncle Tang frowned. “None left at all?”

Behind him, someone spoke with dissatisfaction, “We’ve been to this inn several times, and we’ve never lacked rooms before. Are you trying to deceive us, boy?”

Then others chimed in, “Yes, yes, how can there only be three rooms?”

“…”

Several people at the back voiced their displeasure, their faces extremely displeased.

The shop boy wasn’t afraid of them and still spoke politely, “To be honest, today is just this unlucky. Two merchant caravans checked in right before you. Uncle Tang, if you find this suitable, follow me inside to rest. If not, turn left outside and travel another five li, there’s an open space where you can rest.”

Having said this, the shop boy went back inside.

Uncle Tang shot a sharp glance at those who had spoken and said coldly, “Have you forgotten the rules of joining my caravan? When conducting business outside, you mustn’t be rash. You think he’s just a boy, but do you know what this place is? This is a government-run hostel. How can you speak out of turn?”

Those few people, having been scolded, all lowered their heads, not daring to be presumptuous.

There was no choice, even with only three rooms, they had to check in.

They would just have to squeeze several people into one room, barely managing to have a place to stay.

Uncle Tang called Xu Yi to share a room with him. Zhang Tiegou also wanted to join them. Uncle Tang looked at him and just nodded in agreement.

“Brother Xu, that’s wonderful, I get to share a room with you tonight.” Zhang Tiegou happily said to Xu Yi, taking the initiative to carry Xu Yi’s luggage.

Then he whispered in his ear, “Later, I’ll pour hot water into your warming bottle so you can warm your feet.”

Xu Yi: “…” He wasn’t so delicate as to need that.

The warming bottle had been stuffed in his pack by Ah Xu, likely out of concern that he wouldn’t be comfortable staying away from home.

They all went upstairs together. The inn had two floors. It was in disrepair, and as they walked along the outdoor corridor, it creaked noisily.

When they opened the room door, dust came billowing out, choking their noses and throats with itchiness.

“So much dust.”

Zhang Tiegou complained with a displeased frown.

Uncle Tang’s expression was equally unpleasant.

Xu Yi’s gaze swept inside. The room wasn’t large, only about ten square meters, with two beds placed side by side and a small daybed for resting.

Beyond that, the inn lacked everything it should have had.

Surprise appeared in Xu Yi’s eyes.

So this was what the inn was like? But judging from Uncle Tang and Zhang Tiegou’s expressions, under normal circumstances it would be somewhat better, not reduced to this state.

Though the others were dissatisfied, they didn’t dare show it as they had before.

Everyone silently entered in turn, cleaned the beds and daybed, then followed Uncle Tang’s arrangements.

Very unfortunately, Xu Yi and the fierce burly man were paired together.

Xu Yi: “…”

Zhang Tiegou wanted to stay with Xu Yi and the others, but Uncle Tang said that bed couldn’t fit three people and told him to sleep alone on the small daybed.

Of them all, Zhang Tiegou was the tallest. He pouted but had to accept his fate.

After a while, the shop boy came knocking with hot water, set it down, and left.

Xu Yi’s share of hot water wasn’t much, only enough to wipe his feet. Zhang Tiegou wanted to give his portion to Xu Yi to fill the warming bottle, but Xu Yi refused.

After they had all finished washing, Xu Yi went over to Uncle Tang’s side.

He asked in confusion, “The shop boy mentioned an open space for resting five li away. Why aren’t we going there?”

Uncle Tang told him, “There are graves behind that place, it’s very inauspicious. I’ve heard that many merchant caravans used to rest there, and later they all had incidents.”

Over time, these passing merchant caravans no longer dared stop there.

The shop boy dared say such things because he wasn’t worried about the inn lacking guests, unless the merchants stopped traveling this stretch of the Shu Road altogether.

Xu Yi: “…”

By the hour of You (6pm), the sky outside had turned completely dark.

A bean-sized lamp wick burned in the room. Uncle Tang and the others had all taken off their shoes and lay on the beds with their eyes closed.

Before long, ear-splitting snoring erupted like thunder.

Xu Yi looked toward the snoring person, it was his good brother Zhang Tiegou.

His lips twitched slightly with some helplessness. He also prepared to take off his shoes and lie on the bed, but then he saw that the fierce burly man hadn’t gone to sleep. With arms crossed over his chest, he was looking at Xu Yi with a strange expression.

“Something the matter?” Xu Yi’s expression remained composed, though he imperceptibly retreated a few inches.

The burly man, who had been mute all day, finally spoke, asking in a hoarse voice, “You can treat illnesses?”

Xu Yi said, “Depends on what illness.”

Some illnesses couldn’t be cured.

Some illnesses he didn’t know how to treat.

The burly man continued, “When the merchant convoy returns to the county seat, I’d like to ask you to examine someone.”

“Who?” Xu Yi narrowed his eyes.

The burly man: “It’s a, “

He stopped mid-sentence, sitting bolt upright on the bed. Xu Yi likewise raised an eyebrow and suddenly looked toward the door.

Downstairs at the inn, hurried footsteps were coming up to the second floor.

“Knock knock.”

Suddenly, the person outside stopped and knocked on the door.

The burly man got out of bed, put on his shoes, and reached for the curved blade beside him while saying to Xu Yi, “You stay here.”

He went to open the door and saw the shop boy who had received them, with a travel-worn old man beside him.

The burly man frowned and asked hoarsely, “What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

The shop boy smiled cheerfully. “This old gentleman is looking for someone, a Doctor Xu. Is he in your room?”

“Doctor Xu?” The burly man didn’t step aside, still blocking the doorway. “What do you want with Doctor Xu?”

The shop boy was about to speak when Uncle Pang beside him interrupted.

Uncle Pang gestured for him to wait, then said himself, “I’ve come to fetch Doctor Xu back to the county seat to examine my young master. I hope this good man will inform him. This old one would be extremely grateful.”

Uncle Pang had stuffing several large coins to the inn’s shop boy to guide him, and invoking Pan Wenji’s name as county sheriff. Only then had the shop boy been willing to bring him to find the person.

They had already asked at several rooms downstairs without finding Doctor Xu. Now they could only place their hopes in the rooms on the second floor.

Xu Yi and his group happened to be staying in the first room on the second floor, so they ran into the party as soon as they came up.

The burly man, hearing this, reluctantly turned back to look at Xu Yi, who was watching them.

“Doctor Xu, someone’s looking for you.”

Xu Yi raised his eyebrows: “?”

He walked over, looked at the shop boy at the door, then shifted his gaze to the old man beside him.

Xu Yi asked, “Is this old gentleman looking for me?”

Uncle Pang’s expression paused. The person who had returned with the message hadn’t mentioned that Doctor Xu was so young!

He collected himself and maintained his smile. “Yes, this old one has come on behalf of my young master to request you make a house call.”

He raised his head, his face showing age, then explained, “I shouldn’t intercept you like this halfway, but truly, my young master’s head ailment is severe. These past few days he cannot sleep at night, and grows thinner by the day. I fear that waiting for Doctor Xu’s return would take too long, and my young master would not be able to endure it. I hope Doctor Xu, seeing that this old one has pursued you for a full day, can agree to make the house call.”

Xu Yi’s spirits stirred slightly. This person had been following behind them all day?

He wanted to ask why it had taken so long to find them, as headache problems could be major or minor. If the headache was caused by brain lesions, that could be very troublesome.

But looking at this old man who was slightly bowing, gazing at him with complete sincerity, in the dim light, the white hairs covering his head were extremely conspicuous.

Xu Yi suddenly lost the desire to question him.

“Old gentleman.” Xu Yi supported the old man’s arm, having him stand straight to speak. “If that’s the case, then I’ll go back with you.”

Xu Yi glanced at the sky, the night dew was heavy, the mist thick. “Tonight is too late. Let’s rest at the inn first and discuss tomorrow.”

Uncle Pang nodded. “This old one was discourteous, coming to disturb Doctor Xu so late.”

Before his words finished, sounds came from inside the room. “Who’s outside?” Uncle Tang’s voice sounded behind Xu Yi.

Xu Yi turned back and explained to him in a low voice. Uncle Tang looked at Uncle Pang who had pursued them, and was stunned.

“I recognize you,” Uncle Tang said.

Having said this, he bowed to Uncle Pang. “Do you remember two years ago, your young master and I met near Fenshui? That year, my cart’s wheel broke down on the road, and you helped us fix it.”

Uncle Pang also realized, “It’s you!”

The two had only met briefly, yet who would have thought they’d have a chance to meet again?

Learning that they had come to ask Xu Yi to treat an illness, Uncle Tang said to Xu Yi quite willingly, “This Uncle Pang’s master is a great philanthropist. When we encountered trouble that year, he was teaching the local common people to read.”

Though it was only the most basic Thousand Character Classic, for those lower-class commoners, being able to recognize characters was rare and precious.

Hearing that Master Pang had a head ailment, Uncle Tang expressed concern and asked after him.

He told Uncle Pang that Xu Yi’s medical skills were exceptional, and if he went to examine him, he might be able to cure the head ailment.

…

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, everyone in the merchant convoy rose to wash up.

When everyone gathered downstairs, they learned that someone had come looking for Xu Yi the previous night, and Xu Yi couldn’t continue traveling with them.

“Why do you suddenly have to leave and not continue with us?” Ah Bao said with some regret. “Can’t you have the patient wait?”

Xu Yi blinked: “…”

Beside him, Zhang Tiegou said irritably, “By your logic, if illness can wait for people, shouldn’t reincarnation also have to wait?”

“Ah, what does this have to do with reincarnation?” Ah Bao didn’t understand his meaning.

Xu Yi said, “This Master Pang’s head ailment has been acting up for several days now. It cannot be delayed.”

“All right.”

Ah Bao thought for a moment and asked, “Will you travel with us again in the future? Zitong County has delicious thin crisps that aren’t sold in Yanting.”

Thin crisps, also called “crispy cakes,” were a snack that people of Zitong County had been making since the Han Dynasty. They were said to have excellent taste. Even Emperor Xuanzong, Li Longji, had praised them.

Xu Yi felt regretful, but between traveling and treating patients, he still chose the latter.

Zhang Tiegou said, “Brother Xu, I’ll bring these thin crisps back for you. I’ll make sure you eat your fill.”

“Good.” Xu Yi smiled.

Then he went to find Uncle Tang and took out a five-tael paper certificate from the money he’d brought, entrusting Uncle Tang to bring back some rare medicinal herbs that were hard to find from Zitong County.

Uncle Tang readily agreed, saying he would negotiate a price Xu Yi would be satisfied with.

…

Originally, Xu Yi had thought this trip to Zitong County would be a very interesting journey. Now it seemed the day when he could truly travel far was still distant.

At worst, he would just accumulate more clinical experience, which wasn’t a loss for him at all.

The two groups parted ways at the inn at daybreak, one continuing toward Zitong County, the other…

Xu Yi looked at Uncle Pang. “We should depart as well.”

Uncle Pang immediately said, “Doctor Xu, please ride with me. This mule cart is fairly spacious. When we reach the county seat, we should be able to enter the city in no time.”

Once in the city, they couldn’t delay, they’d have to go straight home.

Uncle Pang was anxious. He had left in such haste that he’d forgotten to have someone send word to the young master.

As they set off on their return journey, on the other side in Yanting County, Pang Boyi and Pan Wenji looked at each other in bewilderment, neither knowing where Uncle Pang had gone.

Last night, Pang Boyi had sent someone to the Pan residence to inquire. This time the steward didn’t dare make decisions on his own and immediately went to find Pan Wenji. Upon hearing about this, Pan Wenji rose from his study and went to the Pang residence.

After all this back and forth, they learned that Uncle Pang had gone to pursue Doctor Xu, who had left on a journey.

“I sent people to search outside the city. They said he went in the direction of Zitong County. Boyi, put your mind at ease. Uncle Pang is capable, nothing will happen to him.” Pan Wenji looked at his friend’s pale face and precarious appearance, feeling uncomfortable.

Pang Boyi said he wasn’t worried. “It’s just that my head ailment has troubled you all with this commotion. I’m truly ashamed.”

“Between you and me, what’s this talk?” Pan Wenji knitted his brows.

However, he still said, “The calming pills the last physician prescribed had no effect on you. You should stop taking them. When Uncle Pang brings back that Doctor Xu, let him examine you properly.”

“Mm.” Pang Boyi responded without saying more.

Before long, a young servant brought morning food. Pang Boyi had no appetite and only managed a few bites before having it taken away.

Pan Wenji wanted to urge him further but, seeing his condition, held back.

They waited like this until after the hour of Si (10am). As the sky gradually darkened and Pan Wenji thought those who went to search for Uncle Pang wouldn’t return, he heard the sound of vehicles stopping outside.

The searching and the returning vehicles had met halfway and come back together.

Xu Yi looked at these streets that were both strange and familiar, a subtle emotion rising in his heart.

But he was quickly ushered into the Pang residence by Uncle Pang, hurrying toward the main hall.

“Master Pan.” Uncle Pang walked ahead and was the first to see Pan Wenji. He quickly stopped to bow.

Behind him, Xu Yi also stopped, his gaze sweeping toward the person who had stopped ahead. He paused.

He quickly recovered and bowed. “Greetings, County Sheriff Pan.”

“It’s you?” Pan Wenji’s expression was strange. “Are you the Doctor Xu who makes the famous digestive pills?”

Xu Yi didn’t know what they were so surprised about and nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”

Pan Wenji sighed. “What a coincidence.”

The Doctor Xu they’d been searching for all this time turned out to be the person who had reported the kidnapping case.

Inside the room, when Pang Boyi saw Xu Yi, he had the same thought. How could that young man he’d seen at the marketplace be connected with the physician who made digestive pills?

But Xu Yi didn’t think much about it. The room was bright with lamps lit. Though the lighting wasn’t as good as daylight, he could see people’s complexions clearly.

This Master Pang had a pale, lusterless face, colorless lips, and a visibly haggard mental state.

Xu Yi went straight to the point: “How long has Master Pang had this head ailment?”

Pang Boyi collected his thoughts and looked at Xu Yi. “Five years now.”

Xu Yi asked again, “Does the headache occur on the left or right side?”

Pang Boyi: “Mostly on the left. When it starts, it feels as if something is causing trouble, and I often cannot sleep.”

Xu Yi: “Can you eat?”

Pang Boyi sighed softly. “When it’s severe, I have no appetite and cannot eat.”

Hearing this, Xu Yi frowned and had him extend his hand.

Pang Boyi didn’t treat him dismissively because of his young age and extended his hand for pulse diagnosis.

As soon as Xu Yi’s fingers touched the pulse, he detected a wiry pulse. He had him open his mouth to examine his tongue coating.

The coating was white, the heart rate rapid, accompanied by restlessness.

Xu Yi asked him, “Have your headaches been more severe these past few days, and have your eyes been frequently uncomfortable?”

“Indeed so.” Pang Boyi was astonished and asked how he could tell his eyes were also uncomfortable.

Xu Yi said, “This is wind evil stagnating in the Shaoyang meridian, with depression that cannot be expressed. Your heart often harbors suppressed matters, and now as winter has begun, encountering wind-cold makes the pain much worse.”

Pang Boyi fell silent. These words were accurate to some degree.

He quietly withdrew his hand, not daring to look at his friend’s eyes beside him.

Pan Wenji took a slow, deep breath and inquired of Xu Yi, “How can this be treated?”

Xu Yi said, “Ordinary pain-relieving decoctions won’t cure it, and taking calming pills will also be ineffective. I’ll first prescribe a formula for Master Pang to try. If two doses prove effective, he can continue taking it.”

Pan Wenji nodded and immediately called for a young servant to bring paper and brush.

Then he asked again, “If the right medicine is prescribed for this illness, can it be completely cured?”

“Yes.” Xu Yi nodded, looking at him. “This pattern differentiation is wind evil attacking upward to the Shaoyang meridian. Ultimately, it’s caused by depressed qi. Depression first injures the liver, then the gallbladder. The depression must be resolved. Resolving depression can resolve liver and gallbladder qi. The prescription I’m about to write will soothe the liver and gallbladder.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Master Pang.

This person appeared refined and uncommon, around forty years old, and was friends with the county sheriff of Yanting County. One could imagine he was no ordinary person.

He reminded him, “Master Pang, if you don’t want the illness to recur, you must avoid suppressing your qi and worrying your heart.”

Pang Boyi smiled wryly. “Pang has taken note.”

Having said this, the young servant who had gone for paper and brush returned with the ink and paper.

Xu Yi rose and came to sit at the table, taking up the brush to write the prescription.

The formula he prescribed used the Modified Sanpian Decoction. This prescription came from the Qing Dynasty physician Chen Shiduo’s “Dialectical Records.” The case recorded within was extremely similar to Pang Boyi’s symptoms, and the pulse and tongue coating were consistent.

Thus, he wrote down ten qian of chuanxiong, five qian of fresh white peony root, one qian of white mustard seed, two qian of cyperus, two qian of baizhi, and one qian each of bush cherry seed, licorice, and chaihu.

After finishing, he handed the prescription to Uncle Pang, having him fetch and decoct the medicine that very night.

“Take two doses of this decoction first. If it’s effective and the headache eases, you can call me back for a second examination, and I’ll decide whether to modify the prescription.” Xu Yi told them.

Uncle Pang’s hand holding the prescription trembled slightly.

This prescription was extremely different from those prescribed by the physicians who had previously treated Pang Boyi. He quickly put it away and expressed gratitude on Pang Boyi’s behalf.

Xu Yi shook his head. “No need for thanks.”

Pang Boyi smiled weakly from the side and said with effort, “Uncle Pang intercepted you in the night from the road to Zitong County. It was discourteous. Doctor Xu, don’t blame Uncle Pang. He was anxious on my account.”

“As a physician, my purpose is to treat illness and save people. Since Uncle Pang was able to find me, if I had refused, I couldn’t have passed the test of my own conscience.” Xu Yi was neither boastful nor arrogant, speaking naturally.

Pan Wenji said “good” three times. Seeing that his friend was already very tired, he took the initiative to have Uncle Pang escort Xu Yi from the residence so he could fetch and decoct the medicine for Pang Boyi.

Uncle Pang didn’t dare delay and quickly invited Xu Yi to leave the room. Before seeing him off, he took out a two-tael silver ingot from his sleeve pocket and held it before Xu Yi.

“This is the consultation fee. Doctor Xu, please accept it.”

Xu Yi calmly accepted the consultation fee and said to him, “Uncle Pang, your master has harbored depressed qi for a long time. If you don’t want his head ailment to worsen, you should persuade and comfort him well.”

Uncle Pang sighed inwardly, his hand hidden in his sleeve clenching tightly. How could he not know?

Just as Xu Yi and Uncle Pang left the room, 

Pan Wenji closed the room’s door, and then… he thoroughly scolded Pang Boyi for quite some time.

“You really are…” By the end, seeing his friend’s pleading expression, he laughed in exasperation.

He knew it, retirement from office was such a major matter. How could Pang Boyi possibly be as carefree and unburdened by worldly affairs as he’d claimed in his letter!