NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: The Bandit Old Man Li
Chapter 12: The Bandit Old Man Li
Ji Wutong loved drinking tea.
The moment the tea slid down her throat, her eyes narrowed into crescents, revealing an expression of pure bliss.
“Siiip—ahh…”
Though Lin Mu couldn’t see it, the sheer satisfaction in that sound was unmistakable.
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
“Same as yesterday~”
“Are you seriously only capable of cooking those few dishes?”
“What else do you expect~”
Ji Wutong snorted coldly and shot Lin Mu an annoyed glare.
Compared to Lin Mu and Gu Xing, she was practically a master chef!
“Sluurp—ahhh~~~”
Maybe she should just stick to drinking tea.
As they spoke, another figure shuffled into the clinic, hunched over and carrying two freshly cleaned fish.
“Divine Physician Lin, this old man has come to see you again!”
The moment he entered, his booming voice filled the room.
Ji Wutong glanced up and realized it was someone she recognized.
The fish vendor also noticed Ji Wutong and nodded with a smile. “Miss, did that Niu San give you any more trouble yesterday?”
“Nope~” Ji Wutong shook her head.
“It smells like fish!” Lin Mu wrinkled his nose, pretending to be displeased. “Old Man Li, did you bring me fish again?”
“No, no! It’s just the smell clinging to this old man!”
Old Man Li pressed a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture toward Ji Wutong, then stealthily passed the fish to Gu Xing beside him.
But this time, Gu Xing didn’t take them as usual. Instead, he waved his hands. “Old Man Li, we really don’t need them this time!”
“Master caught several big fish this morning!”
“No matter! You can eat them tomorrow!”
“These fish are fresh—perfect for stewing. And the recipe’s simple, you can handle it, kid!” Old Man Li insisted stubbornly, shoving the fish into Gu Xing’s hands.
“Old Man Li, this is the last time!”
Lin Mu had no choice but to relent.
Hearing this, Gu Xing grinned and carried the fish to the backyard.
“Wutong, could you fetch the cupping jars for me?”
Lin Mu already knew why Old Man Li had come today and turned to Ji Wutong.
“Wutong? Heh, that’s a lovely name!”
“Much better than this old man’s ‘Big Girl’ and ‘Second Girl’ at home!”
Old Man Li chuckled, helping Lin Mu into the inner room behind the medicine cabinet.
By the time Ji Wutong brought the cupping jars, Old Man Li had already taken off his shoes and socks, rolling up his pant legs as he sat on the bed.
“The weather’s getting cold. You should stay out of the river, or even I won’t be able to fix your legs.”
Lin Mu pressed on the acupoints of Old Man Li’s legs as he warned him.
“Can’t be helped! Gotta feed the family!”
Old Man Li laughed heartily, clearly brushing off Lin Mu’s advice.
Lin Mu didn’t hold back either, retorting bluntly, “A notorious bandit like you can’t possibly be short on money, can you?”
Hearing Lin Mu expose his past so casually in front of Ji Wutong, Old Man Li froze.
After a brief glance at Ji Wutong, he asked slowly, “Seems Divine Physician Lin trusts this Miss Wutong quite a bit?”
“Mn. She’s one of us.”
“I see.” Old Man Li nodded, then grinned again. “But Divine Physician Lin isn’t quite right—this old man used to rob the rich to help the poor. It was charity work!”
“Feeding the family still has to be done through honest labor!”
Meanwhile, Ji Wutong was utterly baffled by their conversation.
This fish vendor, Old Man Li… was once a notorious bandit?
No wonder he could tell at a glance that she wasn’t from the north. And that way he’d brandished the cleaver to scare off Niu San yesterday—so that was where the imposing aura came from.
Truly, appearances are deceiving.
“Anything unusual happening in Yanshan City lately?”
While applying the cupping jars, Lin Mu asked casually.
“There is, actually!” Old Man Li nodded, his expression turning serious. “Lately, a lot of martial arts experts have been gathering in the city.”
“The most famous among them are those two old freaks, ‘Xianyun and Yehe’!”
“And the Emei Sect’s Elder Ku Die is said to arrive in Yanshan City tomorrow!”
Elder Ku Die was the Emei Sect’s Grand Elder and also Gu Yueling’s martial aunt.
With the strength of a second-rank martial artist and her peerless swordplay, she was a formidable opponent.
“Any idea why they’re coming?”
“Just some guesses.”
Old Man Li pondered for a moment before continuing. “I’ve heard Chang’an hasn’t been peaceful lately—the struggle for the throne is intensifying.”
“But the Seventh Prince, Prince Qi, backed by the Ministry of Justice, suddenly left the capital and headed for the Northern Frontier.”
“If Prince Qi isn’t voluntarily withdrawing from the succession race, then there’s only one possibility—the Demon Sect has appeared in the Northern Frontier!”
“Prince Qi wants to use the merit of crushing the Demon Sect to bolster his claim to the throne!”
“The Emei Sect, Xianyun and Yehe, and the other martial artists are just his advance scouts!”
“Of course, this is just this old man’s speculation.”
“Though I never expected figures like the Emei Sect and Xianyun and Yehe to bow to the imperial court.”
Lin Mu smiled faintly but didn’t comment.
“We’re all just mortals, not reclusive sages free from worldly desires. If the benefits are tempting enough, serving the court isn’t surprising.”
“No, no, Divine Physician Lin, you are no ordinary mortal!” Old Man Li quickly disagreed. “In this old man’s eyes, your wisdom is no different from an enlightened sage!”
“Save the flattery—it won’t waive your medical fees!” Lin Mu chuckled, standing up. “Next time, don’t bring fish. Bring some premium tea leaves instead!”
“Don’t tell me you don’t have any!”
“I do, I do!” Old Man Li laughed heartily, thumping his chest. “Divine Physician Lin, rest assured—this old man’s tea won’t lose to the imperial palace’s!”
Two hours later, Old Man Li shuffled out of the clinic, hunched over.
Ji Wutong could no longer suppress her curiosity. “Who is that Old Man Li? How does he know so much?”
“Just an old man who left his past behind. Don’t mind him.”
Lin Mu avoided elaborating and changed the subject. “Do you know what Prince Qi’s arrival in the Northern Frontier implies?”
“He’s here for me—and there’s a traitor in the Demon Sect.”
Ji Wutong’s expression darkened as she spoke each word deliberately.
Among the Demon Sect members in the Northern Frontier, she, the Holy Maiden, held the highest status.
Prince Qi wouldn’t go to such lengths just to capture a few elders.
“Need help? Old Man Li’s martial skills aren’t bad.”
“No. I can handle it myself.”
Ji Wutong shook her head.
Strangely enough, she had come to repay a favor—so why did it feel like she kept owing Lin Mu more?
“Thank you…”
Ji Wutong murmured softly.
“Hm?”
“I said, thank you for asking for the tea leaves for me~”
“As long as you like them.”
“Mn!!! I do~”