The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

Yuan Changsheng chuckled, full of confidence.

Finally, He Dongchen broke the silence.

“If you don’t want to die, young lady, please come inside.”

Yuan Changsheng was taken aback, finally snapping out of her beauty-induced trance. Of course, she had come to find the Divine Doctor for treatment.

Yuan Changsheng nodded hastily at the beauty, flew a few steps into the house, and loudly asked, “Where is Divine Doctor Valley? I followed the map and ended up at Money Valley. Did I get lost again?”

Behind her, Jiang Xinyue stumbled, knowing this was a long story, and it was somewhat related to her.

After some explanation inside the house, Yuan Changsheng understood that Money Valley was indeed Divine Doctor Valley.

Upon realizing this, Yuan Changsheng’s first reaction wasn’t to ask why it had been renamed Money Valley but to pat her chest in relief. “Finally found the right place.”

She was directionally challenged and had lost her way countless times along the journey.

“From your accent, you don’t sound like someone from the Central Plains,” Jiang Xinyue asked curiously. Not just the accent, but her dress as well, with several delicate little bells hanging from her waist and skirt that jingled when she moved, was quite unique. Jiang Xinyue had never seen anything like it before.

“You’re right, I’m from the frontier, but my mother was from the Central Plains,” Yuan Changsheng admitted openly. As she spoke, she suddenly made a muffled sound, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Everyone was shocked, especially Jiang Xinyue, who anxiously asked, “Was it Meng Xiaoyao who injured you just now?”

“No,” He Dongchen answered on her behalf.

Yuan Changsheng casually wiped away the blood. “It wasn’t him. Although he’s skilled, more so than anyone I’ve encountered before, he’s injured and seems to be suppressing his inner strength, handicapped and unable to harm me.”

“Then why are you…?” Jiang Xinyue asked with concern.

“It’s the poison I’ve carried since birth.”

“Let me see.” He Dongchen reached out to check her pulse, and everyone else fell silent, eagerly watching.

Ironically, Yuan Changsheng, the one involved, seemed indifferent.

She had been born with this poison and had sought out renowned doctors on the frontier. Everyone had predicted she wouldn’t live past 20, and this year, she had just turned 20.

He Dongchen frowned slightly as he examined her pulse.

Yuan Changsheng smiled knowingly at the situation. “It’s alright. If it can’t be cured, then so be it. After all, I’ve already sent my parents away and am alone. It’s just a pity I didn’t come to the Central Plains sooner. There are many experts here, and fighting is exhilarating. Not to mention the fine wines and cuisine I’ve never tasted in the frontier, and the beautiful women here, truly beautiful.”

Yuan Changsheng spoke with ease, but the others felt increasingly uncomfortable listening, especially Jiang Xinyue, whose eyes were beginning to redden, her eyes moist. “So, Yuan Changsheng, do you wish for longevity?”

“Oh no, my father’s surname is Yuan.”

(T/N: Yuan [袁]= long robe (old); surname Yuan// Yuan [愿]= to hope; to wish; to desire; hoped-for)

Jiang Xinyue’s tears halted, threatening to fall.

Yuan Changsheng laughed heartily, wiping a tear from her eyes and casually touching Jiang Xinyue’s tender face; such a beautiful tear from a beautiful person!

The other three men in the room silently watched the interaction between these two very different beauties, exchanging banter.

***

He Dongchen cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention, and then spoke slowly, “It can be treated, but the process is somewhat complicated. Miss Yuan will need to stay in the valley for some time.”

Yuan Changsheng froze. It can be treated?

In the past 20 years, no one had ever told her so definitively that it could be treated.

Yu Zhu and Kong Qing didn’t doubt the Valley Master’s ability and were genuinely happy for Yuan Changsheng. They also harbored some thoughts; having such a skilled master around meant they wouldn’t fear even if the leader of the Demon Cult returned.

Jiang Xinyue had to admit that while He Dongchen lacked charm and was stubborn about money, his medical skills were indeed superb. He could see through even the problems Meng Xiaoyao tried hard to conceal.

Everyone smiled broadly, except Yuan Changsheng herself, who seemed lost in thought.

If one could live, who would wish to die? With so many delicacies, fine wines, beautiful people, and beautiful scenery in the world, it made one reluctant to close their eyes.

So-called nonchalance was merely acceptance of fate.

“Yu Zhu, Kong Qing, prepare a courtyard in the valley for Miss Yuan,” He Dongchen instructed.

Jiang Xinyue, who had failed twice to enter the valley, glared, “Why can she enter the valley?”

He Dongchen replied matter-of-factly, “She is my lifesaver.”

“And with Miss Yuan’s strength, entering and leaving the valley is effortless,” he added.

Jiang Xinyue fell silent.

Meanwhile, Yuan Changsheng remained in a daze.

Thus, Yuan Changsheng settled in Money Valley, undergoing medicinal baths every 3 days, each session excruciating. After soaking, she lacked even the strength to lift her feet out of the tub. He Dongchen arranged for two female disciples to watch over her, ensuring she didn’t drown herself.

As for Jiang Xinyue, she was sent away by He Dongchen the next day.

Wanting to go to Jiangzhou to find Lin Changjian, Jiang Xinyue hesitated to travel alone, fearing Meng Xiaoyao might suddenly return. She decided to accompany disciples from Money Valley on their procurement trip, providing mutual assistance.

He Dongchen glanced at her, speaking with a solemn tone, “This isn’t mutual assistance; it’s being a burden. Miss Jiang, please understand.”

Jiang Xinyue: “…”

Finally, following He Dongchen’s suggestion, Jiang Xinyue reluctantly disguised herself as an old woman, clad in oversized coarse linen clothes, and set off for Jiangzhou to find Lin Changjian.

Yu Zhu and Kong Qing watched her departure with a sense of loss, uncertain when they might see the renowned beauty again.

***

With Jiang Xinyue’s departure, news spread throughout the martial world that Meng Xiaoyao was the leader of the Demon Cult. His portrait, the techniques he practiced, and his flaws, including his coveting of the Green Spirit Fruit, spread across the world almost overnight.

The major righteous sects all rushed to Jiangzhou, determined not to let the Green Spirit Fruit fall into the hands of the Demon Cult.

In comparison, Money Valley, now suddenly renamed Money Valley, wasn’t as conspicuous anymore.

The name changed, but the location remained the same. It couldn’t just disappear.

In the martial world, storms were brewing, but Money Valley remained relatively peaceful.

Well, not quite. Ever since a patient who enjoyed fighting arrived, things had become somewhat chaotic.

On this day, Yu Zhu went with a solemn face to find the Valley Master.

“Miss Yuan is eager to spar. She feels uneasy all over if she doesn’t practice martial arts every day. Everyone in our valley, including the old man sweeping the floor, has been challenged by her.”

Yu Zhu frowned, unable to understand. Despite almost dying during her medicinal baths, she would be carried out and lie there lifeless for 2 hours, only to suddenly come back to life and challenge everyone around.

Money Valley was originally a bunch of scrubs, and no one could stand a chance against her.

He Dongchen remained calm and composed. “When she gets bored, she won’t bother you anymore.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhu’s shoulders drooped even more. “It’s not that she’s not bothering us anymore. She’s now starting to make a mess of our courtyard, that martial arts training ground that no one uses is about to be ruined by her whip. Every time we pass by, we’re terrified.”

He Dongchen looked up at him. “You didn’t seem to mind eating the prey Miss Yuan brought back.”

Yu Zhu immediately shut his mouth. He had only complained a few times just now. Wait, have I become impudent lately? How dare I complain to the Valley Master!

Yu Zhu went back to reflect on himself. Just a few steps away, he ran into Kong Qing, who was rushing over. He quickly asked, “What’s the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?”

Could it be that the Demon Cult had come knocking on their door?

Kong Qing panted, “Miss Jiang has returned again!”

Yu Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t the Demon Cult, that’s good. Wait! Jiang Xinyue had come again!?

Yu Zhu’s immediate reaction was to ask, “Alone?”

“No, no, no. She brought a young man heavily injured. From the conversation, it sounds like he’s Shen Youcai, the young master of the First Qian Bank.”

Within a month, Jiang Xinyue had come three times, each time with a different young man, each injured while trying to save her.

Yu Zhu and Kong Qing were both baffled.

He Dongchen, upon hearing that Miss Jiang had returned, remained very composed. He even smiled at Yu Zhu. “The money for repairing the courtyard just walked in.”

Since he had nothing else to do at the moment, He Dongchen pushed his wheelchair outward. “Let’s go collect the money.”

Just as Yu Zhu and Kong Qing were about to push the wheelchair, bells rang, and a woman in red descended from the sky. She walked up confidently and started pushing He Dongchen forward. She raised her voice, “I heard you talking about Miss Jiang just as I arrived. I had to come see. After a few days of not seeing her, she must be even more beautiful!”

He Dongchen smiled gently, sitting calmly in the wheelchair as it was pushed along, without feeling the slightest bit pressured.

The group moved leisurely towards the exit.

***

Meanwhile, outside the valley, in that same courtyard.

Jiang Xinyue was already very familiar with He Dongchen’s insistence on money, so she didn’t waste any time and came with expectations.

Shen Youcai had long heard that Divine Doctor Valley had changed its name to Money Valley. Now, seeing the large characters ‘Money Valley’ in full swing, he was still shocked.

He lay pale on the bed, the wound on his shoulder now under control and no longer bleeding.

“Don’t worry, Brother Shen. The Valley Master is highly skilled in medicine. I guarantee you’ll be back to normal soon,” Jiang Xinyue reassured him.

Shen Youcai forced a smile. He had injured his meridians, and whether he could wield a sword again in the future was now in question.

During their conversation, there was a commotion at the door. They looked over and saw a spirited woman in red pushing a man in a white robe sitting in a wheelchair into the room. Behind them were two disciples, one of whom was Kong Qing, who had just treated Shen Youcai with acupuncture.

Shen Youcai had already heard from Jiang Xinyue about He Dongchen’s insistence on money. Weakly, he pulled off a jade pendant from his body and said, “This is my token. You can withdraw up to 10,000 taels from any shop under the First Qian Bank.”

Shen Youcai, who was wealthy and bold, directly elevated his own status to ten times that of Lin Changjian.

He Dongchen smiled mildly, understanding the ways of businessmen.

He instructed Yu Zhu to take the token and approached Shen Youcai to inspect his wound.

“Ah!” Shen Youcai gasped, his face turning pale. However, with his beloved watching nearby, he had to endure the pain and pretend it was nothing.

He Dongchen finished up, wiping his fingers with a cloth calmly. “It’s not a big issue. Let Yu Zhu bandage your wound for now. Tomorrow, you’ll have the herbal bath.”

Shen Youcai sighed in relief and joked, “I heard that the Valley Master charges Young Master Lin 1,000 taels for diagnosis, 1,000 taels for acupoint sealing, and for subsequent treatments, he needs to fetch his own herbs. Why are you polite with me? Do you look down on the First Qian Bank?”

He Dongchen fell silent.

He had never encountered someone who voluntarily raised the price. Not raising the price meant looking down on him?

In that case…

He Dongchen smiled as if bathed in spring breeze. “Not at all. In Money Valley, medical treatments cost money. The First Qian Bank is rich enough to rival a nation. I wasn’t finished earlier. The herbal bath costs 100,000 taels, and that’s non-negotiable.”

Shen Youcai nodded assertively. That was more like it. I’m much more precious than Lin Changjian!

At this moment, Yuan Changsheng, who had been standing aside as a background figure, suddenly spoke up, “In Money Valley, medical treatments cost money. So, doesn’t that mean I’m carrying millions of silver on my back?”

“After all, I’m so capable that I can even drive away that Demon Cult Leader,” Yuan Changsheng said, crossing her arms, looking like a lonely victor.

The room fell silent, everyone silently staring at her.

Shen Youcai admitted defeat; someone was more arrogant than him.