The Innocent Heart - Chapter 96

To care for Chen Zhi, Yue Pengzu took up residence in the camp for the next few days. Every day, soldiers came to his door seeking medical advice and medicine, making his days quite fulfilling.

As several more days passed, Guan Yueyao did not “die a sudden death” as the Great Shaman had predicted. On the contrary, her voice had fully recovered, and she was back to her lively self, wandering about the fortress and pestering the dogs and chickens to everyone’s annoyance. Wu Sheng’s claims collapsed under their own weight; even the most superstitious soldiers in the camp realized they had fallen for the foul tricks of a fake shaman.

In contrast, Yue Pengzu gained the trust of the soldiers due to his exquisite medical skills. Even Li Ting personally came to seek a consultation. He had sustained injuries of all sizes during wars, which had left him with chronic ailments that tortured him for a certain period each year, causing him unbearable suffering. Whenever he sought help from witch-doctors, they always claimed that the vengeful souls he had slain on the battlefield were haunting him and refused to leave. Despite performing several exorcism rituals, they never showed any effect.

Now, seeing Yue Pengzu cure the Wind-Bi (rheumatism) of his subordinates with a few doses of medicine, his heart was swayed. As for Wu Sheng’s fate, no one in Juyong Pass cared to acknowledge him anymore. He was merely a traveling swindler, hardly worth anyone’s concern.

Conversely, Physician Yue possessed a truly kind heart. As long as a patient sought him out, regardless of gender or wealth—even a beggar by the roadside—he was willing to treat them. Physician Yue’s character and skills won the respect and trust of the entire camp, leaving the soldiers even more remorseful for their previous neglect.

“Physician Yue, we were boorish before. We mistakenly believed the words of those immoral shamans and neglected you and Old Master Yue. Now, you have disregarded our past slights and cured my illness. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word, and I, Sun Er, will go through fire and water without hesitation!”

Looking at the brawny man in his thirties with knotted muscles, whose eyes were red as he knelt in repentance, Yue Pengzu smiled helplessly and helped Sun Er up.

“Sun Er, you need not blame yourself so much. Since I entered the healing arts, I have long since let go of obsessions with life, death, or wealth. My only wish is to save all living beings from the suffering of illness. You need not be ashamed; the valuing of shamans over healers is the way of the world, not your personal prejudice alone. If you truly wish to thank me, simply stop blindly seeking witch-doctors and spirits the next time you or your kin fall ill.”

Yue Pengzu’s words moved everyone present. “So this is what is meant by the ‘Heart of a Healer,'” Li Ting couldn’t help but sigh.

Physician Yue’s reputation spread from the military camp of Juyong Pass to more distant places through the word of mouth of the soldiers. However, that is not the main chapter of this story, so we shall set it aside for now.

Returning to the main point: once Guan Yueyao’s illness was cured, her voice returned to its former volume. Along with her recovery, the swearing proficiency of the Juyong Pass garrison made significant progress. Yet, thanks to this, the awkward situation of the trio within the Pass finally saw a breakthrough.

It turns out the nobles from Chang’an aren’t so difficult to get along with, the soldiers whispered privately. Their attitude toward Guan Yueyao softened considerably. Guan Yueyao’s plan to teach Huo Qubing to swear remained unfulfilled, but by the time she received Huo Qubing’s approval to officially begin training again, she already had many “disciples” within the fortress.

Relying on thousands of years of cultural heritage from her ancestors, Guan Yueyao’s accumulation of foul language was profound. It reached a point where she took from the ancestors and gave back to them. She was a generous person; with Huo Qubing’s silent consent, she shared much of the fine wine and food bestowed by the Palace and prepared by Wei Shao’er with the soldiers.

Juyong Pass was strategically vital but remote and not a prosperous place. Such fine wine and delicacies were things that not even Commandant Li Ting—let alone the common soldiers—had ever enjoyed. As the saying goes, one is softened by the gifts they receive. Having benefited from the Wei family, they could no longer maintain a cold front toward the two youths. As time passed and they understood the characters of the two, they completely dropped their defenses and treated them as comrades.

As for Chen Zhi, he remained oblivious to everything and did not hold ordinary soldiers in high regard. However, among the attendants sent by the Grand Princess of Guantao, there were those with sharp minds. Seeing the actions of Guan Yueyao and Huo Qubing, they followed suit, delivering many gifts to the camp in Chen Zhi’s name. This spring was a rare time of abundance for the soldiers guarding Juyong Pass.

Unlike the increasingly harmonious atmosphere in the fortress, Huo Qubing remained constantly concerned about the war at the front. Ever since his uncle’s party entered the prairie, all communication seemed to have been cut off; there was no news. Now that over half a month had passed, the smile on Huo Qubing’s face grew rarer as time ticked by.

Guan Yueyao saw the change in her friend, but aside from private comforting, she had no other recourse. Unexpectedly, once night fell, she began to have nightmares of her own. In her midnight dreams, those terrifying and cruel scenes appeared frequently, except the faces among the corpses became the faces she knew so well.

“No, no… dreams are the opposite… Lord Wei is so capable, he will surely return safely in victory.”

Startled by a dream and unable to sleep, Guan Yueyao simply left her room and sat on the steps. With her chin resting on her hands, she used the military strategies she had learned from the Son of Heaven and Wei Qing to simulate the battle over and over. But perhaps influenced by Huo Qubing, or perhaps due to her own worry, her mind was a mess, and she could never think clearly.

One thing was crystal clear in her heart: she was afraid. She was afraid that Lord Wei would be harmed, or even turn into a cold corpse like those she had seen recently. I must study martial arts diligently. Next time Lord Wei and Qubing go to the battlefield, I can stay by their side and protect them properly, she thought, looking up at the sky. A crescent moon hung in the dark night, casting a cold moonlight over the earth. She wondered if Lord Wei was looking at the same moon at that moment.

The next day, a worried subordinate official arrived at Juyong Pass. He had come from a nearby county under orders to deliver funds, grain, and border-settlers. Along with them, he brought a piece of news that was far from optimistic.

General of the Rangers Gongsun Ao had led ten thousand cavalry out of Dai Commandery, only to be defeated by the Xiongnu shortly after, returning with seven thousand dead soldiers. Furthermore, the General of the Soaring Cavalry, Li Guang, famous for his bravery, had led ten thousand cavalry out of Yanmen. He had encountered the main force of the Xiongnu and was ultimately defeated by superior numbers. According to soldiers who fled the battlefield, General Li Guang had been captured by the Xiongnu.

Now, of the four armies, two were defeated. Meanwhile, the General of the Light Chariots Gongsun He, who exited from Yunzhong, and the General of the Chariots and Cavalry Wei Qing remained without word.

The previously cheerful Juyong Pass was instantly transformed into a scene of gloom and misery. Commandant Li Ting, in particular—being a kinsman of General Li Guang and having admired the general’s bravery and loyalty since childhood—found it impossible to accept that his idol had been captured alive. He slammed the table and stood up.

“This is impossible! With General Li Guang’s reputation, he would surely choose to be a shattered jade rather than a whole tile! How could he possibly be willing to serve the Xiongnu!”

“Commandant Li is mistaken. To pursue fortune and avoid calamity is the way of a gentleman. Moreover, although Old General Li’s family and property are in our Great Han, he has served in the military for decades without being granted a marquisate. His heart must harbor resentment against the Imperial House. It is quite possible the Xiongnu Chanyu offered him great rewards, and the Old General has defected to them.”

The official was from a noble family and a Confucian scholar who looked down on military men. Now, in this banquet set for him, bolstered by a slight drunkenness, he spoke disrespectfully of the defeated General Li Guang.

As soon as he spoke, he felt a chill in his chest. He looked down to see a sharp longsword driven into his chest.

“You dare…!” Intense pain arrived as he stared wide-eyed at his killer—the seemingly good-tempered Li Ting.

“Vile wretch! How dare you slander General Li Guang before me!” Li Ting roared, then calmly pulled his sword from the official’s chest. The official collapsed, twitched a few times, and breathed his last.

Huo Qubing and Guan Yueyao were among the invited guests. Seeing this, they were both stunned.

“I have made a fool of myself before the two of you. This petty official was so insolent. Officially, the General of the Soaring Cavalry is my superior who showed me favor. Personally, the general is an elder I have respected for years; he has exhausted himself for the country, never daring to slacken. Now someone insults him before my face—I truly could not endure it. I killed the man. If you wish to report this truthfully to Chang’an, I shall abide by it. I only hope it does not affect the innocent or my family.”

Li Ting finished speaking with a look of resolve and gave a solemn bow to the two of them.

Guan Yueyao had never seen such a scene. She wanted to shout but could not. Hearing Li Ting’s explanation, she felt that although the official’s crime did not merit death, Li Ting’s actions were understandable. Unsure of what to do in such a situation in the Great Han, she looked toward Huo Qubing.

Huo Qubing thought for a moment, then gave a soft smile. “Why does Commandant Li act so? Did this petty official not finish the handover of grain and funds and depart for Zhongshan Commandery? However, the road is infested with bandits, and Xiongnu often sneak within the Pass to plunder. Who knows if he can return safely?”

Guan Yueyao’s mouth hung open as she watched her friend lie through his teeth. She didn’t know how to respond, but out of trust in Huo Qubing, she decided to wait until they were alone to ask him what he was thinking.