Chapter Two (continued)

Masterlist of all posts and character list

After meeting Pei Sijing, Zhao Yuanzhou and Wen Xiao hurried off to find the other person on their list: Bai Jiu. To be more precise, Wen Xiao was in a hurry. Zhao Yuanzhou, on the other hand, dragged Wen Xiao to idle in restaurants and wanted to stroll around Tiandu’s markets. At first, she was quite amiable, but eventually she amiably pulled out her dagger and he finally started to behave.

By the time the two of them arrived at the side street clinic, the sun was already setting.  The rain clouds had cleared and the whole sky turned a vibrant orange.

Zhao Yuanzhou leaned his head closer, looking over the documents Wen Xiao held in her hands. “Thirteen years old? He probably doesn’t even come up to my knee. Is he capable? I don’t want another person slowing us down.”

“Don’t be fooled by his age. His medical skills are superb. He’s a specialist in not only humans, but also demons.” Her brow furrowed and she suddenly closed the documents. “Wait. ‘Another’? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Zhao Yuanzhou immediately changed the subject, eyes snapping forward. “Aiya, this is the Jixin Clinic, isn’t it? I was just saying… He’s a specialist in demons?”

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Jixin Clinic was half pharmacy and half back room, with a vertical screen erected in the back room. Behind the screen was the examination room. This screen was white on one side, made from strong, sheer silk with only hazy shadows visible through it. The doctor could only roughly see the patient, and naturally, the patient could barely see the doctor. A convenient little window in the screen allowed the patient to extend their hand through for examination. Bai Jiu himself had this screen specially made because, despite his excellent medical skills, his youth always brought questions. This way, hidden behind a screen, he spared himself a lot of trouble.

At this moment, Zhao Yuanzhou sat on one side of the screen, lifted his sleeve, and extended his hand through the small window. The doctor on the other side pressed two fingers together and began his examination. A moment later, the doctor spoke. It sounded like an adult’s voice, as if pains were taken to keep it pitched low. “Congratulations, madam. This pulse flows smoothly and evenly,” he said in a lively tone. “You have cause for joy.”

Joy…what joy? Zhao Yuanzhou froze. “‘Madam?’ You’re a charlatan.”

At hearing Zhao Yuanzhou speak, the doctor was also startled. He leaned closer to the screen, trying to get a look, then put his two fingers to Zhao Yuanzhou’s pulse. His voice still low, the doctor mumbled, “No, that’s not right. How could I read your pulse wrong? You must be a woman disguised as a man.”

Zhao Yuanzhou held his breath and turned an accusatory glance at Wen Xiao. “Is this kid really going to work?”

A smiling Wen Xiao lifted her chin in a wordless signal. Wait and see.

Before Wen Xiao could respond, there was a rustling sound from the other side of the screen. The young doctor said, “Let me try the gold needle.”

Hearing that he was about to be jabbed, Zhao Yuanzhou tried to retract his hand, but unexpectedly, the doctor was faster. He firmly seized Zhao Yuanzhou’s hand, determined to get his correct diagnosis.

Lowering the needle, the young doctor muttered to himself, “There’s energy, but your pulse and breath should be nine points. Why is yours only one? Unless…unless you’re not…human.” He immediately moved to spy through the screen—only to see Zhao Yuanzhou smiling widely, deliberately revealing his canine teeth.

“Hm, looks like your medical skills really are pretty good.”

Opposite Zhao Yuanzhou was a cute, delicate-faced boy who had originally been sitting upright in a chair. By now, he’d fallen to his backside on the ground with the golden needle still in his hand and pointing at Zhao Yuanzhou. “You…you’re a demon! Stay away! My golden needle is very powerful! It can kill demons!” Bai Jiu’s high, clear voice broke into sobbing, not intimidating in the slightest.

Head low, he swung wildly for a while until, suddenly, he realized the room was still and silent. He carefully opened his eyes. The demon was gone. Standing before him was a young woman in white. She handed him a wooden token.

“Little brother Bai Jiu, I’m a library officer at the Demon Hunting Bureau,” she said.” My name is Wen Xiao. I want to invite you to join the Demon Hunting Bureau.”

Bai Jiu still hid behind his hands, carefully peering out to look around and confirm he could no longer see the demon anywhere. Only then was he calm enough to take in Wen Xiao’s words. “The Demon Hunting Bureau? Chose me?”

“Little brother Bai Jiu, I know you’re not willing to join the Demon Hunting Bureau, but if you let me explain—” Wen Xiao was prepared to share details from the case documents to persuade him, but stopped short when the boy rushed forward.

“Who says I’m not willing!? I’m totally willing! I never thought I’d be chosen! Mom, I’ve made something of myself!” He grabbed the offered token and scampered off out the door, leaving Wen Xiao behind where she stood.

Zhao Yuanzhou emerged from behind a pillar, smiling broadly as he headed for the door. “This has been a very successful day, hasn’t it? We should go celebrate.”

“We have to report back to the Bureau first.” She turned briskly on her heel and was out the door before her sentence ended.

Zhao Yuanzhou watched her go and shook his head in bitter disappointment. “So cold-blooded,” he said, following her with long-legged strides.

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Idioms that appear in this section:

女扮男装 (nǚbàn-nánzhuāng) – woman disguised as a man

冷酷无情 (lěngkù-wúqíng) – unfeeling; cold-blooded, with cruel coldness