“In that case, I’ll call for more trustworthy doctors to join you in a day or two from now; that’ll increase your chances.”
“In a day or two?”
Young Shiyi whispered, “You can’t run forever…”
“Your subject can treat them! Absolutely! Your subject will see himself to prison if he cannot treat them!” I dragged His Majesty off with me as fast as we could go.
The only place more heavily guarded than the place Uncle Feng Xue and Luo Ming rested would be His Majesty’s place.
Worst came to worst and I couldn’t wake them, His Majesty’s impression of me would take a minor hit. Besides, failing to heal them could keep me safe… for longer.
“Before your subject proceeds, may he ask if anyone else has examined them? If there has been, what was their opinion?”
“I have had many reputable doctors, including State Preceptor Lai, examine them. State Preceptor Lai managed to treat their external wounds, but he couldn’t wake them. According to Shaman Faith’s physician, they spent all their heart energy and, therefore, lacked the motivation to wake up again. They had their revenge and only survived by a hair’s breadth in battle; their motivation is in a slumber.”
“Their motivation is slumbering…?”
Tianhu taunted, “I’ve always been eager to see how Earl Ming creates miracles. Don’t talk the talk but not walk the walk now.”
“I dare not say I can create miracles. I do know how to pour manure on heads, though. If you want to witness that, I can add another show for you. I bet Nanjiang’s populace is down to watch. Want to try?”
Though Tianhu was ticked off, he didn’t lose anything if he just sat back to watch me fail.
Like Tianhu, His Majesty could see I was at my wits end. “Can you do anything, Earl Ming?”
“Mm… Please wait here for me. I shall go in to see them.”
At a glance, neither of the two bed-ridden gentlemen looked abnormal. They were no longer had bloodstains or pale appearances associated with internal injuries. The long intervals between inhaling and exhaling faces proved their internal energy was still in tip-top form. At their levels, as long as their vitality was flowing properly, they would still be alive and kicking even if they were winded. If their minds were set on sleeping, then it wasn’t a physical problem but a mental problem. If they were injured, I couldn’t do anything for them in my current state. A mental problem, however…
Following a think, I whispered in their ears, then stepped away and covered my ears.
One, two, three.
“Get back here, Ming Huayu! Thirteen orphans (thirteen terminal tiles), my foot! You cheated again!”
“It’s a sword!”
I opened the door to announce, “Done.”
Tianhu: “What are you? A doctor from heaven?!”
I gave Tianhu a wink.
Young Shiyi: “Ho, in that case, I have something to say to you.”
Why did I have to treat them?!
Glossary
Don’t burn bridges in the pugilistic world - While “don’t burn bridges” doesn’t seem to be an uncommon phrase in English, this is a specific version for referencing the pugilistic world. You wouldn’t really use this phrase in real life unless you were part of the mafia (because pugilistic world is defined as the “underworld” in today’s world) or were playing around. It’s a common saying in wuxia stories that adopt the pugilistic world (for those who don’t know, the concept didn’t exist until the Ming dynasty when wuxia, technically old-school wuxia, already existed long before it).
One of the common codes of the pugilistic world is, today’s friend may be tomorrow’s enemy and vice versa. The concept doesn’t operate on the same principle as the world in new-school xianxia and xuanhuan stories currently translated en masse, where you can wipe out clans and problem solved. In the pugilistic world of these wuxia stories, people who are spared will likely return the favour another day; there’s a sense of honour that needs to be upheld if you want to make it/survive. Wiping out an enemy completely is difficult as most clans are connected to other clans, government figures, bandits and so forth, and you can’t just wipe them out with brute strength. It’s pretty much guaranteed somebody will come for you in retaliation. Consequently, learning where to toe the line is something characters have to learn in order to survive. More often than not in these stories, you don’t get away with not observing the unwritten rule.
Thirteen orphans/thirteen terminal tiles - Mahjong terminology.