83 For Hire (1/2)

When Doctor Sun found out about his secrets, Gu Shenwei was shocked and tried to escape out of instinct. However, Doctor Sun was gripping his hand so tightly that he could hardly move.

Tie Hanfeng looked puzzled. ”Doctor, he's my apprentice, not a spy.”

”Is he? Why does he have the inner force of the Barren Sect then? Are the two sects friends now, instead of enemies? If so, this will be a blessing for the Western Region.”

Even after learning the secret, Tie Hanfeng kept smiling and explained. ”Oh, you can trust me on this, doctor. The force was forcefully infused into him by a traitor. That's exactly why we're here asking for your help.”

Gu Shenwei was taken aback. The question, ”Why did he cover for me? Is he planning to kill me later when we're alone?”, appeared at the forefront of his mind.

Doctor Sun was suspicious of the excuse. ”So, you believe him?”

”Of course, I do.”

Tie Hanfeng replied with such certainty that Gu Shenwei began suspecting him of plotting something. It had happened before. When Mama Xue admitted to teaching Slave Yao internal strength, it certainly saved him from being questioned, but he had to pay it back with a lot of hard work.

”Whatever, this happens to be your problem,” said the doctor. ”As for his inner force, it's no big deal. It is just incurable. So, all he can do now is return to his quarters and await his death.”

Tie Hanfeng and Gu Shenwei were both in a daze after hearing this. They couldn't understand the doctor's words. ”Doctor, we don't understand. If it's not serious, it could be easily healed, isn't it?” Asked Tie Hanfeng.

The doctor got angry out of the blue. ”Is it? Look at my head. It's almost bald. Can you tell me how to make my hair grow back?”

Tie Hanfeng did not dare utter a single word to rebuke his argument and kept apologizing. His humble words calmed the doctor down. ”Doctor Sun, my miracle-working man. There isn't any internal injury that you can't cure.”

”Only liars would claim to be capable of healing anything and everything. A great doctor never does so. You're insulting me.” Though the doctor was not mad anymore, his words were still spiteful.

Tie Hanfeng apologized once again. The doctor stared at the silent young man. The young man's expression was even gloomier than that of the countless killers he had met. ”There're thousands of his kind of people in your fort. They die sooner than an insect. What would be the point of saving him?”

”I have no other apprentices but him, doctor. I just hope that he can live longer.”

Doctor Sun seemed to have been convinced, but he did not make any further diagnosis. He was deep in thought before saying. ”To be frank, there's nothing I can do about his injuries. Umm... do you believe in Buddhism?”

The question was directed towards Gu Shenwei, who was still thinking about Tie Hanfeng's odd behaviour. He was confused and asked, ”What?”

”Buddhism.”

”No, doctor.”

He answered after a moment of thought. Buddhism was widely accepted in the Central Plain and the Western Region. His mother used to be a devotee and there had been many scriptures and statues in their house as well. Though he had been influenced by them from a young age, he was not a believer.

”Well, there's no other way then. It's said that there's a set of exorcism scriptures in the Four Truths Temple. It may have a magical effect on your injuries. You don't have such a faith, so I guess it won't work on you. Forget about it.”

Tie Hanfeng and Gu Shenwei remained indifferent to the subject matter. None of them believed in Buddhism, let alone the magical effects of it.

”Doctor, there has to be other treatments, right?” Tie Hanfeng persisted. Gu Shenwei couldn't bring himself to care about it anymore.

”There are, but it's not in the Jade City. There's a country among the mountains, called the Land of Fragrance, 2,800 km towards the southwest from here. There're many extraordinary men with medical skills much better than mine. Besides the traitor, they're your only hope for healing his injuries. Since he still has two or three more years to live, there's enough time for him to go there and receive treatment.”

Having told them everything that he knew, the doctor went back to his desk, picked up his book, and continued his reading.

The two visitors left the clinic and came out onto the street. Gu Shenwei was anticipating his Shifu to show his true feelings about Gu Shenwei's secret. Tie Hanfeng led him across the bridge and into the Southwall Tavern without a word.

There were very few guests in the tavern in the evening. They both sat down face to face by a table against the wall. Tie Hanfeng ordered various kinds of wine as usual. Strangely, he did not even take a sip and just stared sternly at his apprentice. ”Tell me everything.”

”About what?”

Gu Shenwei answered reluctantly. He did not want to give in so quickly. If Tie Hanfeng knew about his secret, Tie Hanfeng could take advantage of it if he wanted.

Tie Hanfeng's glare was as sharp as a sword. He looked the same as the time when he ordered his apprentice to kill someone for the first time. At this moment he was neither the red-faced groveler nor the incoherent drunkard. He was a real, creepy killer.

Gu Shenwei managed to stall by staring at Tie Hanfeng for about 15 minutes. He gave in first, just as he did in his previous assassination attempt. He then told Tie Hanfeng everything that had happened between Mama Xue and him. The details in his stories were exactly the same as what he had told the Eighth Young Master. The only difference was that he included how he got the Peripheral Force this time.

”You're afraid that the Eighth Young Master will kill you after knowing your secret, right?”

Gu Shenwei nodded.

Tie Hanfeng snorted. His apprentice was not that dumb after all. There were numerous killers in Golden Roc Fort. No one would be willing to take in an apprentice with a limited lifespan and who could be controlled by the enemy.

”Stay here,”

Tie Hanfeng said, standing up.

”Where are you going?”

”Speak less and drink more.”

Tie Hanfeng left alone, leaving his apprentice with a table full of fine wine.

It was getting dark. The tavern was getting crowded with an increasing number of guests. The smell of wine wafted in the air. His mind was numb from the laughter and the loud noise.