Chapter Twenty-Five: Ma Qingyun's Thoughts

Chapter Twenty-Five: Ma Qingyun’s Thoughts

The group bantered and joked as they walked, and within the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, they arrived at the Su Family’s medical clinic.

The clinic was modest in scale, divided into three sections. The front housed the pharmacy, managed by two young men who dispensed medicines. The central area was reserved for consultations, partitioned by screens to create private spaces, with three physicians on rotation—four if one counted Wen Rugong, who had recently left for training. This layout not only allowed the physicians to concentrate fully on their diagnoses but also respected the privacy of the patients.

At the back were storerooms for medicinal ingredients, a small courtyard for drying herbs, and several small rooms where the clinic staff could rest or keep vigil overnight.

Though it seemed sizable enough, it paled in comparison to the bustling clinics of the illustrious Yaohua Continent, where dozens or even hundreds of physicians would sit in consultation halls. By those standards, this clinic was barely worth noticing.

One of the younger pharmacy assistants spotted the trio, hurried out from behind the counter, and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, young masters. The manager and Master Ma are in the rear courtyard. Allow me to lead you there.”

The assistant wore a long robe of pale blue, possessing a refined and gentle demeanor. His respectful manner was neither servile nor haughty, warm without being overbearing—a clear sign of careful training.

“Very well,” they replied.

The group followed the assistant toward the rear courtyard. Ma Xue’e strode along with her usual carefree manner, her little head swiveling left and right, taking in the surroundings with wide-eyed curiosity.

Xiang Yinglong was buzzing with excitement—he would soon meet a young innate martial artist. There was also a hint of embarrassment: heh, he’d soon meet the brother of Xue’e.

As for Luo Changning, a sense of foreboding gnawed at him. Though he knew little of matters between men and women, he’d lived two lives; something about Ma Qingyun’s presence at the clinic struck him as unusual.

He shook his head, urging himself not to overthink. Surely he was imagining things—Ma was only fourteen; there was no way he could be involved in anything with his aunt…

The central hall was quiet, likely due to the noon break. No patients waited behind the screens.

They entered the rear courtyard and found not Su Meng, but Ma Qingyun and three physicians, busy sorting medicinal herbs.

“Master Ma, this herb is astragalus, grown in the north. It treats edema, night sweats, and weakness of vital energy, used in Jade Screen Powder…” One physician pointed to the herbs in the basket, explaining to Ma Qingyun.

Ma Qingyun, still dressed in his blue robe, wore a cold, wooden expression, yet his demeanor was earnest, as if partaking in some sacred ritual.

“Brother, what are you doing?” Ma Xue’e bounced up to him, tilting her head to peer at the herbs and then at her brother, her face brimming with curiosity.

Ma Qingyun frowned, as if annoyed by the interruption, and only then noticed his sister watching him. Normally, his skills would have alerted him to someone entering the courtyard, but he’d been so absorbed in his task he hadn’t noticed a thing.

He replied coolly, “What brings you here?”

“Not just me—Changning is here too. Oh, brother, let me introduce someone.” Ma Xue’e was a bit miffed that her brother hadn’t noticed her.

She dragged the burly figure behind her forward and beamed. “Brother, this is Xiang Yinglong. He’s a friend I made today.”

“Hehe, Ma, a pleasure to meet you. I’m Xiang Yinglong.” He scratched his head and clasped his hands in greeting.

Luo Changning’s gaze settled on the hands Ma Xue’e was holding, and a strange, indescribable feeling arose within him. He wished he could go over and pull their hands apart.

Ma Qingyun’s eyes also flickered over their hands, his expression unchanged but his brows tightening imperceptibly.

“Brother Xiang, a pleasure,” Ma Qingyun replied with a cold, impassive manner.

Xiang Yinglong wasn’t bothered by Ma Qingyun’s aloofness and continued chattering away.

“Ma, I heard from Changning you’re an innate martial artist. What stage are you at?”

“Ma, why do you always look so serious? You should smile more, like me, hehe…”

“Doctor Wang, you’ve been fiddling with these herbs for ages; what’s so interesting? No matter how you sort them, they’re still herbs, aren’t they? Haven’t seen you make anything beautiful with them yet!”

Seeing Ma Qingyun ignore him, Xiang Yinglong turned his attention to Doctor Wang, who was guiding Ma Qingyun.

Doctor Wang was just past thirty, yet had the air of a scholarly old man, his beard grown long.

Doctor Wang glanced sternly at Xiang Yinglong, who was still babbling at his side, puffed his beard in annoyance, but continued instructing Ma Qingyun on the properties of the herbs.

“Truly worthy of being Ma Xue’e’s brother—so young, and already accomplished in martial arts. By the way, Ma, when were you born? It’d be good to know who’s older.”

Perhaps finally wearied by Xiang Yinglong’s chatter, Ma Qingyun answered, “Fourteen years old, born in May.”

Xiang Yinglong breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest. “Good, good, I called you correctly. I’m just a month younger—born in June—so I should address you as Ma.”

Hmm, I’m younger than Xue’e’s brother. No confusion in seniority.

Ahem, what nonsense about seniority…

Luo Changning glanced around, not seeing Su Meng. He guessed his aunt was in the accounting room, checking the books. For some reason, he felt relieved.

“Ma, what brings you to the clinic today?” Luo Changning asked.

Ma Qingyun paused, then said, “On a whim, I found myself with nothing to do, so I thought I’d come see what the clinic was like.”

Luo Changning raised his brows, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Doctor Wang stroked his beard and said with satisfaction, “Master Ma has talent with medicinal herbs.”

“Doctor Wang, you flatter me,” Ma Qingyun replied modestly.

Xiang Yinglong continued pestering everyone, chattering endlessly like a treasure, utterly at odds with his burly appearance.

In truth, he wasn’t usually so talkative; it was only because he’d met Ma Xue’e today that he was excited and nervous—stammering when speaking to her, but becoming more verbose with others.

Ma Xue’e, bored, idly flipped through the herbs in one basket, then another, her small white hands busy.

Luo Changning watched the little girl in silence, finally unable to bear her tormenting the herbs any longer. He stepped forward and gently took her wrist.

“Let’s go greet Aunt; don’t forget you have business to discuss with your brother later.”

With that, he led her toward the accounting room.

Ma Qingyun caught sight of them from the corner of his eye, his gaze shifting.

He had lingered in the clinic most of the day, but his true purpose lay elsewhere. Unfortunately, Su Meng seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, staying in the accounting room without emerging—even eating lunch there. He had no excuse to enter, no chance to see her, let alone speak a few words.

Ma Qingyun couldn’t explain his own behavior. Since that first encounter with Su Meng, he’d felt a jolt deep within; in the two months since, their meetings could be counted on one hand.

That gnawing longing and desperate urge to see her made him realize: his heart had already surrendered, lost in Su Meng’s gentleness, nobility, elegance, and sorrow.

He’d spent countless sleepless nights, haunted by dreams of Su Meng’s soft words, her shimmering eyes, her tender lips… In those dreams, Su Meng was his, and could only be his.

Ma Qingyun was consumed by jealousy—jealous of the one who caused Su Meng pain, regardless of gender, his hatred was absolute.

He had to admit, his possessiveness mirrored that of his father—and his enemy.

Though Ma Qingyun wore the mask of an aloof iceberg, he understood matters between men and women far better than Luo Changning, who’d lived two lives.

After all, his childhood was spent in a place saturated with the scent of women, filled with intrigue and rivalry. He’d witnessed countless clandestine liaisons between male and female servants.

He had yet to taste the pleasures of a woman, but the affairs of men and women, what should and shouldn’t be known, he understood them all.

Before meeting Su Meng, Ma Qingyun had never imagined falling for a woman eleven years his senior. In truth, he’d never thought himself capable of such surrender.

But… he was willing. One day, he would have her, make her as enamored and moved by him as he was by her.

If he couldn’t…

A turbulent darkness rose in his eyes as he strode toward the accounting room, his aura commanding and untouchable.