Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

The sun was high in the sky as Xie Yuan and Situ Qin gathered in the dining hall, having breakfast together.

The two had spent the entire night inside the Inspector General’s residence. They had been surprisingly energetic upon their return, so they took a four-hour nap and were already up again.

It was just that they both had the same faint dark circles under their eyes, looking for all the world like they had been out all night getting into trouble.

Everyone in the residence saw it, but they all pretended not to.

It was one thing for the maids and servants—they held Situ Qin in the highest esteem, and aside from her personal handmaiden Xiaoqing, who might dare a word or two, no one would even think of admonishing her. But even Li Tai and the female housekeeper who managed the inner residence showed no reaction. It seemed that no matter what Situ Qin did, they would simply obey her orders.

Xie Yuan keenly noticed this. It was as if her family had no elders; it was simply "Situ Qin’s house," where she was completely free to make her own decisions.

Even if Situ Qin truly lived here alone, this wasn’t how a great clan should conduct itself. There should have been a governess or some elder figure around.

Furthermore, based on what he’d seen at the banquet yesterday, Situ Qin’s status was clearly a cut above everyone else’s. She was held in their midst like the moon surrounded by stars. Even the Crown Prince of Prince Cloud Mountain didn’t seem to possess a station more noble than hers... This sparked numerous theories in Xie Yuan’s mind.

Of course, after learning that Li Tai was a Grandmaster on the Flying Dragon List, Xie Yuan knew her background had to be extraordinary.

Not just extraordinary, but *exceptionally* so.

However, when Xie Yuan had asked about her family background during a casual chat later, she hadn’t given a direct answer, so he had the good sense not to press the issue. The young masters and ladies at the banquet had also only ever called her Miss Qin, never revealing any other title.

’How is it that I feel like we’ve known each other a long time and are very close, yet she’s still shrouded in mystery...’

Xie Yuan held his bowl of congee, his mind starting to wander.

"Master Xie, what are you daydreaming about?"

A slender hand waved before his eyes. From across the table, Situ Qin asked with some curiosity.

Xie Yuan snapped out of it, finished the rest of the congee in his bowl, and said with a laugh:

"I didn’t sleep well. My mind was just wandering."

"Tch. You’re a Third Training Martial Artist who practices both internal and external arts, and you can’t even stay up late?"

Situ Qin pouted and rolled her eyes at Xie Yuan.

In Xie Yuan’s view, Situ Qin’s everyday speech, mannerisms, gait, and posture all inadvertently revealed a certain elegance—clearly the result of a childhood steeped in the traditions of a great clan.

Yet, most of the time she was with him, her demeanor was relaxed and easygoing. She never put on airs, just like the girl next door, which was why they had hit it off so well from their very first meeting.

And now, their relationship was something more than just an ordinary friendship.

Xie Yuan smiled, no longer dwelling on it.

’Situ Qin is Situ Qin. Her background isn’t important.’

After they finished breakfast, they waited for a little while before Zheng Qingyang arrived at their door.

’Logically,’ Xie Yuan thought, ’a renowned doctor like him should have a packed schedule. But Situ Qin sent for him at dawn, and he arrived before noon.’

Xie Yuan exchanged greetings with Yunzhou’s foremost doctor and said with a smile:

"Mr. Qingyang, you are truly a master of the healing arts. My neck injury is ninety-nine percent healed."

"Hehe, you flatter me, Mr. Xie," Zheng Qingyang chuckled, stroking his beard. "I see your neck still has some faint scarring. I’ll write another prescription later to take care of it completely."

Situ Qin nodded repeatedly, her smile beaming as she said:

"No scars is best! Yes, no scars at all!"

"..."

Xie Yuan pretended not to hear and took out several draft prescriptions, handing them to Zheng Qingyang.

"Thank you, Mr. Qingyang. But I didn’t ask you here today to trouble you further over this minor injury. I actually have a question I was hoping you could answer for me."

"I came across a medicinal formula, but I can’t for the life of me figure out its purpose. That’s why I wanted to ask you to take a look."

Zheng Qingyang took the draft formulas. After a quick glance, he kept only one.

"The final version must be this one. The ratios in the others don’t make much sense."

Xie Yuan and Situ Qin exchanged a glance. Seeing how certain Zheng Qingyang was, they were both convinced.

The white-haired doctor stared at the formula for a long moment, muttering the names of the medicinal ingredients under his breath. He frowned and said:

"Hm? I’ve certainly never seen this formula before. The combination of ingredients is ingenious, but they are all rather unorthodox. Put together, I fear this is not some beneficial concoction."

Xie Yuan admitted frankly:

"To be honest, I happened to get this from an enemy of mine. I have no idea what trick he’s trying to pull."

Zheng Qingyang stroked his beard, pondering for a moment before saying:

"In that case... How about this: give me a day. I’ll go back and prepare a batch according to the formula, and then we’ll have our answer."

A smile spread across Xie Yuan’s face as he said gratefully:

"Then I must thank you, Mr. Qingyang!"

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all. I’ve always been interested in new formulas."

Zheng Qingyang smiled and waved his hand, then took the formula and left in a hurry. It seemed he hadn’t just been making polite conversation.

Xie Yuan and Situ Qin saw Zheng Qingyang off. Then, choosing his words carefully, Xie Yuan said:

"Miss Qin, I have imposed on your hospitality for several days now. After I hear back from Mr. Qingyang tomorrow, I intend to take my leave and return to Yunzhao."

"Ah? You’re leaving?"

Situ Qin was stunned for a moment and blurted it out.

Xie Yuan nodded.

"I was actually planning to leave today, but since the formula hasn’t been deciphered yet, I decided to impose for one more day. As you know, the Escort Agency must face the Vajra Sect in a few days. Factoring in travel time, this gives me just enough time to get there a little early."

"I see. Alright, then."

A reluctant expression appeared on Situ Qin’s face. She sighed and said:

"I was hoping you’d stay a few more days. You haven’t even tried the famous snacks in the alleys of Yunzhou Prefecture yet. But if you have business to attend to, I suppose it can’t be helped."

Xie Yuan smiled and said:

"This just gives me something to look forward to for next time, doesn’t it? I’ll have to trouble you to show me around then."

Hearing this, Situ Qin’s eyes lit up.

"That’s true! In that case, once you’ve taken care of your business, you have to come back as soon as you can!"