Volume Two: Inherited Honor and Splendor, Blood on Brocade Chapter 103: The Silver Needle

The white-haired monkey, upon hearing the woman’s call, dashed over like lightning. Black Flash seemed unwilling to give up and tried to pursue, but the little demon girl whistled sharply, and only then did Black Flash spread his wings and take flight.

The white monkey reached the woman’s side, sat down, raised a hand, and pointed toward the big ghost, emitting a series of chirping sounds. Yang Ning watched and found the white monkey not only adorable but remarkably clever. Unless mistaken, the woman should be the monkey’s owner.

The woman squatted down and gently stroked the white monkey’s head. The monkey looked very docile. She then made a gesture, and the monkey leapt away.

The woman stood up, carrying a small bamboo basket, and walked softly over. As she approached, Yang Ning noticed she appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. Her skin bore a healthy wheat color, and her features were remarkably delicate and beautiful, though her expression was impassive. She passed directly before Yang Ning and the others, heading toward a narrow path through the herb garden that led straight to the three thatched cottages.

The little demon girl, seeing the woman remain silent, immediately put her hands on her hips and called out, “Don’t you see me?”

The young woman stopped but did not turn around. “Go away. This is no place for you,” she said.

“Just like that, you want me to leave?” the little demon girl laughed. “Tang Nuo, I haven’t seen you in years. Don’t you miss me?”

Yang Ning thought to himself: so this young woman’s name is Tang Nuo. Judging from the little demon girl’s words, the two must have known each other for a long time — old acquaintances reunited after many years. Yet Tang Nuo showed no sign of warmth or nostalgia upon seeing the little demon girl, which puzzled Yang Ning deeply.

Tang Nuo turned, her gaze sweeping over the herbs and flowers destroyed by the big ghost. Frowning, she said, “These medicinal herbs, if refined, could produce medicine to save many lives. Why did you have them destroyed?”

“How much silver do you want? I’ll pay you back,” the little demon girl said nonchalantly. “I went through so much trouble tracking you down, traveling a long way just to find you. And you don’t even invite me in? I’m thirsty now — make me some tea.”

Hearing the pronoun “you all,” Yang Ning realized Tang Nuo was not alone here. Yet he had no idea who else might be present.

Tang Nuo ignored the plea and said simply, “Those who are poisoned stay behind. You leave now, as far away as possible.” Her tone was calm and even, but a flicker of displeasure toward the little demon girl was evident.

Yang Ning thought to himself that Tang Nuo was indeed extraordinary; she could tell at a glance that someone was poisoned.

“I know you won’t break your oath,” the little demon girl giggled. “By the way, where’s that old fellow? My master keeps worrying about him.” She called toward the cottages, “Old Li, what are you hiding inside for? Come out! If you don’t, I’ll have your house burned down.”

Yang Ning wondered who this Old Li was and how the little demon girl knew Tang Nuo wouldn’t break her oath. What oath was this? How did she know? Tang Nuo replied coldly, “He’s long gone. If your master wants to see him, he’ll have to wait for another year or so.”

“Oh?” the little demon girl laughed. “I don’t believe that.” She ran toward the thatched cottages. Tang Nuo did not stop her. When the little demon girl reached the cottages, Tang Nuo glanced at her without looking directly and then approached a burly man beside Yang Ning. She scrutinized his complexion, then reached out. The man tried to dodge, but Tang Nuo said calmly, “Don’t move.” Her voice was quiet but carried a force that brooked no disobedience.

The man froze. Tang Nuo lifted his eyelids, frowned slightly, and after a brief thought, pointed toward a nearby pond. “Jump in first. Don’t come out without my order.”

The man hesitated, and even Yang Ning found it strange. Carefully, the man asked, “Miss, I…!”

“If you don’t want to die, jump now,” Tang Nuo said. “You’re all poisoned. I’ll do my best to save you, but if I can’t, don’t blame me.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the man turned and quickly ran to the pond’s edge, then plunged in without further delay.

When Tang Nuo came before Yang Ning, he thought to himself that his own injury—just a single sting from a poison bee—should be much lighter than those two men’s. Smiling, he said, “Miss, please take a look at me too.”

Tang Nuo examined him closely, her brows furrowing. “You’re injured?”

“Injured?” Yang Ning was taken aback. Tang Nuo continued, “You’ve been poisoned by a giant wasp. It’s not too serious, but… you also have internal injuries that could kill you at any moment.”

Yang Ning thought to himself: I haven’t been hit recently, and my internal organs seem fine. Could she be mistaken? Just as he was about to explain, he suddenly recalled the energy accumulating in his dantian. Could Tang Nuo be referring to that internal injury?

Duan Canghai was a formidable martial artist, yet even he had to undergo pulse diagnosis to detect problems in his dantian. Could Tang Nuo, a young woman, discern this simply by looking? If so, she might be even more skilled than Duan Canghai.

“Your internal injury won’t heal in a few days. His poisoning is the worst, so I’ll detoxify him first,” Tang Nuo glanced at Zhao Yuan and said calmly, “I’ll examine your injuries more carefully later.”

Yang Ning could not help but ask, “Miss Tang, how do you know whether we are good or evil? Why would you treat us? If there are bad people among us, would you still detoxify them?” He glanced at Zhao Yuan, implying that Zhao was no good and she should think twice.

Tang Nuo remained composed, neither smiling nor frowning. “Before me, there are no good or bad people. If someone is injured or ill, I will do my best to heal them.”

“As a healer should,” Yang Ning admired. “You have a kind and compassionate heart—a true doctor who saves lives.”

Tang Nuo’s eyes, usually calm as autumn waters, suddenly grew sharp and cold. Her voice turned icy: “I am not a doctor.”

At that moment, the little demon girl shouted from outside, “Old Li, are you scared of my master? Cowardly turtle, come out!”

She had already searched the three cottages thoroughly but found no trace of anyone.

“Both of you come with me,” Tang Nuo said, picking up a wooden stick and handing one end to Zhao Yuan. Zhao Yuan grasped it, and Tang Nuo took the other end, leading him toward the cottage.

Yang Ning watched and felt Tang Nuo was genuinely kind-hearted.

Following Zhao Yuan, Yang Ning arrived at the cottage door. The little demon girl was sitting on a wooden plank outside, taunting Tang Nuo: “If you have the skill, cure his eyes too.”

Tang Nuo ignored her, pushed open the door, and led Zhao Yuan inside. Yang Ning hesitated but followed.

Inside, the furnishings were simple. The sun had already set, and dusk darkened the room. Tang Nuo lit a lamp, untied the ropes binding the two men, then poured two cups of water—first handing one to Zhao Yuan, then to Yang Ning. Yang Ning took the cup and saw the water was crystal clear. Hesitating briefly, he drank it all at once.

Zhao Yuan, thirsty, drank without hesitation.

The little demon girl crept inside with her hands behind her back, grinning slyly at Yang Ning. “Aren’t you afraid the water’s poisoned? My poison is strong but doesn’t act immediately. Since you’re still alive, Tang Nuo must know poisons too. Don’t die before your time.”

Yang Ning relaxed as his limbs loosened and sneered, “Do you think everyone in this world is as vicious as you? You’re ruthless, treating human life like dirt. I wonder what fate awaits someone like you.”

Though blind, Zhao Yuan shared their anger and glared toward the little demon girl’s voice, his face full of fury.

“Drink your own water,” Tang Nuo said, pointing to a water jar in the corner. She addressed the little demon girl: “If you think it’s poisoned, you don’t have to drink.”

The little demon girl laughed, “I wouldn’t touch your water. I know you want me dead. Maybe their water isn’t poisoned now, but when I drink, it’ll be.”

“Did Qiu Qianyi teach you to distrust everything?” Tang Nuo asked softly. “Besides teaching you poison, what else did he teach?”

The little demon girl giggled, sat on a bamboo chair, crossed her slender, pale legs, and said proudly, “Whatever it was, it’s more useful than Old Li.” She wiggled her legs and asked, “Tang Nuo, have you been hiding here all these years? No wonder you’ve been impossible to find.”

Tang Nuo walked to a wooden shelf in the corner, picked up a wooden box, and set it on the table. Yang Ning glanced inside and saw a row of silver needles—about twenty or so—gleaming under the firelight. He immediately recognized that Tang Nuo was skilled in acupuncture.

Though it seemed simple, acupuncture was a highly profound healing method, requiring exquisite technique and years of practice. Tang Nuo was young, yet Yang Ning never expected she could perform acupuncture.

Earlier, when he praised Tang Nuo as a good doctor, she reacted coldly and even said she was not a doctor. This puzzled Yang Ning. Tang Nuo clearly did what doctors do, so why reject the title? She and the little demon girl seemed well acquainted but remained distant. What was the nature of their relationship?