"Sister Xun'er, I want to go out and travel for a while."
In the darkness, Gu Changqing whispered to Xiao Xun'er under the covers.
"Where do you want to travel to?"
Xiao Xun'er lay on her side beside Gu Changqing, stroking his arm and cheek as she asked.
"Just within the Jiama Empire."
Gu Changqing turned his head to answer, his eyes fixed on Xiao Xun'er’s delicate face.
"No, you’re too young right now."
After a moment of silence, Xiao Xun'er shook her head, rejecting Gu Changqing’s request.
"How am I too young?"
Gu Changqing grabbed Xiao Xun'er’s small hand, comparing the size of their palms, then pinched her slender waist, urging her to feel the breadth of his own frame. He asked, "Am I still too young now?"
"You little rascal, I meant your age. Besides, you’re only a Dou Zhe; it’s too dangerous to go out traveling."
Xiao Xun'er giggled, reaching out to pinch Gu Changqing’s cheek as she spoke with a playful pout.
"It’s not, I intend to set out soon. I want to experience the customs and culture of the Jiama Empire. I’m not heading to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to train against beasts; I’m just traveling through the major human cities of the Jiama Empire. There’s no danger in that."
Gu Changqing shook his head, his tone resolute.
"Then I’ll go with you."
Sensing the firmness in his voice and not wanting to force a confrontation, Xiao Xun'er conceded.
"My dear sister, just stay at the Xiao Family and practice the Flame Mantra in peace. I promise to return by the time Canaan Academy begins its enrollment next year."
Gu Changqing patted Xiao Xun'er’s hand, offering words of comfort.
"What? You’re going to be away for a year? Absolutely not!"
This time, Xiao Xun'er refused point-blank. She sat bolt upright, staring at Gu Changqing with a serious expression.
Gu Changqing turned away, presenting his back to her, and prepared to sleep.
"Gu Changqing!"
"I forbid you from going, do you hear me?"
Xiao Xun'er was becoming anxious, tapping his back and speaking sternly.
"Alright, Sister Xun'er, it’s time to sleep. If you’re worried about me being in danger, just assign a powerful guard to follow me, won't that solve it? In any case, I have to go on this journey."
Gu Changqing sat up and pulled Xiao Xun'er back down, making her lie down properly. Propping himself up with one hand, he leaned over to look down at her delicate face, speaking with determination.
Just as Xiao Xun'er’s eyes narrowed, preparing to protest further, Gu Changqing covered her cherry lips with his hand. Gazing straight into her sparkling, jewel-like eyes, he said, "My dear sister, just agree to it, or I’ll just sneak out anyway."
As he spoke, Gu Changqing leaned down and kissed her softly on one side of her face.
Caught off guard by the kiss, Xiao Xun'er’s face flushed a deep crimson. However, hearing that this little rascal still planned to sneak off, her eyes widened as she prepared to give him a proper scolding.
*Smack.* Seeing that she was about to get angry, Gu Changqing quickly planted another kiss on her other cheek.
"Gu Changqing, you..."
*Smack.* "You..."
*Smack.* Every time Xiao Xun'er showed signs of forbidding him, Gu Changqing would quickly kiss her cheek again.
Soon, unable to handle his shameless tactics, Xiao Xun'er lay back on the bed in defeat. She compromised, saying, "You are only allowed to go for one year. You must return if you encounter danger, and you must let Ling Ying follow you at all times."
She knew how mischievous her younger brother could be; sometimes, he could hide so well that even Ling Ying and the others couldn't find him. She had to be clear: he had to let Ling Ying tail him, and he was forbidden from using any schemes to shake him off.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say."
Gu Changqing was overjoyed and naturally agreed to everything. The next day, Gu Changqing was awakened by a strange sound.Opening his eyes, Gu Changqing saw Xiao Xun'er leaning in his arms, gnawing on one of his hands. Several of his fingers were covered in her saliva.
Seemingly sensing that he had woken up, Xiao Xun'er's pretty eyes fluttered gently before she opened them with a sleepy look.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she found Gu Changqing staring at her speechlessly.
"Brother Changqing, why are you looking at me like that?"
Xiao Xun'er pouted her red lips, speaking in a slightly spoiled and naive tone.
Just as she finished speaking, she noticed something, lowered her head abruptly, and saw a wet hand cradled in her arms.
Her lovely face instantly flushed red. In her dream, she had clearly been gnawing on a magical beast's paw.
"My good sister, you really are a glutton."
Gu Changqing sat up from the bed, brought the hand that Xiao Xun'er had drooled on to the tip of his nose to sniff it, and smiled. "It even smells quite nice!"
"Bad brother, you're asking for death!"
Embarrassed and angry, Xiao Xun'er pounced on him and gave him a thorough bite.
"Little Doctor, you're here."
"The Little Doctor has become even more handsome. If only my boy were as exceptional as the Little Doctor."
"Not only is the Little Doctor skilled in medicine, but he's also extremely talented, well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Look at that, the couplet in front of the Changqing Clinic was written by the Little Doctor's own hand."
"Hanging up the gourd to save the common people, eternal and evergreen descending to the mortal realm. The Little Doctor's Changqing Clinic truly lives up to the name of Evergreen!"
...
As Gu Changqing walked along the street, many mercenaries and ordinary townspeople cast looks of reverence and respect toward him.
Over the years in Wutan City, Gu Changqing had established the Changqing Clinic, treating countless ordinary citizens and mercenaries who lived on the edge of a blade.
Almost everywhere he passed, within the line of sight, there were people he had saved.
Therefore, Gu Changqing's reputation in Wutan City was exceptionally high.
Arriving at the front of the clinic, Gu Changqing first took down the sign that read: "Doctor is out, no consultations today."
Only then did he look at the crowd behind him who had already consciously lined up to wait for consultations, and said in a loud voice, "Thank you all for your care over such a long time. Before I begin consultations today, I have an announcement to make: from this day forward, the Changqing Clinic is placed under the name of the Xiao Family. All business activities and proceeds will be left to the Xiao Family's discretion. Today will also be my final day of consultations for everyone. If we are fated, I may treat your ailments again in the future."
"Now, everyone, please don't crowd, come one by one."
With that, Gu Changqing sat down on his consultation stool, waiting for the people lined up behind him to step forward one by one.
Gu Changqing's words naturally caused quite a stir at the scene.
People expressed their concern, asking if he had been threatened by the Xiao Family into handing over his property, and loudly declared that they would help Gu Changqing demand justice.
Fortunately, Gu Changqing immediately spoke up to clarify and clear the Xiao Family's name, thereby preventing a horde of mercenaries from rushing over to the Xiao Family to demand justice for him.
"It seems this Gu Changqing really is a good person."
While Gu Changqing was busy seeing patients, a graceful figure was quietly observing him from the shadows.
This person was none other than Nalan Yanran, who had yet to leave Wutan City.
Originally, once the matter of the betrothal was resolved, according to her schedule, she was supposed to immediately return to the Misty Cloud Sect with Ge Ye.
However, because a fascinating person named Gu Changqing had appeared, she refused to let Ge Ye and Mo Li accompany her, claiming she wanted to gain some experience outside, and stayed behind in Wutan City.
In reality, she was secretly observing Gu Changqing, intending to thank him in person.
Mo Li had originally planned to return to the sect with Nalan Yanran first and then arrange manpower to deal with Gu Changqing, but he never expected Nalan Yanran to stay behind directly, refusing to let him accompany her by her side.
His murderous intent toward Gu Changqing deepened even further, and he immediately arranged for people to secretly keep watch on Gu Changqing in Wutan City, while he himself went off to organize manpower to deal with Gu Changqing properly.