Chapter Seven: The Pavilion of Healing

After making up his mind, Xiao Wenzi waited for the moment when Qiaoyu and Lingxiang left the courtyard, then spread his wings and flew away from the flowerbed, heading toward the distant eaves.

He needed to find a safe place to quietly cultivate and wait for nightfall.

The Wang family was immensely wealthy, their estate covering a vast expanse, filled with rockeries, bamboo groves, lotus ponds, and flowing streams. In the end, Xiao Wenzi chose the rockery nestled beside the lotus pond.

The rockery had many holes of varying sizes, naturally formed by water wearing away the stone. Some holes were no larger than a thumb, but for a mosquito, they were anything but small. Soon, he found a suitable one and darted inside.

Unlike ordinary mosquitoes that acted only on instinct, Xiao Wenzi was meticulous in choosing his cave. First, it had to be far from the ground to avoid natural enemies like toads and frogs; second, it needed to be dry and comfortable, since he planned to cultivate there for a long time.

This small hollow at the top of the rockery, formed by the natural flow of rainwater, was about as thick as a child’s arm and barely twenty centimeters deep, yet it was perfect for his tiny body.

He began to regulate his breath. Soon, imperceptible strands of spiritual energy from the world were drawn toward him, and Xiao Wenzi settled into deep cultivation.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng, wearing a bamboo hat and gloves and wrapped up tightly, quietly slipped out the back door of the Wang estate. At this moment, aside from Qiaoyu and Lingxiang, no one else knew about his nearly disfigured appearance.

The guards at the gate recognized the young master’s voice. Though they were puzzled by his unusual attire, none dared to ask questions.

Wang Sheng’s destination upon leaving the residence was the only pharmacy in Wo Niu Village—Hanging Gourd Hall.

Named for its mission to heal the world, Hanging Gourd Hall’s physician had a real reputation; though he couldn’t perform miracles, Manager Liu was certainly skilled enough to concoct ointments for swelling and itching.

If there were any special remedies to ward off mosquitoes, Wang Sheng was prepared to pay any price—he loathed that demonic mosquito.

“Sir, are you here to fill a prescription or see the doctor?” The apprentice at Hanging Gourd Hall was sharp and efficient. Although he couldn’t see Wang Sheng’s face beneath the hat, he easily deduced from the fine clothing and bearing that this was a young gentleman of wealth, and hurried to greet him.

“I have a private ailment. I’d like your manager to see if he can cure it...” Wang Sheng wore the hat and gloves precisely to hide his identity, deliberately lowering his voice.

“Please have a seat and wait, sir. The manager is seeing other patients in the inner hall. I’ll register you right away,” the apprentice replied with a smile, indicating a nearby chair.

At that moment, seven or eight patients and their families were already waiting, men and women, young and old, most of them villagers from Wo Niu, though a few had come from neighboring villages as well.

Upon seeing the young master of the Wang family, many cast curious glances his way.

Wang Sheng was not about to sit and wait with them. Several villagers had seen him before; if his identity were discovered, it would be a disaster. He discreetly handed a piece of silver to the apprentice.

“Since your condition is urgent, sir, you’ll be next,” the apprentice assured him with a broad smile after receiving the tip.

“Next!” Soon, a deep male voice called out, and under the apprentice’s guidance, Wang Sheng entered the inner hall.

Manager Liu of Hanging Gourd Hall appeared to be around fifty, with three long wisps of beard, looking every bit the scholarly gentleman.

He glanced at the stranger before him, face hidden beneath the bamboo hat and hands wrapped in silk gloves, and asked in a mild tone, “Sir, where do you feel unwell?”

“Doctor, I was bitten by a mosquito. Can you cure it within two days? And if you have any effective methods for dealing with mosquitoes, I’ll pay whatever it takes.” Wang Sheng did not remove his hat, but took off his gloves, showing the still-swollen bumps on his hands.

“Just a mosquito bite? Even without ointment, it’ll clear up in a few days. I do have some herbal incense to drive away mosquitoes—I'll have the apprentice fetch you some...” Manager Liu glanced at Wang Sheng’s wrist, his face unreadable and his tone distracted, clearly finding the young master’s secrecy rather excessive.

Seeing the lack of patience in Manager Liu’s demeanor, Wang Sheng did not lose his temper. Instead, he slowly lifted the black veil beneath his hat, revealing the swollen, lump-covered chin and neck.

“This... How could it be so severe? Sir, are you sure it was an ordinary mosquito?” Upon seeing the half-unveiled face, Manager Liu’s expression changed at once.

Wang Sheng nodded, lowered the veil, and rasped, “That’s right. Doctor, do you have any way to cure this quickly? And if you have a way to deal with that damned little thing, even better.”

Though Wang Sheng hadn’t described the demonic mosquito in detail, Manager Liu, being an old hand in the world, guessed as much. He certainly did not want to fall victim to a mosquito demon himself, and so resolved to do his utmost.

He gestured for Wang Sheng to sit. After taking his pulse and confirming that, aside from the bites, his heartbeat and pulse were normal, Manager Liu personally prepared an ointment and prescribed a few medicinal decoctions to aid his recovery.

Naturally, he also included some potent herbal incense.

The ointment, when applied to the bites, was cool and soothing, with a remarkable effect on the itching. Pleased, Wang Sheng paid the fee and prepared to return home.

Just as he reached the door, a man carrying an elderly person hurriedly rushed in.

The old man looked terribly ill, unable to lift his head, while the man, distracted as he spoke to someone behind him, did not notice Wang Sheng and collided with him head-on.

Bang!

Wang Sheng, after all, was only in his teens and not as strong as the other man. Taken by surprise, he stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance, nearly falling, his chest tight from the impact.

But that was not what angered him most. His bamboo hat had been knocked off, and everyone in Hanging Gourd Hall turned to look.

Several people recognized the young master of the Wang family. Some had attended his banquet the night before to celebrate his acceptance into the Immortal Sect. Now, seeing his ruined face, they couldn’t help but exclaim, “You’re Young Master Wang Sheng—what happened to your face?”

“Forgive me, Young Master Wang, my father is gravely ill. I, Er Niu, meant no harm,” the man, recognizing Wang Sheng despite his disfigurement, hurriedly set the old man down and bowed in apology, realizing his grave mistake.

“No, I’m not Wang Sheng. You’re mistaken.” Of all the possibilities, Wang Sheng had not foreseen being unmasked at the very last moment. Now, his transformation into a swollen, lump-covered figure was exposed.

Furious, his face twisted with shame, Wang Sheng denied it flatly, snatched up his bamboo hat and ointment, and rushed out the door.

“Did you hear? Young Master Wang Sheng—the one who joined the Immortal Sect from the Wang family—had such a promising future, but overnight, he’s been disfigured...”

“It’s true! My father even saw him at Hanging Gourd Hall getting medicine. His face was terrifying...”

Though Wang Sheng denied it, rumors spread quickly through Wo Niu Village. Some villagers, jealous of him, added fuel to the fire, while the young women who had once admired him now avoided him as if he were poisonous.