#10: Thousand Gates Ghost Fort (1)

Yao Yin slept exceptionally well, without a single dream all night.

As dawn was just breaking, she opened the window, letting the cool morning air wash over her. For a moment, she felt incredibly refreshed, but then she suddenly felt something was amiss. She thought carefully: “Where’s Yun Yan?”

He was no longer on the bed, and the room was empty. Could it be that Yun Niang and they were just a dream?

Yao Yin shook her head, dismissing the thought, assuming she was just muddled from sleep.

Yao Yin quickly changed her clothes and went out to look for Yun Yan. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Yun Yan curled up, unconscious in the stairwell. His small nose was red from the cold, and his face was pale and bluish.

“It’s the dead of winter! A child this small sleeping out all night, with no immortal energy to protect him, he couldn’t have frozen to death, could he?” Yao Yin thought, and immediately carried him back to the bed, tucking him under the covers.

Yun Yan’s whole body was icy cold. Though not dead, he was barely clinging to life. He had absorbed the cold air in the corridor all night, which made Yao Yin’s heart ache. She immediately went downstairs, fetched several buckets of hot water, and put them in the bathtub, intending to give him a warm bath.

Yao Yin unbuttoned all his clothes and held him in her arms. Soon, his body warmed up a bit. Although he was said to be sixty years old, his physique was much smaller than that of an average child. So thin, he must have suffered immensely.

Yao Yin tested the water temperature, felt it was just right, and carefully placed him in the bathtub. Then she gently wiped his body. Her movements were very gentle, and amidst the rising steam, a hint of color finally returned to Yun Yan’s face.

“This child is really beautiful. If A-Yan were a girl, she would definitely be a beauty capable of overthrowing kingdoms when she grew up. His parents must also be extraordinary individuals...” As Yao Yin thought this, she suddenly saw Yun Yan’s eyelashes twitch.

Yun Yan’s eyes slowly opened, his gaze somewhat unfocused. He stared at Yao Yin with a slight hint of confusion for a moment. A moment later, he suddenly stood up, excitedly trying to jump out of the wooden tub. Yao Yin, quick as a flash, immediately pressed him back down.

“It’s chilly. Coming out like this, do you want to die?” Yao Yin shouted.

Unexpectedly, Yun Yan didn’t listen to her at all. He struggled violently, splashing water all over the room.

“A-Yan!” Yao Yin roared, and he seemed startled, stopping his struggles.

“Are you... feeling embarrassed?” Yao Yin guessed.

Yun Yan turned his head, choosing to ignore her.

“Achoo!” Just then, Yun Yan suddenly let out a silent sneeze, and two streams of snot hung from his nose.

Still just a child after all...

Yao Yin laughed, then took out a handkerchief to wipe his nose.

This time, he didn’t push her away.

“You slept soundly last night, how did you end up in the corridor later?” Yao Yin asked while wiping his nose.

Yun Yan still didn’t want to talk to her.

Yao Yin sighed, feeling a bit helpless, and said, “I’m doing this for your own good. If you fall ill, how can you face your deceased parents and the hard-working Yun Luo who took care of you?”

It was better not to mention Yun Luo, but at the mention of her, an icy chill burst forth from Yun Yan’s eyes.

Yao Yin thought he was getting embarrassed again, so she said, “Wash yourself. Remember to come down for breakfast when you’re done.” With that, she put down the towel and left the room.

“This child is really difficult,” Yao Yin thought as she walked down the stairs.

In the lobby, Zichen had ordered another table full of dishes. He was sitting in the corner, eating with great relish.

“You’re certainly very good to yourself,” Yao Yin said sarcastically.

“Life is short, enjoy it while you can. That’s how to live a life without regrets.” Zichen chuckled unceremoniously, making a “please” gesture.

Every move Zichen made had a noble air about it. If one ignored his mortal body and his pig-like swollen face, one might truly believe he was a high deity from the Nine Heavens.

Yao Yin smiled, sat down unceremoniously, and feasted with him.

As she ate, she occasionally glanced towards the staircase. But she waited a long time and still didn’t see Yun Yan come down, so she muttered to herself, “He couldn’t have drowned himself, could he...”

“Who drowned?”

“An orphan I picked up last night.” Yao Yin recounted the story to Zichen.

Zichen raised an eyebrow, looking at her amusingly: “I didn’t realize you were so principled. This is a bit different from the you I know...”

“Bang!” Without surprise, Zichen’s head received another heavy blow from Yao Yin.

“It’s not your place to criticize my actions!”

“Are you even a woman?” Zichen winced in pain, clutching his head and grimacing: “You’re too fierce.”

“If you talk nonsense again, I’ll make sure you regret it!” Yao Yin put down her chopsticks and ordered, “From now on, you’re to treat him like your own younger brother, understand?”

Zichen nodded very reluctantly.

“That’s more like it,” Yao Yin let out a sigh of relief, and added, “A-Yan is a bit shy and doesn’t want me to touch him. Go up and see how he’s doing.”

“Oh.” Zichen crossed his arms, slowly stood up, and walked upstairs.

Zichen arrived at Yao Yin’s room door and knocked. He waited for a moment, and seeing no response from inside, he opened the door and walked into the room. Upon entering, he saw Yun Yan, dressed in a small white undergarment, lying on the floor, his brow tightly furrowed, his small mouth opening and closing but unable to utter a sound.

Zichen didn’t understand what he was saying, but he knew he must be in trouble. He walked forward, checked Yun Yan’s pulse, and found his whole body burning hot.

“He has a fever.” Zichen looked at his tormented expression. Subconsciously, he didn’t feel sorry for him at all, but rather a bit gloating.

“A-Yan! What’s wrong? Why are you lying on the ground again?” Yao Yin, who had rushed over, felt her heart twist into a knot at the sight. She immediately picked up Yun Yan, put his clothes on him, and carried him downstairs. Yao Yin asked the shopkeeper for the location of the medical hall and hurried there.

Zichen felt bored, so he followed along.

Watching the three of them leave, the shopkeeper kept shaking his head, sighing, “This child’s fate is truly unfortunate...”

At this time, the streets of Nanjiang City were sparsely populated, completely devoid of yesterday’s market bustle. Shops on both sides of the road were sparsely open, and the road was filled with garbage left behind by vendors.

Yao Yin turned right at the corner and walked two more streets before seeing the owner of the pharmacy yawning as he moved the wooden boards in front of his shop.

“Doctor, wait!” Yao Yin shouted as she ran.

The pharmacy owner, seeing Yao Yin rushing over with a child in her arms like a gust of wind and fire, immediately became fully alert. He stepped forward, took Yun Yan, and placed him on the bamboo couch behind the diagnosis counter. He carefully checked his pulse, then touched A-Yan’s forehead.

The doctor was silent for a long moment, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

“Doctor, how is he?” Yao Yin asked anxiously.

“The young master’s pulse is normal... I can’t find any illness.”

“How can there be no illness? He’s burning up like this!” Yao Yin was greatly alarmed.

“I cannot treat this illness,” the doctor shook his head with certainty and said, “There’s another medical hall at the Crossroads. Take the young master there to have a look.” With that, he pointed out a path to Yao Yin.

Yao Yin thanked him and then rushed to another medical hall.

“Walk slower, I can’t keep up with you!” Zichen gasped as he followed behind Yao Yin. Being a mortal, his foot speed was less than one or two tenths of Yao Yin’s, making it very difficult for him. But Yao Yin couldn’t care less about his well-being at that moment. She was only concerned about Yun Yan, who was burning hot in her arms...

At this point, Yun Yan vaguely opened his eyes and stirred in Yao Yin’s arms. He tried hard to struggle, but ultimately his will was strong but his strength was weak, and he quickly fell unconscious again... Thus, one carried Yun Yan leading the way, while the other chased behind. They went to three medical halls in succession, but none of the doctors could diagnose his illness.

The last doctor was a skilled individual who had traveled widely in the Southwestern Great Barrens. He said, “The young master has been afflicted by ghost evil energy. You need to go to a ghost fort and find a ghost doctor to examine him.”

Yao Yin had no choice but to take Yun Yan and Zichen and head to the Thousand Gates Ghost Fort to seek medical treatment.