"Xiao Mei, you only recovered two days ago! Don't push yourself by carrying those heavy things! Let Sister Mei Dong bring them in!"
"It's okay, Old Healer. I want to repay your kindness and help the Tong family pharmacy!" Xiao Mei offered a small smile, though exhaustion still weighed heavily on her small frame.
'A child as unfortunate as her still wants to repay a debt... To lose her Sister, her mother, even her father. Your life is truly tragic, Xiao Mei...' The Old Healer looked at her, his arms crossed. His eyes grew misty.
It was heartbreaking to imagine the hardships she had faced; a child so small yet still able to smile despite everything.
Xiao Mei suddenly lost her balance while carrying a small crate of medicinal herbs that had just arrived. The Old Healer instinctively reached out his hands to catch her.
"Are you sure you can carry that, Xiao Mei?" The Old Healer's face radiated the warmth of a family bond.
Xiao Mei quickly scrambled to her feet and bowed her head deeply before him.
"I-I'm sorry, Old Healer!" Xiao Mei squeezed her eyes shut, imagining she was about to be struck.
"It's alright, little Xiao Mei." The Old Healer smiled kindly, gently lifting her chin so she wouldn't have to bow to him.
"You're not angry, Grandpa?"
"No... Xiao Mei, you are not a slave here. You are just like us... Sister Mei Dong and this Old Healer."
"Are you serious, Grandpa?" Xiao Mei covered her mouth with one hand. 'I accidentally called the Old Healer "Grandpa"!'
"It's fine if you want to call me Grandpa..." The Old Healer gently stroked Xiao Mei's hair, showing her the true meaning of family.
Xiao Mei laughed merrily. She began hopping around while carrying the crates of herbs. The Old Healer also chuckled at her antics.
"You two! Hurry up and help me move all these medicines and herbs from the carriage and get them inside!" Mei Dong shouted to Xiao Mei and the Old Healer to come and assist him.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Sister Mei Dong!" Xiao Mei giggled, seeing Mei Dong lugging so many things in his arms.
"Forgive me too, Mei Dong! I'll help you!" shouted the Old Healer, joining in the laughter.
Mei Dong huffed at the behavior of the two. His brow furrowed and his face turned red with annoyance.
"Hurry up and help me!!" Mei Dong bellowed. His voice could be heard from several meters away.
"We're coming!" The Old Healer and Xiao Mei jogged toward the irritated Mei Dong.
"Sister, which one should I take?" Xiao Mei asked, her eyes sparkling with innocence as she waited for Mei Dong's answer.
"Xiao Mei, just take the small herbal plants, okay?" Mei Dong's voice was as soft as a gentle breeze.
"Okay, Sister Mei Dong!" Xiao Mei went to find the plants, skipping here and there cheerfully as she chose which ones to carry.
"And which one should I take?" the Old Healer asked, pointing to himself.
"You carry those big crates!!" Mei Dong raised his voice again.
"Hey, Mei Dong, are you serious? I'm an old man, how could I possibly carry those big crates!" The Old Healer complained as he chased after Mei Dong, who had already started heading inside with the supplies.
Mei Dong turned his face away dismissively, refusing to look at the old man.
"Hihihi... Just do it, Grandpa! You know yourself that Sister Mei Dong is terrifying when he's angry..." Xiao Mei chuckled, watching the Old Healer being given a heavy task.
"Xiao Mei, you're laughing at Grandpa's suffering... I'm so sad to be mocked by a little girl!" The Old Healer pretended to cry.
He was finally able to see Xiao Mei laugh since her rescue. Since the moment she first regained consciousness, she had never looked happy, always brooding over her missing Sister. But now, she was finally able to laugh again.
The three of them continued moving items from the carriage into the shop to restock. After they finished, they sat down to have lunch together inside.
"Xiao Mei! Sister Mei's cooking is delicious, isn't it!" Mei Dong exclaimed, boasting about his skills.
"Xiao Mei, just say it's delicious. If you answer honestly, he'll get angry again," the Old Healer whispered into Xiao Mei's ear.
Xiao Mei giggled. "Got it, Grandpa!" she whispered back.
"It's very delicious, Sister Mei Dong! You really are a great cook!" Xiao Mei gave two small thumbs-up while still holding her chopsticks.
'So cute!' Mei Dong couldn't handle her cuteness; he nearly had a nosebleed.
"Right, Brother Xiaojun!"
The room suddenly fell silent at the mention of her brother's name. Not out of fear, but out of concern for Xiao Mei, worrying that she would never be able to move on from her loss.
"Brother Xiaojun..." Xiao Mei lowered her head. 'Brother! Wherever you are, I hope you are okay! I hope we can meet again...'
"Excuse me... Healer Tong Yang! Are you inside?"
"Who is it? Coming at such an inconvenient time!" Healer Tong Yang stood up from the dining table and walked toward the front door.
He slid the front door open and found Zhen Ji standing there with Xiaojun, who remained as still as a doll.
"Young Master Gu Zhen Ji... why such a sudden visit? You should have informed me first!"
Healer Tong Yang tried to greet him warmly despite his annoyance that Zhen Ji had disrupted such a crucial moment.
"I just happened to be passing by, so... I thought I'd stop by and buy some herbs." Zhen Ji smiled, though his eyes narrowed behind his monocle which caught the afternoon sun.
"Ah, I see! Please come in, Young Master. My apologies for keeping you at the door!" Healer Tong Yang welcomed them, gesturing for both to enter.
"Young Master, who is this behind you wearing the fox mask?" Healer Tong Yang asked curiously, as the person's appearance was quite disheveled. His sleeves looked burnt, and an aura of death and life seemed to clash around him.
"Oh, him? He is my assistant and guard. His name is Xiaojun."
Healer Tong Yang stumbled back slightly upon hearing the name. 'Xiao Mei's brother?! How is that possible? Xiao Mei said her brother was about 6 years old, but this person looks like a teenager of 18!'
"What is it, Healer Tong?" Zhen Ji stopped walking as the old man stumbled.
"A-ah! It's nothing, I was just a bit surprised! The name is similar to the brother of a child I found three days ago!"
"Hoh? What was the name of the child you found?" Zhen Ji was indeed looking for Xiao Mei's whereabouts with the help of spies in the Capital.
"Her name is Xiao Mei."
"A beautiful name..." Zhen Ji offered a small smile. 'The bait has been taken!'
"Well! Please have a seat, Gentlemen!" Healer Tong Yang invited them to sit on the waiting bench inside the shop.
"Mei Dong! Xiao Mei! If you've finished eating, please help me serve Young Master Gu Zhen Ji's order!"
"Understood!" Mei Dong and Xiao Mei answered from the dining room.
"Xiao Mei, let's go help Grandpa..." Mei Dong tried to coax Xiao Mei, who still had her head down.
"Okay, Sister Mei Dong..." Xiao Mei wiped away the last of her tears. She went to the washroom to splash her face so she would look more refreshed.
Mei Dong and Xiao Mei emerged from the dining room to the reception area to help Healer Tong Yang pack the herbs Zhen Ji had ordered.
'Hoh! So this little girl is the one in the agreement with Xiaojun, the self-sacrificing brother!' Zhen Ji stared at Xiao Mei intensely. When Xiao Mei saw Zhen Ji, she quickened her pace, feeling a wave of fear.
But at that very second, Xiao Mei felt her brother's presence there. 'Brother! Is that you? No, it's impossible... there are no other children here but me...' And yet, she felt drawn to the masked figure, though she couldn't see where he truly was.
"Young Master, is that all? Night-moon leaves, Heat-bamboo roots, and Lesser Sprite wood..."
"Healer Tong Yang, I also have an important message for you... I hope we can speak privately somewhere..."
"What does the Young Master wish to discuss? Is it very secret?"
"Yes... it is very important. So... I ask you to find a place where only the two of us can talk."
"Very well! Young Master, follow me to my private room..." Healer Tong Yang led Zhen Ji away to speak privately.
Zhen Ji left Xiaojun sitting at the reception area with Mei Dong and Xiao Mei. Mei Dong, feeling a bit curious, whispered to Xiao Mei.
"Hey! Little Sister Xiao Mei, don't you think the person sitting over there is strange?"
"Strange how, Sister Mei Dong?" Xiao Mei whispered back.
"Just look at him! Wearing a fox mask to act all mysterious! And look at his torn, burnt clothes? I bet he's never changed his clothes!"
Mei Dong spoke recklessly about the stranger. Such an attitude could be dangerous if the person took offense.
'The more I look, the stronger my brother's presence feels from that person's body!' Xiao Mei muttered to herself, ignoring Mei Dong's chatter.
While Mei Dong was busy rambling, Xiao Mei moved closer to Xiaojun, who was still acting as a puppet.
"E-excuse me... May I know your name, Sir? My name is Xiao Mei, what is yours?" Xiao Mei's curiosity was far stronger than Mei Dong's warnings.
Xiaojun remained silent, not answering her question; he didn't even glance at her. Xiao Mei refused to give up and continued to seek his attention.
"Sir! Do you know about a small 6-year-old boy with the surname Xiao?" Xiao Mei climbed onto Xiaojun's lap, trying to look him in the eye.
"Xiao Mei! What are you doing!" Mei Dong called out. He was worried things would turn dangerous if the guard became displeased.
Mei Dong rushed over and picked her up.
"My apologies for my sister..." Mei Dong apologized sincerely. Xiaojun didn't respond. Instead, he suddenly reached out and stroked Xiao Mei's hair, despite the vacant stare behind the mask.
"I-in that case, I will take Xiao Mei back to the reception..." Mei Dong stepped back, moving away.
Xiaojun's hand suddenly pointed toward Xiao Mei, as if wanting to say "don't take her away." Then, his hand returned to its original position.
Inside his mind, Xiaojun was fighting, trying to break free and reclaim his body. But inside, he was still just a child, unable to fight back against the control over his own body.
"Why did you take me away from him, Sister Mei Dong?" Xiao Mei asked with an innocent face.
"We don't know what is in someone's mind! He might be thinking dangerous things! So Xiao Mei, next time, don't act so recklessly!" Mei Dong warned her.
"Okay, Brother Mei..."
"Since you understand, we shall take our leave, Healer Tong Yang!" Zhen Ji emerged from the private room, giving a respectful farewell.
"Very well... I wish you a safe journey... I will convey it to the little one when the time is right..." Healer Tong Yang replied weakly. He looked as though he had been shocked by a great revelation.
"Oh right! For all the items I ordered, how much is it? Don't be shy, Healer Tong..." Zhen Ji smiled, narrowing his eyes.
"No need... you have already given this healer plenty of money..." Healer Tong Yang bowed in farewell.
Zhen Ji had already given him 200 Gold Zhang inside, as payment for Xiao Mei's living expenses during her stay there.
Zhen Ji and Xiaojun headed out of the capital, planning to return to the Gu family estate.
"Old Healer, what did you two actually talk about in there? You look so pale," Mei Dong asked Healer Tong Yang.
"It is a great secret. Neither of you can know until the right time!"