Chapter 41: Sacrifices
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Maybe your grandfather didn’t know that Snake Swallowing Stone can cure scorpion poison...” Wang Hongxia ventured uncertainly.
Ding Yao waved her small hands fiercely as she shouted, “Shut up! You have no right to belittle my grandfather’s skill in medicine! My grandfather would be rolling in his grave if he heard you spouting such nonsense!”
Wang Hongxia choked. Everyone was too embarrassed to refute Ding Yao. Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle Ding lowered their heads in guilt. How could they not have had faith in Ding Yao?
Ding Yao wagged her finger imposingly and said, “One should listen to reason and not close themselves or risk becoming narrow-minded and obtuse. Even if this matter were brought up to the police, I would have nothing to fear. The Snake Swallowing Stone is in my possession. If you want to take it from me, you are more than welcome to try!”
Song Xiuyan relayed Ding Yao’s awe-inspiring words. Just as they were about to leave, Wang Hongxiao shamelessly grabbed hold of Ding Yao’s sleeve, squeezing out tears, “Even if you managed to find a Snake Swallowing Stone and sold it, shouldn’t you give your father some money as a show of respect?”
Ding Yao shook off Wang Hongxia’s hand. “I’m sorry, I don’t plan to sell the Snake Swallowing Stone, so I won’t have any money to give him.”
After Song Xiuyan conveyed Ding Yao’s words, the two left Spirit Stone Village. The sky gradually darkened, and the road grew difficult to see. At first, Song Xiuyan pulled Ding Yao along, but later, he carried her on his back. Ding Yao did not protest. Unlike Song Xiuyan, a skilled martial artist who could see in the dark, Ding Yao was a weak, untrained girl. It took no effort on his part to shoulder her weight.
It was a quiet night with no one traversing the mountain road. Only the whisper of wind against rustling leaves and the soft patter of feet punctuated the silence. Neither Ding Yao nor Song Xiuyan spoke. Just as Ding Yao was about to fall asleep, Song Xiuyan suddenly stopped.
He lowered himself into a crouch and gently unspooled Ding Yao from the nest that was his back. “Go hide. Quick!” His tone was urgent, carrying a nervous edge.
Ding Yao quivered, springing wide awake. What happened? Were they being robbed? Before she could seek shelter in the woods, two black shadows darted toward them.
“Ding Yao, run!” Song Xiuyan shouted while bravely intercepting their robbers. The three of them instantly tangled together, locked in mortal combat. By then, Ding Yao had hidden behind a large tree. She could not run away and leave Song Xiuyan behind!
Although it was her first time experiencing a life-and-death situation, Ding Yao was not afraid. Doctors traversed the world, pushing the boundaries of medicine and treating those in need. How could she cower and flee when there was someone who needed her? Besides, she was not completely defenceless.
“Name yourselves!” Song Xiuyan roared, his deep baritone carrying on the wind.
The black-clothed men did not answer, merely continuing their assault. The two joined hands but could not pierce Song Xiuyan’s defence. They looked at each other and took a step back simultaneously, unsheathing the longswords strapped to their backs before re-engaging Song Xiuyan. Their sharp swords glimmered in the dark, causing Ding Yao’s heart to jump into her throat with each exchange.
Although Song Xiuyan was no pushover and could easily fight one against two, that was assuming his assailants were unarmed. Swords have no eyes, and it would not take much for a debilitating blow to take Song Xiuyan out of the fight.
Seeing that Song Xiuyan was forced to retreat one step at a time, Ding Yao rummaged through her medicine bag, pulled out a bag of medicinal powder, and sprinted toward the men clad in black as if in fright.
“Ding Yao, don’t come over!” Song Xiuyan tried to stop her. He could not allow the men in black to harm her, so he fought more recklessly, doing his best to stall them. When the two men saw Ding Yao, they gave up on Song Xiuyan and charged at Ding Yao with their swords drawn.
Ding Yao was secretly happy. She used the cover of darkness to launch the medicinal powder into the air. Perhaps it was a stroke of luck, but the wind blew in her favour, carrying the powdered contents to the men in black. The powder quickly invaded their eyes, noses and mouths, causing them to scream in pain. Chilli powder served as the base of her powdered mix and stimulated one’s pain receptors. Ding Yao called it her Wolf Repelling Powder.
“Ah!” Both men screamed in agony, dropping their longswords as they scratched their eyes and rubbed their skin. Song Xiuyan had his back turned to Ding Yao, so he did not receive a face full of Wolf Repelling Powder. The sharp smell of the chilli-based powder made him shut his mouth.
With the Wolf Repelling Powder having done its job, Song Xiuyan took the opportunity to retrieve the black-clothed men’s swords.
The effects of Ding Yao’s Wolf Repelling Powder quickly faded, but instead of launching themselves back into the melee, the two men fled. Song Xiuyan was not about to let them go so easily. He raised a sword and chased their assailants, knocking them to the ground without killing them. He wanted answers.
“Who sent you?” He asked, planting his feet firmly on the backs of the men clothed in black.
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