Chapter Seventy-Six: Pitiful, Struck Down by a Sneak Attack

Intimidated by Qin Wanru’s imposing presence, Qi Tianyu could only watch as Qin Wanru entered the courtyard and closed the gate behind her.

"Young Master, what should we do?" The servant, Qi Hai, watched Qin Wanru go inside and asked timidly.

"We’ll go back!" Qi Tianyu steadied himself, gritted his teeth, and suppressed his unease. She was just a little girl, venting her anger; it wasn’t of much consequence. He cursed himself for losing his composure earlier—he’d even broken out in a cold sweat.

"But about Miss Qin..." Qi Hai asked carefully.

Their purpose today had been to ask Qin Wanru to speak kindly for Qin Yurou. Qi Tianyu had even considered how to win Qin Wanru's favor so she'd help Qin Yurou. He never thought it would be difficult; in the past, whenever he'd asked, Qin Wanru would comply if she could.

But Qi Tianyu hadn’t expected Qin Wanru to be so fierce, tearing away all pretense at once. He hadn’t even had a chance to coax her before things escalated to the point of irreconcilable hostility; he couldn’t understand how matters had spiraled so far out of his control.

Wasn’t it supposed to be that after a few gentle words, Qin Wanru would relent?

"Let Yurou handle her own affairs—she brought this upon herself!" Qi Tianyu said helplessly, turning away from the tranquil monastery, his voice cold.

He couldn’t fathom why Qin Wanru was behaving this way toward him. Was there some scheme at play, as Yurou suggested? Was Qin Wanru merely feigning disinterest to lure him in? But could such a young girl truly understand such things?

"But... Miss Qin is about to enter the capital. If Young Master doesn’t help her, it will be hard for her to ever reconnect with you..." Qi Hai reminded him.

He didn’t need reminding; Qi Tianyu was well aware, especially after Qin Wanru had so mercilessly exposed his facade.

"Tell her I can do nothing. She must fend for herself!" Qi Tianyu was feeling increasingly irritable, and even Yurou’s words now grated on him.

"But, Miss Qin... she’ll surely blame you, Young Master!" Qi Hai hurried a few steps to catch up, leaving the gates of the monastery together.

"If she wants to blame me, so be it! From now on... let her do as she pleases!" Qi Tianyu grew more annoyed, but what puzzled him even more was Qin Wanru herself—how could this little girl dare speak to him like that? She used to chase after him, calling him "Brother Tianyu!"

Was the sprightly, innocent girl of before truly the same person as the sharp, cold one he’d just seen?

"But, Miss Qin..." Qi Hai tried again to speak on Qin Yurou’s behalf, but Qi Tianyu cut him off impatiently. "Are you my servant or Qin Yurou’s? Why do you keep speaking for her?"

"I—I am certainly your servant, Young Master!" Qi Hai was startled and hurried to declare his loyalty.

"If you’re my man, then keep quiet!" Qi Tianyu said grimly, his face dark, striding out with long steps. Seeing his mood, Qi Hai dared not speak further and could only trot behind him.

Leaving the monastery, they came upon a broad clearing where the carriages and horses of visiting pilgrims were parked. Qi Tianyu’s horse was tied to a tree nearby.

Qi Tianyu stormed over to untie his horse, but suddenly everything went black, and he was struck heavily on the head, collapsing instantly.

The servant behind him fell even faster.

Two men with the bearing of guards pulled them into the nearby woods, kicked them hard while they were still half-stuffed inside sackcloth bags, and slammed them, bags and all, against the trees before leaving.

When Qi Tianyu awoke, it was already dusk. All he could see was darkness. He tugged hard and finally tore off the sack covering his head, glimpsing the dimming sky. Dazzled, he reached to touch his forehead—it was swollen.

Qi Hai also woke up, removed his sack, and was shocked at Qi Tianyu’s bruised and battered face. He crawled over and began to cry, "Young Master, what happened? Young Master..."

"Quiet!" Qi Tianyu snapped, pressing his aching forehead as he sat up; his entire body felt as if it had been trampled.

"Young Master, were we ambushed? Who would do this to us?" Qi Hai climbed up, clutching his waist and weeping.

They’d been beaten for no apparent reason, and worst of all, they didn’t even know who had done it.

"Let’s go, we’re heading back!" Qi Tianyu knew that searching for the culprits would likely be futile—otherwise, they wouldn’t have used sacks to obscure their faces before attacking.

He struggled to stand with the help of a tree, but as soon as he put one foot down, pain made him hastily withdraw it. He couldn’t tell if his leg was broken.

"Young Master, are you alright? I’ll help you!" Qi Hai wiped his tears and stood, supporting Qi Tianyu, though he himself was limping.

Qi Tianyu gritted his teeth and, leaning on his servant, walked away. He was to depart for the capital the next morning.

"I’ll ask Master to investigate when we return," the servant said angrily, wiping his tears.

"No need. It must be General Ningyuan!" A cold glint flashed in Qi Tianyu’s eyes. In Jiangzhou, who else would dare lay hands on the prefect’s household but Qin Huaiyong? He must have sent men to follow Qin Wanru and discovered Qi Tianyu had pursued her.

The thought made Qi Tianyu uneasy; he didn’t dare stir up further trouble. He’d come to the mountain in secret, not wanting his father to know, so he could only swallow this humiliation.

Little did Qi Tianyu know, this unlucky beating would not be the last.

Once the master and servant had left, two guards emerged from the shadows of the trees, exchanged glances, and silently departed to report to their master.

Qin Wanru was unaware that Qi Tianyu, after leaving her, had been ambushed and beaten. Still, when news came the next day of his departure, she was delighted.

She learned the news unexpectedly when someone from the estate reported that Qin Yurou had left for the capital the previous evening. Calculating the timing, it coincided with Qi Tianyu’s attempt to trouble her, so she inquired further about him.

One was entering the capital to seek relatives, the other to attend the spring selection. Their journeys crossed without meeting, as if they had no connection, but Qin Wanru believed they would meet again someday.

Yet she no longer feared it.

In this life, she would not be the Qin Wanru who was framed by them and left bewildered, believing they had made a mistake.

The medical texts were delivered to the abbot's meditation room the following morning.

As before, the room was quiet, the abbot alone on a mat reciting sutras. Qin Wanru was led in, chose another mat, and began to study the medical books.

The abbot’s chanting lasted a long while, but Qin Wanru remained undisturbed, quietly reading. Even when a nun entered to ask if she wanted lunch, she merely shook her head.

The room was tranquil, so peaceful it made one forget the midday meal.

The abbot did not stop, nor did Qin Wanru leave.

When the abbot finally ceased her chanting and opened her eyes, she gazed calmly at Qin Wanru. Only then did Qin Wanru put down the book, respectfully bow, and present the medical text.

"You truly wish to learn medicine?" the abbot asked after glancing at the book.

"I truly wish to learn," Qin Wanru replied, raising clear eyes to meet the abbot’s, her resolve unwavering.

"Studying medicine is a hard path," the abbot sighed. "My junior thought you were suitable, but I have never believed so."

"With Venerable Mingqiu’s guidance, I will give my utmost," Qin Wanru’s eyes shone with passionate sincerity.

"This matter... you’d best ask her yourself," the abbot said helplessly, shaking her head and gesturing toward the door with a restrained smile. "Shall I have someone take you?"

"No need, thank you, Venerable," Qin Wanru smiled and bowed again, then stood.

"Would you mind bringing her lunch for me?" The abbot smiled; such a clever and patient child was perfect for medicine, and her junior had noticed her talent before—now it was simply a matter of her junior's wishes.

Her junior was a child at heart, once eager to take Qin Wanru as a disciple, but now reluctant.

"I don’t mind," Qin Wanru nodded.

Lunch was in a basket outside the door. Qingyue brought it over, and Qin Wanru didn’t ask for whom it was meant, only told Qingyue to follow with the basket as they left.

She had passed the abbot’s test, but the next hurdle was the most crucial—the matter of apprenticing herself to Venerable Mingqiu.

The grass hut’s door was still tightly locked; from the outside, it seemed deserted.

Qingyue set down the lunch, looking around in astonishment. "Miss, is this really where Venerable Mingqiu lives?"

"It should be," Qin Wanru nodded. She had previously met Venerable Mingqiu in the monastery, and had it not been for that chance, she wouldn’t have known Mingqiu lived here, not in the monastery itself.

"But... there’s no one. What should we do? Where to leave the lunch?" Qingyue asked, bewildered, her gaze landing on the iron lock hanging high at the door.

Qin Wanru picked up the basket and carried it to the door, her gaze resting on the iron lock as she examined it closely.

A locked house surely meant no one was inside—but if it wasn’t locked?

Thinking this, she scrutinized the lock even more carefully, and when she saw clearly, a knowing smile curved her crimson lips. She had overlooked this last time.

She reached out, placed her hand on the chain, and gave it a strong tug...