"Swish!"
A wave of cold air spread outward as a long sword embedded itself in the ground.
Heaven and Earth Energy rippled, affecting the moisture in the air and transforming it into scattered snowflakes.
In an instant, the entire backyard of the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall was enveloped in a flurry of wind and snow. Some snowflakes landed on the faces of those in the courtyard, carrying a faint chill.
But this chill was nothing compared to the icy tone in the voice that asked, "What do you think you're doing to my maid?" The coldness in those words made one's soul tremble.
Everyone in the courtyard turned to look in the direction from which the sword had come.
They saw a young man dressed in white martial attire, handsome with thick eyebrows and large eyes, his demeanor cold and noble, giving off the sharp impression of a treasured sword. He stepped through a broken section of the wall and entered the backyard.
In the backyard, Little Fairy Doctor stood before a courtyard building, wearing a white and green dress. In front of her were a young man and a middle-aged man. Beside the young man stood a woman dressed in Ten-Thousand Herb Hall maid attire, her head bowed, not daring to speak.
"Have you packed your things?" Gu Han asked Little Fairy Doctor, his tone cold yet carrying a hint of warmth.
Little Fairy Doctor felt a wave of relief, a sense of security rising within her. She discreetly put away the medicine packet in her hand and smiled serenely. "Everything's packed. I can leave with you anytime."
"Bring my sword, let's go." Gu Han turned his back, looking through the broken wall toward the main hall of the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall.
Little Fairy Doctor obediently walked to the sword, pulled it from the ground, tightened her grip on her bundle, and turned to follow Gu Han.
"Who do you think you are? I've been in Qingshan Town for years and never seen someone as arrogant as you. Qingshan Town doesn't tolerate people like you, understand?" the young man shouted, reaching out to grab Little Fairy Doctor's arm.
"Little Fairy Doctor, you're not allowed to leave. I've said I want to marry you, and the Hall Master has agreed to this."
Boom!
A hand seal radiating cold energy, one zhang in size, materialized in mid-air.
Gu Han swiftly formed hand seals with both hands, then pointed behind him, executing the Heaven Seal from the Heavenly Cold Seal.
Ice-attribute Heaven and Earth Energy converged on the hand seal, instantly transforming it into a two-zhang-wide icy palm.
"What kind of technique is this!?"
The expressions of the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall Master, Mister Yao, and the young man changed drastically.
Mister Yao immediately chose to dodge, while the young man lacked the capability to evade and could only instinctively raise his arms to protect his chest.
"Bang!"
The young man was struck by the Heaven Seal, a layer of ice spreading over his body as he was sent flying backward. He crashed into a wall several zhang away, collapsing a section of it.
Some of the falling stones buried the young man, and cold energy continued to emanate, freezing the entire area.
Gu Han withdrew his hand, his expression calm and unruffled as he walked toward the exit.
"Friend, you've gone too far," Mister Yao said, his face dark and grim. "This person is Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. His father, Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, is a two-star Dou Master. Even if you possess some powerful Dou Skills, you should know when to show respect."
Dou Master... a strong expert?
Gu Han, usually so aloof, nearly laughed at this moment.
Since when could a mere Dou Master be called a strong expert?
"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group, such an impressive reputation," Gu Han said without turning back, leaving behind a faint remark. "My name is Gu Han. Little Fairy Doctor is under my protection from now on. If you or the Wolf Head Mercenary Group have any complaints, feel free to come find me at the Cloud Mist Sect."
Mister Yao: !?
Gu Han, not yet fifteen but already a Nine-Star Fighter, and the Snow Sword Young Master who could cross realms to slay the seventh-rank Dou Master Liu Suifeng!?
The owner of Ten-Thousand Herb Hall gasped sharply, finally realizing what an iron plate he had kicked and how foolish his previous actions had been.
Intense regret spread through his heart. Had he known Little Fairy Doctor was leaving to follow Gu Han, he would have sent generous gifts under the guise of gratitude rather than turning a blind eye to his maid's betrayal and attempting to use Mu Li to force Little Fairy Doctor to stay.
Given that he had helped Little Fairy Doctor before and later provided her with shelter, he could have enjoyed some protection.
But the world didn't have so many "what ifs" - the mistake had already been made.
"Wait!"
As Gu Han led Little Fairy Doctor back to the main hall, Mister Yao suddenly chased after them and spoke loudly.
"Gu Han, you are indeed a distinguished disciple of Cloud Mist Sect and a prodigy."
"But Little Fairy Doctor is the benefactor of countless mercenaries in Green Mountain Town. If you take her away, what will happen when mercenaries get injured in the future?"
At these words, the expressions of both the patients waiting for treatment in the main hall and the mercenaries gathered at Ten-Thousand Herb Hall changed dramatically.
Little Fairy Doctor was actually leaving with this person? Where would they go for affordable and effective medical treatment in the future?
Moreover, Little Fairy Doctor was so beautiful and charming - being treated by such a beauty would lift anyone's spirits.
"Hah." Gu Han's eyes turned sharp, never expecting to encounter moral coercion in the Dou Qi Continent where strength was respected.
"Mister Yao, what do you mean by this?" Little Fairy Doctor was thoroughly angered, her budding chest heaving with emotion, her expression turning unpleasant. "Are you saying I should stay at your Ten-Thousand Herb Hall and not pursue what I want?"
"Before I came to Green Mountain Town, were all the mercenaries unable to survive?"
"Am I, Little Fairy Doctor, communal property of Green Mountain Town's mercenary groups?"
"If you blame me for this, even if I stayed, I'd like to see which mercenary would dare let me treat them."
A doctor could heal people, but could also harm them. The mercenaries who had gathered herbs with Little Fairy Doctor knew she could prepare various medicines with peculiar properties, and might even know how to use poisons.
Her words instantly made many mercenaries who had been looking at Gu Han with hostility withdraw their hostile gazes.
A trace of mockery appeared at the corner of Gu Han's mouth as he said, "Little Fairy Doctor is coming to Cloud Mist Sect with me to pursue higher realms. Dou Master and Dou Grand Master won't be her endpoints."
"If the mercenaries of Green Mountain Town think she should stay, then they don't deserve her years of service and she isn't worth staying for."
Hearing this, many mercenaries felt ashamed, lowering their heads filled with embarrassment.
Yan Cheng, leader of the Blood Battle Mercenary Group who had been mingling in the crowd, stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Yan has no such intention. I wish Miss Little Fairy Doctor a bright future and smooth sailing on her journey."
Seeing this, many mercenaries recalled Little Fairy Doctor's gentle voice as she treated their injuries and saved lives. Though regretful, they all offered their blessings.
Being valued by Cloud Mist Sect's Snow Sword Young Master, Little Fairy Doctor would become like clouds in the sky - they could only look up to her.
Little Fairy Doctor felt warmth in her heart - at least not everyone was foolish or ungrateful.
"Let's go."
With words that struck at their hearts, Gu Han maintained his calm expression and walked unimpeded to the entrance of Ten-Thousand Herb Hall.
"Call your Magical Pet," Gu Han said.
"How did you know?" Little Fairy Doctor looked up in surprise.
Gu Han turned to look at him, speaking with a powerful voice: "A Sword-bearing Maiden, though not required to serve tea and water, massage legs and shoulders, or attend to every personal need like a personal maid, is actually far more important."
"Because she carries my sword, and is also my sword—someone I can trust absolutely, must trust absolutely, someone worthy of entrusting my back to."
"Do you think I would casually accept you as my Sword-bearing Maiden without understanding you?"
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