Xuancheng City, the Mansion of the Zhenguo General.
"Third Young Master Su Qian, someone just arrived at the city gates and brought this for you. Please take a look." A young attendant dressed as a page hurried into the room, bowing as he spoke.
"What is it?" Su Qian asked impatiently, his brow furrowed with worry.
Su Qian, the youngest son of the second son Su Chong, the Zhenguo General, had just turned fifteen years old.
His eldest brother Su Yu had been poisoned and had been unconscious for over half a month. Although the Divine Doctor Xuan had treated him and contained the poison, Su Yu remained in a deep coma. The Divine Doctor Xuan had said that someone would soon bring the antidote, but days went by with Su Yu's condition only worsening and no word of the antidote's arrival.
Now his third uncle had run into some trouble at the military camp, and his second brother Su Yu had hurriedly returned and taken the Divine Doctor Xuan away with him, leaving the situation uncertain. Su Qian had been extremely anxious these past few days, to the point where his lips had blistered. Upon hearing the page's announcement, he snatched the object from the attendant's hands, his eyes lighting up with joy as he examined it closely.
This was the token he had given to the Divine Doctor Xuan! Someone bearing this token had come to Xuancheng City, which meant the antidote had arrived.
"Quick, bring that person here," he said, glancing at his unconscious eldest brother lying on the bed and the attending physician. "No, never mind, I'll go myself. Prepare a horse for me at once."
At the city gates.
Xuan Little Four and Xuan Little Five had been waiting for over two quarters of an hour, their patience wearing thin.
"Little Five, this messenger is taking too long. Can't we just fly over?" Xuan Little Four asked impatiently.
"No. Let's wait a bit longer. Don't cause any trouble for our third senior brother," Xuan Little Five replied.
"Ai, how troublesome. So many rules, nothing like the freedom we had back in the mountains."
Indeed, this unfree way of life might continue for a long time to come.
"Where is the person? Over there?"
They saw a young man in white robes galloping towards them on horseback from a distance. The soldiers at the city gates didn't seem to notice him, making no move to stop him.
Xuan Little Five understood at once. This must be someone from the Mansion of the Zhenguo General.
"Third Young Master, over here," one of the soldiers who had been rude to them earlier called out cheerfully, guiding the young man in white towards them.
Su Qian dismounted swiftly, tossing the reins to the attendant behind him. He clasped his hands in greeting. "I am Su Qian. The Divine Doctor Xuan instructed me to receive you. May I ask..."
"Oh, I'm Xuan Little Four, and this is my junior brother, Little Five. The Divine Doctor Xuan is our senior brother," Xuan Little Four replied, returning the greeting with a gesture from the martial world.
"Ah, Brothers Xuan Little Four and Five. We have been awaiting your arrival for so long. Please, come with me into the city." Su Qian beckoned them forward, and this time, no one at the city gates attempted to stop them.
Xuan Little Five studied Su Qian surreptitiously. He appeared to be two or three years older than her. The guards had called him the Third Young Master, so he must be her third cousin.
On the way, Su Qian briefly explained his eldest brother's condition to them, making it clear that the situation was urgent. Once they reached the mansion, they went directly to Su Yu's room without delay.
"Older Li, the medicine has arrived. Quick, give it to my elder brother," Su Qian urged, gesturing for Xuan Little Four to produce the antidote.
Xuan Little Four turned to Xuan Little Five behind him. "Little Five, your turn."
To everyone's surprise, Xuan Little Five stepped forward.
"This... This Brother Little Five looks no more than ten years old..." Su Qian said doubtfully.
"Oh, my junior brother is already thirteen. He's just small," Xuan Little Four explained. "Don't worry, his medical skills are excellent."
The physician called Older Li also looked skeptical, but having witnessed the prodigious medical talents of Xuan Little Three at such a young age, he dared not judge skill by age alone.
"Young friend, have you brought the antidote? May this old one take a look?" Older Li asked sincerely.
Xuan Little Five took out a medicine chest from her spatial pouch and handed him a red vial. Su Qian's eyes shone brightly as he gazed at the spatial pouch in Xuan Little Five's hand - this was no ordinary item.
Paying no heed to his eager stares, Xuan Little Five approached the unconscious Su Yu, deftly taking his pulse and studying his haggard, handsome face. Hmm, it was fortunate they had arrived in time; any later and treatment would have been more difficult.
Older Li and Su Qian didn't miss a single one of her actions, recognizing her as someone skilled in medicine. Her calm demeanor suggested exceptional medical prowess, befitting the junior sister of the Divine Doctor Xuan.
Xuan Little Five then reached into the medicine chest for a vial of spirit spring water, about to administer it to Su Yu. Xuan Little Four swiftly intervened, snatching the vial away. "I'll do it."
This Little Five was a young lady, after all. How could she allow an unrelated male such intimate proximity just to administer medicine? Hmph, no matter how good-looking this Su Yu was, lying there haggard yet still handsome, she would not permit it. This was their junior sister.
Older Li moved to protest but was stopped by Su Qian, who shook his head at him. He trusted the Divine Doctor Xuan, and by extension, the Divine Doctor's junior brothers and sisters.
Seeing Su Qian's lack of objection, Older Li kept silent despite his concerns, continuing to examine the wondrous medicine with growing amazement and excitement. Truly marvelous! Befitting of the Divine Doctor's reputation.
Of course, Older Li did not believe that this young boy had concocted the antidote. When the Divine Doctor Xuan had said he would return to his sect for the medicine, Older Li had assumed he meant to request it from the Divine Doctor's venerable master. For the Divine Doctor's master was renowned far and wide, unmatched in skill. With his unparalleled mastery of medicine and toxicology, if he claimed second place, none dared claim first.
"This medicine is exquisite. Quick, administer it to the Young Master," Older Li urged, about to hand it to an attendant.
Xuan Little Four swiftly took the vial, carelessly pouring out a pill and firmly administering it to Su Yu, before tossing the vial back to Older Li.
Older Li's face drained of color in shock, terrified that the vial might be dropped and the medicine wasted. Only after confirming it was safely in his hands did he pat his chest in relief.
Xuan Little Four: This old man is too timid.
"One pill per day for half a month, and the poison will be fully purged," Xuan Little Five said as she packed away the medicine chest.
Su Qian's face lit up with joy. "Then when will my elder brother awaken?"
"At the earliest, three days. At the latest, seven days. He will certainly wake up."
"Wonderful, wonderful! Thank you both!" Tears welled up in Su Qian's eyes.
In the month since Su Yu had been poisoned, their household had been in chaos. And now, with his third uncle's life hanging in the balance from the incident at the military camp...
Xuan Little Four patted his shoulder consolingly, able to empathize as a peer of similar age.
"Where is our third senior brother? Why hasn't he arrived yet?" Xuan Little Four asked impatiently.
"Oh, he's at the military camp. There was an emergency a couple of days ago, so the Divine Doctor Xuan went there. We don't know when he'll be back yet," Su Qian replied, composing himself. "Don't worry, you can both stay here at the mansion. Consider it your home."
"Oh, in that case, could you arrange for some food? We've been traveling for days, eating and sleeping outdoors," Xuan Little Four said, patting his flat stomach.
"My apologies for the poor hospitality. I was in such a hurry earlier that I brought you both straight here. I'll have the servants prepare something right away." Su Qian gestured, and an attendant immediately went to make arrangements.
"Just prepare something simple. We'll eat and then head to the military camp," Xuan Little Five said thoughtfully.
"To the military camp?" Su Qian and Xuan Little Four asked in surprise.
"Yes." With that, Xuan Little Five turned and left.
Su Qian looked at Xuan Little Four questioningly. Xuan Little Four shrugged sheepishly. "Don't look at me. Usually... usually my junior brother calls the shots. Whatever she says, goes."
Xuan Little Four scratched his head awkwardly.
