Chapter 284 - 282: He’s Also a Good Kid (Second Update)

Chapter 284: Chapter 282: He’s Also a Good Kid (Second Update)

Xu Jing’s thoughts turned slightly, and she smiled faintly, "I heard that Doctor Yan is highly skilled, so I came specifically to consult her..."

Before she could finish, a villager suddenly cast a dubious glance at the guards following her, took a step back, and shouted sternly, "Why do you need so many guards to see a doctor? You must have been sent by that man! You can forget about it, Doctor Yan won’t see that man!"

After saying this, without waiting for Xu Jing to respond, he turned and ran off hastily.

Xu Jing frowned slightly. Turning around, she found that the surrounding villagers had seemingly distanced themselves three feet away in an instant, all looking at them with suspicion, as if they were some kind of plague to be avoided at all costs.

Who was the man that villager just spoke of?

Cheng Xiao scratched the back of his head in frustration, saying, "The attitude of these villagers is so strange, do they mistake us for someone else?"

Xu Jing thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t you go ask the villagers in groups, see if you can find out anything. Although their attitude is strange, at least they haven’t driven us away."

Cheng Xiao naturally stayed by Xu Jing’s side as she led them into the village. Ignoring the villagers’ odd behavior, this was just an ordinary village teeming with life.

Xu Jing didn’t hurry to ask around. After walking around the village, she noticed an old woman sitting under an almost leafless old locust tree, who had been watching them. Unlike the others, she didn’t seem to avoid them, so Xu Jing approached, bowed slightly, and asked, "Excuse me, ma’am, I heard Doctor Yan is currently reclusive in this village, so I came all the way from the Western Capital to consult her. However, the villagers seem to mistake me for someone else and say strange things, refusing to tell me where Doctor Yan is. Did I unknowingly offend some taboo?"

The old lady looked at Xu Jing, shook her head suddenly, and said, "You did indeed offend their taboo. The moment you stepped into this village, you offended their taboo."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback and said sincerely, "Please enlighten me, ma’am."

The old lady didn’t put on airs, shaking her head slowly, "Doctor Yan is highly skilled; villagers seek her for ailments big or small. To them, Doctor Yan is held in higher regard than the County Lord. Their greatest fear is her leaving the village or refusing to treat them."

Xu Jing was puzzled, "I haven’t done anything to make Doctor Yan leave the village..."

"Ha ha, you haven’t done anything. They are just afraid. Long ago, Doctor Yan was deceived by a man and has hated him ever since. Who would have thought that man would be so persistent, following Doctor Yan relentlessly. After Doctor Yan came to this village, he kept coming intermittently to bother her. The villagers, fearing her leaving or refusing treatment, have set some unspoken rules, allowing only illness-introduced patients to see her."

She laughed, "It’s clear you’re not sent by that man. He wouldn’t dare send a beauty like you to approach Doctor Yan under his name."

Xu Jing’s lips twitched slightly.

So, the so-called taboo was that she wasn’t introduced by the villagers.

This sounds less like a story of a na?ve woman deceived by a cad and more like a trivial marital dispute.

No wonder Doctor Yan stands out even in her love stories.

But since this is someone else’s private matter, Xu Jing decided not to pry further, saying, "Ma’am, with your keen eye, could you tell me where Doctor Yan resides?"

The old lady chuckled, "Certainly. Since Doctor Yan arrived in our village, there’s been no shortage of interesting events, which I find quite amusing."

Xu Jing’s lips twitched once more.

So she had been watching them for entertainment?

This old lady really knows how to maintain a good attitude.

Just as the old lady was about to reveal Doctor Yan’s whereabouts, a sudden cry from Yanhua echoed from behind.

Xu Jing quickly turned around, only to see Yanhua hiding in fright behind Cheng Xiao, staring in horror at a burly man not far away, carrying a large wicker basket filled with food and having a sharp axe tucked into his waistband.

The man had a bear-like back and a hulking frame, surpassing the height of most men, wearing coarse, patched-up clothing. His untamed beard covered two-thirds of his face.

He could easily be mistaken for a wild man.

As the large locust tree stood against the forest backdrop, the man was making his way from the village into the woods, his presence had evidently startled Yanhua.

Upon hearing Yanhua’s gasp, the man merely cast a cold, sideways glance and said nothing before heading into the forest.

Xu Jing’s gaze lingered long on his axe.

That axe appeared unusually new, without a single nick.

The old lady, being kind-hearted, saw that Yanhua was frightened and said, "Child, there’s no need to be afraid. That’s Hunters Jiang, who has lived in our White Poplar Village for years. He’s known as Jiang Da around here.

He may seem intimidating and not fond of speaking, but he’s essentially a good fellow. Every time he sees me here, he’d nod in my direction at least.

Lately, however, he’s been acting a bit strange, no longer nodding at me as before. Perhaps he’s dealing with some troubles of his own..."

Xu Jing thoughtfully regarded the old lady.

Before the old lady could finish, one of Xu Jing’s guards suddenly called from a distance, "Madam, we’ve found out where Doctor Yan is!"

With no one left to chat with, the old lady seemed slightly disappointed, muttering a displeased, "I was just about to tell you..."

Xu Jing found her amusing—it turned out she was just a lonely old woman, and said, "I might stay in the village for a while, so I’ll come by and chat when I get the chance."

The old lady beamed, watching Xu Jing’s silhouette fade away, murmuring, "She’s a good girl, after all..."

When the guard reached Xu Jing, he reported, "Madam, when I was inquiring about Doctor Yan’s whereabouts, I didn’t realize I was near her residence. She happened to hear and asked me to bring you over."

Xu Jing raised an eyebrow slightly, "She didn’t ask your identity?"

"No, she just said to bring you directly over."

Xu Jing’s curiosity about Yan Ci grew stronger, and she immediately said, "Lead the way then."