No Fighting Allowed in the Inn

◎Passerby, Meditating with Eyes Open, Divine Physician Valley◎

Lu Jianwei was now Shen Shier, wearing a completely different face, so even if she encountered someone familiar, there was no fear of being recognized.

She only glanced briefly before looking away.

Mask against mask—neither side held the upper hand.

But when others didn’t know her disguise while she knew theirs, there was a subtle thrill to it.

The inn was fully booked, leaving only one room available.

The three of them had no choice but to share. Shangguan Yao paid for it, and Lu Jianwei didn’t refuse.

Martial artists could go days without sleep, and while one room wasn’t enough for proper rest, it sufficed for meditation.

Shangguan Yao wasn’t a martial artist—her body was frail—so the bed was left for her. Lu Jianwei and Little Tao sat cross-legged on the floor, cultivating their inner energy.

The night outside was silent, the inn’s lights all extinguished, leaving everyone shrouded in darkness.

Darkness sharpened the senses.

A piercing cry suddenly tore through the night, sending chills down the spine.

The wailing came from the west side of the inn’s second floor, accompanied by the desperate, hushed pleas of a man and a woman.

"Shut the hell up!" someone roared. "If that brat doesn’t stop, I’ll make sure it never makes another sound!"

"It’s been crying since they got here! Finally quieted down for a bit, and now it starts again—how are we supposed to sleep?"

"Take it outside if it’s going to cry!"

Angry shouts erupted from all directions—travelers staying at the inn, most of them martial artists seeking treatment at the nearby Divine Physician Valley. Each had their own troubles, and none were in the mood to tolerate a crying child.

"Apologies, everyone," the man said guiltily. "The child is too young to understand, and it’s sick—it’s crying from the pain. Earlier, I sealed its sleep acupoint, but keeping it sealed for too long harms the body. There’s nothing else we can do."

"Then get out!" someone snapped. "Go cry somewhere else—anywhere but here!"

"Yeah, I was meditating and nearly lost control of my energy!"

"Get lost before I make you!"

"Just seal the damn acupoint again. It won’t kill the kid. If you won’t do it, I will!"

The woman sobbed, "Our child is already ill—we can’t seal its acupoint again! And outside, the night is cold and damp—it can’t handle the wind—"

"I don’t care if it freezes to death! Disturbing me means it deserves to die!"

Yet there were also voices of kindness.

"It’s just a child. Have none of you ever cried as babies?"

"Exactly. Every family has children—no need to be so harsh."

"What’s wrong with the child? If it’s in pain, maybe give it something to ease it?"

The cries had woken Lu Jianwei’s group as well.

"Little Tao, light the lamp," Shangguan Yao said weakly, pressing a hand to her chest as she sat up, her face pale.

Little Tao lit the candle, filling the room with a soft glow.

Shangguan Yao sat on the bed, her long hair loose, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her lips faintly pale.

"Miss, are you unwell?" Little Tao asked, her large frame perched on the edge of the bed like a small mountain. "I’ll fetch medicine."

Shangguan Yao shook her head. "It’s just… the crying unsettles me."

When Lu Jianwei had first met her, she’d noticed Shangguan Yao’s naturally frail meridians—unable to channel or store inner energy. These weak meridians affected her health, making the scholarly halls the safest place for her.

But who didn’t yearn for the martial world?

Even Lu Jianwei, after months cooped up in the inn, had been eager to explore.

"Enough!"

A furious bellow shook the inn.

Someone rushed past their door—a fifth-rank martial artist, charging from the east side to the west, as if ready to break down the family’s door.

Gasps rose. Someone was actually going to act.

Then—a surge of overwhelming energy struck.

With a single move, the fifth-rank martial artist was flung out of the inn like a scrap of paper.

An expert!

At least seventh-rank!

The man landed outside, spitting blood, his face twisted in rage—but the attacker’s power was beyond his reach. Swallowing his fury, he vanished into the night.

"Thank you, elder, for your mercy," the woman wept.

Yet the child’s cries continued. No one dared shout now, but the noise was still unbearable.

Then—as if a barrier had been cast—the crying stopped.

Silence returned to the inn.

No one questioned it.

"Finally, peace," Little Tao said cheerfully. "Miss, you can rest now."

Shangguan Yao nodded and lay back down.

Lu Jianwei returned to her corner.

Last year, outside Moonview City in Fengzhou, Wen Zhuzhi had used an array to block sound when Lan Ling became a nuisance.

The black-clad youth she’d glimpsed earlier was undoubtedly A'Nai.

And where A'Nai went, the wealthy Wen Zhuzhi was sure to follow.

Were they here as Mystic Mirror Envoys, investigating the Ge Family of Wuzhou?

Now that they were near Divine Physician Valley, had they found a lead?

Lu Jianwei dismissed the thoughts. She had her own priorities.

"Xiao Ke, open the system shop."

The shop appeared before her.

She scrolled straight to the bottom—the special items section was finally unlocked.

During their travels, she hadn’t had time to browse. Now, she could properly explore.

The system still had limits.

Many modern industrial goods were absent, but disposable items—snacks, drinks, feminine products—were all there.

For entertainment, there were videos, books, and the like. She could pay to watch or read, but with restrictions—one movie, five episodes of a show, or two hours of a novel per week.

Still, it was enough to rekindle her joy.

Her gaze landed on the final item:

"Crossing Tool"—price: 100 million taels of silver. No purchase limit.

Lu Jianwei: "..."

As if anyone could afford even one.

But the other items were more than enough to brighten her life.

Her wallet itched.

"Xiao Ke, pick a movie."

Dozens of options appeared—comedies, dramas, action. She chose a lighthearted comedy, the kind that left you grinning.

Cost: 100 coppers.

"Streaming sites charge a dozen coins for a monthly subscription, and you’re charging me 100 for two hours? Isn’t that a bit steep?"

Xiao Ke whined, "It’s not easy transporting these! And I had to pay royalties!"

"Fine."

She knew the logic. Better than nothing.

A hundred coppers vanished from her account, and the movie began playing.

She stared, engrossed.

Little Tao, checking on her mistress periodically, noticed something odd.

Every time she opened her eyes, Shen Shier was also wide awake.

Did… did Shen Shier meditate with her eyes open?

How strange.

At dawn, Lu Jianwei rose refreshed, leaving the inn with Shangguan Yao and Little Tao.

The other lodgers had also departed one after another, traveling the same path but keeping a clear distance, neither interfering with each other.

A couple rode on horseback ahead of them, the man carrying a swaddled infant against his chest. The baby in the bundle began to cry again.

"Don’t cry, don’t cry. Mother will take you to Divine Physician Valley soon," the woman soothed anxiously, her voice choked with emotion.

Shangguan Yao couldn’t help but feel moved. "The poor child. I wonder what illness it has."

"Miss, if you want to know, I can go ask," Little Tao offered.

"No need." Shangguan Yao shook her head. "Why reopen their wounds?"

"Oh, it’s almost noon. Should we rest on that grassy patch up ahead?" Little Tao suggested.

"What do you think, Shier?" Shangguan Yao asked Lu Jianwei.

Lu Jianwei nodded. "Let’s rest for a while."

The grassy field was flat and open, and the other martial artists had also chosen to stop there.

Little Tao spread out a large cloth on the grass and unpacked the pancakes, steamed buns, and chicken legs they had bought from the inn that morning—enough food for five or six people.

She was tall and unusually strong, with an appetite to match.

Shangguan Yao had a small appetite and only ate one pancake.

Lu Jianwei didn’t eat much either.

She had secretly snacked along the way and wasn’t hungry at all.

"Shier, why are you eating so little?" Little Tao pushed a chicken leg toward her.

The grease on the chicken leg had congealed, making it utterly unappetizing.

Just as Lu Jianwei was about to decline, the baby’s wails pierced the air again.

The cries were sharp and ear-piercing, carrying far and wide.

The martial artists around them clenched their fists, veins bulging on their foreheads, on the verge of cursing aloud.

Lu Jianwei sighed inwardly. Wen Zhuzhi and his servant A'Nai had disappeared early that morning, so she couldn’t rely on their soundproofing formation.

She stood up and walked toward the couple.

All eyes turned to her.

A young, delicate-looking woman with no discernible level of internal energy—probably just an ordinary person without martial skills.

The couple straightened up, slightly alarmed, staring blankly at Lu Jianwei.

Both were fourth-level practitioners, their faces honest and simple. Holding the child, they bowed apologetically.

Lu Jianwei smiled gently. "I have a child at home who often cries. May I take a look? Perhaps I can ease his pain."

Her disguise was soft-featured, and her smile easily inspired goodwill.

Besides, a young woman without martial arts posed no threat.

The couple exchanged glances and nodded.

Lu Jianwei lifted the swaddling cloth. The five- or six-month-old infant had tightly shut eyes, and its wide-open, wailing mouth had a faint purple tint.

Poison?

Who would poison such a small child?

She reached out, starting from the baby’s feet, gently pressing along its acupoints with steady, measured movements.

Gradually, the child’s cries softened.

By the time she withdrew her hand, the baby had stopped crying, closing its eyes peacefully in sleep, tear droplets still clinging to its lashes.

The couple’s faces lit up with amazement. Incredible!

The onlookers also craned their necks in curiosity. Just a few touches, and the crying stopped? It seemed too miraculous.

While pressing the acupoints, Lu Jianwei had also checked the baby’s pulse. Combined with the symptoms—the purple lips and tongue—she confirmed it was poisoned by a toxin from the southwest.

The poison came from venomous insects. It wasn’t fatal but was rare, and ordinary antidotes wouldn’t work.

She could cure it, but the couple was clearly heading to Divine Physician Valley for help. If she acted rashly, she might expose herself—and there was no guarantee they’d believe her anyway.

Casually, Lu Jianwei asked, "Your child is poisoned, so you’re going to Divine Physician Valley for treatment?"

"Yes," the woman said gratefully. "Thank you for your help, miss. Otherwise, we’d have inconvenienced everyone on the road."

Someone else chimed in, "Who would poison a child?"

The man struck his own head in self-reproach.

"It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have picked a fight. I offended someone, and to punish me, they poisoned my child—he’s only six months old!"

"What kind of fight?" a nosy bystander pressed. "That person is truly despicable, bullying a baby!"

"Did you harm someone else’s child?"

"Nothing like that!" the man denied hastily. "I just stopped a child from bullying others, and the kid’s elder poisoned mine. We really didn’t do anything wrong!"

"If we’d known, we wouldn’t have meddled in the first place!" the woman wept, clutching the swaddled infant.

The man sighed in silence, unsure how to respond.

He had taken up martial arts to uphold justice, yet his actions had brought harm to his own child. The weight of his past choices pressed heavily on him, mingled with resentment.

He had done good, yet reaped only suffering.

"I happen to be going to Divine Physician Valley too," Lu Jianwei said, pulling their attention back. "But I don’t know much about the physicians there. Which one were you planning to seek? Will they treat you right away?"

"Miss, you’re too optimistic," a martial artist chuckled, shaking his head. "To get a Divine Physician Valley physician to treat you, you either need a referral from someone influential or a gift valuable enough to move them. Otherwise, you’ll first be seen by an apprentice. If you’re lucky—if your illness is rare enough to catch the elders’ interest—they might step in."

"Pfft, so is that lucky or unlucky?" someone joked. "What if even the elders can’t cure it? Would the Divine Physician intervene?"

"Are ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍you a Martial King or a relative? Dream on if you think the Divine Physician would lift a finger for you!"

Lu Jianwei feigned worry. "What if the apprentices can’t help, and the physicians won’t bother? Wouldn’t that mean waiting to die?"

"Don’t fret too much, miss. Not all physicians in Divine Physician Valley are arrogant. Some are kind-hearted and willing to help."

Lu Jianwei’s eyes brightened with hope. "Which physician is that? Could I ask for them directly?"

"Hah, that would be Elder Dou. He treats patients based on whim—sometimes charging exorbitant fees, other times accepting worthless trinkets. But many beg for his help, so even if he agrees, you’d have to wait in line for ages."

Elder Dou?

The same Elder Dou who had ransomed Du Hanqiu from her.

Lu Jianwei pretended to hesitate. "I’ll think about it."

Then she turned back.

Shangguan Yao comforted her softly, "Shier, if you trust me, I can introduce you to Aunt Yuan when we reach Divine Physician Valley. She’s also a skilled physician there."

"Then I’ll trouble you, A'Yao." Lu Jianwei smiled.

"It’s nothing. Don’t be so formal." Shangguan Yao’s clear eyes studied her curiously. "You were amazing earlier. What method did you use to stop the crying?"

Lu Jianwei replied, "A folk remedy from my hometown."

"Where’s your hometown? Is it far from Luzhou?"

"Quite far."

"Oh." Shangguan Yao was perceptive and recognized her evasion. She said bluntly, "Shier, do you not want to be friends with me?"

"Not at all." Lu Jianwei lowered her gaze. "My family is ordinary, but you—you must have many outstanding friends in Luzhou."

"Shier!" Shangguan Yao said urgently. "Don’t belittle yourself. Besides, I don’t care about status when making friends. And I don’t have many friends to begin with."

Little Tao, gnawing on a chicken leg, nodded in agreement.

"Miss has always stayed at home and truly has few friends. Shier, we won’t look down on you because of your family background. Don’t feel inferior."

Lu Jianwei: "..."

She raised her head and said apologetically, "I was being narrow-minded. A'Yao, Little Tao, thank you."

I’m really sorry—I have to use you to get into the valley.

Facing Shangguan Yao’s sincere gaze, Lu Jianwei felt a rare pang of guilt.

She took out a few pieces of candy from her bag, all fruit-flavored hard candies she had bought from the system store, with the wrappers replaced by ones common in the Qi Dynasty.

"These are snacks made by my family. Try them."

The candies were brightly colored and quite eye-catching.

Little Tao’s eyes lit up. She picked a pink one and popped it into her mouth. A sweet peach flavor instantly filled her senses.

So delicious!

Shangguan Yao picked a pale green one, and the sweet-and-sour apple taste made her narrow her eyes in delight.

Even better than the exquisite pastries back home.

"Shier, your family’s candies are amazing. I want more!" Little Tao crunched the candy between her teeth, chewed, and swallowed.

Lu Jianwei took out another bag of candies from her bundle.

"Take them all."

Little Tao beamed and accepted them without hesitation.

"Shier, having you as a friend is the best!"

Lu Jianwei: "..."

After resting for a while, the group set off again.

By dusk, Lu Jianwei finally arrived at the town outside the Divine Physician Valley.

The town was called "Asking Immortal Town," built to accommodate visitors seeking medical treatment from the valley. Nestled between mountains and rivers, the scenery was picturesque. As soon as they stepped into the town, a faint medicinal fragrance enveloped them. The streets were lined with inns and apothecaries, with only a few scattered shops selling daily necessities.

Most of the medicines here came from the Divine Physician Valley, and many wandering martial artists purchased them, making business brisk.

The town bustled with people, and the trio blended seamlessly into the crowd.

They found an inn to stay in.

Luckily, there were still vacant rooms—Lu Jianwei took one for herself, while Shangguan Yao and Little Tao shared another.

The inn was filled with patients and their families, some even carried in on stretchers, all waiting for the valley’s physicians to save their lives.

Wounds, internal injuries, poisonings, terminal illnesses—every ailment imaginable was present.

Lu Jianwei glanced at a few patients, and treatment plans instantly surfaced in her mind.

With so many patients here, it was an excellent opportunity to improve her medical skills.

The next day, Lu Jianwei followed Shangguan Yao to the Divine Physician Valley.

The valley lay nestled among towering mountains, shrouded in mist and clouds. Inside was a vast expanse of lush greenery, crisscrossed by babbling streams, with medical cottages scattered like stars.

At the center stood the most lavish complex—the residence of the valley master and elders.

There was only one path into the valley: a narrow trail between two peaks, barely wide enough for two slender people to walk side by side. No horses or carriages could pass.

Guards stood watch at the entrance checkpoint.

A few yards from the valley gate stood a bamboo hut where visitors registered their identities and ailments. The information was then relayed inside, and if a physician took interest, the patient would be admitted for treatment.

"The most eager to treat patients here are the medical apprentices. They need experience from different cases, so most people here are seen by them," Shangguan Yao explained quietly as they walked.

Lu Jianwei nodded gratefully. "If not for A'Yao, I’d be stuck waiting outside."

"Not necessarily. If a physician happens to be interested in the ailment, the wait might not be long." Shangguan Yao suddenly remembered, "Has your friend arrived yet?"

Lu Jianwei shook her head.

"Will you wait outside or come in with me first?" Shangguan Yao suggested gently, "Why not enter the valley now? I’ll take you to see Aunt Yuan. We can ask her to help your friend."

"Alright."

With Shangguan Yao’s token, they easily entered the valley, and Lu Jianwei, as her guest, wasn’t stopped.

The Divine Physician Valley was vast, stretching beyond sight, with towering mountains and swirling mist in the distance. At the center, the upturned eaves of a grand building gleamed under the light.

The layout resembled a small town.

The air was thick with the mingling scents of herbs, refreshing to the senses.

Valley disciples, dressed in flowing robes, hurried past, paying no mind to outsiders. Their attire followed a uniform design—white as the base, with collars and cuffs accented in different colors: brown, red, blue, green, and gold, seemingly categorized by the five elements. Brown was the most common, the others decreasing in number.

Clearly, the valley had a strict hierarchy.

"Aunt Yuan lives on Wumao Road. It’ll take us about half an hour to walk there," Shangguan Yao explained. "The ‘Wu’ denotes rank, based on the Heavenly Stems. Aunt Yuan is a sixth-level physician."

"What does ‘Mao’ mean?" Lu Jianwei asked.

"The valley has a more refined classification for medical expertise, but I’m not sure of the details. I only know it follows the Earthly Branches."

"I’ve heard that physician ranks resemble martial ranks, with seventh to ninth levels being ‘Divine Physicians,’ corresponding to Ding, Bing, and Yi. But what’s above that?"

Shangguan Yao chuckled. "That would be ‘Immortal Physician,’ but that’s just a legend. Even ninth-level Divine Physicians are rare, let alone an Immortal Physician."

It was the highest ideal in the hearts of healers.

Lu Jianwei nodded. "Earlier, I noticed some physicians wearing similar robes with slight color variations. What does that mean?"

"They’re not full physicians, just apprentices. Their ranks follow the five elements. The valley has an academy divided into five levels, with ‘Gold’ at the top and ‘Earth’ at the bottom."

"But I thought first to third levels were all apprentices. How does the five-element division fit in?"

"Those levels refer to cultivation. Physicians also train in internal energy—how else could they treat martial artists?" Shangguan Yao patiently clarified. "What you mentioned earlier is a rough external classification. The valley values medical skill more. A Gold Hall apprentice who can cure specified ailments may be promoted to a fourth-level physician, even if their internal energy hasn’t reached that level."

Lu Jianwei understood now.

The Divine Physician Valley had its own intricate ranking system, far more complex than martial artists’.

But it could be compared.

For example, two swordsmen—one fifth-level, the other sixth—might have the latter weaker in actual swordsmanship. Here, medical skill took precedence.

Half an hour later, the trio arrived at Peony Residence on Wumao Road.

"Aunt Yuan loves peonies, hence the name," Shangguan Yao explained before instructing Little Tao, "Knock on the door."

Little Tao tapped lightly on the gate.

Soon, it opened, revealing a youthful face.

The girl who answered had round cheeks, a smattering of freckles across her nose, and wide, curious eyes. After a moment of confusion, surprise lit up her expression.

"Sister Shangguan, Sister Little Tao! What brings you here?"

Shangguan Yao smiled. "We’re traveling the martial world and passed through Jingzhou. Thought we’d visit Aunt Yuan."

"Master isn’t here. She went to Gourd Peak to gather herbs." The girl then looked at Lu Jianwei. "And this is…?"

"She’s our friend, Shen Shier. She saved us from danger on the road."

"Oh! Please, come in." The girl, her pigtails swaying, pulled the door wider. "Master should be back by the Hour of the Goat. You can wait inside."

As they stepped into the courtyard, a riot of blooming flowers greeted them.

The courtyard was filled with peonies of every hue—pink as peach blossoms, white as drifting snow, red as sunset clouds, purple as lilacs, with pale yellows and soft greens scattered among them, their fragrance perfuming the entire garden.

Lu Jianwei walked in slowly.

Wasn’t this the idyllic scenery she had always dreamed of?

She wondered how the construction of the eight thousand acres at the main branch in Fengzhou was progressing.

Entering the house, she spotted an exquisite wooden box placed on the table, meant for holding gifts.

Little Tao asked directly, "Bai Guo, are you going out?"

"No," Bai Guo shook her little braid. "Tomorrow is Elder Dou’s birthday. Master plans to attend the celebration banquet, and this is the birthday gift."

Lu Jianwei remarked, "I’ve heard Elder Dou is very kind-hearted, often treating outsiders free of charge, and his medical skills are extraordinary."

"Master is still better," Bai Guo retorted stubbornly. "But Elder Dou does help people often—his heart is in the right place."

Shangguan Yao let out a light cough, her face slightly pale.

"Ah, Master said you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Go rest right away," Bai Guo fretted. "There are a few empty rooms in the backyard—pick whichever you like. I still need to prepare the herbs."

Lu Jianwei followed Shangguan Yao to the backyard and chose a room at random.

The courtyard was also adorned with flowers and plants, and as the breeze drifted by, the mingled scents of blossoms and medicinal herbs were refreshingly soothing.

She sat by the window, crossing her legs to meditate.

By the early hours of the afternoon, the courtyard gate creaked open once more.