A life of two souls traveling through time

"We will meet at East Street Lane in an hour." At 3 p.m., Huifeng brought Si Yao and Guo Ying into the city.

"Mr. Er, I'll go with you..." Thinking of going shopping, Si Yao felt that it would be better to follow Hui Feng to see patients.

"Mr. Er, let's see you in an hour!" But before Si Yao could finish her words, Guo Ying pulled her in another direction.

Huifeng, carrying a medicine box, looked at the two people's receding backs. A complex expression flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual indifferent expression and turned away.

"Although Mr. Sanxiu refused Siyao's offer to become his disciple, his little disciple intends to let her learn medicine. This master and disciple are really interesting."

Inside the post station in Mucheng, Yan Zong half-leaned on the couch, looking at the note in his hand and sneering. He had lost a lot of weight and looked a little tired after not seeing him for a long time.

"I have been chess friends with Mr. Sanxiu for many years. From what I know, he is a straightforward and open-minded person. Since he rejected Miss Siyao in person, he must really not want to accept this disciple." Mr. Fan, who was standing aside, stroked his beard and said thoughtfully.

"So, Mr. Sanxiu's little disciple wants to take in a disciple?"

"Haha, how old is his little apprentice?" Mr. Fan laughed, took the note from Yan Zong and continued to mutter: "This little Lu has been watching for so many days and has not provided any important information, why not let him withdraw?"

"What do you mean, sir?" Yan Zong rubbed his eyes tiredly and asked in a deep voice.

"If Miss Si Yao is really a spy, it is impossible for her to have been silent in the pharmacy for more than a month. As for Sanxiu Pharmacy, the queen respected her master very much when she was alive. Your Highness should not be suspicious." Mr. Fan coughed lightly and replied.

"I don't doubt Mr. Sanxiu and Mr. Xiuming, but the border city is full of good and bad people, and Sanxiu Medicine Store is well-known. It is inevitable that it will be targeted by people with ulterior motives. What's more, the medicine store has taken in orphans of unknown origin, including that Si Yao."

Mr. Fan sighed, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Yan Zong, then said, "Your Highness has caught a cold since you came back. You should rest well."

"Sir, why do you have to keep what you want to say to yourself?" Yan Zong was somewhat dissatisfied when he saw Mr. Fan change the subject.

"You, sometimes, are quite similar to your father."

"As suspicious and conceited as him?" Yan Zong raised his eyebrows and looked at Mr. Fan.

Mr. Fan just smiled and turned to leave without saying anything. At this time, someone outside the door reported: "Your Highness, Magistrate Situ is here."

"Situ Ting? What is he doing here?" Yan Zong looked unhappy. He had kept the fact that he came to the post station to recuperate a secret. But then he thought that Situ Ting was the magistrate of Mucheng County, and the post station was naturally under his jurisdiction. No matter how secretive it was, it was impossible to hide it from him.

"Your Highness, today is Laba Festival. Maybe they are here to invite you to participate in the anti-epidemic ceremony. I will go and deal with it..."

"Sir, wait a minute!"

"But Your Highness is still ill, it is not appropriate..."

"It's just a minor cold." Yan Zong disagreed.

Mr. Fan sighed helplessly in his heart: he had not yet fully recovered from the serious injuries he suffered in the previous suppression of bandits, and he was overly sad on the anniversary of his death. He was already mentally and physically exhausted, and the cold also took advantage of his weakness to enter his body.

"Where is that kid? He hasn't been seen all day." Yan Zonggang walked to the door and suddenly turned to ask Mr. Fan.

"I went out to the market early in the morning," Mr. Fan said with a smile.

"Your humble servant pays respect to the King!"

As soon as Yan Zong walked out of the room in silence, Situ Ting, the magistrate of Mucheng County, who was waiting in the corridor, hurriedly saluted.

"Get up." Although Yan Zong was thin due to illness, his noble and majestic aura was not diminished at all.

"Your Majesty, today is Laba Festival again. I have come to ask you whether you would like to participate in the epidemic-exorcising ceremony as in previous years?" The county magistrate Situ Ting stood up and bowed respectfully again.

"The epidemic-exorcising ceremony concerns people's livelihood. Since I am stationed in Mucheng, I naturally have to pray with the people of Mucheng. Let's go." After Yan Zong finished speaking, he strode towards the outer courtyard.

"Yes." Situ Ting answered while following Yan Zong respectfully.

On the west street of Mucheng, Si Yao looked at the Huang Mansion which was burned down to ruins and felt melancholy: I didn't expect such a thing to happen.

"Sister Yao, why are you here?" Guo Ying, holding two candied haws, followed slowly.

"Let's go." Si Yao's slightly frowned brows relaxed and he said as if nothing had happened.

"Here, candied haws!" Guo Ying didn't think much about it. She smiled and handed a bunch of candied haws in her hand to Si Yao and continued, "It's almost time. We should go meet up with Mr. Er."

"Yeah, okay." Si Yao nodded and turned to follow Guo Ying away.

Just as the afternoon approached, drums suddenly beat loudly in the south of Mucheng. Upon hearing the sound, pedestrians in the east streets and alleys rushed to the south of the city. Si Yao and Guo Ying were caught up in the crowd and couldn't squeeze out at all.

"The anti-epidemic ceremony may be about to begin. We haven't seen Mr. Er yet?" In the crowded crowd, Guo Ying looked at Si Yao worriedly.

"Don't worry. If Mr. Er can't find us in East Street Alley, he will definitely go to the south of the city." Si Yao comforted Xiao Guoying while protecting her who was squeezed in the crowd.

Because it was a snowy winter day, it got dark very early. A blazing bonfire was set up early at the four corners of the high platform in the south of Mucheng. Three big drums stood in front of the platform, and three burly men were beating the drums rhythmically. Crowds of people gathered around the platform and waited. The vendors on both sides of the street also closed their stalls early, and everyone was looking forward to the start of the anti-epidemic ceremony.

"Ouch, little girl, you stepped on me!"

Just as Si Yao and Guo Ying were weaving through the crowd looking for Hui Feng, Guo Ying accidentally stepped on the foot of a pale-faced man, who immediately started yelling in anger.

"I'm sorry, my sister didn't mean it." Guo Ying was still young after all, and when she saw the young man's gloomy face, she was so scared that she quickly hid behind Si Yao. Si Yao also protected Guo Ying and apologized to the man.

"Girl, my new shoes have been stepped on and made dirty by your sister. You can't just apologize and let it go, right?" The man who was about to fly into a rage couldn't help but brighten up when he saw Si Yao, and smiled with a lecherous face.

"Of course, sir. You tell us how much money we will compensate you." Si Yao nodded neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"I'm afraid I can't afford to pay for this pair of shoes." The lecher looked up and down at Si Yao, who was dressed simply.

Then he teased, "If the lady wants to apologize sincerely, why not accompany me... Ouch, it hurts..." As he said that, one hand dishonestly tried to touch Si Yao's face, but was instantly torn apart by Arnold who suddenly appeared, causing her to cry out in pain.

"What do you want to accompany me for? Tell me!" Although Arnold is young, he grew up and trained in a military camp, so his skills are naturally good.

"Oh, young master... young master, please spare me... I will never dare to do it again..." His hands were broken with a crackling sound, and the lecher knelt down and begged for mercy with a distorted face in pain.

"Arnold, forget it." Si Yao was surprised by Arnold's appearance. Seeing that the young man's wrist was about to be broken, he hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"Hmph, if it weren't for my sister's kindness, I would have cut off your hand today. Get out!" Arnold naturally listened to Si Yao's words. He glared at the scoundrel fiercely and shook him hard. The scoundrel was caught off guard and fell to the ground. Without even having time to cry out in pain, he crawled away from the crowd.

"The prince and the county magistrate are here!" The crowd, who had just finished watching the excitement here, looked up and saw the big shot on the high platform and became excited. Especially the prince, who was noble and imposing, made everyone below the stage unable to help but take a second look.

When Si Yao saw Yan Zong, she naturally understood why Arnold suddenly appeared here.

"Sister Yao, here you go!" After driving the scoundrel away, Arnold became a child again and smiled at Si Yao. He also gave Si Yao the cakes that he had bought for Yan Zong and Master Fan.

"Would you like some candied haws?" Si Yao didn't want Arnold to feel disappointed, so she took the pastry and then handed over the candied haws that she had not had time to eat.

"Of course Arnold wants what Sister Yao gives it to him!" Arnold smiled even more happily.

Guo Ying was unhappy when she saw the candied haws she bought for Si Yao being taken away by Arnold, but then she thought that Arnold had just helped them out of trouble, so he should give something back as a reward.

"Please prepare, drive away the plague, and start the Nuo dance!"

As the master of ceremonies presiding over the epidemic-exorcising ceremony on the high platform shouted, bells and drums continued to ring, and dancers came out from backstage singing and dancing. The leader was dressed as Fang Xiangshi, with four golden eyes, wearing a bear skin, a black robe and a red skirt, holding a spear and a shield; the four behind him also wore animal masks on their heads, bear skins on their bodies, held spears and halberds in their hands, and shouted "Nuo Nuo"; behind them were twelve people with red hair and colorful clothes, holding long hemp whips and cracking them.

On the high platform, dancers sang and danced to the accompaniment of drums and music. The people in the first two rows below the platform who were participating in the drive away of the epidemic also held torches and sang loudly, as if echoing the dancers from afar.