After rebirth, she became the favorite of the powerful minister.

For the first time, the master and apprentice, who had spent fourteen years together, felt slightly awkward in the face of silence.

Seeing that Yuan Ge remained silent, Feng Qingtan had no choice but to prop herself up and get up. He hadn't really expected her to immediately say "it's alright" without any resentment, but he just didn't want to bring these things down with him... Over the past few days, he had clearly noticed that his body was becoming increasingly heavy and lethargic, and he was afraid he wouldn't live to see the day when the poison from the Wei Rui Fruit was cured.

As night fell, the clouds grew thicker and thicker, completely obscuring the hazy moonlight. The courtyard, unlit, was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

The mountain breeze was cool, chilling one to the bone. Feng Qingtan pulled her clothes tighter, her back to Yuan Ge, and said softly, "Take care of yourself, don't get too cold..."

Yuan Ge was slightly taken aback. Spring always came late in the mountains, and as a child, she was quite willful and active, often shedding her winter clothes and donning spring attire early, causing her no end of suffering and much trouble for her grandfather. Despite her usual domineering and arrogant demeanor, she became incredibly spoiled when sick, whining and grumbling about everything that didn't go her way, much to the annoyance of everyone, especially her teacher. Her teacher was known for her exceptional patience, personally prescribing and preparing medicine, and even coaxing her to take it without asking anyone else. Even her grandfather said that half of her temperament was due to Feng Qingtan's indulgence.

This is also why Yuan Ge doesn't know how to face Feng Qingtan now.

If all the "good" in the past was because of the "guilt" of the past, then what is the point of such "good"... After a long while, she sighed softly. Is "good" that starts from guilt no longer "good"? For fourteen years, he could have left every day, but he stayed on the mountain for fourteen years. His meticulous teaching and companionship constituted the most colorful chapter in her life.

"teacher."

She called softly, and when she turned around, she saw the old man at the door tremble. His hunched back was visibly tense, but he did not turn around. He only responded in a trembling voice, "Hey, hey!" His voice was clearly restrained.

It looked almost unfamiliar, as if some things had inevitably changed.

Yuan Ge lowered his eyes. "I don't have a clue how to cure this poison yet, but I've discovered a crucial ingredient these past few days—a white toad that's said to live in the snow-capped mountains, called the Snow Toad. This thing is extremely difficult to find, and I'm afraid we won't be able to find it anytime soon..." Finding a white toad in the vast snow-capped mountains, not to mention that it's a living creature that can jump and run, is extremely difficult even to find a plant that grows honestly in the snow-capped mountains.

He couldn't wait any longer—Feng Qingtan instantly understood.

It's one thing to know something in your heart, but it's quite another to have it said in such a rational and calm voice.

Feng Qingtan sighed slowly with his hands behind his back. His tense body seemed to deflate as he bent over. He looked at the boundless night with his hands behind his back, pressed down the corners of his mouth, and sighed softly, "It's alright... At my age, I've already got one foot in the grave. Living one more day is a bonus. Besides, knowing that you're still alive before I die is a huge bonus for me."

After saying that, he laughed heartily, but then choked on his own phlegm and coughed until his face turned red, leaning against the door frame.

Yuan Ge looked at Feng Qingtan, who was coughing so hard it was heartbreaking, but he couldn't laugh at all. Although Feng Qingtan was old and his body was somewhat hunched from years of bending over, he was still quite strong. When he was angry, he could yell at people with a strong voice. Going down the mountain to see a doctor was no problem for him either. In short, he was far from being "one foot in the grave," let alone "living one more day is a bonus."

The teacher said that simply to make her feel better.

Yuan Ge got up, walked to the screen, took the cloak, and draped it over Feng Qingtan's shoulders. She hadn't noticed before, but now, standing together, she realized her teacher had lost weight and shrunk in just a few days, looking like she'd shrunk a whole size… Yuan Ge felt a pang of sadness. She suppressed a smile, “What nonsense are you talking about! I'm telling you this not to tell you I'm powerless, but to tell you… no matter what it is, the snow toad or whatever, I will bring it back. Before that, I will use acupuncture to suppress the poison in your body, and you… take good care of yourself, don't take your health for granted and risk your life again.”

Feng Qingtan was taken aback, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upwards, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening, yet his eyes gleamed. He nodded repeatedly, saying, "Good, good, good... I'll leave this old man's body to Xiao Ge'er." His voice was filled with laughter as he called her by an affectionate name, his eyes sparkling with a gentle and kind light, as if he were looking at his own granddaughter.

Why isn't she a beloved granddaughter?

For fourteen years, he imparted all his knowledge, including medicine and toxicology—he taught her everything he could, even things that weren't conventionally accepted. The little girl was bright; she learned quickly and could apply what she learned to other situations. After a few years, he had taught her almost everything. Later, they spent more time discussing difficult and complicated cases, such as Yuan Qi's illness. Rather than being master and apprentice, they were more like grandfather and granddaughter, close friends, and a tacitly understanding confidant despite their age difference.

He watched her grow up, and she watched him grow old.

Now, the little girl who was once cherished is finally able to stand on her own. Feng Qingtan turned her gaze to look at her face, which had lost its childishness, and smiled with satisfaction, "At that time, the title of divine doctor should be handed over to you."

“It’s just empty fame. You yourself didn’t care about it, so naturally I did too.” Yuan Ge adjusted his cloak, then looked at the trailing robes and hesitated before saying, “But… you should know better than me that using acupuncture to suppress the poison is neither a long-term solution nor a foolproof plan. Afterwards, some uncomfortable symptoms will inevitably appear, and you will inevitably have to suffer a bit.”

"In the face of life and death, these are all trivial matters." Feng Qingtan seemed much more composed, his hunched back straightening considerably, as if the unseen but heavy burden on his back had been lifted. He smiled and nodded, "Alright. Let's wait a few more days then. Judging by the time, there should be news from Shengjing by now. It would be best if things on the mountain were resolved. That way, no matter the outcome, I can focus on recovering."

"teacher……"

"That's fine then. I won't feel at ease if I really can't help, will I?" Feng Qingtan lifted the hem of her cloak, looked up at the dark night sky, and stepped out the door. "Looks like it's going to rain tomorrow. Go to sleep early. You look worse than this old man... Even if the sky were to fall, you should still get a good night's sleep and eat well. Besides, the sky hasn't fallen yet, has it?" With that, she shook her head and left the herb garden without looking back.

Yuan Ge watched the other person leave without saying anything to stop them.

The master and apprentice seemed to have forgotten that this was a medicinal herb garden, the old man's own courtyard.