The Little Lucky Girl.

In the medicinal mist that lingers all year round in Medicine King Valley, Dongfang Chenyi is dressed in a plain robe, with a cold look between his brows. As the master of the valley, he can cure all kinds of diseases, but he cannot heal his own broken heart.

He first met her at the mass grave outside the valley. The blood-stained woman, like a dying butterfly, caught his eye. Dongfang Chenyi had never seen such a stubborn yet fragile look in her eyes before, and for some unknown reason, he brought her back to Medicine King Valley. Her name was Fu Yao, and after she recovered, she became his constant companion, helping him identify herbs and study pharmacology. As time passed, the sound of pounding herbs echoed in the medicine room, along with their laughter and joy. Unwittingly, love blossomed.

As their love blossomed, Fu Yao proposed to Dongfang Chenyi to travel outside the valley and see the world. Though accustomed to the valley's tranquility, he agreed for her sake. However, the Jianghu isn't just about beautiful scenery; it also has turbulent undercurrents. While traveling through a region of inter-gang conflict, Fu Yao was abducted by criminals who threatened Dongfang Chenyi with the secret formula for Medicine King Valley.

To save Fu Yao, Dongfang Chenyi braved the danger alone. But when he, gravely injured, fought tooth and nail to save her, he was met with a cold, distant gaze. It turned out that during her captivity, Fu Yao had believed the slander of a criminal, believing that Dongfang Chenyi had adopted her and treated her with affection only to test drugs on her. All their sweet memories had become a footnote to a conspiracy. No matter how Dongfang Chenyi explained, Fu Yao remained unmoved and resolutely left.

Back in Medicine King Valley, Dongfang Chenyi locked himself in the pharmacy, refusing to leave for days. The once vibrant apothecary was now utterly silent. He stroked the carved herb-picking shovel he had crafted for Fu Yao, and memories flooded back. Every time he recalled her every smile and frown, his heart ached.

They met again at Fu Yao's wedding. She was adorned with a phoenix crown and a bridal robe, a dreamlike beauty, but the groom beside her wasn't him. Dongfang Chenyi, hidden in the crowd, watched Fu Yao and the others as they swore in the ceremony. His hands clenched, his knuckles white, blood dripping down the lines of his palms, soaking the hem of his dress, yet he felt no pain. Fu Yao occasionally glanced up, her gaze glancing at him. A moment's panic washed over her, before she regained her composure and continued with the celebration.

After the wedding banquet, Dongfang Chenyi stood dejected in the empty courtyard. Fu Yao finally approached and whispered, "Thank you for saving me. We'll never see each other again." She turned, leaving him with a resolute back. At that moment, the warm spring breeze seemed to transform into a bitter winter wind, piercing through his body and blowing away his heart's longing and hope. From then on, the aroma of the herbs in Medicine King Valley still permeated the air, but Dongfang Chenyi's eyes no longer had the brightness they once had. Only endless loneliness remained, and he suffered alone through the bitter taste of the herbs, year after year.

After the grand wedding, Dongfang Chenyi returned to Medicine King Valley and fell seriously ill. His hands, once so calm as to blend hundreds of herbs, now trembled even as he lifted the medicine bowl. The disciples in the valley watched the usually aloof and dignified Valley Master emaciate, their hearts pounding with worry, yet they were helpless to do anything.

Fu Yao's married life was far from smooth. Her husband, a family-alienated marriage, treated her with mere exploitation, devoid of any affection. Her initial pride and determination were gradually worn down by the daily grind of life. In the stillness of the night, the heartwarming memories of her days in Medicine King Valley would often return to her dreams. The sight of Dongfang Chenyi, with his gentle smile and patient guidance in identifying herbs, became a thorn in her heart that she could never heal.

One day, Fu Yao was inexplicably poisoned. Despite seeking help from renowned doctors, none could find a cure. In despair, she stumbled uncontrollably towards Medicine King Valley. Upon entering, the familiar aroma of medicinal herbs filled her, leaving her filled with guilt. As the haggard Dongfang Chenyi appeared before her, Fu Yao muttered, "I... I've been poisoned."

Dongfang Chenyi's gaze fell on her pale face, his heart instantly tightening. Without a word, he led her into the pharmacy. While taking her pulse, his fingers touched her wrist, and a feeling of past intimacy welled up in his heart, causing him to shudder violently. He prepared and decocted the medicine, his movements smooth and effortless, avoiding Fu Yao's sight the entire time.

After taking a few doses of the medicine, Su Yao's complexion gradually improved, but the atmosphere in the valley was suffocating and oppressive. While Dongfang Chenyi was out, Fu Yao wandered around the valley and overheard the disciples whispering that the Valley Master had lost years of his skills and vitality because of her. Fu Yao froze in her place, filled with regret.

When Dongfang Chenyi came back, Fu Yao stopped him, tears bursting out: "Why? I treated you like that, why did you save me?" Dongfang Chenyi smiled bitterly: "A doctor's heart is kind-hearted. Even if we are no longer friends, I can't bear to see you suffer." These words were like a sharp blade, piercing both of them.

However, news of Fu Yao's return reached her husband's family, sparking a storm. They led an attack on Medicine King Valley, accusing Dongfang Chenyi of kidnapping a woman and demanding a hefty compensation. The valley's disciples were outraged, but Dongfang Chenyi simply gazed wearily at Fu Yao and whispered, "Do you believe me?" Fu Yao hesitated, and that moment of hesitation dimmed Dongfang Chenyi's gaze.

To protect the peace of Medicine King Valley, Dongfang Chenyi spent all his family wealth to send those evildoers away. Fu Yao looked at the deserted medicinal fields and the angry eyes of the disciples, and her heart was filled with the realization of her own sins. When everything calmed down, she begged Dongfang Chenyi to stay, willing to spend the rest of her life to atone for her sins. But Dongfang Chenyi shook his head: "Some scars, once torn, cannot be closed. Go away, and this time, don't look back."

The day Fu Yao left, it rained heavily. Dongfang Chenyi stood at the valley's entrance, watching the receding figure, letting the rain, mixed with tears, fall. From then on, Medicine King Valley closed its gates. He guarded the valley, filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs and the shattered love, living out his remaining days in solitude. Fu Yao, filled with regret, drifted through the world, never to find the warm harbor she once had.

After leaving Medicine King Valley, Fu Yao felt like a walking corpse. The Jianghu was vast, yet she didn't know where to return. The misplaced trust and lost affection of the past gnawed at her heart day and night. Late at night, the ghost of memories haunted her, and Dongfang Chenyi's lonely yet affectionate gaze became the most painful part of her nightmares.

Meanwhile, in Medicine King Valley, Dongfang Chenyi grew increasingly silent. He buried himself in ancient pharmacology texts, trying to fill the gaping hole in his heart with his busy schedule. It was only when he occasionally lost focus while preparing a prescription and misplaced an herb that he realized the deep, unforgettable feelings he had for her, and how could they be easily erased.

An epidemic quietly ravaged the surrounding towns. Upon hearing the news, Dongfang Chenyi led his fellow disciples out to provide assistance. In the herb dispensing shed, he busied himself with concentration, completely unaware of the familiar gaze in the crowd. Fu Yao, upon hearing the news, also rushed to help. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at Dongfang Chenyi's thin yet resolute profile.

In between rescues, their eyes met, a thousand words choking in their throats. It was Fu Yao who spoke first: "I... want to help." Dongfang Chenyi was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. Over the days they worked together, the tacit understanding they once had seemed to slowly return, but the wounds of the past lay between them, making every casual glance and touch carry a cautious sting.

One night, as the epidemic eased, Fu Yao mustered up the courage to find Dongfang Chenyi's lodgings. Moonlight streamed across the courtyard. She stood at the doorway, her voice trembling slightly. "Chenyi, I know I was terribly wrong. These days, I've been thinking, if only we could go back to the beginning. I'd never hurt you again." Dongfang Chenyi raised his eyes, his complex expression filled with emotion. "How can we easily let go of the past?"

Despite this, Dongfang Chenyi never avoided Fuyao again during the rest of their journey. While gathering herbs together, Fuyao twisted her ankle on a mountain path. Dongfang Chenyi instinctively reached out to steady her. Their eyes met, their breathing stuttering. An ambiguity lingered, quietly intertwined, yet deep suspicion and old wounds forced them to quickly look away, withdrawing from that closeness.

On their way back, they passed a cliff and were ambushed by assassins. In the chaos, Fu Yao was knocked over the edge. She frantically reached out to grab hold, but Dongfang Chenyi swooped over and gripped her wrist tightly. The wind howled, and Fu Yao burst into tears. "If I fall, leave me alone. I deserve it." Dongfang Chenyi gritted his teeth and said, "Shut up!" Veins bulged in his hands as he pulled upward with all his might.

At the critical moment, he pulled Fu Yao up, and the two of them collapsed to the ground in each other's arms, their hearts pounding. In this moment, the past love and hate surged, yet seemed insignificant in the moment of life and death. After recovering, Dongfang Chenyi was the first to stand up and look into the distance: "The road ahead is still long. This time, I don't know if I can trust you again." Fu Yao stood up, her eyes firm: "Then give this relationship another chance, take it slow, and let me win your heart back."

Dongfang Chenyi didn't respond, but simply walked forward, with Fu Yao silently following. As their figures faded away, it became unclear whether they could truly find each other this time, on this thorny road of love, and continue this turbulent love story.