The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 24 - Proposal

Su Ning was invited to Lang Ko's private room after the hearing ended. The sect master was the most respected doctor among the yao, known for her firm hand and for taking care of the most difficult cases. She was often in demand and had even tried to heal Qiang Ling. However, this was one of those cases whose recovery only lasted a few days...

She was sitting on a couch, absorbed in the human doctor's solved cases when he was announced.
She was still reading, when she indicated a seat for the doctor to sit.
He obeyed and without saying anything waited for Lang Ko to finish reading. The doctor finished what she was doing and closed the volume, placing it carefully on the table.
"You seem to have a natural gift for medicine."

Su Ning raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I'm not so sure about this, but I'm always looking for information about new treatments. You never know when a new disease might emerge."
"You even created an elixir that regenerates body parts..."
"Yes, I taught Dr. Han Chia the preparation, but for some reason there is a difference in its effectiveness when a yao prepares it. An Shu and I are still working on it."

Lang Ko continued to stare at him persistently.
"After this is over, what do you plan to do, doctor?"
"Uhm, I'll go back to the clinic and continue as before."
Lang Ko crossed his arms. "No hard feelings?"
"There's no reason for me to be upset about it. I was treated very well here. And if I wasn't, the others have nothing to do with it."

"I'm glad you don't have bad memories here... Most defendants hate the cliff view from the window."
"I live on a mountain, how could I bother with that?"
Lang ko laughed for the first time.
"It's true, I forgot about that. Very witty of you, doctor. But now let's get to the main thing... your test."
Lang Ko folded his hands in his lap.

"We have a case for you to analyze, the result of the test depends on your assessment. The patient knows who you are and agreed to come. He is waiting for you. However..." Lang Ko stood up, with a slightly more threatening. "I would like to point out that the yao you will serve is no ordinary creature. I hope you know how to treat him with due respect."

Su Ning thought he saw a dazzle from Qiang Yong reinforcing that he should be cautious in taking care of the Empress, but in female form. A panther and a dragon. Would he now live constantly falling into the hands of people with strong tempers? He followed the doctor yao, climbing to the highest floors of the Water Palace.
The panther opened one of the doors, which led to a beautiful garden, at the top of the Palace.

Su Ning couldn't help but admire the gardening scheme made there. Maintaining those plants at that altitude required hard maintenance work. It was a grand feat and he was enchanted by the place. They walked through the majestic garden, containing all manner of shady trees and flowering bushes.

In the distance, a figure sat on a bench beneath a blossoming peach tree. A gentle breeze blew the petals over the solitary figure and the entire image looked like a painting in the soft afternoon light. The yao admired the falling flowers, so silent and still that it seemed like he wasn't even breathing.

"You will be watched, but I won't stick around. So there won't be any interference." Lang Ko warned, removing his bracelets and then patted him twice on the shoulder as encouragement. Su Ning observed the patient's back. His hair was a shiny black, tied in a bun. A few long strands fell over her shoulders. There were two small pairs of deer antlers under his head.

He wore yellow clothes with colorful embroidery and golden outlines, reminiscent of fish scales. It was a lush contrast compared to the simplicity of the pink colors of peach flowers.
Su Ning approached and the yao turned to him. He had a young face, like that of a teenager, unlike his eyes, which were bright blue and looked as old as the world.

He stared at the human wearing gray robes and his lips parted, expressing a bit of surprise. Was this the human doctor? He looked more like a deity with an ethereal and indifferent face, descended from the heavens and disguised as a peasant.
"Are you Dr. Su Ning?" The yao looked him from head to toe, not maliciously, but reluctant to believe what he was seeing.

"Yes, it's me. Is it okay for me to sit here?"
The yao nodded. The doctor picked up one of the flowers that fell on his shoulder and smiled. "So what should I call you?"
"You can call me Dong Lin."
"Hmmm... you've already seen several doctors. That must have been very frustrating. Thank you for having me."
"What... did Lang Ko tell you?"
"Nothing at all. But you seem very mentally worn out."

Dong Lin ".........."
"Since when did you start having the headaches?"
"It's been about six mo..." How do you?
"You are in the darkest corner of the garden and with your back to the sun, you are avoiding excess light because of the pain." Su Ning explained before he even asked him.
Dong Lin lowered his head. "You already know what it is then..."
"I wonder what it is, but I'd like to see its general condition."

"You can check then."
Su Ning took his wrists, looked at his eyes and asked him to move them, he also made him stand up and watched the movements with his eyes closed and open. Then she asked about the intensity of the headaches and other sensations he might have, if he heard tinnitus. Then he himself, using the celestial eye, observed the diseased region.
"And then?" Dong Lin questioned with some bitterness. "Are you satisfied?"

Dr. Su looked for a long time, then as if coming to a conclusion, he replied. "I can operate on it with a seventy-five percent chance of success."
The yao opened his eyes wide. "But they said it was impossible to remove it! That I could even die in surgery..."
"I have an idea about a better method for this. If it doesn't work, there's a ten percent chance you'll lose your vision or hearing on your left side."

Dong Lin stared at him even more dumbfounded. Lang Ko said it was a test, all that was expected was for him to just repeat what everyone else said before.
"Are you sure about this?" Dong Lin asked again.
"Yes." The doctor responded categorically.
The yao swallowed. He didn't really know what was happening, from the information he had, this person had been treating yao for a long time and now he had been reported out of spite for others. To enter the Sect he would have to do well in this test.

"Do you know that this is just a test? That it only needs to give a diagnosis?"
"I'm here as a doctor, to diagnose and provide treatment options, whether palliative or curative. I don't care what the test results are. If you prefer not to operate, I still have medication options to delay the progress of the disease."
"Do you know what I am?" The yao asked finally. It was not possible that this human would try to deceive him as well, as he could very well read his thoughts and intentions.

Dong Lin decided to see this for himself and stared into Su Ning's dark eyes.
"I know what you are, it won't change what I said." The doctor responded indifferently.
Dong Lin held the gaze and then smiled after a while. At least his assessment was not impaired by the disease.
"Very well. I accept that you operate on me then."

Author's Note

I love the way Su Ning is determined when he's right about something. No matter who you are, I can treat you and that's the end of it lol.

They say that Qilin can grant wishes, so I did a great job on Dong Lin's drawing 😁, I hope he grants me what I want.