The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 31 - Encounter with The Problem

"Wait, I brought you a clean towel." Su Ning left the pool first to fetch the towel he had left on the nearby bench. The wet inner garments clung to his body, leaving his back muscles and firm buttocks partially visible.

Qiang Yong regretted pulling him into the water as a joke. Now he was getting a taste of his own medicine and a part of him promptly stood up just to make him more aware of the situation he was in. He couldn't ignore that at some point, he started to feel physically attracted to the doctor.

And Dr. Su even had the consideration to bring him a towel before, forewarned as he was, but now he ran the risk of catching a cold walking around so wet. If he gets sick, I'll take responsibility for that, the dragon reflected, running his hand over his head, worried. Then he got out of the pool too, the heat must have been affecting his mind to the point where he thought something like that. How can you take responsibility?

Su Ning gave him the towel and indicated the room where he had left the Emperor's clothes. Qiang Yong used the towel to quickly cover his lower half and decided to avoid any eye contact at this time. The doctor went to his own room to change his clothes too.

After getting dressed, the Emperor knocked on the door and entered Su Ning's room. This time, the doctor was also composed, just removing excess water from his hair. Qiang Yong took a good look at the humble room, without being astonished. Everything this doctor used could only have been bought with copper coins. He paused at the bookshelf, reading the titles.

"The Empress must have already read the book she picked up last time. She is quickly learning human writing. Would it be okay if I bring her another one?"
"No problem." The doctor responded by tying his hair into a high ponytail. Qiang Yong had seen him with his hair tied up in a bun at surgery but not in a ponytail. When he turned around, the emperor was shocked to see him like this.

Su Ning usually didn't tie his hair up, why was he suddenly wearing it like this?
"Why...did you tie your hair up?"
"Huh? I've been away for many days, I'm going to clean the clinic. Having my hair tied up is more practical to wear when I'm cleaning, the strands don't fall into my face. Why?"

"Nothing. I'm going. Ha, first, get my communication matrix password.  Don't hesitate to call me if that yao shows up again."
The Emperor seemed very eager to leave, and Su Ning deduced that some urgent matter had arisen for him to resolve.

However, Qiang Yong also didn't understand why he left in such a hurry. As soon as he opened the array to the Stronghold and entered his own room, he relaxed. What was this? He forced his memory, at that moment he saw the doctor with his hair tied up, a quick vision of another person came to mind.

He was on his back at the opening of a cave...he was leaving. The strong wind from the top of the mountain tried to mess up his hair, but it was tied up... in a high ponytail. His voice seemed to be carried by the wind to Qiang Yong, as if he was already very far away.
"I'll leave a fire here at the entrance... there's a yao camp nearby, they'll definitely come when they see you."

"Wait! You're hurt too, aren't you? At least tell me your name."
"No need to worry. They will come soon."
"You don't need to be afraid. You helped me, I won't hurt you. I will repay your help, let me reward you"
"There's no need. This war will be over soon. And that's what matters."

How do you know that?? Qiang Yong thought. Although that was inevitable. Humans could no longer win this war.
The person took one last look at him, his face was partially covered by the black veil that doctors from the Human Medical Sect wore but his eyes were visible. Big and darker like that fabric...

Qiang Yong gave up on finding him a long time ago. At the time, he looked for doctors who participated in the war, but none of them were qualified enough to cure him like that person did. Qiang Yong had been seriously injured at the time and was hiding in a cave when that enigmatic figure appeared before him and treated him.

But if that person was Su Ning, wouldn't he have recognized him? Why didn't he say anything? Maybe he didn't remember? Would he have changed so much that the other person wouldn't remember him? Qiang Yong sat on the bed. The way his hair was tied up was very ordinary. It might not be him. Su Ning started to treat yao after the war. That human treated him as if he already knew how to do it.

However, his eyes were so familiar, so bright and tender, even though his demeanor was cold and distant.
He should confront the doctor, even though he didn't feel comfortable talking about the war. He wouldn't deny something as simple as that. His medical capabilities could be good since that time. Here peace of even curing something fatal and irreversible like that...

The Emperor's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. The Dowager Empress heard of her son's return and came to find out the news.
"Yong-er, can I come in?"
"Yes, come in A-niang. I have something for you ma'am." He gestured for her to come closer. The dragon entered more calmly when she saw him carefree and relaxed sitting on the bed. Qiang Yong handed over the book he had gotten from the doctor's room.

"Ah! You brought me another one!  That's good, A- Shyu and I already finished the other one! Does that mean Dr. Su has already returned to the clinic?"
"Yes, he has been released and can now serve as a member of the Yao Medical Sect."
The Empress wanted to know everything that had happened and Qiang Yong told the case in detail, omitting the part about the doctor's kidnapping.

"You must be tired, Yong-er. In your absence Ren Loo came back and took care of some matters for you. You can rest, there is nothing that needs your attention now."
"I'm fine, I'll talk to Ren Loo now. I don't need rest, Dr. Su prescribed me a hot spring bath treatment that should revive even the dead." Qiang Yong blurted out.

"Oh! You and Dr. Su finally friends?" The Empress clapped her hands over her face, exultant with joy. The emperor scratched his head. Friends? I think not yet...
"Let's say I... accept him... as someone trustworthy. And that's it. He's useful for exchanging some ideas." He responded with some difficulty. In fact, he didn't know how he saw the doctor. If he was the human who saved him years ago, how would he feel about him? Gratitude? Friendship? Angry that he left like that?

After talking to his mother, the Emperor went to look for Ren Loo to find out what matters his sister was busy with while he was away.
"How was the doctor's rescue?" Madam Ren asked, good-naturedly.
"Ask mom later, I won't repeat everything again."
Ren Loo laughed. "I want to know if there was any attack on him."

Qiang Yong nodded and told him about the kidnapping and what he had discussed with Su Ning that afternoon.
"Why didn't you bring the doctor here??? That way he would be safer!" Ren Loo frowned in irritation.
"If the doctor stays here we will probably never capture this killer! Furthermore, Dr. Su is not that harmless, he is well versed in Curse Purification, he must know many attack techniques even without having a spiritual weapon." Qiang Yong retorted.

He could very well use the doctor as bait since his eyes were very keen on his safety now.
“Did you say Curse Purification??” Madam Ren was startled.
"Yes, why?" The other asked indifferently.
"There were only two proficient cultivators in this area! One was that damn Deng Choi!"
Qiang Yong swallowed. Deng Choi was the cultivator who killed Ren Loo's husband in the war.

"And who was the other one?"
"His master, Tung Shiu. But after their deaths, no other disciples came forward to replace them."
"Su Ning said that his master insisted that he learn techniques from him, but from the beginning he was determined to pursue the medical field. It makes sense that he wouldn't continue their legacy if he were his disciple."

"In any case, he must have known Deng Choi! And why would Tung Shiu keep an anonymous disciple?" Ren Loo stood up in exasperation.
Qiang Yong laughed. "Are you going to force the answer out of him? If this was a secret I doubt he'll talk now. If he told me, it must have been without thinking."
Madam Ren took a deep breath and stabilized herself. She lost control when she remembered Deng Choi.

"No, of course not. It doesn't matter, Su Ning is not like Deng Choi. That human was crazy." She responded without a hint of security. Her confidence was shaken, although Tung Shiu was not a cultivator who pursued yao indiscriminately. Su Ning should be like him.
Both remained silent, with tension suspended in the air. The door to the room then opened with a bang.
"Emperor!" It was Secretary Liao Pu, who walked in completely stunned.
"The Phoenix Clan Leader was murdered on her way to the Barrier!"

Author's Note

Oh, oh... this confusion is already making my head spin. Wow, Dr. Su, what dark past are you hiding? And now a murder!
I think there's more headaches coming...