The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 40 - Expressing Feelings.

Ren Shyu gradually became more comfortable with Su Ning. Even though he was seven years younger, he knew a lot of things and could hold a long-lasting conversation with him. Although his small size was not advantageous when working as a blacksmith, this did not prevent him from paying maximum attention to his father's teachings (most of which was almost self-taught, as Su Wu generally spoke little and when he did speak it was just simple instructions).

Su Wu did all kinds of work, but his forte was sword forging. He sometimes provided large batches to cultivator sects.
This immediately captivated Ren Shyu's attention. They talked about blade tempering and chiseling techniques for a long time, until Ren Shyu completely forgot what time it was.

"And I thought you would only talk about herbs and diseases." Ren Shyu said.
"I already said, master is well-versed in many things!" An Shu mumbled. What a habit these dragons have of looking down on him!
"Tsk!" Ren Shyu turned his face away.
"Hey! Don't argue about it. Everyone has a first impression when they meet someone else."

"And what did you think of me?" The two yao asked at the same time. Su Ning  laughed embarrassedly.
"An Shu, right? It's a little frivolous of me, but I thought your color was so beautiful... but you seemed like a devoted friend."
The snake reared up, flushed with pride. "Hehe, master never mentioned that he liked me that much."

"And as for you, I-I thought you might not like me. But many yao don't like humans. I also think you're not a child, you seem like someone quite mature for your age. And you shouldn't be forced to stay here with me if I didn't want to."
"You're much more spontaneous as a child. Not that you're not sincere as an adult, but you seem more careful with your words." The dragon minus the head.

"What you said was true, I didn't like you at first. I couldn't trust you because you were a cultivator. I couldn't accept that you were a good person, much less that you were a friend. But you took a risk until by Huang Jia..."
Ren Shyu was crestfallen, facing his own inner demons. Su Ning felt that he was carrying great suffering and let him manage this feeling a little.

"You don't have to feel obligated to like someone, even if they saved your life." Su Ning said finally, seeing that the other was taking a long time to recover. Ren Shyu stared at him.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes, a friendship out of obligation is not a friendship."
A great weight was lifted from Ren Shyu's heart and he opened his mouth to thank him but was interrupted by the arrival of his mother.

"I can't believe it! I asked you to play with him and you were philosophizing??? You don't know how to enjoy your childhood anymore!" Ren Loo pulled him by the collar.
"Hey! I already told you! Su Ning is not a child! Afterwards we understood each other very well! We talked all morning about sword forging!" Ren Shyu grunted. Ren Loo released him in surprise and then hugged him tightly.
"You got along well! Finally! I thought you would end up lonely and reclusive like your uncle!"

"A-niang! Don't squeeze me like that! I can't breathe! Don't squeeze Dr. Su like that either, you'll kill him! Humans aren't resilient!"
Ren Loo laughed loudly, she had come to pick them up for lunch. All morning, she, Qiang Yong and the others sought to fortify the Fortress's defenses. Hu Long had at some point been caught, so the chimera could try to take advantage of an employee to try to capture Su Ning while he was weakened.

Furthermore, Qiang Yong told his sister about the spiritual weapon technique, making her even more anxious. This was the technique that created the weapon that killed her husband. It was a relief to know that it could never be used again, however, it hurt to think that someone as good as the doctor sacrificed himself in such a way so that other lives would not be lost. Her suspicions about the doctor were all eliminated at once and when he returned to normal she would like to thank him properly.

Seeing him talk about sword forging with Ren Shyu reminded her of that and she couldn't help but stroke his hair and also hug him without explaining the reason. And seeing Ren Shyu worried about him, she also remembered that humans had such a fragile body, especially when they were so small.
If that chimera got its claws into that person... she would never forgive herself!

And it still had that special detail. Ren Loo smiled mischievously. Now she understood her brother's grudge against humans. After the report about the destruction of the sword and Su Ning's memories, Qiang Yong even confessed to him another new fact.
"Ren Loo, I also need to find out if Dr. Su is  a person I knew during the war."
"Ah? Don't you recognize him just like that?"

"The face, the eyes, the hair, the profile... are very similar. He wore that veil that covered half his face, which doctors of the Sect wore it, so I'm not sure if it was him."
"And why do you want to know this? Did this person do you any harm?" Ren Loo was surprised by this revelation.
"No, on the contrary. Ren Loo, I was also injured by the Soul Devouring sword. It was during that ambush, I went to meet you afterwards, do you remember? This wound here on my chest?"
He displayed only a portion of a scar that cut from his left collarbone to his floating right rib.

"I remember... I thought someone from the yao army had treated you at the time. I didn't know it was the same sword..."
"When I was hit by the sword, I was seriously injured and ended up running away. There was no way I could face that weapon alone." Qiang Yong said sincerely. "I hid in a cave high on the mountain and lost consciousness. I knew how I would end... my soul would be torn apart and absorbed by the sword."

He lowered his head and crossed his arms. "But I woke up, the sweat and blood from my body had been cleaned, my wound was sutured, disinfected and bandaged. And my soul was intact! Furthermore, the person who helped me even improvised a straw bed for the end, lit a fire and left food and fresh water!"
"That's a complete medical treatment. Sounds like his way of doing things."

"I woke up and saw this person sitting in the dim light. He saw that I was recovering, showed me where the water and food were and got ready to leave. Even though it was bad I realized it was a human, and there was blood on his clothes. He he was injured, leaning against the wall. I asked him to stay, I swore I wouldn't hurt him." Qian Young clenched his teeth and his fingers tightened on his arms.

"He said he needed to leave, that he would leave a smoke signal at the cave entrance and that there was a Yao army nearby in the forest, that they would find me like this. He had no way of knowing who I was, since I dressed like a soldier common."
"Didn't you ask his name?"
"I asked, but he didn't tell me. I wanted to reward him, but he said that I didn't owe him anything, that he was a doctor and it was his duty to serve everyone. He also said that the war would soon end, that yao and humans could live in peace again." Qiang Yong ran his hand over his eyes tiredly.

"I couldn't stop him from leaving. Even though he was injured, his qinggong was fast. Then everything happened as he said. The human Emperor came to me to surrender. I took off my helmet at the time and let everyone see who I was because I thought he would look for me. To seek some kind of favor or retribution. But no one ever came looking for me."
Ren Loo's heart trembled.

Was his brother keeping this feeling with him all this time? She looked at him with compassion, understanding everything. Qiang Yong's voice was slightly hoarse.
"I even secretly looked for some of the Sect's doctors, none of them knew who it could have been. Little by little I lost hope of finding him. Shit! It's too much to ask to want to thank someone properly! Why didn't he ever look for me?"

Why?? You were also injured and if it had been from the destruction of the sword and memories, you were suffering much more than me!
The Emperor was distraught and could barely control his emotions. Ren Loo reached out and caressed his shoulder helplessly.

"I understand you. Somehow we will get to the truth about this. There is nothing that stays hidden for so long." She thought better of it and hugged him. This foolish brother of mine! If she had looked for me before, she would have searched the world for this secret passion. Now if you are Dr. Su...hehe, A-niang got the son-in-law of his dreams.

Author's Note

Poor Emperor. Even I feel sorry now. Falling in love at first sight with a stranger who saved your life and trying to find him without success...