Pure Darkness

Chapter 108

Jian Yao sleeps till late at night*. When he opened his eyes, there was no one by his side. He raised his head and looked at the familiar figure in the courtyard. The sky has brightened.

Oi! I am an article!

*T/N (ri shang san gan) – the sun has risen as high as three bamboo sticks ( ⁇ ) above the horizon, meaning it is already late.

He suddenly laughed in relief. He also felt more comfortable.

Oi! I am an article!

That person, with an injured leg, deep within the tiger cave, remained unable to sit still. Who knows what elaborate maneuvers he thinks about in the morning.

Sure enough, not long after, Bo Jinyan walked up to him using a wooden stick to prop up and said, “We should go and meet them.”

Jian Yao stiffened.

Under the clear sky, the small town seemed more lively. There were more pedestrians on the streets, and the houses and trees looked fresher and cleaner. Although they looked at Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan with great curiosity when they met, they remained quite friendly. From the outward appearance, they actually looked like typical ordinary people from poor and underdeveloped mountainous regions. Moreover, they again met some people who brought water home. Jian Yao constantly observed the people they met on the street, but did not know who belonged to the Buddha Hand, or where they could hide. Could it be that they were on the top floor of a building spying on them?

Oi! I am an article!

They soon arrived at the doctor's clinic. Jian Yao wanted to obtain more gauze bandages and topical medicine so that she could replace Bo Jinyan's bandages by herself. Supporting Bo Jinyan, she put away the curtains and entered the clinic, only to be shocked.

There was a patient at the clinic today.

A burly and burly man was sitting behind the consulting table. He wore camouflage and black boots, and wore crew pieces. He looks rude and fierce. Jian Yao observed that he had calluses between his thumb and forefinger, and there was a bulge on his waist. When he turned his body around, he realized that it was an empty gun holster.

The man turned his head to look at them and became stiff, while his expression became alert. Very calmly, Jian Yao guided Bo Jinyan as they walked over and sat down beside her. Bo Jinyan also seemed completely unperturbed.

At this point, Wen Rong pulled back the curtain into the inner room and walked out. When he saw the three of them sitting there, he also started before saying to the man, with a smile, “Your medicine is here.”

The man took the medicine, then took out some money and put it on the table. He looked at Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan next to him obliquely before raising his chin to ask, “Who are they?”

Wen Rong replied casually, “They are backpackers who have just passed by, and also patients.”

The man seemed convinced by his words. He nodded and gave Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan a glance before standing up and leaving.

At this moment, the curtain to the inner room was pulled to the side once more, but Qiu Sijin, the girl from the previous night, was walking out. His cheeks were red, and when he saw her, he said with great joy, “You're here again? Don't worry, Dr Wen's medical skills are the best; you'll definitely get better in no time. ”

Wen Rong laughed and reached out to pat her head. “Go drink water,” said. Qiu Sijin nodded obediently and left.

Jian Yao explained the reason they had come. Wen Rong took the ready-made gauze bandages and other items from the cupboard and gave them to them, as well as enough oral medicines for a few days. Jian Yao accepted this with a smile.

“Do you often have patients?” Bo Jinyan asked suddenly.

Without looking up, Wen Rong replied, “It's hard to say. Sometimes there are many, and sometimes just a little.”

Bo Jinyan asked, “What is your patient like?”

Wen Rong smiled and said, “All kinds of people. A doctor can't choose his patient.”

“You also have a villain like that guy now?”

Wen Rong's hands stopped what they were doing. Staring at Bo Jinyan, her gaze was clear and deep, like water, and it was impossible to tell whether she was angry or happy. He asked, “Who are you?”

Jian Yao looked at them without speaking.

The corner of Bo Jinyan's mouth lifted slowly as she said, “What kind of person can come to this place?”

Wen Rong paused for a moment before saying, “Whether it's a good or a bad person, I'm a doctor. Since I'm already here, I just want to save lives.”

Neither Jian Yao nor Bo Jinyan spoke any further.

Wen Rong was silent. He replied, “You can take a boat from the dock. The pier is owned by Boss Sun. ”

Bo Jinyan asked, “How do we find Boss Sun?”

Wen Rong said, “He also manages the guesthouse, it is in the most western part of the city.”

Bo Jinyan nodded and said, “Thank you very much.” Qiu Sijin noticed that Wen Rong was escorting them away, so he went back to the inner room to do whatever he did. Supported by Jian Yao, Bo Jinyan took two steps forward, then paused for a moment and turned her head to say, “Doctor, please take good care of yourself.”

Wen Rong froze for a moment, seemingly moved. Then, he smiled, nodded, and said, “Yes, you guys too. If you need help while you're here, remember to look for me. ”

After they walked some distance away, Jian Yao said, “This guy looks fine.”

Bo Jinyan did not say anything, so Jian Yao did not continue the conversation.

Slowly, they walked to the westernmost part of the small town. They saw an old building with gray walls and white tiles, looking somewhat cleaner and fresher than most inns. The roof is full of greenery that adds vitality to the scene. On the board it says ‘ Ruyi * Inn’.

*T/N (ruyi) – as you wish, as you wish. One of the most popular Chinese New Year sayings is (wan shi ru yi) which roughly translates to ‘may all you want be achieved’.

They stood at the corner of the street and looked at the inn. The walls on both sides of the inn were like a pair of hands, extending backwards into the distance, as if protecting everything within it, or hiding it. From the outside, the inn looks very quiet, only occasionally seen a figure. Nothing can be seen clearly.

Jian Yao said, “Are we really going to go?”

“Ya,” Bo Jinyan replied coldly. “The most important transportation tool in this small town is through water. If the Buddha Hand was here, then the transportation route would definitely be under their control. Because they have noticed our arrival, in a meticulous and ruthless way of doing things that their organization has been doing for years, even though they may not confirm our identity, he said, they won't let us off easily. If we don't do anything, we'd better sit and wait for death. However, did you forget my identity coming here?

Jian Yao looked at him.

Bo Jinyan smiled and said, “Smiling Snake escaped death and personally brought that information to the Buddha's Hands, why did you kill him?”

Jian Yao hesitated for a moment before exclaiming, “That's too risky!”

He said, “A child who takes risks will have candy to eat.”

Jian Yao was momentarily at a loss for words. Then, he said, “Be careful with everything. If anything happens, stand behind me. Whether for better or worse, right now, my skills are much better than yours. ”

He repeated his words earlier. Bo Jinyan squeezed her hand and said lightly, “Oke.”

They walked into the inn. However, even though they were perceptive and intelligent, they had no way of observing what was happening both inside and outside the inn. How many pairs of eyes, whether cruel, suspicious, insulting, or curious, were trained on them at this time?

Through the entrance there is a living room located in the garden*, and there is even a bridge installed above the small river. Some men were sitting on one side of the porch, playing cards. After hearing them enter, they all turned to look at them. Sitting behind the bar table on the wall was another man with his drink half-raised. He looked at them with slightly narrowed eyes, and suddenly smiled.

*T/N (hua ting) – lighted.flower hall. Refers to the living room outside the lobby of an old-style house, usually located in a courtyard or garden.

The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became a few degrees more tense and awkward. It was as if the normally calm water of the lake had finally been interrupted by a gentle breeze, and everyone's shadow became blurred.

Bo Jinyan walked over to the bar counter and said, “We want a room.”

The man behind the bar table was about 34 or 35 years old, tall and pale, and wore glasses. His face was beaming, and he looked extremely delicate. He said, “Ah, okay, for how many days?”

“Three days are enough.”

He did not ask for their identity card but simply took his money, directly gave them the room, and gave them the room card before smiling faintly and saying, “I hope you have a pleasant stay here.”

Meanwhile, Jian Yao very calmly observed everyone present. Fang Qing once said that ‘qi’* highly skilled experts are always real. At this moment, Jian Yao gradually sensed this. He could sense that everyone in the room was not a simple character. If taken together, he was absolutely no match for them.

*T/N (qi) – vital energy, life force. In traditional Chinese belief, qi is a vital force that forms part of every living thing, its flow must be balanced for health. Read more here.

Bo Jinyan said, “Thank you.” Holding Jian Yao's hand, he took two steps forward then turned his head to say, “That's right, I wonder if you can bring a message for me.”

The pale man looked at them.