Heretic Doctor Zihou

The doors to his compound were shut tight and the surroundings cleanly swept. However, the gra.s.s growing before the door was overly green and fresh, making the compound, which was already at a remote location, look even more desolate.

But above the door was an old, battered plaque with the words "Flying Winds Court" in a bold calligraphy style. Every stroke of the brush portrayed the calligrapher"s lofty ambitions then.

Rising straight into the clouds with the aid of flying winds, to explore heights beyond imagination. This person hoped that he could become one of those mythical giant Rocs who could fly miles and miles across the sky. What great dreams and bold ambitions did this person possess?

Nonetheless, no matter how high one"s aspirations went, one"s body could only go so far. When a person"s grand ambitions were thwarted by the cruel realities of life—how should one come to terms with that?

Zihou paused for a moment, before stepping up to knock on the door. But before her knuckles had even touched the door, someone walked out from inside.

It was a manservant with a broom in his hands, who had obviously just finished cleaning up inside and was getting ready to leave. He was stunned by the sight of Zihou and momentarily forgot to react.

"How can you be so rude, not greeting Young Mistress even when she is right before you." Yer immediately prompted when she saw the manservant still in an unmoving trance.

"Young… Young Mistress…" The man obviously had a great shock, his face still held a dazed look. He stammered nervously before kneeling on the ground pleadingly. "I didn"t recognize Young Mistress, please forgive me." The person was overwhelmed with astonishment. When did their Young Mistress become such a lovely fairy?

"It"s alright, you can leave." Zihou waved calmly. She then thought of something and asked, "Is Young Master inside?"

"Young Master was summoned by the head of the family to the grand hall."

Grand hall?

"Yu, please just promise your mother that you will go. That person has miraculous medical skills and will definitely be able to cure your legs!"

"Yes, Yu. Please believe in your father once more!"

"My child, take it that your grandfather is begging you!"

They heard countless pleas and frustrated voices before they even came near the grand hall. Zihou slowed down her footsteps on hearing the words. Her face was grave and thoughtful.

"Grandfather, Father, Mother. Forget it. It has been five years. I no longer have any hope." No matter what was said, Wei Ziyu maintained his placid expression.

No amount of reason or persuasion was able to move Wei Ziyu. The three of them held bitter looks as they sighed in exasperation. Zhao Xinrou had even lowered her head in quiet sobs.

A bizarre atmosphere descended over the entire grand hall.

"Grandfather, Father, Mother…" Zihou put on a wide smile as she entered the grand hall.

Inside the grand hall, Wei Guoting was sitting in the main seat with a dark, grim expression and bloodshot eyes. Zhao Xinrou and Wei s.h.i.+rong were sitting on his left and right. One with a face full of bitter sorrow and the other with her head lowered and sobbing. On hearing Zihou"s voice, the bunch of them suppressed their emotions and struggled to plaster on normal smiles.

Zihou surveyed the group before her gaze fell on the young man sitting in a wheelchair on the right side of the hall.

Clad in a long white robe, he was an extraordinarily handsome man but was very skinny with a pale complexion. His features were calm and aloof as if he was above all worldly desires. But on closer look, hidden inside those profound eyes were indescribable pain and suffering.

This person was indeed like his name. He was like a piece of jade, pure and pristine.

In her vague memories, this brother doted on her when she was very young. He loved carrying her on his back and playing with her.

"Brother." Zihou beamed in Wei Ziyu"s direction and greeted him affectionately.

It was as if he didn"t recognize Zihou or was shocked by her warm greeting. Wei Ziyu remained in a daze, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

"Has brother forgotten about me? I"m Hou-er." Zihou went forward and knelt down, placing her hands intimately on Ziyu"s lap.

The young lady before him was enchantingly gorgeous and smiling radiantly. A distant image surfaced in his mind"s eye.

In this memory, the little girl was also very beautiful. She called him brother and pestered him to carry her as they ran, to give her the feeling of flying. Where had that memory gone? He had already forgotten.

"You are… little sister?" Wei Ziyu gazed into Zihou"s eyes as he asked in a low voice. He held a wondrous expression, but his tone was firm.

"I have not seen you for a number of years… I never expected you to have grown up so much. I couldn"t even recognize you." Wei Ziyu gave a faint smile. He stroked the top of Zihou"s head with one pale hand, his affectionate tone full of brotherly love.

His manner was exactly the same as before.

For some people and some relations.h.i.+ps, no matter how much time pa.s.sed, they would remain the same as always, never-changing.

"Girl, why have you come here?" A sliver of warmth entered Wei Guoting"s sharp, haggard eyes as he watched Zihou, who at this point looked like a phoenix reborn. His stern face softened slightly into a faint smile.

"If I didn"t come over, you all would have chased brother away." Zihou got up frowning and looked at Wei Guoting with an incredulous expression.

"Hou-er, it"s not that we want to chase Ziyu away, but your brother needs to treat his leg injuries." Zhao Xinrou wiped the corner of her eye as she hastily explained to Zihou.

"Are brother"s leg injuries very grave?" Zihou turned to look at Wei Ziyu with a vague expression.

"Yes." Wei Ziyu nodded with a bitter smile. "My legs will never be cured! I will never be able to carry you flying through the air again…" With that, Wei Ziyu lowered his head with a self-mocking laugh. The calm look on his face contrasted deeply with the desolation in his eyes.

He had once held such lofty aspirations, swearing that he would soar high into the skies one day. But now, his wings were broken, how to reconcile this bitter fact?

Of course, he had not wanted to accept it at first. But after so many years, his futile hopes had already turned into disappointment and despair.

"Who said brother"s legs cannot be cured?"

A confident voice broke into Wei Ziyu"s gloomy reverie. Everyone else was also momentarily startled.

Wei Ziyu looked at Zihou with a shocked expression.

The young lady looked so poised and smiled with such a.s.surance that just for a moment there, he nearly believed her. But the moment pa.s.sed and he shook his head. He had sought out countless famous doctors, but none of their treatments worked.

As for the other three adults, they recovered from their shock and proceeded to disregard Zihou"s words. They took it that she was just trying to comfort her brother.

It had been so many years and they had spent so much money on so many renowned doctors, but their Ziyu"s legs remained the same. Meanwhile, Zihou had grown up before their eyes, they would have known if she possessed any medical knowledge.

"In the future, there"s no need to seek out any more supposedly-famous doctors. There"s also no need to send Brother anywhere for treatment. I guarantee you that within half a year, I can have Brother as good as before!"

Her gorgeous face was confident and regal. She looked completely unflappable and dazzled with a glorious air of a.s.sertiveness.

She had been a phenomenal doctor with astounding skills in her previous life. The medical skills possessed by her and Mo Jun were the peak of their professions, and they had won countless medical victories. She had immediately diagnosed Wei Ziyu"s problem the moment she touched his legs. Actually, his condition was serious, but not totally beyond hope.

He would never be cured if they only relied on medicines. That was why his legs never got better even after so many years.

But with her own special methods, she believed that it would only be a matter of time before Wei Ziyu"s legs would go back to normal. However, the patient"s unquestioning cooperation was required, as the treatment process would be quite painful. It would be a test of his patience and endurance.

"Girl, are you being serious?" Wei Guoting was so excited he stood up and looked at Zihou with eyes full of hope. In the past, he would never have believed her, but after seeing Zihou"s own miraculous transformation, he somehow believed this granddaughter of his could perform miracles.

"Of course!" Zihou raised her brows confidently. She stood in front of Wei Ziyu and knelt down again. She clasped his hands and said a.s.sertively, "As long as Brother cooperates with my treatment process, I guarantee that he will recover completely. I will help Brother rise straight into the clouds together with the flying winds, to explore heights beyond imagination!"

At this point, Wei Ziyu could feel his frozen insides starting to crack, as the ice entrapping his heart melted from the warm light of hope. His breathing deepened and a reddish tinge spread across his pale face. All the hidden pains in his eyes started to flow out in the form of tears.

His promised future was now unfurling before him. Through the mottled sands of time, he could already see the day when his wings would finally spread out, all ready to soar high into the skies!

And that day would come soon!