Guo Baiyu had been taking care of those seriously injured all morning, taking only a brief break for tea. His entire apron was covered with blood. Some patients' conditions were too severe, and Guo Baiyu could not help them. He only gave them painkillers and asked their families to stay with them until they passed away peacefully. As a doctor, this situation had always been difficult for his heart.
He recalled the scene when he first came to Peach Blossom Valley. He had wanted to learn everything from Zhao Renshu, to fight alongside him and become another great hunter. When they expanded the bedroom, he found a storage box full of the journals of the late Master Zhao and a magical bow and sword, gathering dust with time.
Once he started reading, he couldn't stop. Master Zhao's teachings were unimaginable. One paragraph written in Master Zhao's journal, in particular, changed his idea of becoming a hunter. Master Zhao wrote: "Don't judge anything by just looking at it. A person's appearance does not tell us whether it's good or bad. We should treat all life in the way we want to be treated. All life in this universe is created equally in the eyes of heaven."
These words changed his mind, transforming him from someone who merely wanted to be another great hunter to a hunter who was always willing to help all lives, regardless of their origin. He understood and followed Master Zhao's teaching. Many times he was mistaken for Master Zhao himself. This is why many, both living and dead, praised and feared the Guozhao Hunters.
"Doctor Guozhao," a maid said, approaching him respectfully, "Mayor Lim wants you to have dinner at his residence tonight because of the hard work you have done today."
Guo Baiyu smiled, a gentle warmth in his eyes. "Young maiden, please tell Mayor Lim that I still have many people whose wounds I need to tend. Please ask him to forgive me this time."
"Young master, I will pass your message to the mayor," the maid replied, her cheeks slightly flushed from his smile.
Guo Baiyu's smile widened. "Thank you."
Zhao Renshu smiled and walked in, "Hey, handsome guy, stop flirting with this young maid!" Following him was Ping'an, carrying a basket in her right hand.
The embarrassed maid, blushing furiously, quickly excused herself. "Excuse me, I'm asking for leave now," she stammered, then took off quickly.
Guo Baiyu shook his head at Zhao Renshu's silly comment. He sighed, but happily, "You don't have to embarrass her."
"I am an honest person!" Zhao Renshu protested his innocence. "You need to lessen your smile!" He looked at Guo Baiyu. "Ah... Go wash your hands and take off that bloody apron. How the hell are you going to eat smelling like blood?" He made a teasing, disgusted expression on his face at Guo Baiyu. "Quickly, you smell awful!"
Guo Baiyu shook his head, a fond exasperation on his face. He got up and went out to wash his hands while Ping'an put the food on the table. Guo Baiyu walked back inside the open room and sat beside Ping'an. The lovers ate and chatted happily at the dining table.
Meanwhile, at Mayor Lim's residence, the mayor hit his hand on the table, a frown creasing his brow. "What do you say?"
"Doctor Guozhao said he has a lot of wounded people that still need his services," the maid reported. "He sincerely apologizes for not being able to eat dinner tonight."
Mayor Lim frowned madly. "He doesn't even show me face!"
"Don't be angry," Lim Peizhi said, trying to calm his father. "Remember that he is helping your citizens for free."
"But I look forward to meeting him and discussing your sister's wedding with him!" Mayor Lim complained. "We also cooked a lot of food."
"Father, please," Lim Yuehai interjected, a plan forming. "I'll bring him some food. It's like eating with us."
"This is a good idea," Madam Lim agreed. "Maid, prepare some food for the young lady."
"Yes, Madam Lim," the maid replied.
Back at the small clinic, Zhao Renshu complained, "Once a month is not too bad. If we have to eat vegetables every day, I will rather die."
"Eating vegetables is not a bad thing," Guo Baiyu countered mildly.
"You don't have to eat it," Ping'an offered, a small smile on her face.
"We promised to share all the difficulties together," Zhao Renshu said dramatically, then stuffed a piece of squash into his mouth, making a face. "What is she doing here?"
Lim Yuehai and two maids approached at the door, carrying several dishes.
"Childe Guozhao," Lim Yuehai smiled, her voice sweet, "You cannot make it to dinner, so we brought you dinner."
"I have told the maid why I can't attend the dinner," Guo Baiyu replied, a hint of weariness in his voice.
Lim Yuehai sat on a chair, her gaze falling upon the three plain vegetable dishes already on the table.
Lim Yuehai said to her maids, "Put the dishes on the table."
The two maids moved the plain vegetable dishes to one side and placed three new, more elaborate dishes on the table.
"Lady Lim," Guo Baiyu stated gently, "today we eat only vegetables."
"I'm sorry. I don't know," Lim Yuehai apologized, embarrassed. "How about letting the maid cook new dishes?"
"It's okay, don't blame yourself," Guo Baiyu reassured her. "We don't eat meat on the fifteenth day of the month."
A nurse rushed in, her face panicked. "Doctor Guozhao, Doctor Guozhao," she stammered, almost out of breath, "one of the patients is bleeding heavily! Doctor Lo can't stop the bleeding!"
Guo Baiyu looked at Ping'an, his expression regretful. "I'm sorry, I can't stay to finish dinner with you."
Ping'an smiled at him, her understanding clear. "Go and do what you have to do."
Guo Baiyu and the nurse ran out together through the front door, leaving the dishes untouched.
"Ping'an, are you and Baiyu close?" Lim Yuehai asked, her voice cautious, after Guo Baiyu left.
"Very close. Why?" Zhao Renshu replied to Lim Yuehai, a protective edge in his voice.
"You two heard what I told my brother at that time," Lim Yuehai murmured, a hint of accusation.
Zhao Renshu scoffed. "Yes, we heard loud and clear. It's in your best interest if you quit now."
"Does he have a lover?" Lim Yuehai pressed, ignoring Zhao Renshu's warning.
"No, he has no lover," Zhao Renshu stated firmly. "He has a wife, and he loves his wife very much. There is no place in his heart for another woman. Do you remember what he said to you on the day of the competition? He is not qualified." He waved at the maids. "Bring the food back! We are going to eat vegetables tonight!"
Lim Yuehai stood up angrily, her face flushing.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Lim, tell your father to give up his idea. It will save him and you some humiliation," Zhao Renshu scoffed shaking his head.
Lim Yuehai and the two maids, thoroughly humiliated, quickly departed.
"Do you have to be that straightforward?" Ping'an asked, a soft rebuke in her voice.
"I have always been very frank," Zhao Renshu retorted. "I did not use metaphors like Baiyu. Now I understand why Guo men don't like him. Everyone falls in love with him."
Ping'an smiled. "Don't be so self-pity, some people fall in love with you."
Zhao Renshu pinched her cheek playfully. "I know, you."
"I mean, Miss Huang Hongse," Ping'an corrected, a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Zhao Renshu sighed, a dramatic groan escaping him. "Ping'an, don't make fun of me. I am not going to be involved in another Hu Qingge's situation." He shook his head. "I remind myself every day, I will never make you cry again because of my stupidity."
"You heard the Goddess that if..." Ping'an began, her voice softening.
Zhao Renshu cut her off. "Loud and clear, and don't care." He stuffed more vegetables into his mouth. "Today, I feel that the vegetables taste extra delicious. Since it's late, should we spend the night here?"
"I don't know if they have enough space," Ping'an mused.
"Let me ask," Zhao Renshu declared. "Since it's free, we don't have to spend money. We can stay here until Baiyu decides to leave."
Ping'an shook her head, a fond exasperation on her face. "You surely know how to take advantage of others."
Zhao Renshu raised his brows at Ping'an in amusement, then raised his hand to touch his chin, acting like one of the old scholars he saw on the street. He quoted, "If a piece of gold was tossed at you and you don't reach out your hand to catch it, you could only blame yourself for letting that piece of gold slip through your fingers." He chuckled, looking at Ping'an. "Maybe I should grow a beard."