Qin Feng watched Yun Ying gallop away on her horse, feeling a sense of loss. Her expression had been grim, which he assumed was because she didn’t want to part ways with him.

********

After leaving Qin Feng, Yun Ying traveled toward Huzhou, a solitary figure on the road.

However, she journeyed almost like a walking corpse. She stopped at inns when night fell and set out again at dawn, eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty, but her mind was consumed by the black and red wooden box.

After leaving Qin Feng, she had made a firm resolution. ’I will *not* give this box to Juhua.’

But when night fell and she settled into an inn, she agonized over it and came to a new decision. She should just give the box to Juhua after all. ’If Senior Brother truly likes her, what’s the point of me standing in the way? Besides, I’ve always followed my father, practicing medicine honorably to save lives. I’ve never done anything to trouble my conscience. If I disregard Senior Brother’s trust and keep this box, I’m afraid I’ll never have a moment’s peace.’

At dawn, she spurred her horse south toward Huzhou, leaving villages and market towns behind her one by one. But the closer she got to Huzhou, the more tormented she felt, until she gritted her teeth and decided once more: she could not give the box to Juhua.

’Senior Brother is mine! No one is going to steal him from me!’

’Can I really not even win against some ugly country girl?’

That evening, she stopped at an inn in a small market town. She haphazardly ordered two steamed buns and a pot of tea, chewing without tasting a thing.

The face of Master Yun appeared in her mind, his words echoing. "Ying’er, the most important thing for us healers is to have a kind heart..."

That night, she lay in bed, tossing and turning and muttering to herself, "Give it to her? Or not?"

She had also stared at the simple wooden box countless times, wondering if she should open it and see what was inside. If she just knew its contents, she could finally make a decision.

But this simplest, easiest path was also the one she found most difficult to choose.

If she opened it and it wasn’t some token of affection, her hesitation would vanish. But what if it was? How could she possibly face her Senior Brother after that?

The image of Qin Feng’s handsome face, slightly embarrassed and flushed, appeared in her mind, and she lost every last bit of courage to open the box.

It was as if not opening it meant she still had hope. If she opened it, all her hopes would be shattered.

’If it really is a love token, then even if I don’t give it to Juhua, even if I fight for him and manage to keep Senior Brother by my side, could I ever be with him like before, without a sliver of resentment between us?’

’No! I won’t take that risk!’

’I don’t want a thorn lodged in my heart for the rest of my life—one that could never be pulled out or removed.’

And so, tormented by her inner demons, Yun Ying completely forgot to apply the medicinal lotion Qin Feng had prepared. Her face and neck gradually returned to their natural color, and despite her coarse cloth garments, her radiant beauty could not be concealed.

However, she remained completely oblivious, still muddle-headedly trapped in her dilemma. So much so that when she reached Qinghui County and took a boat down the Qinghui River toward Xiatang Market, she ended up staying on it all the way to Linhuzhou.

When she arrived in Linhuzhou and asked around, no one had ever heard of Xiatang Market.

After asking many people, she finally found someone who knew. They told her she had overshot her destination; she should have turned into a tributary of the Qinghui River midway to reach Xiatang Market.

She sighed and turned back to try again.

By the time she stood on the pier at Erli Village in Xiatang Market and gazed at the humble little market town, her heart began to pound uncontrollably—

she was one step closer to Juhua.

’Should I really give her the box? Or not?’

She led her horse, walking slowly toward the market town while lost in her painful thoughts.

She stopped in front of a small shop called "Fuxi Grocery Store." After a moment’s hesitation, she approached the Xiao Er inside and asked, "Excuse me, young man, can you tell me how to get to Qingnan Village?"

This Xiao Er was, of course, Laixi.

He was dazzled by the beautiful young man—that’s right, *beautiful*. It took him a moment to recover before he smiled and said, "Qingnan Village, you say? Just head straight for a bit. There’s a dirt road that leads toward the mountains. You’ll spot it right away, can’t miss it."

Yun Ying listened, gave him a casual smile, then turned, mounted her horse, and headed in the direction he had pointed.

Laixi was completely mesmerized by her smile. ’How strange,’ he thought to himself. ’How can a boy be so darn handsome!’

The ten-or-so *li* journey was over in the blink of an eye on horseback.

Seated on her horse, Yun Ying gazed at the village before her. She remembered her Senior Brother’s words: to get to Juhua’s house, she had to pass through this village and head for the mountainside. She took a deep breath, flicked the reins, gently squeezed her legs against the horse’s belly, and rode into the village.

She had calmed down by now. ’In any case, I’m about to meet this Juhua. I’ll decide whether to give her the box when the time comes.’

It was just after lunchtime, so the village was not bustling. Those who worked the fields were already out, while those at home had just finished their midday meal and had little else to do but some needlework.

Strangers weren’t an unusual sight in the village, but a stranger on horseback was a rarity. The local dogs immediately took offense to this uncommon creature, and a chorus of WOOFs and BARKs erupted.

They didn’t dare approach and block the tall creature, so they settled for yapping wildly at the horse’s heels, causing some villagers to step out of their homes to see what the commotion was about.

Once inside the village, Yun Ying was made dizzy by the web of small paths, unsure of which way to go. Seeing a sturdy, honest-looking village woman emerge from a courtyard, she quickly reined in her horse and asked, "Ma’am, could you please tell me how to get to Juhua’s house?"

The village woman looked her up and down in surprise before pointing in a certain direction. "Head that way, toward the mountainside. Once you leave the village, you’ll see their courtyard. They’re the only family living by the mountain, so it’s easy to spot."

Yun Ying thanked her and urged her horse onward.

The village woman shushed her dog and watched the rider’s retreating figure, puzzled for a long moment before she went back inside.

After leaving the village, Yun Ying did indeed see a house with blue-green bricks and black tiles by the side of the mountain.