While JinGe was in danger, chased around by the angry mob that demanded her life, YongSan was present all the whole while. He was watching the whole performance being played out, hidden behind the shadows.

The man was nervous, he gripped upon the ledge when he saw how they was setting the stage on fire. He was anxious, but someone was with him. His hands were tied.

The little girl spoke, "Don't you dare save her."

She was sipping some tea beside him, a little girl with two little buns tied to her head and the rest falling off her shoulders in curly waves.

"We only came to watch," said the young girl.

YongSan did not say anything in reply.

"I just scared that you would break your promise," continued the girl when he remained silent.

"MuLing, you are not doing me a favour, you are threatening me," said YongSan as his heart grew with uneasy with every second passing by as he looked upon poor JinGe.

"I am doing a favour for you. I am helping you to choose. Laid back and just enjoy the show," said the girl with glee in her eyes.

YongSan watched it from beginning to the end, and he did not think that it will end in such a way. With the merchants saving JinGe but that face that girl.

"It was no doubt YuQiao," thought YongSan as he remembered the snicker from before. "She clearly recognized me."

After his encounter with the veiled girl, he was restless and had ordered his head servant to find out everything there is about the girl.

"Is she the girl I met at the teahouse? She seems to be friendly with JinGe but JinGe had said... She was just a new hired person to take care of the boys. Is she being lied to?" thought ZhenYu, as took a cup from table but his hand still shook from the shock.

Unable to stop it, he threw the cup on the floor.

"YuQiao, is it her? Has she finally come back? Or this girl just looks similar like her. I have suspected JinGe before because she acted so similar to YuQiao," thought YongSan.

Every movement of her reminded him about YuQiao. The more time he spent with JinGe, the more in love he is with her. The familiar way she walked, the way she talked, the way she smiled. Everything just simply resembled YuQiao in every way.

"But now this girl," said YongSan out loud.

She was the exact replica of YuQiao and the way she smiled at him just now. "It's as if she knew me," he mumbled.

Numerous questions kept appearing in his mind and he was troubled by it. He can't sit nor stand, waiting for his head servant to come back but no matter what, "I need her. I will revive YuQiao."

Moments later his head servant had come back and knocked on the door, seeing that there was no response. The man opened it and saw the General sitting there on the chair, with his hand on his forehead as he frowned.

He was deep in thought; the head servant had to call him several times, before YongSan looked upwards. His face lightened up slightly, "Ah yes, head servant."

The man nodded and then waited for YongSan's gesture to allow him to speak. YongSan waved his hand, and the man began.

"General, I have followed the girl. The girl that you seek is called Su YanRong. Currently, she is a dancer working with the brothel that we have hired to prepare the banquet, XiuFengLou (XiuFeng Building)."

"Ah yes, the banquet," stated YongSan.

The servant continued, "The woman arrived here not too long ago. She was hired by the Dancing Merchants and since the Dancing Merchant is cooperating with the XiuFengLou. She now worked under XiuFengLou. The girl's background requires more time."

YongSan understand that time is required to gather information, and he nodded. Once again, he waved his hand to make him leave.

The old head servant hesitated and asked, "Master... would you like some flower tea? It would help ease your anxiousness."

"No!" said YongSan angrily. "Do you think I have the time to leisurely drink tea."

After serving the General for so long, the servant had never seen the General sudden burst of anger. He was always very calm and collected and it scared the old man which made the old servant left quickly.

Wish

As the door closed, YongSan anger subsided, he hadn't intended to scold the old man for his good intentions, but the mention of the flower tea had made him angry. "YuQiao love to add flowers into their tea. The tea consume by everyone in the Sun's family was prepared by her," thought YongSan.

He could still remember how she said, "My father loves the tea I brew for him. I always added jasmine into his tea because he doesn't like anything with a strong flavor. My mother loves lotus flower. For my sick brother, I added chrysanthemum for him as it would be good for his lungs. And for you SanGeGe, you are special. I added a blend of flowers in your tea."

Till this day, the tea she made for him was special. He had never ever tasted that same taste anymore.

That was not all; he remembered that day after military training and practice.

YuQiao had visited him that day, but waiting too long for him, she had fallen asleep at the side of the tree. The snacks contained inside the basket she bought with her, was already cold. But he still sat next to her and opened the basket which she held tightly even though she was asleep.

He opened the cover and everything inside was the things he liked to eat.

He took one and ate it, feeling a bit of happiness in each bite. Her head leaned onto his shoulder, and he looked at her peaceful sleeping face under the evening glow.

"How long are you going to stare?" asked the girl suddenly.

"You are awake?" asked YongSan who tried to act calm.

"Yes. For quite a while, you weren't the quietest eater," said the girl with a glee. She was always quite cheerful and childish.

"You just like to tease me," said YongSan with a smile.

"Are the snacks delicious?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. A gentle breeze blew past them and messed up YuQiao's hair. YongSan gently swept her hair back in place with his hand and while he was at it, YuQiao asked him, "SanGeGe, what is your wish?"

"Probably, becoming a general in the future and getting rich and famous," laughed half-jokingly YongSan. "How about you, what did you want?"

YuQiao smiled her eyes still closed, he did not understand her back then but then she said to him, "Umm, nothing. It was just a simple wish."

"You probably wanted a beautiful hairpin, right? The same one you saw at the market last time. Maybe I could get it for you. Let's go the market later," said YongSan trying to direct her attention to other things.

She nodded and then she stretched, and he held the basket.

The young couple walked down that little path, dye with golden sunset with a field of lovely chrysanthemums growing at the side.

He regretted back then, that he didn't ask her for her wish. "What was YuQiao's wish back then?"

Confront

JinGe parted ways with JiuTian and went back to the hideout. "It seems the others had not arrived yet," thought JinGe as it was dark at the hideout; she had taken a shortcut and went back first.

JinGe went into the room where the twins were sleeping. Seeing they were sleeping peacefully; she was at ease. However, when she wanted to close the door, one of the boys woke up, "Ah Niang (Mother)."

From how she was called, she knew instantly it was the smaller one. He was the baby between the twins. She went back inside and tucked him into bed. The boy turned in him sleep and she patted his back, and it calmed him down and he fell back into sleep.

JinGe whispered a good night into their ear and gave them each a kiss on the cheek and went back to her room and replenished the moon essence in her body.

After fully absorbing all the moon essence into her body, the glow subsided, feeling better, she took out the plum blossom box which JianYu had given to her. She opened it and removed the clear vial from the box. She placed it into her sleeve and went out again by herself as she changed into a wolf and ran across the city and reached the outskirts of the city.

JinGe walked down the path, and in the middle of it, she met with JianYu. The moon shone brightly under the sky as the clouds cleared away.

"Hand over the bottle," said JianYu at JinGe who was in her beautiful white wolf form.

She growled at him.

"Now, JinGe," ordered her master.

JinGe transformed back into a human and said to him, "You have no right over this bottle. It is mine. You had given it to me."

"Not for you to use it foolishly."

"I am helping people," argued JinGe. The man sighed as he looked down on the ground.

Before he could say anything to scold JinGe, she told him, "I saw at the town square. You were chanting a spell."

He looked up and stared at her but stayed silent.

"You were the one who bribed the Taoist master," said JinGe.

JianYu wanted to say something, but he was intruded by JinGe, "Do not deny it, JiuTian saw you that day. I did not want to believe it... but I saw you myself today with a black coat woman. I felt like the time we spent together was just a lie. Who are you? I do not know you anymore."

"JinGe, I-"

"I heard what you were talking about with that black coat woman. You were talking about how you kill my mother, Mei ZhongYue. I could not believe you. At first, I cannot remember the name but then slowly the name came back to me. ZhongYue was my mother. How could you?" said JinGe as she looked away.

The girl could not look the man in the face anymore. There was anger boiling within her and also betrayal, snaking around her neck, choking her. "How could he?" she thought.

JianYu reached out his hand but then thought better of it and retracted it.

"Tell me... That it's not the truth. I will believe you if you say it," said JinGe.

But he stayed silent.

She intentionally bumped into his shoulder and as she passed him, JinGe said, "Thank you for taking care of me for these five years but this is goodbye."

While he said in return, "Make it rain."

JinGe hurried to the temple while JianYu stood far apart. Watching with a worried expression as JinGe's shadow trailing behind the lonely pebbles road until the moon hid it away. His black robe flapped under the autumn wind, and he was once again casted in the darkness.

Upon reaching the temple ground, she went inside, and just as she had expected, everyone hadn't gone back to the hideout instead came here.

JinGe saw ZhiMei, Ah Zhong and the rest of the dancers. They were helping around; some tended the fire while some were helping the patients.

However, the number of people seeking the cure had increased.

Hearing about the cure, many who are ill came to the deserted temple. The courtyard which was empty just a while before was half filled and there were more people coming. She recognized some of them as the people from the crowd.

When she looked at them, the people instantly looked away. "They must be ashamed to look at me," thought JinGe. She wanted to approach them but thought better of it instead.

While she was hesitating, Ah Zhong saw JinGe. He took a deep breath and came over and said, "You just make me lose money. I bet you wouldn't come here."

ZhiMei who caught sight of JinGe from inside came out and greeted her, warmly, "DaJie."

JinGe smiled warmly at ZhiMei, "You must have made a bet with Ah Zhong again."

ZhiMei smiled shyly and they both understood each other.

"Yes, so pay up Ah Zhong. I won," stated ZhiMei as she asked Ah Zhong for the money. Begrudgingly, Ah Zhong took out his money pouch and counted the money.

"Where is the doctor?" asked JinGe.

"She is at the back. Come let me take you to her," said ZhiMei after taking the coins from Ah Zhong's hand.

"DaJie, you should rest more. We are here. You can leave the jobs here to us," said Ah Zhong as he followed behind them as ZhiMei led the way to the doctor.

"Yes, the girls and I have already finished all our sewing and until Brother Dao and ShiBa comes back with the extra cloth and necessities. We are free," added ZhiMei.

"I am just checking here. I promise you guys that I would be doing any work," said JinGe.

They finally arrived at the back, where they were tables set up with all sorts of medicinal herbs and plants.

"Doctor Yip," called out JinGe to the female doctor and she also noticed that LiRen was there as well. He was at his mother's side crushing some herbs as the woman gave him the instructions.

"LiRen," said JinGe to the young scholar.

The young man put down his tools and turned around, "Yes, I came to help my mother since JiuTian seems well enough. 'Getting' the cure is more important."

As he looked over his shoulder where JiuTian was already fast asleep in a makeshift bed.

"How are you?" he asked her.

"I am alright," stated JinGe and then looking over to the female doctor. "May I help you? I am really fine."

ZhiMei sighed. It's just as she expected.

"JinGe just could not help herself from tiring herself out. Her way to avoid problems with work," thought ZhiMei. However, ZhiMei did not go and stop JinGe because everyone at the temple had already agreed that they would deny the girl any work, even the most menial tasks are disallowed.

Doctor Yip grabbed hold onto JinGe's hands in her own hands, "Dear child you should rest. It's been a long night. See, you haven't even changed your clothes," said the woman as she looked at the ashen clothes she still wore.

Only when the woman had spoken of it that JinGe noticed that her white clothes were stained with burns marks from the fire.

"I will change and helped."

Doctor Yip continued, "You should really rest. You are not alone in this fight. All the help I need is already here. Look around."

JinGe did as she told and she was surprised as all the members of the merchant troupe was here, FuHan and ZhuQian were carrying buckets of water around, DanDan was distributing some porridge to the patients while some were holding onto some ragged cloths, cleaning around but there were all there.

Even BuDao and ShiBa had come to help. In their hands, they were carrying around baskets of dried medicinal herbs.

JinGe smiled and can't help but felt somewhat amazed by their behavior.

Doctor Yip let go of her and ordered everyone, "We will work hard and come out with the cure."

"Yes," said everyone in unison.

BuDao can't help it and added, "We will not let any member of our group to break a promise."

"Yes," shouted everyone again.

"Good, got back to your workstations," said BuDao and everyone went back to work with a fiery fighting spirit.

"You see, you really can depend on others," said the woman and JinGe nodded.

JinGe went out from the place and sat at the courtyard of the temple, there at the center was an old tree. It reminded her of the old temple where she met LiQin.

"They are really dependable," thought JinGe. "However, in this short time they could never get the cure. I will use the vial to help them."

JinGe looked around and found a spot underneath the tree where the rubble built around the tree was still intact and sat on it. She looked up at the moon through the low hanging branches of the tree. It was beautiful, as the moon shine its light upon her pale skin. She tried to absorb more of the moon's essence.

JinGe who was too tired did not notice as LiRen walked up to her. Only when he sat next to her that she noticed him.

"You do not need to push yourself too hard. It's not your fault. The citizens were just muddled by nonsense," said LiRen as he crouched next to her leg.

She looked at him, but he was looking at the distance.

"I know you are dying but you do not need to push yourself. I will cure you and then you would have time to help them later. There would be plenty of time to do what you want," said LiRen confidently.

And then he looked up at her while she at him. It was the second time that night that she saw a whole different LiRen but if she counted that time at the side of the hideout pond, then it would be the third time.

The LiRen in front of her was different; a person brimming with confidence, brave, athletic, strict but gentle at the same time. It's as if he had shown her another side which he had kept hidden all the time.

The young scholar always took her by surprise at precise moments. She wasn't disappointed that night.

He reached close enough, there were only inches left between them. Taken aback JinGe did nothing and LiRen grinned a little, he did not kiss her but stuck something into her hair. The hairpin resembled a branch of plum blossom, the small blossoms covered in snow. The little stones glittered in the faint moonlight.

LiRen admired JinGe with the hairpin in her hair.

"I never thought I would fall in love. I never cross my mind until I stumble into her in a forest," thought the young scholar. He could not resist blushing a little as he remembered the events of those few days, the danger, the excitement and also the awkward and tender memories. And those after, she met her.

"I have never ever encountered a woman as brave as mysterious, as clever as you," continued LiRen. He looked straight at her eyes, and he said with confidence and firmly, "Loving the person I love till no words and no regrets. That is my love," exclaimed the man as he looked ahead.

She was surprised of the things he said to her but these words that he had spoken made her feel that she was talking to the real LiRen.

He waited for a while, finally looking at her again, before continuing, "If things get too hard. I can take you away, me and you."

"I-"

"You do not have to say anything. Just tell me when you are wanted to leave all everything," said LiRen.

After saying those words, LiRen change back to the same person, the weak, clumsy, and cheerful person that he was and laughed out, "Sound cheesy, doesn't it but I had thought it for a very long time. Please wear it."

Just like that time, she knew that he was serious, and she responded sincerely, "I will consider it seriously."

He stood up, stretched his back and said, "Anyway I got to go back to work. They will need me. Take care." Before leaving, LiRen took off his outer robe and covered JinGe with it, "It hot when I am working. I do not need it. Take care of it for me."

She smiled at his kind words and held the robe more closely and he finally left.

JinGe stood up from her seat, "It's time."

JinGe looked up at the dark sky again, the silent sea where stars sparkled, thought JinGe. Even though she was unhappy to think of JianYu at the moment, but the knowledge he taught her was needed and she tried to remember it.

"Make it rain," the words echoed to her.

Rain

At their little cottage hidden in Moon Hill, where master and disciple were staying together. Suddenly, out of nowhere, JianYu, said, "You have already mastered how to sense, absorb, combine and release Qi," while JinGe was cleaning the house. "However, to use real magic, you need to know what you are doing."

"Come over here. I will explain it to you," said JianYu as he put down his bottle of wine.

She put away the broom and took a seat next to him as he started to work his magic.

He, first held out his hand, his palm facing upward, and he started talking, "Imagine, clouds forming in the sky, and then slowly more and more of it is accumulated together."

JinGe was astonished as she saw little clouds began appearing above his palm and grouping together.

"And the white clouds turn grey and slowly tiny droplets fell from it. First there were only a few drops and then there was more and more, until the whole ground was covered with it."

Her master turned his hand over and the clouds turned into rain. Just like what he said, JinGe saw the process appeared in front of her, a miniature shower. It rained onto the table however, only the place under his palm was wet.

JianYu closed his hand into a knuckle and the clouds and rain evaporated.

"This is technique is how you make rain. Although it seems hard, but it easier if you have a good mind for it. You must control, everything. You need to know how much cloud is needed, how intense the rain will be, where it will rain. Watch," said her master as he pointed at the wet spot on the table.

"I controlled it so that it would only affect this much," he told her.

Without being told, JinGe tried it as well.

"I might have failed that time. The rain was a rainstorm and it almost burned down the house," thought JinGe as she took out the bottle. "I will not fail this time."

Standing there under the old tree.

Although, that is what she thought, she can't help but feel a shred of uneasiness. Everything seems to be riding on it. If she can't cure the people, then the accusations would come back. She could always leave before that, but BuDao and the others will be blamed and punished for lying.

"I can't worry," thought JinGe again as she removed the cork from the clear vial.

"Focus, imagine. I am strong."

JinGe placed the vial on the rubble, and she stood next to it with her hands she released her magic slowly and brought the liquid in the vial out from the bottle. And with a few of her hand movements shaped the liquid into a ball.

She used her left hand to suspend the liquid while with the other, palms facing upwards like how she had seen JianYu. She gathered the clouds in the sky, the dark night turn red as clouds gathered.

Wind rose behind her, as she assembled clouds together. It took her a few minutes and then when she heard the sound of thunder she looked up, and there was lightning flashing across the sky.

"It will rain soon," thought JinGe. She must get the timing right to send the ball of liquid into the clouds, too earlier the lightning might destroy the ball of liquid, too late, the rain would be falling before the medicine is administered.

"Control," thought JinGe as she thought about the intensity of the rain, the place where it will fall, the range of the rain." It must cover the whole XinYe, where all of its occupants will be blessed by the rain."

JinGe imagined the streets of XinYe, the inn district, the brothel district, the government office, and around the walls of the city, all the placed she grew up, and further, the outskirts of XinYe, where she rode the horse with her father, the wide plains, and the temple where her friends now helping others.

After setting the areas, JinGe threw the ball upwards towards the sky, sending it to the clouds. She began to imagine the intensity of the rain. "Drizzle, drizzle of rain, like the soft touch of a mother," thought JinGe as she slowly turned her hand downwards.

However, what she had thought was too gentle and instead snow fell, she concentrated again trying to correct it, before more fell. It worked, finally a drizzle.

"Rain," thought JinGe. The raindrops increased in condensation, and it finally felt like a normal light rain.

"I did it," thought the girl as she walked under it, feeling the rejuvenating feeling of the rain on her skin." With this the people who used and drenched in the rain's water will be healed."

Once again suspending one of her hands and using the other she casted a spell over the rain so that it will fall for three days and three nights.

The Epidemic arc is finally finished. The story will go back to it's original plotline. Hope you enjoy this insert. JinGe used the vial to help others, what do you think? Is she selfless or stupid for helping those that had doubted her?

Anyone who has reached this chapter, I wanna tell you. I am just so grateful for your determination and effort. No words could express my thanks!

And I really like to what do you think about the story up till now. What do you feel? Lengthy? Too many characters? Boring?

See you again next week ~ 😊