Chapter 227 – Li Yun, The Head Shaman (1)

Jiang Mo thought that by making Su Daji return home with the fox spirit, she would be spared from the difficulties of the war they were in. He didn’t realize that since the ninth prince took notice of her, it would be impossible for Su Daji to remain safe. 

Since their luggage had considerably lessened during their journey back home, Su Daji’s group’s travel time to the province’s capital was shorter than when they left for the northern border. Still, the young lady was obviously tired from their long journey. However, she didn’t forget to visit the small clinic she started a year ago. She came to see how they fare without her. 

“Miss! You are back!” 

A familiar voice reached Su Daji’s ears when she reached the entrance of the clinic. She turned her head and saw a young girl rushing towards her. 

Xiao Nai, the little girl whom Su Daji nursed into good health before her departure, greeted her the moment she arrived with Mu Yue. It seemed that the girl had finally recovered from her illness, as she looked healthier than the last time Su Daji had seen her. 

Xiao Nai was holding a small basket filled with medicinal herbs. She had just arrived from the small garden behind the clinic, where they grew common medicinal herbs that they could use on their patients. 

A man in his early forties then came out with a middle-aged woman. They were a couple, with the man practicing as a wandering doctor and treating patients as they traveled. It was only a year ago that they decided to stay in the Su province. They heard that many innocent citizens were affected by the war at the borders. 

“Miss Su, it’s good that you are back. We weren’t notified that you would arrive today.” Dong Lin gave Su Daji a smile, while his wife, Jin Zhi, politely bowed her head in a greeting. 

Su Daji returned the smile and allowed them to lead her inside the clinic. She and Mu Yue noticed that it was unusually silent today.

“Did something happen while we were gone?” The young lady said as she took a seat across the couple, while the young girl worked on the herbs she had collected from the garden. 

Dong Lin shook his head. 

“Everything has been settled after your departure. Most injured patients recovered in time and left, promising to give a hand to our small clinic someday to repay their debts.” 

They had been busy when Su Daji left to travel North, but they managed to keep up with their work without relying on Su Daji all this time. The young lady was unlike other young misses they met in the past; she didn’t turn a blind eye to anyone who needed help. Naturally, Dong Lin and his wife took a liking to Young Miss Su and stayed here. 

Su Daji smiled at that, pleased that nothing serious had happened while she wasn’t around. 

“There’s nothing to settle. So long as they could live freely and healthily, that is enough.” 

“Then, what brought Miss Daji here?” Jin Zhi asked as she served their young miss some refreshments. 

“I came here to ask Lady Jin to see and check on Bai Ting’s injuries. She got badly hurt during our stay at the northern border,” the young lady explained her sudden visit. 

Dong Lin and his wife glanced at each other and understood what could have possibly happened. The place must have been so dangerous that Young Miss Su was forced to cut her trip short and return home. No wonder Su Daji came here with only the white fox accompanying her. 

“Actually, there’s something else I want to discuss.” She gave the couple a hesitant look. She then glanced at Xiao Nai, who was humming a song to herself. 

Jin Zhi understood at once and called after the young girl. 

“Xiao Nai, you have worked well today. Why don’t you leave these herbs to me and have a snack in the kitchen first?” She said in a gentle voice. 

Xiao Nai lifted her head and beamed a wide smile, before thanking Jin Zhi and excusing herself from Su Daji. 

“She looks energetic now,” Su Daji commented as she watched the young girl take her leave. 

“She’s surprisingly smart, to be honest. Xiao Nai could easily remember the herbs and their uses. She also knows how to differentiate medicine, so I decided to turn her into my apprentice.” Dong Lin laughed. One could see the proud glint in his eyes as he talked about the young girl he and his wife had just taken in. 

He and Jin Zhi couldn’t conceive a child together. Jin Zhi’s womb had suffered from an illness she endured in her teenage years, forbidding her to bear a child. Now that they had adopted Xiao Nai, the couple was satisfied with their life. 

“That’s reassuring to know.” Su Daji nodded. She knew both the couple’s and Xiao Nai’s circumstances, and she was happy to know that they would be fine from now on. 

“Then, what is it that Miss wants to discuss with us?” Dong Lin’s question reminded Su Daji of her concerns. 

“Actually, Doctor, I was cursed with black magic while staying at the northern border. The curse has been removed by a demon, and this is also why I returned home sooner than expected, without notifying any of you.” 

This startled the couple as they looked at the young lady with worry in their eyes. 

“Miss Su, are you certain that it was black magic?” Dong Lin asked. 

As far as he knew, anyone subjected to black magic rarely came back alive or with a logical mind. Most of them lost their rationality, until there was nothing left but a body without a mind; making them a perfect puppet. It was impossible for doctors like Dong Lin who practice medicine to treat the victims of black magic.

So, for Su Daji to be able to come back here alive, talking to them normally… it was surprising for Dong Lin and Jin Zhi. 

Wait. Didn’t Su Daji say she was saved by a demon? Their eyes widened in realization. 

They didn’t know why, but the couple glanced at the huge white fox napping next to Su Daji. Both then held their breaths in disbelief. 

No. There was no need to question the young lady for confirmation. The demon she was talking about was no other than the unusually huge white fox that had been accompanying her. 

“En, Brother Mo and I couldn’t be wrong. It was really a curse from someone who practices black magic,” Su Daji answered Dong Lin’s question. 

The man fell silent as he gave it a good thought. He wasn’t versed with anything about magic and demons, but he knew a person that might help their young miss. 

“Things like this… Miss Su, why don’t you seek Li Yun’s advice? He recently came back from his three-year expedition, a week after your departure,” Dong Lin said. As much as he wanted to help Su Daji, he didn’t have enough knowledge about it. 

Su Daji blinked twice and stared at the man in front of her, ignoring the drink that was starting to get cold in between them. 

“Brother Yun finally came back?” 

Of course, she was happy to know that her good friend, Li Yun, was back. However, she was worried that he would chase Mu Yue away once he figured that she was being accompanied by a fox demon. 

“En. He paid us a visit the other day and brought a lot of goods for us to use here in the clinic. He said he couldn’t wait for your return, as it has been years since you’ve seen each other.” 

“That’s true…” 

Li Yun was Jiang Mo’s and her childhood friend. In the past, they spent a lot of time together. Li Yun was the same age as Jiang Mo, and it could be said that the three of them were really close to one another. It was only when Jiang Mo started his official training as a soldier, at the same time that Li Yun entered the apprenticeship to become a shaman, did the three separate. 

“I guess I should pay him a visit one of these days.” Su Daji agreed before excusing herself, intending to go home. 

Dong Lin and Jin Zhi could sense that something was bothering the young woman, but they didn’t dare to question her. After all, she already promised to meet Li Yun soon. 

“Who’s this Li Yun?” Mu Yue asked through telepathy as they walked towards the Su Residence. 

“He’s our childhood friend, but he’s a powerful shaman,” Su Daji replied. “I fear that he would harm you if he finds out about your being with me. He’s like Brother Mo at times; he could be overbearing and overprotective when it comes to me.” 

Mu Yue hummed.. Then, she needed to know how strong this Li Yun truly was.