Chapter 4 — Coming out of the Earth Pit, I became a Ghost Doctor

Tieu Vien's pupils suddenly shrank sharply. His eyes were focused intently on that scar. As if nothing happened, I pulled down my sleeve to cover the wound.

“Diagnosis needle, I have finished thinking.”

“I want the most secret and accurate military map in your entire Tran Bac army.”

Tieu Vien did not immediately respond. His eyes still seemed to stop at the place where my wrist had just been exposed.

“How… is her hand injured?”

I turned around and continued to organize the pharmacy counter.

"Snap."

That year, when he tried to push me down, next to me was a small black dog whose leg had been broken by manager Truong, barking hoarsely. A Vien is the name I secretly gave him.

"Healing and saving people, general, do you want to bargain, or do you want to check your civil status? If you don't want to treat, the door is over there."

“… That map, it's impossible.” Tieu Vien finally spoke, his voice lowered a bit. "That is an important military asset, I absolutely cannot leave it in your hands."

“Then there's no way.”

I don't pay attention to him anymore, focusing on sorting medicinal herbs. Tieu Vien stood in place, not leaving. After a while, he spoke in a low voice.

“Change conditions.”

I stopped and turned to look at him.

“What conditions?”

“Except for secret military maps and military talismans, as long as I can do it, everything is possible.”

That's a promise. A promise weighing as much as a thousand pounds from General Tran Bac. I looked at the guilt rolling in his eyes and laughed coldly in my heart. Coming late is cheaper than trash. Very useful. I walked up to him, raised my head, my eyes behind the mask looked straight at him.

“I want you to help me kill someone.”

“When the time comes, you will automatically know.”

I placed the antidote firmly on the table in front of him.

"This is a deposit. After the matter is completed, I will give you a method to eradicate the source of the poison."

“You can go now.”

After Tieu Vien left, a faint fishy smell still lingered in the medical shop. That was the smell he carried with him, the smell of the battlefield. I sat there quietly, until the smell completely disappeared, then stood up and walked into the inner hall. Behind the underground door in the inner hall is a secret path leading underground. At the end of the secret passage, a thin man was turning his back to me, attentively arranging vases in front of him. He wore a faded gray uniform, his hair was tied haphazardly with a wooden hairpin, and he exuded a cold aura around his body that made it difficult for strangers to approach him. That's my master, the true ghost doctor. Three years ago, he was the one who dug me out of the grave. I placed the gold I got from the Marquis Palace and from Tieu Vien on the table. A thick stack of silver bills, next to the sword Tieu Vien left behind.

"The old Marquis of Dinh Vien Marquis Palace has saved his life. Giang Van Ninh's face is also starting to rot."

The master held a glass vase containing a live scorpion, held it up to the candlelight and observed it carefully.

“What about Tieu Vien?”

"He also came. There was someone in the army who was poisoned, he asked for an antidote."

Master finally turned around. On his face he also wore a mask, showing a fierce and evil appearance. No one has ever seen his true appearance, including me.

“You gave him the antidote?”

"Condition?"

"A promise. Tell him to help me kill someone."

In the eyes behind the master's mask flashed a trace of irony.

"Murder? Girl, heart You are still not cruel enough. Dealing with them, killing them is too easy.”

He walked in front of me and picked up the sword called "Breaking Formation" on the table. His finger lightly brushed the sharp blade, leaving behind a thin trail of blood. I looked at the sword in my master's hand and slowly spoke.

“What I want is not their lives.”

"I want them to turn away, lose their reputation, fall from the clouds into the mud, and watch helplessly as the things they cherish the most are crushed little by little."

“I want them to live, but living is more painful than dying.”

Master was silent. After a long while, he let out a low laugh, like a night owl screeching in the dark. He threw the sword back to me.

“It's your business to decide for yourself. But don't forget the deal between us.”

I nodded. Master saved my life and taught me medicine and poison. As for me, I have to do three things for him. Those are the conditions of exchange between us.

“Go away.” Master waved his hand and turned back to his medicine bottles. “Tham Ngoc An must have been waiting impatiently.”