Chapter 138 — Once Comrades-in-Arms

"So you and Grandpa Guan know each other? Even better — that saves me the introductions." Yang Huaijun let out a breath of relief. With that, his duty as the go-between was discharged; since the two of them were already acquainted, their talk could only go all the more smoothly.

Yang Huaijun took Wei Zhao's words lightly enough, but they landed on Guan Xuemin's ears like a thunderclap. He had assumed that a man as young as Wei Zhao must surely come from some reclusive clan of practitioners, and that keeping a few lost formulas of the ancients in hand was only natural.

But Wei Zhao had gone to a bookstore to look things up so that he could write a prescription for Yang Huaijun — now that was startling. In other words, the prescription was wholly Wei Zhao's own composition, not something ready-made off the shelf. From this alone one could see to what heights his study of Chinese medicine had climbed.

Only... he did not even grasp the properties of the herbs well, and had to consult a bookstore on the spot, yet he dared write out a prescription and dared put a patient on it... That was a boldness beyond measure. And Yang Huaijun had actually trusted him, actually taken the medicine. Just what was the relationship between these two?

Guan Xuemin was old and seasoned; from the moment Wei Zhao and Yang Huaijun arrived, he could read in their subtle gestures and manner that the bond between them ran deep. But precisely what that bond was, Guan Xuemin could not guess.

Yet judged by its effects, the medicine Wei Zhao had compounded truly worked on Yang Huaijun — and that was what astonished Guan Xuemin most. It seemed Wei Zhao did not lean on his family's formulas; he was genuinely formidable. Which meant today's meeting was something worth looking forward to.

"You flatter me, you flatter me." Guan Xuemin shook his head a little sheepishly. "Back then I even urged you to sit the entrance exam for my college of Chinese medicine. But who in that college could teach you? You would be better fitted to be our teacher!"

"Ha, Director Guan jests," Wei Zhao said politely. "What I know are merely some out-of-the-way corners of the field, after all. Chinese medicine isn't my main line of work..."

"What? You don't study Chinese medicine?" Guan Xuemin was all the more astonished at this. He even thought to himself: surely the young man isn't putting on airs with me? Yang Huaijun's illness — how many specialists had held consultations without finding a way, and you casually cure it, and Chinese medicine isn't even your main line?

Still, seeing the utter sincerity on Wei Zhao's face, and recalling those neither-humble-nor-haughty words Wei Zhao had spoken in the bookstore that day, Guan Xuemin could not but believe that Wei Zhao was telling the truth.

"Yes. My main occupation right now is being a high school senior," Wei Zhao said, scratching his head. "Actually, Brother Jun knows about my situation... don't you?"

Yang Huaijun was rather helpless. How could he casually tell Guan Xuemin about Wei Zhao's affairs? He looked at Wei Zhao awkwardly: it's your business; if you won't say it, how am I supposed to?

"Ha..." In truth, Wei Zhao had no wish to hide anything from Guan Xuemin either. Since Guan Xuemin had been treating Yang Huaijun's wounds all along, he must know perfectly well how Yang Huaijun had been injured and what sort of work he had once done — otherwise he could never have devised the most effective course of treatment for him. So there was no need to conceal it from Guan Xuemin. Besides, that stretch of life in which he had fought shoulder to shoulder with Yang Huaijun was only a tiny fragment of his own; speaking of it did no harm. "Director Guan, Brother Jun and I were once comrades-in-arms."

"Comrades-in-arms..." Hearing those two words, Guan Xuemin was slightly taken aback, and then his expression changed abruptly! He had some understanding of what Yang Huaijun had done before, and if this man had been his comrade-in-arms, then he must be...

Look at Wei Zhao — twenty at the very most, surely? And he had said himself that he was only a high school senior, yet he had been Yang Huaijun's comrade-in-arms? That was a bit too miraculous.

Yet with this, Guan Xuemin understood why Yang Huaijun had dared to drink the medicine Wei Zhao prepared for him. Even if he did not know Wei Zhao as a miracle doctor, the friendship and trust forged in battle were beyond any ordinary comparison.

Only, how Wei Zhao had become a high school student again — that was something Guan Xuemin found baffling and could not fathom. But perhaps it involved certain secrets, so Guan Xuemin did not press.

"So you and young Yang are comrades-in-arms... Look at me, chattering away — come in, let's talk inside..." Guan Xuemin only now realized that he was still blocking the doorway of the villa, having never invited them in. That was because he had been too shocked; otherwise a man of Guan Xuemin's standing would never commit such a crude blunder.

"It's quite all right," Wei Zhao said with a smile. "Director Guan, there's no need for such courtesy. If not for you, Brother Jun would have lost his life. In the end, I'm the one who ought to be thanking you, so don't stand on ceremony with me. You are my elder and I am your junior — there is no need for this."

"In learning there is no before or after; the one who attains it first is the master!" Guan Xuemin waved a hand. "Old as I am, I still understand that principle! Your medical skill surpasses mine; in my presence you are the expert, the teacher. Without rules, nothing can be squared or rounded! Besides, young Yang's elder and I are on good terms; by both sentiment and reason, I ought to give it my all."

"Ha, that's different. Brother Jun is my man; naturally I must express my thanks to you." Wei Zhao followed Guan Xuemin into the villa and into the living room.

"Hm?" Guan Xuemin was startled by Wei Zhao's words. "What do you mean, your man?"

Guan Xuemin might be advanced in years, but he still paid close attention to fads and trends on the internet, and hearing Wei Zhao say that Yang Huaijun was his man... Guan Xuemin was instantly seized with a shudder of revulsion... Surely there wasn't something between the two of them... Though Yang Huaijun, he supposed, was not that sort, and Wei Zhao did not look it either... Then what did he mean by it?

Seeing the odd look on Guan Xuemin's face, Yang Huaijun and Wei Zhao realized at the same moment that the words just spoken could be read another way! Yang Huaijun understood Wei Zhao's meaning, but Guan Xuemin did not... With a wry smile, Yang Huaijun explained. "Grandpa Guan, Wei Zhao used to be the captain of our squad. Among the several sub-units, he was famous for shielding his own like a mother hen... so we're all his men..."

"What? Mr. Lin is your captain?" This surprised Guan Xuemin even more. It seemed Wei Zhao had spoken the truth — Chinese medicine really was not his main line. In other fields as well he must have his outstanding points; otherwise he could never have become Yang Huaijun's captain!

Yang Huaijun's former unit had been a suicide squad... It was called a suicide squad precisely because every man in it feared no death and was not easy to kill! To serve as captain of such a unit was not merely a matter of superior medical skill...

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