I stole a glance at Xiang Yunshang and saw that her eyes were indeed misted with tears, but I said calmly, "You misunderstood. I was saving her."

I gestured to my neck: "There's a lesion in this area. Striking her acupoints while she's speaking quickly can dislodge the ailment. If you don't believe me, check again in half an hour. Black blood will be flowing from the corner of her mouth."

"Really?" Yun Ya looked at Xiang Yunshang with suspicion, but the latter's eyes already held a hint of amusement.

I took the opportunity to change the subject, "Miss Yun, how much do you know about Yun Family Village?"

Yun Ya said, "I can say I know nothing at all! I've only heard my father mention Yun Family Village. But I've never been there."

"However..." Yun Ya said, "I think my father doesn't want to go back to Yun Family Village. When people from our hometown come, my father treats them with great importance and hospitality, but he never mentions going back for a visit. I always feel like my father is afraid to go back."

"Once, I heard someone from our hometown say that the Black and White Medical Hall no longer has a resident doctor. Since you're not doing well living outside, why don't you go back and take charge?"

"That day, my father seemed very troubled and sat in his study smoking the whole time. Not long after that, my father took me to the countryside."

Yun Ya seemed to suddenly remember something: "Oh, right! That person who came to visit was also very strange. After he came in, he placed his shoes one facing forward and one facing backward. When he slept, his shoes were also placed one facing forward and one facing backward at the door."

I immediately became interested: "Were his shoes placed inside or outside the door? Were they close to the bed or close to the doorway?"

Yun Ya paused for a moment before saying, "They were outside the door. He placed his slippers right next to the bedroom door. At the time, I wanted to knock on the door to remind him to put his shoes on properly. But my father said not to worry about it, he was used to not wearing shoes in the bedroom."

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes slightly: That relative of the Yun family was probably no ordinary person.

Placing shoes facing opposite directions is a way to guard against ghosts, generally used by low-level術士 (shushi, Taoist practitioners) who travel from house to house.

In their view, shoes pointing towards the bed are leaving shoes for ghosts, allowing them to get into bed. Shoes pointing outwards make it easy for ghosts to call away one's soul. Placing shoes one facing forward and one facing backward perfectly avoids both situations.

I asked calmly, "Does your family have anything strange? For example, a blank spirit tablet, or an ancestral heirloom, things like that?"

Yun Ya shook her head after thinking for a long time, "No! I have no memory of any of that! Mr. Li, what do you want to ask?"

I responded, "I want to know, is Doctor Yun unafraid of taboos because he doesn't believe in them, or because he has no fear?"

Some people are not afraid of ghosts and gods because they don't believe in their existence, but complete atheists are rare. Most people, even if they don't believe, will be afraid or keep their distance. Some people are not afraid of ghosts and gods because they have the confidence not to be afraid, like術士 (shushi, Taoist practitioners).

Just as Yun Ya didn't know what to say, a wisp of black blood suddenly flowed from the corner of Xiang Yunshang's mouth, "Yunshang, what's wrong with her..."

I raised my hand and patted Xiang Yunshang on the back. Xiang Yunshang vomited out a mouthful of black blood, but seemed much more relaxed, "Thank you."

"You're welcome!" I responded indifferently and leaned back in the car seat, closing my eyes.

Yun Ya, sitting next to me, moved a few times, but eventually gave up on the idea of calling me. Xiang Yunshang was very quiet the whole way, not speaking to me again, and sometimes even avoiding looking at me. She was like a child who had done something wrong and was afraid of being criticized by an adult.

It wasn't until we were almost to Yun Family Village that I spoke, "The kung fu you've learned belongs to modern combat techniques, which are too focused on skill. Moreover, the person who taught you the combat techniques doesn't know internal energy. It's impossible to change your path now, but I have three secret techniques here that you can learn."

Xiang Yunshang didn't react at first. When she realized I was talking to her, she was initially pleasantly surprised, but then became disappointed, "Thank you! I'll pay the tuition."

Ye Yang suddenly said, "You can't afford Li Po's secret techniques."

While Xiang Yunshang was at a loss, Ye Yang and I were already talking to an old man outside Yun Family Village: "Old man, can I ask you about someone? My brother here has caught a bit of an illness. I heard that there's an old doctor in Yun Family Village named Yun Shan. Is he still around?"

Yun Shan is Yun Ya's grandfather, and her father is Yun Sheng. If I asked about Yun Sheng right away, it would definitely arouse suspicion. Asking about Yun Shan is different.

The old man shook his head, "That's all old news. Old Immortal Yun passed away three years ago. His son, Yun Sheng, is a good doctor, but unfortunately, he won't come back!"

I quietly glanced at Yun Ya. She said that her father had always refused to return to Yun Family Village. I thought it was because her father no longer had any close relatives here, and was unwilling to come back.

But Yun Sheng's father is alive, why is he unwilling to come back?

"That's a pity!" I probed, "Do you know where Doctor Yun is? I heard that his family has ancestral secret recipes, and I want to find him to treat my brother's illness."