Lu Yan woke up warm in the bed in the inner room.
A glance out of the window faintly revealed snow was falling in the dim light. Soon, it would be dark again.
Everything was quiet, and for a moment she forgot about the doctor and Gu Sheng.
But the smell of another good meal, the clinking of dishes in the outer room, and conversation happening in low voices made her remember again.
She sat up slowly.
Luizhu, who had been lost in thought while sitting in the chair, noticed she had awakened. She hurried over, and placed an arm under Lu Yan's elbow, helping her sit up.
For a moment, the two of them looked at each other.
"Did anything else happen?" Lu Yan asked in a quiet whisper.
Luizhi shook her head, "The doctor said to let you sleep until you woke up on your own. It's time for dinner."
"Did you eat lunch?" Lu Yan asked.
Luizhu nodded, "Meat stew."
"Alright, help me up."
Outside the blankets, it was colder, but not freezing as usual. The coal must be burning in the stove in the outer room.
Still, Lu Yan put on her thick outer cloak, and a pair of socks and indoor shoes.
Luizhu tidied her hair, and wiped her face.
Then, together, they walked with cautious steps to the outer room.
The doctor and Gu Sheng were seated at the table, eating together. They were noticed as soon as they appeared in the doorway.
The doctor waved Lu Yan over, "Come and eat. You missed lunch."
Gu Sheng shifted his chair closer to the doctor's, leaving enough space for both little girls to sit at the table.
Without showing her hesitation, Lu Yan walked over and took a chair. Luizhu went to the kitchen.
"Later this week, there's an auspicious day. Let's hold the master-apprentice ceremony then. We'll start slowly while you're recovering."
Lu Yan nodded obediently, though she was inwardly surprised that the doctor was really taking her as an apprentice, and not teaching her casually.
Luizhu reappeared with two steaming bowls.
"Eat up," the doctor said, "You'll need strength for learning."
Lu Yan tasted the stew. It was warm and hearty, filling and tasty. Gu Sheng was really good at cooking.
She glanced at the martial artist out of the corner of her eye, and was startled to realize he was already studying her.
He said nothing, just smiled faintly, and turned to talk to the doctor.
Lu Yan lowered her head again and listened to their conversation.
They must be talking in some kind of code. She could only understand that someone was chasing the doctor. Gu Sheng had found the traitor, and trapped him. Soon the traitor would lead them to the enemy.
Lu Yan continued eating. Luizhu was much faster than her, and had already finished her bowl.
The conversation turned to the happenings in some military camp.
Gu Sheng reported that some young master had mostly recovered from his injuries. He was restless, and impatient to start training again.
The doctor gave strict instructions to let the young master rest. Use sleeping powder if they must. But he had to be kept in bed. At his age, improperly healed injuries were unacceptable.
Lu Yan listened absently. Luizhu brought second helpings for both of them.
Gu Sheng had finished his meal and report. Bowing to the doctor, and nodding to Lu Yan, he walked out of the hut.
Luizhi let out a large breath of relief.
The doctor glanced at her.
Luizhu immediately took some empty bowls, and saying, "I'll brew tea," hurried to the kitchen.
Lu Yan sat, outwardly imperturbable, but nervous inside.
"Let's play another game."
Lu Yan nodded, and finished her bowl while he set up the board again.
They played two games in succession, drinking the tea Luizhu brought.
"You're learning quickly," he praised, "Much faster than I thought."
"I told you I'm clever," Lu Yan said softly.
"You're clever, and you work hard."
Lu Yan felt warm.
Everything was wonderful: the stew, the tea, the medicine, the warmth of the coal burning inside the little hut.
"Soon, I'll start teaching you," he said while clearing up the board, "While you're still recovering, I'll only lecture you on the basics of medicine. Yin-yang, which is the basis of balance in the body, the five elements and how they relate to each other, and the major pathways through which vital energy qi flows in the body."
Lu Yan listened, almost wide-eyed, "You'll really teach me?"
"I told you I will."
"You won't go back on your word?"
He seemed offended, "I'm a doctor. How can I go back on my word?"
Lu Yan was stumped, "But there's nothing stopping you!"
The doctor looked her over carefully, "Here's your second lesson: a righteous person does not need anything external to stop them. Because they're righteous, they stop themselves."
He reached over the table, and lightly tapped her nose, "And as you are now my student, you'll learn from me to become a righteous person."
"What if you change your mind in the future?"
"I won't change my mind. I didn't agree to your request rashly."
Lu Yan lowered her head, and looked intently at the table as she asked, "What if you need to go elsewhere to do important things?"
"I'll set you up with an assignment so you can continue learning. When I return, we'll continue our lessons."
"What if it takes you many years to come back?"
He tapped the table lightly with his finger, "I'll write to you, or send someone to you to give you new assignments."
"What if you take a new apprentice?"
He looked at her hanging head, "I'll teach them separately, and you, as the senior student, will help me teach them."
"What if I'm not good at becoming a doctor?" Lu Yan asked stubbornly.
"I'll teach you as much as you can learn. Knowing something is better than knowing nothing."
There was a pause as Lu Yan tried to put her misgivings into words.
But she was shaken from her stupor when the doctor lightly patted her head, and suddenly said, "You know, tomorrow is also an auspicious day. Let's hold the apprentice acceptance ceremony tomorrow. We don't need to wait."
He stood, and Lu Yan stood too.
She looked up at him with shining eyes, "Really?"
The look in her eyes really resembled how his dogs looked at him.
He smiled, and said, "Really."
He walked to the window, took something from his pocket, and opening the window, blew a whistle that sounded like strange bird song.
Lu Yan followed him to the window, rising on her tiptoes to look outside. She could see nothing, but endless snow falling silently from the sky.
The doctor glanced at her, amused.
He closed the window, "Gu Sheng should come soon, I'll tell him to make preparations for tomorrow."
Lu Yan followed him back to the table, eagerly asking, "What should Luizhu and I prepare for the ceremony?"