At first. Xuhua's talking was a welcoming noise that would make his sad feelings settle down, and he could listen to her without thinking about what she was saying.
But later, it felt heavy. The usually silent or soft-spoken words were a harsh contrast to Xuhua's distracting chirping. And he knew she was trying to distract him, as her eyes had reflected the same sadness as her was. The Liu family men all went to war. Again. And they were both worried for them, Jingting couldn't say he wasn't.
War was terrible. People suffered. And he had to go back to his clinic to make sure they had enough herbs and medicine for everyone. Because there would be famine, plagues, and death all over the north. Jingting had to be prepared for that together with his clinic.
"Do we have enough crops? How was the harvest this summer?" Xuhua asked out of nowhere. Jingting jerked himself so hard he pulled on the reins, the horse stopped, and the orchid he was holding almost fell down. He looked at her, suspecting she was reading his mind, because how come she went from the latest silk gown she got made into this?
"There should be enough, even if winter is harsh and there is famine, there should be enough." Jingting poked the horse to go forward, and everyone followed him.
By everyone, he meant Xuhua and the other guy. Actually, someone who was waiting for him back in the mansion. Someone Liu Sheng left there to follow him back to the sanctuary for his protection and communication.
It was one of his soldiers, or at least the letter said he was one of the Six Qilings. His name was Jiang Heng, and he was carrying a bird that Jingting could not exactly identify, but it looked like a hawk, on his arm the entire way, and he had not said a thing.
And then it was a really young boy who looked like fourteen, and his name was Jin Hua, that one was "recommended" by Fang Tao and Liu Sheng to take into teaching. He scanned the young boy who was enthusiastically answering Xuhua before. And couldn't imagine him treating anyone. Jin Hua looked too skinny, too small, too everything. But his background explained it.
"He is stronger than you think." Jiang Heng said, and Jingting frowned. He wasn't used to being read, and especially by some burly, rough-looking men with a pretty face. Except he had a huge scar over his right cheek, just by a tiny bit missing his eye. He was obviously lucky he was still able to see.
"I wasn't judging, and given he survived out on the streets, he definitely is strong." They had entered the valley where they had to leave their horses and climb up to the sanctuary.
When Jin Hua first saw it, his eyes were full of surprise and a spark of excitement. But what surprised Jingting the most was the open mouth of Jiang Heng when he saw the hanging mansion. Well, from the outside, it was impressive. For outsiders, it was a monastery. Inside, it was a fully functional sanctuary for runaways and people who had to hide away for a while.
"Careful, don't step there," Xuhua warned Jin Hua, who was about to set off the trap nearby that would swing a huge spiked wood from above.
"I will walk you through the traps later, so when you need to leave for the village, you won't die on the way out or in. But when you are going in, ask Xiaoyi at the stables, and he will help you," Jingting said and climbed up the stairs without another word. It was hard enough as it was, not to mention when speaking.
"I'm glad you have my sister back, but why the hell did you bring in two more people?" Xicheng exclaimed when they all emerged in the sanctuary.
"A friend for you to play with and a messenger," Jingting smirked at the bewildered face Xicheng made.
"Jin Hua, how old are you? You should be around his age, right?" Jin Hua looked confused and stared at the adult-looking Xicheng, who was only playing an adult and was actually a teenager, only seventeen, two years younger than Jingting.
"I'm fourteen," Jin Hua said with a light blush creeping up on his face. Well, three years was okay.
"Xicheng, you take care of Jin Hua. He is gonna learn here also, so find him a room or take him into your own. I will take care of Jinag Heng," he said and gestured to the soldier.
Jingting tried to remember which rooms were free, but he decided to keep him close. He knew that if Liu Sheng was his master, he could believe him, but at the same time he did not believe him in everything, so better to keep him closer, to keep an eye on him.
"Did Liu Sheng say something to you?" he asked once they were alone. Jiang Heng nodded.
"I have Duke's token to get you out of trouble if needed. He said you can freely roam the world if you need to and if you take me with you. I know about your family. Not all details, but I know you should never meet a person from the Capital," Jinting was actually stunned by Liu Sheng's care. But his chest got warm, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you. Then you can do whatever you need, train whoever wants to train, but you should never restrict my healing. Whatever and whoever I heal is up to me. Your master was also saved despite being an imperial soldier. Jiang Heng nodded so Jingting left.
When coming back to his own room, he saw Jin Hua being taken to his quarters, into the room where Liu Sheng was before. The small, haggard posture made Jinting's heart ache. Somehow, he got attached to the story of this small child as if he were his own. Jingting shook his head to wake himself up. He grabbed Binbin, who was just walking past him, ignoring him.
"Don't even start, I know I left you here, and Xicheng went back home also, and it was for a long time, but you managed!" he started, laughing, before Binbin could even open his mouth.
"The new child… give him a bit more food, increase the doses spoon by spoon with every food, and start with something really light. He was rescued from the screeets just a week ago, and he suffers with stomach pain after eating…" Binbin took mental notes, and when Jingting confirmed that Binbin remembered, he let him go.
It was time to take care of the people… he had to look over their harvest and be prepared for what was coming…