Xixi's Patient #2: Lǐ Huáng

The doors to the teahouse slammed open and a young man with uneven steps collapsed right outside. Most everyone in the surrounding area had cleared the way long ago after the Hounds made their public appearance. Most of what was left were the small group of meddlesome townsfolk eager to see what would happen next. Of course, nearly none of them had any sort of inclination to give assistance to the young man. From what they could tell from the people who had vacated the teahouse, he was the one the Hounds of Jin were after. This was not a matter they could involve themselves in and not expect extreme repercussions.

And yet, one figure did break out into the open and approached the unconscious young man. One that caused the eyes of the surrounding people to turn from curious into pitiful. A girl in rough looking clothes and a creepy mask with a rope trailing behind her dangling from her neck. It was one thing to be arrested by the Hounds, but it was another thing to be taken away by the psychopathic physician known as Xixi. Whispers and muttering spread like wildfire between the gossips in the crowd.

'Anybody who she treats dies within days.' 'She experiments on people and turns them into pills.' 'She's the reason Min from the butchery went missing!'

These and many much worse rumors surround the girl wherever she goes, leaving people to give her a wide berth. It was unknown if such things bothered her, but certainly did not give any sign that she cared about their clear derision of her. She simply turned Lǐ Huáng onto his side and started touching his face, neck, and chest.

'A molester.' 'A kidnapper.' 'A rapist.'

More nasty names came about. Whether it reached her ears or not, Xixi again did not give a reaction. Her hand reached into her bag, pulled out a small bundle of some kind of grass, and shoved it into Lǐ Huáng's mouth. Before the crowd could incite more foul stories, three men from down the road finally made their appearance.

Three more members of the Hounds, a smaller group that was investigating another nearby establishment in search of Lǐ Huáng. With their weapons pointed towards Xixi, the squad leader spoke to her in an insufferably pompous tone of voice.

"Step aside. We are here to arrest this man in the name of the Empire."

"Oh my. My nephew has been getting into fights? He used to be such a good boy."

"Lady, I won't say it again. Step asi-AGHCK!"

His demands were suddenly cut short. From within the teahouse, the unconscious body of a Hound member flew out the door and knocked all three of the men to the side, crashing into a cart carrying greens. The boy manning it looks at the destruction with anguish filling his soul.

"M-MY CABBAGES!"

The three soldiers stand up, a bit uneasy in their movements. They start to move back to Xixi and Lǐ Huáng, but are impeded when one of them is knocked out from behind.

"You're going to pay for those!"

The cabbage boy's fists squeeze in fury, knuckles turned white.

"Stand down, you! Do you not know who we are?"

Before he gets the chance to state their occupation, a fist flies into his face, crushing the faceguard of his helmet and sending him flying. The third readies his weapon against this sudden threat, but is similarly struck down with a single fist into the gut from this beast of a man. The spittle and air fly out of the Hound's mouth, and he too is sent flying and crashing into the teahouse, not unlike how this situation started. With nobody else to turn his anger on, he goes to return his cart to pick up his cabbages. Just as he is about to lean down, a soft hand lands on his shoulder.

"I am sorry this happened to you. Here, a gift from grandma to lift your spirits."

Xixi places a small pouch in his hand. The boy looks at it with confusion.

"A lesson. 'The sun falls and rises, but you still remain.' Even if something bad happens, you are still here to fix it. Tomorrow is another day, okay? Do not fret about something like this too much."

The boy stares at her dumbly, the lesson not likely taking root. Looking down again, he opens the pouch to see what's inside. Some kind of brownish powder, but it's not clear what it really is. He tries to ask the lady, but when he looks, she and Lǐ Huáng are already gone.

"Akio! Are you alright? I heard you yelling and- What in the four territories happened here!?"

A large and incredibly muscled older man arrives on the scene, gaping at what has transpired. In response to his question, Akio looks up to him with that same dumb look.

"I think I just met my grandma."


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A dark and hot room greeted Lǐ Huáng when he finally awoke. He wasn't sure where he was, but it could be nowhere good. The room was filled with the smell of incense. His body felt incredibly heavy. He couldn't even lift himself off of the bed he was lying in. The last thing he can remember was escaping the teahouse and then his vision fading. Did the Hounds capture him? That doesn't make sense, but this would be the comfiest prison cell bed he's ever seen.

He could make out the sound of activity in a nearby room. Movement and talking. However, the walls are thick enough to keep him from being able to make out what was being said. His curiosity about it did not last long, as the talking stopped and the sound of footsteps signaled that someone was heading his way. Squeaky floorboards followed by a loud squeak of the door opening. A lit candle pushes away the darkness of the room, revealing more of the details and the identity of the new arrival.

"You're not with the Hounds of Jin. Who are you? Where am I?"

"Aiiyah. Good morning to you too. Is that any way to behave? I come to see how you're doing and you start badgering me with questions. If you were not my cousin I would kick you out from my home."

Lǐ Huáng's expression remains cold and calculating even now, without revealing a hint of his true emotions. Cousin? That can't be right. He should already know of all of his cousins from his clan and none would be here. However, his Lunar Mirror Eyes do not allow for deception. He can tell that her words hold no lies. Who was this girl? And her claim that this was her home is a dubious one at best. From here, he can see quite a few inconsistencies with that. The window across from his bed is boarded up. Mouseholes on each side of the room. The tables and floor are covered in dust, but some of the items on them are spotless. He wouldn't believe she's been living here more than a few days at maximum.

"You look like a hog has caught your tail. If you're worried about it, I already said I wouldn't kick you out. Now tell aunty how you're feeling. You've been sleeping the entire day away."

And just like that, his eyes sharpened with suspicion. Aunty? And again without any hint of deception. Something wasn't right here.

"I am feeling quite well now, but being able to move my body would make this a more joyous stay."

"Oh, that. That should wear off in an hour at most. You were in a dangerous state, you know! What kind of bad karma did you accumulate to make your body hate you so much?"

Xixi walks around, slowly lighting more candles strewn about the room and banishing the shadows away.

"Your condition is terrible. Your physique is special, but it is not in alignment with the rest of you. Yin energy overflows your meridians and leads to a heavy unbalance. It is no laughing matter to say that your physique is killing you. If nothing is done..."

She turns to face Lǐ Huáng, looking a little overdramatic about the reveal.

"You will die in seven years."

Silence fills the room. The two study each other, looking for something. It's Xixi who speaks first.

"You don't look surprised."

"Naturally. I already knew all of this. I'd much rather know how you are aware of this."

The girl visibly deflates, letting out a sigh of disappointment and annoyance.

"What a gloomy fellow you are. Is it not natural of a physician to find the problem in their patient?"

Once more, suspicion and confusion taint Lǐ Huáng's thoughts. Even as he remains hard-faced, he can't help but wonder how she could possibly know this. It took his founding ancestor coming out of isolation and explaining the situation for any of the other physicians to have a hint at what was happening to him.

"As much as I appreciate the treatment... aunty, but as soon as I can move again, I'll be leaving."

"Already? No, you have not had a meal yet. I'll make you something nice that will keep you warm. Besides, you haven't even heard the good news yet."

"Good news?" His tone remains even and his interest in the conversation was waning. If he had the ability to, he would have already left this broken down sham of a recovery room.

"If left untreated, you will die. However, I can change that. Yes, I think I may be able to fix your problem."

"You... what?"

He couldn't help but question that. It's only natural of course. Dozens of physicians had looked into his problem and all of them had given up once they were told that the issue was his physique. And yet, this woman- no, this girl, despite knowing the issue, seemed to have full confidence that she could do something about it? His surprise at her gusto leaves him unable to follow up, but this only seems to please Xixi after her failure of a reveal from just before.

"Finally, some kind of reaction! Just because your qi is like ice doesn't mean you should live like a statue. Ahh, yes, it is a matter of altering your physique so that it does not endanger your energy balance. It is a complex and intricate process, but a doable one."

"...Can you really do that?"

"Why would I lie? For a laugh? Of course I can!"

Lǐ Huáng's eyes bore into Xixi, trying to see through any sort of attempt at misdirection or deception. With no falsehoods being able to be detected in her words, a glimmer of light enters his eyes. Perhaps even a small bit of hope.

"Now don't get too excited yet. I can't do it right now. I'm simply lacking in equipment and materials. To do something as dangerous as altering your unique kind of physique, I would need some incredibly rare materials. If you could get them, I can do it."

And just like that, the budding hope he had was instantly tempered. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. If what she said is true, it's a real chance, but just how is he supposed to get his hands on such rare materials? While being hunted by the Hounds of Jin no less? Is it even possible? Unsatisfied without an answer from him, an exhausted sigh escapes Xixi's lips.

"Don't be so eager to accept, aiiyah. My grandson isn't one to let his fate be decided for him, is he?"

In response, Lǐ Huáng gives Xixi a hard stare. The two say nothing for a long while.

"Very well. I'll do it."

"Great! I'll make dinner and start packing! There's going to be an auction in the central territory soon and if there's somewhere to find the rare materials I need, that is a great start."

Xixi bounces up, causing the floorboard to squeak loudly in protest. Quickly, she starts gathering the various medical tools lying around the room and placing them into her bag.

"Packing? You wish to come with me?"

"Well of course! Do you really think I would sit around while my cousin turns into a frozen ladyboy? Not to mention, someone needs to make sure you aren't passing out on the street."

"You do realize the Hounds of Jin are after me? They'll be after you too if they know you're helping me."

Xixi pauses her packing, looking towards Lǐ Huáng once more, a serious aura coming from her in contrast to her usual loud and boisterous self.

"That is what family is for, is it not? To be there for each other when they really need it?"

Her answer stuns him. "That's..." Memories of his father and Lǐ Xing flashes in Lǐ Huáng's mind. "That's right. Hey... cousin, can you give me your name? My illness is making my memory blur. Mine is Lǐ Huáng."

"Lǐ Huáng... yes, that's right! If your memory is blurry, we may have to hold off on leaving for a day. I know some good healthy meals to speed along your recovery. It is me, grandma Xixi! Maybe it just has been too long. Does your father not talk about me? The next time I see him, I am going to give him a piece of my mind! You know, when he was just a little boy, he- Laolao! You know you are not allowed in the patient's room! Now, where was I? Yes, your uncle was always the troublemaker when he was young. Did you know..."

Even if Lǐ Huáng wasn't sure just what the identity of this confused and confusing girl was, it was quite nice hearing stories about family, despite them obviously being fake ones. It reminded him of home and why he was willing to go through all of this in the first place. Perhaps having a traveling companion wouldn't be so dreadful.