[April 30] [Yitian Dulong Ji] A Twilight at Butterfly Valley

[lilacfield.livejournal.com]

Title: A Twilight at Butterfly Valley
Day/Theme: April 30 - Searching for the future
Series: Yitian Dulong Ji
Characters: Zhang Wuji, Hu Qingniu
Rating: G
Yitian Dulong Ji © Jin Yong, et al.


"You do realize how supremely ironic it is, don't you?" Hu Qingniu dipped his lips experimentally in the lukewarm wine, grimaced, and wiped at his mouth with his knuckles. "You have the makings of a great doctor, and yet you are in danger of imminent death."

"I'm not going to die anytime soon," Zhang Wuji corrected, standing on tiptoe in order to reach at a high shelf. "I'm still alive, aren't I?"

"For that you should be grateful to my medication - it must have been a great deal of help. Even Zhang Sanfeng had despaired of your life when he first arrived here."

Zhang Wuji stopped fumbling at the vials and rocked back to rest his weight on his heels. "Is it guaranteed that I'm going to recover entirely? I'd like to be able to reassure patients who've got the same affliction as mine that they will be all right."

"I doubt the Xuan Ming Elders go around felling people with their Cold Venomous Palms as a routine, but you have a point." Hu Qingniu squinted at his cup, then visibly gave a mental shrug. "One thing about you, boy, is that you're actually talented. If you live to be twenty, you might be able to find the cure to the poison before I do. And then you can replace me as the resident Divine Physician."

"That means you're willing to endure me until I'm twenty years old? Thank you very much for your generosity, Master Hu. I shan't forget it."

"Bah." Hu Qingniu tossed back the wine, methodically instead of with relish. "Keep your smooth talking to yourself. Like you, I'll still be at this side of the grave for some time."

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Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my Condor Trilogy drabbles. That was fun. All the drabbles, including those I didn't get to post at the community, can be found here.