When Sima Ping anxiously pushed open the door, her beloved master was sitting in front of a large table filled with books and papers, lost in thought.
The Strange Doctor slowly raised his head and looked at his disciple's frightened eyes. A trace of pain flashed through his eyes as he said softly, "Ping 'er … are you afraid of me?"
Sima Ping was shocked and shook her head, "No, no …"
Ping Yidao smiled bitterly. He looked at the disciple he had relied on for the past few years, and all sorts of feelings welled up in his heart … He had been alone all his life and had no relatives. To him, Sima Ping was his disciple, his granddaughter, his daughter, and even his younger sister. However, he hadn't given this little girl the peace and happiness she deserved. There were some things that he hadn't realized until Sun Lang's visit tonight.
He thought back to the time when he was hunted down by a hair's breadth. He thought back to the merciless betrayal of his fellow sect members who were once as close as brothers. He thought back to their curses, their pursuit, their bitter hatred. He thought back to his own sacrifice, his abandonment, and his lonely journey forward … This was a thorny road with no future, no end, and no harvest or result.
How could such tender shoulders support such a heavy responsibility?
How could such a thin chest accommodate such a cold and tough heart?
Forget it … forget it …
He seemed to have made a very difficult decision, but after he made the decision, his whole person became relaxed. His tense face slowly became gentle. He waved to the girl and said softly, "Ping 'er, come here …"
The girl seemed to have noticed the change in her master. She blinked her eyes, and then a look of surprise appeared on her face. The master in front of her seemed to have become more kind and gentle, and was not as strange and scary as before.
She let out a huge sigh of relief. The fear and inexplicable worry of the past few days all turned into turbulent emotions that rushed out, making her unable to control herself. Like a swallow returning to its nest, she threw herself into the strange doctor's words and cried out, "Master … you scared me to death!"
A trace of guilt flashed through the Strange Doctor's eyes. He gently patted his disciple's back and murmured, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, there is nothing to be afraid of …"
Sima Ping acted coquettishly for a while before she was willing to get up. The strange doctor looked at his disciple and reached out his hand with a smile. He stroked her head and said softly, "My disciple has grown so tall in the blink of an eye.
I really want to carry you on my back like before and bring you to the mountains to pick herbs … "
Sima Ping's face turned red, "Master, my body has long since recovered. I don't need you to carry me anymore. If you are willing, disciple will accompany you into the mountains tomorrow …"
"Tomorrow … I can't do it tomorrow."
The Strange Doctor shook his head. His tone became a little lonely, but there was a hint of solemnity in it. "Ping 'er … Tomorrow, Master will be going on a long trip."
"Going on a long trip?" Sima Ping's expression changed, "Then I'll go and pack my things …"
The Eccentric Doctor waved his hand and said, "No, it's not you. It's me. I'll do it alone. You don't have to follow me."
Sima Ping's expression changed. "Why, Master? What are you going to do?
Can't disciple follow you? "
"Master has to do something that must be done … This is the only big thing in Master's life. It's also the last big thing. It's Master's lifelong obsession …" The Strange Doctor's expression was ethereal. His tone was gentle and filled with endless hope. It was as if he was saying something very good, "After doing this, Master can completely let go and return to his hometown. He can no longer care about worldly affairs …"
He looked at the anxious Sima Ping and said softly, "Ping 'er, pack your things tomorrow and go to Miss Zhao's place to stay. With her taking care of you, I'm very assured.
That day when I told you about killing a hundred people, it was just a joke. You don't have to take it to heart. You don't have to worry about it. In the end, Master was too impatient and too eager for success … You just have to do it step by step. That's good … "
"That's not good at all!"
Sima Ping revealed an anxious expression, "Master, how can you leave just like that … How long will it take for you to come back?"
"If it's short, a few months. If it's long, Master will be back."
The Strange Doctor patted Sima Ping's head and comforted her. "Don't worry, good disciple. Master will definitely come back."
Sima Ping's heart was in a mess. She faintly felt that something was wrong. But she was still young and did not know much about worldly affairs. How could she think clearly?
The shock of this matter and the reluctance to part with her Master made her feel even more confused. Tears flowed down her face. "Master, I've never been separated from you these few years … You suddenly said that you're leaving. Disciple can't bear to part with you. Can you bring me along?"
"Silly disciple, the journey is long. If I bring a little girl like you, it'll be a hindrance. You'll only be a burden to Master."
The Strange Doctor patted the girl's head. He was in a very good mood tonight, so he patiently explained and did not coldly reject her. After all, he was about to leave. How could he bear to be so cold?
"Ping Er, even if Master isn't here, I'll always be by your side. So, don't be afraid. Be like a good child and wait for me to come back."
He stood up and looked around. The books and manuals that were piled up like a mountain recorded his life's efforts and gains … The medical knowledge that he had studied in his life was truly shocking and could not be tolerated by the world. However, he still firmly believed that these medical knowledge that had been condemned by the elders of his sect as heartless would eventually become solid bricks and tiles that would build an even more solid medical knowledge and save even more painful and helpless patients.
This room full of books, the knowledge that he had painstakingly studied all these years, had already been memorized in his heart.
At the same time, the essence of these research experiences had been recorded into a book. Tomorrow, he would entrust it to the most trustworthy person in the world. If this old man were to die in a foreign land, he could leave something for the future generations.
So, the things in this room, there was no need for him to leave them … right?
But when he turned his head, he saw his disciple holding back her tears. This kind-hearted little girl, this good girl who could not bear to see others sick and injured, she was a natural doctor. She was so pure and kind … The Strange Doctor was stunned for a long time before he slowly said, "Ping Er, this room full of medical books, I'll leave it to you. If you have time, you can look through them.
Not only are there medical books from our sect, there are also Master's experiences over the years. Some things can benefit you for the rest of your life. Some things … if you read it, then just read it. If you don't like it, then don't take it to heart. "
If she heard that her Master allowed her to read his books, Sima Ping would have jumped up in joy. But at this moment, she only felt an inexplicable panic and sadness. The girl wiped her tears and timidly said, "What don't I like?
The things that Master left behind, I like all of them … "
Silly child, wait until you see those … Maybe you won't think that way.
The Master in your heart, is not as perfect as you think. He is very cruel, he did a lot of bad things, he is intolerable, he is crazy … I'm sorry that I can't always be the perfect Master in your heart, but if I let you see my true colors, maybe you won't miss and be so sad …
At this moment, he had mixed feelings and softly said, "Ping Er, in the future, you must be a good doctor, don't be like Master …"