Serena Feng was somewhat disgusted by her own sensitivity to the smell of blood.
The moment she stepped into the small courtyard, she caught the scent of blood—faint, diffused in the air, undetectable to most unless they focused. After sending Evan Zhou away, Serena shut the courtyard gate tightly.
Serena Feng was never one for soft-heartedness or sympathy.
No matter how high their martial arts skills, a single bullet would take them down.
"Miss Feng is truly perceptive." Princess Yara Valen, supporting her gravely injured brother Prince Terrence Valen, stepped out, her sword rudely pointed straight at Serena.
"Who are you?" Serena let her hand fall, quietly tightening her grip on her pistol.
Serena didn’t care much for Lance Quinn, but she liked these two even less.
"Miss Feng, we’ve met before—outside the city, by the Wang Clan carriage. How could you forget me?" Prince Terrence Valen, still weak, coughed up blood as he spoke, yet his noble bearing was unmistakable.
"It’s you?"
Serena didn’t care much for Lance Quinn, but she liked the two visitors even less.
Still, she was a doctor, and most of the time doctors didn’t have the right to choose their patients.
"We meet again."
"Too bad it’s never a pleasant meeting. And could you please move your sword? I hate being threatened at swordpoint." No one likes their life threatened.
"Do you even have the right to hate it?" Princess Yara Valen lifted her chin, her voice full of disdain.
"I do now. I’ll count to three—if you don’t lower your sword, don’t expect me to treat him. If I’m not mistaken, his lung lobe is injured." Threatening a doctor—clearly tired of living.
"You’ve got some nerve. Do you even know who we are?"
"Who you are doesn’t matter to me. If you’ve come seeking treatment, you follow my rules. Put down your sword, or I won’t mind bandaging you up again."
"Serena Feng, you’re awfully arrogant. I’d like to see how you bandage me again."
After the assassination attempt that left both her brother and her beloved wounded, Princess Yara Valen was already simmering with anger. She’d waited half a day at Feng Manor for Serena Feng, only to be met with arrogance. Unable to bear it, she raised her sword, ready to strike.
Serena flicked her wrist, aiming her gun through her sleeve at Yara’s calf, finger tightening on the trigger—when Terrence spoke up: "Enough. Stop."
"Brother..." Princess Yara Valen stomped her foot in frustration; when had she ever been treated like this?
Prince Terrence Valen ignored her, composed himself, and turned to Serena Feng with impeccable manners: "Miss Feng, forgive us for the disturbance. We had no choice. We’ve heard of your kindness and skill—your reputation for saving lives is well known. I beg you to help me."
Unfortunately, Serena Feng had never been one to coddle anyone. She watched coldly as Yara sweated and Terrence’s wound reopened and bled, standing aside with no sympathy.
If you’re asking for help, you have to act like you’re asking for help.
"You flatter me, sir. I’m a doctor—when a patient comes to my door, of course I’ll treat them. But my consultation fee isn’t cheap. For your injury, it’s one thousand taels." The man before her was strikingly handsome and noble, but Serena Feng wasn’t the least bit swayed.
When it came to looks, no man in this world could compare to Ninth Royal Uncle.
And in terms of bearing, not a single man could match even a tenth of Ninth Royal Uncle’s.
Serena Feng held out her hand, clearly expecting payment first.
"If you can heal my brother, forget one thousand taels—even ten thousand, I’ll pay you." Princess Yara Valen was thoroughly disgusted by Serena Feng’s obsession with money.
"Such bold words, miss. Since you said ten thousand, it’d be rude for me to refuse. By the way, did I mention I meant gold, not silver?" Serena was in a good mood—an idiot had just walked into her trap.
So what if she was extorting them?
These two had come hiding in her home—clearly afraid to seek a doctor elsewhere.
"Ten thousand taels of gold? Why don’t you just rob someone?" Princess Yara Valen was so furious she could spit blood, while Prince Terrence Valen’s condition worsened, forcing him to lean heavily on his sister.
"Robbery isn’t nearly as safe. If I could just rob ten thousand taels of gold, why would I bother being a doctor?"
Serena Feng knew exactly when to stop. Judging by Prince Terrence Valen’s appearance, she realized his injury couldn’t be delayed any longer.
"Enough. Saving lives comes first—I don’t have time to play games. Take him to the small wooden clinic. I’m sure you know which hut I mean."
She turned and walked away, not giving the two of them a second glance.
"Brother, Serena Feng is way too arrogant."
"She’s earned the right to be arrogant—her pride is real. No wonder she’s a daughter of the Feng clan." Prince Terrence Valen’s gaze lingered on Serena Feng, unable to look away.
Princess Yara Valen was so furious she could almost spit blood, but she had no choice—she needed Serena Feng to save her brother.
Serena Feng opened the clinic hut and led them into the outer room, gesturing for Princess Yara Valen to lay her brother on the small bed.
Yara wasn’t a weak woman, but supporting such a tall man while avoiding his injury was still a struggle.
To him, the room was simple and plain—he couldn’t see why Serena cherished it, nor why she’d have General Warren Yu’s troops guarding it...
"You have no compassion as a doctor—you’re a hypocritical woman." Yara panted after settling Terrence on the bed.
Serena didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. She raised the bed’s wheels: "All right, you can go prepare the consultation fee. If I don’t see the money by dawn, I’ll restore his wound to its original state."
"Serena Feng, you wouldn’t dare!"
Yara tried to reach for her sword again, but Serena said lightly, "Why wouldn’t I dare? Your lives are worth more than mine. If you don’t want to watch him die, then please leave. Without my order, you’re not allowed back in."
"You actually dare to order me around? Are you looking for death?" As a princess of Lyndaria, Yara had never been treated like this.
"If you won’t follow my instructions, then please take him away—I don’t treat uncooperative patients." Serena’s tone was firm.
It wasn’t that Serena Feng didn’t respect strength, it was just that...
Her treatment methods really weren’t suitable for outsiders to witness.
So... let her be proud.
Yara wanted to protest, but Terrence barked, "Go—do as Miss Feng says."
Though injured, his aura of command was undiminished.
Yara hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
Serena Feng said nothing, but once Yara left, she pushed Terrence into the inner room.
"Sir, I won’t charge you a fee, nor will I reveal your affairs. I have only one request: keep your unruly sister far away from me."
Terrence considered, then smiled. "Agreed."
He was starting to understand why Lance Quinn looked at this woman differently.
She was genuine—not like most women, who wore masks of gentleness while acting despicably.
Serena Feng leisurely lit the lamp in the inner room.
With the lamp lit, Terrence finally took in the whole room.
To him, the room was simple and plain—he couldn’t see why Serena cherished it, nor why she’d have General Warren Yu’s troops guarding it...