Mated at First Sight
Chapter 590 - 395 Encounter (Fourth Change)_1

Chapter 590: Chapter 395 Encounter (Fourth Change)_1

Slowly strolling upstream, Mu Lin couldn’t help feeling a tinge of jealousy looking at the couples around her. If only her grandfather was not away, busily involving himself in military matters.

She had already put what just happened behind her. Little did Mu Lin know that her encounter with that young girl was just the beginning.

Their paths were destined to cross again.

She carried on walking when, suddenly, a fish flew overhead.

Usually, the heavens might send rain. But when it came to Mu Lin, they had switched to fish. Was this a special treatment from God?

She dodged it effortlessly. The fish landed and started flopping around.

"It seems I threw it too hard. I’m sorry, it almost hit you," an old voice, steady yet commanding, reached Mu Lin’s ears. She looked around to see a kind-looking elder giving her a gentle smile, "Could I trouble you to pick up the fish for me?"

After a moment’s thought, Mu Lin reached down and picked up the fish and dropped it into the elder’s bucket. As a thank you, the elder handed her a small bar of soap, and with a friendly smile told her, "Here, for washing your hands. I hope you don’t mind."

"Thank you," Mu Lin replied, handing the soap back after washing her hands. She was about to leave when the elder’s voice stopped her again.

"Young lady, would you join me?" The elder’s soothing voice echoed, "I see you wandering aimlessly. Why not sit here and join me fishing? I have an extra fishing rod."

"I don’t know how to fish," Mu Lin turned around and looked at the elder.

"You can learn," the elder replied with a smile, "Many things seem simple but are not so in actuality. Fishing is a profound practice." Moreover, it is also a great way to relax and unwind.

"Is that so?" Mu Lin gave a faint smile, accepted the rod offered by the elder, and mimicked his posture.

She didn’t quite understand why she agreed to sit down, but she just did.

Her elegant cast was met with the elder’s admiring look. A subtle smile touched her lips, brightening her mood.

It was quiet as she sat there watching the lake. The old man had already taught her everything. She just needed to pay attention to the rod being tugged and then wait a little before reeling it in, by that time the fish would have bitten into the hook.‎

In the placidity of the moment, they sat silently. Twenty minutes passed quickly. The elder glanced at Mu Lin and remarked, "It’s rare these days to see young folks like you being patient."

"Is that so," Mu Lin said with a laugh, "I guess I’m just used to it." When she was younger, her brother Mu Jue had conducted many training exercises that tested her endurance and patience. Once, he had her hold a silver needle in her hand while holding a horse stance for an hour. After that, she could barely feel her limbs.

Thus, sitting still and quiet, without moving a muscle came naturally to her.

The elder remained silent after hearing these words.

He didn’t ask who she was, nor her name, nor her background. He only invited her to join him in fishing. One could get lonely sometimes, after all.

He didn’t expect that Mu Lin would actually agree.

The elder understood from the first moment he saw Mu Lin that she wasn’t one to easily approach others. So, he was a bit surprised.

The fishing rod dipped. The elder looked at Mu Lin, "Looks like there’s a fish on the line." He advised her to remain still until the fish was completely hooked.

After a brief moment, "Pull," the elder said. No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a fish leaped out of the water. This time, luckily, no person was hit.

The elder, sighting the fish hanging from the rod with joy, said, "This is a prized carp." Bathed in sunlight, its golden body glittered. He turned to Mu Lin, "Your luck is truly good."

Of all the people that fish could have hit, it chose Mu Lin. And her first fishing experience led to her catching a prized carp. Despite his many times here, the elder had never once caught such a fish.

Perhaps, the heavens were favoring Mu Lin, he thought, chuckling.

On hearing this, Mu Lin only smiled faintly, "I’ve always been lucky." She then handed the fish and rod back to the elder, "Here, a gift for teaching me how to fish."

"Thanks, young lady," the elder accepted, showing no pretense.

Mu Lin stood up, glanced at the elder, and said, "I’ll take my leave now." With these words, she turned and left.

Somehow, after fishing, her initially gloomy mood had unexpectedly settled.

A smile played at the corners of Mu Lin’s mouth. She felt somewhat amused by the situation; however, this was an amusement that needed to be experienced only once.

Smiling at Mu Lin’s retreating figure, the elder slowly rose to his feet. Having sat for so long, it was time for him to depart too. But just as he had this thought, his feet lurched unexpectedly, and he began leaning forward uncontrollably.

There wasn’t even enough time to cry out.

Just as the elder thought he was surely going to fall into the water, he was abruptly pulled back. His vision blurred, yet he could still make out the figure of a girl.

A smile tugged at his mouth. It was the young lass from earlier.

Only after saving the elder did Mu Lin realize she had dashed back reflexively upon hearing the noise.

Helping the elder sit down on a bench underneath a nearby tree, Mu Lin reached out to feel his pulse. Her elegant eyebrows slightly furrowed; it didn’t seem to be a serious situation.

"Young lass, do you know medicine?" the elder asked in surprise while looking at Mu Lin.

Mu Lin nodded, "A little." She then released the elder’s wrist and took out a small porcelain bottle from her bag. She poured out a dark green pill, "Take this, it will make you feel better."

The elder took the pill without hesitation, swallowed it, and then asked, "What is this?" His gaze fixed on the small porcelain bottle in Mu Lin’s hand. He had initially felt dizzy, but as soon as he smelled the fragrance of the pill when Mu Lin opened the bottle, he felt much better.

"This is specifically to adjust the body," said Mu Lin as she watched the elder. It was a substance Mu Lin had formulated for Master Jing. She had not given all of it to him last time, so she kept a bottle with her, intending to give it to him the next time she visited.

Mu Lin looked at the elder, saying calmly, "You’re not getting enough rest and worrying too much. If you continue like this, your body won’t be able to bear it." People said that when you grow old, you can let go of your worries. However, she felt that the elder sitting before her seemed to be filled with concern.

The elder chuckled, "I know, I am like you, a doctor; a doctor of Chinese medicine." That’s why as soon as he smelled the pill, he swallowed it without any hesitation when Mu Lin handed it to him. He was instantly relieved.

At this moment, the elder became a bit curious about Mu Lin. The thing in her hand was something that even he could not concoct.

He could recognize a few of the ingredients, but there were others... What exactly were they? For a while, he couldn’t figure it out.

Upon hearing the elder’s words, Mu Lin raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. It seemed they really had some connection. This was the first time she’d fully met a fellow practitioner outside. The elder probably thought the same.

Time seemed to pause as the elder continued, "They say a doctor can’t heal themself. Today, I’ve indeed experienced this saying." Although he had been treating his own body, after all this time, it seemed that the pill was more effective than his treatment.

It seemed the younger generation was ready to outdo the older one.

Mu Lin didn’t respond. After a pause, she handed over the small porcelain bottle. The elder accepted it instinctively, looking slightly surprised at Mu Lin.

"For me?"

Mu Lin didn’t respond, only nodding slightly.

"Thank you, young lass." He had initially wanted to ask her for a couple more pills to study later, but he didn’t expect Mu Lin to generously give him the entire bottle.

"One pill a day will do," said Mu Lin, looking at him with a serene smile. "You should sit still for a couple of minutes before getting up." Lifting her gaze, she saw two or three people rushing their way from afar. Nodding to the elder, she then turned and left.

The elder was about to call after her, but then he heard anxious voices from behind him, "What happened, elder? Are you alright?"

The elder retracted his hand and shook his head, "I’m fine." Looking at the retreating figure of Mu Lin, he then stood up, "Pack up everything, let’s go." He hoped they would have the opportunity to meet again.

For the first time, the elder looked forward to something with such anticipation.

The helpers assisted the elder, confusedly looking in the direction where the elder had just been looking, and then helped the elder walk in another direction.

"I think I saw Mengmeng." The statement was like a murmur and yet also like a sigh.