Chapter 138 — We Used to Be Comrades-in-Arms

"So you already know Grandpa Guan? Even better - saves me the introduction." Yang Huaijun breathed a sigh of relief. With that, his duty as matchmaker was done. Since the two of them already knew each other, their conversation could only go all the more smoothly.

Yang Huaijun didn't think much of what Wei Zhao had said, but when the words reached Guan Xuewen's ears, they were staggering! He had assumed that Wei Zhao, so impossibly young, must come from some hidden family of traditional Chinese medicine - in which case having a few lost ancient prescriptions on hand would be perfectly normal.

But Wei Zhao had gone to the bookstore to look up references so he could write a prescription for Yang Huaijun. That was rather startling! In other words, the prescription was entirely Wei Zhao's own creation, not something pulled off a shelf. That alone showed what level Wei Zhao's research into Chinese medicine had reached.

It was just... not even fully familiar with the properties of the herbs, needing to look them up at the bookstore on the spot, yet daring to write a prescription and administer medicine... That kind of nerve was far too audacious! And yet Yang Huaijun had actually trusted him and taken the medicine. Just what exactly was the relationship between these two?

Guan Xuewen was an old hand at reading people. From the subtle gestures and attitudes when Wei Zhao and Yang Huaijun arrived, he could tell the bond between them ran deep. But exactly what kind of bond, even Guan Xuewen could not guess.

But judging by the efficacy, the medicine Wei Zhao had prepared really did work on Yang Huaijun - and that was what shocked Guan Xuewen the most! It seemed Wei Zhao was not relying on some family secret formula but was genuinely formidable. Then today's meeting was something to look forward to.

"I'm ashamed, truly ashamed." Guan Xuewen shook his head with some embarrassment. "Back then, I even tried to get you to enroll in my college of Chinese medicine. Who among the students there could possibly teach you? You'd be better suited as our teacher!"

"Ah, Director Guan jests," Wei Zhao said politely. "What I know is merely some fringe material. After all, Chinese medicine isn't my main field..."

"What? Chinese medicine isn't your main field?" Guan Xuewen was even more stunned by Wei Zhao's words. He even thought to himself, is this kid putting on airs in front of me? Yang Huaijun's condition had stumped countless expert consultations, and Wei Zhao had casually cured him - and Chinese medicine isn't his main field?

However, seeing the sincerity on Wei Zhao's face, and recalling the poised, unyielding words Wei Zhao had spoken at the bookstore that day, Guan Xuewen had no choice but to believe what the young man was saying was true.

"Well, my current main occupation is being a high school senior," Wei Zhao scratched his head. "Actually, Brother Jun knows all about my situation... right?"

Yang Huaijun was somewhat helpless. How could he just casually tell Guan Xuewen about Wei Zhao's affairs? He looked at Wei Zhao with difficulty - if you won't tell people about your own business, how am I supposed to say anything?

"Heh..." In truth, Wei Zhao had no particular desire to hide anything from Guan Xuewen. Since Guan Xuewen had been treating Yang Huaijun's injuries all along, he must surely know exactly how Yang Huaijun was injured and what kind of work he had done before - otherwise it would have been impossible to devise the most effective treatment. So there was no real need to conceal anything from the man. Besides, that stretch of his life spent fighting shoulder to shoulder with Yang Huaijun was merely a small episode in his life. There was no harm in mentioning it. "Director Guan, Brother Jun and I used to be comrades-in-arms."

"Comrades-in-arms..." Guan Xuewen froze for a beat at those two words, and then his expression changed dramatically! He had some inkling of what Yang Huaijun used to do for a living, and if Yang Huaijun's comrade-in-arms was standing right here... didn't that mean...

Looking at Wei Zhao, he couldn't be more than twenty years old! And he had said himself that he was merely a high school senior, yet he was actually Yang Huaijun's comrade-in-arms? That was a bit too incredible, wasn't it?

But now Guan Xuewen understood why Yang Huaijun dared to drink the medicine Wei Zhao had prepared for him! Even if you didn't know Wei Zhao was some miraculous healer, the friendship and trust forged in battle was something no ordinary bond could compare to!

Still, how Wei Zhao had come to be a high school student baffled Guan Xuewen. He didn't know the full story, but it likely involved classified matters, so Guan Xuewen did not press further.

"So you and Xiao Yang are comrades-in-arms... Look at me, standing here chattering away - come in, let's talk inside..." Guan Xuewen finally realized he was still blocking the villa entrance and hadn't invited anyone in. This was because he had been far too stunned; otherwise, a man of his standing would never have committed such a basic oversight.

"It's no trouble," Wei Zhao smiled. "Director Guan, there's no need to be so formal with me. If it weren't for you, Brother Jun would have lost his life. In the end, it's I who should be thanking you - there's no need for such pleasantries! You are my elder, and I am the younger one. There's no need for this."

"In learning, there is no order of seniority - one who has achieved mastery is the teacher!" Guan Xuewen waved his hand. "At my age, I still understand this principle! Your medical skills surpass mine. Before me, you are the expert, the teacher. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished! Besides, Xiao Yang's elders and I share a close friendship. Both in sentiment and in principle, I should have given my all."

"Well, that's different. Brother Jun is my man, so naturally I must express my gratitude to you." Wei Zhao followed Guan Xuewen into the villa and into the living room.

"Hm?" Guan Xuewen was taken aback. "Your man? What do you mean, your man?"

Although Guan Xuewen was older, he kept up with popular culture online. Hearing Wei Zhao call Yang Huaijun "his man"... Guan Xuewen felt a sudden chill. Could there be something between the two of them...? But then again, Yang Huaijun didn't seem like that kind of person, and Wei Zhao didn't look like one either. So what exactly did he mean?

Seeing Guan Xuewen's rather odd expression, Yang Huaijun and Wei Zhao simultaneously realized that the words just spoken had carried an unintended ambiguity! Yang Huaijun understood Wei Zhao's meaning, but Guan Xuewen did not. Yang Huaijun explained with a wry smile: "Grandpa Guan, Wei Zhao used to be our squad's captain. Among all the squads, he was notorious for being fiercely protective of his own... so we were all his people..."

"Ah? Mr. Lin was your captain..." Guan Xuewen was even more surprised now. It seemed Wei Zhao hadn't been bluffing - Chinese medicine really wasn't his main field. He possessed extraordinary talents in other areas, otherwise he could never have become Yang Huaijun's captain.

Yang Huaijun's old unit had been a suicide squad... and the reason they called it a suicide squad was that every man in it feared neither death nor dying easily! To have served as captain of such a unit was no simple matter of superior medical skill...