"Master, please eat something first."
Lu Qing brought in some food.
Because Young Master Wei's condition was not optimistic, the old physician had to remain on standby at all times and could hardly leave the ward.
Lu Qing had gone to the kitchen to prepare some food and brought it over.
"Mhm, just leave it here. I'll eat later."
The old physician was currently feeling Young Master Wei's pulse, his brow furrowed slightly.
At this moment, Guard Li was outside arranging matters; inside the ward, there were only the master and disciple and the unconscious Young Master Wei.
After a moment's thought, Lu Qing asked, "Master, can this young master be saved?"
"It's hard to say." The old physician sighed. "He has lost far too much blood. When he was first brought in, there was hardly any blood left in his body. If it weren't for his strong physical constitution and the life-saving medicine Guard Li and the others administered, he likely wouldn't have lasted until he arrived here."
"Master, looking at this young master's family background, it seems quite extraordinary. If he doesn't wake up, will the Wei family direct their anger toward us?" Lu Qing asked.
The old physician paused.
Then, he turned to Lu Qing and said, "A-Qing, you must remember: as healers, when we treat illnesses and people, the greatest taboo is to be hesitant and indecisive due to foresight and concern."
"Once you have decided to save a life, you must be single-minded and focused on the treatment. This is medical ethics."
"If you do not wish to treat someone, you should turn your sleeves and leave before you even begin, ignoring the matter entirely."
"But once treatment has commenced, you must do your utmost and not give up halfway, lest you feel shame in your heart."
"This disciple understands," Lu Qing responded seriously.
"As for what you are worried about..." The old physician paused before continuing, "Rest assured. The Wei family is a great clan, and their head is not an unreasonable man. We are merely treating a patient. Even if this young master truly meets with misfortune, it won't be blamed on us."
Lu Qing fell into thought.
As he walked out of the ward, Lu Qing was still pondering his master's words.
Of course, he did not entirely agree with everything his master said.
His master was kind-hearted and could not bear to see others suffer; thus, as long as a patient was not great in evil, he treated them all equally.
But Lu Qing did not possess such lofty sentiments.
He preferred to help people based on his own likes and dislikes.
However, there was one thing his master said that he did agree with.
If one is not going to treat, then do not start; but once the decision to treat is made, one should do their absolute best to ensure they have nothing to regret.
"Young Master Lu, Young Master Lu."
While Lu Qing was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone calling him.
Looking up, he saw Ma Gu waving to him from outside the courtyard.
"Master Ma, is something the matter?"
Lu Qing walked over.
As for the Wei family guards stationed in the courtyard, they merely glanced their way and paid them no further mind.
To them, nothing was more important at this moment than the safety of their young master.
Lu Qing followed Ma Gu to a secluded spot.
There was another person waiting there; Lu Qing recognized him as one of Ma Gu's subordinates.
"Master Ma, what is it exactly?" Lu Qing asked.
"Young Master Lu, we owe much to you and Physician Chen this time. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to preserve Young Master Wei's life," Ma Gu said, sounding somewhat shaken. "If anything were to happen to him, I fear you might not see me again in the future."
"You are too kind, Master Ma. It was mainly due to my master's skill; I was merely an assistant and didn't help much," Lu Qing said, shaking his head.
"You are being too modest, Young Master Lu. With your skill in preparing and decocting medicine, you will surely become a divine physician as formidable as your master in the future."
Ma Gu was not ignorant.
In such an emergency, Lu Qing had still been able to perfectly follow Physician Chen's instructions to quickly decoct the necessary life-saving medicine.
This was impossible to achieve without excellent psychological composure and a solid foundation in medicine.
And according to the investigation by his subordinate, Xiao Tian, Lu Qing had not been the old physician's disciple for very long.
To have grown to this level in such a short time...
Lu Qing's talent in medicine was likely no less than his talent in martial arts.
With a youth possessing such exceptional talent in both martial arts and medicine, Lu Qing's importance in Ma Gu's heart grew even heavier.
"Young Master Lu, didn't you say last time that you wanted a battle saber? I have brought it for you."
Before Lu Qing could continue being modest, Ma Gu spoke again.
"So soon?" Lu Qing was surprised. "I thought you said I wouldn't be able to get a blade until the next large market day?"
"When it comes to matters concerning Young Master Lu, I naturally must pay extra attention." Ma Gu signaled to the person behind him. "Xiao Tian, bring the saber."
Xiao Tian, who had been holding a long saber in his arms, immediately presented it with both hands.
Ma Gu took it and handed it to Lu Qing.
"This battle saber was meticulously crafted by a master blacksmith in the city. It cuts through iron like mud, is extremely tough, and has a simple design that perfectly meets your requirements, Young Master Lu."
Lu Qing took the saber and drew it from its sheath; a pleasant, ringing chime echoed through the air.
He looked at the battle saber in his hands. The blade had fine, dense patterns and was exceptionally sharp; a cold aura radiated from it, making the skin on his arms prickle.
After sheathing the blade, Lu Qing asked doubtfully, "Master Ma, this saber must be quite valuable. The silver I have on me won't be enough to buy it."
Even though Lu Qing did not know much about blades, he could tell at a glance that this battle saber was certainly not something that could be bought for a few dozen taels of silver.
"How could I ask Young Master Lu to pay? Consider this saber a gift from me," Ma Gu said.
"That won't do, it's too precious." Lu Qing shook his head and handed the saber back.
"There is no need to decline," Ma Gu said hurriedly. "This time, you and your master saved Young Master Wei's life, which is to say, you saved mine. How can a mere battle saber repay such a life-saving debt? So, please, accept this saber."
The two of them went back and forth, until finally, Lu Qing grew truly impatient.
He said directly, "Let's do this. Young Master Wei's current condition is still uncertain. If he truly wakes up in the future, then I will accept this saber."
At worst, if the young master of the Wei family truly encountered a crisis, he would simply bring out the hundred-year-old ginseng from his home.
"Fine, we shall do as Young Master Lu says. Then I will leave the saber in your care for now. If Young Master Wei wakes up, the saber is yours; if he doesn't, I fear I won't be alive to keep it anyway."
"..."
Faced with Ma Gu's persistent, "sticky" attitude, Lu Qing didn't know what else to say.
So, in the end, the saber remained temporarily in Lu Qing's hands.
However, this also piqued Lu Qing's curiosity regarding the Wei family.
Just what kind of family could make a Bone-Tempering Realm expert with Ma Gu's background so fearful?
And those Wei family guards as well—wasn't there a sense of reverence for their master in their words?
"Master Ma, what exactly is the background of this Wei family that makes you so respectful?"
Driven by curiosity, Lu Qing couldn't help but ask softly.
"The Wei family?" Upon hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Ma Gu's face. "That Wei family is quite something."
(End of Chapter)