“Many thanks to Old Doctor Chen for your care these past few days.”
In the small courtyard on the mountainside, the young master of the Wei family was being supported by a servant as he bowed slightly to the old doctor in gratitude.
“There is no need for such formalities, young master. Remember, once you return, you must rest more, pay attention to your recuperation, and focus on healing your injuries,” the old doctor instructed.
“Zi'an will remember.”
After expressing his thanks, the young master, supported by the servant, slowly stepped into a sedan chair.
His wounds had not yet fully healed, and his body remained weak; he could not be exposed to too much wind. On the journey back, he could only travel in a soft sedan chair capable of blocking the wind to prevent any pathogenic evils from entering his body.
Watching this scene, the Great Steward of the Wei family nodded slightly.
Over the past few days, he had noticed that after this brush with life and death, the young master had become somewhat more composed, no longer as unruly as before. In the past, it would not have been easy to get him to thank a physician.
Thus, although they had encountered a great disaster and nearly lost a life, if the young master could truly change because of it, it could be considered a blessing in disguise rather than a misfortune.
Once the young master was inside the sedan chair, the Great Steward stepped forward.
“Old Doctor Chen, the fact that my young master was fortunate enough to wake up this time, preserve his life, and now recover so well without any serious lingering ailments is entirely due to your miraculous touch and your benevolent medical skill.”
“For this, everyone in the Wei Estate is profoundly grateful.”
“Here are some modest gifts prepared by our Madam, as a token of gratitude for your care of our young master during these days.”
With a wave of his hand, the Great Steward signaled two guards to bring up a large chest, while two other guards carried smaller boxes and containers.
The Great Steward took a small box from one of the guards and opened it.
A dazzling golden light shone from within; it contained rows of glittering small gold ingots. When the large chest was opened, it was filled with a brilliant silver light, containing a massive chest full of silver ingots.
“Old Doctor Chen, there are ten thousand taels of silver and one thousand taels of gold in total here. Please accept them graciously.”
Looking at the gold and silver in the chests, the old doctor's expression did not change much.
He sighed. “Your esteemed household is far too kind. This old man was merely fulfilling the duties of a physician; I truly do not deserve such generous gifts.”
“You are too modest, Old Doctor Chen. My young master is of noble status and is the apple of Madam's eye. By curing him, you have saved Madam's life. These mere bits of gold and silver only represent a tiny fraction of the Wei Estate's gratitude toward you.”
“Aside from these materials, there is another gift that my Madam has specially prepared for you.”
As he spoke, the Great Steward opened another box and took out a book.
“This *Qingnang Medical Classic* was specifically sought out by Madam's command to be given to you.”
“What? The *Qingnang Medical Classic*?”
The old doctor had intended to continue declining, but upon hearing this, he was suddenly struck with shock.
“Is this the *Qingnang Medical Classic* written by the legendary Medical Saint?”
“Indeed, it is the *Qingnang Medical Classic* that embodies the lifelong dedication of that legendary Medical Saint,” the Great Steward nodded with a smile.
At this moment, the words of refusal were stuck in the old doctor's throat.
For a pure physician like him, who was devoted to the art of medicine, the *Qingnang Medical Classic* written by the legendary Medical Saint held an irresistible allure. He had long held deep reverence for this medical classic.
Unfortunately, any family that possessed the *Qingnang Medical Classic* would only treasure it as a family heirloom, never showing it to others easily. Consequently, for the first half of his life, he had never had the chance to lay eyes on this precious medical manual that countless physicians yearned for.
Now, hearing that the Wei family had brought it, the old doctor's heart was suddenly torn with conflict.
The Great Steward saw the old doctor's hesitation.
He laughed heartily. “Why should you be so concerned, Old Doctor Chen? This *Qingnang Medical Classic* can only realize its true value when it falls into the hands of a great physician with both skill and benevolence like yourself.”
“To treat illnesses and save lives is the conviction of all physicians. I believe that when the Medical Saint wrote this book, he did not wish for his life's work to be tucked away on a high shelf, but rather hoped it would save countless lives and help physicians better treat and heal people.”
“With your medical skill, if aided by this *Qingnang Medical Classic*, your abilities might reach even greater heights. For countless patients, that would be a blessing.”
Hearing this, the old doctor's heart suddenly cleared.
He joyfully accepted the medical classic and smiled. “The Great Steward is right. It is this old man who was too caught up in appearances.”
Watching this from the side, Lu Qing thought to himself how impressive this was. This Great Steward of the Wei family was indeed extraordinary. With just a few words, he had persuaded his master to accept the gifts.
However, to Lu Qing's surprise, after presenting the *Qingnang Medical Classic*, the Great Steward turned his gaze toward him.
“As for Young Master Lu and Little Miss Lu, our Madam has also prepared a modest gift for them.”
Lu Qing was stunned. “There are gifts for me and Xiaoyan as well?”
“Of course. We heard that when our young master was first brought here, Young Master Lu spent day and night in the pharmacy preparing and decocting medicine. You contributed significantly, and our Wei family naturally dares not overlook this kindness.”
The Great Steward opened another box.
“I observe that Young Master Lu is not only proficient in pharmacology but also possesses great talent in the path of martial arts. At such a young age, you are already a Qi and Blood Realm martial artist. In the future, breaking through to the Bone and Muscle Realm and stepping into the Internal Organ Realm should be no difficult task.”
“In the path of medicine, with Old Doctor Chen's guidance, your medical career will surely be smooth, and becoming a great physician will be only a matter of time; there is no need for us to overstep. However, in the path of martial arts, while talent is important, cultivation resources are also indispensable. Therefore, my Madam has specially sent two gifts for you.”
“This manual records a secret technique for the Bone and Muscle Realm, and this bottle of pills is called Bone-Forging Pills, which are quite useful for martial artists in that realm.”
“Consider this a small boost from my Madam for Young Master Lu's future martial path.”
The gifts the Wei family gave to Lu Qing were actually a martial arts secret technique and a bottle of pills, both of which were items only useful once one reached the Bone and Muscle Realm.
“Bone-Forging Pills?” Old Doctor Chen was slightly startled. “Are these the Bone-Forging Pills said to be able to increase a Bone and Muscle Realm martial artist's strength by thirty percent?”
“Precisely those pills. Most Bone and Muscle Realm experts, once they cultivate to perfection and their bones reach their limit, cannot progress further and can only seek a breakthrough from the outside to the internal organs,” the Great Steward replied.
“But these Bone-Forging Pills can break that rule, allowing even a martial artist at the peak of the Bone and Muscle Realm, whose bones have reached their limit, to strengthen their bones by another thirty percent.”
Only after hearing this did Lu Qing realize the immense value of these two gifts. Setting aside the Bone and Muscle secret technique, these Bone-Forging Pills were far too precious. Any pill capable of breaking limits and enhancing a martial artist's foundation and potential was extremely valuable anywhere.
In the eyes of some Bone and Muscle Realm martial artists, the gift given to him by the Wei family might even be more valuable than the one given to his master.
“Master.”
Sensing the weight of this gift, Lu Qing did not reach out to take it directly but instead looked toward the old doctor.
The old doctor also felt the gift was too precious. However, on second thought, since he had already accepted a treasure like the *Qingnang Medical Classic*, there was no need to act like a child.
He nodded to Lu Qing. “Since it is the Wei family's goodwill, then accept it.”
Only then did Lu Qing reach out and take the box.
Seeing Lu Qing accept the gift, the Great Steward revealed a smile.
No one knew that this gift for Lu Qing was actually something Lu Qing himself had suggested to the Madam.
During this time, while the Great Steward was staying at the small courtyard to care for the young master, he saw Lu Qing every day. Then, he discovered something startling.
Lu Qing was a true martial arts genius.
Although Lu Qing never practiced in front of him, he could feel that the Qi and Blood power within Lu Qing's body grew more vigorous day by day. The speed of his progress was so shocking that even someone like him, who had seen many young talents, was stunned.
This shock was even greater when he learned from the villagers who occasionally came up the mountain from Qili Village that Lu Qing had only officially become Old Doctor Chen's disciple for about a month.
He realized that Lu Qing's martial talent was likely even more exaggerated than he had imagined.
Once he realized this, the Great Steward immediately considered how to cultivate a good relationship with this rare martial prodigy.
Therefore, the reason the Wei family sent such heavy gifts this time was not only to thank Old Doctor Chen for saving their young master, but more importantly, to build a connection with this master and disciple pair.
For the Wei family, if they could exchange a bit of resources for the goodwill of a great physician and a future martial powerhouse, it would be a massive investment.
After presenting Lu Qing's gifts, the gifts for Xiaoyan were much simpler. They were just some small trinkets and clothes that girls liked; though not cheap, they were much more ordinary compared to those given to Lu Qing.
“Old Doctor Chen, Young Master Lu, as the mountains and rivers meet again, we shall escort the young master back first. In the future, when you two visit the county seat, you must come to our Wei Estate as guests and allow us to fulfill our duties as hosts.”
After delivering everything, the Great Steward cupped his hands.
“If my disciple and I visit the county seat, we shall certainly pay a visit. To everyone on the way back, please take care,” the old doctor said.
“We are honored by your kind words.”
The Great Steward bowed once more to Old Doctor Chen and Lu Qing before turning around. He commanded the guards, “Depart for the estate!”
At his command, the guards immediately moved. Several tall, Bone and Muscle Realm guards each took a side of the soft sedan chair, lifting it gently to walk down the mountain.
The mountain path was uneven, but under the guards' control, the sedan chair was very steady, with almost no perceptible jolting.
As everyone descended, the Great Steward, being the last, bowed once more to Lu Qing and Old Doctor Chen before stepping down the mountain.
The old doctor wanted to decline further, but the Great Steward's attitude was exceptionally firm.