Chapter 23: Memory and First Aid

【Proceed with download?】

Lu Qing froze the moment he saw this text prompt.

Then, a smile spread across his face.

This superpower of his truly did provide surprises from time to time.

He had been worrying about how to tackle this *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*, and he hadn't expected a "pillow" to be delivered to him so quickly.

Without hesitation, Lu Qing selected download.

【Downloading... Current progress: 1%...】

Lu Qing waited quietly, but after a long while, he didn't see the progress bar move at all.

He paused, thought for a moment, and then picked up the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*, beginning to flip through it slowly from the beginning.

Sure enough, as he flipped through the pages, the download progress bar began to move.

【1%, 2%, 3%... 98%, 99%, 100%】

【Download of *Classic of a Hundred Herbs* complete. Proceed with learning?】

By the time Lu Qing finished reading through the entire book, his superpower indicated that the download was fully complete.

At the same time, a new prompt popped up.

Lu Qing selected "Learn" immediately.

In the next instant, a massive influx of information surged into his mind, like a sudden enlightenment, allowing him to rapidly memorize and comprehend the contents of the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*.

To an outsider, Lu Qing merely looked like he was staring blankly while holding a book, but no one knew the transformation occurring within his mind.

"The Way of Herbs is indeed profound and vast."

After a while, Lu Qing snapped back to reality, speaking with a sigh of admiration.

At this moment, he had already memorized the entire *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*.

He also possessed a fundamental understanding of its contents.

He could now consider himself intimately familiar with the names and characteristics of the various herbs described in the book.

Of course, this understanding was still merely theoretical.

Next, he would need to study them in conjunction with actual herbs to truly master the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*.

However, even this single bout of memorization allowed Lu Qing to feel the immense depth of herbalism.

The *Classic of a Hundred Herbs* recorded hundreds of species, yet this represented less than one ten-thousandth of all the herbs in the world.

The way these herbs could be combined and transformed to create various medicinal formulas to treat illnesses was truly miraculous.

Having learned of the magic of herbs, Lu Qing's interest grew even stronger.

Even though he had committed the entire book to memory, he continued to flip through the physical copy in his hands, reviewing the old to learn the new.

Old Doctor Chen had been in the room the whole time, waiting for Lu Qing to come and consult him.

After waiting for a long time without Lu Qing entering, he had no choice but to come out into the courtyard to see what was happening.

There, he saw Lu Qing reading the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs* with great enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was playing by herself in another corner, catching butterflies and not disturbing her brother.

Seeing this, the old doctor felt a secret sense of gratification.

It seemed that Lu Qing's claim of being interested in herbs was not just empty words.

Otherwise, how could he be so engrossed in a dry book like the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs*?

However, the *Classic of a Hundred Herbs* was not something easily understood.

Just as Old Doctor Chen was about to ask Lu Qing if there was anything he didn't understand...

Suddenly, several anxious shouts came from outside the courtyard.

"Old Doctor Chen! Is Old Doctor Chen home?"

"I'm here!"

Seeing the panic in the voices outside, the old doctor hurried out to meet them.

Lu Qing was also startled and stood up with his book.

He then saw several villagers carrying an unconscious person inside. The old doctor directed them to place the person in the center of the courtyard.

Lu Qing recognized the unconscious man; he was also a villager, someone he should address as Uncle Zhao.

At this moment, Uncle Zhao was soaked through, his face was ashen, his abdomen was bloated, and he was completely unconscious.

"Come, everyone, disperse first. Let me take a look."

After directing them to lay the man down, the old doctor waved his hand for the villagers to step back.

No one dared to disobey the old doctor and immediately stood far away.

One of them happened to step back right in front of Lu Qing.

Lu Qing lightly tapped his shoulder: "Brother Da'an."

The villager jumped in surprise. Looking back and seeing it was Lu Qing, he exclaimed, "Lu Qing, what are you doing here?"

"Never mind that for now," Lu Qing said softly. "What happened to Uncle Zhao?"

"He fell into the water. If we hadn't been nearby, he probably would have been swept away by the river," Wang Da'an replied.

"How did he fall in?" Lu Qing asked in surprise. "Don't you guys usually go fishing together?"

"He wasn't with us today; he went to another spot to fish by himself."

"Where?"

Wang Da'an's expression became somewhat awkward. He glanced around before whispering, "It should be the same place where you were catching big fish yesterday."

"..." Lu Qing fell silent for a moment before saying, "Even so, he shouldn't have fallen in. I leveled that area quite well."

"I wouldn't know about that. We just heard his cries for help. By the time we rushed over, he was already in the river, swept quite far downstream and almost submerged."

As Wang Da'an was speaking, he suddenly seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, right, when we pulled Old Zhao out, he was still clutching his fishing rod tightly, though the line had long since snapped."

Lu Qing fell silent again. A suspicion suddenly formed in his mind.

However, he still asked, "Can't Uncle Zhao swim?"

"No, he can't. If he could swim, would he have nearly drowned? The current where he fell wasn't even that fast."

"..." Lu Qing was speechless.

Not knowing how to swim, going to the river alone to fish, and then actually jumping in to grab a rod—Uncle Zhao was far too reckless.

Based on years of fishing experience, Lu Qing had basically guessed the reason why Uncle Zhao fell in, but he would have to wait until the man regained consciousness to be sure.

Lu Qing looked toward the center of the courtyard.

By now, Old Doctor Chen had also learned from the other villagers that Old Zhao's unconsciousness was caused by drowning.

He immediately pried open Old Zhao's mouth to check for any foreign objects blocking his airway.

After confirming there were no obstructions, he immediately pressed his hands against Old Zhao's chest and abdomen.

Using some unknown technique, he applied gentle pressure with both hands. In the next moment, Old Zhao let out a loud gasp and vomited a large amount of turbid water.

The old doctor pressed again, and Old Zhao vomited another mouthful of turbid water.

The doctor continued this rhythmic pressing; with every stroke, Old Zhao would expel more turbid water.

After seven or eight presses, the amount of water being expelled decreased. After about a dozen presses, the unconscious Old Zhao suddenly coughed a few times and slowly opened his eyes.

"He's awake! He's awake!"

"Old Zhao is back!"

"Old Doctor Chen is truly amazing!"

The villagers shouted in joy.

At the same time, they were utterly awestruck by the old doctor's medical skills.

When they had carried Old Zhao in just a moment ago, they saw that his chest had barely been moving; they thought he was a goner.

They hadn't expected the old doctor's miraculous touch to bring him back to life.

After coughing for a while, Old Zhao slowly regained his senses.

He looked around at the people with a dazed expression: "Where am I?"

(End of Chapter)