Chapter 8: and

Madam Zhang could no longer hold back: "Old Physician Xue, I am but a foolish woman from the countryside, with shallow knowledge and crude speech. However, there are some things I must say, so please do not take offense."

"You say your medical skills are not refined; that is your humble way of speaking. But my son Shou'an is not in critical condition, so please, watch your tongue!"

She pressed her palms together and bowed toward the sky: "Fortunately, the Bodhisattva has blessed us, and a divine doctor has chosen to live in seclusion in our poor, remote village. It is by fate that we have met such a divine doctor, and it is Shou'an's destiny not to die."

"The two divine doctors are honored guests of my estate. Please, Old Physician Xue, stop calling them 'swindlers' at every turn. If you anger the divine doctors, our Zhang family will not know how to conduct ourselves."

Master Zhang truly wanted to applaud Madam Zhang; he had almost been unable to stop himself from striking the old man just moments ago.

Old Physician Xue was stunned. Had the old woman of the Zhang family gone mad? To humiliate him so openly! If Zhang Shou'an could be brought back to life in that state, he would write his name, Xue Henian, backward. Hmph!

As the atmosphere in the courtyard reached a stalemate, the bedroom door creaked open. Everyone stretched their necks to peer inside, and Master and Madam Zhang stumbled toward the bed.

Zhang Shou'an still had his eyes closed, but his expression was peaceful, and the deathly pallor had vanished from his face.

Hu Er said to the couple, "Most of the accumulated toxins in Young Master Zhang's body have been expelled. He should wake up in about two or three hours."

Master and Madam Zhang were overcome with emotion. Zhang Shou'an had been in a coma for half a month; if he could wake up, it would be a blessing from the heavens.

Old Physician Xue strolled in unhurriedly. He wanted to see if Zhang Shou'an had been treated to death; such a joke was only worth seeing in person.

But upon seeing that Zhang Shou'an’s complexion was vastly different from the day before, he was shocked. He hurried forward to check Zhang Shou'an’s pulse. Although it was not as strong as a healthy person's, it was certainly not the pulse of a dying man.

Old Physician Xue shook his head repeatedly, muttering, "Impossible, impossible. Two bumpkins—how could this be possible?"

Over there, no one paid any mind to Old Physician Xue’s loss of composure. Master Zhang gripped Hu Er’s hand, too moved to speak. Madam Zhang kept her palms pressed together, thanking the Bodhisattva incessantly.

Hu Er took out another brocade box and instructed Master Zhang, "This is the other divine medicine. Once Young Master Zhang wakes up, dissolve it in water and have him drink it as well."

By the bedside, Old Physician Xue, still doubting himself, caught the words "divine medicine." He lunged forward and snatched the pill from their hands.

He held the pill up to examine it, sniffed it, and even licked it. He could identify most of the medicinal ingredients, but there were one or two he did not recognize.

Master and Madam Zhang stood around Old Physician Xue, their expressions tense. The divine doctor had said there were only two such pills and they were extremely precious; they were terrified this old man would swallow it in one gulp.

When Master Zhang saw Old Physician Xue stick out his tongue to lick the medicine, he could no longer restrain himself. He snatched the medicine back, wiped it carefully with his sleeve, and felt disgusted—this was Shou'an’s life-saving medicine, and it had been licked by this old man!

Old Physician Xue didn't care to scold Master Zhang, thinking to himself, "I knew it. How could my medical skills be inferior to two bumpkins? It was because of the divine medicine. Divine medicine! To think it was wasted on these two bumpkins. How did they get their hands on it?"

Old Physician Xue turned his head and barked, "Hu Er, tell the truth! Where did you steal this medicine? Hand over the rest of it immediately, or I will have you sent to the magistrate." Greed glittered in his eyes.

Hu Er looked at the old man with the triangular eyes, feeling bewildered. Where did this lunatic come from? He rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Old Physician Xue was so angry he felt his lungs might burst. In these two days, he had suffered more humiliation than in his entire life. If he didn't teach this disrespectful bumpkin a lesson today, he wouldn't be a Xue.

"Hu Er, I have already verified that you never apprenticed under a famous master. You only learned a few scraps from your amateur father, yet you dare to treat patients! Your skills are mediocre; you can't even cure a common cold. You are playing with human lives. This title of 'divine doctor' is a fraud, fooling the villagers—you are a disgrace to the medical profession. What right do you have to possess divine medicine?"

Hu Er had not expected his background to be laid bare by this old man. Facing the old man’s aggressive questioning, he broke into a cold sweat.

Xie Qingli saw that the old man was dressed elegantly and acted arrogantly. Not only did he refer to himself as an official, but he also took it upon himself to question them on behalf of the medical community. She guessed this must be the legendary Old Physician Xue.

She spoke leisurely: "I gave this medicine to Brother Hu. What of it? Does the government also regulate neighbors giving each other rice, vegetables, and eggs?"

Old Physician Xue turned to glance at Xie Qingli. This wet-behind-the-ears wench dared to interrupt? She was incredibly bold.

Before Old Physician Xue could attack, Xie Qingli’s annoying voice drifted over again: "What, are you going to say, 'Where did a country girl like you get divine medicine? Tell the truth, or face the magistrate'?"

"I won't trouble you to threaten me. I'll tell the truth." Xie Qingli chuckled and spread her hands: "This medicine was passed down to me by my master. As for my master's name, I don't know; as for where he is now, I don't know that either."

Old Physician Xue felt a tightness in his chest from being retorted. This wench dared to fool him with lies! He shouted, "You bold girl, how dare you fob me off with lies! No one would not know their own master's name or his whereabouts. Hmph, this fabricated master—I suspect you don't even know what he looks like!"

Xie Qingli’s smile was bright and innocent: "Of course I know what my master looks like. My master is the most handsome Taoist in the world. He cares for the affairs of the world and is the most powerful person on earth."

Old Physician Xue had assumed Xie Qingli was spouting nonsense, but upon hearing it was a Taoist, he was shaken. A Taoist with such brilliant medical skills—could it be that old Taoist Lingxu?

He remained calm and feigned anger: "You still won't admit you're lying? A person of such stature is not someone a lowly village girl like you would have the fortune to meet, let alone apprentice under!"

Xie Qingli seemed not to care about Old Physician Xue’s disparagement: "What’s so difficult about that? For those with good luck, opportunities come knocking. I was just picking firewood on the mountain every day, and that day, I happened to see my master resting on the hillside. It was a hot day, so I gave him some wild fruits I had picked to quench his thirst."

She smiled proudly: "Who would have thought that good deeds are rewarded? My master said I had a natural talent and took me as his apprentice. Come to think of it, I miss the old man so much!" Her expression was a bit wistful; the story was made up, but the longing was real.

Old Physician Xue gritted his teeth upon hearing this. A few wild fruits were enough to move him?

Years ago, he had heard that Taoist Lingxu could bring the dead back to life and put flesh on bones. He had admired such skills greatly and sincerely wanted to apprentice under him.

But Taoist Lingxu wandered everywhere, his whereabouts uncertain. He spent years searching, and when he finally tracked him down, he knelt devoutly before Lingxu’s door for three days, yet the Taoist never appeared.

He refused to give up and rushed into the room, only to find it empty. He had knelt there for three days like a fool.

Old Physician Xue had already been a famous imperial physician then, respected by all, yet Taoist Lingxu had toyed with him and let him down. From then on, he had hated Taoist Lingxu.

Now, the hatred in Old Physician Xue’s heart grew wildly. Why should this lowly wench before him possess what he could not?

He could no longer suppress his jealousy and twisted his face: "Your words are still unbelievable. You can only prove you didn't steal it if you tell me the formula."

Xie Qingli looked naive and charming: "What’s so hard about that?"

Old Physician Xue was full of greed: "Tell me!!!"

The others in the room were tense. Old Physician Xue’s greed and jealousy were nakedly displayed on his face. The girl was too simple; she couldn't see his true colors. Hu Er quickly ran to Xie Qingli’s side, intending to cover her mouth.

But Xie Qingli’s clear voice had already rung out: "Astragalus, Bupleurum, Ginseng, Pinellia, Licorice..." She counted on her fingers, then tapped her forehead: "Oh, right, and one most important divine herb."

"Divine herb? What is its name?" Old Physician Xue’s triangular eyes stared fixedly at Xie Qingli, his heart filled with wild joy. Yes, that was it—the divine herb. He had identified all the other ingredients.

Xie Qingli said with a hint of mockery: "Zhuyu grass, of course! You don't even know that? What kind of imperial physician are you? No wonder you couldn't meet a master like mine."

Old Physician Xue was choked with anger...

He desperately suppressed the rage that had rushed to his head: "What are the characteristics of Zhuyu grass? What does it look like?"

Xie Qingli spread her hands: "What use is knowing its characteristics and appearance? There is only one such plant in the world."

Old Physician Xue was so angry he saw stars, his face turning leaden: "Draw what the Zhuyu grass looks like for me!!!"

Xie Qingli pointed at herself, looking puzzled: "Me? Do I look like someone who has studied painting? It’s not that I can’t draw it for you, but wait another ten or eight years! I’ll go find a master who is good at painting to teach me immediately."

Old Physician Xue was almost driven to his grave by Xie Qingli’s impenetrable attitude. He glanced at the crowd, who were watching the spectacle with relish, and flicked his sleeves in a rage before storming out.

Zhuyu grass, Zhuyu grass... He didn't believe it. He, Xue Henian, would find it even if he had to exhaust everything he had...

(End of chapter)