“A daughter does indeed add to the burden in an ordinary poor family, but what puzzles me is, did no one in your family teach you etiquette and morals? I’m truly astonished that you could do something like digging up someone’s ancestral grave.”
Xiǎo Bái lowered his head and ate, murmuring, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Follow me from now on, and don’t do such things again,” the young man’s tone softened. “By the way, my name is Xǔ Xiān, a physician at Hundred Herbs Hall. Stay by my side, learn how I treat illnesses, and you can make a living this way in the future, without worrying about food and clothing.” Xǔ Xiān said no more after that.
“Xǔ Xiān?” Upon hearing the name, Xiǎo Bái’s expression changed drastically. As a person from modern times, he was naturally familiar with this name. Could this young man before him, with his vastly different demeanor, be the weak scholar he remembered? This realization shattered his worldview. After inexplicably transmigrating to this ancient era, confirming it was the Song Dynasty, he had initially thought he could carve out a niche with his advanced knowledge. However, lacking household registration, he was imprisoned for over a month. In jail, his arrogance led to him being beaten by inmates, leaving scars on his face. Finally released with no money and starving to death in the wild, he saw an offering and stole food while the worshippers were away. Driven by an inexplicable urge, he succumbed to greed and tried to rob a grave, only to be caught red-handed. After hiding for a few days, he was finally captured. He thought his misfortune had reached its peak, but upon hearing the name ‘Xǔ Xiān,’ he realized with a shock that he had landed in the world of The Legend of the White Snake—a world where gods, immortals, demons, and ghosts truly existed. Looking at Xǔ Xiān before him, who bore no resemblance to the weak scholar of his memory, Xiǎo Bái could only silently accept this bizarre reality.
“You can sleep in my bed tonight. Tomorrow I’ll take you to Hundred Herbs Hall, set up two beds, and you can sleep there from now on.” Xǔ Xiān sensed Xiǎo Bái’s shock and, mistaking it for awe at his medical reputation, didn’t pry further. After arranging the lodging, he prepared to rest.
“Yes, Sir,” Xiǎo Bái replied. That night was the most peaceful and warmest he had slept since arriving in this unfamiliar world.
The next morning, Xiǎo Bái woke up with a start from a nightmare, sitting up abruptly and looking around the strange environment in a daze. When his gaze fell upon Xǔ Xiān, who was still leaning against the chair, he felt a thread of reliance.
“Come, let’s eat,” Xǔ Xiān said after a while, waking up and stretching his body energetically, his bones cracking with crisp pops. The sound made Xiǎo Bái’s eyes twitch; he instantly recalled being knocked unconscious by the man the previous night.
At the dinner table, Xǔ Xiān’s elder sister and brother-in-law were ordinary folk, unconcerned with formalities. The four of them sat around the table eating a simple home-cooked meal. After dinner, Xǔ Xiān explained to his sister that the clinic had been unusually busy lately and he might not be able to return home for meals every day. His sister, pleased with her brother’s success, cảmily saw the two of them off.
Afterward, Xǔ Xiān walked ahead empty-handed, with Xiǎo Bái following closely, carrying the thick Medical Canon. On their way to Hundred Herbs Hall, people greeted Xǔ Xiān warmly, and he responded politely to each one. This scene further convinced Xiǎo Bái that this Xǔ Xiān was vastly different from the character in his story.
They arrived at Hundred Herbs Hall a moment later. Together, they tidied up the clinic inside and out, then opened for business. Throughout the day, patients came and went continuously, leaving with gratitude. As evening approached, after seeing off the last patient, Xǔ Xiān, slightly fatigued, instructed Xiǎo Bái to buy some food from a restaurant while he rested his head on the table.
Taking the silver, Xiǎo Bái saw that Xǔ Xiān had already fallen asleep. He quietly closed the clinic door and headed to the restaurant. The events of the day had deeply shaken him: at the same age, or even younger—Xǔ Xiān was only seventeen—he was struggling to find food, while Xǔ Xiān could competently treat numerous difficult cases, curing illnesses with his medicine. It was no wonder that even the wealthy young master had shown such respect to Xǔ Xiān when they first met.
Before long, Xiǎo Bái returned with a food container. Seeing Xǔ Xiān still asleep, he hesitated to wake him.
“You’re back. Let’s eat here,” Xǔ Xiān said, rubbing his face and sitting up to invite Xiǎo Bái to dine with him.
While eating, Xiǎo Bái noticed the thick Medical Canon beside Xǔ Xiān and curiously asked, “Sir, what book is this?” Unfortunately, he couldn’t yet read the script of the Song Dynasty.
“This book,” Xǔ Xiān’s eyes gleamed, “is the Medical Canon that will save the people of the world in the future. I just haven’t finished writing it yet.” He paused, contemplating when he might complete it, but then, remembering he was only seventeen with much time left for research, he felt at ease. “No rush.”
“Then why not print it directly and give it to every medical hall?” Xiǎo Bái asked, puzzled.
“Not all physicians uphold ‘the benevolent heart of a physician’,” Xǔ Xiān explained. “If it were circulated freely, it might invite criticism and opposition. Renowned physicians might deem me arrogant and attention-seeking due to my youth. It’s better to proceed step by step. Let’s set a small goal: to eradicate illness in Hangzhou. Then, I will find a physician whose character and medical skills I trust completely and entrust the Medical Canon to him. Afterward, I will practice medicine elsewhere. Of course, this is just my current plan. The future is unpredictable, and circumstances change.” Xǔ Xiān knew that success lay in steadiness.
“Yes, Sir, your considerations are thorough,” Xiǎo Bái agreed, nodding.
After the meal, Xǔ Xiān began teaching Xiǎo Bái to read and write. In Xǔ Xiān’s view, although Xiǎo Bái lacked literacy, etiquette, and even had moral shortcomings, he was ultimately a promising talent. Two hours passed. Seeing that it was getting late, Xǔ Xiān went to his own bed to rest.
“Sir, I promise I will expose Bái Sùzhēn’s true form the moment I discover it, so that you will know she is a white snake and avoid being ostracized by the human race because of her,” Xiǎo Bái said to Xǔ Xiān, making a solemn promise.
A week later, the number of patients seeking treatment began to decrease daily, allowing Xǔ Xiān a brief respite. One evening, a middle-aged physician arrived at Hundred Herbs Hall and directly proposed a medical skills competition with Xǔ Xiān. Xǔ Xiān’s reputation for superb medical skills had already spread throughout Hangzhou, and this colleague, feeling unconvinced, had come to “seek guidance.”
“I am compiling a Medical Canon,” Xǔ Xiān thought to himself, “the fish is hooked.” But outwardly, he remained calm. “If you can add a valuable page to it, one that I approve, then I, Xǔ Xiān, will treat you with the respect of a disciple.” He then placed the thick Medical Canon before the man and prepared ink himself, awaiting the latter’s inscription.
“Hmph, let this old man try!” The middle-aged physician picked up his brush and began to flip through the Medical Canon. However, as he turned the pages, his expression shifted from arrogance to surprise, and finally to profound shock. Especially when he reached the section on diseases, comparing it with his own daily practice, he found that the book’s descriptions were not only exceptionally brilliant but also contained many novel insights. He absorbed the knowledge voraciously, and half an hour passed without his realizing it. Finally, he dejectedly put down his brush, his face filled with shame.
“The outcome is decided,” Xǔ Xiān said calmly. “I do not require your discipleship. I only hope you will help me spread a message: I, Xǔ Xiān, wish to invite all like-minded colleagues in the medical field across the land to pool our wisdom and jointly compile a Medical Canon to save the people, for the benefit of all living beings.” He revealed his true plan—to gather the wisdom of physicians from all over the country.
“Physician Xǔ’s benevolence is profound! Liu… Physician Liu is ashamed!” Physician Liu, completely mortified by his narrow-minded desire for petty victory, then bowed respectfully. “On behalf of all the people, I thank you, Physician Xǔ! Rest assured, I will do my utmost to spread this message throughout the medical community!” He patted his chest and promised, then, marveling that “the path of medicine has successors,” he departed with great respect and a hearty laugh.
“Compared to these seniors who have practiced medicine for many years, I may have a slight edge in accumulated experience,” Xǔ Xiān explained calmly as he saw the lingering confusion on Xiǎo Bái’s face. “But they have practiced for a long time and have surely met many friends in the profession. By extension, the message will be passed down layer by layer. How can we fail to gather talented individuals from all over to participate in this great endeavor?”
In the following days, Xǔ Xiān continued his practice at Hundred Herbs Hall as usual. Physician Liu, true to his word, actively visited old friends and acquaintances, diligently promoting Xǔ Xiān’s grand aspiration. The news, like a pebble dropped into a lake, rippled out rapidly.
One morning, after Xǔ Xiān had finished breakfast, his elder sister rushed over to visit. Seeing him engrossed in treating patients day after day, she lovingly urged him to take a break and rest for a few days.
“Sister is right, it’s time for a rest.” Xǔ Xiān lifted his gaze from the thick Medical Canon in his hands, his eyes as deep as an ancient pool. Recently, he had discovered that with each patient successfully cured, he gained a trace of mysterious “Merit.” Even more surprisingly, through a special communication channel, this Merit could be converted into something called “Points,” with a extremely high exchange value. At this moment, no one knew the extent of Xǔ Xiān’s accumulated strength. He turned to Xiǎo Bái and instructed, “Xiǎo Bái, hang up a wooden sign saying I’ve gone home to visit my family and the clinic will be closed for two days.”
“Yes, brother, go to West Lake for a change of scenery. Seeing the sights there would be good. I’ll head back now.” Xǔ Xiān’s sister, seeing that her brother had agreed to rest, left with relief.
“West Lake…” Xǔ Xiān gazed at his sister’s receding figure, a hint of an unfathomable expression flickering across his face.
“West Lake! The plot… is it starting? What should I do?” Xiǎo Bái, who had overheard “West Lake,” turned pale. He clearly remembered that Xǔ Xiān and Bái Sùzhēn met by the West Lake. After months of living together, Xǔ Xiān’s composure, wisdom, and foresight had deeply impressed him. Moreover, he knew how significant the Medical Canon Xǔ Xiān was compiling—a monumental undertaking that would be remembered for generations. Xiǎo Bái absolutely did not want to see Xǔ Xiān’s future prospects jeopardized by romantic entanglements.
“Xiǎo Bái, pack your things, we’re going to West Lake to enjoy the scenery,” Xǔ Xiān’s voice interrupted Xiǎo Bái’s thoughts. “I’ve often heard the saying, ‘To compare West Lake to the beauty Xi Shi, whether lightly powdered or heavily adorned, she is always charming.’ I’ve long been curious about this scenic West Lake.” After his sister disappeared from sight, Xǔ Xiān took off his usual physician’s robe and changed into a white robe gifted by fellow Daoist Zhāng Xiǎo Fán. The robe flowed elegantly, making him look like an immortal who had descended to the mortal world.
A moment later, the two left Hundred Herbs Hall, one after the other, heading towards West Lake.
Meanwhile, above West Lake, two figures descended quietly. They were Bái Sùzhēn and Xiǎo Qīng, sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva to find their benefactor from a past life to repay their kindness.
“Sister, there are so many people here; where should we start looking?” Xiǎo Qīng complained impatiently, looking at the bustling crowd by the lake.
“Since Guanyin Bodhisattva guided us here, there must be a reason. Let’s calm down and search patiently,” Bái Sùzhēn said with a steady tone and a sharp gaze, carefully scanning the crowd.”