(Disclaimer: All plots, cultivation techniques, medical arts, and other contents in this novel are entirely fictional. Please do not practice or use them!)
Are there truly immortals in this world?
Perhaps not, perhaps so, or perhaps no one knows. But He Xiaoyao had always believed they existed, because his grandmother had told him so.
At the foot of Zhudi Mountain lay a small village called Ancient Well Village, belonging to Yonghe Town, Huiyang County, Guanghong Prefecture. It took its name from an ancient well located in the middle of the village.
It looked like nothing more than an ordinary little mountain village, facing east with its back to the west, its crisscrossing alleys lined with tiled houses. In front of the village lay a vast, flat expanse with a half-moon-shaped pond, while the back was embraced by green mountains and filled with towering, giant umbrella-shaped ancient trees.
The ancient well sat right in the center of the village. Usually shrouded in a wisp of mist and faintly emitting a soft white light, the water in the well was deep and clear, and its taste was sweet.
The villagers all drew their water from here. Legend had it that immortals occasionally descended, infusing the ancient well with celestial spiritual Qi. Water stored in jars remained fresh for years without changing. If anyone developed fungal spots, pimples, or acne on their skin, fetching water from the well to wash the affected area would cure it in just a few days. Believers from neighboring villages would travel ten miles just to fetch this water. Those who drank it regularly were robust and strong, with fair and healthy skin.
He Xiaoyao had grown up drinking this well water; his home was separated from the ancient well by only a single alley.
He had been raised by his grandmother since he was a child. Although life was hard, the old woman was always full of confidence and hope, and she taught He Xiaoyao to take things as they came and be content with his lot.
It was also she who said that immortals existed in this world. This remark planted a seed deep within He Xiaoyao's heart.
After his grandmother passed away, he was left entirely alone and desolate.
At that time, he was only nine years old. After he cried for seven days, a local healer named Ye Tangshi took him in.
There was also an apprentice at Ye Tangshi's clinic named Li Shi'an, who was tall with long arms, handsome features, and bright, expressive eyes.
He had become Ye Tangshi's apprentice three years ago and was now fifteen years old, usually living right there in the clinic.
He Xiaoyao slept at his own home at night and came to the clinic during the day to help out—sweeping, wiping tables, drying herbs, and doing the laundry and cooking. The meals he cooked were actually quite delicious.
Although young, He Xiaoyao was no burden. He was quite independent and could take care of himself in daily life.
Every morning, Ye Tangshi would teach He Xiaoyao twenty new characters. Then he would lecture Li Shi'an and He Xiaoyao on medical arts for an hour before opening the clinic to see patients.
Most of the patients were folks from the same nearby town, though others came from afar after hearing of his reputation.
Ye Tangshi possessed exceptional medical skills, his treatments almost always curing ailments at once. His reputation was stellar and spread far and wide.
Within half a year, He Xiaoyao had learned four thousand characters and could read on his own, so he no longer needed individual lessons in writing.
From then on, He Xiaoyao began reading medical texts by himself. Whenever he encountered a character he didn't know, he would ask Li Shi'an. When he ran into a problem regarding medical principles, he would first research and analyze it on his own; only when he truly couldn't figure it out would he ask Li Shi'an or Ye Tangshi.
While Ye Tangshi was seeing patients, both Li Shi'an and the handyman He Xiaoyao would stay close by to listen in or help out. Ye Tangshi would also guide them and explain things as he went.
Having studied a vast number of practical cases, both Li Shi'an and He Xiaoyao recorded the classic medical cases. In this way, they accumulated a wealth of experience.
Time flew like an arrow, and the sun and moon shuttled like a shuttle.
In the blink of an eye, six years passed. Li Shi'an had grown into a dashing young man of twenty-one, and He Xiaoyao had become a fifteen-year-old youth. Ye Tangshi now had slight traces of grey at his temples; he was fifty-one years old that year.
In May of this year, it rained incessantly. The dragon-boat rains were extremely abundant, making flowers, grass, and trees flourish luxuriantly.
Early one morning, a spacious and luxurious carriage slowly drove up to the Ye Family Medical Clinic in Ancient Well Village. A young gentleman on the carriage helped an elderly man slowly step down, and together they entered the clinic.
The old man looked haggard, his left hand clutching his right chest. His face was pale, his brows furrowed tightly in extreme pain, and his steps were unsteady and faltering.
The young gentleman called into the clinic, "Is the doctor in?"
Li Shi'an stepped forward and replied, "Please have a seat and wait a moment; Doctor Ye will be right out."
Li Shi'an poured warm water for the two newcomers, and Ye Tangshi walked out.
After observing the old man closely for a moment, he sat down at the table and began to take the old man's pulse. The touch was scorching hot; the pulse in the left cun and chi positions was unusually broad and forceful, while the right cun position was deep, fine, weak, and slippery.
The patient's complexion was pale, his brows furrowed, and his tongue coating was reddish.
Seeing that the young man carried a sword at his waist, looked robust and physically strong, moved with light and agile steps, and had eyes flashing with sharp light, and noting that the two had arrived by carriage in bright, clean clothing, Ye Tangshi figured they must belong to a martial arts family or a major martial arts sect. He asked, "Was his upper left chest struck by a martial arts master using a palm technique like the Cinnabar Palm?"
The old man and the young man exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. The young man said, "Doctor Ye, you truly are a divine physician! Just by taking his pulse, you've deduced the exact spot of the injury and the martial art used, without a single error."
Ye Tangshi said, "You two flatter me. I merely made an inference based on the pulse condition and your attire."
The young man continued, "Doctor Ye is too modest. My name is Zhang Chaoke, and the one who is injured is my uncle, Zhang Bolun. Half a month ago, we were ambushed by two villains, and he took a blow from the Cinnabar Palm. Over the past half month, we've sought out many renowned doctors in Guanghong Prefecture to no avail, let alone finding any doctor who could deduce the injury site and attacking method simply from taking a pulse. Since Doctor Ye understands the condition so well, you must have a way to save my uncle. I earnestly beg you to use your miraculous hands; once this is accomplished, we will handsomely reward you."
Ye Tangshi said, "There is no need for the young gentleman to be so polite. Healing the sick and saving the wounded is a healer's duty, and no heavy reward is needed—just the basic consultation fee will suffice. That being said, although the general injury can be diagnosed, the Cinnabar Palm is indeed vicious and lethal. This palm strike carries a surging force and toxins that deeply damage the lungs. Phlegm-dampness fills the chest, obstructing the rise and fall of Qi and blocking respiration. Treating it will hardly be easy, and the lingering effects will be very long. Since the two of you trust me, I will certainly do my utmost."
Ye Tangshi took out a long, slender silver needle and slowly inserted it half an inch into Zhang Bolun's Feishu acupoint on his upper back.
Waiting for the needle to quiver slightly, he rotated it three times and then gently lifted it a fraction. After a quarter of an hour, he withdrew the needle.
Zhang Bolun's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he said slowly, "Doctor Ye's medical skills are truly brilliant. I am not in as much pain anymore; there is a faint coolness in my chest, and my breathing is much smoother. I am endlessly grateful!"
Ye Tangshi said, "I have merely used the silver needles to slightly clear your lung meridians for now. Next, I will write a decoction for you." With that, he picked up brush and ink and wrote the prescription on paper: one liang of tangerine peel, one liang of immature bitter orange, one liang of bellflower, five qian of pinellia, five qian of licorice, one liang of dried ginger, five qian of trichosanthes fruit, and five qian of frill fritillary bulb.
Li Shi'an took the prescription and began gathering the herbs.
Meanwhile, He Xiaoyao took out a clay pot, washed it clean, filled it with clean water, lit the fire, and began preparing to decoct the medicine.
Half an hour later, the medicine was ready. After letting it cool, Zhang Chaoke picked up a spoon and fed the medicine to Zhang Bolun. Once he finished drinking, Zhang Bolun sat down on a bench in the corner, leaning against the wall to rest.
He Xiaoyao, possessing a youthful temperament and filled with curiosity about the two martial artists, asked, "Your sword looks very fine, and since the young gentleman is physically strong and light-footed, your martial arts must be extraordinary."
Zhang Chaoke smiled lightly and said, "Not at all, not at all. My martial arts are unexceptional—not even reaching five tenths of my uncle's skill. I usually enjoy practicing the sword, so I found a reasonably sharp and sturdy treasured blade. If you all cure my uncle, I am willing to gift this treasured sword to you."
He Xiaoyao laughed heartily and said, "I only know how to wield needles, not swords. Gifting it to me would just be a waste of a good blade."
During this time, several more patients arrived, all suffering from minor ailments, and they were treated separately by Li Shi'an and He Xiaoyao. He Xiaoyao's needlework was skilled and practiced; the patients praised him endlessly, and their ailments were cured the moment the needles were applied.
Zhang Chaoke also praised, "This little brother has wonderful needle technique and is extremely familiar with the human body's meridians. To have attained such proficiency at such a young age, he will surely become a renowned doctor when he grows up."
He Xiaoyao said, "I've been following Doctor Ye to study medicine since I was a child. Doctor Ye has a rather deep understanding of the meridians, and seeing it often, I've picked up a bit of superficial knowledge myself."
Zhang Chaoke smiled and said, "If little brother were to practice martial arts and cultivate internal energy, you would definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort."
He Xiaoyao waved his hand and said, "That's not necessarily true. Our understanding of meridians as healers comes from a medical perspective, which is rather different from how you martial artists view them. Martial folks who practice internal energy and Qi cultivation can directly perceive the flow of Qi within their bodies and can even control the direction of this Qi's flow—our understanding is not nearly as profound as yours. Since we haven't practiced Qi cultivation, I can't be as clear about it as you are."
Zhang Chaoke nodded, glanced at Zhang Bolun, and said nothing more.
By now, two hours had passed since Zhang Bolun drank the medicinal decoction, and he needed to relieve himself. A quarter of an hour later, after Zhang Bolun returned, his spirits were a bit better. Although his body was still very weak, his breathing was noticeably smoother, and half of his pain had vanished.
Ye Tangshi then said, "Hero Zhang, after my needlework and decoction, some of the phlegm in your lungs has already been discharged. However, you still need to continue expelling thick phlegm. Moreover, you currently have fever, and both your heart and liver have internal fire; we need to clear the fire and expel the phlegm. I will now write another medicinal prescription for you. After taking it, you must come back here tomorrow morning. Furthermore, I'm afraid you'll need to come for follow-up visits every day for the next seven days before your injury can basically heal."
Zhang Bolun nodded and hastily said, "Alright, alright."
Zhang Chaoke continued, "I wonder if there is an inn nearby where we can stay the night? Since my uncle is physically weak and unsuitable for long-distance travel—and going to the town takes more than ten miles over rugged roads—it would be best if we could stay right here in the village or nearby, so as not to let travel fatigue affect his injury."
Ye Tangshi said, "This is a relatively poor mountain village with no inns, and the neighboring villages are much the same. My clinic also doesn't have any spare guest rooms for lodging."
Zhang Chaoke frowned and said, "Then we can only return to town to find an inn."
At this moment, He Xiaoyao chimed in, "Teacher, since Hero Zhang Bolun is severely injured, traveling about truly isn't suitable. If they don't mind, they can stay at my house next door for a few days. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Ye Tangshi said, "Your home is far too crude; that bed is just a few hard wooden planks. The young gentleman and Hero Zhang would likely find it hard to adapt."
Zhang Chaoke hastily said, "We can manage, we can manage! Don't look at our fine clothes; when we travel the pugilistic world, we often end up stopping in dilapidated temples filled with dust and spiderwebs. Since this little brother's house is right next door, that couldn't be better."
With the lodging settled, Ye Tangshi wrote out another medicinal prescription. This formula was relatively simple, consisting of only four herbs: one liang of tangerine peel, one liang of pinellia, three qian of lotus plumule, and three qian of bupleurum. This formula would continue to expel and resolve phlegm, while also soothing the liver, clearing heart fire, and relieving internal body heat. He prescribed two doses—one to be taken in the evening and the other the next morning.
Thus, Zhang Bolun and Zhang Chaoke paid the consultation fee, and insisting on paying for the lodging as well, they went to stay at He Xiaoyao's house. Although He Xiaoyao's home was humble and cramped, it was kept clean and tidy, barely enough for them to stay. Li Shi'an simply laid out a straw mat in the clinic and slept there.
The next day, Ye Tangshi opened the clinic, and the Zhang uncle and nephew came for their consultation early on.
By this time, Zhang Bolun's complexion had a bit of a healthy, slightly rosy flush. His brows were no longer tightly furrowed, and his hand was no longer pressed against his upper right chest. As soon as he entered the door, he said, "Doctor Ye, I am truly grateful to you. I feel that after taking your last two doses of medicine, I'm already half-healed!"
Ye Tangshi and the other two were also very happy. As healers, curing an illness brought a heartfelt joy. Ye Tangshi said, "Come sit down, and let me check your pulse again."
Zhang Bolun's pulse had already improved. Although fine and weak, the cun and guan positions on his left hand had returned to normal. The cun pulse on his right hand was also slightly stronger than yesterday's. It was still a slippery pulse, indicating that phlegm stasis within the lungs was still quite heavy, but his fever had subsided and his body temperature had returned to normal.
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Ye Tangshi said, "Hero Zhang's body is indeed recovering very quickly. As a martial artist, your internal foundation is deep. I will prescribe six more doses for you based on yesterday's four-herb formula, to be taken morning, noon, and night. Come back for a follow-up visit in two days."
Zhang Bolun said, "Alright, alright."
Ye Tangshi added, "In addition, Hero Zhang must not practice internal energy for now, and you must also avoid catching a cold from drafts."
Zhang Bolun said, "Alright, alright. I'll listen to the doctor in everything."
At this moment, He Xiaoyao brought over a bowl of white congee and said, "Hero Zhang, have some congee and wait a while before decocting and taking your medicine. Big Brother Zhang, would you like to join us for steamed buns?"
Zhang Chaoke said, "Alright." With that, he reached out to pay for the meal again.
He Xiaoyao refused, saying, "No need, no need. Giving money every single day like this is unnecessary. How about we just settle it all together when you leave? This isn't worth much anyway."
And so the Zhang uncle and nephew stayed in Ancient Well Village for five days, until his injuries were seventy percent healed, his movements were no different from an ordinary person's, and his spirits began to fill out. That day, the two came to the clinic intending to take their leave.
Ye Tangshi said, "Hero Zhang's current condition certainly won't be affected by riding in a carriage or walking, but you must still avoid catching a chill from the wind and get plenty of rest. You can practice your internal arts for no more than an hour a day now, and your diet should be light. By slowly recuperating this way, you should be mostly recovered in about a month."
Zhang Chaoke said, "Doctor Ye, a great kindness goes unthanked. Here is our consultation fee." As he spoke, he pulled out a bank note, the amount on it being one thousand coins.
Ye Tangshi said, "You don't need this much; you only need to give fifty coins. The medicine you took wasn't some major tonic of great value, just some rather ordinary herbs."
Zhang Bolun insisted on giving it, and Ye Tangshi didn't refuse further, accepting it. Firstly, because his injury had truly been cured, and secondly, because Hero Zhang clearly looked like a wealthy man. Paying this one thousand coins surely wouldn't cause them any burden. Therefore, he did not turn it down.
Zhang Bolun then pulled a book from his bosom and said, "Doctor Ye, a great kindness goes unthanked. This is a meridian-clearing internal energy manual treasured by our sect. Practicing it can generate internal True Qi and open up the meridians. Of course, this may only clear a single meridian and is relatively superficial. However, for a healer, having True Qi inside the body will be somewhat helpful in observing a patient's Qi and beneficial to your mission of saving the world. The three of you may practice it if you are interested, hoping it will be of some help. Please do not decline."
Ye Tangshi accepted it solemnly, then handed it to He Xiaoyao to be placed in the study and treasured carefully.
Zhang Bolun said further, "Doctor Ye, Doctor Li, and little brother, we must take our leave. Should you ever have need of this old man in the future, I will go through fire and water without hesitation. Just send a letter to Zhang Bolun at Zhenxia Mountain in Shaoguan City. The green mountains remain, the green waters flow on—farewell, and take care!"