Chapter 37
In the kitchen, a rich aroma of meat filled the air.
Squatting by the stove to watch the fire, Xiao Yan couldn't help but drool at the smell.
"Brother, when can we eat?" the little one asked impatiently.
"Just a little longer," Lu Qing replied, feeling a bit restless himself.
As a meat-lover in his previous life, Lu Qing hadn't had proper meat since coming to this world, apart from fish. Now, the tempting aroma was almost too much to bear.
Lu Qing was making braised pork. Due to a lack of seasonings, it was a simplified version, more like stewed meat.
The idea of making braised pork came to him when he saw soy sauce for sale at the Grand Bazaar. A farmer's wife was selling it in jars, and after tasting it, Lu Qing was delighted to find it tasted somewhat like soy sauce, though not as salty.
He bought a lot, making the farmer's wife very grateful. After asking about the sauce's origin, he learned her grandfather, a former cook from a distant city's restaurant, had created the recipe. She started making the sauce to support her poor household.
People here didn't seem to appreciate the sauce much, so Lu Qing was her biggest customer ever. Feeling sorry for her, he bought another jar, which earned him even more gratitude.
With the soy sauce in hand, Lu Qing decided to make braised pork. He cut the fatty pork into chunks, blanched it, and then fried it until slightly golden. He sautéed the sauce before adding the meat, then stewed it with sugar, salt, and water.
Though not authentic braised pork, it was as close as he could get. Despite the simple method, the meat aroma soon filled the air, making both siblings salivate.
Judging the time was right, Lu Qing opened the pot, releasing a burst of steam and intense meat fragrance that filled the kitchen and drifted outside.
Passersby stopped, astonished by the strong smell coming from Lu Qing's house. Curious but hesitant to intrude, they eventually left, feeling hungrier by the minute.
The aroma reached nearby households, causing similar reactions.
"The Lu family's doing well, cooking such fragrant meat!"
"After Lu Ming and his wife passed, I thought Lu Qing and Xiao Yan would struggle. Now, they seem just fine."
"I heard Lu Qing and Wang Da'an went to the Grand Bazaar, bought a lot, and repaid everyone who lent them food and salt."
"Old Doctor Chen treats his disciple well."
"If only my son were as promising. I'd ask the doctor to take him in too."
Lu Qing, oblivious to the villagers' talk, focused on thickening the sauce. He served the tender meat, trembling slightly in the bowl, looking incredibly appetizing.
He quickly stir-fried some greens and announced dinner was ready.
"Xiao Yan, this is yours. Eat slowly, it's hot."
"Got it, brother." She obediently blew on the meat to cool it.
Lu Qing took a piece himself, and after blowing on it, took a bite. His eyes lit up. The meat, stewed to perfection, was flavorful and slightly elastic, a satisfying combination.
"Brother, this is delicious!" Xiao Yan exclaimed with a mouthful of oily meat.
"Of course, it took a lot of effort," Lu Qing said proudly.
"Brother's cooking is the best! I want to learn and make lots of delicious food!" the little foodie declared.
"Then you must eat well and grow. I'll teach you when you're older."
"Okay!"
The siblings enjoyed a wonderful meal. After cleaning up, Lu Qing took a piece of cloth to Elder Zhang's house next door.
"Grandpa Zhang, is my second aunt at home?"
The second aunt, known for her sewing skills, came out.
"I bought some cloth at the bazaar to make clothes for Xiao Yan, but I can't sew. Could you help? I'll pay you."
"Don't mention payment. We help each other out," she said, taking the cloth. "Bring Xiao Yan tomorrow for measurements."
"You're too polite, Lu Qing. We'll get it done," Elder Zhang added.
Back home, Lu Qing smiled at Xiao Yan playing in the yard. Her patched-up clothes were getting worn. He bought the cloth today to make her new clothes as a surprise.
That night, Xiao Yan fell asleep waiting for the black night spirit lynx, which didn't come. She was grumpy the next morning until she heard about the new clothes.
Two days later, Xiao Yan beamed in her new outfit, showing it off for days.
With enough supplies from the bazaar, Lu Qing stayed in the village, studying under Doctor Chen, farming, and perfecting his cooking.
He occasionally fished for the black night spirit lynx, living a peaceful routine.
One morning, as he and Xiao Yan reached the Halfway House, Doctor Chen told him he no longer needed to read the Compendium of Materia Medica.
Chapter 38
"Grandpa Chen, are you saying I don't need to study the Compendium of Materia Medica anymore?" Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.
"That's right. Your learning speed has surpassed my expectations. You have already thoroughly read the Compendium of Materia Medica. In the future, just review it occasionally; there's no need to study it intensively anymore."
Dr. Chen stroked his beard as he spoke.
Over this period, he had been extremely satisfied with Lu Qing's performance.
Lu Qing's intelligence exceeded his expectations.
It had only been half a month, yet Lu Qing had already mastered the Compendium of Materia Medica.
Originally, Dr. Chen thought that if Lu Qing could read the Compendium of Materia Medica smoothly within a month, it would be quite good.
"It's because of your excellent teaching, Grandpa Chen."
Lu Qing's heart relaxed considerably.
Finally, he didn't have to study the Compendium of Materia Medica anymore!
Heavens knew how thoroughly he had read the Compendium of Materia Medica during this time.
He could recite it backward perfectly.
But he couldn't reveal that he had memorized the Compendium of Materia Medica entirely in one go.
Even if he wanted to show his intelligence, there needed to be an acceptable process.
Otherwise, displaying his extraordinary talent right away might backfire.
Now, he had finally reached this moment.
"Lu Qing, although your cleverness has exceeded my expectations, we still need to proceed with the agreed-upon assessment," Dr. Chen said.
"Lu Qing understands. Please conduct the assessment, Grandpa Chen," Lu Qing replied respectfully.
"You have thoroughly read the Compendium of Materia Medica, but merely remembering the text isn't enough. You must combine it with practical application to truly understand it."
"My assessment is simple. You have one hour to find ten types of medicinal herbs recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica in the vicinity of the village and bring them to me."
"Remember, you cannot bring the book with you, and you must not pick the wrong herbs. Also, you must not damage the herbs during the harvesting process."
Lu Qing silently memorized Dr. Chen's words and only spoke after he finished, "Is that all, Grandpa Chen?"
"That's right, that's all. If you can accomplish these tasks, I will officially accept you as my first disciple and my only disciple."
"Rest assured, I will not let you down!" Lu Qing said confidently.
"Here, take this herb basket and hoe. Remember, you only have one hour. If you exceed the time limit, even if you gather all the herbs, it won't count as passing."
Dr. Chen handed two tools to Lu Qing.
"Then I'll set off now!"
Lu Qing took the herb basket and hoe and headed down the mountain.
As soon as he reached the foot of the mountain, he found a medicinal herb.
[Thunderroot Grass: Superior quality, medicinal. Clears heat and detoxifies, effective in treating heat ailments and coughs.]
This Thunderroot Grass was indeed recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica.
Seeing the superior quality indicated by his ability, Lu Qing immediately bent down to dig it up.
The hoe given by Dr. Chen was quite sharp, so Lu Qing dug carefully, fearing he might accidentally damage the herb.
After all, one of the assessment criteria was not to damage the herbs.
Carefully, he dug up the Thunderroot Grass and placed it in the herb basket. After considering the time, he felt a sense of urgency.
Digging just one Thunderroot Grass had taken nearly a quarter of an hour.
If he continued at this pace, it would take ten quarters to dig up ten herbs.
But Dr. Chen had only given him one hour for the assessment.
"I can't be this slow; I need to speed up."
Originally, Lu Qing thought that finding ten medicinal herbs would be simple with his special ability.
But now he realized that if he was careless, he might not pass the assessment.
Putting aside his relaxed attitude, Lu Qing quickened his pace and moved to other areas.
Along the way, he kept scanning the bushes on both sides of the path.
Whenever he saw plants resembling those in the Compendium of Materia Medica, he would immediately use his ability to check their information.
Once he confirmed they were recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica, he would start digging.
Dandelions, Xanthium, Plantain...
One by one, the herbs recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica were dug up and placed in the herb basket.
To dig up the herbs, his forehead was covered in sweat, which he wiped away with a muddy hand, leaving streaks of dirt.
Villagers passing by saw Lu Qing in this state and couldn't help but laugh.
"Lu Qing, what are you doing, looking like a mud monkey?"
"Uncle Wang, I'm digging medicinal herbs. This is a task assigned by Grandpa Chen; I can't be careless," Lu Qing replied.
"Oh, it's an assignment from Dr. Chen. You should be serious about it. Do you need my help?" Uncle Wang's expression became serious.
The villagers had deep respect for Dr. Chen.
Hearing it was a task from him, they didn't dare to joke anymore.
"No need, no need. This is something I must do myself. It's an assessment of my learning achievements over this period," Lu Qing declined, waving his hand.
"I see. Then you must do your best, Lu Qing. Don't disappoint Dr. Chen," Uncle Wang's expression became even more solemn.
After all, whether Lu Qing could learn well also concerned the future medical needs of the village.
"Okay, I'll do my best." Lu Qing waved, "Uncle Wang, I have to go now. Grandpa Chen only gave me one hour for the assessment, and I need to dig up more herbs."
Watching Lu Qing leave, Uncle Wang immediately ran back to the village.
Soon, almost everyone in the village knew that Lu Qing was completing an assessment task given by Dr. Chen.
As a result, even if they saw Lu Qing, they didn't dare to disturb him.
They feared that if he failed the assessment, he would be sent down the mountain.
Even the little kids were ordered not to approach Lu Qing to avoid distracting him.
Focused on gathering herbs, Lu Qing didn't notice the villagers' actions.
He only found it odd that the village seemed quieter than usual today.
Usually, at this time, the kids would be running around, causing chaos.
However, this thought only flashed through Lu Qing's mind briefly before he dismissed it.
At this moment, he had no time to ponder such things.
He had already gathered eight herbs and needed two more, but most of the time had already passed.
If he didn't hurry, he might really fail the assessment.
At this moment, Lu Qing also felt a bit regretful.
He hadn't paid much attention to the herbs around the village in daily life; otherwise, he wouldn't be so pressed for time now.
It seemed that relying too much on his special ability wasn't always a good thing.
He had thought that with his ability, he could find herbs anytime, which made him careless.
Fortunately, Lu Qing's luck wasn't bad. Soon, he found another herb recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica.
"Just one more herb to go."
After carefully digging up the herb, Lu Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
But he also knew that time was running out.
"Where can I find the last herb?"
Lu Qing thought for a moment and then suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Of course, how could I forget this? It's right under my nose, the most familiar thing that I almost overlooked!"
With that, he ran towards his home.
A villager saw Lu Qing running and was startled.
"Lu Qing, what's wrong? Did something go wrong with the assessment?"
"No, my assessment is fine!"
Lu Qing didn't have time to wonder how the villagers knew about his assessment. He answered while running.
Soon, he reached his home and smiled at the well-growing patch of plants in the corner of his yard.
"It's you, Cowbone Grass."
Chapter 39
"Grandpa Chen, I've gathered all the herbs."
In the Halfway House, Lu Qing, a bit out of breath, showed the herb basket to the old doctor Chen.
After digging up the Cowbone Grass, he had sprinted all the way up, fearing he wouldn't make it in time.
The old doctor glanced at the herbs in the basket and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad, not bad. You really managed to gather all these herbs."
"Grandpa Chen, what do you mean by that?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.
The old doctor seemed to have more to say.
"Do you know why I set the assessment range near the village?" the old doctor asked.
"No, I don't." Lu Qing shook his head.
"That's because the herbs growing near the village are actually quite few, barely ten kinds at most." The old doctor stroked his beard. "For you to dig up these herbs intact and bring them here within an hour shows you've paid attention to these herbs in your daily life."
Hearing this, Lu Qing couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
In his daily life, he hadn't really paid special attention to the herbs near the village.
Maybe subconsciously, he believed there wouldn't be any precious herbs near a bustling village.
So unless he encountered them while out, he would use his abilities to check.
But to say he had consciously looked for how many types of herbs were near the village, he hadn't.
It seemed his mindset was still too lax.
Even the old doctor knew what herbs were near the village, yet he, with his abilities, hadn't done this. It was indeed inexcusable.
Lu Qing couldn't help but reflect on himself.
The old doctor saw Lu Qing silent and thought he was acknowledging it.
He smiled and said, "Alright, you've passed this assessment. Now go invite the village elders up here."
"Invite the village elders up here?" Lu Qing was a bit stunned.
"Yes, I want to officially take you as my disciple. There should be some witnesses present, otherwise, it would be too casual."
"Yes, I'll go right away!"
Lu Qing, overjoyed, ran back down the mountain.
The villagers, knowing Lu Qing was taking the old doctor's assessment today, had been paying attention all along.
Seeing Lu Qing run down from the mountain and learning that the old doctor invited the village elders to witness the ceremony of officially accepting Lu Qing as a disciple, everyone was delighted.
"Great, great, now our village finally has a doctor!"
"Well done, Lu Qing. You're truly the smartest kid in our village, really passing the assessment."
"Lu Qing, go tell Doctor Chen we'll be up soon!"
The villagers had previously seen Lu Qing going to the old doctor's place every day to learn things and thought he was already the doctor's disciple.
But later, Lu Qing told them he could only be considered the old doctor's apprentice at most and wasn't qualified to officially become his disciple yet.
Now hearing Lu Qing finally passed the assessment and was to be officially accepted as a disciple, how could they not be excited?
Lu Qing returned to the Halfway House, and before long, the village elders, all dressed neatly, came up the mountain.
Some elders even wore the clothes they only wore during the New Year.
Besides the village elders, other villagers at home also came up to watch the fun.
Some villagers brought rice, eggs, and meat.
Doctor Chen was already waiting at the courtyard gate.
Seeing the crowd coming up, he went forward and saluted.
"Thank you all for coming to this old man's apprentice ceremony."
"Doctor, you're too kind," said Elder Zhang, hurriedly. "It's us who should thank you."
"Since you came to our Jiuli Village, you've rid us of countless ailments. We always remember your kindness."
"Elder Zhang, you're too kind. I just did my duty as a doctor, it's not worth such gratitude," the old doctor smiled faintly.
"Whether it's a favor, we know in our hearts."
Elder Zhang took a basket from a young man behind him.
"Doctor Chen, we don't have anything valuable to give. Here are some eggs and bacon, and some rice and flour as a small token for Lu Qing's apprenticeship. Please don't mind."
After speaking, two young men brought up two bags of rice and flour.
This scene left Lu Qing and the old doctor both stunned.
Elder Zhang continued, "It's quite embarrassing. Most of us in Jiuli Village were refugees back then."
"It was a difficult time. Without Lu Qing's grandfather's support and leadership, we wouldn't have survived that disaster, let alone found this place to settle down."
"You could say, without Lu Qing's grandfather, there wouldn't be the current Jiuli Village."
"Sadly, Lu Qing's grandfather fell ill during the escape and passed away early without proper treatment."
"And we couldn't protect his son and daughter-in-law either. They were deceived and left, leaving only Lu Qing and Xiao Yan behind."
"Now that Lu Qing is fortunate enough to be chosen by you as a disciple, it's his great fortune. We hope you'll be lenient with him in the future, even if he makes mistakes."
After saying this, Elder Zhang bowed deeply to the old doctor.
Other elders and villagers followed suit.
Seeing the villagers bowing to him, even with his decades of cultivation, the old doctor couldn't help but feel moved.
As for Lu Qing, he was already deeply shaken.
First, some things Elder Zhang mentioned were not in the original owner's memory.
Secondly, he never expected the villagers to do so much for him.
The old doctor, startled, quickly helped Elder Zhang up.
"Please, get up. You're making this old man feel ashamed."
Then he said to Elder Zhang, "Elder Zhang, Lu Qing is a very smart child. It's my fortune to take him as a disciple, so don't worry, I'll teach him well."
Elder Zhang, thrilled, said, "Then I'll thank you on behalf of his grandfather and parents!"
Saying this, he handed over the basket.
"These modest gifts, please accept them."
"Elder Zhang, you mustn't. I know life is hard for you, so there's no need for such gifts."
"But a gift is necessary. Since it's an apprenticeship, there should be an apprenticeship gift."
...
After several refusals, the old doctor finally took a few eggs and a piece of bacon from the basket as the villagers' gift for Lu Qing.
As for the rest, he wouldn't accept anything more.
Watching this, Lu Qing made a mental note to repay the villagers later.
Honestly, he hadn't thought about the apprenticeship gift at all.
He thought it was just about bowing to the old doctor in front of everyone.
But he overlooked that this was a world similar to ancient times.
A formal apprenticeship ceremony was more complicated than he had imagined.
After this episode, the old doctor invited the villagers into the courtyard.
Then, in front of everyone, Lu Qing officially became his apprentice.
Chapter 40
Lu Qing's apprenticeship ceremony was not complicated.
Doctor Chen was not one to enjoy grandiose displays, preferring simplicity in everything.
Thus, Lu Qing simply followed the process: in the presence of witnesses, he paid respects to the ancestral master, kowtowed, served tea, and said, "Master, please have some tea."
Doctor Chen sat in the chair, took the tea, sipped it, and the apprenticeship ceremony was complete.
"Alright, get up now."
After finishing the tea, Doctor Chen addressed Lu Qing.
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing stood up, his hands at his sides.
Doctor Chen also stood up and bowed to the villagers in the courtyard, saying:
"Thank you all for coming to witness this apprenticeship ceremony. Today, I have gained a beloved disciple, and I am overjoyed. My courtyard is small and humble, so I couldn't prepare any food for you. I have only prepared some small gifts for everyone."
With that, he took a tray from the table behind him, filled with small cloth bags.
"These are medicine pouches I made in my spare time. They have a calming effect and can repel mosquitoes."
"If you don't mind, please take one or two home and hang them by your bed. They will keep mosquitoes away for about ten days to half a month."
"Is it really that effective?!" The villagers looked at the medicine pouches with delight.
This was the most bothersome season for mosquitoes, and if the pouches worked as well as the doctor claimed, they were indeed very tempting.
For a moment, the villagers, who initially wanted to be polite, found it hard to refuse.
Seeing this, Doctor Chen smiled and said to Lu Qing, "Aqing, distribute these pouches to the villagers."
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing took the tray and walked to the villagers, distributing the pouches one by one.
"Here you go, Grandpa Zhang."
The first person Lu Qing handed a pouch to was Grandpa Zhang.
"Good child, remember to learn well from Doctor Chen."
Grandpa Zhang took the pouch with a gratified expression.
"I will, Grandpa Zhang." Lu Qing nodded earnestly.
The other villagers, after receiving their pouches and smelling the medicinal fragrance, felt refreshed. Knowing they were good items, they quickly put them away.
These were personally made by the doctor, and they might not be available elsewhere, so they had to be well preserved.
"Folks, remember to hang the pouches in your rooms after you go home. Otherwise, the medicinal scent will dissipate after half a month, and the pouches will be useless."
Seeing some villagers carefully putting the pouches away, Doctor Chen reminded them.
Upon hearing this, some villagers gave up the idea of hiding the pouches at home.
After witnessing the apprenticeship ceremony, Grandpa Zhang and the others began to leave one by one.
Before leaving, Grandpa Zhang pulled Lu Qing aside and reminded him to visit his grandfather and parents' graves and share the good news.
Seeing Lu Qing agree seriously, he left the mountain satisfied.
When all the villagers had left, Lu Qing still stood in front of the courtyard, watching their figures disappear down the mountain.
"Aqing, your grandfather made good friends back then, which is why you have such good neighbors today."
Doctor Chen walked up to Lu Qing and looked at the people at the foot of the mountain with admiration.
"Master, I never knew these things. My grandfather and parents never mentioned them." Lu Qing said.
"This shows that your grandfather was a man of high moral character who did not seek repayment for his good deeds. Unfortunately, I came here too late to meet such a principled scholar."
Doctor Chen said with some regret.
He had a feeling that if he had come earlier, he might have become good friends with Lu Qing's grandfather.
"Master, do you know how my parents died?" Lu Qing suddenly asked.
"Because of what Grandpa Zhang said earlier?"
"Yes, I always thought my parents died in an accident, but from Grandpa Zhang's words, it seems there's more to it." Lu Qing nodded.
In his memories, he always believed his parents died accidentally. Now it seemed it wasn't that simple.
Doctor Chen was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"I don't know either. During the time your parents died, I was in the city treating a noble. When I returned, I heard they had drowned, but I never saw their bodies, so I can't be sure."
"If you want to know the truth, you might have to ask Grandpa Zhang and the others."
Lu Qing remained silent.
In his memories, the information was the same: his parents drowned accidentally. When their swollen bodies were brought back, it was so terrifying that he was scared out of his wits.
The subsequent events occurred while he was in a daze.
Selling the land, preparing the bodies, mourning and keeping vigil, and apparently someone causing trouble.
By the time he regained his senses, his parents were already buried.
Now that he thought about it, there were many doubts.
Unfortunately, during that period, the trauma was too great, and many memories were chaotic, making it hard for Lu Qing to piece things together.
"However, I don't recommend you ask Grandpa Zhang and the others for the truth now."
Doctor Chen said suddenly, seeing Lu Qing's silent demeanor.
"Why, Master?"
"If Grandpa Zhang and the others are hiding this from you, it must be for your and XiaoYan's sake. They fear you might do something rash if you know the truth. Do you think Grandpa Zhang would harm you?"
Recalling the villagers' attitude towards him and Xiao Yan, Lu Qing shook his head.
"Grandpa Zhang would never do such a thing."
Most importantly, his abilities had never detected any malicious intent from the villagers.
"In that case, you should trust Grandpa Zhang. They haven't told you the truth yet because they think it's not the right time."
"So, what you should do now is not seek the truth but learn as much as you can. When you have enough ability, they will naturally tell you the truth."
Lu Qing remained silent.
In fact, he didn't want the truth to act impulsively.
Although he had inherited the original owner's memories, he had no deep feelings for the "parents" he had never met.
He was worried that the truth about their death might bring harm to him and Xiao Yan.
But as his master said, he was too weak now.
Even if he knew the truth, it wouldn't help.
So it was better to focus on learning first.
"I understand, Master."
With this clarity, Lu Qing spoke.
Seeing that Lu Qing seemed to have figured it out, Doctor Chen smiled.
His disciple was smart; he didn't want him to be consumed by hatred at a young age.
That would only twist his mind.
So he approved of Grandpa Zhang and the others' approach.
Seeing the lingering gloom on Lu Qing's face, Doctor Chen decided to divert his attention.
"Aqing, now that you've officially become my disciple, there are some things you should know."
Lu Qing looked up.
Seeing it was effective, Doctor Chen smiled.
He continued, "Aqing, do you know what it takes to be a good doctor?"
Chapter 41
"A-Qing, do you know what qualities one should possess to become a good healer?"
Hearing his master's question, Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, "Excellent medical skills?"
"That's just one part of it," Doctor Chen replied. "In addition, an outstanding healer should have a calm mind and a healthy body."
"A calm mind and a healthy body?" Lu Qing murmured.
"Indeed," the old doctor nodded. "As a healer, having a calm mind is very important."
"Because as a healer, you will inevitably encounter various patients with different conditions."
"Some patients will be in unbearable pain, crying out in agony. Some will be on the brink of death, barely clinging to life. Some conditions will be terrifying and ghastly, and there will even be those with violent tempers who might resort to insults and violence at the slightest provocation."
"When you encounter such patients, if you do not have a calm and composed mind, it will be difficult to accurately diagnose their conditions and treat them."
"So, you must remember that when your medical skills are accomplished, no matter what kind of patient you encounter, you must maintain a calm mind. Only then can you better help them."
"I will remember, Master," Lu Qing replied respectfully.
"As for a healthy body..."
The old doctor pondered for a moment before continuing.
"As I mentioned earlier, as a healer, you will always encounter some troublesome patients."
"Some patients not only have bad tempers themselves, but their family members can also be difficult to deal with. Sometimes, even a slight dissatisfaction can lead to them venting their anger on the healer."
"In such cases, as a healer, you should prioritize your own safety before thinking about treating the patient."
"Therefore, a healthy body is necessary. Without it, it would be hard to handle those unreasonable patients and their families."
As the old doctor said this, an indescribable expression appeared on his face, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.
It seems Master had encountered many troublesome patients in the past, Lu Qing thought.
Shaking off those memories, the old doctor continued.
"Besides dealing with difficult patients, a healer often needs to venture into the mountains to gather herbs and travel to different places, which also requires a good physique."
"Therefore, to become an outstanding healer, while medical skills are important, a calm mind and a strong body are equally crucial."
"Master, how can one train to have a strong body?" Lu Qing asked humbly.
"That's a good question," Doctor Chen smiled.
"Do you remember the set of martial arts I practiced when you first came here?"
"I remember."
Lu Qing thought to himself, not only do I remember, but I also nearly imitated it.
This was the first time Master had mentioned anything about cultivation, and Lu Qing couldn't help but feel excited.
"This martial art is something I stumbled upon in my younger years. It is thanks to it that I still have a relatively strong body at this age."
"Since you are now my disciple, it's time to teach you this martial art."
"Master wants to teach me martial arts?" Lu Qing's face lit up with surprise. "I didn't know Master knew martial arts!"
"I only know a little. Your body is somewhat weak. Whether you want to gather herbs in the mountains or travel the world, you need to train more. As healers, we not only need to know how to treat others but also how to take care of ourselves and strengthen our bodies."
"If you are always sickly yourself, how can you be in the right state to diagnose and treat others?"
Doctor Chen knew that someone as intelligent as Lu Qing would never give up on finding out the truth about his parents' deaths.
He had no reason to stop his disciple.
After all, wanting to know the truth about one's parents' deaths is a natural desire.
Since that was the case, the best he could do was to give his disciple some means of self-protection.
Back at the courtyard, the master and disciple stood in the center. Xiao Yan sat at a stone table nearby, happily eating snacks while watching them.
"A-Qing, before officially teaching you martial arts, I need to explain some common knowledge about martial cultivation," Doctor Chen said solemnly.
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing suppressed his excitement.
Finally, he could learn something about cultivation!
"In martial cultivation, as discussed among practitioners, there are several realms," Doctor Chen began.
"The major realms are divided into Postnatal and Innate."
"In the minor realms, just within the Postnatal realm, there are three levels: Qi and Blood, Tendon and Bone, and Internal Organs."
"The Qi and Blood realm is where beginners in martial arts focus on invigorating their qi and blood and regulating their breath."
"When qi and blood are vigorous and breath is smooth, the body naturally becomes strong, strength increases, and energy is abundant."
"Therefore, martial artists who have mastered the Qi and Blood realm are all strong and powerful, capable of easily throwing off three to five strong men."
"The Tendon and Bone realm is where martial artists intentionally train their tendons and bones."
"Through various secret techniques, they temper their tendons and bones, achieving the effect of strengthening and transforming the body."
"Martial artists who have mastered the Tendon and Bone realm possess strength far beyond that of the Qi and Blood realm. They can stop a galloping horse and throw a bull with their bare hands."
"As for the Internal Organs realm..."
Doctor Chen paused before continuing, "Martial artists at this level have their qi, blood, tendons, and bones so strong that it's hard to make further progress. So, they start seeking further physical transformation from within."
"And this transformation lies in the internal organs."
"The internal organs of humans are always fragile. Even a slight injury can be life-threatening."
"But martial artists in the Internal Organs realm can train their internal organs to be exceptionally strong, unified inside and out, with long breath and great endurance."
"Martial artists who have mastered the Internal Organs realm have such powerful internal energy that they can travel a thousand miles without tiring and can stay underwater for hours without running out of breath."
"Reaching this level of martial arts is beyond the imagination of ordinary people, reaching the peak of human postnatal limits."
"Those who can reach this realm are extremely rare, considered dragons among men. Therefore, martial artists who have mastered the Internal Organs realm are honored with the title of 'Grandmaster' in the martial world."
This explanation left Lu Qing both thrilled and awed.
The cultivators of this world were far more powerful than he had imagined.
Stopping a galloping horse, throwing a bull, traveling a thousand miles...
Such feats were beyond human capability.
No wonder he felt such a strong sense of pressure from Master Ma before.
It turned out that he possessed such formidable power.
"Master, if the Postnatal realm is so powerful, what about the Innate realm?" Lu Qing eagerly asked.
"The power of the Innate realm is unknown to me," Doctor Chen shook his head. "Experts at that level are as elusive as dragons. Some roam the world freely, while others guard a nation. Ordinary martial artists rarely come into contact with them."
Lu Qing's eyes shifted as he asked, "Then, Master, what realm are you in now?"
"Hahaha," Doctor Chen laughed. "I am old now, with a declining body. The realm doesn't matter to me anymore. Besides, I am just a doctor. My focus is on healing and saving lives, not on competing for strength. The level of my realm is unimportant."
Alright, Lu Qing knew that the old man didn't want to reveal his cultivation level.
"However, although I don't fight, I can still teach you some methods to strengthen your body."
"You must learn this set of martial arts well."
Chapter 42
"I am going to teach you a set of martial arts that I stumbled upon in my youth. It is easy to learn but difficult to master. Getting started isn't too hard. Let me demonstrate it once, and you should watch closely."
After speaking, the old doctor assumed a stance and began performing the set of punches he practiced every morning.
Lu Qing watched intently.
As soon as the old doctor executed the first move, a prompt appeared in Lu Qing's vision.
*[Martial art detected. Would you like to simulate it?]*
Staring at his master's movements, Lu Qing silently chose to simulate.
*[Simulation started. Current progress: 1%, 2%, 3%...]*
With each move the old doctor performed, the progress bar in Lu Qing's vision rapidly advanced.
*[97%, 98%, 99%, 100%]*
Finally, when the old doctor completed the last move and began to close his stance, the progress bar in Lu Qing's vision reached one hundred percent.
[Simulation successful.]
[Martial art name: Health Nourishing Boxing.]
[Origin: Derived and perfected by Chen Songqing from an incomplete martial art he stumbled upon in his youth.]
[Effect: Strengthens the body and improves health. It is particularly effective in regulating qi and blood, and fortifying muscles and bones. Mastery may lead to the possibility of breaking through to the internal organ realm.]
[Would you like to start practicing?]
Lu Qing didn't choose to practice immediately.
Instead, he was intrigued by some of the information.
It turned out that this martial art was created by his master, who had deduced and perfected it from an incomplete technique he encountered in his youth.
The ability to deduce and perfect a martial art on his own—his master's skill was impressive enough to be considered a martial arts genius in the martial world.
It seemed his master's abilities were even more formidable than he had imagined.
Lu Qing couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect.
"How was it, Lu Qing? Did you understand the moves I just demonstrated?" the old doctor asked with a smile after finishing his routine.
"Not really," Lu Qing replied honestly.
He was telling the truth.
Without relying on his special ability, he truly couldn't grasp the martial art the old doctor demonstrated.
Apart from sensing a unique rhythm, everything else was a blur.
"Haha, it's normal not to understand," the old doctor laughed heartily. "What I just showed you was just the form of this martial art. The truly important aspects—the methods for circulating qi and blood, and tempering muscles and bones—I haven't taught you yet."
"Come, let me now teach you the method for circulating qi and blood in this martial art."
The old doctor then began to explain each move in detail to Lu Qing.
How to regulate breathing, how to circulate qi and blood, how to focus on the dantian...
Every essential point of practicing the martial art was explained in great detail.
This lecture lasted for two hours.
"That's enough for today."
When he finished explaining the ninth move and saw that Lu Qing could imitate the form reasonably well, the old doctor said.
"This set of punches consists of thirty-six moves. The main effect of the first nine is to invigorate qi and blood and regulate breathing."
"In the coming days, as long as you practice diligently, when you truly master them, you will formally enter the qi and blood realm."
"As for the later moves, your current physical condition can't handle them yet, so you don't need to practice those for now."
"Master, you mean that once I master these nine moves, I will become as strong and powerful as the martial artists you mentioned?" Lu Qing asked excitedly.
"That's right. Once you enter the qi and blood realm, you will naturally be like them," the old doctor nodded.
He then cautioned, "However, remember not to overdo it. Practicing martial arts requires moderation. Do not be impatient or strive for quick success, as it could harm your body instead."
"I understand," Lu Qing nodded seriously.
"Also, practicing martial arts is very energy-consuming, so you need to keep up with your nutrition. Don't save the money you earned from selling the Red Moon Carp. Buy more meat to eat regularly, so you don't deplete your body while replenishing qi and blood."
"I understand," Lu Qing nodded again.
He had already retrieved the money from his master after selling the Red Moon Carp and hid it in a secret place at home.
Now it seemed it was time to use that money.
"It's a pity that I still lack a few herbs. If I had all the necessary ingredients, I could prepare some qi and blood nourishing soup for you, which would greatly shorten the time for you to enter the qi and blood realm," the old doctor said with some regret.
"No need, Master. You have already helped me so much. I haven't repaid even a fraction of it yet. How could I trouble you further?" Lu Qing said hastily.
"Alright then. If I have the chance to go up the mountain someday, I'll see if I can find those herbs," the old doctor said.
Seeing that his master had not given up, Lu Qing was deeply moved.
He didn't know what to say and could only silently remember this kindness in his heart.
"That's it for today. When you go back, don't forget to practice. Come back tomorrow, and I will check your progress," the old doctor said.
After chatting for a while longer, the old doctor waved him off.
"Master, why don't I stay here to take care of you?" Lu Qing hesitated and asked.
"No need. My body is still strong. I don't need anyone to take care of me yet. Besides, this place is filled with medicinal herbs, and there isn't space for you and Xiao Yan to stay. You should go back home," the old doctor refused without hesitation.
"Then I will take my leave and come back tomorrow to greet you," Lu Qing said.
Seeing the old doctor insist, Lu Qing could only comply.
He picked up the drowsy Xiao Yan and prepared to leave the mountain.
"Wait a moment."
Just as they were about to descend, the old doctor suddenly came out from the courtyard and handed Lu Qing a book.
"You have already familiarized yourself with the 'Compendium of Materia Medica.' Now read this 'Acupuncture Points Theory.' Memorize the acupuncture points; I will test you later."
Holding the book and carrying Xiao Yan, Lu Qing descended the mountain, his expression still somewhat dazed.
He initially thought that after becoming the old doctor's disciple, he and Xiao Yan would live in the Halfway House.
After all, as a disciple, taking care of the master and handling daily chores was a given.
But the old doctor seemed to have no such intention, instead letting him continue living at home in the village.
Although this was also beneficial for Lu Qing, it felt a bit strange to him.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Lu Qing carried the sleeping Xiao Yan and headed home.
Upon returning home, the first thing he did was take some money and find Uncle Zhang.
Ignoring Uncle Zhang's refusal, he replenished the money for the apprenticeship gifts prepared by the villagers.
After all, now that he wasn't short of money, how could he let the already not-so-wealthy villagers bear the cost of his apprenticeship gifts?
After giving the money to Uncle Zhang, Lu Qing returned to his courtyard and prepared to practice the martial art.
This time, he intended to use his special ability for the training.
Chapter 43
"Would you like to start cultivating now?"
Staring at the prompt in his vision, Lu Qing chose yes this time.
In the next moment, a torrent of information surged into his mind.
Various insights about the Health Nourishing Boxing emerged in his heart like a divine revelation.
Combining the previous guidance from his master at the Halfway House, Lu Qing instinctively began to practice the Health Nourishing Boxing.
First move, second move, third move...
This set of Health Nourishing Boxing seemed to have no specific names for each move, so Lu Qing could only refer to them in sequence.
He practiced slowly and somewhat awkwardly. After completing the ninth move, just as he was about to perform the tenth, his body felt a sharp ache.
Although he knew the key points of the tenth move in his mind, his body found it extremely difficult to execute.
Remembering his master's advice, Lu Qing realized that the moves beyond the ninth were beyond his current physical capabilities.
Forcing himself to practice could potentially harm his body.
He immediately stopped attempting the tenth move and started over from the first.
Thus, Lu Qing repeatedly practiced the Health Nourishing Boxing from the first to the ninth move.
Following the insights in his mind, his movements gradually became more fluid.
If someone had been watching, they would have noticed.
During his first attempt, Lu Qing's movements were stiff, his stances wobbly, and his forms crooked.
By the second attempt, his movements became noticeably smoother and his forms more precise.
By the third attempt, he was starting to show some proficiency, no longer appearing clumsy.
Fourth attempt...
Fifth attempt...
With each repetition, Lu Qing made visible progress.
By the ninth attempt, his movements were exceptionally fluid, his transitions natural, and his forms precise, giving a pleasing visual effect.
It seemed as if he had immersed himself in this set of fist techniques for a long time.
After completing the ninth attempt, Lu Qing instinctively stopped, gradually closing his stance.
Once finished, he exhaled a warm breath.
He felt his breath smooth, his spirit calm, his whole body warm and comfortable.
Filled with joy, Lu Qing realized that he had grasped some of the essentials of the first nine moves of the Health Nourishing Boxing.
If he continued to practice diligently, it wouldn't be long before he could step into the realm of Qi and Blood as his master had mentioned.
Simultaneously, Lu Qing also began to understand the nature of his ability to simulate cultivation methods.
In essence, after the ability simulates a cultivation method, it doesn't allow him to master it directly.
Instead, it presents the key points and insights of the cultivation method in his mind as guidance.
This enables him to understand the method more quickly.
However, to truly master it, to internalize it, he still needs to train diligently himself.
Just like now, his mind was filled with insights into the Health Nourishing Boxing.
But he still needed to practice repeatedly to digest these insights and strengthen himself.
"Gurgle..."
Lu Qing's stomach growled.
Feeling the hunger in his belly, he knew that the recent training had consumed a lot of his energy.
Recalling his master's advice, he returned to the house and retrieved a piece of cured meat made a few days ago.
He also caught a two to three-pound fish from the kitchen barrel that he had caught the day before.
Then he picked some wild vegetables from the yard.
The vegetables he had planted were just starting to sprout, so he had to eat wild vegetables for now.
With the ingredients ready, Lu Qing started cooking.
First, he washed the pot and steamed the rice. Once the rice was almost done, he began to cook the dishes.
Not long after, a dish of stir-fried wild vegetables with cured meat and a steamed fish were ready.
Just as he placed the dishes on the table, Xiao Yan came out of her room, rubbing her eyes.
"Xiao Yan, you're awake. Are you hungry? I was just about to call you."
The little one touched her belly and earnestly replied, "I think I'm hungry."
"If you're hungry, come and eat," Lu Qing said with a smile.
Children are truly fascinating. She had just had snacks at the master's place before her nap.
But soon after waking up, she was already hungry again.
After a bowl of rice, Lu Qing felt significantly less hungry and let out a long sigh.
Except for the first two days after waking up, it had been a long time since he felt this hungry.
It was evident how much energy his training had consumed earlier.
Lu Qing ate several bowls of rice and finished all the dishes without leaving any leftovers.
After the meal, he reclined on a lounge chair, digesting his food while pondering over the day's events.
A lot had happened today, and he needed to organize his thoughts.
Firstly, there was the change in his status.
He had finally become the disciple of the old doctor. With this identity, he had a foothold in this foreign world.
He was no longer like a rootless duckweed, unsure of his future path.
Secondly, there was the information about martial artists that his master had mentioned.
The martial artists in this world were even more powerful than Lu Qing had imagined.
Based on his master's description of the different levels of Postnatal martial artists, Lu Qing could feel that these martial artists possessed extraordinary strength and resilience.
Not to mention the higher-level Precelestial martial artists.
From his master's words, it seemed that Precelestial martial artists could even suppress the fortune of a nation.
The martial path could indeed cultivate individuals to such a powerful extent. It was impossible for Lu Qing not to yearn for it.
Therefore, he decided to focus primarily on martial arts cultivation and supplement it with medical studies in the coming days.
Since he had the ability, balancing both would not be difficult for him.
Given his decision to practice martial arts, he needed to consider other matters as well.
After the meal, Lu Qing estimated that as he gradually mastered the Health Nourishing Boxing and formally entered the Qi and Blood realm, his appetite would increase significantly.
In that case, the daily nutritional intake for his diet would need to be ensured.
As the saying goes, "A scholar needs wealth to support his study of martial arts." Maintaining the daily consumption needed for martial arts training would likely be costly.
He wondered how long the silver from selling the Red Moon Carp would last.
Lu Qing decided to try his luck again at the strange fish fishing spot in a few days.
If he was lucky enough to catch one or two more strange fish, he wouldn't have to worry about finances for a while.
After pondering these matters, Lu Qing remembered the issue concerning his original parents.
Based on what Old Zhang had said, it was clear that there was more to the death of his original parents.
However, Lu Qing did not plan to investigate this matter for the time being.
Unless he made significant achievements in martial arts in the future and became strong enough, he might seek the truth for Xiao Yan's sake.
For now, he decided to live his life peacefully.
After thinking for a while in the lounge chair, Lu Qing felt he had digested his food enough.
Then he took out the book his master had given him before he left the mountain.
Chapter 44
The Theory of Acupuncture Points: A book documenting various theories about human acupuncture points.
Reading this book thoroughly might provide a clear understanding of numerous acupuncture points on the human body.
Would you like to download it?
When Lu Qing flipped open the "Theory of Acupuncture Points" and read for a while, it was no surprise that this message appeared in his vision. Without hesitation, he chose to download it.
Downloading, current progress, 1%...
Lu Qing began to turn the pages from the beginning. As he flipped through the book page by page, the progress bar in his vision continued to advance.
...97%, 98%, 99%, 100%
"Theory of Acupuncture Points" download complete. Would you like to start learning?
After finishing the last page, the ability also indicated that the book had been fully downloaded. Lu Qing immediately chose to learn it. In the next moment, a vast amount of knowledge about acupuncture points surged from deep within his mind. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and silently absorbed the information.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, amazement gleaming within them.
"These acupuncture points on the human body are truly marvelous."
"According to the 'Theory of Acupuncture Points', the major points of the human body govern various crucial areas and are closely linked to one's life state."
"A skilled healer, if they apply the right techniques, can treat illnesses with needles alone, without any medicinal herbs, bringing the dying back to life and rescuing people from dire situations."
At this moment, Lu Qing had completely memorized the entire "Theory of Acupuncture Points". However, memorizing it was one thing; it did not mean he now knew how to perform acupuncture. He had only theoretical knowledge without any practical experience. If he were to treat a patient now, he wasn't sure if he could cure them, but he was certain he could harm them.
To fully master this "Theory of Acupuncture Points", he still had much to learn. Nevertheless, just gaining an understanding made Lu Qing realize how extraordinary the field of medicine was. Whether it was pharmaceuticals or acupuncture, both were extensive and profound, with complex knowledge. Mastering either was incredibly challenging.
If it weren't for his special ability, he didn't know how long it would take him to understand the two medical books given by his master.
Gently flipping through the book, Lu Qing resumed his study. Although he had memorized the contents, he still preferred the feeling of reading a physical book.
In the golden light of dusk, Lu Qing kept reading until the sun set and the sky darkened before putting the book away.
That night, Xiao Yan once again did not see the black beast she had been eagerly waiting for. The little creature seemed to have some special ability, appearing only when Xiao Yan had fallen asleep.
Indeed, just as Lu Qing tucked the sleeping child in, he heard the familiar scratching at the door. He brought out the fresh fish he had prepared from the kitchen and opened the door.
He saw a black figure nimbly jump back, its front paws together as it elegantly sat down, quietly watching Lu Qing, waiting for him to put down the fish.
"You are getting more and more relaxed." Lu Qing shook his head, placing the fish down and stepping back a few paces.
The black beast immediately approached and started devouring the fish in the wooden basin. Lu Qing watched it eat in silence, not disturbing it.
Compared to ten days ago, the black beast had grown slightly larger. Its attitude had also changed from being suspicious and wary to now facing Lu Qing calmly. It no longer grabbed one fish and hid to eat before coming out for the next; now, it simply ate directly from the basin.
Though its attitude had become much calmer, Lu Qing still couldn't get close to it, let alone touch it. Not that he ever intended to. If the little creature got agitated and scratched him, his hand might be ruined.
He didn't believe his hands or feet could be as hard as steel or stone. Besides, even if they were, this little thing could tear through them.
So every time, after placing the fish, he would step back to avoid provoking this little master. The black beast, after eating the fish, would leave without a second glance. But this time, something was different.
After finishing the fish, the black beast turned and jumped out of the fenced yard. Just as Lu Qing was about to retrieve the wooden basin, he saw it reappear before him.
"What, didn't you get enough to eat?" Lu Qing couldn't help but ask.
That shouldn't be the case. Today he had added more fish than the day before. Even if the little creature had grown, its appetite shouldn't have increased that much all at once.
The black beast, hearing Lu Qing's words, revealed a faintly disdainful look in its eyes. If Lu Qing had noticed, he would have seen it as a look of contempt.
Unfortunately, Lu Qing didn't pay attention to that because his focus was on something else.
"What are you holding in your mouth?"
It turned out that the black beast had something in its mouth. It seemed to be grayish-white, but Lu Qing couldn't see clearly. The moonlight tonight was dim, with only a thin crescent moon hanging in the sky.
The black beast approached, placing the item on the ground, then retreated a few steps.
"Is this for me?" Lu Qing was surprised.
The black beast didn't move, just quietly watched Lu Qing. Lu Qing understood that the item was indeed a gift for him.
"Really for me?"
Lu Qing was genuinely astonished. After feeding the little creature for so long, this was the first time he received a gift in return.
"What is this?"
Lu Qing stepped forward and gently picked up the item. As soon as he held it, he could tell it was a plant root. It had leaves at the top and numerous roots below, still covered in some soil.
Under the faint moonlight, he began to examine the item in his hand. The more he looked, the wider his eyes opened.
Having memorized the "Compendium of Materia Medica" thoroughly, Lu Qing recognized the plant in his hand more and more.
"This can't be..."
Before the thought fully formed in his mind, his special ability provided the answer.
A faint glow of ability light appeared from the plant in his hand. Most importantly, this light wasn't just white; it had a faint hint of red.
Ginseng: A precious medicinal herb, edible and non-toxic.
This ginseng has grown for a long time, seemingly over a hundred years.
Legend has it that ginseng has various miraculous effects, and those that have grown long enough may develop spiritual intelligence.
A hundred-year-old ginseng!
Seeing the information provided by his ability, Lu Qing's eyes widened in shock.
Chapter 45
Hundred-year-old Ginseng!
When Lu Qing read the information about the plant root in his hand, he was astonished.
This was an exceptionally precious herb documented in the "Compendium of Materia Medica"—ginseng! And it was over a hundred years old!
"Little one, what a grand gift you've given me!"
Lu Qing looked at the ginseng in his hand, then glanced at the small black beast, exclaiming in amazement.
It's known that among the hundreds of herbs recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica," ginseng is one of the most valuable.
Moreover, the older it is, the more valuable it becomes.
Ginseng that's several decades old is already highly effective and worth a fortune.
The one in his hand, being over a hundred years old, was exceedingly rare.
In many apothecaries, such a ginseng could serve as a treasure of the establishment.
"I guess it wasn't in vain to fish so much for you."
Lu Qing was very pleased.
Although he wasn't sure of the exact value of this Hundred-year-old Ginseng, it was clearly more valuable than the Red Moon Carp.
After all, although the Red Moon Carp has nourishing properties, wealthy people buy it more for its exquisite flavor.
But this Hundred-year-old Ginseng was different; it could genuinely save lives.
Such precious herbs are often invaluable, and once they appear, people scramble for them.
Moreover, this ginseng in Lu Qing's hand emitted a faint red glow, indicating it had begun to develop the characteristics of a spiritual herb.
Such a treasured herb was likely even more valuable than ordinary ginseng.
Compared to this, the fish he'd been feeding the little black beast were nothing in comparison.
Looking at the Black Night Spirit Lynx, now leisurely licking its paws and washing its face, Lu Qing's eyes shifted. He squatted down and said ingratiatingly, "Little fellow, let's make a deal. If you find more things like this, bring them to me, and I'll catch any fish you want to eat, okay?"
If anyone saw Lu Qing's current expression, they'd find his smile resembled that of a creepy uncle trying to entice a child with candy.
Whether the little black beast understood him or not, it finished licking its paws, gave Lu Qing a sideways glance, then elegantly hopped to the fence and disappeared into the night.
This time, Lu Qing noticed its gaze clearly.
He felt as if he had been despised by a small beast.
Lu Qing paused, then shook his head with a smile.
Despite being looked down upon by a small beast, he was in high spirits.
Bringing the wooden basin back to the kitchen, Lu Qing lit an oil lamp, fetched a wet cloth, and sat in the hall to carefully clean the ginseng.
With meticulous care, the ginseng gradually revealed its complete form.
The main body was plump, resembling a small radish.
Its long roots made it look somewhat human-shaped.
If left to grow longer, it might indeed take on the form of a small person.
Regrettably, some of the roots were obviously broken, making it less than perfect.
Clearly, the little black beast had snapped the roots while digging it up.
Though Lu Qing regretted this, he knew he shouldn't be too greedy.
Truthfully, for the black beast to dig up a ginseng was already surprising enough.
He couldn't expect it to retrieve the ginseng as flawlessly as a seasoned herbalist.
After admiring the Hundred-year-old Ginseng for a while, Lu Qing carefully put it away.
He planned to take it to his master the next day to find out how to maximize its value.
Despite having thoroughly studied the "Compendium of Materia Medica," his knowledge of herbs couldn't compare to his master, a divine physician.
The next morning, Lu Qing rose early, practiced Tai Chi in the courtyard, feeling refreshed before making breakfast.
After breakfast, he took Xiao Yan to the Halfway House.
Upon meeting the old doctor, he immediately presented the ginseng wrapped in cloth.
"Master, last night I unexpectedly obtained a herb and want your opinion on how best to use it."
"Oh, what herb?"
The old doctor was curious.
Had his disciple gone herb picking at night?
"It's this herb."
Lu Qing unwrapped the cloth, revealing the ginseng inside.
"This is..." The old doctor's eyes widened upon seeing the herb. "This is ginseng?!"
Surprised, the old doctor took the cloth bundle from Lu Qing and closely examined the ginseng.
"It's indeed ginseng, and a top-grade centenarian fresh ginseng at that!"
After a thorough inspection, the old doctor sighed in admiration.
"Lu Qing, where did you get this ginseng? Did you go into the mountains last night?"
The old doctor looked at Lu Qing in astonishment.
This kind of top-grade Hundred-year-old Ginseng usually grows in remote, uninhabited mountains.
Ordinary herb pickers rarely venture into such areas.
Even he, with years of herb-picking experience, had rarely encountered such specimens.
Judging by its freshness, the ginseng had been recently dug up.
How did Lu Qing get it?
Could it be that he ventured into the deep mountains last night?
But that seemed impossible.
Facing his master's curiosity, Lu Qing smiled, "Master, you'll never guess who gave me this ginseng."
"Someone gave it to you? Who?" The old doctor was even more curious.
Who would be so generous as to gift such a precious Hundred-year-old Ginseng?
"It was the black beast I told you about before. After I fed it fish last night, it brought me this ginseng."
"It was that black beast?" The old doctor was astounded.
Lu Qing then recounted the events of the previous night in detail.
Not only did it astonish the old doctor, but Xiao Yan was also wide-eyed in amazement.
"It seems that black beast is indeed highly intelligent, almost capable of understanding human speech."
After listening to Lu Qing's account, the old doctor marveled.
"I think so too. I feel it might even understand us."
Lu Qing recalled the scornful look the Black Night Spirit Lynx had given him before leaving.
"This is the reward for doing good deeds." The old doctor stroked his beard. "If you hadn't been kind-hearted, feeding it every night instead of driving it away, how could you have this fortunate encounter?"
I didn't drive it away because I was scared of it!
Hearing his master's words, Lu Qing felt a bit embarrassed.
That little creature was formidable; who would dare to provoke it?
"Master, according to you, since this ginseng is over a hundred years old, how valuable is it?" Lu Qing asked.
Chapter 46
"So, are you thinking of selling this ginseng?" the old doctor asked.
"Not necessarily, I just want to know its value so I can have an idea," Lu Qing replied honestly.
The old doctor pondered for a moment and said, "Generally speaking, ginseng of this age is always in high demand and hard to come by."
"Ginseng can replenish energy and blood, strengthen the body, and even save lives in critical moments."
"Those nobles in the city, martial artists, are always eager to get their hands on such a precious herb."
"Although the roots of this old ginseng are slightly damaged, it doesn't affect its medicinal properties."
"In fact, I just tested it. Perhaps because of the unique environment where it grew, this ginseng's medicinal effect is even stronger than typical hundred-year-old ginseng."
Hearing this, Lu Qing recalled the red glow on the ginseng.
The special quality mentioned by his master might be due to this.
"A typical hundred-year-old ginseng can sell for at least a thousand taels of silver in those big cities."
"This one might be worth even more, but I can't say exactly how much."
A thousand taels of silver! Ten times the price of a Red Moon Carp!
Hearing this number, despite being mentally prepared, Lu Qing couldn't help but feel his heart race.
"Are you tempted?" The old doctor laughed, seeing the shocked expression on his disciple's face.
"A little," Lu Qing nodded.
Who wouldn't be tempted by a thousand taels of silver?
Especially a country boy like him.
"However, despite its high value, I still suggest you don't sell it for silver," the old doctor suddenly changed his tone.
"Why, Master?" Lu Qing was puzzled.
"You want to practice martial arts, don't you? This ginseng is one of the best auxiliary medicinal materials for a martial artist at the Qi and Blood level."
"Didn't I say before that I wanted to prepare some Qi and Blood Nourishing Soup for you? This hundred-year-old ginseng, if used properly, is even more effective than that soup."
"With its help, it will be much easier for you to enter the Qi and Blood level."
"I can refine it into Blood Replenishing and Energy Boosting Pills for you. Once you master Health Nourishing Boxing, taking one pill a day will help you step into the Qi and Blood level in no time."
Such good fortune?
This was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Lu Qing was overjoyed.
He was worried about how to quickly enter the Qi and Blood level, and now a solution had appeared.
"So, do you still want to sell this ginseng or keep it for yourself?" the old doctor asked.
Lu Qing didn't hesitate, "Please help me refine it into pills, Master!"
"Oh, have you thought it through?" The old doctor looked at him.
"Yes, silver is valuable, but it's ultimately an external thing. My own abilities are more important," Lu Qing said.
"It's good that you have this awareness," the old doctor nodded with satisfaction. "In this world, nothing is more important than your own abilities. Without abilities, no matter how much silver you have, you won't be able to keep it."
"Since you've decided, I'll refine the Blood Replenishing and Energy Boosting Pills for you in the next couple of days."
"Thank you, Master!" Lu Qing said happily.
"But don't be too happy yet," the old doctor dampened his spirits. "Even if I make the pills, you won't be able to take them until you master Health Nourishing Boxing."
"Otherwise, taking the pills will just waste their medicinal properties."
Mastering the boxing?
Lu Qing's heart stirred. "Master, yesterday after I went back, I practiced the boxing you taught me and seemed to grasp some key points. Could you check if I'm on the right track?"
"Oh, you've understood something so quickly?" The old doctor was intrigued but didn't take Lu Qing's words seriously, thinking he had just familiarized himself with the moves.
"Show me what you've learned."
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing immediately began to practice the first to ninth forms of Health Nourishing Boxing.
At first, the old doctor watched with a smile.
But as Lu Qing moved from the first to the second form, the old doctor's smile faded, replaced by surprise.
He noticed that Lu Qing's movements were not only precise and smooth but also carried a unique flavor.
As the creator of Health Nourishing Boxing, the old doctor knew what this meant.
It signified that Lu Qing had not only mastered the moves but had also infused them with his own understanding.
In other words, he had truly grasped the form and begun to internalize the technique.
But how was this possible?
It had only been a night since he taught Lu Qing the boxing!
How could he have progressed this far?
The old doctor was shocked.
Yet, more surprises awaited him.
Lu Qing continued to practice each form with fluidity and ease.
After finishing the ninth form, he started again from the first, practicing repeatedly.
After nine cycles, he finally stopped, exhaling a breath of stale air, his face glowing with health and vitality.
The old doctor stood there, shocked and speechless.
"Master, did I make any mistakes?" Lu Qing asked, full of energy.
"Nine cycles to return to the source, energy and blood thriving, spirit renewed. This means you've fully mastered Health Nourishing Boxing."
The old doctor seemed to be talking to himself, not hearing Lu Qing's question.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Seeing the old doctor like this, Lu Qing was a bit worried. Had he scared his master with his display?
"A Qing, be honest with me!" The old doctor's face suddenly turned serious, startling Lu Qing. "What happened when you practiced yesterday?"
"What happened?" Lu Qing thought for a moment. "Yesterday, as I practiced in the courtyard, I suddenly felt many insights flooding my mind. My body followed the key points you taught, and before I knew it, I felt completely refreshed. The first to ninth forms became much clearer to me, no longer obscure and difficult."
What Lu Qing described was his state after using his ability, though he omitted the existence of the ability.
However, to the old doctor, his words were like thunderclaps.
"Epiphany... it was an epiphany," the old doctor murmured.
He looked at Lu Qing as if he were a rare treasure.
"I took in a disciple on a whim, and it turns out he is a martial arts prodigy who could achieve an epiphany on his first try?"
Chapter 47
The old doctor looked at Lu Qing as if he were a rare treasure.
He was both excited and shocked.
"Master?"
Lu Qing was confused by his master's intense gaze and called out.
The old doctor regained his composure. As a master cultivator, he quickly concealed his astonishment, though the excitement in his heart was hard to hide.
"I didn't expect, Lu Qing, that you have such a talent in martial arts. I truly misjudged you," the old doctor sighed.
"The state you entered during yesterday's boxing practice, if I'm not mistaken, is what all martial artists dream of—a sudden enlightenment."
Only sudden enlightenment could explain why Lu Qing had mastered Health Nourishing Boxing to such a level overnight.
"Sudden enlightenment?"
Lu Qing thought about it and realized that his cultivation with his special ability was indeed akin to sudden enlightenment. The difference was that his state of "enlightenment" could be actively entered multiple times.
"Exactly, sudden enlightenment," the old doctor said. "It is said that sudden enlightenment is a mystical state of understanding."
"Entering this state is like receiving divine inspiration. The mind becomes extremely sharp and agile, capable of mastering anything quickly."
"But for ordinary people, achieving sudden enlightenment is extremely difficult."
"In martial arts cultivation, only those with exceptional talent or those who have deep foundations and accumulation can occasionally glimpse this mysterious state."
"That you were able to master the first nine forms of Health Nourishing Boxing overnight clearly shows that you inadvertently entered the state of sudden enlightenment yesterday."
"Master, do you mean that I have considerable talent in martial arts?" Lu Qing asked.
"You have exceptional talent!" the old doctor said solemnly. "To enter sudden enlightenment on your first cultivation attempt, your martial arts talent is something I've never encountered in all my years."
It seemed his demonstration had been quite effective. Feeling his master's excitement, Lu Qing nodded secretly. He had intentionally showcased his "martial arts talent" before his master. With his special ability, his progress in martial arts would undoubtedly be rapid. It was best to establish his reputation as a rare martial arts genius now, making it easier to advance his martial skills in the future.
"Since you've mastered the first nine forms of Health Nourishing Boxing, we must not delay the preparation of the Blood Replenishing and Qi-boosting Pill," the old doctor said, his excitement evident.
Knowing his disciple was a rare martial arts genius, the old doctor decided to go into seclusion immediately to refine the century-old ginseng into a pill. Lu Qing, who had wanted to consult him on the Acupuncture Points Theory, didn't have the chance.
Watching his master hurriedly enter the medicine room and hearing him say it would take at least a day and a night to complete the refinement, Lu Qing found himself with nothing to do.
With nothing else to occupy him, Lu Qing took Xiao Yan home, fetched his fishing rod, and headed to the riverbank.
The black spirit lynx had given him such a generous gift; he felt he needed to show some appreciation.
Taking Xiao Yan to the river, Lu Qing set down his fishing gear. Over time, he had gathered a full set of fishing equipment—rods, nets, and a fish basket. Of course, his fish basket wasn't the kind used in his previous life. It was a large, long fish basket made by an elderly villager skilled in weaving. It could hold fish and fishing gear, making it quite convenient.
This time, Lu Qing chose to fish at the rare fish spot. He was pleased to see the dense white ripples on the water's surface.
This was his first time returning to this spot since catching the Red Moon Carp. The fish activity here seemed good, with the ripples still dense. Unlike the small fish spot, which had been overfished by the villagers and had lost its luster, it was unclear when it would recover.
Due to this, the villagers' enthusiasm for fishing had waned. Without Lu Qing's ability to easily find fishing spots, they often had poor catches. So, aside from true fishing enthusiasts, most villagers no longer came to the river to fish.
With everything ready, Lu Qing plucked some fruits from the Blood Apricot Tree, baited a hook with one, and waited quietly.
Yes, this time he came to see if he could catch another rare fish after such a long time.
As Lu Qing fished quietly, Xiao Yan played with a bamboo dragonfly under a tree behind him. She had grown used to accompanying her brother to fish daily and could entertain herself alone.
Biting a grass stalk, Lu Qing watched the float silently. Despite the float remaining motionless for a long time, he remained patient.
As a fisherman, if he lacked patience, he might as well not fish at all.
After a long while, a ripple appeared near the float.
Seeing the float tremble slightly, Lu Qing smiled.
Finally, there was some activity.
He gently placed his hand on the fishing rod, ready at any moment.
From his fishing experience, Lu Qing knew that big fish in this world often liked to launch sneak attacks.
Sure enough, just as his hand touched the rod, the float suddenly sank into the water.
Lu Qing jerked the rod.
A strong force pulled on the rod.
Got it!
Feeling the power transmitted through the rod, Lu Qing was delighted.
With such a strong pull, the catch was either a big fish or a rare fish.
What followed was a battle of wits and strength between Lu Qing and the fish.
Relying on his rich fishing experience, Lu Qing kept releasing tension.
After a while, he judged that the fish wasn't a Blue-armored Fish or a Red Moon Carp because the fish's movements were entirely different from those two types.
This fish kept diving towards a specific spot at the bottom, determined not to give up.
But since it was already hooked, Lu Qing wouldn't let it escape easily.
He had recently upgraded his fishing rod. The hook and rod were new and more durable, while the line was still made of Snow Silkworm silk.
Moreover, his physical condition was much better now.
Even when he was physically weak, he could catch Red Moon Carp and Blue-armored Fish.
Now, after practicing Health Nourishing Boxing, he was even stronger.
As expected, after a battle, the fish in the water tired out.
As soon as it surfaced, Lu Qing scooped it up with a net.
He was stunned when he saw the fish's true form.
It was a fish about two or three fingers thick, roughly two feet long, entirely golden, and resembled a loach.
Chapter 48
[Golden Loach: A peculiar fish, entirely golden in color, adept at burrowing.]
[Contains spiritual essence, its flesh is delicious and nourishing, capable of enhancing both yin and yang, a superb tonic.]
[It is said that Golden Loaches always appear in pairs, a male and a female, inseparable and never swimming alone.]
Seeing the creature in the bucket, its body glowing with a white and red hue, resembling a loach, Lu Qing was filled with joy.
Indeed, this creature was a peculiar fish.
Moreover, it was on the same level as the Red Moon Carp.
What thrilled Lu Qing even more was the information on the third note.
Golden Loaches always appeared in pairs and never swam alone.
This meant there was another Golden Loach in the water!
Although he didn't know if the commotion just now had scared the other Golden Loach away, Lu Qing still wanted to give it a try.
He baited the hook with another Blood Apricot Fruit and lowered it into the water.
He thought he would have to wait a long time again, maybe even in vain.
However, to his surprise, the float sank into the water shortly after he lowered the hook.
"So soon?!"
Caught off guard, Lu Qing quickly reacted and grabbed the fishing rod.
There was no suspense after that.
After another bout of strength and skill, he pulled up another Golden Loach.
Staring at the two Golden Loaches in the bucket, Lu Qing fell silent.
It seemed he had underestimated the allure of the Blood Apricot Fruit to these peculiar fish.
It was no ordinary fruit to be called a mystical fruit by the abilities.
He wondered what was so special about it that it could attract these peculiar fish to devour it relentlessly.
Lu Qing put away a few Blood Apricot Fruits, planning to ask his master about this mystical fruit later.
Baiting another Blood Apricot Fruit, Lu Qing continued to fish.
But this time, his luck wasn't as good.
He waited a long time without another catch.
Not even an ordinary fish.
"Strange, could it be that these peculiar fish have territorial awareness, and only one type appears at a time?" Lu Qing wondered.
He decided to lift the hook and replace the bait with a worm.
As soon as the hook was lowered again, a fish bit it quickly.
A neat flick of the rod brought up a small white fish flapping its tail in the air.
Looking at the small white fish on the hook, Lu Qing was silent.
"You're really everywhere."
Feeling there were no more peculiar fish below, Lu Qing stopped using the Blood Apricot Fruit.
Instead, he continued fishing with worms.
After a while, he had caught dozens of small white fish.
With so many small white fish, plus the ones left at home, it should be enough to feed the black beast well.
After catching enough food for the black beast, Lu Qing decided to pack up.
It was a pity, though, as he had hoped to catch one or two big fish to give the black beast a hearty meal.
But perhaps because of the Golden Loach's presence, all the big fish were nowhere to be found.
Even when he switched to corn bait midway, there was no action.
Unable to catch any, he could only let the black beast settle for small fish, which tasted good anyway.
"Xiao Yan, let's go home."
After packing up, Lu Qing called out to Xiao Yan, who was playing in the grass nearby.
"Coming, brother."
The little one ran back happily, holding a small bunch of wildflowers.
She had gone to pick wildflowers earlier.
"Brother, look at the flowers I just picked. Aren't they pretty?"
Xiao Yan held up the bouquet to show off to Lu Qing.
"Pretty."
Lu Qing nodded, noticing some grass leaves on her head and casually picked them off.
"Hehe, I knew you'd like them."
Xiao Yan was delighted with the compliment.
Seeing her happy, Lu Qing had a sudden thought.
"Xiao Yan, do you get bored coming fishing with me every day?"
"What's bored?" the little one asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Uh... do you ever feel unhappy?" Lu Qing rephrased.
"No, as long as I'm with you, I'm never unhappy," she said earnestly. "There are flowers to pick and butterflies to chase, it's so much fun!"
"...Alright then."
Lu Qing had nothing to say.
He had thought about leaving her in the village to play with other kids if she felt bored while he went fishing.
After all, she often played with her friends in the village after meals.
But since she didn't feel bored, he decided to let it be for now.
Back home, Lu Qing poured out the small fish, leaving only the two Golden Loaches in the bucket, and fell into contemplation.
He was considering what to do with these two Golden Loaches.
Sell them or eat them himself?
He preferred eating them.
First, his master hadn't been able to go to town lately, and he didn't know how long the Golden Loaches would live out of the river.
If they died in a few days, it would be a big loss.
Secondly, he wasn't short of money anymore.
Peculiar fish were rare, and selling them felt like a waste.
Lastly, the Golden Loaches' effects were very tempting.
According to the abilities, these Golden Loaches were superb tonics.
Now that he had started practicing Health Nourishing Boxing and was about to step into the Qi and Blood Realm, his body still felt weak due to a past illness.
These two Golden Loaches might help him overcome this shortcoming.
After some thought, Lu Qing decided to keep both Golden Loaches for himself.
But he didn't plan to enjoy them alone.
He intended to take them to the Halfway House tomorrow and share them with his master.
Last time, he had planned to give the Red Moon Carp to his master but ended up selling it for money.
Since becoming a disciple, Lu Qing had only received benefits from his master without giving anything in return.
Now that he had caught these peculiar fish, it was a good opportunity to let his master have a taste.
Lu Qing's plan was excellent, but an unexpected event occurred that night.
After Xiao Yan fell asleep, the black beast came scratching at the door again.
Lu Qing brought out a bowl of fish and placed it on the ground.
To his surprise, the black beast, which usually devoured the fish as soon as it was put down, didn't move this time.
Instead, it sniffed a few times, its eyes lit up, and it circled around Lu Qing.
After a few circles, it sat down and stared at him.
"What's wrong? Not eating? I even added extra fish today," Lu Qing said, puzzled.
The little creature had changed its habits, no longer interested in fish?
"Meow!"
The black beast suddenly let out a soft cry, startling Lu Qing.
It was the first time he had heard it meow.
He had only heard its warning growls in the first few nights.
This meow was different, like a kitten's, cute and endearing.
But Lu Qing couldn't pay attention to how pleasant the sound was now.
Because he noticed that after the black beast meowed, it stared straight at the house behind him.
More precisely, at the direction of the kitchen.
Remembering how the black beast had sniffed him earlier, a thought suddenly struck Lu Qing.
"Could it be..."