Chapter Summaries

Lu Qing discovered that a mysterious small beast had stolen two pieces of fish from his home, then took Xiao Yan and the Red Moon Carp to visit Old Doctor Chen. Old Doctor Chen identified Xiao Yan’s pendant as a rare Azure Armor Fish Stone and asked where Lu Qing had caught the fish.

• Lu Qing found muddy, clawed footprints and realized a small wild beast had torn two pieces of fish from the bamboo strips.
• Lu Qing checked that the Red Moon Carp was safe in the covered wooden basin, then took it with Xiao Yan to visit Old Doctor Chen.
• Xiao Yan told Old Doctor Chen about the huge fish and showed him the pendant Lu Qing had made from its stone.
• Old Doctor Chen identified the pendant as an Azure Armor Fish Stone, described its calming and medicinal properties, and asked where Lu Qing had caught the fish.

Lu Qing gave Old Doctor Chen a rare Red Moon Carp, which the doctor agreed to sell for him and use the proceeds to cover his medical fees and household expenses. Old Doctor Chen gave Lu Qing a copy of the “Classic of Materia Medica” to study, and Lu Qing discovered that his Supernatural Ability could download its knowledge.

• Lu Qing and Xiao Yan brought Old Doctor Chen a Red Moon Carp, which he recognized as a rare delicacy worth a large sum of silver.
• Lu Qing insisted on giving the fish to Old Doctor Chen in gratitude, but the doctor declined the gift and agreed to sell it for him instead.
• Old Doctor Chen explained that an oversized Red Moon Carp was worth less because its flesh became less tender, then stored it in a water vat.
• After treating Lu Qing with acupuncture, Old Doctor Chen confirmed that he still wanted to study medicinal herbs and gave him a copy of the “Classic of Materia Medica.”
• Lu Qing struggled to read the book’s unfamiliar characters until his Supernatural Ability displayed an option to download its knowledge.

Lu Qing downloaded and learned the Classic of Materia Medica, then watched Old Doctor Chen save Uncle Zhao after villagers pulled him from the river. Uncle Zhao regained consciousness in the courtyard.

• Lu Qing read the Classic of Materia Medica as his Supernatural Ability downloaded it, then learned its contents and began reviewing the book.
• Old Doctor Chen found Lu Qing studying while Xiao Yan caught butterflies in the courtyard.
• Villagers carried unconscious Uncle Zhao into the courtyard after he fell into the river while fishing alone.
• Wang Da'an told Lu Qing that Uncle Zhao had been fishing near the spot where Lu Qing caught a big fish and could not swim.
• Old Doctor Chen pressed water from Uncle Zhao's chest and abdomen until he coughed and woke.

Lao Zhao woke after nearly drowning while trying to retrieve his fishing rod and learned that the incident had damaged his health. His family arrived at Old Doctor Chen’s home, where they learned he had been left with a lasting ailment and needed to recuperate.

• Lao Zhao woke up and learned that villagers had rescued him from the river after he jumped in to retrieve his fishing rod.
• Lao Zhao admitted he had underestimated the river’s depth and jumped in after a fish dragged away his rod.
• Old Doctor Chen explained that Lao Zhao had swallowed river water and suffered internal damage, though he would be able to walk if he rested and recuperated.
• Lao Zhao’s wife and sons arrived, heard how he had nearly drowned, and urged him to stop fishing.
• A villager told Zhao Ming that Lao Zhao’s injury had left him with a lasting ailment, frightening his family.

After the villagers saw Lu Qing studying medicinal herbs with Old Doctor Chen, the doctor explained why they hoped Lu Qing would learn his medical skills: he had been the only doctor in the area for ten years. He asked Lu Qing whether he was willing to study medicine under him.

• Lao Zhao left after Old Doctor Chen treated him, and the villagers began to disperse.
• The villagers discovered Lu Qing was learning about medicinal herbs from Old Doctor Chen and encouraged him to study hard.
• Old Doctor Chen told Lu Qing that there had been no doctors in the nearby villages before he settled there, and that many people had died without treatment.
• Old Doctor Chen explained that the villagers feared losing access to medical care if he died or could no longer practice.
• Old Doctor Chen asked Lu Qing whether he was willing to study medicine under him.

Old Doctor Chen offered Lu Qing a chance to become his medical apprentice if he memorized the Classic of Materia Medica within a month. Lu Qing left hopeful about studying medicine, while villagers welcomed the possibility that their village might eventually have another physician.

• Old Doctor Chen changed his mind and offered Lu Qing a medical apprenticeship, making his acceptance conditional on memorizing the Classic of Materia Medica within a month.
• Lu Qing asked Old Doctor Chen about the book, impressed him with his memory, and agreed to return the next day for another lesson.
• Old Doctor Chen invited Xiao Yan to return too and promised to make her new pastries.
• Lu Qing reflected on the Red Moon Carp, his chance to study medicine, and the possibilities of his Supernatural Ability as he headed home with Xiao Yan.
• Villagers discussed Lu Qing's medical studies and expressed hope that he could eventually take Old Doctor Chen's place as the village physician.

Lu Qing reflected on the village’s kindness, then studied the Classic of Materia Medica while Xiao Yan played. After telling Xiao Yan a bedtime story, he heard a sound outside just as she fell asleep.

• The villagers encouraged Lu Qing to study medicine diligently under Old Doctor Chen, and he promised to do so.
• Lu Qing recalled Old Doctor Chen’s praise of the village’s honest, helpful customs and felt fortunate to have been reborn there.
• Lu Qing continued studying the Classic of Materia Medica, confident he could pass Old Doctor Chen’s test.
• Lu Qing told Xiao Yan the story of Little Monkey until she fell asleep, then heard a sound outside.

Lu Qing stayed awake after hearing something scratch at his door, and Old Doctor Chen gave him Medicinal Powder to repel beasts. Lu Qing continued studying the Classic of Materia Medica and asked the Old Doctor to buy an Iron Pot and salt, but the strange noise returned that night.

• Lu Qing heard scratching at the door, scared the unseen creature away by striking the door with a stick, and barely slept.
• Old Doctor Chen gave Lu Qing Medicinal Powder to scatter around his house after hearing about the possible beast.
• Lu Qing impressed Old Doctor Chen with how quickly he had learned the Classic of Materia Medica, and the Old Doctor advised him to study real medicinal herbs.
• Old Doctor Chen said he was going to the city and agreed to sell Lu Qing's Red Moon Carp and buy an Iron Pot and salt.
• Lu Qing scattered the Medicinal Powder around his house, but heard the scratching noise again that night after Xiao Yan fell asleep.

Lu Qing discovered that the creature scratching at his door was a juvenile Red-Light Grade Black Night Spirit Fox and placated it with dried fish. After it escaped into the night, he suspected it would return and decided he could not give up fishing.

• Lu Qing opened the door and startled a black little beast that had been scratching outside his home.
• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to identify the beast as a juvenile female Black Night Spirit Fox, a powerful Red-Light Grade Spirit Beast.
• Lu Qing offered the wary fox two pieces of dried fish, which it snatched before leaping over the fence and disappearing.
• Lu Qing realized the fox might return for fish and decided to continue fishing despite his plans to focus on studying medicine.

Lu Qing fed the wary Black Night Spirit Fox fish when it came to his home, and it ate the fish without harming him or Xiao Yan. He visited Old Doctor Chen to learn that the creature was unknown to him and to hear how the sale of the Red Moon Carp had gone, but the chapter ended before Chen revealed the results.

• Lu Qing caught a bucket of ordinary fish and prepared some for the Black Night Spirit Fox.
• The Black Night Spirit Fox returned that night, ate more than two jin of fish, and left Lu Qing at ease.
• Lu Qing told Old Doctor Chen that the Medicinal Powder had not kept the creature away and described its appearance and appetite.
• Old Doctor Chen said he did not recognize the black beast and advised Lu Qing to let it be since it only wanted fish.
• Xiao Yan asked to see the beast, and Lu Qing promised to try to befriend it.
• Lu Qing brought Old Doctor Chen small fish, and Chen said the items Lu Qing had asked him to buy were inside.

Lu Qing received the proceeds from selling the Red Moon Carp and learned that his recovery was nearly complete after his final acupuncture session. He left Old Doctor Chen’s home feeling that his circumstances had changed for the better and that he could study medicine in the future.

• Old Doctor Chen gave Lu Qing eighty-five taels of patterned silver from selling the Red Moon Carp and explained the costs deducted from the sale.
• Old Doctor Chen told Lu Qing that his Iron Pot was seasoned and ready to use, then began his third and final acupuncture session.
• Old Doctor Chen concluded that Lu Qing’s vital essence had stabilized, though he still could not explain Lu Qing’s sudden improvement.
• Xiao Yan shared pastries with Old Doctor Chen while Lu Qing slept through the acupuncture.
• Lu Qing woke feeling almost completely recovered, then joined Old Doctor Chen and Xiao Yan in the courtyard.

Lu Qing cooked his first meal in his new Iron Pot and decided to visit Da Ji the next day to buy supplies and return borrowed items. The Black Little Beast came again after Xiao Yan fell asleep, and Lu Qing left her with Grandpa Zhang before setting out for Wang Da'an’s home.

• Lu Qing openly brought home the Iron Pot, and villagers took it as proof that Old Doctor Chen valued him as a disciple.
• Lu Qing cooked pan-fried fish, fish soup, and stir-fried greens, and he and Xiao Yan enjoyed the meal.
• Lu Qing decided to visit Da Ji the next day to replenish supplies and return the villagers’ borrowed items.
• Xiao Yan fell asleep before the Black Little Beast arrived, and it ate the fish Lu Qing left in the courtyard.
• The next morning, Lu Qing left Xiao Yan in Grandpa Zhang’s care and headed to Wang Da’an’s home.

Lu Qing asked Wang Da'an to take him to Da Ji and learned the village's rules for leaving. After tying Red Ropes to the God Tree to mark their trip, they headed toward the market.

• Lu Qing visited Wang Da'an and asked him to explain the rules for going to Da Ji.
• Wang Da'an showed Lu Qing how villagers tied Red Ropes to branches of the God Tree to mark where they were going.
• Wang Da'an explained that villagers traveling to the city or farther away had to go in pairs because bandits had once preyed on the roads.
• Wang Da'an tied Red Ropes to the branch for Da Ji, then led Lu Qing toward the market.

Lu Qing visited the Da Ji with Wang Da'an to buy supplies and discovered that its fee collector, Ma Gu, was a cultivator in the Acquired Tendons and Bones Realm. When Ma Gu questioned the silver Lu Qing used to buy meat, Lu Qing said his master was Old Doctor Chen, and Ma Gu reacted with surprise.

• Lu Qing saw Ma Gu patrolling the Da Ji and learned through his Supernatural Ability that he had newly entered the Acquired Tendons and Bones Realm.
• Lu Qing told Wang Da'an he needed help buying several things, then chose meat at a stall.
• The meat seller could not make change for Lu Qing's silver, and Wang Da'an asked where he had gotten it.
• Ma Gu asked Lu Qing about the silver, and Lu Qing said his master was Old Doctor Chen.
• Ma Gu's expression changed when he heard Old Doctor Chen's name.

Lu Qing refused Master Ma’s offer to pay for his meat but accepted his help exchanging silver for copper, earning the man’s respect as Old Doctor Chen’s disciple. He and Wang Da'an then bought meat, grain, and other supplies at Da Ji before setting off for their village.

• Master Ma recognized Lu Qing as Old Doctor Chen’s disciple, apologized for offending him, and offered to pay for his meat, but Lu Qing refused.
• Master Ma exchanged Lu Qing’s silver for 650 copper coins, and Lu Qing introduced himself and Wang Da'an before Master Ma departed.
• The meat-stall owner recognized Old Doctor Chen’s reputation and gave Lu Qing a small discount on the meat.
• Lu Qing and Wang Da'an bought grain, daily necessities, vegetable seeds, needle and thread, and two large bamboo baskets at Da Ji.
• Lu Qing and Wang Da'an loaded their purchases and left Da Ji for the village.

After Lu Qing and Wang Da'an left Da Ji, Master Ma ordered an investigation into Lu Qing and protected him from a gang considering robbing him. Lu Qing returned safely to the village, thanked Wang Da'an with pork, and set out to bring Xiao Yan home.

• Outside Da Ji, Chen San's gang considered robbing Lu Qing and Wang Da'an, but Master Ma sent Xiao Tian to warn them off.
• Master Ma asked Xiao Tian to find out whether Old Doctor Chen had taken Lu Qing as an apprentice, hoping to build a connection with the doctor.
• Lu Qing and Wang Da'an returned to the village safely and put the Red Rope back beneath the stone slab.
• Lu Qing gave Wang Da'an a piece of pork to thank him for guiding and helping carry the purchases.
• After Wang Da'an left, Lu Qing took more pork and went next door to Grandpa Zhang's home to bring Xiao Yan back.

Lu Qing used soybean paste and sugar to make braised pork, then arranged for Xiao Yan to get two new outfits. After several steady days of studying and chores, Old Doctor Chen told Lu Qing he no longer needed to read the Classic of Materia Medica.

• Lu Qing cooked braised pork with soybean paste and sugar, and its aroma drew the attention of villagers nearby.
• Lu Qing shared the meat with Xiao Yan, and they enjoyed dinner together.
• Lu Qing asked Second Aunt Zhang to sew two outfits for Xiao Yan and paid her for the work.
• Xiao Yan received the finished clothes two days later and proudly wore them for several days.
• Lu Qing continued studying with Old Doctor Chen while managing chores, cooking, and fishing for the Black Night Spirit Fox.
• At the Half-Mountain Courtyard, Old Doctor Chen told Lu Qing he no longer needed to read the Classic of Materia Medica.

Lu Qing completed Old Doctor Chen’s assessment to gather ten undamaged medicinal herbs within an hour, using his knowledge and supernatural ability to identify them. With nine herbs collected and time running short, he realized the last one was Cow Bone Grass growing in his own courtyard.

• Old Doctor Chen praised Lu Qing for mastering the Classic of Materia Medica and set an assessment requiring him to gather ten listed herbs within an hour without damaging them.
• Lu Qing set out with a Medicine Basket and Medicine Hoe, carefully dug up Thunder Root Grass, and then hurried to find more herbs after realizing the first had taken too long.
• Lu Qing gathered several herbs, including Dandelion, Cocklebur Seed, and Plantain Herb, while villagers learned of his assessment and kept others from disturbing him.
• Lu Qing collected eight herbs, found a ninth, and realized he had overlooked a familiar plant at home as time ran short.
• Lu Qing ran home and identified the thriving Cow Bone Grass in his courtyard as the final herb.

Lu Qing passed Old Doctor Chen’s test and was formally accepted as his disciple in a ceremony witnessed by the villagers. The villagers revealed their gratitude to Lu Qing’s family and presented apprenticeship gifts, while Lu Qing began to reflect on what the ceremony meant.

• Lu Qing brought the gathered herbs to Old Doctor Chen, who praised his effort and declared that he had passed the test.
• Old Doctor Chen asked Lu Qing to invite the Village Elders to witness his formal acceptance as a disciple.
• Lu Qing told the villagers, who celebrated the news and accompanied the Village Elders to the Half-Mountain Courtyard.
• Grandpa Zhang explained how Lu Qing’s grandfather had helped the villagers survive famine and asked Old Doctor Chen to be patient with Lu Qing.
• The villagers offered apprenticeship gifts, and Old Doctor Chen accepted a few eggs and cured meat after refusing most of them.
• Old Doctor Chen invited the villagers into the courtyard, and Lu Qing began the formal apprenticeship ceremony.

Lu Qing completed his apprenticeship under Old Doctor Chen and began questioning the hidden truth behind his parents’ deaths. Old Doctor Chen advised him to trust Grandpa Zhang and focus on learning until he was strong enough to face the truth, then began explaining what makes a good medical practitioner.

• Lu Qing completed the simple apprenticeship ceremony, and Old Doctor Chen gave the witnessing villagers Medicine Pouches as gifts.
• Grandpa Zhang urged Lu Qing to tell his grandfather and parents the good news, then left with the other villagers.
• Lu Qing asked Old Doctor Chen about his parents’ deaths, and Chen said he did not know the truth because he had been away when they reportedly drowned.
• Old Doctor Chen advised Lu Qing not to press Grandpa Zhang for answers yet and to trust the villagers’ reasons for keeping quiet.
• Lu Qing accepted his master's advice, and Old Doctor Chen asked what a person needed to become a good medical practitioner.