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Li Kangsheng helped Zhang Zhengyang put on his clothes. After taking his pulse, the gravity on his face eased, and he let out a relieved laugh.
"Captain's internal injuries have already dissipated. A few more rounds of acupuncture will be enough for him to recover completely. I'll prescribe several doses of qi-nourishing, blood-replenishing medicine. Go get them later."
Zhang Zhengyang tried to say something, but his body suddenly went limp, and he collapsed back onto the bed. Zhao Daniu and the others no longer looked worried; they simply grinned and laughed.
Wang Anfeng swayed slightly and staggered backward, about to fall to the ground, but Feng Lan emerged from behind the curtain and caught him, allowing him to steady himself. She raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his brow and smiled.
"Congratulations, Anfeng. You've finally crossed the great threshold of a physician."
Wang Anfeng let out a long breath and asked, "Captain Zhang... he's all right now, isn't he?"
Feng Lan smiled and said softly, "Even if you had placed the needles incorrectly, nothing would have happened. Things are naturally even better now."
The boy froze for a moment and murmured, "So if I had failed and Captain had suddenly died..."
The woman raised her hand and tapped his forehead, laughing.
"Of course I was only bluffing."
"Dissipating stagnant blood and resolving the congestion—so long as even one needle is placed correctly, things will only improve. How could he suddenly drop dead? I merely used him to spur you on, forcing you to place the needle at this 'life-or-death juncture.' Many physicians can only treat ordinary minor ailments. Once something serious is involved, they become useless. Only after overcoming this mental hurdle can one become a great physician of an era. Otherwise, one will spend an entire lifetime as nothing more than a barefoot doctor, never fit for anything important."
As she spoke, she added indignantly, "Besides, he failed to keep his subordinates in line. They actually spouted nonsense about expelling you from the commandery, beheading you, and throwing you in prison. Though physicians should possess benevolent hearts, those of us who study medicine aren't without tempers. Auntie had to scare them a little!"
Wang Anfeng was speechless. He felt that this seemed somewhat inappropriate, yet he could not say exactly what was wrong. That faint sense of strangeness was instantly drowned out by his deeply moved gratitude for Aunt's wholehearted protection. He nodded obediently, then glanced at the refined-looking Li Kangsheng and thought, rather inappropriately:
"Aunt is usually virtuous and quiet, but judging from this temperament, Uncle Li must have suffered quite a lot back then..."
His gaze fell on Zhao Daniu, who was almost crying with joy, and Zhang Zhengyang, whose legs were somewhat unsteady. He felt a little amused, but then inexplicably remembered his master's joke. He could not help nodding slightly, as if he had gained a bit of enlightenment.
Women from beneath the mountain are tigers.
My master truly never deceived me!
After resting for a while, Zhang Zhengyang obtained several prescriptions and hurried away. Before leaving, Zhao Daniu even winked and said, "Looks like this Little Divine Doctor's skill is far superior to that old fraud who fishes for fame and praise."
Li Kangsheng, a straightforward man by nature, was enraged until his face turned green. He said coldly, "A fellow who punches old men actually understands medicine?!"
Zhao Daniu snorted. "Considering what he did, the fact that we didn't smash him to death on the spot is already an injustice to Heaven!"
Seeing that the two seemed ready to start bickering again, Wang Anfeng had no choice but to interrupt. "There must be some inconvenient hidden circumstances behind what Big Brother Zhao said. Still, we should pay attention to the effects of our actions..."
Zhao Daniu said, "Thanks for speaking up for me, Little Divine Doctor, but mouths belong to other people. Let them say whatever they want. Could a couple of words turn right into wrong? Right is right, and wrong is wrong. It doesn't stop anyone from eating meat or taking a dump, so what's there to fear?"
The words were crude beyond measure, yet they carried an overwhelming boldness. Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned, seemingly enlightened by them. At that moment, Zhang Zhengyang called out loudly again. Zhao Daniu waved at him in an unconstrained manner, gave a grand, booming salute, and shouted:
"Little Divine Doctor, we'll take our leave for now! One day, I'll have a large redwood plaque with gilt lettering made for you and deliver it with gongs and drums! We're off!"
With that, he spread his arms and gave Wang Anfeng a bear hug. The latter was momentarily taken aback, but figuring that the man was simply uninhibited, he hugged him back firmly. Then he heard Zhao Daniu whispering so faintly that his voice was like a mosquito's buzz:
"Little Divine Doctor, remember this: don't leave the city for the time being. Stay inside the city, or your life may be in danger. Keep this information to yourself and don't spread it. Remember, remember!"
Wang Anfeng froze slightly, but Zhao Daniu had already released him. He waved with a smile, turned around, and ran off at a brisk pace. From the distance came Zhang Zhengyang's laughing curses and Zhao Daniu's honest pleas for mercy. Watching their backs, Wang Anfeng's mind became as clear as a polished mirror, and he thought:
"So that's how it is... Captain Zhang has strong sinews and bones. Although he doesn't know internal energy, he would certainly be formidable in a real fight. For him to suffer such serious injuries means a vicious criminal must be roaming nearby. Such news would certainly have to be sealed off for the sake of public morale. Yet Zhao Daniu revealed it without the slightest hesitation. He is fiercely loyal to Captain Zhang, and yet he still did something like this... Truly, I don't know how to judge him."
But as he thought about it, a sudden chill ran through him.
Did Captain Zhang really not know Zhao Daniu's temperament? How could he not know after seven years? If he did know, why had he allowed Zhao Daniu to bid him farewell alone?
Was he trying to use Zhao Daniu to tell me this news?
He saw through Zhang Zhengyang's painstaking intentions almost instantly. Though grateful for the kindness, Wang Anfeng's eyes suddenly darkened. He pressed his lips together—
Then...
Should he spread this news?
If he told other people, it would undoubtedly benefit their safety. Yet it conflicted with the city guards' strategy and might alert the criminal, allowing him to flee and causing even greater trouble. Besides, Zhao Daniu had risked severe punishment to tell him. How could he place him in danger?
But if he kept silent, innocent people might die. If there were a sheer cliff ahead and he said nothing, allowing others to plunge to their deaths, how could he bear it?
After thinking back and forth for a while, Wang Anfeng only felt his thoughts growing more chaotic. One moment he felt that a person could not stand without trust and righteousness; the next, he felt that human lives were of the utmost importance, and that even one less injury was worthwhile. Li Kangsheng noticed his unease and asked:
"Anfeng, what's wrong? Why is your face so pale?"
Wang Anfeng shuddered slightly and tore himself free from that vortex-like struggle. Before he realized it, cold sweat had already appeared on his brow. Looking at the concern on Li Kangsheng and Aunt's faces, he still could not tell them the truth and merely smiled instinctively.
"Maybe... maybe I used too much strength just now. I'm a little tired."
Understanding dawned on Li Kangsheng's face, and he smiled as he replied, "Acupuncture truly consumes a great deal of the spirit, especially with something so serious involved. It's still early. If you're very tired, go back and rest first..."
Wang Anfeng exchanged a few words with him, then walked toward his room with unsteady steps. Just before entering the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and turned around, forcing a smile.
"Uncle Li, are you going out of the city these next two days?"
Li Kangsheng was slightly taken aback. "No... We have enough medicinal ingredients and don't need to leave the city. Why do you ask, Anfeng?"
"Nothing. I just think the scenery nearby is nice. If you go out, I'd like to accompany you."
Wang Anfeng felt slightly relieved and casually came up with an excuse. He then turned and returned to his room, throwing himself onto the bed with his mind in complete turmoil. His gaze fell upon the Buddhist beads around his wrist. This matter was of tremendous importance. At present, only his master and Uncle Li could be trusted without reservation. Like a drowning man seizing a life-saving straw, his eyes brightened slightly, and he hurriedly spoke:
"I want to enter Shaolin... There's something I want to ask Master Yuan Ci!"
He had not entered Shaolin today, so there was nothing wrong with making this request. Once inside Shaolin, he had even less thought for practicing martial arts. He told Yuan Ci everything that had happened from beginning to end. After listening, the latter did not speak. He merely raised his hand and smacked Wang Anfeng several times on the head. Meeting the boy's aggrieved gaze, he scolded:
"A person must know his own limits. It's good that you're concerned about an entire city, but do you have the ability to bear the consequences if things go wrong?"
Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned and shook his head.
Yuan Ci continued, "Then do you think that all the officials in the city have inferior judgment, insight, and decision-making ability compared to you? Or do you understand this matter better than they do?"
Wang Anfeng was rendered speechless and shook his head again.
Yuan Ci said, "If your martial uncle were here, he would certainly tell you to trust this world. But if the world were truly at peace, how could there be great bandits who kill people? As disciples of Buddhism, we can only uphold the heart of a Wisdom King, purge injustice, and sweep away bandits. Yet although this resolve must never change, we must also protect ourselves. The size of your fist determines how large a matter you can meddle in."
Wang Anfeng was unconvinced. "But reason exists in the hearts of people."
"But those bandits won't reason with you."
Yuan Ci picked up his teacup and took a light sip. The wind stirred the treetops, and the autumn leaves were tranquil and beautiful. Seeing Wang Anfeng sitting there in silence as though he had suffered a tremendous blow, he spoke again to comfort him:
"What are you thinking about? Don't put so much pressure on yourself. The people and affairs of the world are, for the most part, all like this."
Wang Anfeng shook his head. As though he had made some decision, he raised his eyes and refuted him word by word:
"I still believe that there is reason in this world."
Yuan Ci froze for a moment, then laughed out of sheer exasperation. He raised his voice slightly.
"But the world does not acknowledge that reason!"
"Why?!"
"Why? Because there are Great Bandits! Sects! Clans! Spiritual Great Thieves! World-Stealing Great Thieves! Would they acknowledge that so-called reason? You're merely a child. Your martial strength is mediocre, and your learning is even more ordinary. What can you do? At most, you can protect yourself! What else can you do?!"
Faced with his master's furious reprimand, Wang Anfeng had no reply. Yet he thought of what he had experienced over the past day or two: the merchants who had fought like wild dogs over a single silver coin, the thugs who lent money while brandishing weapons, the soldiers who faithfully performed their duties, and the great bandit who killed and vanished. His heart was trapped in hardship, but a blazing fury rose within him in unwillingness. It burned so fiercely that he could no longer sit still, burning his original thoughts to ashes with a bang. The ideas of seeking only his own moral perfection and practicing martial arts merely to earn silver all turned to dust. He sprang to his feet and looked at Yuan Ci, speaking each word distinctly:
"Master... I believe what you said... I'm not strong enough right now, so I can't concern myself with those matters... That is true."
"But this world does have reason. That is also true!"
The boy's voice suddenly rose. As he looked at Yuan Ci, a faint yet utterly inextinguishable flame ignited in his light-brown eyes beneath the sunlight. He did not know that this flame had once burned in the eyes of generation after generation of his predecessors. He did not know that this light had also blazed in the eyes of old men trapped in hardship. He merely cried out what lay in his heart, as though proclaiming war against the entire world:
"I believe in this reason! If only force can uphold justice, make killers pay with their lives, and ensure that evildoers do not survive, then I'll become the strongest—the strongest person in the world!! If Great Bandits, sects, clans, Spiritual Great Thieves, and World-Stealing Great Thieves run rampant as they please, then I'll kill the Great Bandits, destroy the sects, sever the clans, and exterminate every Spiritual Great Thief and World-Stealing Great Thief!"
"If the world refuses to acknowledge this reason, then I'll reason with the world!!"
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