Yuan Ci's Teachings... The Changing Youth

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Li Kangsheng draped clothes over Zhang Zhengyang's body. After checking his pulse, his face, which had been tense, relaxed. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled:

"The Captain's internal injuries have dissipated. A few more acupuncture sessions will be enough for him to fully recover. I'll write a few prescriptions for qi-nourishing and blood-replenishing medicine. You can go get them later." Zhang Zhengyang tried to say something, but his body went limp, and he slumped back onto the bed. Zhao Daniu and the others nearby, their worries gone, simply grinned and laughed heartily.

Wang Anfeng swayed slightly, staggering back a step as if about to collapse, but Feng Lan, who had emerged from behind the curtain, caught him, allowing him to stand steady. She raised her hand, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and smiled:

"Congratulations, Feng'er. You've finally passed the great hurdle of being a physician."

Wang Anfeng let out a long breath and asked:

"Captain Zhang, he... he's alright now, isn't he?!"

Feng Lan smiled and chuckled softly, "Even if you had inserted the needle incorrectly, he wouldn't have been in any real danger. Now, of course, he's even better."

The young man paused for a moment and murmured, "So if my needle insertion failed and the Captain died suddenly..."

The woman raised her hand and tapped his forehead, laughing, "That was just to scare you."

"Dispelling stagnant blood, even with a single correct needle, only leads to improvement. How could he suddenly die? I merely used him to spur you on, to force you to insert the needle at this 'life-or-death moment.' Many physicians can only handle common ailments; once something significant is involved, they become useless. Only by overcoming this mental block can one become a great physician. Otherwise, throughout their lives, they'll only be mere barefoot doctors, not of much use."

As she spoke, she added with a hint of indignation, "Besides, he's too lenient with his subordinates. How could they utter such nonsense about expelling someone from the city, beheading them, or imprisoning them? While physicians should have compassionate hearts, we who study medicine aren't without temper. Auntie, we just had to scare them a little!"

Wang Anfeng was speechless upon hearing this. He felt it was perhaps not entirely right, but he couldn't pinpoint why. This faint, peculiar feeling was instantly drowned out by the gratitude he felt for his aunt's genuine care. He nodded obediently and glanced at the refined Li Kangsheng, thinking an uncharacteristically inappropriate thought:

"Auntie is usually virtuous and quiet, but seeing this side of her, Uncle Li must have suffered a lot back then..."

His gaze fell upon Zhao Daniu, who was on the verge of tears with joy, and Zhang Zhengyang, whose steps were somewhat unsteady. He felt a sense of amusement but inexplicably recalled his master's teasing remark. He couldn't help but nod slightly, a hint of realization dawning on him.

Women in the mountains are tigers.

My master spoke the truth, indeed!

After resting for a while, Zhang Zhengyang, having obtained several prescriptions, left in a hurry. Before leaving, Zhao Daniu winked and said, "It seems this Little Divine Doctor's skills are far superior to that old fraud who only knows how to brag." This made the upright Li Kangsheng's face turn green. He coldly retorted, "And someone who beats up old men understands medicine?!"

Zhao Daniu snorted and said, "Given what he's done, it's already letting him off easy that we didn't smash him to death on the spot!"

Hearing the two of them on the verge of another argument, Wang Anfeng had to interject, "Brother Zhao, what you said, there must be some inconvenient reason you can't speak about, but you should still be mindful of how your actions affect others..."

Zhao Daniu replied, "Thank you, Little Divine Doctor, for speaking up for us. But people have their own mouths, and they can say what they want. Will a few words make right things wrong? Right is right, and wrong is wrong. It doesn't affect whether we can eat or poop, so why should we fear them!"

The words were crude, but undeniably bold. Wang Anfeng was slightly taken aback, as if he had gained some insight. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhengyang was loudly urging them on. Zhao Daniu waved dismissively in that direction and, with a loud, boisterous shout, declared:

"Little Divine Doctor, we'll take our leave for now! One day, I'll have a red sandalwood and gold-lacquered plaque 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 slightly stunned, attributing it to the man's uninhibited nature, and hugged him back tightly. At that moment, he heard Zhao Daniu's voice, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, whisper in his ear:

"Little Divine Doctor, for the next little while, make sure you don't leave the city. Just stay within the city walls, or you might be in mortal danger. Keep this information to yourself. Don't tell anyone. Remember, remember!"

Wang Anfeng blinked slightly. By then, Zhao Daniu had already released him, waved with a smile, and turned to stride away. In the distance, Zhang Zhengyang's scolding laughter and Zhao Daniu's honest pleas could be heard. Watching their retreating figures, Wang Anfeng's mind suddenly became as clear as a mirror. He thought:

"So that's how it is... Captain Zhang has a strong physique. Although he doesn't know internal energy, he'd definitely be formidable in a real fight. He suffered such a serious injury, which means there must be dangerous individuals lurking nearby. This kind of news would definitely be suppressed to maintain public morale, yet he told me without hesitation. He's loyal to Captain Zhang, but he could still do something like this... I really don't know how to evaluate it."

But as he thought, a shiver ran down his spine.

Did Captain Zhang really not know Zhao Daniu's character? After seven years, how could he not know? If he knew, why would he let him say goodbye to him alone?

Was he trying to use Zhao Daniu to pass this message on to him?

He saw through Zhang Zhengyang's intentions almost instantly. Grateful for the kindness, Wang Anfeng's eyes suddenly darkened, and he pursed his lips—

Then...

Should he pass this message on?

If this information could be shared with others, it would undoubtedly benefit their safety. However, it contradicted the city guards' strategy and might alert the dangerous individuals, allowing them to escape and cause even greater harm. Moreover, Zhao Daniu risked severe punishment to tell him this; how could he put him in danger?

If he didn't speak, others might die unknowingly, like telling someone there's a cliff ahead and letting them fall to their death. How could he bear it?

After pondering for a moment, Wang Anfeng felt his thoughts becoming increasingly tangled. One moment he felt that a person without integrity cannot stand, and the next he felt that human lives were at stake, and any reduction in casualties was good. Seeing his troubled state, Li Kangsheng spoke up:

"Feng'er, what's wrong? Your face is so pale."

Wang Anfeng trembled slightly, breaking free from the almost vortex-like struggle. Cold sweat had already formed on his forehead. Looking at Li Kangsheng and his wife, who were full of concern, he didn't tell them the truth, only instinctively smiling:

"Perhaps... perhaps I just exerted myself too much and I'm a bit tired."

Li Kangsheng's face showed understanding, and he smiled, "Inserting needles is indeed very draining, especially when the stakes are so high. It's still early. If you're feeling very tired, you should go back and rest..."

Wang Anfeng replied a couple of times and then walked with somewhat unsteady steps towards his room. Just as he was about to enter the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and turned back, forcing a smile:

"Uncle Li, are you going out of the city these past two days?"

Li Kangsheng was slightly taken aback and said:

"No... the medicinal ingredients are enough, there's no need to go out of the city. What's wrong, Feng'er?"

"Nothing, I just think the scenery nearby is nice. If Uncle Li is going out, I want to go with him."

Wang Anfeng felt a slight relief upon hearing this. He casually made up an excuse and turned back to his room, throwing himself onto the bed. His mind was in chaos. His gaze fell on the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist. This matter was of great importance. Now, only his master and Uncle Li could be trusted without reservation. It was like a drowning person grabbing a life-saving straw. His eyes lit up slightly, and he spoke urgently:

"I want to join Shaolin... I have something I want to ask Master Yuan Ci!"

He hadn't entered Shaolin yet today, so this request was perfectly fine. After entering Shaolin, he had no intention of practicing martial arts. He recounted the entire matter to Yuan Ci. After listening, Yuan Ci didn't speak. He simply raised his hand and struck Wang Anfeng on the head several times. Meeting the young man's wronged gaze, he reprimanded:

"A person should know themselves. It's good that you worry about the city, but do you have the ability to bear the risk of ruining things?"

Wang Anfeng was slightly stunned and shook his head.

Yuan Ci continued, "Then do you think all the officials in the city, their vision, knowledge, and decision-making, are all inferior to yours? Or do you understand this matter better than they do?"

Wang Anfeng was speechless and shook his head again.

Yuan Ci said, "If my martial uncle were here, he would definitely tell you to believe in this world. But if the world were peaceful, how could there be murderous great bandits? We Buddhist disciples can only uphold the heart of the Ming King, clear away injustice, and eradicate thieves and bandits. But while this heart remains unchanged, we must also protect ourselves. Only with fists as big as yours can you manage matters as large as that."

Wang Anfeng was unconvinced and said, "But reason resides in people's hearts."

"But those bandits won't reason with you."

Yuan Ci picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. The wind blew through the treetops, and the autumn leaves were beautiful. Seeing Wang Anfeng sitting there in silence as if he had suffered a great blow, he spoke again to comfort him:

"What are you thinking about? Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The people of the world, the affairs of the world, are mostly like this."

Wang Anfeng shook his head, as if he had made a decision. He looked up and retorted word by word:

"I still believe that there is reason in this world."

Yuan Ci was slightly stunned, then laughed in anger, raising his voice slightly:

"But the world doesn't recognize this reason!"

"Why?!"

"Why? Because there are great bandits! There are sects! There are noble families! There are Spiritual Great Thieves! There are World-Stealing Great Thieves!! Will they recognize that so-called reason? You are merely a child, your martial arts are mediocre, and your knowledge is even more ordinary. What can you do? At most, you can protect yourself! What else can you do?!"

Facing his master's angry scolding, Wang Anfeng had no reply. Yet, he thought of his experiences over the past day or two, of the merchants who scrambled like wild dogs for a single silver coin, of the ruffians who lent money with weapons, of the loyal soldiers, and of the great bandits who killed and left. His heart was troubled, but a surge of indignant anger rose within him, burning him so that he could not sit still, burning his original ideas to ashes with a bang. All thoughts of self-preservation and practicing martial arts to earn money turned to dust. With a swish, he suddenly stood up and looked at Yuan Ci, saying word by word:

"Master... I believe what you said... I don't have enough strength now, and I can't manage those matters... That statement is correct."

"But this world has reason, and that is also correct!"

The boy's voice suddenly rose, his eyes looking at Yuan Ci. His light brown eyes ignited a flame under the sunlight, a flame that was weak but could never be extinguished. He didn't know that this flame had also ignited in the eyes of countless ancestors, nor did he know that this flame had also burned in the eyes of the old man trapped in Chen. He only spoke what was in his heart, as if declaring war on the world, and shouted loudly:

"I believe in this reason! If only martial force can uphold justice, make murderers pay with their lives, and eliminate evildoers, then I will become the strongest, the strongest in the world!! If great bandits, sects, noble families, Spiritual Great Thieves, and World-Stealing Great Thieves can act recklessly, then I will kill great bandits, attack sects, sever noble families, and exterminate Spiritual Great Thieves and World-Stealing Great Thieves together!!"

"If the world does not recognize this reason, then I will reason with this world!!"