Hair-Binding Rite

Li Mo and Ding Jie chatted idly as they made their way back to Jimin Hall.

Along the way, Li Mo learned many things he had never known before, greatly broadening his knowledge and experience.

After returning to Jimin Hall, Ding Jie recounted everything that had happened during the house call exactly as it had occurred in the front hall. Jimin Hall's people immediately took the stolen goods to Xiangyue Yamen to report the crime.

This clearly was not the first or second time such a thing had happened.

After breakfast, Li Mo quickly followed another senior brother to Stone Village.

Since Stone Village was quite far away, it was already Weishi by the time they finished the house call and headed back. Beneath the setting sun, the two could only open their oiled-paper umbrellas and hurry along with their heads down, returning to town only after nightfall.

"So tired."

Li Mo lay on his bed, unwilling to move a finger.

He found his first day as a Traveling Doctor especially fulfilling. It had indeed greatly expanded his knowledge and experience.

But when he thought of what he had earned today, Li Mo could not help growing excited again.

He rolled over and sat up, carefully counting the loose silver on him. He was one step closer to his goal of properly marrying Xiao Man with all the formal rites. His joy overflowed from his face; he actually clutched the quilt and rolled around on the bed before finally letting out a long, smiling breath.

After carefully putting away the loose silver, Li Mo took out Three-Way Swordplay and began reading it closely.

Just as Ding Jie had said.

So-called martial arts were, in essence, methods for strengthening the body and techniques for killing.

First came the body-strengthening portion.

Three-Way Swordplay emphasized nimble, graceful footwork. The book recorded three methods of strengthening the body: first, Leaping Forward; second, Retreating Dodge; and finally, Swaying Left and Right. Practitioners needed to constantly train these three movement techniques, adjusting their breathing rhythm to its optimal state. Over time, this would strengthen the body and improve health, while their agility would far surpass that of ordinary people.

Next came the killing techniques.

Three-Way Swordplay marked out the joints, internal organs, acupoints, and weak points throughout the human body. On that basis, it introduced thirty-six sword forms: twelve deadly sword forms, twelve enemy-breaking sword forms, and twelve defensive sword forms. These individual techniques had to be flexibly combined and matched according to experience, allowing one to attack and defend in equal measure.

Then came the realms of martial arts.

Three-Way Swordplay divided martial artists into three ranks: Third-Rate Experts, Second-Rate Experts, and First-Rate Experts.

First were Third-Rate Experts. By the standards of ordinary constables and yamen runners, they focused only on strengthening the body, while their killing techniques remained at the rote-memorization stage. They could handle ordinary people with ease, but upon encountering genuine desperadoes, they would likely lose their bearings entirely.

Next were Second-Rate Experts. Their footwork and strength had been honed to a formidable level; they could flexibly employ all sorts of combinations, possessed several signature techniques, and could combine Sha Qi with instinct, their bodies developing a fighting instinct.

As for First-Rate Experts, the book contained only one line of introduction: they had mastered Inner Strength.

Last came the section on experience in the martial world.

Three-Way Swordplay also discussed martial-world experience such as treating bruises and injuries, making and neutralizing poisons, hidden weapons and traps, stopping bleeding and preserving one's life. The most important point was not to make enemies lightly. When unavoidable, one should do everything possible to outnumber the opponent, and when striking, one must pull up the weeds by the roots.

Just then, someone knocked at the door outside.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Wang Pan."

Li Mo opened the door for Wang Pan. After the little fatty entered, he asked with a face full of envy, "Is being a Traveling Doctor fun?"

"Yeah. It's much more fun than staying here every day."

Hearing Li Mo say that, Wang Pan became even more envious.

"I really envy you. But thanks to you, after I took the stolen goods you brought back to report the crime today, I secretly slipped home for a bit. My older female cousin came over, and she brought some candied dates."

"Wow!"

Li Mo was delighted by the candied dates Wang Pan shared with him. He picked one up and chewed it in his mouth, immediately revealing a satisfied expression.

For farming families, this was a luxury they might not get to eat even a few times in their entire lives.

Seeing this, Wang Pan could not help laughing as well.

"Oh, right. The Flower Festival is in two days. Where are you planning to go for an outing?"

Flower Festival was a traditional holiday in all the nations of the Central Plains. Generally speaking, Jimin Hall would also give them two days off.

At the mention of Flower Festival, Li Mo could not help thinking of Zhao Siman and their previous agreement to go on an outing at River God Temple. He blurted out, "The riverbank by River God Temple. What about you?"

"Let's go together!"

"Sure!"

After they made their arrangement, Wang Pan left with a grin, leaving all the candied dates for Li Mo.

The next day.

Li Mo followed Jimin Hall's senior brothers on three house calls. It was another fulfilling day. After returning to Jimin Hall, he was told that the Flower Festival would be the day after tomorrow, and that beginning tomorrow, they would have two days off to arrange their time freely.

Night fell.

Li Mo studied alone in his room with full concentration.

Though there was less basic knowledge of medicinal properties and pharmacology left for him to learn, his practical experience was steadily increasing. For example, he had to carefully study the various injuries recorded in Three-Way Swordplay, then combine that knowledge with various medical texts to summarize corresponding treatment methods.

Li Mo did not fall into a deep sleep until late at night, but the Mystic Dream he had been hoping for did not appear.

After waking the next day, Li Mo did not feel disappointed because of it. He was a patient person.

After getting up early, Li Mo went to his master's door to pay his respects, taking the opportunity to explain all the questions he had accumulated over the past two days.

Jimin Hall was quiet. Everyone else had already left.

After Zhang Dongliang answered Li Mo's questions one by one, he deliberately began imparting some of his unique insights. Before they knew it, it was already Sishi, time for breakfast.

"If I remember correctly, you should be at the age for the Hair-Binding Rite. Since both your parents have passed away and you have no other relatives by your side, I shall take your parents' place and perform the Hair-Binding Rite for you, marking your coming of age."

Zhang Dongliang rose to his feet. "Come with me."

Li Mo was confused by this, but he was still filled with gratitude as he followed Doctor Zhang.

The two first had breakfast. Zhang Dongliang actually ordered twenty steamed buns in one go, along with two bowls of clear noodle soup, signaling Li Mo to eat more.

This breakfast cost Doctor Zhang a full seventy copper coins. The two ate to their hearts' content, and Li Mo felt incomparably grateful. At last, he had eaten his fill for once.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Mo was about to return to the pharmacy when Doctor Zhang stopped him.

"What's the rush?"

Li Mo froze, then followed Zhang Dongliang to a clothing shop.

A broad-shouldered, stout-waisted woman stepped forward of her own accord. After measuring Li Mo's body, she began chatting and laughing with Zhang Dongliang.

"Doctor Zhang, this young gentleman has such a fine build. Give him a proper dressing-up, and he'll surely charm all the girls in town to death!"

"Mm. Make him one set of clothes from silk satin, along with leather boots."

"Right away!"

The seamstress left with a smile, but Li Mo's expression changed.

Cloth could be divided into four grades: brocade, damask, silk, and satin. Below those came the coarse cloth and hemp cloth that could not be displayed in polite company.

The difference lay in the quality and proportion of silk and hemp, as well as the craftsmanship.

Hua'an Town was only a remote little town. Those who could afford silk and satin were few enough to count on one's fingers. The vast majority wore coarse cloth or hemp garments, often covered in layer after layer of patches. Many poor families had only a single set of clothes all year round.

The silver required for this set of silk-satin clothes and leather boots was simply beyond what Li Mo could bear.

A moment later.

Doctor Zhang looked at Li Mo, who stood before him brimming with youthful vigor in a luxurious blue-green silk-satin robe and black leather cloud-treading shoes. An uncontrollable smile immediately appeared on his aged face. He seemed to see his younger self.

"Good! Good!"

"Once this young gentleman reaches the age of twenty and adds a fine cap, it will be even better."

The woman continued heaping praise upon him. Zhang Dongliang smiled in satisfaction. "How much?"

"Ten taels altogether."

Li Mo's expression stiffened. Bitterly, he said, "Could it possibly be a little cheaper..."

Zhang Dongliang stopped Li Mo, calmly took out the silver, then led away the dazed Li Mo. Together, they returned to Jimin Hall.

"After binding one's hair, one becomes an adult; one learns great arts and fulfills great rites."

Zhang Dongliang gestured for Li Mo to sit before a bronze mirror. He personally untied Li Mo's childish twin topknots, carefully combed his hair, then brought over a bamboo hairpin. As he patiently explained the techniques of binding one's hair, he completed Li Mo's first Hair-Binding Rite of his life.

This ritual should have been performed by his parents, yet today his master carried it out in their stead.

"Master."

Li Mo looked at himself in the bronze mirror, as if he had been reborn. When he looked back at Zhang Dongliang, his eyes were already blurred with tears.

Zhang Dongliang smiled. "I am not originally from Anbei Prefecture. Seven years ago, I came here by imperial decree to enlighten the common people and practice medicine for the benefit of all. Now that this place is under the rule of the Da Gan Kingdom, its people are simple, honest, and kind. I am also getting on in years, and my strength no longer matches my wishes. I had planned to persist for another two years and leave only once there was someone to carry on here. I never expected you to seem foolish outside yet be wise within, completing your apprenticeship ahead of time and relieving me of my worries. Therefore, I intend to leave after the Dragon Boat Festival and enjoy my remaining years in peace."

Though Li Mo could not bear for his teacher to leave, neither could he prevent his teacher from enjoying his old age in peace.

Zhang Dongliang instructed, "In the future, you must strictly follow the sacred decree and bring benefit to the people of one region. You must never lose your original heart. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master!"

Next, Zhang Dongliang began recounting some of his past experiences beyond Anbei Prefecture. Many of them involved legends of the Emperor of the Qian Yuan Era.

Li Mo listened intently.

The Emperor of the Qian Yuan Era, who had originally been no more than a symbol in his heart, seemed to gradually come alive through Doctor Zhang's unhurried narration. Li Mo became filled with longing and reverence for this living sage emperor who had lived for at least two thousand years.

On the eve of the Flower Festival, night markets were held everywhere.

Li Mo walked through Hua'an Town's night market. He first spent a lavish eight hundred copper coins to buy Zhao Siman a set of coarse hemp clothes, then bought some roasted beans and malt candy. Finally, he stopped before a stall selling hairpins.

Li Mo looked at the dazzling array of hairpins on the stall and immediately froze.

The stall owner was an old woman. She seemed to see Li Mo's awkwardness and hurriedly asked with a smile.

"Is this young gentleman looking to buy a hairpin for someone he loves?"

Li Mo immediately blushed at her words, but he still nodded.

Beside the old woman were two children, a boy and a girl, who seemed to be her grandson and granddaughter. They played mischievously nearby.

Seeing Li Mo's reaction, the old woman smiled and introduced her wares. "Then you've come to the right place. Everything here is an ornament for women. Based on material and craftsmanship, there are different styles, such as hairpins, ornamental pins, double pins, and dangling step-shakers..."

Li Mo had never encountered such things before. Today truly opened his eyes.

A hairpin could be understood as the simplest type of ornamental pin, often made by polishing a pretty branch or a piece of bone. It was also the cheapest.

An ornamental pin, meanwhile, was a relatively splendid decoration, generally made of gold or jade, though fragrant wood, ivory, rhino horn, and other materials were also used, often paired with gemstone embellishments.

A double pin could be understood as two ornamental pins joined together.

The most splendid dangling step-shaker was extravagance itself. Tassels and wing-shaped ornaments hung from the pin, swaying with each step as one walked, glittering brightly. Thus it was called a step-shaker.

After thinking it over, Li Mo spent eight copper coins to buy Xiao Man a simple wooden hairpin.

Holding the wooden hairpin, Li Mo was about to leave when he remembered that he had never seen his mother wear any ornament in her hair while she was alive. A wave of longing suddenly rose in his heart, and he stopped. "Two."

The old woman was startled for a moment, but she still politely handed Li Mo another wooden hairpin.

Only when Li Mo saw the strange look on her face did he realize that she had misunderstood. He hurriedly stammered out an explanation.

"This one is for my mother."

The old woman immediately smiled. "I see. It is rare to see such filial devotion."

Then the old woman looked at her grandson and granddaughter with a kindly expression. "In the future, you must also be as filial as this uncle, understand?"

"Understood, Grandma."

"Mm. Once I grow up, I'll definitely give Grandma the prettiest step-shaker."

Hearing her have the two children call him uncle made Li Mo feel somewhat unaccustomed. Thinking it was likely because of his new clothes, he quickly paid the eight copper coins for the wooden hairpin and hurried away.