"Tomorrow is Doctor Zhuang's fifty-fifth birthday. Are you going to do anything to mark the occasion?"
After Ma Yan arrived, he went straight to Zhou Yan and said, "It's all thanks to Doctor Zhuang teaching you the Shennong Health Cultivation Method that your body was able to recover. You have no idea how badly you scared me back then."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Yan with a sigh.
Zhou Yan had now almost completely returned to his former appearance.
He still looked a little thin, but he no longer had that terrifying, skin-and-bones look. Even his complexion had become much fairer.
Anyone who didn't know him would never believe that Zhou Yan had once spent three years pulling a rickshaw.
Now, Zhou Yan looked like a wealthy young gentleman, with fair skin and a cool temperament that even seemed a little feminine.
That was also a result of cultivating the Mystic Yin Art, which had changed his entire bearing.
Zhou Yan nodded at once. "Of course I'm going."
Back when he was at his lowest, Doctor Zhuang had taught him the Shennong Health Cultivation Method almost for free. Zhou Yan had never forgotten that kindness.
It was just as Doctor Zhuang had said: he taught the Shennong Health Cultivation Method to others to pass on his knowledge, not for profit.
So in Zhou Yan's heart, Doctor Zhuang was his teacher.
"We'll go early, avoid the crowds, wish Doctor Zhuang a happy birthday, and then come back," Zhou Yan said solemnly.
Ma Yan smiled. "Mm. It's the thought that counts."
He understood what Zhou Yan meant. He didn't want anyone thinking they had ulterior motives.
The next day.
Early in the morning, Zhou Yan and Ma Yan set off for Tianhong Medical Hall.
When they arrived, they found Doctor Zhuang seeing patients.
Doctor Zhuang spotted them and seemed to remember them. He waved.
The two understood and obediently stood to one side without saying a word.
"Doctor Zhuang, how is she?"
The patient was a woman, around twenty-eight or twenty-nine, dressed in a luxurious qipao that showed off her curvaceous figure to perfection. She was beautiful and elegant, and she had a maid and servants with her. Clearly, she came from no ordinary family.
People from families like hers usually invited doctors to make house calls. It was rare for them to come in person for a consultation.
Perhaps it had something to do with Doctor Zhuang's standing.
Doctor Zhuang slowly withdrew his hand and looked at the woman gravely. "This old man's skills are lacking. I'm afraid I've disappointed you. Please seek help from someone more capable."
The woman grew anxious at his words and hurriedly said, "Doctor Zhuang, I have complete faith in your medical skills. I can't think of anyone else to turn to. Please, you have to help me."
Doctor Zhuang still shook his head, doing his utmost to refuse.
But the woman was just as determined, pleading with him again and again.
In the end, Doctor Zhuang had no choice but to say, "Madam, your affliction is no ordinary illness. You've come to the wrong person. If it were an illness, this old man might still be able to do something, but..."
He left the rest unsaid. The woman seemed to understand what he meant, and her face went deathly pale.
After a while, the woman took her leave.
"Greetings, Doctor Zhuang."
Zhou Yan stepped forward and bowed deeply to Doctor Zhuang.
Doctor Zhuang looked at Zhou Yan and smiled. "So it's you. This old man remembers you. In just over two months, your body has recovered. It seems you really did practice diligently."
Zhou Yan's expression was respectful. "It's all thanks to your teachings, sir. I'm deeply grateful."
Doctor Zhuang stroked his beard. "That was because you practiced so diligently. I'm happy for you."
He had taught the Shennong Health Cultivation Method to more than a hundred people, but fewer than ten had truly made progress. His own son was among them.
But cultivation depended on the individual. There was nothing anyone else could do about it.
"I heard that today is your fifty-fifth birthday, sir. I haven't prepared anything valuable, just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you'll accept it." Zhou Yan took the birthday gift from Ma Yan and respectfully presented it to Doctor Zhuang.
At first, Doctor Zhuang's expression darkened.
He taught the Shennong Health Cultivation Method to others out of his own ideals and goodwill, not to line his pockets.
If Zhou Yan had brought him an expensive gift, it would have been an insult.
Fortunately, he glanced over the offerings and saw that they were ordinary gifts, chosen with care. Only then did his expression soften.
The most precious item was a pair of Peach Wood Amulets, which could ward off ghosts and evil spirits to a small degree.
"Very well. Since it's a token of your goodwill, I'll accept it."
Doctor Zhuang considered it for a moment, then accepted the gifts.
They weren't valuable, after all; if anything, that made them all the more heartfelt.
Zhou Yan and Ma Yan stayed a little longer before taking their leave.
Watching Zhou Yan's retreating figure, Doctor Zhuang stroked his beard, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.
He had taught the Shennong Health Cultivation Method to many people, but few of them truly cared about him.
Some of those he had taught had also come to wish him a happy birthday, but he could see all too clearly what they were really after.
Zhou Yan was the first to come simply to wish him a happy birthday, without any other motive at all!
Not long after Zhou Yan returned home, someone knocked at the door.
He had grown used to people coming by his new house from time to time. Some wanted him to ward off ghosts and evil spirits; others sought his help in finding peace and safety. There were even people who wanted to buy feng shui artifacts to protect their homes.
As his reputation grew and more people believed in him, more and more visitors came to his door.
But Zhou Yan only dealt with ghosts and evil spirits. He wouldn't touch anything else.
As for feng shui artifacts, he didn't even own any himself. How could he sell them to others? Besides, he would never risk damaging his reputation.
In this era, a person's reputation was their greatest wealth!
Zhou Yan opened the door and froze when he saw who was there.
It was none other than the woman and her servants whom he had seen earlier at Tianhong Medical Hall.
The woman also froze when she saw Zhou Yan, stopping in her tracks without thinking.
"Aren't you Doctor Zhuang's disciple?" she asked hesitantly.
Zhou Yan's expression was calm as he replied, "Doctor Zhuang is my teacher. I once studied health cultivation under him."
With that, he turned and walked back inside.
He didn't care whether she believed him or chose to come in.
He had already noticed that something was wrong with the woman at Tianhong Medical Hall.
The yin energy around her was unusually heavy, far beyond what was normal. She was clearly being haunted by something.
But whatever it was didn't seem very strong—or perhaps it didn't have much desire to harm her. The only sign was the excess yin energy in her body; otherwise, she seemed fine. At worst, she might feel unwell or suffer from nightmares every night.
Doctor Zhuang had likely noticed the woman's condition too, which was why he had been so cryptic in his final words...
Before you continue