Chen Xun Becomes a Disciple, His Bragging Shatters the Heavens

The art of medicine was vast and profound, with no room for carelessness. One had to begin by identifying medicinal herbs. Ning Si gave him a book on herbs and had Chen Xun match them against the herbs in the rear courtyard, memorizing them one by one.

Otherwise, Chen Xun would not even be qualified to do odd jobs at the medical hall. Still, he considered himself quite quick-witted, so he taught Black Bull to identify them while reinforcing his own knowledge along the way.

Yet the cruelty of reality taught Chen Xun a thorough lesson. There were countless medicinal herbs, and accurately identifying them was not something that could be achieved through rote memorization alone.

At night, candles were lit in the rear courtyard. One man and one ox studied late into the night beneath the lamplight.

"Old Bull, I never noticed your brain isn't all that sharp either." Chen Xun burst into laughter, instantly feeling balanced inside. They were evenly matched.

To Chen Xun, the most painful thing in the world was not being unable to learn something, but Old Bull learning it while he, Chen Xun, still had not.

Moo! Moo!

Black Bull grew angry. Its eyes widened as it nudged Chen Xun. There were some uncommon characters it did not know, and it still needed Chen Xun to explain them.

But it already had a plan. It would overtake Chen Xun on the bend while he went to relieve himself and knock down his arrogant swagger a peg.

Time slipped quietly by as they studied how to identify herbs. Another year passed, and Chen Xun officially put on the attendant's uniform of Peaceful Medical Hall.

Even his walk carried a faint breeze now, and the corners of his mouth bloomed with an utterly badass smile.

Over the past year, he had learned most of the herbs. Yet Doctor Ning had not praised him for being gifted and intelligent, only saying that he was hardworking, enduring, and exceptionally able to withstand loneliness.

Once again, he added his Longevity Points to speed. Of all martial arts under heaven, only speed was unbreakable. As long as he ran fast enough, disaster would always remain one step behind him.

"Attendant, one qian of wintergreen, two qian of baiwei, three qian of qiushi."

"Coming right up."

Chen Xun answered, utterly at ease. He swiftly took the herbs from several cabinets, wrapped them up, and handed them to the customer.

After resting that night, Chen Xun cracked sunflower seeds while continuing to study the herb book with Black Bull.

But suspicion gradually appeared in his eyes. He looked Black Bull up and down and said faintly, "Old Bull."

"Moo!" Black Bull shuddered all over, utterly unable to hide anything in its eyes.

"Have you been secretly studying? I've been watching you for several days."

Chen Xun raised a brow. This ox had committed his greatest taboo—laughing and joking with him at night, then secretly studying during the day while he worked as an attendant. What nerve!

"Moo! Moo!" Cold sweat broke out on Black Bull. It refused to admit it, but its eyes had already betrayed it completely.

"As punishment, you are not allowed to read tonight."

Chen Xun turned away and continued cracking sunflower seeds. "Only after you recognize how hateful this behavior is will I read with you again."

"Moo moo!!" Black Bull panicked and circled Chen Xun from side to side. Its backside accidentally knocked Chen Xun over.

Chen Xun was helpless. Unable to outstubborn it, he could only move it with feeling and enlighten it with reason, explaining the harm caused by secretly studying.

"Do you understand? What if I'm not around and you identify something wrong? You don't even know all the characters yet. These are medicinal herbs—one tiny mistake can cost a life."

"Moo, moo." Black Bull nodded repeatedly. It understood. It would never secretly study again.

"Come on, let's continue. I'll explain what this herb does."

Chen Xun pointed at the book, and Black Bull stretched its head over as well. Man and ox resumed their studies, their hearts filled with passion.

The second year.

Chen Xun could already remember every common medicinal herb in the medical hall. Every night, he and Black Bull tested each other, each bringing out an herb and naming it.

Doctor Ning still merely said, "Not bad," without much reaction.

Whenever he had no work to do, Chen Xun would quietly run over to the physicians and watch them diagnose patients with eager eyes. He learned whatever he could; after all, he was not short on time.

When he returned to the courtyard that night, Doctor Ning gave Chen Xun a book on medicinal principles. It described what illnesses could be treated by combining different herbs, which herbs conflicted with one another, and so on.

"It truly is vast and profound."

Chen Xun's eyes gleamed as he sighed. Another door to a new world had opened before him. "Old Bull, we've only just entered the gate."

"Moo moo!" Black Bull was already absorbed in it, its eyes round as saucers. How miraculous.

Chen Xun also added his Longevity Points to speed and continued his studies.

Spring passed and autumn came. Chen Xun had changed into the senior attendant's uniform, and five years had flown by in a hurry.

They had now been at Peaceful Medical Hall for seven years. Chen Xun had seen far too much pain, helplessness, and wailing...

Yet Chen Xun's optimistic and positive attitude had brought a measure of comfort to many of the common folk who came here.

The medical hall's attendants changed from year to year, but everyone remembered that youth who always wore a smile, along with the Mountain-Splitting Axe at his waist that never left his side.

In one of the medical hall's main halls, Ning Si sat upright, solemnity in his eyes. If one might misjudge a person at first glance, then seven years would never be mistaken.

Chen Xun had changed into formal attire. He was paying respects to the patriarch, then served tea to Ning Si and his wife.

"Master, Mistress."

Chen Xun lowered his head and cupped his hands, respect in his eyes.

"Chen Xun, what is a healer?"

"To take curing illness and saving lives as one's duty."

"But virtue is even more important."

Ning Si narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Chen Xun. "If you encountered a mountain bandit on the road—a man who robbed homes, committed every evil imaginable, yet had suffered grave injuries and was seeking your aid—what would you do?"

Chen Xun was slightly taken aback. Then he said seriously, "Master Ning, then I'll speak the truth."

"You may."

"If he had already suffered grave injuries, I would definitely discover him before anyone else. But I would not save him."

Chen Xun paused here, struggle flashing across his face. "I would cover my face with a scarf and pass by, so that he could not retaliate against me later."

Ning Si and his wife were both stunned upon hearing this. He had even planned his escape route.

"Not bad, not bad."

Ning Si took a sip of tea and smiled. "A healer should not aid evil. It is enough to hold fast to your true heart. I merely wished to hear your honest answer."

"This child truly is good, upright in character and excellent in temperament."

Mistress added with a smile from the side. If Chen Xun had said he would save the man merely to please them, they would instead have thought less of him. That would have been dishonest.

"Good. Then you have formally entered the sect. In my life, I have accepted only two disciples. You are the third."

Ning Si's expression was solemn. He had observed Chen Xun for a long time. "Though you are not the most naturally gifted of them, I believe you will absolutely become the one with the greatest medical skill."

A flash of surprise passed through Mistress's eyes. This was the first time she had heard Ning Si praise someone so highly. Not even their daughter had received such praise.

"Master Ning overpraises me."

Chen Xun's eyes remained calm as he lowered his head and cupped his hands. Only, the corner of his mouth had begun to curl crookedly upward.

Once the apprenticeship was settled, Chen Xun returned to the medical hall's rear courtyard. Cracking sunflower seeds, he began bragging to Black Bull about what had just happened. His eyes conveyed only one emotion: badass.

His master had praised him for possessing the bearing of a Medical Emperor; purple qi surged for thirty thousand miles, and a Sage descended from heaven to congratulate Emperor Chen on taking the throne.

"Moo moo moo!!"

Black Bull believed every word. Its eyes went round as saucers as it ran about excitedly, occasionally nudging him. It was truly happy for Chen Xun.

"Hahaha..."

Chen Xun's laughter and Black Bull's joyful mooing echoed through the courtyard, while all the Longevity Points continued to be added to speed.