Better Than Stopping Slander Is Cultivating Oneself

"Yan'er, what exactly happened? I heard rumors that you're seeking fame and fortune, acting domineeringly, and suppressing truly good people."

Not long after Qiu Yan returned home, Liu Huai and others came to his door and immediately asked him questions.

"Oh? It's already spread? It seems Physician Huang is quite swift and has a large following. That makes sense; his Wind-Feasting Hall has been around for several years and has been operating in the city for a while, so it must have some foundation."

"You mean Physician Huang? You really had a conflict with him? Is the rumor true?" Liu Yue asked anxiously, "Actually, I wanted to gain some fame..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Huai interrupted him.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Liu Huai looked at his son with displeasure. "You don't even know what kind of person your own cousin is?"

"I was just giving you a heads-up," Liu Yue quickly said, falling silent.

Aunt Liu-shi also said, "These people are truly ungrateful. We spent money and worked ourselves to the bone to distribute porridge, and they benefited from it. Now they turn their backs on us and try to smear us. Even if we have money in the future, we can't get involved in such things again."

"You should say less," Liu Huai frowned. "This is no small matter; it could affect Qiu Yan's future." Having served as a steward in the Pan Household, he was insightful and saw the crisis behind the matter.

If his reputation is ruined, not only will his efforts in distributing porridge be wasted, but he may also become infamous. If the examiners have a preconceived Qiu Yan, it could even affect his Imperial Examinations.

"Uncle, you don't need to worry. I have a plan. That Physician Huang is just a clown; he can't cause any trouble. He's just creating a stir now to attract everyone's attention. Once the situation changes, the news will spread faster through word of mouth, and in the end, it will all benefit me."

"Cousin, that Physician Huang is framing you, he's definitely not a good person," Pan Rongniang, who had silently followed along, spoke up. "I won't take any more medicine he prescribes."

Qiu Yan smiled and said, "You still need to continue taking the medicine. Regardless of what kind of person Physician Huang is, his medical skills are genuine. He is a true renowned doctor. The prescriptions and herbs he provides are effective. We cannot avoid him because of his reputation, nor can we discard him because of his reputation."

That Physician Huang was clearly no ordinary person; he was a cultivator who had embarked on the path of cultivation. The medicine prescribed by such a person would definitely be the right treatment for the illness.

Thinking of this, Qiu Yan suddenly asked his aunt, "By the way, Rongniang that it was you who got the medicine? I wonder what you said to Physician Huang at the time?"

Liu-shi recalled for a moment and said, "I described Rongniang's condition to her, and Physician Huang seemed to take it very seriously. He said it was Soul-Separation Disorder, and he even personally went to get the medicine. He also said that Rongniang should come over in half a month so that he could confirm the condition. What? Could there be something wrong with the medicine?"

"No," Qiu Yan shook his head, "I wanted to know, did you mention that you're not a local? Also, do you still remember the prescription?"

"Outsiders?" Liu-shi thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I already told you, we said we came to stay with relatives. Your uncle kept emphasizing that the courtyard is yours, and we're just staying temporarily. As for the prescription, I remember it very clearly, it's..."

Qiu Yan understood immediately. After saying a few words, he calmed Liu Huai and the others down. Seeing that he was chatting and laughing without any worry, everyone was also infected by his good mood and put their minds at ease.

After exchanging a few more words, everyone took their leave.

"I'm going to a friend's house tonight, so you don't need to come over and cook for me."

After seeing the group off, Qiu Yan turned and went back to his study. He appeared relaxed, but his mind was filled with thoughts.

"The people's People's Wishes in this city seem to be regarded as the exclusive domain of Physician Huang. I've only gained a little fame, and he can't tolerate it. And this outsider..."

He remembered the woman who had been dragged away outside the clinic.

"Rongniang's Soul-Separation Disorder has been cured. To recover, she mainly needs to nourish her body and requires nutrition. The medicine prescribed by Physician Huang consists of precious medicinal herbs, which are mild and not strong, just what she needs. If you were to get the medicine from another pharmacy, it would cost at least several taels of silver, enough to feed the entire city's starving population for three days! But judging from Aunt's appearance, she obviously didn't spend much money. So it seems..."

Spending so much money on an ordinary patient cannot be explained simply by the excuse of doing good deeds. However, since Qiu Yan already knows that Doctor Physician Huang is a cultivator, he can use this information to deduce and roughly understand the other party's thoughts.

"This Physician Huang's Nature Cultivation level should be above mine, but not by much. I have now condensed Human Soul, and his level is higher than mine, but not ridiculously higher. He may have condensed Earthly Soul, or even a Heavenly Soul..."

Qiu Yan didn't know much about the other two stages of the Soul-Congealing Realm, so he couldn't determine Physician Huang's specific level.

"Even if his cultivation level is higher than mine, since we are now enemies and our kinship and Karma are threatened, I can't just ignore it. Besides, once rumors that are unfavorable to me spread, my path to accumulating divine power and advancing to the Divine Path will become much more complicated. However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and there is also an opportunity here. The key is not to delay, but to act quickly! This person has opened a clinic and acts in Human Path, which means he does not want to conflict with the laws of the imperial court. Let's start from this point!"

Thinking of this, he reached into his robe.

"There are many cultivators and demons hiding in Qingchang County. They may have already divided up their power. If I get involved, it's like touching someone else's bowl and chopsticks, or their interests. It's bound to attract malice. This Physician Huang is just the beginning. If we can resolve this quickly, it will serve as a warning to others! Only in this way can I not be distracted and have time to read and write. After all, with the threats of Mountain-Passing Great King and Upper Spirit Sect hanging over our heads, how can we waste time fighting with others?"

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he took two items out of his pocket.

"Physician Huang's Nature Cultivation level is higher than mine. Fighting him solely with the Soul Dao might lead to unforeseen circumstances. Even with the help of Human Path methods, it would be difficult to eradicate the hidden dangers. In that case, we might as well take a multi-pronged approach!"

He took out a small porcelain bottle and a crystal statue.

Faint red dots can be vaguely seen in the crystal statue, appearing and disappearing erratically, similar to the condensed Soul Shadow the Goat Demon that day, but instead of three sheep heads, it is carved with two Crow with outstretched wings.

The Crow Soul Shadow!

Since discovering the efficacy of the Kitchen God's Flame, Qiu Yan has been busy, refining the two demonic Soul Shadow suppressed in the Divine Spirit Talisman into statues one after another.

"The best way to stop slander is through self-cultivation, but to stop defamation and rumors, I need not only to cultivate my Nature Cultivation, but also to cultivate my life force through martial arts, fighting with my life on the line! A brave and fierce mind can temper one's will, and one's Qi and Blood can also restrain Living Soul."

Looking at the Soul Shadow statue, Qiu Yan pondered for a moment.

"However, before that, there's something else to deal with: eliminating potential threats around us to prevent unforeseen complications at crucial moments."

With a sudden thought, his gaze fell upon the palm of his right hand, and then he focused his mind on the characters in his palm!

As the light and shadow shifted, a maze appeared in Qiu Yan's mind. In the center of the maze, a mountain goat as tall as a person lay on the ground, its body bound by chains, unable to move.

Suddenly, it raised its head and looked up.

"Here we go again? You've kept your promise these past few days and haven't harmed my soul. Keep it up, and I might consider revealing a little more information each time."