The question of Zhang Lu's successor

Wen Xiancheng stopped in his tracks and stared at Zhang Lu, somewhat dazed.

That one.

She had called her "that one."

That was a name only this body's original owner had used for Xue Ruigao.

That meant she really had communicated with the consciousness inside his body!

Still, she had only called it a second personality.

And she had let him leave.

Which meant she had not discovered that he was a transmigrator.

Wen Xiancheng let out a great sigh of relief.

In other words, from now on, this body belonged to him alone.

Recalling what Zhang Lu had just said, Wen Xiancheng touched his chest, suddenly feeling rather conflicted.

He had, after all, been a cuckoo taking over another bird's nest.

But what could he do?

He had never wanted to transmigrate here.

Most importantly, the original owner had already been poisoned to death. He could not be brought back to life.

No matter what, they were both victims.

And now, Wen Xiancheng had merely chosen to settle in, since he was already here.

Still, as repayment, he would investigate who had killed the original owner and erect a gravestone for him!

As for Xue Ruigao-

Wen Xiancheng clenched his fists.

She was such a wonderful girl. Even without the original owner saying anything, he would never let her go.

Nodding at Zhang Lu, Wen Xiancheng said, "Thank you. I'll remember."

When he returned to the hospital entrance, Wen Xiancheng addressed the young man stationed there. "Hello. Could you tell me how I should pay?"

"What did the hall master say?" the young man asked.

Wen Xiancheng smiled. "I'm cured."

The young man laughed heartily. "The hall master's healing skills really are getting more impressive by the day. Though who knows who'll be able to take over from her?"

The young man let out a long sigh.

Wen Xiancheng asked curiously, "With so many people in the Iceheart Hall, isn't there anyone who can take over from her?"

The young man shrugged. "No, at least not right now. As far as I know, nobody in the Iceheart Hall has managed to satisfy her yet. Lots of people have wanted to send their children to study under her, but she's turned them down too."

"What is your hall master looking for?" Wen Xiancheng asked, puzzled.

The young man shook his head. "If I knew, would I still be sitting here? I'd have gone to beg her long ago! Anyway, why haven't you left yet?"

"I haven't paid!" Wen Xiancheng said.

"What did the hall master say?" the young man asked.

"She didn't say anything," Wen Xiancheng replied.

"Then there's no charge." The young man waved a hand. "Cases like yours are extremely rare. A genuine case only turns up once in more than a decade. The hall master was probably in a great mood, so she didn't charge you. Off you go!"

Wen Xiancheng stared at the young man in shock.

She treated me for free, just like that?

His face full of doubt, Wen Xiancheng walked out of the Iceheart Hall.

Sure enough, nobody stopped him from leaving.

Looking back at the Iceheart Hall from a distance, Wen Xiancheng felt touched.

Just as people online had said, the Iceheart Hall had always upheld its hall master Zhang Lu's original aspiration-to study medicine and save lives, hanging out the healer's gourd to bring aid to the world.

But how could the Iceheart Hall keep operating without charging people like this?

After a moment of silence, Wen Xiancheng turned back.

He did not like feeling as though he was taking a free meal.

The young man looked curious when he saw Wen Xiancheng return.

But he was busy talking to the other people in line and had no chance to ask.

Wen Xiancheng made his way back to the hall master's room and knocked.

The aged voice came from inside once more. "Come in!"

Wen Xiancheng pushed the door open and entered.

Zhang Lu clicked her tongue and said, seemingly impatient, "Your illness is cured. What did you come back for?"

"How much?" Wen Xiancheng asked.

Still busy with her work, Zhang Lu said, "If I really charged you, you couldn't afford it. There's no charge. If you make money in the future, just remember to send some here. If you don't, forget about it. Just remember to help more people."

Wen Xiancheng was truly moved.

Someone this kindhearted actually existed in a world like this!

Before his transmigration, if you went to a hospital without money, you could only wait to die!

Watching Zhang Lu's busy back, Wen Xiancheng made up his mind.

"Nobody knows what the future holds, and I don't want to think that far ahead. You haven't taken on a successor yet, have you? Tell me your requirements. I'll work at it and see if I can meet them, as repayment to you," Wen Xiancheng said earnestly.

Zhang Lu set down her pen, turned around, and sized him up. "You're a little shameless."

Looking embarrassed, Wen Xiancheng said, "I'm not trying to latch onto you. You're so skilled at treating illnesses and saving lives that countless people want to study under you and do the same. There must be plenty of exceptionally talented people among them."

After a pause, Wen Xiancheng continued, "My aptitude is very ordinary. I don't think I'm better than anyone else, so I probably wouldn't catch your eye."

"But I want to repay you! I have no money, so all I can do is try to resolve some of your troubles."

"So I sincerely want to give it a try. You're entirely free to refuse, and I won't pester you. But please tell me your requirements so I can give it everything I have."

Zhang Lu turned back, opened a drawer beneath her desk, took out a notebook, and tossed it to Wen Xiancheng. "Practice according to this. Finish before the New Year, then come report to me and demonstrate what you've learned. If I'm satisfied, you pass. If not, that's that."

Wen Xiancheng caught the notebook and bowed solemnly. "I'll remember. I'll do my best."

Only then did he close the door and leave.

Zhang Lu smiled and shook her head. "This child does know how to repay kindness."

She touched her ring.

At once, the little girl appeared beside her again.

Zhang Lu said, "Go follow him. If there's anything he doesn't understand while practicing from the notebook, help him as much as you can. Record his daily habits and send them to me."

The little girl gave no reply and simply walked out.

Continuing to write, Zhang Lu said, "There isn't much time left. If nothing else works, I'll just have to make do."

Wen Xiancheng carried the notebook out of the hospital. Just as he was about to leave, someone tugged at the hem of his clothes.

He turned around. It was the little girl who had appeared so eerily earlier-the Machine Puppet, as Zhang Lu had called her.

Wen Xiancheng stopped and asked with a smile, "Does the hall master need me for something?"

The little girl crouched down and wrote on the ground with her finger. "Master told me to follow you and help answer anything you don't understand."

"Why?" Wen Xiancheng asked, bewildered.

The little girl wrote, "I don't know either. I only know that this is Master's order: follow you and help you with anything in the notebook you don't understand until the New Year."

Wen Xiancheng glanced toward the hall master's room in the distance. "All right, I understand. Thank you!"

With the little girl in tow, Wen Xiancheng took the bus back to his rented room.

He had barely sat down when his phone rang.

Wen Xiancheng picked it up and looked. It was a call from Cui Qianqian!

Wen Xiancheng answered. "This is Wen Xiancheng."

Cui Qianqian's slightly stammering voice came over the phone. "Um, summer vacation is almost here. Do you still have lots of textbooks to handle?"

"Not at the moment," Wen Xiancheng said. "I'm planning to ask them how things stand tomorrow. If possible, I'd like to take on all their fall textbook orders."

"Th-then I won't stay on campus over summer vacation," Cui Qianqian said. "Where do you live? Come pick me up and help me move my things. I'll move somewhere near you. That'll make handling everything much easier."

(End of chapter)