Chen Xun Takes a Master, Bragging Shatters the Heavens

Medical skills were broad and profound; there could not be the slightest carelessness. He had to start by identifying medicinal herbs. Ning Si gave him an Herbal Medicine Book and had Chen Xun compare it against the herbs in the rear courtyard, recognizing and memorizing them one by one.

Otherwise, Chen Xun would not even be fit to do odd jobs at the medical clinic. Still, he considered himself quite quick-witted. As he taught Big Black Ox to identify the herbs, he also reinforced his own knowledge.

Yet the cruelty of reality gave Chen Xun a thorough lesson. There were countless medicinal herbs, and identifying them accurately 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 by lamplight.

"Old Ox, I never realized your brain isn't all that sharp either." Chen Xun laughed loudly, instantly feeling much more balanced. They were evenly matched.

To Chen Xun, the most miserable thing in the world was not being unable to learn something—it was when the old ox had learned it, while he, Chen Xun, had not yet.

Moo! Moo!

Big Black Ox got angry. His eyes widened as he butted Chen Xun once. There were some uncommon characters he did not recognize, and he still needed Chen Xun to explain them.

But he already had a plan in mind. While Chen Xun was Excreting, he would overtake him on a curve and dampen that arrogant swagger of his.

Time quietly flew by as they learned to identify medicinal herbs. Another year passed, and Chen Xun officially put on the assistant's uniform of Pingtai Medical Clinic.

Even his stride carried a faint breeze now, and a cocky smile spread across his lips.

Over the past year, he had come to recognize most medicinal herbs. Yet Doctor Ning had not praised him for being exceptionally gifted, only saying that he was hardworking, diligent, and remarkably able to endure loneliness.

Once again, he added his Longevity Points to speed. Under heaven, no martial art could defeat speed alone. As long as he ran fast enough, disaster would always remain one step behind him.

"Assistant, one qian of wintergreen, two qian of Bai Wei, three qian of Qiushi."

"Coming right up."

Chen Xun answered smoothly. With practiced ease, he quickly took the medicinal herbs from several cabinets, wrapped them up, and handed them to the customer.

After resting that night, Chen Xun cracked melon seeds as he took Black Ox along to continue studying the Herbal Medicine Book.

However, suspicion gradually appeared in his eyes. He looked Big Black Ox up and down and said faintly, "Old Ox."

"Moo!" Big Black Ox shuddered all over. His eyes could not hide a thing.

"Have you been secretly studying? I've been watching you for 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 assistant. What nerve!

"Moo! Moo!" Cold sweat emerged on Big Black Ox. He absolutely refused to admit it, but his eyes had already thoroughly betrayed him.

"As punishment, you're not allowed to read tonight."

Chen Xun turned away and resumed cracking melon seeds. "Only after you recognize how hateful this behavior is will I study with you again."

Moo moo!! Big Black Ox panicked, circling Chen Xun from side to side. Then, with one careless swing of his rear, he knocked Chen Xun over.

Chen Xun was helpless. Unable to outstubborn him, he could only appeal to his emotions and reason with him about the harm caused by secretly studying.

"Do you understand? What if you identified something incorrectly while I wasn't around? You can't even recognize all the characters yet. These are medicinal herbs—one tiny mistake could cost someone their life."

"Moo, moo." Big Black Ox nodded repeatedly. He understood. He would never secretly study again.

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

Chen Xun pointed at the book, and Big Black Ox stretched his head over as well. The man and ox resumed their studies, their hearts brimming with enthusiasm.

The second year.

Chen Xun could already remember all the common medicinal herbs in the clinic. Every night, he and Big Black Ox tested each other, each taking out a medicinal herb and naming it.

Doctor Ning still merely said it was not bad, without much reaction.

Whenever there was no work in his hands, Chen Xun would quietly run over to the doctors' sides and watch them diagnose patients with eager eyes. Learning even a little was still something; he was not short on time.

When he returned to the courtyard that night, Doctor Ning gave Chen Xun a Pharmacology Book. Its contents explained what illnesses could be treated by combining different medicinal herbs, which herbs clashed with one another, and so on.

"It truly is broad and profound."

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

"Moo moo!" Big Black Ox was already absorbed in it, his eyes round as saucers. How marvelous.

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

Spring passed into autumn, and Chen Xun had already changed into the senior assistant's uniform. Five years had flown by.

They had also been at Pingtai Medical Clinic for seven years. Chen Xun had seen far too much suffering, helplessness, wailing...

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

The clinic assistants changed every year, but everyone remembered this youth who always wore a smile, as well as the Mountain-Splitting Axe at his waist, which never left his side.

In one of the clinic's main halls, Ning Si sat upright, solemnity in his eyes. A first glance might misjudge someone, but seven years never would.

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

"Master, Shimu."

Chen Xun lowered his head and cupped his fists, 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 toward Chen Xun. "If you encountered a Mountain Bandit on the road—one who robbed homes, committed every evil imaginable, yet had been severely wounded and was seeking your help—what would you do?"

Chen Xun was slightly stunned when he heard this. He answered seriously, "Then, Teacher Ning, I'll speak honestly."

"Go ahead."

"Since he was already severely wounded, I would definitely spot him first. But I would not save him."

Chen Xun paused here, his face struggling for a moment. "I would cover my face with a headscarf and pass by, so he could not seek revenge on me later."

Ning Si and his wife were both taken aback. He had even planned his escape route.

"Not bad, not bad."

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

"This child truly is not bad—upright in character and excellent in temperament."

Shimu echoed him with a smile. If Chen Xun had tried to please them by saying he would save the man, they would instead have thought less of him for being insincere.

"Good. Then you have officially entered the school. In this 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, your master believes that you will definitely become the one with the greatest medical skills."

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

"Teacher Ning overpraises me."

Chen Xun's eyes were calm as he lowered his head and cupped his fists. Yet the corner of his mouth had already begun to curl crookedly.

After the matter of taking a master was settled, Chen Xun returned to the medical clinic's rear courtyard. Cracking melon seeds, he bragged to Big Black Ox about what had just happened. Only one emotion showed in his eyes: badassery.

Something about how his master had praised him as having the bearing of a Medical Emperor; violet qi surged for thirty thousand miles, and sages descended from heaven to congratulate Emperor Chen on returning to the throne.

Moo moo moo!!

Big Black Ox believed every word. His eyes widened round as he excitedly ran everywhere, occasionally butting Chen Xun. He was genuinely happy for Chen Xun.

"Hahaha..."

Chen Xun's booming laughter and Big Black Ox's joyful, unceasing moos echoed through the courtyard. His Longevity Points were still all added to speed.