I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 157: Chapter 67: Celestial Pillar 3

Jiang Ping’an watched his wife’s back recede into the distance and could only sigh.

In his heart, he held little hope. It was obvious that any prescription developed in such a short time couldn’t be very effective.

How potent it might be was highly questionable!

’As for some ”Master Physician”?’ Jiang Ping’an subconsciously thought it was just empty talk meant to boost morale and fool the common people.

’After all, how could it be so coincidental? A Master Physician just happens to be in Changshan City, working tirelessly and selflessly to help? Is this some kind of fairytale?’

「A short while later.」

Sister-in-law Jiang returned, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup.

Under his wife’s hopeful gaze, Jiang Ping’an sighed inwardly, took the bowl, and drank it down.

At first, he didn’t feel much, but after a moment, he noticed his coughing became less frequent, and he started to sweat.

”This medicine... it seems to be working!” Jiang Ping’an’s eyes flew open.

”Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Sister-in-law Jiang was overjoyed, rambling, ”Old Jiang, just sweat it out and get some sleep. The fever will break, and you’ll definitely be fine... Thank the Master Physician! Thank the Rebel Army! I wonder who that master is. After you’ve recovered, our family will definitely set up a spirit tablet for him!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ping’an, for some reason, subconsciously thought of Fang Rui, but then immediately shook his head. ’Why did I think of Brother Fang? How could that Master Physician possibly be him? Ugh, I must be losing my mind!’

He told Sister-in-law Jiang to leave first, then turned and lay down on the bed. The anxiety that had gripped him for days finally subsided, and enveloped by a great sense of peace, he drowsily fell asleep.

...

「The Xia Family Estate.」

”Father, our family’s retained Physicians are a bunch of incompetents. The decoction they made from Old Medicine and Great Medicine is actually less effective against the plague than the one made from a pile of common ingredients using that Master Physician’s prescription...”

”Enough!”

The Xia Family Patriarch waved his hand dismissively. ”It’s not that they’re incompetent; it’s that the Master Physician is simply too skilled. People can’t be compared to one another, they just can’t...”

He was worldly and understood people, knowing that he couldn’t be too demanding or critical of his subordinates; otherwise, they would become difficult to lead.

”That Master Physician—have you found and recruited him?”

”Not yet.”

The head of the first branch sighed with regret. ”That master’s movements are too secretive. We can’t find him, even with our family’s information network!”

They didn’t find it strange that a Master Physician would suddenly appear. Compared to Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade Martial Artists, a medical genius of this caliber has relatively fewer resource requirements and relies more on personal talent.

Therefore, it never even occurred to them to suspect that the Master Physician was the same person as the Fifth Grade Martial Artist they were looking for.

’After all, a Fifth Grade Realm, exquisite Saber Technique, and the status of a Master Physician... all in one person? You might as well claim he can touch the sky.’

”Sigh, just keep searching. If that master agrees to our family’s invitation, his compensation will be generous, on par with a Fifth Grade Martial Artist!” the Xia Family Patriarch instructed.

”Yes!”

The head of the first branch agreed, not thinking there was anything wrong with this.

To a great family like theirs, a Master-Level figure in the medical field was a strategic asset. Even if not used daily and just kept on retainer, it was better to have one than not.

For instance, in a situation like this sudden plague outbreak, or an emergency where someone in the family is suddenly poisoned, injured, or afflicted with a difficult illness... wouldn’t they be needed then?

Of course, the Xia Family Patriarch also knew that the chances of a family from a remote county town successfully recruiting such a Master-Level physician were slim. He was just unwilling to give up and wanted to at least try.

After all, a nationally renowned physician of that caliber would be an honored guest even in a Prefecture City or a State City. The great local families would all be willing to treat them with courtesy.

Of course, that was only when major interests weren’t at stake. If it came down to fundamental interests, to life and death, who cares who you are?! If assassination was necessary, they wouldn’t show the slightest mercy!

...

「The Rear Courtyard.」

”Young Master, it’s time for your medicine! This is from the prescription the Master Physician developed. I heard it’s just as effective as the decoction our clan’s retained Physicians make with Great Medicine!”

A stunningly beautiful and graceful woman in a colorful dress, a vermilion mark adorning the space between her brows, glided into the room.

”Huan’er? Just put it down.” Xia Yunzhao waved his hand. He stood at the window, gazing into the distance with a deep frown.

This woman, named Huan’er, was one of his favorite concubines.

”I wonder what troubles the Young Master? Huan’er wishes to ease your worries.”

As Huan’er spoke, she drew closer. Her soft, seemingly boneless arms coiled around him like serpents, wandering over him before she finally bent down...

”I keep feeling that something isn’t right. Shallow waters can’t nurture a Flood Dragon, yet here in Changshan City, we have a Fifth Grade expert with exquisite Swordsmanship, another hidden Fifth Grade, and that Middle Grade person who delivered the wooden tablet. And now, a Master Physician has appeared out of nowhere!”

”So many influential figures gathering in a small place like Changshan City... it’s all too turbulent and strange. It makes me deeply uneasy... Sigh, why am I even telling you all this?!”

Xia Yunzhao shook his head, then pressed down gently. ”Here, go a little deeper.”

「A moment later.」

He let out a long hiss of air. ”Ah, Huan’er, your technique is still lacking. It can’t compare to Lin Feng’s two... what a pity.”

...

「Two days passed in a flash.」

Thanks to Fang Rui’s prescription, the plague in Changshan City was extinguished at an unbelievable speed. The number of infected patients dropped sharply, and normal order was restored to the city.

Even the patients who had been infected were released from isolation after they were cured.

After all, once the patients recovered, they would have antibodies in their bodies for a considerable time. There was no fear of reinfection or spreading the disease, which might cause further trouble.

...

「This day, in Willow Alley.」

At the entrance to the alley, under the great willow tree, two governmental officers from the Rebel Army were brewing medicinal soup. A long line of people had formed beside them.

—Unlike the first day when the medicine was delivered door-to-door, households in need were now proactively lining up with their own bowls to get the soup from under the great willow tree.

The faces of those queueing for the medicinal soup were mostly filled with joy and excitement, and they chattered amongst themselves.

”My little one is almost better!” a mother exclaimed joyfully.

”My husband is fine now, too! He’s all better!” another person chimed in.

”And my family...”

”To think we’ve survived a great plague just like that. We are truly fortunate!” an old man said, stroking his white beard, his voice full of emotion.

”It’s all thanks to that Master Physician, and of course, the Rebel Army deserves credit too.”

...

「By the window.」

Listening to the cheers outside, Fang Rui stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distant mountain ranges. A verse from the *Sixteen-Character Order* surfaced in his mind: ’Mountains, piercing Qing Tian, their blades unbroken. Should the heavens fall, they are the pillars that hold it up!’

He gazed for a long while, then turned back. In an instant, the clamor outside the window receded like the tide, leaving only the stillness of an ancient well in his heart.

’One should always take a long-term view! What’s past is past; I must focus on the present and the future!’

Fang Rui closed his eyes. His consciousness sank into the point of light in the upper-left corner of his vision, and a panel lit up in his mind like starlight.

...