I Can Devour Spirits

Gu Suxiu picked up the prescription and began gathering herbs from the drawer of the medicine cabinet.

Duan Rong stood up, his eyes gleaming as he scanned the surroundings, quickly focusing on the desk.

On that desk lay a blue-covered book, and atop the book was a pair of shiny, somewhat uniquely shaped palm beads.

Duan Rong walked over, glanced at Gu Suxiu’s back, and deliberately raised his voice, saying, ”Such style of palm beads is rather uncommon.”

Gu Suxiu merely lowered his head, continuing to gather herbs casually, saying, ”I made those myself... specially added some protrusions to better massage the acupuncture points...”

”Really?” Duan Rong picked up those palm beads, his peripheral vision kept watching Gu Suxiu, who remained focused on his task without looking this way.

Looking at the palm beads in his hand, Duan Rong thought to himself, ”Read Artifact Spirit.”

Soon, a group of data appeared before Duan Rong’s eyes:

Artifact: Phoebe Wooden Palm Bead

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Three

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 3 (met)

Devouring Effect: Master of Hundred Herbs Recognition, Master of Cold and Fever, Introduction to Difficult and Complex Diseases, Master of Classic Formula Experiment.

Duan Rong glanced at the devouring effect on the data panel, noticing three masteries and one introduction.

This pair of palm beads had been with Gu Suxiu since his early twenties, accompanying him through cold and heat, studying books, and initially learning about herbs. Over thirty years, his various insights into the medical dao have seeped into the artifact spirit within these palm beads.

Duan Rong was overjoyed, thinking to himself, ”Devour!”

Suddenly, the data panel before Duan Rong flashed and slowly dissipated, just as Gu Suxiu approached carrying two medicine bundles. Duan Rong put down the palm beads, reached out to take the medicine bundles, and said, ”Thank you!”

Having said that, Duan Rong paid with silver coins while still scanning around, hoping to find other things to devour. If there were any, he could find an excuse to delay and seize the opportunity to devour them.

Gu Suxiu noted Duan Rong’s flickering eyes and was further convinced that Duan Rong had other intentions for his visit. But seeing Duan Rong pay, he refrained from speaking, lost in thought. Gu Suxiu speculated: Perhaps his visit was related to my family’s Plum Blossom Needle Technique, but this kid seems too honest, seemingly embarrassed to ask directly.

Clearing his throat, Gu Suxiu decided to take the initiative and said, ”Little friend Duan’s needling technique seems to have ties to my Gu family. I venture to ask, from where does little friend’s needling technique originate?”

Duan Rong was taken aback at these words, surprised that Gu Suxiu suddenly mentioned the Plum Blossom Needle Technique, but he immediately understood that Gu Suxiu was referring to the life-saving needles he gave to Xiao Baijiao in a desperate moment.

Naturally, Duan Rong had acquired mastery of the Plum Blossom Needle Technique by devouring the Silver Needle dropped by Gu Suxiu.

Since Gu Suxiu asked, Duan Rong retold the story he had previously shared with Xiao Zongting.

Gu Suxiu listened, stroking his goatee thoughtfully, nodding continuously. ”That elder taught you drawing technique and acupuncture for over a year?”

”Yes.” Duan Rong nodded.

”Little friend, do you remember the appearance of that elder?” Gu Suxiu fixed his eyes on Duan Rong and suddenly asked.

Duan Rong made up a story, saying, ”That elder was very thin, his hair sparse, and his face deeply wrinkled, with a birthmark on his neck.”

”A birthmark on his neck?” Gu Suxiu muttered to himself, convinced he did not know this person and had never heard his grandfather mention him.

Gu Suxiu lost his father at a young age and was raised by his grandfather, who taught him medical techniques from a young age.

After recounting the story, Duan Rong noted that unlike Xiao Zongting, Gu Suxiu didn’t let the matter rest; instead, he continued to inquire further. Thus, Duan Rong deliberately mentioned a distinctive feature to end further questioning.

As expected, Gu Suxiu pondered for a long time and asked no more questions.

Seeing nothing else in the clinic that could be devoured, Duan Rong was about to take his leave when Gu Suxiu suddenly said, ”Little friend, please come with me to the back hall.”

Duan Rong hesitated, but Gu Suxiu had already turned and lifted the curtain, looking back at Duan Rong.

Noting Gu Suxiu’s solemn expression, Duan Rong followed him inside, where he saw several wooden mannequins used for practicing acupuncture.

”Little friend, please have a seat.” As soon as they entered the back hall, Gu Suxiu pointed to a Grandmaster’s Chair beside the wall near a desk, saying.

Gu Suxiu himself walked to the corner of the storeroom and, taking out a medicine spoon, opened a cabinet there.

Duan Rong strolled to the Grandmaster’s Chair and slowly sat down, his gaze sweeping over the storeroom’s items before finally settling on Gu Suxiu.

Gu Suxiu retrieved a small wooden box from the cabinet.

He approached the desk where Duan Rong sat, opened the wooden box, and laid it on the desk.

Duan Rong raised his eyes to look into the wooden box and saw what seemed to be a book with damaged cover and curling yellowed corners, an old, worn book.

”Little friend Duan, this wooden box contains the relic of my grandfather,” Gu Suxiu said somberly as he looked at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong felt puzzled, not understanding why Gu Suxiu wanted him to see his grandfather’s relic.

Seeing Duan Rong’s confusion, Gu Suxiu continued, ”The Gu family has been practicing medicine for generations, originally only village barefoot doctors with mediocre skills, barely getting by. But when my grandfather was forty, he unexpectedly had an opportunity. His medical skills advanced significantly at that time, thanks largely to a reclusive extraordinary person.”

As Gu Suxiu recounted the past, his eyes revealed a longing. ”During an outbreak, by chance, my grandfather saved the life of that extraordinary person. After recovering, that person taught my grandfather for a year and, upon departing, left this book filled with personal insights on the medical dao.”

”My grandfather studied this book diligently every day, coupled with guidance from that extraordinary person for a year; his medical skills improved greatly, and the family’s life also improved.”

”My grandfather’s Plum Blossom Needle Technique was also inherited from this person. Little friend Duan’s Plum Blossom Needle Technique is also imparted by a reclusive individual. Perhaps there might be some connection between the two?” Gu Suxiu suddenly showed a hint of excitement as he handed the worn cornered book to Duan Rong, saying, ”Little friend Duan, take a look at the handwriting of this senior and see if it resembles that of the reclusive individual who taught you needling.”

Duan Rong’s thoughts were stirred. Gu Suxiu’s intentions revealed themselves; apparently, he held deep respect and remembrance for his grandfather and the extraordinary person who taught him. Driven by even a faint hint, he showed Duan Rong his grandfather’s relic.

Duan Rong took the tattered relic book and flipped through a few pages. The book contained at least two different penmanships, one of which showed some alterations, evidently indicating additions at different periods.

”The original text was crafted by that extraordinary senior. Every few years, my grandfather would reread and annotate. He remembered that even the year he passed away, he was reading this book,” Gu Suxiu said, sadness flashing in his eyes.

Duan Rong suddenly turned to a page marked with blood stains, recalling Gu Suxiu’s words. Moved by the thought that this man was so avid about the medical dao, Duan Rong developed a respect for Gu Suxiu’s grandfather.

The book contained numerous annotations, with later ideas reappraised, and revised annotations made to amend earlier ones.

”To have such an opportunity and work so diligently, it’s no wonder his medical skills advanced,” Duan Rong praised internally.

He looked at the yellowed pages, marked with fingerings and traces of sweat, and was suddenly inspired, thinking, ”Read Artifact Spirit!”