Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Father and Son, Zhang Fan’s Past

At dusk, the evening summer wind seemed somewhat hot.

South of the city, No. 368 Guai Zi Alley.

As an old town, it still retains the architectural style of low walls around courtyards, where neighborhood children chase and play in the narrow alleys.

Zhang Fan arrived here following the address provided by Jiang Hu, and as he walked further in, images kept flashing through his mind.

He knew he had definitely been here before.

”Number 368... it’s right here...”

Zhang Fan arrived in front of a small courtyard, the old wooden door was mottled, covered with traditional peach talismans, the copper ring in the lion’s mouth collided with the wooden door, echoing with a ”dong dong” sound.

”No one’s here?”

Zhang Fan’s gaze slightly tightened, knocking twice more.

”Who is it?”

At that moment, the door opened to reveal a small gap, through which Zhang Fan saw a beautiful woman standing behind it, her long hair braided to her waist, a pair of clear eyes seemingly holding autumn water, wearing loose short sleeves, revealing fair and delicate arms.

”I’m looking for Old Mr. Ming...” Zhang Fan spoke through the door gap.

”My grandfather is not home.” The young woman spoke and was about to close the door.

”How can I contact him?”

At that moment, Zhang Fan hurriedly blocked the closing door, quickly speaking.

”What are you doing?” The young woman furrowed her delicate brows, warily staring at Zhang Fan.

”Um... I mean no harm... I just want to ask Old Mr. Ming some questions... I seemed to come here when I was a child for a consultation, but I don’t remember...” Zhang Fan didn’t quite know how to explain.

”You... your surname is Zhang!?” The young woman suddenly asked.

”How do you know?” Zhang Fan was slightly stunned.

”Zhang Fan!?” The young woman uttered in surprise, directly revealing his name.

”Hm!?”

Zhang Fan’s eyes widened, scrutinizing the young woman through the door gap.

”You did come.” The young woman showed a knowing expression, opening the door and inviting Zhang Fan inside.

”Have we met? Do you know me?” Zhang Fan suspiciously looked at the young woman.

”My name is Ming Yunxia, don’t you remember me?”

”Hm!?” Zhang Fan furrowed his brows, showing a look of confusion.

”When you were twelve years old, your father brought you to my house for treatment...” Ming Yunxia said.

”Twelve... twelve...” Zhang Fan seemed deep in thought.

That year, he experienced the greatest upheaval of his life, his mother died in a car accident, and consequently suffered a traumatic selective amnesia...

Zhang Fan remembered that initially, Zhang Lingzong took him to many big hospitals...

Later, they indeed consulted with an old Chinese medicine doctor...

”It was here.” Zhang Fan seemed to recall some things.

”You’re quite different from when you were a child... You were a bit fierce back then and didn’t like talking, I tried to play with you and you ignored me.” Ming Yunxia said.

”I seem to have some impression... You were Sister Yunxia...”

Zhang Fan vaguely remembered his extremely unstable and somewhat aggressive emotions back then, here seemed to be a sister who consistently played with him.

Every visit for consultation, that young lady accompanied him.

”Come in.”

Speaking of which, Ming Yunxia led Zhang Fan into the inner hall, a strong medicinal fragrance filled the entire hall, anatomical charts hung on the walls, while various medical herbs and instruments were placed around the shelves.

”Sister Yunxia, where did Old Mr. Ming go?”

Zhang Fan walked to the corner of the wall, casually asked while looking at a strange painting on it.

”He went to Dian Nan to look for medicine.” Ming Yunxia said, pointing to the painting on the wall, which illustrated a milky white mushroom rooted in yellow soil, but with a human face growing on it.

”Is this medicine?”

”It’s called Beauty Mushroom.” Ming Yunxia introduced.

Since ancient times, there have been many taboos regarding building bridges and roads, as it involves moving earth and breaking water, which alters the Dragon Vein’s direction, affecting the earth’s energy.

It’s said that in ancient times, during road construction on the Dian Nan border, mountain folks unearthed a human face halfway up the mountain.

That face had a flesh color, slightly pale, with eyes, nose, mouth, and its eyes tightly shut, as if growing on a rock wall, its mouth constantly squirming, occasionally emitting thunderous sounds, very intimidating.

All the mountain folks were terrified, some said they broke the earth by mistake and dug into the mountain god’s abode, this human face was the mountain ghost guarding the abode.

Others said that the face was a vengeful spirit transformed from someone who died unjustly in the mountains, and if it opened its eyes, it would seize people’s souls.

Many stories circulated, until an elder led to re-cover the mountain path and suppress it with a large stone, from then on no one ever saw such a thing again.

Years later, a traveling Daoist passed by and heard the rumor, lamenting the loss, saying the human face is called ”Beauty Mushroom,” a peculiar medicine, its roots penetrate the Netherworld’s Yellow Springs, and if a drop of tear from it is consumed, one can communicate with Ghost Gods, and live over a century, yet the Daoist refused to reveal more details, later residing in the mountains and built an observatory, living until the age of one hundred and twenty-three before dying peacefully.

”There is actually such a medicine?” Zhang Fan exclaimed in wonder.

However, he now knows Ming Chengjun is not a conventional old Chinese medicine practitioner, but a Daoist Doctor, born from the Yin Mountain Sect, his techniques are naturally exceptional, even his treasured medicines are extraordinary with remarkable effects.

”Grandfather has sought this medicine for most of his life... every midsummer, he travels to Dian Nan.” Ming Yunxia said seriously.

”Have your relationship with your dad improved?”

At that moment, Ming Yunxia suddenly asked.

”What do you mean?” Zhang Fan was slightly stunned.

”I remember when you were young... you didn’t get along well with your father... you often fought at my house.”

”Ah!? I fought with my dad? At twelve?” Zhang Fan showed a look of disbelief.

He remembered respecting Zhang Lingzong greatly, not even daring to speak loudly, much less use foul language... he even felt Zhang Lingzong thought he couldn’t swear.

Fight? That’s ridiculous!?

”Did you see it yourself?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”No... but every time you guys were in the inner hall listening, I could hear it, very frighteningly...” Ming Yunxia’s eyes showed a hint of recollection.

”I even thought if I were your dad, having such a rebellious son, it would be better to strangle him.”

”Ah!?”

Zhang Fan showed a look of disbelief, feeling like he was hearing someone else’s story.

”By the way...”

At that moment, Ming Yunxia changed the subject and suddenly asked, ”Is your dad’s illness cured?”

”My dad’s illness?” Zhang Fan was puzzled for a moment.

”Yeah, every time he brought you here, it was naturally for a consultation.” Ming Yunxia said quietly.

”Wait... wasn’t it me receiving treatment?”

”No...” Ming Yunxia shook her head: ”My grandfather said... your dad was ill... he had a very serious illness...”

”But he also said...”

”Said what!?” Zhang Fan pursued the question.

”He said... you were his illness.” Ming Yunxia’s expression turned peculiar.