Song Qingshi left medical treatment plans for the local clinic, then visited the pharmacy to stock up on commonly used herbs. He purchased a new alchemy furnace, preparing to refine elixirs when the opportunity arose. As a physician, he felt at ease only when armed with medicine.
Feng Jun procured a magical ship from somewhere, taking everyone to Tianwu Gate.
At departure, the innkeeper and his wife came to see them off. They waived all costs and provided various foods. Monks and patients' families who had been treated in town also arrived, gifting Song Qingshi numerous tokens of gratitude.
Song Qingshi politely declined but accepted a few baskets of eggs to feed Xiaobai.
Under the guidance of a celestial beast, the magical ship ascended slowly. Song Qingshi stood by the window, looking at the towns, villages, and landscapes that remained unchanged yet subtly different from his memory. After a moment, he realized: this world seemed to have eradicated slavery.
In his memory, most ordinary people were slaves to monks and lived numb, subjugated lives. Now he saw many businesses operated by commoners, craft workshops employing them, and even apprentices in clinics and pharmacies—all full of vitality and hope.
Once, a commoner could be killed for accidentally brushing against a monk's garment. Now, he often witnessed monks and commoners chatting and laughing together over drinks, seemingly in harmonious coexistence.
How did all this change?
"It was Lady Qingluan who devised many affordable medicines," Song Jincheng boasted about his ancestor when he sensed Song Qingshi's curiosity. "After her medicines became widespread, the survival rate of commoners improved. Lady Qingluan trained a large number of them as physicians, opening clinics everywhere during a dark period when the cultivation world was in desperate need. Slowly, people grew accustomed to commoners taking on various roles. Some even had good spiritual roots and became monks."
Song Qingshi exclaimed, "Lady Qingluan is indeed an extraordinary woman."
Song Jincheng smirked, "Except that she wrote too many medical books and study materials that tortured us. Otherwise, she's quite excellent."
"Qingluan wasn't that extraordinary. She simply organized and simplified the materials left by your... Master," Feng Jun chuckled. "The complexity of what was left behind was beyond even her. She focused on treating common diseases with simplified techniques, making it accessible to everyone."
Song Qingshi was a medical prodigy with a plethora of methods. For instance, he had eighty-four treatments for bone injuries. Qingluan chose only the eight most common, simplified them, and included them in her teaching materials.
The difference perhaps was...
Song Qingshi's methods could perfectly heal a hundred people without any sequelae, but they were costly and difficult to learn, producing only one disciple, Yue Wuhuan.
Qingluan's simplified methods could heal ninety out of a hundred people with some risk of sequelae. However, she could rapidly train thousands of physicians, who, with affordable treatments, would heal millions across the world.
It's hard to argue which approach is better.
Yet, Song Qingshi's research served as the cornerstone for all this.
Feng Jun leaned against Song Qingshi's shoulder and whispered, "I've accomplished everything you've asked of me."
Whether it was protecting the Valley of the Medicine King, honoring his master's wishes, aiding Qingluan in becoming an exceptional physician, promoting her philosophies, or even showing mercy during his quest for revenge to prevent world annihilation, he had done his utmost. Even that vexing "right answer" had been well looked after.
He had listened to every single word.
Song Qingshi thought Feng Jun was referring to the magical ship and gripped his hand tightly. "Thank you."
Feng Jun glanced at the fair fingertips peeking out from the wide sleeves and asked with a sense of yearning, "May I receive a reward?"
Song Qingshi responded enthusiastically, "Yes, anything you want, you shall have."
Feng Jun licked his lips and ambiguously suggested, "Tonight, shall I visit you so that we may... 'study' in bed?"
Song Qingshi became even more delighted, "Absolutely, I'll keep you company all night long. We can study as many books as you'd like."
...
Song Jincheng hid nearby, sensing that Song Qingshi was deeply entranced by Feng Jun. Both his eyes and voice were brimming with affection.
A lone man and a 'woman' studying books late into the night? Even as a fledgling, he understood the progression: first, plant books on each other, then research agriculture, discussing the opening up of fields and sowing seeds...
Seeing Song Qingshi's blissful demeanor, he must not realize he isn't the plow, but rather the field waiting to be plowed, must he?
Truly pitiful.
He could empathize with Song Qingshi; resisting the allure of a beauty like Feng Jun was no small feat for any man. However, Feng Jun wasn't just any woman; he was an impending ascendant, a terrifying demon king of the Immortal Summit. What would become of Song Qingshi, the 'field' about to be tilled?
What kind of hero stands by while a friend faces adversity, yet doesn't dare to intervene?
Song Jincheng retreated to a corner, faced the wall, and closed his eyes, choosing not to watch anymore.
After discussing the issue of the Demons of Filth for a while, Song Qingshi noticed that Song Jincheng was crouched in a corner doodling circles, mumbling about friendship. Thinking he was concerned about his friends in Tianwu Gate, Song Qingshi approached him to console, "Don't worry about your friends. I'll plead with Mr. Yue on your behalf to lessen their punishments."
Song Jincheng turned and gazed into Song Qingshi's sincere and kindly eyes. Considering his friend's impending fate, he felt even more guilt-ridden. Finally, he reached into his pocket and handed over a small porcelain box, saying gravely, "This is as far as I can help you, my brother. I bought this for you at the pharmacy."
Opening the porcelain box, Song Qingshi found it contained a slippery, osmanthus-scented balm mixed with anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances. It didn't seem like an ordinary injury ointment. After contemplating carefully, he asked, "Where exactly is this medicine applied?"
Song Jincheng patted his shoulder and said somberly, "Give it to Feng Jun when the time comes. He'll appreciate it."
Though he had never used this sort of ointment, Song Qingshi had comprehensive medical knowledge and understood its use after a moment's thought. He discreetly glanced at the gentle and beautiful Feng Jun, feeling like Song Jincheng was painting him as a lecher, but also finding it difficult to assert his innocence.
Feng Jun was already his boyfriend, and they were dating with the aim of becoming Daoist partners. Some things would naturally happen once both were ready.
Having studied medicine for many years and extensively researched various physiological structures and phenomena, Song Qingshi wasn't shy about sexual matters. After a brief consideration, he confidently put away the porcelain box and told Song Jincheng, "You don't need to buy these for me. I'll prepare them myself when the time comes."
Song Jincheng was left dumbfounded.
Feng Jun had overheard everything.
He pondered for a moment and pretended not to have heard.
...
At dusk, the magical ship descended near the Tianwu Gate.
Song Qingshi looked at Song Jincheng, considering how they should announce their arrival. Unexpectedly, the young man led them in a secretive loop around the place, found a hidden corner, checked for any hidden holes in the bushes, rolled up his sleeves, and began scaling the wall.
With a darkening face, he grabbed him and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Ay Yu's father said he'd beat me every time he sees me," said Song Jincheng solemnly. "Don't worry. I have a map of Tianwu Gate and know where the disciples' rooms are. Once I sneak in, I'll hide in a corner and crow like a crow three times. Ay Yu will know I've arrived."
Yuwen Yu was a once-in-a-century swordsmanship prodigy. He had reached the Golden Core stage at the age of eighteen. Tianwu Gate regarded him as a beacon of hope and spared no effort in nurturing him. He had lived up to expectations by strictly adhering to the rules and diligently practicing. He had never given the elders cause for concern.
However, after half a year of staying in the Valley of the Medicine King to recover from an illness, Song Jincheng had led him astray! Not only did he teach him to skip classes and scale walls, but he also encouraged him to flirt with girls, engage in fights, and behave recklessly. They even drank alcohol together, leading to disgraceful scenes. In the end, both were whipped fifty times by the Master of Tianwu Gate. Yuwen Yu even tried to take the blame for Song Jincheng, and they were whipped an extra thirty times for their insolence.
Song Qingshi sincerely said, "I feel like beating you as well."
"Ay Yu is really pitiful," Song Jincheng argued defensively. "His father has placed the entire sect's future upon him. Ay Yu never had a childhood or good friends. He has been practicing every day since he was three and would be whipped for any mistakes. Despite being of the same age, he speaks like an old man and insists on proper decorum, alienating everyone. I couldn't stand his pedantic ways, so I tricked him into going out. Despite initially refusing, he ended up having more fun than me."
A straight-A student led astray by a slacker, disinterested in academics.
Song Qingshi could understand why the Master of Tianwu Gate forbade Song Jincheng from getting close to his son. Even he, with his unwavering focus on the Dao, was enticed by Song Jincheng into binge-reading stories all night. If not for his injuries, he might have been dragged to watch performances. There was supposedly a Gongsun Lady who was skilled with the pipa; her melody about longing could cause tears for days.
He loved music and wanted to listen but refrained for fear of upsetting Feng Jun.
Song Qingshi felt somewhat distressed. With no status or an invitation, he couldn't easily enter. Even if he did, he couldn't lie. How could he explain wanting to see Yuwen Yu, the son of the Tianwu Gate Master? Merely mentioning "Song Jincheng" would probably get him thrown out.
Feng Jun hinted, "I saw a token in your mustard seed bag. Try using that."
Song Qingshi remembered that the token was for withdrawing money, somewhat akin to a debit card, perhaps?
Lacking other options, he tried knocking on the gate and showed the Phoenix Token to the gatekeeper. To his surprise, the gatekeeper was alarmed and scampered away to report. A red bird flew overhead, and in no time, the Master of Tianwu Gate personally came to welcome him. With the utmost respect, he ushered them into the main hall, where a table was laden with spiritual tea and celestial fruits.
Is this some sort of VIP treatment? It seems a bit too grandiose...
Surprised and honored by the attention, Song Qing Shi cautiously asked Feng Jun, "Does he owe me money?"