"To allow a young brat who's not even a physician to treat the village head. You lots must be stupid!"
An elderly man dressed in a tight robe said with an annoyed look as he walked forward. He held a small staff that had two stars gleaming on it. Behind him were three elderly men. They were also holding on to their staff. They'd been watching the show from a distance, but when the boy wanted to treat the village head, they just couldn't take it anymore. What did he know about medicine?
Although they were being berated, no one dared to refute. They could clearly see the two stars gleaming on his identity staff, indicating he was a level two expert in whatever occupation he was engaged in.
"He is the most formidable physician from the neighboring village— Edward Mo! He's a level two physician, and rumors have it that he once treated an emperor while the latter was out on a tour in disguise. To be here at this moment, I think the village head has asked for his help. The three elders behind him seem to be his colleagues. They're also level two physicians." One of the villagers said in a whispered voice. The others gasped in surprise.
A level two physician! That was a power beyond their imagination. They all gulped their saliva in fear.
Sandra turned to her daughter, and whispered in a hushed voice. "Clara dear, you must win the elder's favor, and get his recognition. If you do, it doesn't matter even if the village head doesn't recommend you. The elder surely will. Getting into the Sanctum wouldn't be a problem for you anymore." Sandra advised. Her daughter nodded. That was what she was thinking about.
They all bowed as the elders moved along the path, and climbed onto the ring. Simon was watching the scene in displeasure.
"Young lad, do you know who I am?" The first elder asked. He was the one who'd stopped him earlier on. On seeing the lack of etiquette, even on clearly noticing the stars gleaming on his staff, he flung his sleeves in displeasure.
Simon shrugged. "Who cares? You're interrupting my treatment session." He said. He was really displeased. He'd been about to treat the village head, clear his name, and return to the residence to cultivate when these old men popped out of nowhere. Of course, he knew they were level two physicians, but how was that his business?
Edward narrowed his eyes in anger. "Others may be unable to see through your ploy, but don't think that'll work on me. You tried to kill the village head due to your error, and instead of accepting your punishment, you want to finish him off?" His lips pressed against each other.
"Finish him off?" Simon frowned.
One of the other physicians— Parker Chu— revealed the true extent of his strength , exerting pressure on everyone beneath the ring. "Apologize for your insolence this instant," he ordered, with clenched fists.
Helios Sparrow two realm! That was the extent of the man's strength. Facing such might, everyone paled. Yet, the boy in the ring remained unfazed.
"Apologize for what?" Simon asked. His voice remained calm.
"You unfilial son, bow your head in respect." Sandra ordered. She stepped forward, and bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Physician Parker, but my son is unaware of your identity. Please, pardon him." She begged.
Ignoring the duo, Simon went closer to the village head to begin his treatment.
The physicians upon seeing that the young boy was still being disrespectful, going to the extent of ignoring their presence and trying to treat the village head, began exerting their strength one after the other. Their actions didn't stop him. One of the physicians frowned.
"How is he still fine? No one can resist our collaborative might, except–" he shook his head. Impossible. The boy before them was probably nineteen years old. Twenty, at most. And he wasn't even a level one physician. How could he be stronger than them?
"Restrain him!" Physician Edward ordered. The guards moved forward to obey.
"What are you guys doing? The village head might really die at this rate." Simon yelled in anger. What the heck was wrong with these people? All he wanted to do was treat the village head. Was that too much to ask? They even had to go to the point of restraining him. Shameful!
The guards held Simon in place, as the physicians whipped out their equipment. The eyes of the crowd lit up. They were about to witness the treatment process of four, level two physicians. Of course, they were excited.
"That foolish Walter Long. He refused to come along with me. I'll brag about this to him for many years after this." A villager chuckled in delight. He focused his attention on the ring, not daring to blink.
Physician Parker stepped forward with a chuckle. "Allow me." He whipped out a long straw-like grass, and infused his essence in it. It was his treatment method—The Green Grass Treatment Method. He held the grass beneath the village head's nostrils, and waved it slowly. After a few minutes, his frown deepened. There was no reaction from the village head. Normally, after this process, the patient was supposed to cough up the cause of their disease, and regain their health.
"What's going on?" He muttered beneath his breath.
After thirty minutes, he stepped back with a shake of his head. "It seems the village head's illness is severe, and beyond my means." He said aloud.
The crowd gasped. What did that mean? It meant that the village head was going to die except they could find a level three physician. They turned their gazes to the remaining physicians. One by one, they went over and tried their treatment methods, but none was able to heal the village head.
Simon shook his head. Weren't these men fools? The treatment method was something simple, yet they were making a big show of it.
Clara, who was standing within the crowd, smiled. She was certain that with the knowledge she'd gained last night, she could rival a level three physician. She was about to step forward and show off a bit, when Simon succeeded in moving out of the guards hold.
"It's something simple, yet you all are making a great show out of it. Are you worthy to call yourself a physician?!" He said to Physician Edward, as he grabbed the items he'd requested for earlier.
"How dare you talk to our leader that way?" Physician Parker was about to step forward and teach the disrespectful lad a lesson, when someone stopped him. It was Edward.
The latter shook his head. "Don't worry. The village head is about to die anyway. If the lad kills him, then we'll be able to pin the blame on him." He said with a dark gleam in his eyes. Physician Parker nodded in agreement. They both turned to Simon and almost fainted at the sight.
The boy had whipped out twelve needles and sent them straight at different points of the village head's body. Their bodies trembled.
"He's able to use acupuncture needles?" Edward's teeth clattered against each other. He'd been acting nonchalantly a moment ago, giving off the air of an expert, but now, he was confused.
Ignoring how the crowd had gone completely silent, Simon went on. He broke the stalks of rousing flowers into bits, poured them into the bowl of calming balm, and then applied it on the man's body. Seeing such a sight, the physicians' mouth hung open.
"What kind of treatment method is that? Have you heard of it?" Physician Parker asked Edward. He was the most knowledgeable of their group, and they naturally looked up to him as their leader. The latter shook his head.
"I don't know. But because the treatment method is foreign doesn't mean it'll work." Physician Edward said. He was right. "If something wrong occurs, he might breathe his last soon." He added.
He was about to say something else, when the young boy stood up and clapped his hands. "I'm done."
The physicians looked at themselves, and back at the braggart. Had it even been up to five minutes? Yet he was claiming that he was done. Even level three physicians would need forty minutes or more to treat their patients.
"Alright, he's done bragging. Guards, behead this insolent fellow. Despite not being an official physician, he insisted on treating the village head, resulting in his untimely death." Physician Edward ordered.
Simon's mouth twitched. Untimely death? The man had been on his last legs for goodness sake. He crossed his arms in amusement.
"Are you sure this man is dead?" He questioned.
"What do you mean by that? Everyone saw you kill him." They all turned to white-faced 'corpse.'
"Seize him and be–" Physician Edward continued saying when the young boy went over to the village head, placed his finger on the latter's temple, and whispered, "Wake up."
The village head sprang to his feet, his eyes bright and his body brimming with vitality. Edward who was still speaking moments ago went numb, and he blinked his eyes several times.
"H-he managed to treat him?" Physician Parker trembled, and looked at the boy in front of them.
"Despite treating the village head, Physician Edward ordered my death. Unable to recognize that my treatment was successful, would I be wrong to call you all fools?" Simon asked calmly.
The physicians' faces darkened, but they were all unable to say a word. He was right. They'd almost ordered an innocent boy to be killed.
The village head— Qyler Zhu— clasped his hands respectfully. "Thank you, young man, for saving me. I'd like to ask what your rank is, so I can nominate you for the examination into the Sanctum of Physicians." He said with a smile.
"Sanctum of the Physicians? He's going to be nominated? I wish I hadn't talked down to him." The crowd began talking once more, and some expressed their regrets.
Seeing that the spotlight was on her brother, Clara rushed forward. Her parents followed her. They hadn't expected their good-for-nothing son to treat the village head either.
"Wait! He stole my treatment method!" Clara yelled.
Everyone turned to her, including the village head. "Be specific, young lady." Qyler Zhu said.
"By now, everyone should be aware that this boy is my brother," she said. Everyone nodded. Earlier on, she'd explained that to them. Her explanation had added to their infuriation towards Simon. "Last night, I was speaking of the treatment method I intended to use in order to cure the village head. I think my brother had been eavesdropping. Perhaps that was the reason he was so confident. When he mentioned the items he needed earlier on, I was already suspicious, but seeing him claim credits for my work, I can't help but feel indignant." Clara said with reddened eyes.
Hearing her words, Simon was speechless. Stole? When did he do that? He was about to speak, when Physician Edward walked up to Clara. "Young lady, is what you just said true?" His eyes were filled with excitement. If this lady in front of him was truly the owner of the treatment method Simon just used, he would personally nominate her as one of the participants.
Being spoken to by a level two physician made Clara feel ecstatic. She nodded. "Yes. What I've said is true. My parents can testify." She gestured at her parents. The duo nodded. They'd never allow Simon to become a disciple.
Hearing their words of testimony, everyone turned to look at Simon.
"Well, how do you explain this?" Physician Parker asked.
Clara looked at Simon with an evil grin. 'I dare you to escape from this,' she thought.