Chapter 264: All Things Change, and the World Shakes

Chapter 264: All Things Change, and the World Shakes

June 28, 2024

"Master, Senior Brother, you're back!" The young apprentice exclaimed happily as he saw the two figures entering from outside.

"Mhm, we've been back for a while, but we saw this young man saving someone, so we didn't want to disturb him," Zhao DaiFu replied with a nod, taking off his medical bag and handing it to his apprentice.

He then turned his curiosity toward Lu Qing.

Lu Qing, likewise, was appraising his counterpart.

In fact, with his martial arts cultivation, he had naturally detected the presence of someone standing outside a while ago.

It was just that the task of saving a person's life at hand was more pressing, and since they hadn't come in to interrupt, he didn't pay much attention to it.

The two who entered were a middle-aged man and a young man.

The older man had a refined aura, sporting a long beard, and exuded a gentle temperament, giving off the impression of a scholar more than a physician.

The young man, on the other hand, had a honest and simple appearance, looking like an earnest and sincere individual.

"Zhao DaiFu, you're back! Old Wang was bitten by a venomous snake. Fortunately, this young man came to his rescue when you weren't at the clinic. Please take a look at Old Wang's condition now," Li Dashi eagerly said as he saw Zhao DaiFu enter.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Lu Qing, but Lu Qing was still very young, and having Zhao DaiFu, a respected and esteemed physician, take a look would put their minds at ease.

"Alright, I'll take Old Wang's pulse. Young man, do you mind?" Zhao DaiFu didn't decline but instead turned to Lu Qing and asked.

After all, this was technically his patient, and if he intervened without consent, it could easily cause conflict with a proud and arrogant physician.

"Not at all. In fact, it would be better to have Zhao DaiFu's expertise since I lack experience in treating people," Lu Qing readily agreed without the slightest hint of competition between colleagues.

Moreover, he had intervened to save a life in someone else's clinic, which was technically against the rules. If something had gone wrong, it could have affected the clinic's reputation and business. So, he was pleased that Zhao DaiFu wanted to take the patient's pulse.

Seeing Lu Qing's attitude, devoid of any hint of reservation, a glint of surprise flashed in Zhao DaiFu's eyes, and he became even more curious about Lu Qing's background.

However, he didn't rush to inquire and instead walked up to Old Wang, extending three fingers to rest on Old Wang's wrist.

Earlier, when he had seen Lu Qing using the needle array to force out the poison, he had been shocked and intrigued.

Thus, he was very curious about Old Wang's current condition.

After taking Old Wang's pulse for a while, Zhao DaiFu's face reflected his growing astonishment.

He found that Old Wang's pulse was remarkably steady and strong, and his breathing was calm and orderly, completely unlike that of a patient who had just been rescued from the brink of death.

Instead, he resembled an ordinary person resting and recuperating from minor injuries.

"Well, Zhao DaiFu?" Li Dashi and the others looked at Zhao DaiFu expectantly.

Zhao DaiFu released his hand and smiled, "This young man's medical skills are extremely impressive. Old Wang is out of danger, and I believe he will wake up soon."

"That's wonderful!" Li Dashi and the others were overjoyed and once again expressed their gratitude to Lu Qing.

As Lu Qing politely acknowledged their thanks, Zhao DaiFu's eyes reflected his curiosity.

What he had said was not mere courtesy.

In his opinion, Lu Qing's medical skills were indeed extraordinary.

To be able to save a patient who was deeply poisoned and hanging by a thread, forcing out the toxic blood with acupuncture alone—such a feat was something he himself could never accomplish.

Thus, he was very curious about Lu Qing's background. How could a young man of such talent and skill be unknown to him in Zhongzhou?

"Young man, may I ask your esteemed name?" Zhao DaiFu inquired, his hands clasped in a polite gesture, after Lu Qing had finished responding to Li Dashi's group.

"Zhao DaiFu, there's no need for such formality. My surname is Lu, and my given name is Qing. Earlier, the situation was urgent, so I took the liberty of intervening here in your clinic. I hope you can forgive me for this transgression," Lu Qing replied with a respectful bow.

"Young man, what are you saying? If it weren't for you, Old Wang might have perished. Saving a life takes precedence, and such trivial rules are of no concern," Zhao DaiFu waved his hand dismissively.

"By the way, Lu Qing, your medical skills are truly remarkable. May I ask who your esteemed master is?"

"My master's surname is Chen. He's just an ordinary itinerant physician living in seclusion in the countryside. I don't think Zhao DaiFu would know him," Lu Qing replied humbly.

However, he was telling the truth. His master had always considered himself an ordinary physician, so Lu Qing's words weren't an attempt to downplay his master's reputation.

"Chen DaiFu?" Zhao DaiFu's mind raced as he tried to recall any prominent physician in Zhongzhou with the surname Chen.

As for Lu Qing's mention of an itinerant physician, he naturally took it as a modest understatement.

How could an ordinary physician possibly teach someone with Lu Qing's extraordinary medical skills?

Unfortunately, after racking his brains, he drew a blank.

In Zhongzhou, he knew quite a few formidable physicians, but none with the surname Chen.

"By the way, Zhao DaiFu, I have another matter to attend to and must take my leave."

Lu Qing could tell that Zhao DaiFu was very curious about his background, but he didn't say much else.

Instead, he bowed and prepared to depart.

"You're leaving so soon, young man?" Zhao DaiFu asked, surprised.

"Yes, I have other matters to attend to, and I don't wish to disturb you further, Zhao DaiFu. Apprentice, if possible, I'd appreciate it if you could gather the medicinal ingredients I listed. I'll come by tomorrow morning to collect them. Here's a deposit."

Lu Qing took out a silver ingot and placed it on the counter before gracefully departing.

However, just before he left, he also took the jar of poisonous blood with him.

Zhao DaiFu had intended to detain him further, but Lu Qing's martial arts skills were exceptional. Though he seemed to be walking slowly, he had already disappeared from view by the time Zhao DaiFu took a breath.

From this, Zhao DaiFu realized that this mysterious young man, Lu Qing, was not only a skilled physician but also a formidable martial artist.

"Alas, why did that young man leave so suddenly? We didn't even get a chance to pay him for his services!"

Li Dashi and the others were also taken aback by Lu Qing's abrupt departure.

Zhao DaiFu pondered for a moment and asked, "Apprentice, what did that young man want to buy from us?"

"Master, he wanted to buy quite a few things. Oh, he left a list."

The young apprentice ran back to the counter, retrieved the list of medicinal ingredients Lu Qing had given him earlier, and handed it to his master.

Zhao DaiFu quickly scanned the list: "These are all medicinal ingredients for reducing inflammation, treating external injuries, and promoting wound healing. It seems that someone in his party has been injured."

After leaving the clinic, Lu Qing noticed that the sky had completely darkened.

It seemed that he had spent quite some time saving the old man, and he wondered if his master and the others had been waiting anxiously for him.

With this thought, Lu Qing quickened his pace toward the inn.

He still carried the jar of poisonous blood in his hand, and when he reached a secluded corner, he made sure no one was around before stepping into the shadows and storing the jar in his Qiankun Bag.

The reason he took the poisonous blood with him was that, earlier, when he was forcing the poison out of Old Wang's body, he had used his ability to investigate the source of the snake venom.

As he had expected, the snake venom in Old Wang's body was not ordinary.

It was created by a Jin snake, a glorious serpent, which had accidentally ingested and refined Shaqi, demonic energy, leading to its mutation and transformation. This resulted in the birth of a venomous snake possessing a toxic bloodline.

This venom was extremely insidious. Although it didn't act swiftly upon entering the human body, it was extremely difficult to eradicate.

It could thoroughly permeate the five viscera and six bowels, and without Lu Qing's exceptional needle array technique, it would have been nearly impossible to force it out of Old Wang's body.

More importantly, this venom had a terrifying characteristic: when it came into contact with blood, its toxicity didn't weaken; instead, it gradually altered the nature of the blood, transforming it into a similar toxic substance.

In other words, the jar of poisonous blood that had been forced out of Old Wang's body was still highly venomous and only marginally less toxic than the original snake venom.

Ordinary people who came into contact with it would likely be poisoned again, allowing the snake venom to invade their bodies and create more of the same toxic venom.

It was almost like the zombie virus from Lu Qing's previous life, capable of continuous propagation.

To prevent such an occurrence, Lu Qing decided to take the poisonous blood with him and find a way to destroy it later to eliminate any potential threat.

After storing the poisonous blood, Lu Qing walked in silence.

Although he had saved a life today, he didn't feel relieved; instead, he felt a sense of heaviness in his heart.

Previously, he and his master had speculated that the change in the rules of heaven and earth would bring about not only the revival of spiritual energy but also the emergence of various sinister forces, such as demonic aura, malicious aura, and poisonous aura.

For example, the members of Liuyun Zong, like Mo Zhen, had lost their humanity due to their cultivation of demonic qi.

However, the incident today made him realize that the impact of these sinister forces extended beyond humans, affecting all living creatures in the world.

Poisonous insects, snakes, and scorpions, which were already formidable, would become even more dangerous if they gained the opportunity to refine the demonic qi of heaven and earth.

In such cases, ordinary people who encountered them unaware would likely face death.

Just like Old Wang today, if he hadn't met Lu Qing, he would have surely perished.

"Jiuli Village is located at the foot of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Who knows how many ferocious beasts and venomous creatures lurk in those mountains behind the village?

What if there are venomous creatures or ferocious beasts in those mountains that, like the glorious snake, have undergone a transformation due to a stroke of fortune? What if they attack the village?"

As these thoughts crossed Lu Qing's mind, his heart began to race.

Before arriving in Zhongzhou, Lu Qing had no idea that the changes in this place had already become so significant, catching him off guard.

"From what I've seen along the way, the revival of spiritual energy seems to be centered in Zhongzhou and spreading outward to the surrounding states.

Our Cangzhou is quite remote, and being one of the farthest states from Zhongzhou, we probably won't experience the extreme changes of 'all things transforming' anytime soon.

So, we still have some time."

Lu Qing pondered silently.

Jiuli Village was the first village he had lived in after arriving in this world.

The villagers were all honest and kind-hearted, and he had long considered it his hometown.

Therefore, he was determined to do whatever it took to ensure their safety.

With these thoughts in mind, Lu Qing slowly made his way back to the inn.

As soon as he entered, he saw his master and the others sitting there with several dishes on the table.

"Qing'er, where have you been? Why are you only returning now?" The old physician asked.

If he hadn't known about Lu Qing's abilities and hadn't heard from the innkeeper that Lu Qing had gone to buy medicine, he would have personally gone out to look for him.

"Disciple went out to look for a pharmacy to buy some medicinal ingredients. Along the way, I encountered something and ended up delaying my return."

Lu Qing composed himself and smiled, briefly recounting what had happened at the medical clinic earlier.

Everyone then learned that Lu Qing had gone to buy medicine and, in the process, saved someone's life.

Among them, Hu Zezhi was the most impressed. She admired Lu Qing even more, thinking that he was truly kind-hearted and had effortlessly saved a life.

Only the old physician frowned after hearing Lu Qing's story.

"Qing'er, according to what you said, the man was bitten by a venomous snake, but why was the venom of the Brocade Snake so potent?"

"Disciple also found it strange. However, I brought some of the poisonous blood that was forced out of the patient's body. After dinner, Master can take a look and see if there's anything unusual about it." Lu Qing replied.

"Oh? You brought the poisonous blood? That's excellent."

The old physician's eyes lit up, always keenly interested in anything related to medicine.

After dinner, Lu Qing brought a small vial of the poisonous blood to his master's room and presented it to him.

"Master, this poisonous blood is quite peculiar. It can gradually alter a person's blood without diminishing its own toxicity. Please be careful when handling it."

"It's indeed a rare and potent poison." The old physician's expression turned solemn.

"So, I suspect that this isn't ordinary snake venom. It might be a toxic Devil Qi, a venomous demonic energy..."

Lu Qing shared his findings from using his ability to investigate the source of the snake venom, along with his own speculations.

This caused the old physician's face to grow even more serious.

"You're correct. Based on your description, it's very probable that the Silk Snake has acquired the ability to refine Poison Energy, leading its venom to evolve and become extremely hard to counter

"Master, as heaven and earth undergo changes, all things are transforming. Just like this venomous killing aura, it will likely become more common in the future."

In the face of such toxins, ordinary detoxification methods may prove ineffective.

"If more venomous creatures like the mutated Brocade Snake were to appear and attack humans, the people of this world would face even greater perils."

Lu Qing expressed his concerns.

"You're right." The old physician stroked his beard, his face filled with appreciation. "Qing'er, the fact that you're concerned about the well-being of others and are thinking about finding solutions to protect them shows that you've truly embraced the spirit of a healer."

"Master, you flatter me. I don't have such a noble heart."

Lu Qing smiled, knowing that he didn't possess the same benevolent heart as his master.

His primary concern was the well-being of the people he cared about.

"However, you need not worry too much. In this world, all things exist in a balance of mutual generation and mutual restraint, following the laws of yin and yang.

This is the fundamental principle of all things, and even with the revival of spiritual energy, I believe it won't deviate from this fundamental truth.

While this venomous miasma is formidable, just as you said, with the transformation of all things, there will surely be the emergence of substances that can counteract and neutralize it.

Our task, as healers, is to find such solutions, formulate effective remedies, and spread this knowledge so that people in danger can have a chance of survival.

This is the responsibility and meaning of our profession."

Seeing the seriousness in his master's eyes, Lu Qing's expression also turned solemn as he listened.

"Yes, disciple understands."

"Then, let's first examine this venomous miasma and see what makes it so unusual."

The old physician smiled, seeing that Lu Qing had taken his words to heart.

However, just as the two of them were about to begin their investigation into the venomous snake blood...

Suddenly, they felt a stirring in the depths of their hearts, as if something profound was about to happen.

A majestic and vast voice reverberated throughout the world.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end