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Chapter 39: Initiation Gift
“Chen Ye Ye, I’ve brought back all the herbs.”
In the half-mountain courtyard, Lu Qing panted as he held up his basket of medicinal plants to Chen Laodaifu.
After digging up the last of the Ox Bone Grass, he’d run straight up the mountain, afraid he’d miss the deadline.
The old doctor glanced into the basket and nodded in approval.
“Good, good. I didn’t think you’d actually manage to gather all these herbs.”
“What do you mean by that, Chen Ye Ye?” Lu Qing frowned, puzzled.
The old man’s words seemed to carry more weight than they first appeared.
“Do you know why I set the exam’s scope right here, around the village?” the elder asked.
“No idea,” Lu Qing shook his head.
“Because the medicinal herbs growing near the village are few and far between—no more than a dozen in total,” Chen Laodaifu said, stroking his beard. “To have gathered all of them intact within a single hour… it shows you’ve paid close attention to these plants all along.”
Hearing this, Lu Qing felt a flush of shame.
In truth, he’d never consciously paid attention to what herbs grew around the village.
He’d subconsciously assumed that such a busy, populated place wouldn’t harbor rare or valuable medicinal plants.
Only when he stumbled upon them during his travels did he use his Abilities to identify them.
But truly studying and memorizing every herb within the village’s reach? That was something he’d never done.
His mindset was too careless.
Even the old doctor knew the local herbs by heart—yet here he was, with his Abilities, failing to match that knowledge.
It was truly inexcusable.
Lu Qing silently reflected on his own shortcomings.
Chen Laodaifu noticed the silence and assumed Lu Qing had accepted the truth.
He smiled. “Well then, you’ve passed the test. Now go fetch the village elders.”
“Bring the elders?” Lu Qing blinked, stunned.
“Yes. I’m formally taking you as my disciple—there should be witnesses present, or it would be too hasty.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll go right away!”
Lu Qing’s heart leapt with joy as he dashed back down the mountain.
The villagers had been watching closely all day, waiting to see how Lu Qing’s trial would turn out.
Now, seeing him race down the hill, shouting that Chen Laodaifu wanted the elders summoned for a formal ceremony, their faces lit up with excitement.
“Excellent! Finally, our village will have a real healer!”
“Good for you, Ah Qing! Just as we always said—you’re the smartest among us, and you’ve made it!”
“Tell Chen Laodaifu we’ll be right up!”
Earlier, they’d seen Lu Qing coming to the old doctor every day, learning medicine.
At first, they’d assumed he was already the old man’s official disciple.
But Lu Qing had told them clearly: he was only a student, not yet formally accepted.
Now, with the news that he’d finally passed, the entire village erupted in joy.
Back at the half-mountain courtyard, the elders arrived soon after, dressed in their finest clothes—some even wearing the festive robes they reserved for the Lunar New Year.
Other villagers, too, had come to watch the spectacle.
Some even brought gifts: bags of rice and flour, eggs, and chunks of cured meat.
Chen Laodaifu stood waiting at the courtyard gate.
As the crowd arrived, he bowed deeply.
“Thank you all for gracing us with your presence today—this humble old man is honored to have you here for my disciple’s initiation.”
“Chen Laodaifu, you’re too kind,” said Zhang Da Ye, the eldest of the elders, stepping forward.
“It’s we who should be thanking you. The honor is ours.”
“Since you came to Jiu Li Village, you’ve healed countless people. Your kindness and skill are etched in our hearts.”
“Such praise is too much,” Chen Laodaifu replied with a gentle smile. “I only did what any doctor should.”
“But we know what kindness truly means,” Zhang Da Ye said.
He reached behind him and took a basket from a young man.
“Here, Chen Laodaifu. We’re poor folk, with little to offer. But this—some eggs, a few pieces of dried pork, and a small bag of rice and flour—this is our gift to Ah Qing, as his Initiation Offering. Please accept it, with our humble respect.”
Two more young men stepped forward, carrying two large sacks of rice and flour.
Lu Qing stood frozen, stunned.
Even Chen Laodaifu seemed momentarily speechless.
Zhang Da Ye continued, his voice thick with emotion:
“We’re all descendants of refugees—people who fled famine and war long ago.
Back then, on that hard journey, it was Ah Qing’s grandfather who guided us, who helped us survive.
Had it not been for him, we might have perished along the way.
He led us to this quiet valley, where we could finally settle and rebuild.
In truth, Jiu Li Village exists because of his courage and leadership.”
He paused, eyes glistening.
“But our gratitude is incomplete.
His son and daughter-in-law—Ah Qing’s parents—were misled by others.
They suffered misfortune and died too soon.
All that’s left are Ah Qing and Xiao Yan—two orphaned children.”
He turned to Chen Laodaifu, his voice trembling.
“Now, Ah Qing has been chosen by you to learn your art.
This is a great blessing.
Please, as his master, understand his past.
If he makes mistakes, forgive him.
Give him more chances.
He’s already lost so much.”
With that, Zhang Da Ye dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
One by one, the other elders and villagers followed suit, all bowing in solemn respect.
Even Chen Laodaifu, a man of decades of discipline and composure, felt a deep tremor in his heart.
As for Lu Qing—his soul was shaken to its core.
Not only was he hearing details from his original memories—those he had never known before—but he was utterly overwhelmed by the villagers’ devotion.
He’d never imagined they’d go so far for him.
Chen Laodaifu quickly stepped forward and gently helped Zhang Da Ye rise.
“Please, everyone, rise. You’re making an old man feel guilty.”
Then, turning to Zhang Da Ye, he said:
“Zhang Da Ye, Lu Qing is a bright and gifted child. Having him as my disciple is a privilege for me. You may rest assured—I will teach him with care and patience.”
Tears welled in Zhang Da Ye’s eyes.
“Then… I speak for Ah Qing’s grandfather, and his parents. Thank you, Chen Laodaifu!”
He handed over the basket.
“These are our humble gifts. Please accept them.”
“Absolutely not,” Chen Laodaifu insisted. “I know your lives are hard. There’s no need for such formalities.”
“Tradition demands it,” Zhang Da Ye insisted. “If he’s to be your disciple, then a proper Initiation Offering must be given.”
After several rounds of polite refusal, Chen Laodaifu finally accepted a few eggs and a single piece of dried pork—enough to represent the villagers’ offering to Lu Qing.
The rest, he firmly declined.
Lu Qing watched silently, quietly vowing to repay the gift later with his own money.
Honestly, he hadn’t even thought about the Initiation Gift at all.
He’d assumed it would just be a matter of bowing before the master in front of everyone.
He’d forgotten—this was an ancient world, steeped in tradition.
A formal apprenticeship was far more elaborate than he’d imagined.
Once the emotional moment passed, Chen Laodaifu invited the elders into the courtyard.
And under the watchful eyes of the entire village, Lu Qing formally knelt before his master and began his initiation.
(End of Chapter)
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