Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 41: True Qi Born of 3,000 Days and Nights
In the blink of an eye, another five years have passed.
This morning.
Zhang Yao yawned, woke up from his dreams, rolled out of bed, and went to the water jar to draw water to wash his face.
"I’m already thirty years old..."
After washing his face, he looked at the face in the copper mirror and couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed.
He was only fifteen the year he escaped from Qingping Palace; by the time he left Changping City, he was already twenty-two.
Now, a full eight years have passed, and he’s thirty, yet if he shaved off his beard, his appearance is almost unchanged from back then.
"Time really flies."
He sighed, dressed, and strolled outside to buy breakfast.
After eating breakfast and returning to the clinic, A Fu and A Gui were already there, busy in the front hall.
"Master."
"Master, morning."
The two saw Zhang Yao return and greeted him respectfully.
"Well, morning to both of you too."
Zhang Yao responded cheerfully.
Over the past eight years, A Fu and A Gui have grown into adults, their monthly allowance increased to six pieces of silver, and they both married and started families.
They were well aware that their current situation was thanks to Zhang Yao, so naturally, they were full of gratitude and respect for him.
"A Fu."
Zhang Yao looked at A Fu, who was organizing the medicine cabinet, and teased:
"Looks like married life suits you well; you seem full of energy even during your days off."
At this, A Fu’s face turned red, and he stammered bashfully, while A Gui laughed heartily.
He had married last year, and his wife is now six months pregnant, while A Fu only married last month.
Zhang Yao attended the wedding himself, gifted a generous gift, and gave A Fu half a month off work; today was his first day back.
"Master!"
A Gui, having teased A Fu, looked at Zhang Yao and chuckled, saying, "When will you settle down and find a mistress for us?"
A Fu caught on and quickly chimed in, "Right, Master, don’t just tease me, talk about yourself..."
Zhang Yao chuckled and waved his hand, opting not to say more.
He wasn’t old, didn’t look bad, and had the backing of Ren Shou Hall, naturally making him a desirable prospect in the marriage market.
Back then, upon learning that he wasn’t married, many neighbors volunteered to introduce him to someone, and a few years ago, many matchmakers even broke through the threshold; however, he refused them all.
His reasoning was simple:
He was a Longevity Seeker, destined to be an outsider among humans, so he wasn’t planning to involve himself in romantic entanglements with any woman; it would be better to nip it in the bud than suffer immensely in the future.
If it were a pure and voluntary deep connection, he certainly wouldn’t refuse, but it couldn’t be at this stage.
Once he achieved mastery as a Grandmaster, standing high above, free to roam the world, he would have ample time to enjoy, changing styles for a hundred years wouldn’t be a problem, so why rush now?
"Alright, enough idle chatter."
Zhang Yao shifted the topic, adopting a serious demeanor as he said:
"You two, organize my medical kit."
"Later, someone from the Liu Family will escort me over to the mansion to treat their elderly lady, as arranged yesterday."
After many years, Zhang Yao’s medical skills had also progressed rapidly, reaching 81%.
Such medical skills are rare in the world, and when mentioning Jiangdu Ren Shou Hall now, everyone praises the impressive skills of Doctor Zhang, who brings patients back from the brink.
Since two years ago, Zhang Yao seldom sat for consultations at the clinic because he was often invited by wealthy and influential families to provide on-site treatment, with substantial rewards.
"Yes, Master."
A Fu and A Gui quickly agreed and rushed off to organize Zhang Yao’s medical kit.
Having followed Zhang Yao for many years, they both studied the properties and functions of medicines diligently, were clever, intelligent, and eager to learn, and had already reached a certain level of medical proficiency.
At least for common ailments, they could handle them, so every time Zhang Yao went out for treatment, they sat in his place for consultations, and Zhang Yao ensured they shared in the profits.
Soon after, Liu Mansion’s servants arrived, respectfully invited Zhang Yao into a sedan chair, and carried him leisurely across Xinhe Street, crossing Lingjiang Bridge to Liu Mansion.
The elderly lady of Liu Mansion was critically ill, bedridden, and several doctors had been invited for diagnosis, but no improvement occurred.
Zhang Yao first applied acupuncture to disperse the accumulated blood and qi, then nurtured using moxibustion with ginger and mugwort, and finally prescribed a formula, instructing Liu Mansion’s servants to procure the medicines.
By noon, the condition of Liu Mansion’s elderly lady had greatly improved; previously, she would vomit even after consuming a bit of porridge. Instead, by noon, she ate three bowls of rice.
As effective as ringing a bell, she stood up from her severe illness!
Master Liu, overwhelmed with joy, repeatedly praised Zhang Yao as a divine doctor, invited Zhang Yao to stay for a banquet, and additionally gifted him, which Zhang Yao gladly accepted.
Zhang Yao remained at Liu Mansion until evening and then bid farewell, with the sedan chair returning him to Xinhe Street.
"Master, these are today’s prescriptions..."
Just as he returned to the clinic, A Fu and A Gui came up with a stack of prescriptions asking for guidance.
Zhang Yao mentored them for half an hour; only after the sun completely set did they depart the clinic together.
"Ah, missed the hour, no storytelling to listen to."
Zhang Yao looked up at the sky, sighed helplessly, and returned to his room to light the oil lamp and peruse medical books.
With his current level of medical expertise, reading these texts wasn’t particularly useful, yet reviewing the old to gain new insights still retained some value for new understanding.
"Hmm, the ’Pulse Classic,’ which was once regarded as a guiding principle, now is found to have quite a few errors and gaps..."
Zhang Yao reflected as he read, jotting down notes or incorporating them into his medical insights.
He continued until deep into the night before extinguishing the light to sleep.
The next day.
As daylight broke, Zhang Yao naturally awoke, routinely rolled out of bed, and prepared to draw water for washing his face.
But after just a few steps, he felt something was amiss.
"Hmm?"
"Did someone come inside and evade my senses? No, it shouldn’t be possible..."
His brows furrowed as his gaze swept around the bedroom, yet he found no footprints or signs of disturbance.
Having lived in this clinic for three thousand nights, he was intimately familiar with every setting and arrangement, and it was impossible to mistake anything.
"No changes in the room..."
"So, what remains is that a change occurred in myself?"
Zhang Yao suddenly realized, showing a hint of incredulous joy.
Upon waking, his most familiar room appeared slightly unfamiliar, indicating that his sensory acuity had unknowingly surged tremendously!
"Whew..."
Zhang Yao took a deep breath, attempted to move his body, and meticulously sensed the distinct sensation.
Within the hundred meridians coursing through his body, an invisible force was pulsating, resembling a stream that flowed ceaselessly or clouds that drifted uncertainly.
This wholly new power was distinctly different from the Activated Blood and Qi acquired from his practice of the Inner Cultivation Method, immediately discernible.
"True Qi! This is Martial Arts True Qi!!"
Zhang Yao confirmed it and felt genuine delight in his heart.
Eight years.
Three thousand days and nights.
He finally refined Martial Arts True Qi, entering the realm of a Grandmaster.
