Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

He had received professional training and was a gifted student.

“The basic treatment rationales of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are totally different,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

“Yes, I see,” Pan Jun said. “In fact, I've ever learned traditional Chinese medicine. ”

“Really?” w.a.n.g Yao was surprised.

“Yes, my grandpa is a county doctor, and my father is a traditional Chinese doctor,” Pan Jun replied. “It was handed down from the older generations in my family.”

w.a.n.g Yao was a bit amazed.

“Ah, I'm not greedy. I just want to learn your ma.s.sage skills,” Pan Jun said.

He had acquired some traditional medicine knowledge from his father when he learned Western medicine, so he knew it thoroughly. Now, it would be hard if he wanted to learn from the beginning. Plus, he did not have enough vigor. He thought that it might be comparatively easy to just learn ma.s.sage, though he knew w.a.n.g Yao had varied medical skills.

“You have to recognize acupoints before you learn ma.s.sage. Can you?” w.a.n.g Yao asked.

“Ah, I'd like to learn it,” Pan Jun replied.

“Then, go ahead,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

“So I guess you agree?” Pan Jun asked.

“I can teach you some, but it depends on you how much you can get,” w.a.n.g Yao replied.

“Thanks! I guess you are my teacher now.” Pan Jun saluted him earnestly.

“Ah, we are friends, and you are not my apprentice, yet,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

“How can that be? We cannot discard etiquette,” Pan Jun said.

w.a.n.g Yao tried to refuse him, but Pan Jun still saluted him again and again. Therefore, w.a.n.g Yao had his first apprentice. He did not hurry to teach Pan Jun about ma.s.sage. He could not even accurately recognize the acupoints yet.

“You need to learn how to recognize acupoints first.” w.a.n.g Yao recommended some books to Pan Jun. Fundamental rationale was required before any practice.

They stayed at the home of the old man for a while and then said their goodbyes.

“How long it will take before my uncle recovers?” Pan Jun asked.

“About seven to 10 days,” w.a.n.g Yao replied.

Part of the blocked channels and collaterals in the old man's body had been already dredged due to the acupuncture treatment, which was good news. But, his channels and collaterals were fragile and weak because of his age. w.a.n.g Yao had to gradually make progress based on the present treatment methods or it could become worse.

“As long as he can recover,” Pan Jun said. “Like what my aunt said, it was a long shot that he could rehabilitate and be normal again. It will be satisfactory as long as he take cares of himself.”

“Then, we can't see it as recovery,” w.a.n.g Yao said and smiled.

He would try his best to treat the old man. It was not hard for the old man to recover based on his present conditions.

After leaving the village, w.a.n.g Yao returned home. He ate some food and then went to the clinic. One car was parked outside it, which meant someone was waiting for him.

“It is you,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

w.a.n.g Yao had some familiarity with this man. He was the father of the young man who had resisted his drug addiction through his own will.

“h.e.l.lo, Doctor w.a.n.g,” the man said.

“Come on in,” w.a.n.g Yao said. He opened the door and let him in. “Are you here for your son?”

“No, I'm here for myself,” the man said.

“You? Is your heart not good?” w.a.n.g Yao asked.

“No, my heart is not good,” the middle-aged man replied.

He had suffered from heart disease for many years and had taken medicine for years. His mood didn't fluctuate much. He was neither too sad, happy, or angry. He had to be cautious about his diet and avoid being stimulated. It greatly affected the quality of his life. He worried every day that he might die of the disease at any time.

Last time, Doctor w.a.n.g surprised him because he said he suffered from heart disease after just a quick look at him. After his son's drug addiction, he knew this young doctor was a professional. He hoped the doctor might treat him.

“What do you think of my disease?” the mans asked.

“Please wait for a while,” w.a.n.g Yao said as he began to check his pulse for diagnosis. “You must have had much rough time when you were young.”

“Yes,” the middle-aged man replied.

His family was poor when he was young, but he wanted to stand out. It mustn't have been easy. He went to the town from the county, but he did not have any knowledge or skills. To make money, he had to sell his labor no matter how painstaking his work was. He had to withstand exposure, deprivation, and hunger. His life changed when he met a person who brought him chances. Now, he had a family and his career, but his body was also affected by chronic diseases.

It was reasonable that being exhausted led to concerns. There were quite a few people who sacrificed health for money in the first half of their life and spent their money on health in the second half.

“I can cure your disease,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

“Really?” The middle-aged man was startled. He had not felt better and was actually getting worse by taking medicine. He had consulted experts in many big hospitals and taken a lot of medicine.

“Of course. You need to return in three days,” w.a.n.g Yao said. He could cure it but not now. He needed some medicine.

“Good, I will,” the man said. He paid for the treatment and left.

As for those who came to see him for treatment, w.a.n.g Yao charged them differently. Though he did not lack of money, as a doctor, he had to abide by some rules.

Another day quickly pa.s.sed by.

“Your grandma recovered from her disease. She said she feels much better,” Zhang Xiuying said during supper.

“Ah, that's good. I'll go see her when I'm free,” w.a.n.g Yao replied.

“Did Tong Wei go?” Zhang Xiuying asked.

“She's gone. She left days ago,” w.a.n.g Yao replied.

“When will she come back?” his mother asked.

“It might be at the end of this year,” w.a.n.g Yao said.

“Should we settle something?” Zhang Xiuying asked

“We'll talk about it later,” w.a.n.g Yao said with hesitation.

w.a.n.g Yao went up to the hill in the night. It was quiet on the hill. Some licorice roots had grown up to nearly 4 inches beside the water pond. Changyang opened pores on the heart, supplemented five internal organs, and removed obstruction among nine apertures in the body. It was a medium licorice root.

It should be useful for heart disease. He was preparing a prescription based on changyang. He would have to see whether it would work.

He then chanted scripture books until midnight.

In Jing, the morning air was a bit polluted. Many people had dry throats and pain when they got up.

Lu Xiaomei awoke early to go to hospital to check how her body was doing.

Ring! Ring! She received a text from Xue Chongyang, who had been to the U.S. and hoped she would go. She did not reply. She went to the hospital after breakfast. Su Changhe was waiting for her.

She checked in for the whole afternoon.

“It's good!” They were really happy at the response of Director Sun, who again prescribed some medicine to Lu Xiaomei.

“Continue to take it, and you might completely recover from your disease.” He thought his medicine worked, so he privately recorded this medical case and regarded it as a reference. As for the truth, Su Changhe did not tell him, of course.

“Good, thanks.” A smile appeared on Lu Xiaomei's face because she saw the hope.

“The medicine Doctor w.a.n.g prescribed was used up, so I plan to go to Lianshan tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” Lu Xiaomei said.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Su Changhe asked.

“No thanks,” Lu Xiaomei said. “I've already troubled you so much.”

On Nanshan Hill, w.a.n.g Yao was preparing to decoct medicine. Ca.s.sia bark, glossy ganoderma, kudzu vine root, ginseng, changyang… He had changed an ancient prescription in Treatise on Miscellaneous Disease by adding changyang.

On the mountain, chilling wind blew like it was roaring. In the room, it was warm like in the spring. The firewood was burning evenly.

w.a.n.g Yao quietly looked at the soup in the multifunctional pot for herbs, adding the herbs based on sequence. The color of soup was changing, as well as the taste of it. He couldn't be flighty and impetuous when boiling down medicine because it was a process in which varied functions of the herbs harmonized.

Though it was sunny outside, it was too cold to be out and about. Yet, on the mountain road, a man in his 60s was wandering around.

He was a bit fat, and his pace was strong. It seemed that his walking style was different from common people. It was as if he proceeded based on some walking patterns.

“Ah!” He looked at a distant piece of verdant green on the hill, which was very eye-catching, like an oasis in desert.

He was quite curious, so he walked toward it. He walked a long distant in a short time, even though he walked slowly.

He walked to the hillside of Nanshan. He knew martial arts, so he was more sensitive to the nature. He felt that this piece of woods was rather different. Though he was outside, the piercingly cold wind vanished.

These trees! He saw the moving trees, which made his head spin. He closed his eyes at the first sight of the trees, but he was stilled affected. He took some deep breaths and calmed down. His Qi and blood also pumped. He was really shocked.

Tactical deployment! It really existed in the world! How is it in such a small village.

He instantly thought of who made such marvel on the hill. w.a.n.g Yao! It must be that young man.

He not only had marvelous martial arts achievement, but he had also mastered tactical deployment.

Woof!

There was a roaring sound coming from another side of the woods. It was a bit depressing. He seemed to see a dog at the side of woods, a big dog.

“What's going on, San Xian?” A sound of a young man came out from a small room. w.a.n.g Yao pushed the door and went out.

Ah, it's him. He did not expect that the old man accompanying Sun Yunsheng would come.

“What can I do for you?” w.a.n.g Yao asked.

“Nothing. I admire you so much,” said the old as he made a bow with his hands folded in front.

w.a.n.g Yao smiled, not moving much. But, the trees moved slowly. A road presented itself among the superficially intensive trees.

The old man visited the medical field feeling upset, surprised and curious. The feeling was comfortable on his body, like smooth breathing and a relaxed mood. It was as if a gust of spring breeze blew past him.

He had initially felt like he was on a sacred mountain of Taoism, but it was not as strong as now. There were many herbs planted on the medical field, but he did not get the hang of herbs.

“Please come in.” w.a.n.g Yao invited him into the room and served him a cup of tea.

It was camellia j.a.ponica. He had asked others for help to find them beside the river.