Chapter 3

The boy's gaze gradually shifted from surprise to hatred

If life were to continue like this step by step, Xiaodie would certainly have no objections, but her new life plan had not yet taken shape when a significant event occurred

Father! The boy was overjoyed, kneeling beside his father's bed, weeping uncontrollably

A Niu chuckled lightly at her words, immediately realizing that this was inappropriate, so he changed the subject and asked, "Why haven't I seen you burn any joss paper?"

Xiao Feng did not want to be turned away again, so he rudely pushed the door open and walked into the courtyard. He then looked at Xiao Die with a pained expression: "Sister, I have always said that hysterical women are the most terrifying—yet after allowing you three years of freedom, how have you fallen to this state?—Madam," he noticed the terrified Zhang, "please take care of my horses and luggage." Then he looked at Xiao Die with a pained expression: "Sister, I have always said that hysterical women are the most terrifying—yet after allowing you three years of freedom, how have you fallen to this state?—Madam," he noticed the terrified Zhang, "please take care of my horses and luggage."

It seems like Duan Chang San, but it lacks sufficient quality; it resembles Bai Di Dan, but its aroma is a bit faint; if it is Jiu Hua Zhu Yu Wan, it appears to be missing an ingredient; if it is Zhong Tong Dan, it seems to have something extra. Could it be "Wo Hua Yin"? This is the closest, but considering the size and weight, this pill is half a qian less than a dose of Wo Hua Yin. Taking two pills at once would not be fatal, but taking one pill at a time is ineffective... it is utterly incongruous! This is the closest, but considering the size and weight, this pill is half a qian less than a dose of Wo Hua Yin. Taking two pills at once would not be fatal, but taking one pill at a time is ineffective... it is utterly incongruous!

That person knocked on the door and said, "Please, can you use your brain a little? Setting aside my handsome and dashing appearance, does your brother look like the kind of ghost who would come back from the underworld because he can't stop worrying about his sister?"

"Xiao Die? Why are you still not asleep?" A Niu's voice was as usual, bland and tasteless, yet imbued with a unique concern

Little Die blinked her eyes and smiled, "Those old geezers, I will find a way to deal with them when I have some free time! The urgent matter at hand is to eat first"

A Niu carefully tapped on the dilapidated door panel of the Feng family, which was riddled with light leaks, fearing that a moment's inattention might cause a large hole in the rotting wood and provoke the faded door gods affixed above.

"This is not ignorance." A Niu draped his coat over Xiao Die's shoulders and sighed, "If only I had a sister like this."

Looking at the cheerful Uncle Zhao, the Zhang family, A Niu, Feng Jun, and Xiao E, Xiao Die suddenly felt that she had finally accomplished something in her career—at least she had the ability to solve the livelihoods of these few people; she was their support in life

A well-dressed young gentleman, elegantly attired in a white shirt, was leisurely leaning against a blue-patterned horse, basking in the sun. Upon seeing Xiao Die, he smiled sincerely and greeted her warmly: "Long time no see"

Of course, Xiao Die does not think that having too much silver will be fatal; rather, it is just that others only need two or three doses of medicine to recover significantly from even the most severe epidemics. They stand here every day, and if those who are unaware see this, they might think that Doctor Zhou's medicine is ineffective, requiring people to continuously take it without stopping.

Xiao Die checked his mouth—there were no hidden drugs inside; she then personally placed the fairy herb upside down into Xiao Feng's mouth to prevent him from playing any tricks

This season is indeed not very suitable for stargazing, the faint chill numbs the limbs of the little butterfly, yet the mind becomes increasingly clear

This is a good remark, yet upon hearing it, Xiao Die felt a trace of discomfort that seemed to arise from nowhere in her heart

The door creaked open as Xiao Die peered out with a suspicious gaze through the crack.

When Xiaodie realized that Xiaoe was a girl, her jaw distinctly made a "ka" sound

Xiao Die still had her doubts, "I clearly saw your corpse—there was absolutely no sign of life!"

To speak frankly, although her teacher Ren Feiqing is an outstanding doctor, she has hardly treated any ordinary people. It is said that Ren Feiqing was a formidable figure in the martial world during her youth, thus her experiences in that realm are quite rich. However, these experiences seem to have led her to conclude one thing: before thinking of the saying "saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda," one should first consider that the person you save may very well be the one who will take your life in the future. After all, "revenge begets revenge" is an unchanging rule in the martial world, taken for granted by everyone; "repaying kindness with resentment" is also not news, unless the means are so cruel that they are shocking, in which case the martial world is too lazy to use it as a cautionary tale—there are too many precedents. On the other hand, "being grateful and repaying kindness" is promoted as a noble virtue—things are valued as they are rare, which shows how rare are those who are grateful and repay kindness.

Little Die played with the hat in her hands, returning the admiring gazes around her with a friendly smile, while casually chatting with A Niu: "A Niu, what are we having for lunch today"

"Hehe, let's help each other!" Xiao Die smiled.

Only those without ability use the phrase 'superficial appearance' to describe themselves. Your abilities are genuine and substantial, so why not strive for a fitting reputation?

She finally understood why every time she asked her brother to bless her from the underworld, it was in vain—because he had not yet arrived at that place to hear her prayers

Zhang, who had been hiding in the courtyard, finally peeked over and asked, "Xiao Die, what happened to him?"

He was still very young, just in his thirties, yet his body was astonishingly emaciated. Xiao Die did not examine him closely; she reached her hand to feel his heart—cold, just as it should be! ... Xiao Die hurriedly stuffed the resurrection pill into his mouth, quickly taking out a golden needle from the medicine box, and swiftly began to pierce him left and right

What is this talk! Little Feng opened the folding fan and elegantly waved it, "I am your only relative, how could you curse me like this?"

Xiao Die did not answer, her lips curling into a peculiar smile as she said: "Today is the anniversary of my brother's death. Every year on this night, I cannot sleep—there is a ringing in my ears, and I always hear the sound of a whip cracking... Perhaps my brother is urging me to offer him incense again."

"Have you thought of any ideas?" A Niu asked. ... He noticed Xiao Die's eyes darting up and down, left and right, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine ...

"The grace of Doctor Zhou in saving my life, I have no way to repay." Feng Jun, having cleaned himself up, indeed appeared as a refined and cultured young talent, "If there is any way I can be of service to you, Doctor Zhou, please do not hesitate to speak. I would gladly repay your kindness, no matter the cost."

Xiao Feng shook his head regretfully, "This can only be said to reflect your limited perspective—this is the true 'Immortal's Fall'!"

Hehe! Little Feng smiled proudly and took out a jar from his pocket: "Look at what this is!"

I see that everyone is quite anxious," Zhang said with a furrowed brow. "Your Uncle Zhao is only maintaining order up front and cannot be of much help; it is better for you to go and take a look yourself.

Although not every disciple of the Medicine Sect is as arrogant as Xiaodie, most of the fellow disciples are similarly dismissive towards ordinary patients—unless the patients are already cold and lifeless, they have their own ways to compete with the underworld spirits. For them, the ultimate goal of healing is not to make money, gain fame, or accumulate virtue through kindness, but rather—to prove their own strength

"On what basis does he say I lack conscience?" Xiao Die pouted, "I have never harmed anyone. When I go to see patients and prescribe medicine, isn't it my goal to be simple and effective, striving to let them spend the least amount of money while achieving the most significant results? When they invite me to treat them, it is truly worth more than what they pay! Am I supposed to forgo eating, drinking, and resting just because I see someone in line, sacrificing my health for them? Am I supposed to provide free medical care and medicine just because someone looks ragged and pitiful? Am I supposed to forgo eating, drinking, and resting just because I see someone in line, sacrificing my health for them? Am I supposed to provide free medical care and medicine just because someone looks ragged and pitiful? Is it only natural for me to work myself to death? Aren't my medicinal materials bought with hard-earned money? I am merely working according to the standards of a normal person; if I cannot meet their demands, am I to be scolded as 'heartless'? I do not owe them anything from my past life!"

The one who opened the door was that little boy, and his red eyes immediately caught sight of Xiao Die's awkward smile

A Niu quietly approached Xiao Die, patted her on the shoulder, and said in an approving tone: "Life is also a challenge, and you have taken a beautiful first step."

After three turns and two turns, the two individuals arrived at the back door of Xiaodie’s pharmacy—Tai'an Tang. This back door was opened overnight by Xiaodie directing A Niu: there were simply too many patients seeking her help, and the front was nearly collapsing under the pressure. Some people even began to line up overnight with their bedding... They spontaneously organized a numbering system—reportedly because some individuals would take a number and then go home to sleep. To ensure that those in line were genuinely the ones who had put in the effort, the numbers had to be reissued three times throughout the night

"Not even a moment." The boy wiped his nose and tears, his voice filled with resentment

She suddenly wished to become a more remarkable person, truly worthy of their smiles

The shock she experienced was so profound that these few sentences not only lacked any logic but were also delivered in an exceptionally high-pitched tone

Xiao Die has summarized a clue: her brother, who is known as the foremost expert in medicinal herbs, has somehow managed to concoct a rare drug that can induce a state of apparent death for eighteen hours. He must have been unable to endure the punishment of the whip, so he pretended to be dead to escape. Although our sect conducts autopsies, there has always been little suspicion towards this incompetent individual. His previous records indicate that he was praised for being able to prepare a headache remedy that does not kill. ... For such a person, of course, no one doubts that he would use trickery like an immortal ... His previous records indicate that he was praised for being able to prepare a headache remedy that does not kill. ... For such a person, of course, no one doubts that he would use trickery like an immortal ...

A Niu was stunned into silence by her lengthy discourse, and after a long while, he finally coughed and said: "Xiao Die, I do not understand grand principles, nor am I as eloquent as you. I only know that the profession of 'physician' is more sacred than you might imagine. You often say you are not a saint, but since you have chosen this path, you must elevate yourself to be worthy of the title 'physician'"

"You, you, you," Xiao Die touched his chest, then felt his pulse, "How come you are not dead?!"

Let me see you take it again! Xiao Die said with a stern face, extending her hand to present the pill in front of her brother.

"Not too late, not too late!" Xiao Die beamed with joy, her fingers trembling with delight as she touched the medicine bottle in her arms, which carried her warmth. She had initially only intended to go out for a consultation to restore her reputation, but unexpectedly, she encountered this great opportunity—her resurrection pill had been refined for three years and had yet to find its purpose.

Xiao E's eyes moved nimbly as she said, "Girls cannot help their fathers! I want to be a boy and share my father's burdens!"

"Don't give me that!" Xiao Die's tone showed no sign of being moved. "If you really are as brilliant and prescient as you boast, then—after all, you have the immortal to rely on, and you never intended to die for me in the first place. What are you pretending to be great for?" She pointed to the small table and spirit tablet in the corner of the courtyard that had not yet been removed. "There is wine over there!"

In fact, contracting this epidemic once makes it very difficult to be infected again in the future; those who have had it are the safest. However, its high mortality rate causes people to fear the disease, leading them to avoid those with a medical history as much as possible. At such times, human ignorance allows Xiaodie to take advantage—receiving the treatment of the Prince of Weiyuan for just one tael and five qian of silver a month. It is said that Master Zhao specializes in a medium banquet with sixty-eight dishes; although Xiaodie cannot utilize this here, he can make home-cooked dishes more classic than the signature dishes of restaurants—truly a blessing Xiaodie earned in her past life! At such times, human ignorance allows Xiaodie to take advantage—receiving the treatment of the Prince of Weiyuan for just one tael and five qian of silver a month. It is said that Master Zhao specializes in a medium banquet with sixty-eight dishes; although Xiaodie cannot utilize this here, he can make home-cooked dishes more classic than the signature dishes of restaurants—truly a blessing Xiaodie earned in her past life!

Xiao Feng remained motionless, unable to hear her shouting

The next day, the sleepless Xiaodie got up late. After grooming herself in a lackluster manner, she had no appetite even for breakfast

His fingers seemed to twitch again, and his chest appeared to tremble slightly

Maintaining order is the responsibility of the enlightened masses, Xiao Die shrugged her shoulders and began to contemplate dinner in her mind

In response to the warm greeting that was as gentle as a spring breeze, Xiao Die reacted as if she had seen a ghost, letting out a heart-wrenching scream: "Ahーーーーーーーーーー" It seemed that if she did not scream like this, she would faint on the spot

Little Die was busy with tears and snot, and in the dim light, the young man opened his eyes

She hurriedly rushed back to the room, rummaging through everything, while constantly muttering: "I remember, there seems to be a testing drug for the Immortal's Down—what is it? The master said that this can counteract the effects of the Immortal's Down during an autopsy... I remember! I must remember!"

Before Xiao E could say anything, Feng Jun had already bowed deeply to the ground, "Doctor Zhou, you truly are... a person of great kindness and compassion. Not only have you saved my life, but you also provided me with medicine for my recovery, and now you have given us, a father and daughter, a new lease on life. I do not know what virtue we accumulated in our past lives to deserve meeting you." As he raised his head, there were clearly tears of gratitude in his eyes, "Doctor Zhou, you are indeed a living Bodhisattva!"

Xiao Die suddenly felt a connection with this child. She patted Xiao E's head, "Girls can accomplish many things too! Xiao E will surely have a bright future."

However... "I still have my doubts—" Xiao Die looked at the small pill spinning in her palm, "Is the elixir you refined really effective?"

You are late. The boy's voice was still hoarse, "My father just... is no longer here..."

Your suspicion is truly heavy!" Xiao Feng sighed, "The immortal indeed needs to be persuaded with wine. That day, I begged my second senior brother many times—every five lashes, I would mumble and plead once. Eventually, he became impatient and let me have a sip of wine—though it was a little less, it was enough for me to swallow the medicine under my tongue. I knew long ago that you wouldn't be able to handle the mess you created by yourself, which is why I made thorough preparations in advance. Now you actually doubt me, the greatest brother in the world... I knew long ago that you wouldn't be able to handle the mess you created by yourself, which is why I made thorough preparations in advance. Now you actually doubt me, the greatest brother in the world...

Next one!" Xiao Die called out lazily

I said, "Miss Xiaodie—" The Zhang family was distracted during the meal, wanting to express some opinion

Xiao E's eyes lit up, "Doctor Zhou, do you accept girls as apprentices? Can girls learn medicine?"

"Brother? ... ... Fool!" She suddenly grabbed Xiaofeng's collar, panicking as she shouted, "Do you think your alchemy skills are reliable? Even if the last elixir actually worked, does that mean this one will be equally effective? You, you spit it out! Wake up for me!"

At twelve years old... it no longer counts as child labor. Xiaodie did not smile; she seriously supported Xiaoe's shoulder and said solemnly: "Xiaoe, twelve years old is already an adult! Haven't you always wanted to share your father's responsibilities? I am now giving you an opportunity. You can be my maid or my student, depending on whether you want to wear women's or men's clothing. I will pay you... um, three coins of silver each month, with food and lodging provided. How does that sound? That amounts to a net gain of one big coin each day. You can be my maid or my student, depending on whether you want to wear women's or men's clothing. I will pay you... um, three coins of silver each month, with food and lodging provided. How does that sound? That amounts to a net gain of one big coin each day! Plus, you can learn for free at the same time; it's quite a bargain, isn't it?"

Xiao Die was not sure

Those few individuals are actually the assistants from the pharmacy of the three old men in Yongzhou, who line up every day to buy medicine. In fact, Xiaodie is not unaware—her master must have purchased the medicine to study her formula. Their daily late-night queuing proves that those three useless old men have yet to achieve any results in their research

Symptoms in the late stage of the epidemic

"Ah, Aunt Zhang, didn't I say so? Do not call me Miss Xiaodie." Xiaodie slowly waved her chopsticks and, in a low and serious tone, interrupted, "If others find out that I am a woman, they will surely label me with the big stigma of 'disguising as a man is indecent'—just call me Xiao Zhou."

Xiao Die sprinkled a few drops of wine on the purple clay, kneaded it a few times, pinched off a few small pieces from the clay, and stuffed them into Xiao Feng's ears and nose. She then flattened the remaining clay into thin sheets and sealed them over Xiao Feng's mouth

A boy of about ten years old tugged at Xiaodie’s clothing, "Please go see my father—he is very ill..."

What? Before A Niu could continue expressing his feelings, he was interrupted by Xiao Die's scream: "Oh, calling 'Doctor' means one must strive towards the direction of the sage? Then I will learn from that certain someone in the martial world and change my name to 'Guanyin'. Does that mean I also have to cut my own flesh to aid the disaster victims?"

It is boring ... ! ... All day long it is nothing but epidemics, with no challenge whatsoever

Xiao Die changed into women's clothing, wearing a large straw hat and a headscarf, still curled up in her designated corner, stifling her laughter. ... Looking back, when the Feng father and daughter came to express their gratitude, her own performance was indeed not graceful enough ...

"Feng Xiaodi, today I am in the wrong." Xiao Die smiled obsequiously—since we are to act, we might as well make it substantial—"I am feeling heavy-hearted, and I should not take it out on you. Let me see your father; rest assured, I will take action, and I guarantee there will be a way out."

Thinking of this, she felt a subtle sense of joy. Although there were no challenging patients before her exhibiting symptoms such as convulsions, severe hunchback, rolling eyes, or foaming at the mouth, she still felt her joy— the first joy she experienced outside of treating patients.

The courtyard of the Zhao family and Xiao Die was originally a unified cross courtyard, with a moon gate on the wall in between. In order to facilitate rental, the landlord bricked up the door, dividing the cross courtyard into two. Since the Zhao family became partners with Xiao Die, they have, with the landlord's consent, opened up the cross courtyard to manage their business and daily life.

Xiao Die shivered all over, startled by her own fantasies born of hunger. She caught a glimpse of the "Declaration" pinned to the wall— the first article stated, "No external consultations"— thus reinforcing her determination to have dinner immediately. Xiao Die patted the frail shoulder of the little boy and said with a gentle smile: "Little brother, Dr. Zhou is a principled and extremely disciplined person. My life is as rigid and stable as a sundial— regardless of whether you can understand it or not, what I want to say is: I absolutely will not see another patient after closing time— if this precedent is set, Dr. Zhou's life will be ruined."

Tomorrow marks three years since I left my master. Xiao Die heard A Niu's footsteps and gave him a faint smile

In fact, just thinking about the long queue outside the door made Xiaodie feel a bit uneasy

Xiao Die raised her eyebrows and said, "How can I see a doctor when I'm faint from hunger? Eating a full meal will help me make the right judgment."

Xiao Die has a low level of education, and these few sentences are indeed enough for her to ponder for a while. However, she had already thought it over the night before: Tai'an Hall currently has one cleaning staff (Zhang), one guard (A Niu), and one cook who also does miscellaneous work (Uncle Zhao), but is still in need of an accountant—this Feng Jun seems to have read quite a few classic texts, making him an excellent choice at a reasonable price! His little son is currently a burden, but in a few years, he could also be trained into a good helper—Xiao Die was still unaware the night before that Xiao E was a girl. Still in need of an accountant—this Feng Jun seems to have read quite a few classic texts, making him an excellent choice at a reasonable price! His little son is currently a burden, but in a few years, he could also be trained into a good helper—Xiao Die was still unaware the night before that Xiao E was a girl

Now, the plan only needs a slight adjustment... Xiaodie rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "Brother Feng, I happen to be in need of an accountant here. If you don't mind that my pharmacy is small, how about coming to work for me? As for Xiaoe, I feel that we have a good connection, so why not let her learn as my apprentice here? It would be beneficial for her to have a skill to rely on when she grows up"

Here it comes again? This is truly unacceptable! Xiao Die frowned

"Heartless doctor! Where has your conscience gone!" He threw the piece of paper in his hand at Xiao Die's face and ran away in tears

A Niu helplessly shook his head: "Xiao Die, let us not discuss this for now. I ask you, why do you like listening to storytelling? Because people are praising you. Why do they praise you? Because they think you are an extraordinary good person. Do not look at me with disdain, as if you do not care whether others regard you as a good person. I ask you again: why is it that when someone insults you, you cannot sleep and sit here gazing at the stars? Because although you pretend to be carefree, you actually do not wish for others to see you as a bad person. I ask you again: why is it that when someone insults you, you cannot sleep and sit here gazing at the stars? Because although you pretend to be carefree, you actually do not wish for others to see you as a bad person. Whether you are a good person or a bad person cannot be decided by yourself; it can only be determined by the words of others—the greatest law in the world is not the law of kings, but the opinions of others about you! Do you want to happily listen to storytelling, or do you want to be unable to sleep every day? This cannot be decided by you, but rather by the voices of the masses. However, the first step is absolutely taken by you yourself. In this world, only you can influence their words and their opinions."

Moreover, do they really think that a single chicken feather can serve as a command token? ... Eradicating the epidemic is not impossible, but it certainly cannot be achieved with a mere six coins worth of herbs ... . ... As Xiao Die prepared the prescription, she calculated the pure profit from this batch of medicine in her mind ... . Six coins to offer incense to a bodhisattva who does not partake in worldly affairs is considered shabby, let alone for me, Zhou Xiao Die, who still needs to eat, drink, and cover my living expenses ... ... . Six coins to offer incense to a bodhisattva who does not partake in worldly affairs is considered shabby, let alone for me, Zhou Xiao Die, who still needs to eat, drink, and cover my living expenses ... ...

The sun gradually disappeared behind the towering artificial hill of the Wei Yuan Wangfu.

"Doctor Zhou, do you feel a great sense of achievement?" Aniu nudged the seemingly contemplative Xiaodie.

However, this time, he did not leap up to defend her with the same vigor and determination as he did in his childhood.

Why are good people so easily fooled? Clearly, they have gained two cheap laborers, yet they are being treated with such reverence. Xiaodie always feels that something is amiss, as if she has taken advantage of something she shouldn't have, done something wrong, or owes someone something.

The moonlight is not very bright, but the figure of the butterfly is easily recognizable

Xiao Die's eyes blinked as she took a deep breath and said, "Brother A Niu, your eloquence is much better than you imagine..."

The storyteller's spittle flew as he recounted a new legend—"Feng Ao Seeks Medical Help for His Father, Xiao Feng Performs Miraculous Skills at Night"

"Uh—cough cough!" Xiao Feng's face turned red, and with wide eyes, she tore away the mud at the corner of her mouth, calling out in dissatisfaction: "Master actually gave you the 'Purple Jade Dragon Blood Mud'?! This is unfair!"

"Serving the wealthy is too difficult." A Niu's voice was not particularly angry, as if he had long seen through such matters, "The richer and more powerful they are, the less they regard others as human. My father contracted a plague, and people wouldn't even hire a chef like him. Dr. Zhou's willingness to employ my father has truly been a great help to my family"

There is a ghost! There is a ghost!" Xiao Die stumbled back into the small courtyard, tightly closing the door behind her. With a pale face, she stammered to Aunt Zhang, "Aunt Zhang! Quickly! Quickly! Light the incense and burn the charcoal..."

Uncle Zhao's skills are truly remarkable—am I being a bit unfair by hiding them as a doctor

Xiao Feng took only a sip of wine, let out a pleasant burp, and drowsily exclaimed: "I miscalculated... I should have... first—laid—down—on—the—bed..." Before he could finish his words, he collapsed under his own memorial tablet, breathless.

But is it easy for me to earn a living through hard work?" Xiao Die's demeanor was no longer as arrogant as before, and she said with a sob: "Do I have to suffer just to receive a few compliments from others?"

How long has it been? Xiao Die's voice immediately rose by an octave, her heart pounding rapidly, and her hand couldn't help but reach for the small medicine bottle that she never parted with.

A Niu cautiously asked, "Do you... still want to go back?"

Feng Jun blushed and explained with embarrassment: "My family is poor, and Xiao E has always been frail since birth, which is why she has always been small in stature. I hope Dr. Zhou does not find this amusing..."

Oh?! Little Die's eyes flashed, "How serious is it?"

Before examining the contents of the bottle, Xiao Die first checked Xiao Feng's shadow— it did not resemble a ghost. Only then did she, filled with doubts, pull out the cork from the bottle. Upon taking a look, Xiao Die's expression became somewhat unnatural; she glanced at her brother, seemingly trying hard to find something good to say.

I truly do not understand how they can be so naive. The "plague" is the most stable source of income for doctors, and its most valuable quality is that it remains consistent year after year, taking care of the doctors' business. Little Die sighed inwardly: If the god of plague does not show up for three years, won't I be left to eat the northwest wind for the next two years?

That is good. "A Niu smiled innocently.

Xiao Die looked at Zhang with gratitude and said, "I am going to listen to the storyteller, and I will leave the matters at home to you."

A remarkable person possesses this privilege—allowing others to adjust to your schedule, while you can remain at ease

This is the first time someone has openly said that she is heartless under the bright daylight and clear sky

The Immortal's Elixir and the Resurrection Pill are both substances from the Medicine Sect's "Illusory Cloud Secret Record." The eight types of medicines recorded in the "Illusory Cloud Secret Record" are the most difficult to refine within the Medicine Sect, and only a few prodigies have managed to grasp the methods over the course of more than a hundred years. To date, including the Resurrection Pill created by Xiao Die, only three types have been brought into existence. Xiao Die simply cannot believe that the sect's biggest good-for-nothing has managed to refine the fourth type

With that, her eyes sparkled, and she rushed back to Xiao Feng like a gust of wind—his complexion was fading.

"Aunt Zhang, please hang out our 'Rest Inventory' sign," Xiao Die said drowsily. "I don't know what's wrong with me today; I feel off all over—it's as if something bad is about to happen..."

Wow—there are both meat and vegetables, as well as eggs..." Xiao Die licked her lips, "Not bad, it is beneficial for the comprehensive absorption of nutrients, I like it

"What is there that cannot be done?" Xiao Die shrugged, "Have you heard of a person named Ren Feiqing? She was once a renowned female physician in the martial world! If you want to learn, you really need to start young and get an early start. Xiao E, how old are you?"

After a long time, Xiao Feng's fingers seemed to twitch slightly

"Immortal倒? ! '' Little Butterfly exclaimed in shock, "Where did you get this from? ! ''

"Brother Aniu," Xiao Die glanced at him sideways, "It seems you are encouraging me to learn from those three superficial hypocrites..."

Doctor Zhou

She knelt before a small table. On the table were various delicacies, a bowl of fine wine, and the tablet of her brother.

Little Zhou ... ... There is still a large crowd at the entrance, aren't you going to finish your meal quickly and take a look?

"Impatient? What good does their impatience do? If impatience were useful, the epidemic would have been cured long ago." Xiao Die shrugged, "Don't worry, don't worry, I will be full soon."

Xiao Die stepped in without any hesitation and immediately saw several young men lying on the wooden planks.

She has yet to encounter such a suitable subject for the resurrection pill! Xiao Die looked up at the heavens with gratitude— the roof of the Feng family just happened to leave her a patch of sky— she sniffled, held back her tears, and silently recited: "Oh, Heavenly Lord, I used to not believe in you, and that was my mistake. Kindness truly brings good rewards! You are indeed just in your rewards and punishments; as soon as I had a good thought, you sent me such a perfect patient— I have made my decision! From now on, I will be a good person!"

Her suspicious gaze was too obvious, and Xiao Feng shook his head with a sense of melancholy. "It's not surprising. No one believes that I have refined the secret medicine among the secret medicines of this school—one of the Eight Extraordinary Medicines, the Immortal Reversal! Their distrust, I don't know whether to consider it my luck. It is precisely because they cannot imagine that I possess such ability that they were so careless during the autopsy"

Xiao Feng laughed three times, saying, "What does this look like to you?"

Today's home-cooked dishes are: braised pork knuckle, stir-fried vegetable hearts, pickled spicy cabbage, and steamed egg custard

Xiao Feng patted his chest and said, "This is a living example!"

Xiao Die looked at the crumpled piece of paper: the words "No. 72" had already been smudged and dirtied by sweat

While Zhang was sweeping the floor, he replied, "In any case, the number of patients has been decreasing these days—after all, the epidemic has made you somewhat restrained. By the way, starting from noon today, it is the famous theater festival in Yongzhou. Why not let Xiao E accompany you to take a break? It is not a way to live for a young person to stay cooped up in the pharmacy every day."

She actually knelt beside him in a daze for an entire hour, completely unaware of the spring chill seeping into her limbs. The expression on Xiao Die's face, which seemed as taut as a stretched string, made Zhang feel too afraid to make a sound, fearing that it might provoke her nerves

"As long as there is wine!" Xiao Feng looked at her spirit tablet with satisfaction, "Ah—sister, you used twenty years of daughter red to honor me? You truly have a conscience

I have been waiting in line for two days. Before coming here, my father was in and out of consciousness, and now I don't know how he is doing!" The little boy's eyes shimmered with tears, "Doctor Zhou, please save my father!"

Xiao Die merely gazed at her bewildered father and the boy who was both crying and laughing, her lips twitching slightly as she murmured almost inaudibly: "Hmm, it seems... quite good..."

No conscience

She rummaged through all her luggage and finally found a piece of clay-like purple mud in a small box for spare change

A Niu's father, Zhao Xing, was originally one of the chefs at the Wei Yuan Wangfu... Due to contracting a plague, he was ruthlessly expelled from the "Wei Yuan Wangfu Chef Team," the most renowned group in the local culinary community, and all of his wages were withheld as a fee for disinfecting the kitchen

Speaking of Doctor Zhou Xiaofeng, his medical skills are truly beyond description, even by the most eloquent storyteller! As the saying goes, 'When the King of Hell calls for someone at midnight, who dares to keep them until dawn?' The person who says this must have never encountered Doctor Zhou! It is said that in Yongzhou, there is a pitiful father and daughter. The father, Feng Jun, is only thirty-two years old, having lost his wife at a young age. Year after year, he has failed the imperial examinations, and alone he drags his daughter, Xiao E, to this place seeking relatives, but to no avail. They can only rely on writing letters for others and selling calligraphy and paintings to make a living.

Bang, bang, bang

Xiao Die is a person who values health and rarely gets angry, but when it comes to those few individuals, she becomes somewhat agitated

Yongzhou truly deserves its reputation as a grand place, indeed a land of hidden talents— even a vendor selling pancakes possesses such knowledge

"Brother Feng..." Xiao Die's movements were somewhat sluggish as she assisted Feng Jun, stammering, "At home, one relies on relatives; when out, one relies on friends. Although I, Zhou, do not possess great wisdom or virtue, I do have a slight awareness of helping those in need..."—though it is merely a very small amount.

A Niu shook his head again, "This is not a loss! Fame and profit, do you know why 'fame' is placed before 'profit'? Because 'profit' cannot buy 'fame', but 'fame' can bring 'profit'. Do you know why the three halls of Shun Yuan, Sheng Yuan, and He Yuan have mediocre medical skills yet have stood firm for decades? Perhaps you cannot yet appreciate how important 'fame' is, but one day you will understand.

This is indeed the truth

The charm of idols is overwhelming, and it can also be a source of trouble. According to her knowledge, the most outrageous story in Yongzhou right now is that a household keeps a set of herbal medicine from Doctor Zhou, and the plague god has not dared to visit for three years. Therefore, even if there are no patients at home, people still come to buy medicine to ward off evil.

The stall is closing! The stall is closing! Xiao Die stood up from behind the table, stretched her limbs, and shouted to the dwindling crowd: "Dear villagers! Zhou is closing for today, everyone come early tomorrow!"

Bang bang bang

"I made it myself," Xiao Feng replied, not without a hint of pride.

Xiao Die remained silent, checking Xiao Feng's breath—there was none; she felt Xiao Feng's chest—his temperature was dropping...

Why is she always so biased towards you? We haven't even met this treasure, yet..." Before Xiao Feng could finish his complaint, he felt a sudden impact on his chest—Xiao Die had already thrown herself into his arms, trembling and crying uncontrollably

Upon hearing this, Xiao Die's eyes lost their sparkle. She had thought she had finally encountered a creative ailment, but it turned out to be nothing of the sort. She glanced at the now quiet crowd, whose eyes clearly sparkled with opportunism: as long as she took the initiative to go to the little boy's home to work overtime and treat him, they would surely surround her, forcing her to run around in Yongzhou serving the people until she was breathless, collapsing at her doorstep under the weight of her exhaustion. They would not care when her stomach began to rumble; even if she worked herself to death, they would only use the clichéd phrase "dedicating oneself to the cause" to craft a hollow epitaph. They would not care when her stomach began to rumble; even if she worked herself to death, they would only use the clichéd phrase "dedicating oneself to the cause" to craft a hollow epitaph.

What? Living Bodhisattva? Has it already swiftly transcended "Guanyin" and been promoted to the "Bodhisattva" level?

Xiao Die pouted her lips and smiled, "He, ah—has indulged in two and a half vices: drinking, gambling, and he is also gluttonous and fond of wine. Although he does not engage in prostitution, he is lecherous. If I were to burn paper money for him, he might very well become a gambler in the underworld. Therefore, every year I only prepare some good food. People are truly strange—clearly knowing that ghosts cannot eat, yet still engaging in such a pointless activity... even I am so foolish!" People are truly strange—clearly knowing that ghosts cannot eat, yet still engaging in such a pointless activity... even I am so foolish!

Xiao Die's lips twitched, and her entire face was scrunched up into a ball

His face seemed to have blood flowing back, becoming increasingly red

She intended to exit through the back door, but as soon as she opened the door, she discovered that someone had already been waiting outside.

Brother?" she called timidly—she had only called him that when she was very young and needed his protection. Since she had been able to fend off those young ruffians who bullied her, she had not used such a weak tone to call him.

Although Ren Feiqing's mindset is not explicitly stated in the pharmaceutical sect's textbooks, it often manifests in her words and actions. The disciples of the pharmaceutical sect are constantly influenced by their surroundings, inevitably absorbing these subtle cues. Therefore, Xiao Die's extremely irresponsible attitude towards patients merely reflects the signature style of the pharmaceutical sect

"By the way, those few people came again today," said A Niu, while brushing off the dust from his clothes at the door. "What do you think we should do? They are wasting their time here all day long, which is quite unreasonable."

This is negative publicity against her medical skills, and it must be stopped

"Ah." Xiao Die's chin made a rather ungraceful sound. "Twelve? I thought you were at most ten!"

Xiao Die does not come from a family of physicians, nor has she received formal education in medical ethics—she is merely a disciple of a reclusive martial arts physician

Little Die quietly watched her brother for a long time, without saying a word

On that cold moonlit night, A Niu was drawn by a wafting aroma that made his stomach rumble, tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep. He put on his clothes and decided to see where the delicious food was coming from, so enticing.

twelve

This bottle is crafted with great precision. The pills are rolled quite round... However, when it comes to the quality and scent of this medicine, it falls short... What exactly is this concoction you have prepared? In terms of such flashy yet impractical goods, it indeed resembles the handiwork of her older brother.

The crowd did not disperse, and began to distribute numbers using pieces of paper and wooden chips

A moment, two moments, three moments ... ... Xiaodie could only hear her own heartbeat: one beat, two beats. ... ... ... twenty beats ... ... thirty beats. ... ... ... one hundred beats ... ... three hundred beats. ... ... It seemed as if she had returned to that day, that terrifying moment when she was counting the sound of the whip.

With a satisfying "crunch," she took a bite of the dish, and with a delightful "slurp," she savored a spoonful of soup—Xiao Die was leisurely enjoying the exquisite delicacies.