In the end, Lu Zheng bought three sets of Huzhou brushes, a box of Hui ink, a Duan inkstone, and a stack of Xuan paper. Under the shop assistant’s expectant gaze, he turned and left without a backward glance.
At the old street nearby, he purchased traditional yellow ritual paper and a bottle of cinnabar, then hurried home to begin his experiments.
The results confirmed that the core of a talisman lay in the user’s true qi.
The brush that channels spiritual energy, and the cinnabar and yellow paper that lock it in, were the same in both worlds.
He admired the finely crafted Shanshan Huzhou brush in his hand, its foot-long shaft made of small-leaf rosewood and horn, topped with premium weasel-tail hair, crafted through over 180 meticulous steps.
It was practically a work of art.
“Nice, another gift worthy of the Great Jing Dynasty!”
…
For the next three days, Lu Zheng bounced between worlds.
In the modern world, his parents didn’t pry about his work, so he occasionally replied to messages or popped into group chats to show he was still alive.
In the ancient world, with little to do, he started helping Old Man Liu. Neighbours should lend a hand, after all.
With Lu Zheng’s assistance, preparations for Renxin Hall were swiftly completed.
“Tomorrow morning, Renxin Hall opens!”
For days, Old Man Liu had dragged Lu Zheng to the Liu household for dinner, and tonight was no exception.
Running a clinic was far more complex than Lu Zheng’s candy shop.
He only needed to order rock sugar online from the modern world, but Old Man Liu had to source herbs from various channels, plus prepare medicine cabinets, beds, stoves, clay pots, acupuncture needles, and more.
“Wishing Uncle Liu thriving business!” Lu Zheng raised his cup, then paused, “Uh, that’s tricky to say. It’s like I’m hoping more people in the county fall ill.”
“Hahaha!”
The outdated quip sent the Liu family into fits of laughter.
“No one escapes illness,” Old Man Liu chuckled, “I heal to save lives, not to make a fortune, just enough to support my family.”
Even in the modern world, doctors who save lives hold high social status. Knowing Old Man Liu was a physician, the Liu family earned great respect in Tongyi Lane.
Add to that Liu Qingyan’s heavenly beauty, and within a month of arriving in Tonglin County, matchmakers were already knocking, unlike Lu Zheng, still a nobody.
“Tomorrow’s the clinic’s opening, Father. Shall I join you?” Liu Qingyan asked.
“Hm?” Old Man Liu nearly declined but, after a moment’s thought, nodded.
“Fair enough. If it gets busy, I might need help.”
Liu Qingyan stole a glance at Lu Zheng, who sipped his wine and smiled, “I’m free tomorrow too. I can help at the clinic. Uncle Liu, any secrets you need to keep under wraps?”
Old Man Liu roared with laughter, “My medical knowledge is in my head, and prescriptions are tailored to the patient. You can’t learn by watching! Besides, if you want to learn, I’d be thrilled!”
“I’m coming too!” Liu Qingcuan mumbled through a mouthful of steamed bun.
“You doze off at medical texts and can’t tell herbs apart. What use would you be?” Liu Qingyan tapped her sister’s forehead.
“Oh,” Liu Qingcuan shrank back, returning to her meal.
Liu Qingyan glanced at Lu Zheng, saw no reaction, and relaxed, placing some food in her mother’s bowl.
…
That night, Lu Zheng checked his phone in the modern world. No messages.
Too lazy to change clothes again, he slept in the ancient world.
These days, he often stayed over there. Sleeping in a canopy bed, under silk velvet, had its own charm.
…
The next day, full of vigor again.
“Good thing it’s Friday, or helping at the clinic would clash with Lin Wan’s dinner.”
He washed up, practiced his fists, and bought two vegetable buns from Auntie Li’s stall at the entrance.
“Lu Lad.”
“Uncle Liu, Miss Liu!”
They headed to Renxin Hall together, where the two hired hands Old Man Liu employed were already removing the door panels and sweeping the entrance for the opening.
Old Man Liu skipped the fanfare, no flower baskets or firecrackers, just a sign announcing half-price consultations for three days. The clinic opened quietly.
But word of a new clinic in Tonglin County spread, drawing curious onlookers and patients with ailments.
Old Man Liu treated patients, Liu Qingyan dispensed herbs, and Lu Zheng assisted, taking over the hired hands’ tasks, though it wasn’t too hectic.
At noon, Liu Qingcuan and a Liu family servant brought lunch in a food box.
By evening, the stream of patients and prescriptions dwindled.
After seeing off the last patient, Old Man Liu smiled, “Lu Lad, you worked hard today. Your aunt made roast chicken. Come over tonight for a drink.”
“Sure,” Lu Zheng didn’t hesitate.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance, and four men stumbled in.
“Quick! Quick! See us first!”
“Huh? No one here? Even better! Who’s the doctor? Hurry up!”
A faint stench hit, and Lu Zheng frowned, sensing a subtle, eerie chill.
But the intruders were four burly men.
Dressed in coarse cloth, their faces unremarkable, their eyes sharp.
Old Man Liu and Liu Qingyan frowned in unison.
The men’s eyes lit up at Liu Qingyan, then they crowded around Old Man Liu.
“Hurry, check us out.”
“Uh, please sit,” Old Man Liu said dryly, “I’ll take your pulses.”
“Cure us, you’ll be rewarded. Fail, and don’t blame us for smashing your quack shop!” the leader growled.
“Heh,” Old Man Liu forced a laugh, his mouth twitching.
He felt the man’s wrist, switched hands, and studied his face.
“You’re not ill, but it seems a chill has entered your body,” Old Man Liu said.
The man’s eyes brightened, “Then drive it out. San’er!”
A man behind him slapped a banknote on the table.
Ten guan!
“That’s too much…”
“Take it!”
“Alright, I won’t refuse.”
Old Man Liu pocketed the note and took a leather pouch from a wooden box.
“Please remove your shirt.”
The man grinned, quickly stripping to reveal a muscular torso, glancing at Liu Qingyan.
She stayed behind the dispensing counter, not looking over.
Old Man Liu opened the pouch, revealing dozens of gleaming silver needles.
He lit a lamp, heated the needles, and began.
Insertion! Twisting! Scraping! Vibrating!
His fingers danced like butterflies, manipulating the needles with precision, dazzling Lu Zheng.
Soon, though invisible to the eye, Lu Zheng, with his true qi, sensed streams of chill being expelled from the man’s body.
He felt it clearly: beyond the obvious cold, the qi carried traces of a foul odor and deathly aura.
