The next day at Peach Blossom Plain was, well, hardly a battlefield.
Just kidding.
Shen Ying was perfectly natural throughout. In the morning, they went for a stroll, had lunch at noon, and relaxed in the manor in the afternoon.
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying played a game of chess, chatting casually, during which Shen Ying learned of Lu Zheng’s unique chess style.
So, Lu Zheng took the board and played a game against Shen Ying.
It was a leisurely day, and they said their goodbyes in the late afternoon.
That night, Shen Ying visited him in a dream, inviting him for more chess. Lu Zheng gladly went.
Having studied his style, Shen Ying attacked aggressively, aiming straight for the center, while Lu Zheng balanced offense and defense, striking from both sides. They battled until dawn before resting.
…
For the next few days, Lu Zheng continued studying medicine and treating patients at Benevolent Heart Hall, also finding time to practice the *Immobilizing Incantation*.
As for treating patients, whether because none had terminal illnesses or because common folk had little fortune, Lu Zheng didn’t gain a single strand of fortune light.
The *Immobilizing Incantation* was indeed an advanced spell.
At first, it could be drawn on paper talismans, but unlike the *Five Talisman Method*, which activated quickly, casting it required true qi, hand seals, and verbal incantations in unison.
The true qi cycled through countless patterns, the hand seals shifted in myriad ways, and the incantation spanned dozens of words…
“By the time I finish casting this, the fight’s already over!”
Later, the spell could be drawn on the palm with blood or cinnabar, replacing paper talismans, but this demanded a deep understanding, as palm-drawing required precise adjustments.
Drawing on a palm was nothing like drawing on yellow paper.
Eventually, no blood or cinnabar was needed, just true qi.
And that was only the talisman part!
The true qi, hand seals, and incantations could also be simplified with practice, shortening the casting time.
It was a bit like solving a math problem.
At first, you list data, write formulas, draw auxiliary lines, and scribble calculations, taking ages to find the answer.
At a certain level, you glance at the problem, calculate mentally, and the answer comes instantly.
Only then is the *Immobilizing Incantation* considered initially mastered.
Some never reach the mental calculation stage, just as some Taoists never master this spell.
“Bloody hell…”
“Solving a problem slowly still gets you the same score as a genius, but casting this spell too slowly is the difference between life and death.”
“Tch, unbelievable…”
Reaching a level where fortune light could enhance it was incredibly difficult.
Thankfully, fortune light was a fallback, or Lu Zheng would have no confidence in mastering it alone.
“Whatever, no rush. I don’t need it urgently, and I’ve got martial arts as backup for now.”
Lu Zheng shook his head, making the incantation a daily task.
…
A few days later, the custom-made antique medical books he’d ordered online arrived.
“Qingyan.”
“Lu Lang?”
That morning, they met at the door. Liu Qingyan was about to speak when Lu Zheng stopped her.
“Let’s skip Benevolent Heart Hall today. I got some medical books for you to see.”
“Medical books?” Liu Qingyan’s eyes lit up with delight.
Unlike the modern world, where books abound, the Great Jing Dynasty’s bookstores mostly carried Confucian classics, poetry, illustrated miscellanies, or basic theories. Practical skills and true teachings were rare, almost nonexistent.
For medical books, the market had only basics like *On Internal Organs*, *Hundred Acupoints Guide*, or *Herb Compendium*, known to every doctor.
Books like *Qingtian Book*, covering diagnostics, prescriptions, acupuncture, and medicine, were closely guarded secrets of medical schools, rarely seen in public.
Though Liu Qingyan and Old Man Liu were skilled, their foundation rested solely on the *Qingtian Book*.
Now that Lu Zheng was initiated, the books he offered wouldn’t be basics like *On Internal Organs* or *Herb Compendium*.
Seeing her anticipation, Lu Zheng lifted his bundle, “To the study?”
“Yes, yes!” Liu Qingyan’s eyes sparkled, hurrying back inside.
Madam Liu emerged from the back courtyard, asking, “Qingyan, not going to the clinic today?”
“Not today. Lu Lang got some medical books, so we’re reading.”
Seeing Lu Zheng follow, Madam Liu smiled, “Lunch at home, then?”
“Thank you, Madam,” Lu Zheng saluted, not standing on ceremony.
“No trouble, no trouble, splendid!” Madam Liu grinned, heading to the kitchen, “I’ll check what’s in there.”
“Brother Lu.”
Liu Qingquan appeared, bleary-eyed, yawning, rubbing her eyes, clearly not fully awake.
Lu Zheng waved, but eager Liu Qingyan pulled him into the study.
“Huh?”
Liu Qingquan snapped alert, no longer sleepy. When had she seen her sister so eager?
“What’s going on?”
Her gossip flared, and with nimble steps, she tiptoed silently to the study door, pressing her ear against it.
“Quick, show me!”
“Hold on, let me untie it.”
“Wow!”
“Impressive, right?”
Liu Qingquan’s eyes widened, her breathing quickening.
“So many medical books!”
“Yep, there’s internal medicine, meridian theory, acupuncture, prescriptions, all classics. Take a look.”
Liu Qingquan: 눈_눈||
So boring!
She straightened, yawned, and shuffled back to her room, perhaps for a nap.
In the study, Liu Qingyan gazed at the books, overwhelmed.
She picked up *Basic Questions*, flipped a few pages, and was too excited to contain herself.
Setting it down, she took a breath, then grabbed *Essentials from the Golden Cabinet*, her heart racing faster.
“These are classics, but not too wordy. When you’re done, there are a few hefty tomes behind them.”
“More?” Liu Qingyan felt her heart might burst.
Just these books had her dizzy with joy, and there were “hefty tomes”?
Lu Zheng nodded with a smile.
*Thousand Golden Prescriptions*!
*Compendium of Materia Medica*!
Millions of words, not novels, every word a gem. Scary, right?
…
All day, Liu Qingyan and Lu Zheng stayed in, with Madam Liu bringing lunch to the study.
Lu Zheng saw how deeply Liu Qingyan loved and pursued medicine.
No wonder, despite starting decades after Old Man Liu, she’d surpassed him effortlessly.
Old Man Liu: ค(TㅅT)ค
…
At dusk, Liu Qingyan saw Lu Zheng off, then hurried back. Lu Zheng glanced from his persimmon tree and saw the study’s oil lamp already lit, unsure how late she’d read.
Shaking his head, he went home, crossed over, and checked for messages.
“Hm?”
Lu Zheng frowned. No call from Lin Wan, but a dozen from Huang Xiumin.
What’s up?
As he pondered, Huang Xiumin called again.
“Hello, what’s wrong?”
“Lin Wan’s in trouble, in emergency care!”
