Chapter 68: A Divination Half-Life

“Master! Master!”

The young Daoist, Qi Wen, was instantly flustered, gripping the Daoist priest's shoulders, wanting to shake him but not daring to.

“Master! Master, please don’t die, Master! Master, don’t leave me alone! Oh, Master!”

“Ah! Someone’s throwing up blood!”

“Where? Where?” “Over there!”

“It’s true, the table is covered in blood!”

“Good heavens, there’s nothing wrong with the food in this restaurant, is there?”

“What?!” *Gasp*

“Don’t scare me!”

The entire dining hall of the restaurant erupted in commotion, and several waiters and the manager quickly rushed over.

Ji Yuan was still the quickest to react. Seeing the situation, he temporarily put aside his shock, understanding that getting the man to a doctor was the most crucial thing.

“Young Daoist Qi Wen, your master isn’t dead yet! Quick, lend a hand, I’ll carry your master to a doctor!”

“Oh, oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, a doctor, a doctor!”

Ji Yuan kicked away the long bench beside him. While he told the young Daoist to lend a hand, he actually used both hands to help the limp body of Daoist Qingsong upright, quickly tapping several major acupuncture points on him. Then he swiftly turned his back and crouched slightly, allowing the Daoist to lie on his back.

“Oh, please, esteemed guests, remain calm, please remain calm! The food here is absolutely safe, there will be no problems at all!”

The manager was sweating profusely, trying to calm the other customers while hurrying towards the corner.

“What’s wrong with this customer, he…”

“Manager! This is a matter of life and death, quickly tell me where the nearest clinic is!”

The manager looked worriedly at the blood-stained table, wiping sweat with his handkerchief as he replied.

“Turn left out the door, then right at the street corner. At the end of the market street, there’s an Anren Pharmacy!”

“Thank you! Everyone inside, please don’t panic. This Daoist priest has been hungry for too long and ate too hastily, which caused a relapse of an old illness. It has nothing to do with the food here at Huike Tower! Manager, sorry for the trouble, you can keep the change for this table!”

After saying this at an incredibly fast pace, Ji Yuan turned to the young Daoist Qi Wen and said:

“Young Daoist, remember to keep up!”

Before the young Daoist could understand his words, Ji Yuan had already stepped out, pushing past several surrounding diners and through the restaurant door onto the street.

“Ah, ah, ah! Wait for me!”

The young Daoist Qi Wen quickly followed, but once outside the door, he saw that Ji Yuan and his master were already at the street corner, which terrified him into chasing after them with all his might.

Ji Yuan didn’t use any special movement techniques, but he still moved incredibly fast, running as if the person on his back weighed nothing. His mind, however, did not stop working.

Daoist Qingsong’s divination was surprisingly accurate, especially since he vomited blood right after. It was clear his body couldn’t withstand the result of the fortune-telling, or more precisely, couldn’t bear to utter it. This also indirectly demonstrated his profound ability in divination.

The thought of ‘divulging heavenly secrets’ also flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind.

However, it was evident that Daoist Qingsong, at most, only had a robust physique; at his core, he was still an ordinary person, not even knowing any martial arts. So, was it that all capable fortune-tellers in this world possessed such abilities, or was Daoist Qingsong particularly strong?

Even in Ji Yuan’s previous life, fortune-telling could sometimes be truly mysterious, with capable fortune-tellers being remarkably accurate about many things. He figured it was likely no different in this world.

Ji Yuan stopped pondering. The immediate priority was to save the man’s life. After all, it was because of his request for a reading that the Daoist had ended up in this state. A life for a meal was simply not worth it!

Even with spiritual energy infused, Daoist Qingsong on his back still had a faint breath and blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

*Don’t actually die!*

***

This time, seeking medical help to save a life was much smoother than the last time he asked a doctor to save a fox. When Ji Yuan rushed into Anren Pharmacy, shouting for a doctor, the old physician inside quickly came to examine the patient.

With the help of the pharmacy assistants, Daoist Qingsong (Qi Xuan) was placed on a bed in the inner hall. Young Daoist Qi Wen arrived shortly after, breathless, inside the pharmacy.

In the inner hall of Anren Pharmacy, the old physician, with a deeply furrowed brow, took the pulse and examined the eyes.

“Doctor, my master he…”

“Shh! Young Daoist, don’t disturb the doctor while he’s examining the patient!”

The old physician looked at Qi Wen, then at Ji Yuan.

“This Daoist priest’s vital energy and blood are depleted, and his life force is weak. A martial arts expert used acupuncture point sealing techniques to block his major acupoints. It also seems he took some kind of life-sustaining tonic from the jianghu to last until now. I plan to try acupuncture with the aid of medicinal smoke. Is there anyone among you who understands martial arts and acupoints? Come and assist me!”

“Doctor, please proceed with the treatment, I will assist you!”

Ji Yuan quickly stepped forward.

“Good. Take off his clothes. Everyone else, please leave. Mu’er, prepare the moxa smoke. Ruo’er, bring all my sets of silver needles!”

The inner hall of Anren Pharmacy was quickly left with only those responsible for the treatment. Qi Wen was led to the outer hall by one of the old physician’s assistants.

The octogenarian physician, gripping the silver needles, had a surprisingly sharp glint in his eyes. Without looking at Ji Yuan, he gave his instructions in a clear, strong voice.

“Press his acupoints, seal his San Jiao. You absolutely must not let his vital breath escape! I’m about to apply the needles!”

“Understood!”

Ji Yuan’s forehead was also beaded with sweat, his tension arguably no less than before his fight with the great snake. His fingers moved like blurs, rapidly tapping Daoist Qingsong’s body.

The old physician then inserted needles into the very acupoints Ji Yuan had pressed, stimulating them. At each stage, the apprentice nearby would come forward to apply moxa.

After continuing for about half an hour, Daoist Qingsong was covered in so many silver needles that he resembled a porcupine.

“Sir, when I remove the silver needles, please infuse true qi into him to protect his heart meridian!”

“Understood!”

Ji Yuan had no time to wipe away the sweat. Taking advantage of the old physician and his apprentice being fully focused on Daoist Qingsong, he subtly performed the Lesser Water Evasion spell. All the sweat on his body and face flowed backward, collecting and then seeping out from under his feet.

After the needles were removed and qi infused, another fifteen minutes passed. Now, the old physician continuously massaged Daoist Qingsong’s back with both hands. Though he was eighty years old and drenched in sweat, his hands never stopped moving.

*This doctor is even more capable than Doctor Tong in Ning’an!*

This was Ji Yuan’s assessment of him.

The entire rescue process lasted a full two hours and was far more difficult and complex than saving the red fox last time. Ji Yuan felt as though he had personally experienced a major modern-day surgery.

Daoist Qingsong lay on the bed. Although his breath was still weak, it was clear that his condition had stabilized.

“Phew… I thought he wouldn’t make it. It seems the internal qi of martial arts masters is truly extraordinary. Doctors should also practice it!”

The old physician, exhausted, had already slumped into a nearby chair, wiping sweat and sighing with emotion.

Ji Yuan did not correct the old physician’s misunderstanding. After all, if doctors truly learned internal martial arts, even if it couldn't compare to spiritual energy, it would still aid in healing. Moreover, there were indeed many individuals in the martial arts world who were skilled in both medicine and martial arts.

“Doctor, when will he wake up?”

“I’m not sure. However, for now, he must not be exposed to drafts or contract a wind-evil illness, or all our efforts will be in vain. Let’s wait a while.”

“Understood.”

***

It was already evening. In the inner hall of Anren Pharmacy, the unconscious Daoist Qingsong was covered with a light blanket, and sandalwood incense burned nearby.

Ji Yuan, Qi Wen, and a pharmacy assistant stayed by his side, while the old physician, after taking a nap, returned to attend the shop outside.

When Daoist Qingsong slowly regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was the ceiling beams of the inner hall.

“Haa… Water… water…”

Daoist Qingsong’s throat emitted a hoarse sound, instantly invigorating all three who were waiting.

“I’ll get it!”

The pharmacy assistant immediately stood up to fetch the vital energy-replenishing tea that had already been brewed and kept warm. Qi Wen, tearful, clung to the bedside.

“Master… boohoo… I told you not to speak carelessly… boohoo…”

The pharmacy assistant hurried over with a bowl of tea, leaned by the bedside, and helped lift Daoist Qingsong’s head.

“The water’s here, the water’s here!”

“Here, be careful, drink slowly!”

After drinking a bowl of warm water, Daoist Qingsong felt much more comfortable, as if he had come back to life. He patted his still-crying apprentice, then turned to look at Ji Yuan, who had remained silent.

“Haa… I understand now… what it means to recklessly divine fate without knowing oneself… I think I didn’t foresee your death, sir, but my own…”

Ji Yuan clasped his hands apologetically.

“I apologize for causing you such a predicament, sir…”

The fact that he could speak meant his life was saved. At this point, Ji Yuan added jokingly,

“I presume, Daoist priest, you won’t be wanting to examine my face or palm again.”

Daoist Qingsong tremulously raised his left arm and looked at his palm. A faint, bloody line ran halfway across his palm lines.

“No… when I just woke up… I already thoroughly examined your face, sir…”

At his words, even Ji Yuan was stunned, let alone the young Daoist. This was truly a case of not learning from a near-death experience!

“Young doctor, I’d like another drink of water. Please trouble yourself to pour me another bowl!”

“Alright, I’ll go right away!”

The pharmacy assistant, who had just been a little confused by the conversation, grabbed the ceramic bowl and scurried away.

As soon as he left, Daoist Qingsong’s gaze returned to Ji Yuan.

“Ugh… hmph… your face, sir, is simply unfathomable. The more I looked, the more confused I became. I presume your palmistry is the same… Sir… you are not a mortal, are you?”

The young Daoist Qi Wen looked at Ji Yuan in astonishment, and Ji Yuan’s eyebrow twitched.