Chapter 304: Peerless Talent! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 304: Heavenly Gifted! (Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket)

Ma Liang did not dare to slacken. Upon seeing the moisture stains on the table, he gave a resolute nod and turned to leave the Jishi Medicinal Hall.

Chen Yi watched him walk away, then sighed softly.

Of course, he would never have been so cautious under normal circumstances.

Yet Xiao Honghong, at that moment, was less than five li away from where he stood.

Even without employing true energy, she could still hear the sounds from here with just her ears.

Thus, Chen Yi had no choice but to let Ma Liang take his place.

As for determining whether the grain merchants had repurchased those sacks of grain from Cui Qingwu…

It was rather straightforward.

Chen Yi leaned his ear to listen, and soon heard the clamor outside the grain depot.

Most people were complaining about the rising prices, cursing the meddling, slow-witted bandits from the Nanxi Kingdom.

But a few laughed with delight:

"Boss Lin, truly a miracle worker! Yesterday afternoon, he received the news and immediately predicted today's grain prices would soar."

"Indeed."

"If it hadn't been for his timely warning, those silver coins would've been swindled by Miss Cui."

"She's not entirely to blame, though. Yesterday, she bought our grain for ten taels, but sold it today for fourteen. Oh."

"In just one day, she made four million taels! That money she earned was so much easier than ours!"

"Who says she isn't? If only we'd known this earlier, we shouldn't have trusted that fellow Lin."

"Though it's not entirely Lin's fault. Who could've predicted that Prince Lan and his peacock flag would act so recklessly?"

"Not only did they send men to ambush merchants on the Tea Horse Ancient Road, but last night, the 'jackal' Du Chang even stole Lady Xiao's goods. Truly a death sentence!"

"If it hadn't been for the deputy under Master Lin's command, who risked his life to report the news, we wouldn't have rushed to find Miss Cui!"

"Yes, fourteen taels, starting negotiations by sitting down—harder than us!"

"That Miss Cui is indeed beautiful, but her heart is black."

The voices rose and fell inside the grain depot. After hearing a general gist, Chen Yi relaxed his grip.

Four million taels, whether said in excess or not, at most meant a few grain dealers had to cough up the silver they'd made earlier.

As long as the prices didn't fall, they'd eventually earn back their silver through the grain they held.

Yet Chen Yi's grand scheme—how could he let the prices keep rising?

Through the faint light, he watched the citizens rushing about outside the hall, their chaos growing more intense, his expression growing calmer.

The scene of Yuan Lao'er selling herself to bury her father came flooding back to mind.

When the tide of oppression sweeps through, people become like chaff, someone must rise to challenge it.

Now, indeed, it was time to put an end to this farce.

Yuan Lao'er stood before the light.

Compared to the previous few days, when she was thin and filthy, now she wore the uniform of a medical apprentice.

Blue jacket, black boots, a white cloth band around her waist, her pale, lean face clean and bright, her large eyes slightly grateful.

Chen Yi snapped back to his senses, seeing her poking her head in, peering through the doorframe, daring not to enter, he waved his hand.

"Come on in and speak."

Yuan Lao'er instantly pulled back, and after a moment, shuffled in timidly, head bowed low.

"Apprentice, Apprentice Yuan Lao'er, I humbly greet the Manager."

Chen Yi scanned her up and down, nodded once with a smile: "Sit down and talk."

"Yes."

Yuan Lao'er carefully took the seat at the farthest corner, her body only taking up a corner of the chair.

Her head bowed low, eyes occasionally lifting to glance at him, then quickly dropping away from his gaze, as if afraid to meet his eyes.

In that posture, it was hard to imagine she had once been so resolute as when selling herself to bury her father.

Chen Yi let out a soft breath in his heart, his smile slightly fading, asked gently:

"Are you accustomed to being here?"

Yuan Lao'er quickly glanced at him, whispered back: "Yes, yes, I'm used to it."

"Good. From now on, you just stay with Ma Liang and learn medicine. If there's anything you don't understand, ask him."

"If he doesn't teach you, I'll sort him out."

"No, no, the Manager, Master treats me well. You, you don't need to sort him out..."

Chen Yi chuckled hollowly, looking at her, waved his hand: "He wouldn't dare."

After a pause, he asked another question: "What did your master teach you these few days?"

Earlier, he'd had Ma Liang take Yuan Lao'er as his disciple, claiming she was a genius in the field of medicine.

Upon careful thought, he still had to pass the examination.

Yuan Lao'er looked at him again, said in a low, sly manner: "Master had me memorize the Pharmacopoeia, and record the 'Yin-Yang Five Elements Theory.'"

"But, but, I'm too slow, all, all of it, Master was teaching me one character at a time."

"Which page have you reached?"

"Today, I barely finished it."

Chen Yi gave a slight nod, continued asking: "How much have you memorized?"

"Memorized..."

Yuan Lao'er looked confused, bravely lifted her head to look at him: "I've memorized everything, all of it!"

In that manner, as if saying, once you've read it, you won't forget it. What does 'memorize' even mean?

Chen Yi slightly raised an eyebrow, "Everything memorized?"

Perhaps fearing he'd punish Ma Liang, Yuan Lao'er hurriedly said: "Manager, I, I didn't lie to you, I really did memorize everything. If you don't believe me, you, you test me?"

Chen Yi felt a little odd in his heart, but didn't make an excuse, directly asked: "In the world of heaven and earth, there is Yin and Yang and Five Elements, the human body also has them. What is the cycle of Five Elements within the human body?"

"Heart is fire, kidneys are water, liver is... Yin and Yang are divided into empty and full..."

"Huang Qi?"

"Huang Qi is sweet and cool in taste, slightly warm, it enters the spleen and lungs meridians, it can tonify qi and raise yang, and stabilize the body surface to stop sweating..."

Chen Yi then asked several more questions, covering pages from the Pharmacopoeia and the Yin-Yang Five Elements Theory.

Yuan Lao'er answered each question smoothly, as if flowing like water.

It was not long before she began to offer shallow insights into esoteric matters related to the very foundations of the medical arts, topics not even recorded in any book.

Chen Yì stared at Yuan Liu’er, still bewildered and confused, and could not help but ask, “Have you ever studied?”

Yuan Liu’er shook her head, her expression dim, and said, “Private tutoring is too expensive; father won’t allow it. I only copied some phrases when I happened to be watching my younger brothers study.”

She lifted her head again, her small face set in determination: “The landlord, Master, is truly kind to me.”

“Teaching you to read counts as being kind?”

“Not… does it not count?”

Chen Yì smiled and shook his head: “How reckless! How destructive!”

He had not at all anticipated that, moved by a fleeting moment of sympathy, he would actually come across someone with unparalleled talent in the medical arts.

No, not just in the medical arts.

Yuan Liu’er possessed an extraordinary memory, and her natural aptitude for reading and scholarship was exceptional.

As for the others…

Chen Yì pondered for a moment, then sent for Liu Quan, commanding, “Bring me some paper, ink, and an inkstone.”

Without hesitation, Liu Quan placed a few items on the table and neatly spread the paper, pressing the inkstone into place.

Just as he was about to leave to observe what transpired, Chen Yì waved him away: “Go wait outside.”

Liu Quan glanced at Yuan Liu’er, muttered something under his breath, and exited.

Chen Yì then beckoned Yuan Liu’er: “Write a few characters.”

Yuan Liu’er hesitated, shaking her head: “Landlord, Master has not yet taught me how to write…”

Chen Yì interrupted her with a smile: “No matter. I’ll teach you. Watch.”

Then he took up his brush and wrote several characters on the paper: “Medicine, Classic, Yellow, Astragalus.”

“Here, try it yourself.”

Yuan Liu’er looked at the wolf-hair brush he offered, hesitated, then remembered his movements from earlier, lifting the brush.

First, she corrected her grip on the wolf-hair brush.

Then she moistened the brush in ink.

Next, she brought the brush to the paper.

The result was a smear of ink spreading across the page.

Yuan Liu’er’s face paled, and she turned her head to admit her mistake, when Chen Yì encouraged her: “Continue.”

“This time, use your wrist more, press firmly when writing, and lift slightly at the end…”

Hearing this, Yuan Liu’er tightened her small face and awkwardly gripped the brush, writing a “Medicine” character.

Though the character was still poorly formed, with loose strokes and an unsteady hand, Chen Yì noticed—

This girl had memorized even his movements and was attempting to mimic them, albeit imperfectly.

Chen Yì watched her, and a glint of brightness crossed his eyes as he used the breath-sensing technique to explore her body’s energies.

“Hmph!”

Even though Chen Yì had previously examined many people’s internal energies and rare meridians through this method—he had seen the extreme coldness in Xiao Wan’er’s constitution, the frailty of the old matriarch’s frame—

When he encountered Yuan Liu’er’s qi, he could not suppress a note of admiration.

“Truly, she is a prodigy!”

Indeed, Yuan Liu’er’s twelve primary meridians flowed freely and unimpeded; she possessed a naturally luminous constitution.

This meant that, had she trained in the martial arts, she could reach the third tier of cultivation in an extremely short time.

But for martial or medical arts to yield true accomplishment, one must possess insight and attain the Dao.

Chen Yì glanced at her once more, and muttered to himself again, “How reckless! How destructive!”

This kind of talent, if placed in Ma Liangcai’s hands, would be a waste.

Especially after seeing the evident proficiency in her character writing, he could not help but feel a pang of envy: “Why, then, was I born Liu?”

If he had not been favored by circumstance and possessed such exceptional aptitude, he feared he would never achieve half of what she had.

After some contemplation, Chen Yì made up his mind.

It was already too late to relocate Yuan Liu’er to a new place. The only viable option was one—he would take Ma Liangcai as his disciple!

Only then could he openly and righteously guide Yuan Liu’er.

But…

That sluggish and dull-witted Ma Liangcai would find it nearly impossible to penetrate his profound insights.

If he were to make him his first and foremost disciple, people might begin to question his judgment.

Thankfully, there was Yuan Liu’er.

Thankfully, there was still Yuan Liu’er.

Chen Yì consoled himself with these words, and his gaze upon Yuan Liu’er grew kinder. He smiled and said, “Well done.”

“Your master has indeed taught you many things.”

Yuan Liu’er’s face relaxed, and the anxiety in her heart eased. She had been worried that her clumsy characters might bring shame upon Ma Liangcai.

“Landlord, if you have no other matters, I… Liu’er will go attend to the outer hall.”

Chen Yì nodded, and before she could turn, he spoke: “From now on, do not address me as ‘landlord.’”

“Call me Master Father.”

“Master Father?”

Meeting her puzzled gaze, Chen Yì smiled: “Yes.”

“Your master, Ma Liangcai, is my founding elder. As his disciple, you naturally should address me as Master Father.”

Yuan Liu’er paused, then quickly bowed: “Master Father.”

Chen Yì nodded with a smile: “Go ahead.”

“When your master returns, have him come to me at once.”

Yuan Liu’er nodded and followed him out of the inner chamber.

But moments later, she returned: “Master, Master Father, thank you for allowing my master to take me as a disciple.”

“Me, me too—I know it’s because… because it’s thanks to you, you… you’ve paid for my father’s burial. You… accept my salutation!”

Chen Yì looked at Yuan Liu’er kneeling on the ground, and for a moment, his smile faded, and he sighed softly:

“In truth, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

“W-what? What?”

Nothing much. You'll understand in time. Go busy yourself for now."

Yuan Liu'er glanced at his expression, bowed again, and then rose to leave the inner hall, his demeanor much more relaxed.

Chen Yi watched her disappear beyond the door, a bitter smile touching his lips.

"A sip, a peck—fate's design."

"Well then."

"I've stirred in this karma, so I won't dodge it. Whatever happens later, let her decide her own path."

Though the old man hadn't died by his hand, it was still tied to him in some way. When Yuan Liu'er eventually masters her skills, he'll set things right. Whether she resents him or not by then, it won't matter.

Life's myriad affairs are often not as important as the heart; seek peace of mind.

Not long after, Ma Liang returned with a composed face, received the message from Yuan Liu'er, and hurried into the inner hall, about to bow—when Chen Yi's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding:

"Kneel down!"

Ma Liang startled, saw the gravity in his expression, and immediately knelt: "Master, sir—"

"How so? At this point, you still won't even call me teacher?"

"Teacher? Master?"

Ma Liang blinked, then, seeing the faint smile of resignation on Chen Yi's face, quickly straightened and bowed deeply: "Master! Please accept my bow, sir!"

Chen Yi wrinkled his brow. "Speak softer, lest the others outside hear."

"The master, sir—"

"No, no. Don't fuss over appearances. You've been kind enough to let me, the head disciple, teach the young lady. Just don't make a fuss."

"Yes, yes, the master speaks truly—"

Chen Yi noticed Yuan Liu'er watching from outside, waved his hand, and signaled Ma Liang to rise.

Then he took up a brush and wrote a few lines on the table: "Go to the willow tree by the road outside Dongcheng, find Liu Liang."

"Tell him to release the grain tomorrow."

Ma Liang, though stirred by emotion, wrote down every word without error, then knelt again in obeisance.

"Get out. In the future, do a good job teaching the young lady. Remember to pass on everything you've learned to her."

"Yes, master!"

"Go."

"Yes, master..."

Ma Liang felt no offense; instead, his face beamed with joy.

In the days he'd spent beside Chen Yi, he'd naturally come to understand his skill—and his standing.

Not mentioning his medical arts, merely the title "Master of the Light Boat" and his complete cultivation in the Way, was enough to make him bow his head in reverence.

Now that he could study under such a person, what the future held...

Ma Liang thought of these things, patted Yuan Liu'er's shoulder, and whispered slyly: "Heh, a fine student. When we're prosperous, we'll be all right."

"Huh?"

"You know better than to spread tales. Right now, I'm just the younger brother of the head disciple."

Yuan Liu'er nodded. "The patriarch told me himself."

"The patriarch?"

Ma Liang blinked, then realized—his sudden wealth must have something to do with Yuan Liu'er.

"Disciple, when the master faces hardship, you mustn't abandon him..."

Yuan Liu'er took his words seriously, and spoke solemnly: "Master, one day I serve you, and for the rest of my life, I am your father."

"If you're in trouble, I'll save you."

"Then I fear the one who would cause you to be in trouble..."

Ah, my master.

Ma Liang shivered, thinking of Chen Yi's meteoric rise and fall.

After finishing his words to Yuan Liu'er, he quickly left for the city's edge, clearly not wanting to test Chen Yi's methods firsthand.

When he was gone, Chen Yi also stepped out of the hall, greeted those nearby with a smile, and made his way back to the Xiao family's residence.

After informing Wang Ji and Liu Liang, he learned the grain trade had repurchased the supplies from Cui Qingwu.

He could now relax a little, and the rest would be left to fate.

It so happened.

As Chen Yi reached the corner of Zhennan Street, he saw Xiao Elder and Xiao Jinghong exiting the Prefect's Office.

Behind them, Liu Hong bowed as usual and sent them off.

"Lord Xiao, General Xiao, I have official duties, so I must bid you farewell."

"Lord Liu, do stay a moment."

Xiao Elder nodded without a word, then climbed into the carriage first.

Xiao Jinghong slightly bowed, about to follow, but spotted Chen Yi in the distance, and respectfully saluted the elder before approaching.

"My lord, shall we return together?"

"Certainly. I just visited the Society of Benevolent Healing..."

"I know, my lord, you've also taken on a disciple."

Chen Yi paused, then smiled: "Actually, I've taken on a grandson—Liu Liang's medical skills are decent, but his literary talents are lacking."

"That young lady, Yuan?"

"Yes, she's quite capable..."

Indeed, Xiao Jinghong had been keeping tabs on him all along.

Though Xiao Jinghong hadn't been at the medicine shop, he couldn't know her true abilities, assuming Chen Yi had simply fallen for her.

After all, from Yuan's perspective, having Chen Yi as a master was a good thing.

The deeper my bond with Shu Zhou, the less likely such 'grand wedding escape' incidents will occur in the future.

Chen Yi tested the waters, and felt at ease.

Just as he was about to ask about Xiao Elder's situation at the Prefect's Office, a flash of golden light crossed his path:

[Fate: +22.]

[At the fourth kè of the afternoon, Duke Xiao Yuan of Dingyuan……]

(End of chapter)