Chapter 81: Attaining the Dao

Chapter 81: Proving the Way

Chen Yi was, of course, not mad.

Not mad at all. On the contrary, at this very moment, he was more calm than he had ever been.

Since the previous night, when he learned that Xiao Dongchen was a member of the Yin Wei, and deduced the role his little "chick" was playing within that secretive organization, he had come to understand that he needed to fashion himself some protection.

The landlord of the pharmacy and Xiao family's idle son-in-law formed his first layer of protection, as well as his public facade.

Wang Ji and Yan Boss were his second layer, a contingency plan for the future.

As for the third layer, it was his martial arts cultivation and techniques.

Of course, this was also the most crucial layer of protection.

If he possessed martial arts skills on par with Mistress Xiao Jinghong, those Yin Wei members would never have dared to treat him so lightly.

Indeed.

In Chen Yi's estimation, this little "chick" was merely a inconspicuous pawn in the Yin Wei's game.

It seemed of great importance, yet in reality, he was likely of no consequence whatsoever.

Otherwise, how could those Yin Wei members have allowed him to escape his marriage?

Knowing that his original self was a frail scholar, yet offering him no protection, letting him grow wild and free...

He must have been considered little more than a spare piece on their board.

Once deemed useful, he would be discarded, having no impact on the greater scheme of things.

The Yin Wei, or rather, the high officials of the Kyoto court, had already begun to mobilize against the Xiao family.

"If the original body were still alive, he would surely have harbored a grudge against the Yin Wei."

With such thoughts in mind, Chen Yi accompanied Wang Ji to the pharmacy, discussing the plans that lay ahead.

In summary, it came down to just a few points.

For instance, continuing to maintain the pharmacy's consultations and prescriptions, sending patients to other apothecaries for their medicines, as before.

The location of that herb shop needed to be changed, moving it away from Jishi Pharmacy, lest it draw too much attention.

"There needs to be a larger premises. Business, after all, must expand. What's the point of a small-time operation?"

"From now on, not only will I handle Jishi Pharmacy's affairs, but also the Xiao family's other pharmacies and the medical establishments throughout Shuzhou City."

"And in addition to herbs, there should be some proprietary remedies for specific ailments, to be sold in collaboration with the pharmacy, sharing the profits accordingly."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ji comprehended Chen Yi's intentions.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "Prescriptions, regardless of which pharmacy or clinic they come from, are trade secrets. Ordinary herb gathering can be masked by varying prices."

"If a prescription from a particular pharmacy were discovered..."

Chen Yi hummed in acknowledgment. "As for the prescriptions, I'll figure something out. You just focus on running the shop."

With a smile, he added, "From now on, you're the owner of that establishment."

Wang Ji naturally understood his meaning. After some consideration, he asked with a complex expression, "I have one matter I don't understand. Why would you do this?"

Chen Yi's smile remained unchanged, though his tone carried a hint of melancholy. "Better safe than sorry. Otherwise, I'd never be able to enjoy a relaxed life in the future."

Though he spoke thus, he likely still left Wang Ji unconvinced. Yet he had no intention of explaining further.

"You need only remember, I, too, am just trying to earn a living. I want to help those in need."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ji's expression eased.

He then stood up, respectfully bowing. "Since Uncle Chen does not abandon me, Wang Ji will spare no effort in working with you."

"If you and Old Yan harbour any ill intentions, I'll deal with you myself!"

Uncle?

Chen Yi mused that he still considered himself part of the Xiao family, so he could be counted as one of those with old ties.

If he hadn't found people available at the moment, he wouldn't have allowed Wang Ji and others to sign their names and affix their seals, using them as leverage.

To make a kite soar high, he needed a long string.

After all, he wasn't Xiao Wanyue. Trusting someone like Wang Ji was naturally out of the question.

"Those doctors, apprentices, and accountant here, you handle them. Make sure they keep today's affairs as secret as the grave."

"And once the money is collected, use it as capital for the pharmacy."

"Though remember, that money will eventually have to be returned to Mistress Xiao."

Chen Yi gave a few more instructions, then sent Wang Ji to console the pharmacy staff.

He remained nearby, occasionally offering words to reassure them.

When Wang Ji departed, Liu Si'er and Ge Laosan entered. Looking at the doctors, apprentices, and accountant already preparing to open for business, they were at a loss for what to do.

The two exchanged a glance.

Liu Si'er signaled for him to approach and inquire.

Ge Laosan scratched his head, then leaned over to ask Chen Yi, "Uncle, has everything been settled?"

Chen Yi glanced at the ledger, nodding. "They've agreed to return the bribe money they'd taken. That matter is settled."

As for when they'd repay it, that was entirely up to him.

He didn't forget to caution, "And you two, don't gossip at the mansion. Otherwise, people might hear and bring trouble to Mistress Xiao."

Ge Laosan looked at Liu Si'er, seeing he understood, and said no more.

Now, Uncle Chen had become the landlord of Jishi Pharmacy, and everything here was under his control.

Though as palace guards, they couldn't be said to have any significant influence on Mistress Xiao's reputation.

After all, they were well aware that Mistress Xiao managed the palace's finances, and that the second and third brothers were somewhat discontented about it.

Chen Yi didn't concern himself with Liu Si'er and Ge Laosan's thoughts or schemes. He simply had Liu Si'er report the matter, and within a short time, the Yin Wei would not have learned of his actions.

After all, even if the Yin Wei found out, what harm could they do?

Perhaps they'd be pleased to see their little "chick" flourish.

In fact, Liu Si'er's heart had already begun to harbor such thoughts.

Though he wasn't privy to the details of what had transpired in the pharmacy, Chen Yi's concealment led him to surmise that their "chick" had indeed taken some action.

He just didn't know what scheme he intended to concoct in this pharmacy.

It seemed inevitable that he would eventually return to officialdom or the distant army.

After resolving matters with Wang Ji, Chen Yi remained at Jishi Pharmacy until near evening, then began his way back.

In the meantime, he took money from the counter, sending Liu Si'er to the eastern market's nearby tavern to fetch a meal, inviting the doctors, apprentices, and accountant to dine together.

It was to fully ease their hearts.

Throughout the afternoon, Chen Yi did nothing else but sat beside the doctors, watching them diagnose patients, dispense prescriptions, and perform acupuncture.

With each patient who came, he would consult the medical texts he had recently studied, combine them with the medical principles in his mind, and arrive at a conclusion in his heart.

Sometimes his diagnosis would align with that of several physicians, and thus his prescriptions would be no different from theirs.

Other times, they would differ.

In the end, most often, it was his own diagnosis that was wrong.

"The four diagnostics of medicine—observation, listening/smelling, inquiry, and palpation—I only mastered the first three. The crucial pulse diagnosis was left untouched, so errors and omissions are normal."

Chen Yi soothed himself in this manner.

Thankfully, regardless of whether his conclusions were correct, his mastery of medicine had at last seen some progress.

[Practicing Medicine·Four Diagnostics Success, Level: First Glimpse of the Path]

[Practicing Medicine·Acupuncture Success, Level: First Glimpse of the Path]

These two were merely the practical skills he could actually apply in the field.

In truth, the entire diagnostic process roughly involved gathering patient information through the four diagnostics, then applying the eight principles to determine the "pattern of manifestation and disease."

The eight principles, as the term goes, refer to the concepts of exterior and interior, cold and heat, deficiency and excess, and yin and yang.

The prescriptions issued, along with acupuncture and other treatments, were all based on the "pattern of manifestation and disease," aimed at resolving the exterior symptoms.

These, however, formed only a small portion of the basics of medical practice.

Other areas included the yin-yang and Five Elements, organs, meridians, and herbs.

Had it not been for Chen Yi’s recent perusal of several medical texts, not to mention that tome, *On the Causes of Injuries*, he would have spent countless efforts just to grasp the entire process.

"Thankfully, with the guidance of the esoteric principles of medicine, this path is far less daunting than the martial arts."

On the way back, the rain had initially eased, and the streets of Udong were bustling with people, carrying a fresh and fragrant breeze.

But such happiness rarely lasts.

Before Chen Yi and Liu Si Er, Guo Lao San had returned home, dark clouds gathered once more.

Delicate raindrops began to patter down.

The moment they reached the Spring Lotus Garden, Chen Yi instructed Xiao Duo to fetch water and bathe.

Beyond the rain-soaked clothes, the lingering scent of medicinal herbs from the medicine hall clung to him, more pungent.

Xiao Duo busied herself with the task.

Xiao Wu Ge ran over, his face sulky: "Brother, you’ve finally returned, but you didn’t even bring me along to play."

Chen Yi said nothing and simply folded his herb-scented sleeve over the boy’s face.

"Smell it?"

Xiao Wu Ge furrowed his brows: "What’s the smell? It’s hard to detect."

"Good, you know it’s hard to detect. Next time, do you still want to come to the medicine hall to play?"

"I’ll come, brother, I can…"

Within the walls of Jia Qing Yard, separated by a barrier.

Xiao Wan’er heard the laughter and conversation from the other side and felt a sense of relief.

She knew Chen Yi had gone to the Benevolent Medicine Hall that day, and she had originally worried whether he would adapt to that environment.

Now, hearing his laughter like this, he had at last taken the first step.

"Xiao Nü had mentioned before, if his performance was good, they would arrange for him to go elsewhere…"

Xiao Wan’er gazed at the rain outside, unconsciously adjusting her outer garment, her pale face revealing a complex expression, murmuring softly:

"Well, that’s good."

Meanwhile, in an inn near the eastern city gate of Shu Zhou Fu.

Liu Lang still sat in the corner of the window, his demeanor unbridled, a pot of wine and two plates of lamb before him, eating at leisure.

The long sword he had once worn at his waist lay flat beside his left hand, the hilt facing outward, wrapped in fine silk, the scabbard plain and unadorned, bearing no carvings.

After about a incense stick’s worth of time.

Liu Lang finished the wine, let out a belch, and finally spoke: "The old man sent me all this way—surely not just to ask me to eat?"

His voice was faint, nearly inaudible.

To his surprise, a voice then whispered in his ear: "I brought you here for a reason."

"There’s someone offering a huge reward to steal a shipment of goods."

"Steal?"

Liu Lang frowned: "You think I’d do that?"

That voice remained undeterred: "It’s the goods from the Xiao family."

Liu Lang suddenly took interest: "But wasn’t it Xiao Jinghong who was supposed to escort them?"

"Not exactly, but the escort is no ordinary person."

"Oh?"

"The heir to the Tian Shan Sect, Shen Huatang, has already achieved some skill in swordplay—he should be able to give you a taste of the blade."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lang’s face fell, his jaw clenching: "After I complete the job, may I then seek Xiao Jinghong?"

"They say she wields a sword as a peerless absolute pinnacle, and her spear is equally matched with my blade and gun techniques."

After a moment of silence.

That voice, distant and echoing: "As you wish, as long as you’re not afraid to die."

Liu Lang grinned: "In the martial world, no one speaks of death—that’s called 'proving the path.'"

The victor lives, the loser dies.

Such is the way of the martial path—how exhilarating!

(End of Chapter)