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Dao of Healing - Chapter 23
🕑 Added 2025-01-01 11:01:47 +0000 UTC<< Chapter 22 | Index | Chapter 24 >>
The fatty running the inn seemed sad to see us leave, but that was more likely to be because he was losing income than anything to do with us. But now that we had a place of our own, there was no need to stay in an inn.
It would be safer to stay inside the building I’d obtained from Grandpa Guan. That way I could keep a closer eye on Xiao Cui while continuing my healing business.
We had to first make a detour. I was in dire need of some new robes and Xiao Cui’s clothes looked a little worse for wear. There wasn’t much money left between us but it would be enough.
A few hours later we walked out of a shop called Madam Feng’s Fine Silks, no longer looking like we’d been chased through a forest by spirit beasts. I had a verdant green robe that was extraordinarily comfortable and Xiao Cui picked up a white, form fitting robe that suited her features well.
After a walk through the city which took longer than it needed to thanks to little Cui dragging me to every shop or stall she found interesting, we arrived at the place where I was going to set up business. I believed she just wanted to show off her new clothes, but she insisted it was just to explore the city since we’d not had the chance.
I had to admit I felt extremely relaxed afterwards, without a care in the world. I’d handled myself well in the city lord’s palace but the truth was that being a prisoner was non-stop stress and anxiety.
It hadn’t been good for my psyche, even if I’d made tremendous gains by fishing in the troubled waters of Three River City’s upper echelon. I knew something strange was going on between Councillor Gao, Wang Bao, and the city lord, but to be honest I didn’t care right now.
When the time was right, I would return and deliver a little justice to certain individuals for daring to steal more of little Cui’s childlike sparkle, but until then it was important to focus on my healing practice and developing this budding sect into something of value.
Speaking of the sect—I now had a disciple! I’d almost forgotten after the assassin nearly took my life, but Xiao Cui had begged and I had relented, which meant I now officially had to not just take care of her, but try and teach her stuff.
What was I going to teach her? Perhaps medicine, but without the advantages I had such as my physique and cultivation I wasn’t sure if she would be able to use my knowledge to the same effect. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try.
“It’s so big!” Xiao Cui exclaimed.
I chuckled, watching as the village girl walked up and down the street while staring at our new home-slash-place of business. After three laps of the immediate area she rushed up to the door and pushed it open, finding it locked.
She turned around and stared at me expectantly. I pretended to be confused for a few moments at which point she began pouting.
After my little self indulging teasing I headed over and unlocked the door using the token Grandpa Guan had given me. I found it strange that they’d not bothered taking my possessions while I was imprisoned, but I guess the city lord cared more for earning back face than looting some random Body Tempering whelp.
The inside was exactly as I’d left it, though much dustier. Xiao Cui danced around the marble reception area, eyes wide as saucers as she discovered every new, more resplendent feature.
Seeing it for the second time I had to admit that Grandpa Guan had given me a ridiculous bargain. I should visit the old geezer with a gift soon as thanks.
“This is all ours?” she asked, walking up the stairs.
“Every last tile,” I replied with a smile. “Though most of it will be for the patients. I picked out a few rooms on the top floor for us to live in, but I will need to get some new furniture once we earn some money back.”
I sighed and glanced inside my coin purse, seeing just a lonely silver coin and a few coppers. Once again, I was broke.
Well, unless you counted the half a spirit stone.
Which I did, but it was worth far too much to use in any daily transactions and until I knew whether I had any personal use for it I was loath to spend it. Actually…
After the gains I’d received from the poison qi and the healing pill—I still had two more of those—I was excited to see what other herbs or poisonous reagents I might be able to ingest to continue refining my body.
There was also the added bonus of the knowledge about each ingredient I gained after refining it. Until now, I’d learned about iceflower poison, blood lotus puppet poison, and mortal-grade healing pills.
That was a drop in the ocean when it came to alchemy and once I had a bit of free time I needed to look for a skilled alchemist in Three River City so I could try to learn from them. First though, it was time to make some money!
“Xiao Cui, head down to the market and start spreading the fact that we have a permanent place to stay. I want to see customers by the afternoon!” I shouted, hoping she would hear me upstairs.
****
While little Cui was out in the market, redirecting all my patients here, I needed to go shopping once more. With my meagre wealth I couldn’t afford much, but at the very least I wanted to have a proper treatment room set up.
We could just repurpose the sign from the market for now—it seemed to be working, so why change it?—but after a few days of healing and earning money I would need to consider how to set up the whole ‘medicine sect’ business.
It was just a front for the hospital, using the familiar customs of this world to drop their guard and slowly spread the brilliance of the healing arts to the masses. However, since becoming master to my first disciple I felt an unfamiliar drive to create something lasting.
What every hospital needed was a well thought-out system of triage. A way of prioritising those who were most in need of treatment.
That would be wholly unfamiliar here. For the mortals at least. Cultivators had some level of brotherhood between them and wouldn’t just watch an ally die, unless there was some ridiculous treasure to be snatched. Whereas the mortals were left to suffer and die if they were lacking wealth or power.
In the end, I managed to find a comfortable wooden chair with a fur-lined seat and back which I could use to rest on while performing my technique, as well as a comfortable bed for my patients.
It would be enough for now.
I just about managed to return in time. As I turned the corner into the street I saw Xiao Cui at the other end, leading a huge group of people towards the building. I raced inside, carrying the bed and chair with me.
When I got into the small room which I’d decided would be the first treatment room—my office, so to speak—I didn’t think much about the layout. I simply threw the bed against the wall and then placed my chair nearby.
The moment I’d done that I heard the door open and the loud chatter of people in the lobby. I allowed myself a smile. Challenges like healing the blood lotus puppet poison were enjoyable, but straining myself that much had taken its toll.
I was looking forward to some more mundane healing. Part of the reason I’d become a doctor was that I enjoyed hearing people’s stories, listening to idle chatter while I worked.
People tended to let slip some rather absurd stories when they were in the doctor’s chair. Maybe it was the nerves that lowered their walls? I wasn’t sure, but all I knew was that it had led to me meeting some interesting people in the past.
That was something I looked forward to here. Additionally, it would have the benefit of allowing me to learn more about this new world and the culture in the Celestial Jade Empire.
By now I’d become somewhat accustomed to them and could pass as a native for the most part, but there were some intricacies that you couldn’t pick up in just a few months.
With all that said, I reached the bottom of the stairs. Little Cui turned to me, grinning ear to ear. “I managed to find a few custo—ahem, patients,” she called out to me.
“Indeed, well done little disciple,” I replied, patting her on the head. She squirmed out of it, but I saw her smile.
Turning to the group of people I swept my gaze over them, trying to see what I was dealing with. Anyone with severe and obvious injuries would get priority.
The citizens seemed to shrink under my gaze, a little fear in their eyes. It was to be expected. Most cultivators treated mortals like dirt, so even after I’d proven my healing technique and somewhat benevolent nature they weren’t fully convinced.
I noticed one young man clutching his arm at an awkward angle. On a closer inspection I realised his shirt was stained with dried blood. It was dark, as though it hadn’t been cleaned for a few days.
“You, you’re first,” I said, pointing at him and beckoning him closer. I heard a few grumbles but Xiao Cui stepped up and silenced the crowd as the man walked through.
“Relax, Heavenly Healer Zhao is simply treating the most wounded first. You will all get your turn,” she said in a soothing voice with a warm smile. It worked wonders. “Just make sure to have your payment ready,” she added with a slight smirk.
Well, it was important for any business to have the generous, hard workers like myself as well as the fiendish salespeople. I’d just leave that to her as she seemed confident and we’d been earning plenty of money before our untimely imprisonment.
The guy hobbled out in front of the crowd and I realised his injury was far worse than it seemed. I looked at the elbow of his shirt, which was ripped. Something was…
His bone was poking out of his elbow.
I grabbed him and whisked him upstairs, not waiting another moment. He exclaimed in shock but was powerless to resist the strength of a nine-star Body Tempering cultivator.
When I planted him on the bed, he gasped. “What are you doing?” he exclaimed.
“What do you think, you damn fool? How long have you been walking around with your bone sticking out of your arm? You’re lucky you haven’t died from an infection…” I muttered, grabbing his shirt and tearing the arm off.
“My shirt! That cost me 3 coppers, you know,” he complained.
“Well, better 3 coppers than your life,” I replied, grabbing hold of his arm and already reaching for my blood essence.
Even when the guy’s arm started to knit itself back together and I was able to snap the bone back in place, the constipated look never left his face. Stingy bastard. Hopefully the other patients weren’t going to complain this much…
****
In the end, only a few of my patients were difficult to deal with. I actually realised the young man had been rather docile when one granny actually started beating me with her walking stick.
And that was after I’d just cured her of a limp she’d had for fifteen years! Damn old people these days, so ungrateful…
But it was worth it. For the most part, my patients left with smiles on their faces and a spring in their step. And a few coins poorer.
Then again, you can’t put a price on good health.
Well, I could—it was 63 silver and 4 copper—but life was better lived without the wear and tear of time and labour. I think most of the people who left the building that day would agree.
I stretched, feeling a little tired. My body was fine, but the endless socialising with the patients had left me drained.
“Little disciple, I think it’s about time I taught you your first lesson,” I said, waving Xiao Cui over.
She seemed excited, a glint in her eye. To be honest I wasn’t sure why she’d left her home village to follow me.
Sure, the thrill of adventure and the allure of a powerful cultivator were hard to resist, but I hadn’t personally shown anything that might be of interest to her. Had she done it because she felt indebted to me after I saved her life?
That didn’t seem like her. So why?
My only guess was that she actually found what I did interesting. She’d told me as much when she asked to be my disciple—that I was different from other cultivators. I knew that, but it was mostly because I was from another world!
More to the point, I believed what she would find most interesting about me and want to learn was my healing arts. While anything to do with my physique or techniques that required one to be a cultivator were off limits, there was still a lot I could teach her.
I was armed with a myriad of knowledge from two worlds and if all she wanted to do was learn how to heal mortals, then it wouldn’t be too difficult to help her take the first steps on that path.
“To be honest, I don’t know that much about your goals in this life, little Cui. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I think I have a good idea anyway,” I told her. Her eyes widened a little and she nodded.
“Would you like to learn how to be a healer?” I asked, giving her a while to think about her answer.
She took the time, scrunching up her face at first then going through the seven emotions and six desires in record time. It was like an emotion speedrun.
Eventually she nodded three times and replied, “Yes master!”
I smiled and nodded back, preparing to answer when she suddenly frowned.
“But I’m not a cultivator, so how can I be a healer like you?”
“Don’t worry,” I replied, realising she’d been struggling with this fear for a while. “You can’t be a healer exactly like me, but you can certainly still be a healer.”
“Really!?”
“Of course, now come, let me teach you some basics about the human body,” I said, motioning for her to follow me up the stairs.
She took a step then suddenly screeched as a loud bang shook the lobby. I rushed back down and saw the front door wide open, a man standing in the entrance.
He took a step towards little Cui and she yelled, sprinting towards me. I rushed past her and raised my fist, ready to strike down this intruder.
As I got a closer look at the bastard I was so shocked it was like I was struck by lightning.
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