Chapter 39: The Divine Physician Hua Tuo

Amidst a frozen, desolate wilderness, inside a dilapidated temple, a ragged old man with disheveled hair was cooking a meal over a fire in a broken iron pot. At the doorway, a pair of eyes watched him with longing, filled with both pleading and anxiety.

The owner of these eyes was a woman of exquisite beauty. She was dressed in luxurious white sable furs and silk, adorned with precious magical artifacts from the Heavenly Chamber of Commerce on her head, wrists, and ears. It was clear at a glance that she was no ordinary person. Her name was Qu Lingyu, the Saintess of Taiwu Immortal Mountain, a premier sect of the Great Rui Dynasty, and the direct disciple of the sect leader. Her status was immensely noble. Ordinarily, wherever she went, she was treated as an honored guest by every faction.

But at this moment, she was kneeling before the temple, her expression one of utter devotion. Behind her stretched a long line of cultivators. Like Qu Lingyu, they were all wealthy and high-ranking, and they too knelt on the ground, equally pious. To show their sincerity, most of them had not even used their spiritual energy to ward off the biting wind and snow, letting the gusts buffet them and the frost settle on their shoulders, hoping to move the old man cooking inside.

Yet, the old man remained entirely unmoved. He continued about his business, feeding wood into his broken pot as if he were alone. Only when the firewood ran low did he stand up, clap his hands, and walk toward the entrance.

The Taiwu Saintess, who had been kneeling for three days and three nights, blinked her lashes and spoke hurriedly: "I beg you, Senior, please save my master!"

The old man seemed not to hear her. He reached the door, frowned at the long line of people behind the Saintess, and then turned back to pick up some firewood near the entrance. He returned to his pot, tossed a piece of wood into the flames, and muttered to himself, "Adding the ten-thousand-year jade centipede and the ten-thousand-year blood toad to the rice today—it should be delicious."

At the door, the Taiwu Saintess was so anxious she nearly wept. "Senior Hua Tuo, please, I beg you to save my master! I have already found the centipede and the toad as you requested. If you do not treat her now, I fear it will be too late!"

The old man dug into his ear and looked at the pitiful Saintess with annoyance. "Little girl, can’t you see I’m busy cooking? What’s the rush? Let me finish my meal first! If you’re so impatient, go to the back of the line!"

The Saintess pursed her lips, wanting to retort, but seeing the old man’s irritation, she held her tongue.

Just then, a small boy appeared outside. Ignoring the long queue, he walked past the Saintess and straight into the temple. The boy was dressed in rags, with patches on his trousers and shoes; he looked like the most ordinary, impoverished child. Ordinarily, such a child wouldn’t even have the right to stand in the back of the line, yet he walked right up to the old man without being driven away.

"Grandpa Hua!"

The old man turned, his attitude shifting one hundred and eighty degrees. All traces of impatience vanished, replaced by warmth and doting affection.

"Little Gou Dan, what brings you here?"

The boy chirped, "Grandma has been coughing all day, so I came to ask for some medicine."

The old man patted the boy’s head and pulled a pill from his pocket. "Good boy, give this to your grandma. Grandpa guarantees she’ll be cured."

The boy took the pill and offered the old man two eggs. "Thank you, Grandpa!"

The old man took the eggs. "Hehe, it’s nothing. Go on, take the medicine home to your grandma."

The boy nodded and dashed out of the temple. As he passed the Taiwu Saintess, he stopped and looked at her with pity. "This big sister is truly pitiful." With that, he skipped away with the medicine.

The Saintess watched him go, feeling a wave of intense humiliation. She had been pitied by a ragged little boy! Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the old man and said, unresigned, "Senior, why is it that when that child asks, you give him medicine immediately without making him wait? That isn't fair!"

"Hehe, unfair?" The old man laughed. He cracked the eggs into his pot. "If he had to wait in line with you lot, do you think he’d ever get his turn?"

The Saintess was rendered speechless. The old man adjusted the pot and continued, "You were born with beauty, immense talent, and powerful parents. He has nothing but a blind grandmother to rely on. Do you think that is fair?"

The Saintess lowered her head and remained silent. After a long while, she spoke again: "I will wait patiently for you to finish your meal, but I ask that you keep your word. Once you are done, please come to the Immortal Mountain to save my master."

The old man picked up his chopsticks made of twigs. "I know, I know. I never said I wouldn't. Your master has heaven-defying cultivation; she won't die if we delay a few more days. What’s the hurry?"

The Saintess gritted her teeth. "I understand, Senior."

The old man began to eat, picking through the contents of the pot one bite at a time. The sight was agonizing for the Saintess, who kept thinking to herself, *This must be his last bite, surely?*

But it never was. The old man seemed frail, but his appetite was hearty. Just as the Saintess saw the bottom of the pot and thought he was finally finished, the old man’s hand froze. The chopsticks began to tremble slightly.

"It is the Sovereign! The Sovereign is calling me!"

*Sovereign?* The Taiwu Saintess was bewildered. What Sovereign? Was it the owner of the People’s Medical Hall?

Before she could fathom the answer, the old man vanished from the temple. The Saintess scrambled to her feet and rushed inside. "Divine Doctor! Where did you go? Please, come out!"

...

Ripples stirred in the black-and-white void. The old man stepped out and knelt before Wang Chu, looking immensely agitated. "This humble one pays respects to the Sovereign. May the Sovereign’s fortune be as boundless as the heavens!"

Wang Chu said calmly, "Rise."

"Yes!" The old man stood up respectfully and looked at Wang Chu. "Sovereign, you are still as youthful as ever."

Wang Chu chuckled. "I didn't expect you to learn how to flatter people after all this time."

The old man shook his head vigorously. "It is not flattery, but the truth. Time has truly left no mark upon you."

Wang Chu waved a hand. "Enough with the empty praise. Let’s get to business. Do you know why I summoned you?"

The old man thought for a moment and replied, "Did the Sovereign wish to test if my medical skills have improved?"

"Uh..." Wang Chu rubbed his nose. "You could say that."