Chapter 58: I Want to Study Medicine with You

The scene before him was one Zhang Tao had yearned for over countless years. He had always hoped for family harmony and brotherly love, but his wishes had never been fulfilled. With his father’s fate uncertain, the past few days had been an ordeal, each day dragging by like a year. Yet now, all worries had vanished—the illness that plagued his father was finally being treated, and though his father had not yet regained consciousness, his mother and younger brother had come to understand and accept each other. All of this, every precious change, was thanks to Liu Fan. Zhang Tao’s gratitude for Liu Fan was beyond words; all he could do was grasp Liu Fan’s hand tightly and utter a heartfelt, “Thank you…”

“I’m both a classmate and brother to your second son. This is nothing worth mentioning,” Liu Fan replied with serene composure, as if he’d done nothing of consequence. Yet, to those present, his words carried a different weight. Instantly, all eyes looked upon him with reverent respect, his image swelling in stature before them.

Even Su Xiaofei, who had always been at odds with him, found her gaze flickering with a strange ripple. Her bright eyes shimmered with a thousand thoughts, and she mused, “Perhaps this fellow isn’t as insufferable as I thought…”

“Ugh… urgh, cough, cough…” As the others were still rejoicing in the reconciliation of the Zhang family, Father Zhang, who had been recovering in the water barrel, suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood and erupted into a fit of violent coughing.

“Dad, Dad, are you alright? Are you okay?” Zhang Tao, standing closest to the barrel, was the first to react, his voice taut with anxiety.

“Ah! Bocheng, are you alright? Please don’t frighten me. If anything were to happen to you, how could your daughter and I go on living?” Mrs. Zhang, seeing her husband cough up blood, was instantly overcome with panic. Having loved and understood Zhang Bocheng for decades, there was no one in that room who cared more for him than she did.

“Third Brother, quick, come check on Dad!” Zhang Yi, standing farther back, could do nothing but fret from a distance. Suddenly recalling Liu Fan at his side, he hurriedly tugged at Liu Fan’s sleeve in desperation.

Liu Fan had already anticipated Zhang Bocheng’s reaction and explained calmly, “Don’t worry, everyone. This is normal. Uncle just expelled the excess stagnant blood from his body. He’s already healed and will wake up soon. However, his vitality is still depleted, so he’ll need three days of rest to fully recover. After that, he’ll be even stronger than before—on par with a young man.”

Reassured by Liu Fan’s response, the three members of the Zhang family relaxed and quietly observed Zhang Bocheng’s condition. Though weak, his face was now flushed with color, and his flesh seemed fuller—no longer gaunt and withered like an old tree. He looked years younger. Meanwhile, the barrel of emerald wood spirit water had turned into a pool of foul, black liquid, so rancid that none dared approach.

Sure enough, just as Liu Fan had said, within a few minutes Zhang Bocheng slowly opened his eyes. The first sight that greeted him was that of his wife and two sons, so he asked in confusion, “Yi…Ling, what are you all doing? Why are you staring at me? And where am I? Weren’t I already… cough, cough…”

Though the poison in Zhang Bocheng’s body had been purged, he was still frail, and speaking at length left him breathless. It wasn’t that Liu Fan couldn’t have healed him in an instant—he simply didn’t wish to attract undue attention with miracles and bring trouble upon himself. Even so, the scene was astounding enough; both Doctor Li and Director Qi stared bug-eyed, thunderstruck. If word of this ever spread, it would surely cause a sensation.

“Well, everything’s settled here. There’s nothing more for us to do. Let’s step out and give the Zhang family some privacy. Someone should also arrange for a new room—this one’s air is too foul to be inhabited. And as for the barrel, bury the water somewhere far away,” Liu Fan suggested considerately, then slipped quietly out of the room to leave space for the family’s reunion.

With Liu Fan’s prompt, the other three followed, covering their noses as they exited. Director Qi, however, seemed particularly intrigued by the barrel of black water, casting lingering glances over his shoulder as he reluctantly left the room. Outside, he hesitated, clearly wanting to speak to Liu Fan but not quite knowing how.

Liu Fan, of course, understood his thoughts: the director was curious about the wood spirit essence used in the treatment. Smiling, Liu Fan addressed him, “Director Qi, I know what you’re thinking, but there’s nothing I can explain. Don’t bother analyzing that water—the substances came from Uncle Zhang’s body and are highly toxic. There’s nothing of research value there; it’s simply poison.”

Disappointed, Qi Wentao could only sigh. He knew well enough that others’ secret techniques were not for outsiders to study, especially between acquaintances. Resigned, he turned to Doctor Li for help.

Doctor Li shared the same curiosity and asked, “Young friend, the medicine you just used seems to restore bodily functions. Is it easy to prepare? Could it be made into a medicinal formula?”

As a physician devoted to his patients, Doctor Li spoke out of a desire to benefit countless sufferers if Liu Fan’s miraculous medicine could be produced in quantity. So he shamelessly asked for advice.

“No,” Liu Fan answered firmly. Though he admired Doctor Li’s medical ethics, the medicine was made from the essence of heaven and earth—not something ordinary people could concoct. He declined without hesitation.

“Why not? Is it because…” Disappointed, Doctor Li blurted out his question, but recalling the extraordinary skills Liu Fan had just displayed, he realized this was not something mortals could replicate, and he fell silent.

“There are two reasons. First, the ingredients are rare and hard to find. Second, even if you could gather them, it can’t be mass-produced—this isn’t something ordinary people can refine. I hope you understand; it’s not that I won’t share, but that you simply couldn’t make it,” Liu Fan explained, half-truthfully. In reality, there was no formula—it was solely wood spirit essence, unattainable to mortals.

“Hmph! Are you just making excuses because you don’t want to share the recipe?” Su Xiaofei, for reasons unknown even to herself, couldn’t resist sparring with Liu Fan whenever she saw his calm demeanor. Her words now were sharp and accusatory.

Her accusation left Liu Fan baffled—he couldn’t recall ever offending this young lady. Unable to understand, he simply dismissed it. But since Su Xiaofei kept finding fault, Liu Fan responded bluntly, “I don’t claim to be a good person, but I act according to my conscience. If I say no, it’s no. Besides, we’re not close—there’s no reason for me to explain myself to you.”

“You…” Su Xiaofei was left speechless, stifled by his words, her nose smarting with resentment. Two crystal tears slid down her cheeks, and she sniffled pitifully, cursing Liu Fan in her heart. She’d tried this same tactic earlier with great effect, so she resorted to it again.

Sure enough, it worked. Seeing Su Xiaofei cry, Liu Fan was thrown into turmoil—this was his greatest weakness. He pleaded, “Oh come on, could you not cry so easily? Your tears are driving me crazy, I’m begging you!”

“I’ll cry if I want to! Who told you to bully me? I’m a girl, you know. You could try being a little more considerate, you blockhead!” To everyone’s surprise, Su Xiaofei’s tears only flowed faster at Liu Fan’s words. Her behavior left the onlooking doctors and nurses in the corridor petrified, for they all knew her as an aloof ice queen. When had she ever acted so coquettishly, crying and pouting before a man?

There were exceptions, of course. Elder Li and Director Qi, who had watched Su Xiaofei grow up, knew full well she was only pretending. Still, they didn’t call her out, and simply stood by, grinning at the spectacle.

Now at his wit’s end, Liu Fan cast a pleading glance at Doctor Li, who immediately donned a stern expression and scolded, “Xiaofei, enough mischief. You’re too old to be crying all the time. This isn’t Liu Fan’s fault.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaofei understood her grandfather’s intention—it was as good as saying nothing at all. So she declared, “Alright, I’ll stop crying if you agree to one condition. Otherwise… hmph!” She raised a dainty fist to threaten Liu Fan.

“Fine, fine, as long as you stop crying, I’ll agree to anything—so long as it’s within my ability and not illegal,” Liu Fan blurted out, his mind in chaos.

“You said it, not me! Don’t you dare go back on your word!” Su Xiaofei instantly broke into a triumphant smile.

“Alright, I agreed of my own free will. Now, what do you want me to do?” Liu Fan had long since guessed her ploy, but he simply couldn’t bear to see girls cry. It was an old trauma left from childhood, thanks to Liu Yuting’s tears.

“I want to learn medicine from you!” This time, Su Xiaofei, without tears or drama, looked at Liu Fan with solemn determination.

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My goodness, today’s double update was posted early due to a scheduling error in the draft box. The two chapters intended for release after midnight on the 22nd were published at 7 p.m. on the 21st. Therefore, there will be no update tomorrow. I hope all readers can understand, and I apologize for any inconvenience caused. I hope you will continue to support this book as always.