In Lu Qing's mind, the image of a kind-faced, lean elderly gentleman came to life.
Old Doctor Chen.
This elder doctor was the only physician serving several nearby villages.
His medical skills were exceptional; while not miraculous enough to "bring the dying back to life," he had an uncanny ability to quickly cure most common ailments like headaches and fevers, bruises and sprains, or colds and chills. Rarely would any illness remain unresolved under his care.
As such, he was highly respected among the villagers.
It was said that even the affluent families in town would regularly invite him to treat members of their households.
Such a figure naturally held a special status in the village.
Almost none of the villagers dared to show him even the slightest disrespect.
Originally, the young Lu Qing was just a naive youth with limited understanding and sensitivity to deeper matters.
*But as Lu Qing reflected on past events, he began noticing something peculiar.*
For example, while the memories painted Old Doctor Chen as an elderly man, it remained curious how his physique was extraordinarily robust, often allowing him to venture deep into the mountains alone to collect medicinal herbs.
People had to keep in mind that the mountains in this world were not the same as the well-developed tourist spots of his previous life.
They were real, rugged peaks and ancient forests.
Within them lurked venomous insects and snakes, wolves and ferocious tigers—countless dangers, enough to awe anyone.
Even experienced hunters wouldn't dare to delve too deep into the woods casually.
Yet Old Doctor Chen, despite his age, could navigate these treacherous terrains safely, which was indeed unusual.
*Lu Qing found himself increasingly curious about the skills possessed by this mysterious elder.*
If only he could learn a fragment of Old Doctor Chen's medical abilities, it would be remarkable.
After all, his Superpower, which allowed him to see the basic information of all things, made identifying medicinal herbs a foolproof endeavor.
It paired perfectly with the intricacies of medicine.
If he could master even a fraction of Old Doctor Chen's expertise, he and Little Yan could secure a dependable future.
*But how? How could he manage to learn from Old Doctor Chen?*
*As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Lu Qing's eyelids grew heavy.*
*After all, his body was still weak, and the weariness of his physical state was not something his sheer willpower could resist.*
*Ultimately, before he could figure out a way, Lu Qing fell asleep without coming up with any solutions.*
*Little did he expect, before he could even devise a method to approach Old Doctor Chen, the elder would show up on his doorstep instead.*
Lu Qing drifted off on a reclining chair, and in his drowsy haze, he seemed to hear voices. Shortly after, he distinctly felt someone holding his hand.
Instantly, he snapped awake.
"Lu Qing, you're awake! Old Doctor Chen is checking your pulse," a booming voice announced.
Lu Qing found the voice slightly familiar—it seemed to belong to Uncle Zhang from next door, and his heart relaxed momentarily.
Soon after, he became fully alert and opened his eyes.
Old Doctor Chen?
Turning his head, he saw two elderly gentlemen nearby—one standing, one sitting.
The seated man was slender in build and wore a kind expression. Who else could he be if not Old Doctor Chen?
"Stay still; let me check your pulse first," Old Doctor Chen said gently as Lu Qing appeared ready to sit up.
Lu Qing immediately froze, not daring to make a move.
It was only then that he noticed Old Doctor Chen's hand resting lightly on his wrist.
*No wonder he had felt someone holding his hand earlier—it turned out it was merely Old Doctor Chen assessing his pulse.*
Seeing Old Doctor Chen close his eyes to concentrate on the task, Lu Qing also refrained from moving. His only option was to lie obediently in the recliner.
Realizing the pulse check wouldn't come to a quick conclusion, Lu Qing occupied himself by studying the somewhat enigmatic figure of Old Doctor Chen.
At first glance, the elder doctor appeared even gentler than Lu Qing remembered. His lean frame carried a touch of ethereal grace, almost giving him an otherworldly aura.
Just looking at him instilled an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
However, as Lu Qing continued watching, he noticed that Old Doctor Chen's expression had grown grave. His brows furrowed tightly, as though faced with a difficult issue.
*Curious, Lu Qing quietly observed Old Doctor Chen for a while, until suddenly a faint layer of red light emerged around the elder doctor.*
[Chen Songqing: Skilled in medicine, kind-hearted, deeply respected—an excellent elder physician.]
[Cultivation: Accomplished in Qi Cultivation, Postnatal Internal Realm.]
*What was this?!*
*Lu Qing's eyes widened in shock—not just at the subtle red glow surrounding the doctor but also at the accompanying note from his Superpower.*
*Having pieced together some of his Superpower's patterns during his time awake, Lu Qing observed that ordinary objects typically revealed gray light upon investigation.*
*More uncommon items, such as medicinal herbs, might exhibit white light.*
*Humans, without exception, presented white light—at least anyone Lu Qing had encountered in the village.*
*The strength of the white light varied: adults shone brightest, children somewhat less, and elders dimmest.*
*Lu Qing speculated that this might correlate with an individual's vigor or life energy.*
*After all, adults were generally considered the most energetic, while the elderly had comparatively weaker vitality.*
*But the unusual display from Old Doctor Chen shattered his prior understanding.*
*For the first time ever, he saw not white light—but red.*
*Even more startling were the words accompanying this revelation.*
Cultivation?
Accomplished in Qi Cultivation, Postnatal Internal Realm?
*What did this mean? Could it be that the world he currently found himself in wasn't just some ancient-era parallel of Hua Xia Country, but rather something far more fantastical—a place steeped in mystical secrets and cultivation techniques?*
*Lu Qing's heart churned with turmoil at this sudden discovery.*
*As his mind raced to gather more thoughts and investigate Old Doctor Chen further, the elder physician suddenly opened his eyes.*
Noticing Lu Qing's flustered and astonished expression, Old Doctor Chen frowned briefly before relaxing his features again.
He said in a soothing tone, "No need to be afraid. I was merely checking your pulse, that's all."
*Clearly, the doctor misunderstood, thinking that the intensity of his pulse-checking demeanor had frightened Lu Qing.*
Taking the chance to manage his emotions, Lu Qing asked nervously, "Grandpa Chen, how am I doing? Is my illness all cleared up?"
Standing nearby, Uncle Zhang also gazed at Old Doctor Chen expectantly.
After pausing in contemplation, Old Doctor Chen replied, "Indeed, your illness has cleared up. Although you're still somewhat weak, with proper care and nourishment, there shouldn't be any more issues."
"Really? That's wonderful! Lu Qing, hurry up and thank Old Doctor Chen. If not for the medicinal treatments he provided, you might not even have woken up!" Uncle Zhang exclaimed jubilantly.
"Thank you, Grandpa Chen."
Lu Qing got up from the recliner and began preparing to kneel in gratitude.
After all, Old Doctor Chen truly had saved his life.
If it weren't for the bowl of herbal medicine, Lu Qing might not have survived the ordeal of merging memories.
For that reason alone, Old Doctor Chen was more than deserving of the gesture.
But Old Doctor Chen stopped him, saying, "No need for such formality. Your awakening is a stroke of fortune all your own. I merely played a small part in the process."
These words were not mere humility on Old Doctor Chen's part.
Even now, he felt an unusual sense of surprise within himself.
When he first tended to Lu Qing, the youth's condition was dire—his body overtaken by cold winds, his breathing reduced to mere whispers, with death seemingly just around the corner.
Even the hands of a true medical saint would likely struggle to save him.
Still, driven by the unyielding benevolence of a doctor, he prescribed a soup of medicinal herbs infused with rare ingredients.
He never anticipated much; it was merely a matter of doing his part and leaving the rest to fate.
Some of the herbs he added had been reserved for prominent clients in the city.
Because of this, he had to venture into the mountains early the next day to replenish his supply.
To his amazement, upon returning, he heard villagers gossip that Lu Qing had recovered—and not just barely, but well enough to walk around and even catch fish at the river.
Startled, he wasted no time investigating for himself.
When he arrived at the courtyard, he coincidentally ran into Uncle Zhang returning from his fieldwork, and the two entered together.
At first, Old Doctor Chen assumed the villagers might have exaggerated the situation.
After checking Lu Qing's pulse, however, he confirmed that their statements were entirely truthful.
Lu Qing's illness was completely gone.
Other than lingering physical weakness, the symptoms had vanished without a trace.
*This discovery left Old Doctor Chen utterly astonished.*