Zhang Wei slept soundly due to exhaustion, completely forgetting about dinner. He slept until morning, when the sun's rays seeped through the gaps in the window, casting a warm glow across the room.
Outside, the sounds of a bustling town filled the air, people walking, talking, and bargaining with one another. Some were quarreling over prices, while others were simply minding their own business.
Zhang Wei woke up to the loud growling of his stomach. He remembered that he hadn't eaten dinner the night before, having been too exhausted from treating the villagers' ailments. He patted his clothes as he stood up, searching for something to eat. To his disappointment, all he had were medicinal herbs, none of which were edible as food.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A voice called from outside, "Brother Zhang, wake up! I brought us breakfast!"
Zhang Wei immediately recognized the voice, it was his so-called apprentice, Pan Qiang.
Zhang Wei opened the door and saw a man standing outside. He looked thin, yet he was tall, and despite his slender frame, the muscles on his arms suggested that he worked hard.
In his hands, he held a basket full of bread and fruits. When Zhang Wei glanced at his face, he immediately noticed the bruises and wounds scattered across it, evidence that Pan Qiang had been in a fight not long ago.
It was then that Zhang Wei remembered ,he hadn't seen Pan Qiang at all yesterday.
Zhang Wei's face darkened as he asked, "Who did this to you?" He glanced at Pan Qiang, who lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.
After a brief silence, Pan Qiang slowly replied, "Song Meng and his gang did this to me."
Zhang Wei let out a sigh, his expression stern. "I told you before, you shouldn't concern yourself with people like them. Just avoid them."
Pan Qiang clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with frustration. "But they were saying that Brother Zhang is a fake healer! I couldn't just stand by and do nothing, so I fought them." His voice was filled with anger, but there was also deep conviction. "I can accept anything they call me, mock me, or insult me all they want, but I can't stand by and let them slander a good person like you, Brother Zhang."
Zhang Wei's eyes softened as he looked at Pan Qiang. "Let's eat first. We have a lot to do today since business is booming. After breakfast, I'll treat your bruises and make sure not a single scar remains on your face," he said as they entered the house to prepare and eat breakfast.
After finishing breakfast, Zhang Wei set the dishes aside and turned his attention to Pan Qiang's injuries. He let out a small sigh as he studied the bruises and cuts on his friend's face.
"Sit down. I'll treat your wounds. I won't let a single scar remain," Zhang Wei said, already gathering his medicinal supplies.
Pan Qiang hesitated for a moment before nodding, silently watching as Zhang Wei worked.
Zhang Wei reached for a small clay jar and opened the lid, revealing a fragrant green paste. He scooped some onto his fingers and began applying it to the bruises with gentle, practiced movements. "This is Silverleaf Paste," he explained. "It will reduce swelling and help your skin heal faster."
Pan Qiang winced slightly but didn't complain. "You always have strange medicines, Brother Zhang. Where did you even learn all this?"
Zhang Wei chuckled. "It's not strange, just advanced. Now hold still."
In his mind, he thought to himself, he was a man from the 20th century, possessing advanced knowledge of medicine. To the people here, his treatments must have seemed strange, even miraculous.
He then took out a small vial filled with a golden liquid and carefully poured a few drops onto Pan Qiang's deeper cuts. "This is Golden Lotus Extract. It prevents scars from forming."
A cool, soothing sensation spread over Pan Qiang's skin, easing the stinging pain. He relaxed slightly.
Next, Zhang Wei reached for a bottle containing an almost ethereal blue liquid. "This is Spirit Dew Essence. It enhances the medicine's effects and numbs the pain." He dabbed a small amount onto a cloth and pressed it lightly over the worst of the bruises.
Pan Qiang sighed in relief. "That feels nice."
Zhang Wei smirked. "Good. That means it's working."
Finally, he took a small wooden bowl and mixed a pinch of finely ground white powder into the remaining paste before applying the final layer over the wounds. "This is Snow Ginseng. It strengthens the skin and prevents bruises from darkening."
Once he was satisfied, he wrapped the deeper wounds with a clean cloth and tied the bandages securely.
"There. By tomorrow, the swelling will be gone. In three days, there won't even be a scar," Zhang Wei said confidently as he cleaned his hands.
Pan Qiang touched his face lightly, impressed by the cooling sensation of the medicine. He grinned. "Brother Zhang, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were a miracle herbalist."
Zhang Wei chuckled. "Herbalist? You mistake me. I'm an Apothecary."
As Pan Qiang laughed, a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes, but the tension from earlier had already faded. The pain from his injuries was easing, and he knew that with Zhang Wei's medicine, he would recover in no time.
After treating Pan Qiang's wounds and bruises, they made their way to Zhang Wei's makeshift stall, which was already crowded with people lining up to receive treatment from their so-called "Grandmaster Zhang."
At the front of the line, Zhang Wei and Pan Qiang noticed a carriage approaching. Its design was unmistakably familiar, it was the same style as the one belonging to the old man Fang from Dongguan Town.
As the carriage came to a stop, two elderly men stepped out. Zhang Wei immediately recognized one of them, it was Elder Fang, the man he had treated just days ago.
Pan Qiang and Zhang Wei exchanged uneasy glances, the same thought crossing their minds. Did Elder Fang's ailment return? Was he here to demand the tenfold compensation Zhang Wei had promised?
A cold sweat broke out on their backs as panic crept in. If the old man truly demanded repayment, even if they sold all their belongings, they wouldn't be able to afford it.
Zhang Wei made his way to his stall, greeting the crowd that had gathered, patiently waiting for treatment. He stopped in front of the two elderly men and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Good morning, Elder Fang. Why have you come? Has your ailment returned?" Zhang Wei asked, his gaze shifting to the old man standing beside Elder Fang.
The unfamiliar old man looked pale, yet there was something about him, an invisible pressure that made Zhang Wei break into a cold sweat. He was tall, but his hunched back made him appear smaller. Despite his frail appearance, there was an undeniable sharpness in his gaze. The old man gave Zhang Wei a small smile just as Elder Fang returned the greeting.
"Good morning, Grandmaster Zhang. I'm not here because of my own ailment. Instead, I've brought you a potential customer." Elder Fang gestured toward the old man beside him. "This gentleman is Cao Jinggou from the Cao Family. He has a condition that requires your expertise."
Cao Jinggou scoffed, his eyes flashing with doubt as he studied Zhang Wei.
"Fang Weimin, are you certain this brat cured your ailment?" he asked, skepticism evident in his voice.
Elder Fang chuckled. "Don't worry, Brother Cao. I understand your doubts, I had them too. When I first met Grandmaster Zhang, I thought he was just another fraud, boasting without substance. But he proved me wrong. His skills are real."
Zhang Wei remained calm despite the scrutiny, his eyes steady as he looked at Cao Jinggou. "If you doubt me, why not let me examine your condition? Whether I am capable or not, you will know soon enough."
At that moment, an unfamiliar glow flickered from within Zhang Wei's pocket, unnoticed by him. Hidden inside was the strange pendant he had purchased from the mysterious old man at a stall days ago.
Suddenly, a surge of information flooded Zhang Wei's mind the moment he laid eyes on Elder Cao. His vision blurred, and in an instant, he was no longer standing at his stall. Instead, he saw a scene unfold before him, a memory, yet not his own.
In the vision, Elder Cao was no longer an aged, frail man but a majestic warrior, his presence as commanding as a general from the Chinese novels Zhang Wei had read in his youth. The younger Cao Jinggou stood amidst a battlefield, his blade clashing against the scales of a monstrous snake, its body as thick as a carriage, its crimson eyes gleaming with malice.
The battle was fierce. Cao Jinggou's strikes were swift and precise, each movement carrying the weight of a seasoned fighter. With one final, earth-shaking blow, he severed the beast's head, victorious.
Yet, the victory came at a cost. Zhang Wei's gaze sharpened as he noticed something others might have missed. Wounds marred Cao Jinggou's body, deep, vicious gashes. But one, in particular, caught his attention.
A strange purple hue spread from a bite mark on the old warrior's shoulder, sinking into his veins. Yet, just as quickly as it appeared, the discoloration vanished, the skin returning to normal as if nothing had happened.
Zhang Wei's vision snapped back to reality, his heart pounding. Cold sweat formed on his brow as he stared at Elder Cao, realization dawning upon him. This wasn't just an ordinary ailment, this was something far more sinister.
Zhang Wei's breath hitched as he steadied himself, his mind still reeling from the sudden vision. The flicker of golden light from his pocket had long disappeared, yet the images it had shown him remained vivid in his thoughts. He looked at Elder Cao, his eyes filled with newfound understanding.
Zhang Wei exhaled, his gaze sharp as he observed Elder Cao's complexion ,the slight tremor in his fingers, the faint irregularity in his breathing. When he placed two fingers on the old man's wrist, he felt it immediately. His pulse was sluggish, like a river struggling to flow, and though his heart rate seemed steady on the surface, there was something unnatural lurking beneath, a lingering poison, buried deep within his body.
Just then, a strange warmth spread from the jade pendant in his pocket. Suddenly, knowledge that he shouldn't have, knowledge far beyond anything he had ever learned poured into his mind. It was as if he had studied ancient medical texts, learned from masters long forgotten, their wisdom now his to wield.
Zhang Wei said slowly, his voice calm but firm, "you are not suffering from an ordinary ailment. If I'm correct, your symptoms have troubled you for years, sudden bouts of weakness, pain that flares up unpredictably, and a strange coldness that lingers deep within your bones, especially at night."
Zhang Wei met Elder Cao's gaze, his voice steady as he spoke.
"Elder Cao… you were poisoned by the Abyssal Viper."
Elder Cao's expression darkened, his fingers clenching slightly. "How do you know that?" he asked, suspicion flashing in his sharp gaze.
The moment the name left Zhang Wei's lips, Elder Cao's eyes widened. His posture stiffened, and even Elder Fang, standing beside him, looked taken aback.
"That wretched beast" Elder Cao muttered under his breath. "How do you know of it?"
Zhang Wei didn't answer directly. Instead, he continued, "That viper was no ordinary creature. Its venom is not something that kills instantly, nor does it leave visible marks. Instead, it lingers within the body, dormant, slowly eating away at one's vitality over the years. Your body may have seemed to recover back then, but the poison never truly left, it has been lurking inside you all this time."
Pan Qiang, standing beside Zhang Wei, swallowed nervously. "Grandmaster Zhang, does that mean Brother Cao is?"
Zhang Wei nodded. "If left untreated, the venom will eventually drain the last of his strength, and when that time comes, no medicine will be able to save him."
A heavy silence fell between them. Elder Cao's face, though composed, carried a trace of unease. He had consulted many physicians over the years, yet none had been able to diagnose his condition, let alone name the beast that had caused it. But this young man, this so-called Grandmaster Zhang, had done so with just a glance and by his pulse.
Zhang Wei broke the silence. "Fortunately, I have a way to cleanse the venom from your body, but it will take time. Return tomorrow morning, and I will prepare a prescription for you. However, you must gather the ingredients I list. Without them, even I won't be able to cure you."
Elder Cao studied Zhang Wei for a long moment before finally nodding. "Very well. Give me the list, and I will see to it that the herbs are gathered."
Zhang Wei took a deep breath, then reached for his brush and parchment, beginning to write down the ingredients needed to purge the venom of the Abyssal Viper.