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Chapter 74: The Daoist Medical Family!
Upon entering the loft, Wen Tingguang's demeanor instantly grew more serious.
Standing with hands clasped behind his back, Wen Tingguang led Ling Feng forward with purposeful strides.
Outside the main hall, a gathering of proficient cultivators awaited, their auras often surpassing even those of Lin Canglang and Duanmu Qingshan.
Upon seeing Wen Tingguang enter, many martial practitioners inside the hall hurried forward to pay their respects.
"Elder Wen!"
"Elder Wen has finally returned!"
"How did it go, Elder Wen? Any progress?"
Wen Tingguang Ignored the crowd, simply leading Ling Feng through the main hall and into a quieter corridor on the left side.
Not long after, the pair reached the tranquil and gracefully designed waterside pavilion. A maid promptly approached them, offering a respectful bow. She spoke softly, "Greetings, Elder Wen."
"How is the Sect Leader?" Wen Tingguang frowned, his expression tinged with concern.
The maid, not daring to delay, promptly replied, "I am aware only that Elder Liu has enlisted the aid of numerous physicians from the Daoist Medical Family. Even the youngest Divine Imperial Physician has been summoned. They are currently tending to the Sect Leader, yet the outcome remains unknown for now."
"The youngest Divine Imperial Physician?" Wen Tingguang nodded, acknowledging. With his own considerable expertise in medicine, he had also heard of the renowned reputation of that Divine Imperial Physician.
The physician in question was Sun Siyi, a descendant of the esteemed Daoist Medical Family, the Sun Family. Since the establishment of the Tianbai Empire, the Sun Family has served as the empire's Divine Imperial Physicians for generations, boasting a highly esteemed reputation."
The condition of the sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect was not meant to be known by outsiders. Seeking the Divine Imperial Physician posed an even greater risk of leaking secrets.
After all, despite the empire's apparent calm, there were underlying tensions. Many influential figures believed the Cangqiong Sect impeded their interests. If they learned of the sect leader’s grave condition, they might employ various methods to undermine the Cangqiong Sect's position within the empire.
Yet, as the sect leader's health deteriorated further, Elder Liu couldn't ignore the situation. Eventually, he had to call upon the Divine Imperial Physician.
In comparison, the Sun Family, being a thousand-year-old Daoist Medical Family, has always upheld high moral standards. Therefore, it's unlikely that Sun Siyi would casually leak news of the Cangqiong Sect's sect leader falling ill.
"I hope it proves to be useful," Wen Tingguang murmured, his brow furrowed as he sighed, "The descendants of those Daoist Medical Families are not what they once were. They often believe themselves superior simply because of their lineage, yet how many among them truly possess genuine talent and knowledge?"
The maid listened silently, not daring to speak further.
Elder Wen was not to be provoked, and the descendants of the Daoist Medical Families were likewise not someone a mere maid like her could criticize freely.
"Alright, lead the way," Wen Tingguang said in a subdued tone.
"Yes, Elder, please follow me," the young maid replied with a slight bow, hurrying along with quick steps as she guided Wen Tingguang and Ling Feng through the serene corridors.
As they walked, Ling Feng quietly contemplated his thoughts.
Listening to the maid and Wen Tingguang, it became apparent that the individual he was about to treat held a truly remarkable position.
The sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect!
That meant he was none other than Yue Yunlan's father!
...
In no time, the maid stopped outside the waterside pavilion. This secluded spot served as the dedicated retreat for the sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect, offering profound tranquility and rarely visited by others.
"The Sect Leader is upstairs, and there are several esteemed physicians waiting downstairs," the maid bowed respectfully, conveying the information.
"Understood," Wen Tingguang replied lightly, leading Ling Feng as they entered the pavilion through the door.
As soon as they stepped into the loft, it was apparent that it was crowded with quite a few people.
There were approximately six or seven groups, each carrying medicine boxes and emitting a subtle herbal scent.
These individuals were familiar with each other, engaged in conversations where they mentioned terms like "Hua Tuo[1]” and "Bian Que[2]," each title sounding rather impressive.
Although Ling Feng was a descendant of the Medical Saint, he had never mingled within the circle of the Divine Imperial Physicians, and he didn't know many godlike physicians.
However, from his experience traveling and practicing medicine with Ling Kun, Ling Feng had found that most of those so-called godlike physicians were merely overrated. Occasionally, there were a few genuinely skilled ones, but they paled in comparison to his own Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.
As Wen Tingguang entered with a young man, all eyes turned towards them.
One slightly chubby middle-aged man squinted his eyes and chuckled. "Elder Wen, who is this you've brought? Is he your nephew?"
"Ah, it's godlike physician Jin Kui," Wen Tingguang recognized the man and offered a respectful nod. He then replied calmly, "This young man isn't related to me; he's the physician I've invited to treat the sect leader's illness."
"Physician?" The chubby middle-aged man sized up Ling Feng, noting the faint aroma of medicinal herbs surrounding him, indicating his familiarity with various medicinal substances.
However, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Elder Wen, resorting to such desperate measures? What skills could this youngster possibly possess?"
Another physician, his face resembling that of a horse, joined in with a taunting tone, "Hmph, a physician without a medal of Daoist, practicing some “Wild Fox Zen[3]” technique. Where did this roadside charlatan[4] come from, Elder Wen? You haven't been deceived, have you?"
"Hahaha..."
Laughter echoed through the loft as the godlike physicians couldn't contain themselves.
Descendants of esteemed medical lineages, they had never encountered someone like Ling Feng before, thus their disdain was palpable.
"Charlatan? Wild Fox Zen?"
Ling Feng took a deep breath and calmly stated, "Medical skill isn't proved by words."
"Ha! You've got some nerve, kid!" scoffed the chubby middle-aged man. "I am Jin Kui, the seventeenth descendant of the esteemed Jin family of the Daoist Medical Family. And you? Are you sure you have the qualifications to question my words here?"
"I am a descendant of the Hua family of the Daoist Medical Family!"
"I am a descendant of the Li family of the Daoist Medical Family!"
"I am...”
Within the loft, each physician proudly proclaimed their lineage, their faces adorned with immense pride.
The Daoist Medical Families, all with legacies spanning over a millennium, have seen at least three generations serve as divine imperial physicians. Only such lineages can truly be deemed Daoist Medical Families.
Ling Feng smiled faintly, meeting the mocking stares head-on as he posed a question, "So, I ask you all, has anyone here successfully treated the Sect Leader?"
"Uh...”
Silence fell upon them, as each self-proclaimed descendant of the Daoist Medical Family found themselves rendered speechless.
Despite their numerous attempts at diagnosing the sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect, they remained at a loss for solutions.
At that moment, three figures descended from the second-floor staircase. Leading the trio was a white-bearded elder, followed by a young man and woman. Despite their youthful appearance, they exuded a strong aroma of herbal medicine, indicating their profound medical expertise.
Casting a discerning glance at Wen Tingguang, the elderly man with the white hair addressed him in a nonchalant tone, "So, Elder Wen, is this youngster the physician you've brought?"
Without acknowledging the white-haired elder, Wen Tingguang turned to Ling Feng and said, "Come with me, Kid."
Ling Feng nodded. After all, the true measure of his medical skill was not to be judged by these self-righteous descendants of the Daoist Medical Family!
1. Hua Tuo is considered a shenyi / godlike physician and is worshiped as a medicinal Deity or immortal in some Chinese temples. ☜
2. He was called the four famous physician in ancient China together with Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing and Li Shizhen. ☜
3. "Wild Fox Zen" is a term of ridicule within Zen Buddhism, used to mock those who claim enlightenment but deviate from the true path. It refers to a false or distorted interpretation of Zen, where one's actions do not align with the true essence of Zen, yet the individual perceives themself as aligned. ☜
4. A charlatan is a person practicing quackery or a similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, power, fame, or other advantages through pretense or deception. ☜