20: getting Started

"Good!" Doctor Chu clapped and laughed, the wrinkles on his lean face smoothing out to reveal a long-unseen, heartfelt look of gratification. He looked at the tall, steady-eyed youth before him with bright eyes and said loudly, "From today onwards, you, Qin Feng, are the second official Disciple under my, Chu Yunhe's, sect! I have drifted for half my life; it is an Opportunity to take a Disciple with your Heart-Nature in this place. Perhaps you will be my Last Disciple!"

As soon as the words "Last Disciple" were spoken, Xiao Chun and Liu Da, who were standing to the side, were slightly moved. Their gaze toward Qin Feng held a bit more significance. This meant that their Master placed extremely high hopes upon him.

Although the apprenticeship ceremony was simplified due to the constraints of the environment, it did not lose any of its solemnity under Doctor Chu's requirements. The back hall of the Huichun Medical Hall, usually a place for Doctor Chu to see patients and rest, was now brightly lit with candles and filled with the scent of herbs, exuding an air of gravity. Qin Feng took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and carefully tidied the dark blue martial outfit he was wearing—it was his best set of clothes. Then, facing Chu Yunhe who was seated upright in a Grandmaster's Chair, he lifted the hem of his robe and respectfully performed the grand ceremony of Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows. Every time he kowtowed, his forehead lightly touched the cool ground, feeling like the branding of a vow and a responsibility.

"Thud, thud, thud." The clear sounds of kowtowing echoed in the silent hall.

After the ceremony, Xiao Chun brought a cup of prepared tea. Her slender hands trembled slightly, and her eyes held a hint of curiosity and blessing. Qin Feng took the tea cup steadily with both hands, raised it above his eyebrows, and said in a clear and firm voice, "Master, please have some tea."

Doctor Chu nodded slightly, took the tea cup, uncovered the lid, gently blew away the floating leaves, and took a sip. As the warm tea went down his throat, he set the cup down and spoke in a peaceful yet undeniably powerful voice, "The ceremony is complete. Qin Feng, from today on, you are part of my sect."

"Yes, Master!" Qin Feng bowed once more.

After the ceremony, Doctor Chu beckoned to the middle-aged man standing by—a stout man with an honest face who had been silently watching the proceedings: "Liu Da, come here."

"Master." Liu Da quickly took a step forward and stood with his hands down, awaiting orders.

"This is your new Junior Brother, Qin Feng." Doctor Chu pointed to Qin Feng, then said to Qin Feng, "This is your Senior Brother Liu Da. He joined the sect ten years before you. He has an honest character and a solid Foundation in the medical Dao. You should consult your Senior Brother often in the future."

"Yes, Master." Qin Feng turned to Liu Da and solemnly cupped his fists in greeting. "Qin Feng greets Senior Brother Liu Da. I hope for your guidance in the future."

A simple smile immediately broke out on Liu Da's face, making him look a bit awkward yet happy. He quickly returned the gesture, his voice booming, "Congratulations to Junior Brother Qin on joining! I wouldn't dare offer guidance; let us learn from each other, learn from each other!" His gaze toward Qin Feng was full of kindness, clearly holding a favorable impression of this Junior Brother who had risked his life to save Xiao Chun.

"Liu Da, take Qin Feng to the guest room upstairs and settle him in. Explain the medical hall's daily rules, the schedule, and the purpose of each area to him clearly.", Doctor Chu instructed.

"Junior Brother, please follow me." Liu Da led the way enthusiastically.

After bowing to Doctor Chu and Xiao Chun again, Qin Feng followed Liu Da to the second floor of the medical hall. The stairs were made of wood and gave a slight "creak" when stepped on. The second floor was much more spacious and bright than Qin Feng's destitute rental room. The hallway was clean and tidy, and the air was filled with a faint, reassuring scent of herbs.

Liu Da pushed open a south-facing door: "Junior Brother, you will stay in this room. This room was occasionally used to store some less common herbs before. A few days ago, Master ordered me to clean it thoroughly. The bedding has also been freshly changed, so you can use it with peace of mind."

The room was not large and the furnishings were simple—a bed, a table, a chair, and a wardrobe—but it was bright and clean. Sunlight streamed through the window frames, feeling warm and cozy. Compared to that previous broken shack that leaked wind and rain, this was simply heaven.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Qin Feng thanked him sincerely.

"Oh, it's only right." Liu Da waved his hand and began to explain in a rambling manner, "The medical hall usually opens at the Chen Hour (seven in the morning) and closes at the You Hour (five in the afternoon). Unless there is an emergency, we don't stay for night consultations. If Master has no special instructions, we need to wake up at the Mao Hour (five in the morning) and practice in the backyard for an hour before opening the doors for patients. The herb storehouse is over in the east wing. Some herbs inside are quite precious or... uh, some are dangerous. Without Master's permission, you must never touch them. Also, the heat for decocting medicine and the strength for pounding herbs—all these have their specific requirements. Senior Brother will teach you slowly in the future..."

Liu Da spoke carefully, and Qin Feng listened intently, firmly memorizing every rule and precaution. He could feel that Senior Brother Liu Da was a sincere and good-hearted man. He also felt relieved; with such a Senior Brother, it should not be difficult to get along in the future.

In the evening, the medical hall closed its doors. The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen in the backyard. Around a square table, Doctor Chu sat at the head, Xiao Chun and Liu Da sat on one side, and Qin Feng sat on the other. A few simple home-cooked dishes were laid out: a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a bowl of braised tofu, a pot of radish and pork rib soup, and a plate of pickles. The meal wasn't exactly lavish, but it was steaming hot and full of the warmth of daily life.

Xiao Chun seemed to have completely forgotten the little episode about the "scent of rouge" from earlier that day. She chattered about the interesting patients who had come today, and how she had coaxed a child who was afraid of the bitterness and wouldn't take medicine for a long time. Liu Da occasionally chimed in with a few honest words, making Xiao Chun giggle. Doctor Chu ate slowly with a smile, his gaze sweeping over his three Disciples with a hint of satisfaction. Qin Feng felt this long-lost warmth and peace of a "home." The days of running, tension, and pain seemed to be smoothed away at this moment. He ate silently, his heart full of anticipation for the future.

After dinner, Doctor Chu called Qin Feng alone to his study.

The study was even more quiet than the front hall. The four walls were lined with bookshelves that reached the ceiling, densely packed with various thread-bound ancient books. The scent of medicine in the air mixed with the aroma of aged ink, settling with the atmosphere of knowledge and time. Doctor Chu motioned for Qin Feng to sit, then walked to a bookshelf. After a brief search, he pulled out a thick book with yellowed and curled edges. On the cover was written in formal regular script: "Distinguishing the Nature of a Hundred Herbs: Basic Volume." Next, he carefully poured out ten Dragon-eye sized, dark red Medicinal Pills that emitted a faint scent of blood from a small white jade bottle. They were the blood qi pills Qin Feng was familiar with.

Doctor Chu pushed the book and the Medicinal Pills onto the desk in front of Qin Feng. He gazed at him with a calm look and spoke slowly, "This 'Distinguishing the Nature of a Hundred Herbs' is the Foundation of the medical Dao. All things in the world have mutual generation and restriction, and the same applies to the nature of herbs. You must learn from the beginning, identifying the nature of a hundred herbs, understanding the principles of their Yin and Yang, cold and heat, rising, falling, floating, and sinking. More importantly, you must understand the Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier, and the taboos of compatibility. This is the basis for helping the world and saving people, and it is also what our kind relies on for our livelihood. You must not be negligent."

His finger lightly tapped the ten blood qi pills: "You should already know the nature of these Medicinal Pills. They are remarkably effective for a Martial Artist to temper their muscles and bones and fill their blood and Qi. They are perfect for you to consolidate your Foundation at this stage. Use them sparingly; medicinal materials do not come easily."

Pausing for a moment, Doctor Chu's gaze became somewhat profound. He scrutinized Qin Feng as if trying to see through him. "I observe your breath is steady and restrained, and your blood and Qi flow vigorously and smoothly. You have already stabilized at the Early Stage of a Martial Apprentice, and your Foundation is even more solid than many Martial Artists who have been immersed in this Realm for a year or two. It seems that by groping your way through on your own, you have successfully stepped over the threshold of the martial Dao. And... your recovery speed is beyond that of ordinary people. This talent, perseverance, and even... physique, are indeed rare."

Qin Feng felt a slight chill in his heart, knowing that his changes could not escape the Dharma Eye of a high-level person like his Master. He respectfully lowered his gaze and answered cautiously, "This Disciple was merely lucky. I had some insights during my injury, and being young, I recovered a bit faster."

Doctor Chu nodded and did not delve deeper. Everyone has their own Opportunity and secrets; what he valued in taking a Disciple was their Heart-Nature and character. He simply offered guidance: "Since you have entered the sect, you must know that the Martial Apprentice Realm focuses on tempering the Muscles, Bones, and Membrane, and guiding the blood and Qi to make them full and surging like converging rivers. This lays a solid Foundation for the subsequent condensation of True Qi and the opening of the Dantian. Since you have such vigorous blood and Qi, and with the assistance of blood qi pills, you only need to avoid arrogance and impetuosity, follow the steps, and Cultivate diligently. As for the Cultivation Technique..."

He pondered for a moment. "If you have no suitable choice for now, I can find a balanced and stable Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique for you in the future. At the beginning of the martial Dao, the Foundation is most important. Avoid being greedy for quick results and Cultivating those Heterodox Paths that seem like shortcuts but are actually full of hidden dangers."

"Yes! This Disciple will keep Master's teachings firmly in mind! Thank you, Master!" A warm current surged in Qin Feng's heart. He stood up again and gave a deep bow. This was not only for the gift of the book and medicine but also for this unreserved guidance and care. With a backer like his Master and a clear path ahead, he believed that his journey as a Martial Artist would surely be steadier and go much further.