Chapter 144
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 144: Goodbye Hai Wuya
Once the doctor knew that Qiao Mu was Qiao Shuanglin, he immediately became polite and friendly.
"Elder Lao, please come inside."
"Master Dong Xinglin is waiting in the inner hall."
The middle-aged doctor pulled the thin man and his son aside, entered the room, and waited inside, also taking Qiao Mu with him.
While leading the way, he also took the opportunity to explain:
"Elder Lao is a renowned member of the Qiao’s family, who has gained fame recently. I know you have your own beliefs and you are a strong martial artist, with a firm mind that cannot be swayed by others’ words, but there are some things I still want to say."
The middle-aged doctor was somewhat helpless, obviously still thinking about the incident with the thin scholar earlier.
"Five taels of silver, or maybe fifty taels of silver, although not a small amount, can at most help one or two people in need."
"Actually, Master Dong Xinglin is not a greedy person, but rules are rules."
"A few years ago, Master Dong Xinglin also tried offering free consultations, not taking a single penny as consultation fee, only asking the patients to plant an apricot tree in the outskirts of the city after they recover."
"In the early years, there were countless apricot trees in the outskirts of Imperial Capital, forming a lush forest."
"The reputation of my master soared, and the name of a kind-hearted and skilled doctor spread throughout Imperial Capital, earning him the nickname ‘Dong Xinglin’."
"This could be a beautiful tale, a story that could be passed down through the ages." Qiao Mu nodded in approval.
However, upon hearing this, the middle-aged doctor could only wryly smile.
"Indeed, it was like that in the early years."
"But as time went on, things didn’t stay so beautiful."
"Even with my teacher, Dong Xinglin, being such a brilliant doctor, offering free consultations without any fees, what could other doctors in the same field do?"
"In the following years, rumors and gossip gradually started to circulate."
"Some people said that our teacher was seeking fame and using fellow colleagues as a backdrop to highlight his exceptional character."
"Other doctors who travel with him often face criticism, comparing their medical skills with the compassionate and skilled doctor ‘Dong Xinglin’ from the Imperial Capital. They say you are not as good as Imperial Capital Dong Xinglin and yet you dare to charge such high fees for your consultations."
"These are idle people gossiping, why should we care about what they say?" Qiao Mu furrowed his brow.
"If that’s the case, the master of the house can tolerate it… but in recent years, the world has been in chaos, with Inhuman Disasters and natural calamities everywhere, just like the middle-aged scholar we saw earlier, there are many sick people among the refugees."
"When they heard that the master of the house was offering free consultations, they naturally flocked to the clinic, almost breaking down the door."
"Apart from these refugees, there are also some ordinary people who are stingy and unwilling to pay for medical treatment. Even when they fall ill, they refuse to go to other clinics and specifically come to our clinic, waiting for the free consultations."
Qiao Mu was astonished.
"Even among the patients, there are different levels of severity and urgency."
"With so many patients, both serious and mild, all waiting for free consultations, how do we determine the order? The mild patients may not be willing to wait and let others go first…"
"Actually, our clinic is short-staffed, how can we treat so many refugees… As a result, one day, some seriously ill patients were delayed and died in the waiting room of our clinic." The middle-aged doctor sighed heavily.
"…It’s not your fault," Qiao Mu had to say so.
"Since then, various opinions have been in an uproar, and the master had no choice but to stop the free consultations."
"Who knew that by doing so, things would actually get worse."
"They all say that the master is seeking fame and reputation; in his early years, free consultations were just for gaining recognition. But now, with his reputation spreading throughout Zhong Province, the clinic is bustling with patients every day. He has stopped collecting consultation fees and is making a lot of money. He’s quite shrewd."
"Later… well, the master is getting older, and he left a few of us apprentices to handle the inquiries at the clinic. We don’t dare to do any more free consultations."
Speaking of this, the middle-aged physician couldn’t help but give Qiao Mu a deep look.
Qiao Mu understood.
The middle-aged physician was telling a story about Dong Xinglin’s past accomplishments, but in a subtle way, he was also referring to Qiao Mu’s recent act of paying the consultation fee.
Good intentions can sometimes lead to bad outcomes. It’s hard to predict what will happen next after being generous at the clinic’s entrance.
"So that’s what you wanted to say…" Qiao Mu chuckled and stayed silent.
Remembering the doctor’s strange look earlier, Qiao Mu finally understood.
However, the doctor’s intention was actually well-meaning, but everyone has their own thoughts.
Qiao Mu understood what the doctor meant, but it didn’t mean he was convinced.
As they chatted, they entered the inner chamber of the clinic.
An old man, whose hair was all white and had a healthy complexion, sat on the grand chair. He was none other than the famous doctor from Imperial Capital, Dong Xinglin.
Beside the grand chair, Qiao Mu recognized another old man.
It was Hai Wuya, the one who had taught him the "Xumi Mountain King Sutra" in the heavenly prison.
Originally, the two old men were having a pleasant conversation, but when they saw Qiao Mu and Fang Yuan being brought in, they stopped talking.
"Are you Qiao Shuanglin?" Dong Xinglin and Hai Wuya looked up.
Especially Hai Wuya, even though the current Qiao Shuanglin is different from Qiao Zhong in the heavenly prison, it still caught his attention.
Hai Wuya used to read various books in the heavenly prison, including "Medical Scriptures." Now, after being released, he unexpectedly met Qiao’s family, which made him a bit excited.
……..
The wound on the shoulder is not difficult to treat, and the injury itself is not serious, just a little troublesome due to the cold poison.
In less than half an hour, Dong Xinglin finished treating the injury and said that the cold poison would be resolved in another half day, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.
"By the way, it is rumored that you have a Blood Moon Chart left by a Spirit Refining martial artist hundreds of years ago. Can I borrow it to have a look?" Dong Xinglin asked.
Dong Xinglin is not an ordinary doctor, he is considered a half martial artist, and he has also heard about Qiao Shuanglin’s recent deeds.
Qiao Mu glanced at Fang Yuan behind him. Strictly speaking, this painting is one of Fang Yuan’s possessions, but he just took it out for fishing.
"Senior Qiao, do as you wish," said Fang Yuan quickly.
"I have no use for this painting, keeping it with me will only bring trouble. Senior Qiao can decide what to do with it," Fang Yuan replied.
Qiao Mu had been carrying that ancient painting with him, so he took it out from his pocket.
Dong Xinglin and Hai Wuya, two elderly men, examined the painting closely. They became more and more fascinated, feeling their energy and blood stirring, until suddenly they snapped back to reality.
"Truly extraordinary. This ancient painting from hundreds of years ago still exudes a spiritual charm," Hai Wuya spoke up first.
"From the looks of it, the martial artist who did the spiritual refining hundreds of years ago might have been a highly skilled 1st ranked martial artist," he continued.
"I underestimated the power of this Blood Moon Chart," Dong Xinglin smiled.
"Qiao Shuanglin, your injury is just a minor matter, not worthy of exchanging with this Blood Moon Chart. I won’t take advantage of you either. I’ll use a superior martial art technique to trade for your ancient painting. How does that sound?" Dong Xinglin proposed.
"What kind of martial art technique?" Qiao Mu suddenly became interested.
Time is on his side. As long as he dies enough and practices martial arts diligently, he will eventually master the advanced skills without worry.