Chapter 283: I Came to Have a Look (Climax Approaching)

Housekeeper Lu left and soon returned, carrying an old man.

He looked even older than Shen Hong, with wrinkled skin and a face full of age spots, leaning back in a lounge chair. He inhaled more than he exhaled, appearing as if he could die at any moment. No wonder the mansion was under strict lockdown, with entry restricted to doctors only. In this condition, it seemed he wouldn't last much longer.

“You are all renowned medical masters from the Physician Guild; please, I beg you to save our master!” Housekeeper Lu bowed to everyone.

“Please describe the Great Apothecary’s symptoms in detail!” said the Three-star Physician who had spoken earlier.

“Yes!” Knowing that physicians needed to ask questions to diagnose, Housekeeper Lu did not hesitate: “Our master was originally in excellent health. About half a month ago, he suddenly fell ill. He couldn’t eat, and his health deteriorated day by day. By today, he can’t even speak. As for the specific symptoms… I can’t describe them. I only know his condition worsened continuously, and no tonic or medicine had any effect.”

“A sudden onset? Could it be poisoning?” a physician interjected.

A sudden illness, without any prior warning, made poisoning highly probable.

“We suspected that too. We even used special methods to test for it, but found no signs of poisoning.”

Given that the Great Apothecary had been prominent in Red Lotus City for so many years and had ties to the Poison Hall, testing for internal poisoning should have been very simple. Since they said there was none, it likely wasn't poisoning.

“Let me take a look!”

The Three-star Physician who spoke got up, went to the Great Apothecary, and looked him over. Moments later, his brows furrowed into a knot.

“Pale lips, intermittent breathing, loose skin with deep age spots, lifeless eyes…” After observing for a while, he couldn’t help but shake his head: “These are all signs that one’s life is nearing its end!”

Life spans are destined; if someone’s life truly reached its end, even the most skilled physician couldn't defy fate and prolong it, unless the physician himself could achieve a breakthrough in their current medical abilities.

“Our master is very famous, but he merely inherited the position of Great Apothecary. He’s only… in his forties, not even fifty yet,” Housekeeper Lu said with hesitation. The title of Great Apothecary in Red Lotus City wasn’t specific to an individual; like a peerage, it could be passed down. Whoever held the title of Great Apothecary held the position of paramount leader in Red Lotus City.

“Not yet fifty?”

Everyone was startled, and even Zhang Xuan was slightly taken aback. This old man in front of them looked so old that people would absolutely believe he was ninety, yet he was actually under fifty… With the strength of a Grandmaster and an age under fifty, he should, under normal circumstances, be in his prime, with his strength, essence, energy, and spirit all at their peak. It was impossible for his life to be nearing its end.

“Has he taken a Vitality Restoration Pill?” After a moment of hesitation, the Three-star Physician couldn’t help but ask again. Vitality Restoration Pills could rejuvenate waning strength, even having some effect on the elderly and frail.

“He already took it, but… it didn’t help much!” Housekeeper Lu shook his head again.

“Not even a Vitality Restoration Pill worked?” This time, not only the Three-star Physician but everyone else also looked grave, their brows furrowed. The Vitality Restoration Pill was a Grade-2 medicinal pill, known for its miraculous effects on Grandmaster realm experts. Its limited effect was sufficient to show that the Great Apothecary’s body had deteriorated to an unimaginable extent.

“I have a set of acupuncture stimulation techniques to restore vitality; we can try that!” Physician Mu Hong, who had spoken earlier, stood up.

“Grandmaster Mu Hong’s Silver Needle Technique is world-renowned; it should be effective,” everyone nodded.

Physician Mu Hong wasted no time, taking out his silver needles and applying them one by one to the Great Apothecary lying on the lounge chair. A moment later, he shook his head and retreated. Although his Silver Needle Technique was famous and potent, it seemed to have no effect on the Great Apothecary.

“I have a precious prescription here; we can try that…” Another person stood up.

Many physicians either demonstrated powerful techniques or discussed what ailment the Great Apothecary might have. Various methods and medical theories were presented, creating a dazzling array of insights that left Miss Mo Yu, who was observing from the side, utterly captivated and overwhelmed. Those present were essentially the most formidable medical masters from various kingdoms; even the least skilled among them were far more capable than Grandmaster Qingyang. As merely a physician apprentice, she had never witnessed such a grand event. After listening for just a short while, she felt refreshed and her understanding of medicine deepened considerably.

“He…” Suppressing her excitement, she glanced at Zhang Xuan sitting nearby, and her face immediately darkened. She had thought he would be engrossed in these profound theories, just like her. Instead, she found him sitting there blank-faced and seemingly dazed. She had seen such an expression before; it was what people wore when they utterly failed to grasp or understand a profession.

He doesn’t understand any of this? How is that possible? Her heart stirred, and she couldn’t resist sending a telepathic message: “Zhang Xuan, I didn’t understand the ‘Extreme Diagnostic Method’ Physician Mu Hong mentioned just now. What exactly does it mean?”

Zhang Xuan was startled, not expecting her to suddenly ask him. He hadn't read any books on medicine, and the kingdom’s library had very few such texts. How could he know these theories and terms? After thinking for a moment, he immediately shook his head: “I don’t know either; I’ve never heard of it.”

Mo Yu’s vision went dark. The Extreme Diagnostic Method was a basic diagnostic technique for aspiring physicians, using extreme hypotheses to determine a patient’s ailment. Let alone physicians, even apprentices specifically learned it, yet this guy claimed he’d never heard of it…

“Then… what about the ‘Observation Diagnostic Method’?” She couldn’t help but send another telepathic message.

“Never heard of that either!” Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The Tianxuan Kingdom only had one master of the original language, and that person was only a One-star Physician. He had little interaction with them, so his knowledge of medical theory was, effectively, completely blank.

Mo Yu’s mouth twitched. The Observation Diagnostic Method, which involved determining an illness by observing the patient, was a mandatory subject in apprentice examinations. Every physician understood it, yet he claimed he’d never heard of it… He didn't even know the most basic medical concepts, yet he was impersonating a physician to treat someone… Brother, do you genuinely think you have too long to live, or are you just asking for trouble? She felt frustrated, but also somewhat bewildered. If he didn’t even know these things, it meant he was completely ignorant of medicine. But then… how did he diagnose and treat the Howling Celestial Beast and Housekeeper Lu’s ailments?

While Mo Yu was lost in thought, Zhang Xuan also wore a helpless expression. He could only form a Library of Heaven’s Path book when someone practiced martial arts or was unconscious. This Great Apothecary, though unable to speak, was clearly conscious. He didn’t look much stronger than Shen Hong had been. Asking him to practice martial arts… he’d probably collapse before he even started. And if he were to knock him out with a slap, like he did with Shen Hong… he’d likely be dismembered before he could even check the contents of the Library. Although the hall appeared quiet, many experts were actually hidden within. If he dared to make a move, those people would surely rush out.

“I need to find a way to legitimately knock out this Great Apothecary…” Rubbing his temples, he pondered a justification.

“We are truly sorry, but this is the first time we’ve encountered the Great Apothecary’s illness, and we are simply powerless!”

“Yes, Housekeeper Lu, we genuinely have no solution. Our apologies.”

“It is our lack of skill…”

Just as Mo Yu and Zhang Xuan were both deep in their own thoughts, Mu Hong and the others all stood up, shaking their heads, each with an awkward expression. After half a day of diagnosis, they still hadn’t even figured out what illness the Great Apothecary had, let alone how to treat it.

“This…” Seeing their expressions, Housekeeper Lu couldn’t help but show deep disappointment. Ever since the master fell ill, they had invited physicians to examine him. This was not the first group, nor was it the first time they had received such an answer.

“Although you couldn’t cure our master, we are still very grateful. The Apothecary Manor will not mistreat any of you…” Shaking his head, Housekeeper Lu was about to give instructions when he saw Physician Cheng Feng stand up, looking at Zhang Xuan nearby with a half-smile.

“Housekeeper Lu, we have all just diagnosed the Great Apothecary and engaged in discussion, yet it seems Physician Bai Chan, whom you specifically invited, has remained seated the entire time. I wonder if he looks down on us, believing we are unworthy of discussion with him, or if he already has a diagnosis and is simply too proud to share it with us?”

Hearing Physician Cheng Feng’s words, everyone was first taken aback, then simultaneously remembered that this ‘Bai Chan’ character had indeed not uttered a single word from the beginning, acting like a mute.

“This guy hasn’t moved the entire time!”

“Not only hasn’t he moved, he hasn’t even said a word.”

“A One-star Physician is nothing special to begin with; it would be strange if he could even contribute to our discussion.”

“Knowing his low skill, it’s better for him not to speak and avoid being scorned.”

Recalling that the other party was merely a One-star Physician, everyone showed disdain. A One-star Physician might be considered decent elsewhere, but here, he simply didn’t measure up. How could he possibly diagnose an ailment that even Three-star Physicians couldn’t understand? His silence was understandable.

“That’s not fair to say. If Housekeeper Lu specially invited him and praised his medical understanding as not low, how could he not dare to speak?” Physician Cheng Feng said, smiling at Zhang Xuan. He already knew this Physician Bai Chan and understood his level of skill. For Housekeeper Lu to actually invite him and praise him publicly—a treatment even he hadn’t received—he naturally wouldn’t miss the chance to humiliate him now.

“This…” Housekeeper Lu hesitated, then looked over: “Physician Bai Chan…” He was quite convinced of Physician Bai’s medical skill, as the man had instantly discerned his own ailment. However, his silence until now did strike him as odd.

Hearing Housekeeper Lu’s call, Zhang Xuan snapped out of his contemplation, looking bewildered: “What’s wrong?”

“It’s like this!” Seeing that everyone had diagnosed while this fellow was distracted, Housekeeper Lu cleared his throat and hastily explained: “The physicians here are unable to confirm our master’s illness, and they would like to hear your opinion.”

“They can’t even confirm the illness?” Zhang Xuan slowly stood up, glanced at everyone, and couldn’t help but shake his head. “Since none of them can do it, let me take a look!”