"To be frank, I am a direct descendant of the Gu family," Gu Wen stated plainly. "How could the inheritance of a medical and martial arts family be weak? Unfortunately, even the most skilled cook cannot cook a meal without ingredients!"
"If your medical skills are not good enough, then they are not good enough!" Lu Fan said dismissively. "If you take me there, perhaps I won't need the Golden Leaf Grass."
"Do you truly mean that?" Gu Wen's face lit up with joy. "If you can really cure him, I will become your disciple!"
"Become my disciple?" Lu Fan glanced at him and reluctantly agreed. After all, countless people wished to be his disciple. However, Gu Wen was young, exceptionally talented, and possessed some medical skills. Lu Fan would not lose out by accepting him as a disciple.
Following Gu Wen's footsteps, they soon arrived at an alley. The residents nearby were all commoners, and this was the poorest area in Chu Prefecture.
"Your patient is here?" Lu Fan asked in surprise. "A family of medical and martial arts practitioners does not come cheap. How can the people here afford the consultation fees?"
"Brother, you jest. A medical and martial arts family is not heartless," Gu Wen chuckled. "Besides, the family is not short of money, and I am here for a free clinic."
"You truly have aspirations!" Shen Xiaoxiao gave him a thumbs-up. "There are not many who can treat the poor, especially without charging any fees."
"Thank you for your praise, young lady," Gu Wen cupped his fists.
Just then, Gu Wen led everyone into a dilapidated house. Inside, an old man lay on a bed, accompanied by an elderly woman, whose face was grim.
"Uncle Zhang!" Gu Wen called out as he entered. "I've come to see you again today."
"It's Dr. Gu!" The old woman quickly stood up. "You are truly a good person. If it weren't for your intervention, my old man would have passed away long ago."
Uncle Zhang also gestured, but he could not get up. His mouth was crooked, as if he had suffered a stroke.
"Brother, please come closer and take a look," Gu Wen said. "Uncle Zhang has been in this condition for many years. I suspect he was poisoned when he was young, which led to his neurological disorder. The Golden Leaf Grass can clear heat and detoxify, and it also has beneficial effects. Otherwise, I wouldn't have insisted on it."
Lu Fan nodded slightly and approached Uncle Zhang. He then took his pulse and smiled faintly. "This is not caused by poison, but by trigeminal neuralgia. If not handled properly, he might not be able to bear it, and could even hit his head against the wall!"
"Yes, yes, my old man is often like this," the old woman quickly agreed. "Young man, you are indeed a divine doctor."
"In that case, Brother, do you have a method of treatment?" Gu Wen asked urgently. "They are a pitiful group of people. If they cannot even maintain basic health, it would be too tragic."
"Naturally, I do!" Lu Fan nodded and took out his silver needles. The silver needles rose into the air by themselves, hovering in mid-air, looking quite astonishing.
Shen Xiaoxiao stood by, her eyes wide with surprise. She had thought Lu Fan had some skills, but she didn't expect his medical expertise to be so profound, capable of making silver needles float. She had never witnessed such a technique.
"This is... Floating Needle Manipulation!" Gu Wen exclaimed in awe. Lu Fan's displayed technique filled him with immense admiration. Just this needlework alone was likely lost to time. For Lu Fan, who was so young, to know so much, and more importantly, to be a Grandmaster who was also proficient in medicine, wasn't that countless times stronger than their medical and martial arts family? Thinking of this, Gu Wen felt embarrassed. If that were truly the case, what was the point of the medical and martial arts family's existence?
"It hurts, it hurts so much!" Uncle Zhang cried out, thrashing about as if in unbearable pain. Lu Fan, controlling the silver needles, frowned slightly. This condition was extremely peculiar, involving the nerves. If handled incorrectly, it could even be life-threatening.
Gu Wen was even more nervous. He knew of Lu Fan's medical skills, but he also knew that such an illness was not easily cured.
"What's happening?" the old woman asked anxiously. "What should we do now?"
"Madam, there's no need to worry," Gu Wen said seriously. "Uncle Zhang will be fine. This is a critical period; we should wait here quietly."
The old woman nodded, not daring to disturb them. Lu Fan's medical skills were extraordinary, and he would surely have a solution.
Shen Xiaoxiao stood aside and asked Han Yunhai, "How are Mr. Lu's medical skills? Can he truly cure him?"
"Even if a national medical master were here, they might not be as useful as Mr. Lu," Han Yunhai smiled faintly. "Of course, there's no problem."
Shen Xiaoxiao felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't expected Han Yunhai to be so proud. National medical masters were few and far between. If Lu Fan truly possessed such abilities, wouldn't that be defying the heavens?
After the needlework evolved, Uncle Zhang finally showed signs of improvement. As the silver needles were withdrawn, clotted blood emerged, creating a rather gruesome scene.
Gu Wen stood by, watching intently. The medical skills Lu Fan displayed left him utterly stunned. Even his Gu family probably did not possess such medical expertise. The Gu family, a family cultivating both medicine and martial arts, had no one who could achieve this level.
After a long while, Lu Fan finally retracted his silver needles and looked at Gu Wen. "Your patient has been cured!"
"Thank you, sir!" Gu Wen quickly cupped his fists.
"Calling you 'sir' might be a bit inappropriate, don't you think?" Han Yunhai chuckled. "Shouldn't you be calling him 'Master'? After all, you yourself said that if Mr. Lu could cure him, you would become his disciple!"
"This..." Gu Wen's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "Sir, your medical skills are extraordinary. Are you willing to accept me as your disciple?"
"Of course, I am willing!" Lu Fan nodded. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come all this way. From now on, you are my disciple!"
"Gu Wen pays respects to Master," Gu Wen said quickly and bowed. "A teacher for a day is a father for life. I will never disappoint you in the future."
"We are about the same age, so don't say such things," Lu Fan rolled his eyes. "It sounds rather unpleasant!"
Gu Wen smiled awkwardly but felt a surge of excitement within him. Becoming Lu Fan's disciple was not a bad thing for him. Lu Fan was not only a Grandmaster but also a master of medicine. Even if he returned to the Gu family later, he would not face any punishment.
"Thank you, thank you all!" the old woman said, apologizing profusely. "Old Zhang is much better now and can even walk. You are his saviors!"
"Madam, there's no need to be so formal," Gu Wen quickly replied. "To heal the suffering with floating needles is the original intention of us healers."
"While that may be true, you helped us without receiving anything in return, and I feel uneasy about that," the old woman said. "I don't have anything valuable at home, only an alchemy furnace, and it's very old. I don't know if you can use it!"
The old woman brought over the alchemy furnace. It looked quite ancient, with dust covering its surface, but everyone could see that it was likely the only item the Zhang family could offer. Su Dan Novel Network.
"How can we accept your belongings!" Gu Wen repeatedly declined.