Chapter 1469: Medical Tradition [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Ning Yan remained silent.
How could she not know that Dong Dao had chosen a path to certain death?
Dong Dao, as a physician, had no choice, nor did Ning Yan, entrusted with the lord's complete trust. If anyone told Ning Yan that sacrificing her life could avert disaster, she would not hesitate. She was willing to risk her own life, and equally willing to risk the lives of others, seeking only the outcome!
A physician's resolve is unwavering, even unto death.
Miao Ne was startled by the sudden response and gripped the hilt of her sword.
Fearing to alert the doctor in the distance, she hissed angrily in a low voice, "Who's there?"
"Someone's talking? What did they say?" Although she didn't hear any sound, Ning Yan didn't doubt Miao Ne's judgment—there was a stranger nearby? Who was it? Could it be an enemy spy who hadn't been completely eliminated?
Miao Ne bit her lower lip, trying to calm herself and pinpoint the direction from which the sound had come. Strangely, when she tried to recall it, she couldn't remember what she had heard, let alone the direction. For a moment, she wondered if she was hallucinating…
No need to look anymore, it's right here.
The apricot tree beside them was enveloped in a gentle breeze.
The apricot blossoms fluttered down, instantly transforming into an indistinct phantom. Not only this apricot tree, but all the apricot trees in the entire grove were like this. Looking at the figures, some resembled Ning Yan and her companion in style, while others wore strangely tailored clothing.
Each blurry figure was ten feet tall.
They drifted toward the giant apricot tree as if on a pilgrimage.
It transformed into a ray of white light and disappeared into the tree trunk.
With each additional person, an apricot blossom quietly blooms on the treetop.
"Is the senior still alive?"
Miao Ne wanted to talk to the person who had spoken and figure out what was going on. But the figures ignored her, neither dodging nor avoiding her, and walked straight through Ning Yan and her companion. As these figures passed by, Miao Ne noticed that those dressed similarly to them smelled of medicine, while those dressed strangely had a slightly pungent, strange odor, though not unpleasant.
Gradually, Miao Ne discovered that they were not without consciousness.
Seemingly noticing Miao Ne's dislike of the disinfectant smell, a shadowy figure near the apricot tree deliberately approached to amuse her, and she even heard a faint, kind laugh. Miao Ne rubbed her nose and frowned, when a phantom with extremely wide, long sleeves swept over her head, causing the other shadowy figures to turn away. Unlike the other blurry figures, this one not only stopped but also curiously bent down to examine it more closely.
Judging from his silhouette, he should be an elderly man with a long beard.
I never imagined that there would be successors among our generation.
Miao Ne hurriedly waved his hand and said, "This junior is not a physician."
"All beings are equal, and all hearts are united; there's no need to distinguish too clearly." The old man left these words, smiling as he stroked his long beard, his words full of satisfaction. He wanted to stay a little longer, but a figure carrying surgical instruments swept past him. "Gentlemen, please wait for this old man."
A bold guess emerged in Miao Ne's mind.
"Your Excellency, these people are all..."
Ning Yan's expression softened: "He must be a sage of medicine."
The white light, formed from the will of the sages, was like jewels that had settled in the long river of time, each one shining brightly and quietly radiating a warm, clear light. Ning Yan did not know where they came from or where they were going; she simply bowed respectfully and reverently saw the sages off.
Miao Ne followed suit.
This spectacular sight lasted for about fifteen minutes until the wind stopped.
The surrounding illusions gradually dissipated, revealing the real scene.
Miao Ne seemed to awaken from a dream, her gaze falling on the physician in the center. She pushed through the crowd, her voice filled with sorrow: "Dong Ling—"
She dared not check Dong Dao's pulse.
Ning Yan suppressed the bitterness in her heart, unable to accept reality.
Aside from the ordinary healers, all the medical practitioners, including Dong Dao, were lifeless, like high monks passing away peacefully. Their faces were rosy and vibrant, seemingly alive, but devoid of any other signs of life. Ning Yan gripped her sword hilt tightly, blood spreading on her tongue, the strong metallic taste barely maintaining a semblance of sanity. Seeing the illusion dissipate and all the missing healers reappear, the military officer quickly stepped forward to Ning Yan's side.
"This humble general greets Prime Minister Ning."
Ning Yan swayed twice, barely managing to steady herself before the military officer reached out to support her. She took a deep breath: "Ready—"
She swallowed the rest of her words.
She turned her head in disbelief, her gaze piercing through the crowd to land on Dong Dao. If she wasn't mistaken, she seemed to hear an extremely faint, yet incredibly strong and clear heartbeat emanating from Dong Dao? And with that first sound, another beat followed!
Dong Dao opened his eyes from a long dream, only to see a blurry figure, snot and tears streaming down his face, stumbling and scrambling towards him. He didn't immediately recognize the person, only feeling a sense of familiarity. Then he burst into tears, wailing, "Grandfather!"
Dong Dao blinked.
Oh, so it's his grandson.
Dong Dao moved his body, which should have been stiff, and was surprised to find that his hands were not sore and his legs were not numb. It felt as if he had taken a refreshing hot bath, and every pore was relaxing and breathing. He stood up, supporting himself on his knees, and the other medical practitioners also woke up one after another.
"Huh, how come they're still alive?"
"I think I just had a very long dream."
"I vaguely remember it being a nightmare..."
Everyone felt as if they had just experienced a long, unreal dream, and were still struggling to adjust to reality. Once they recovered, they exchanged information about their dream with their colleagues, still finding it hard to believe they were still alive. Some even reached out and pinched their colleagues' flesh.
"It doesn't hurt, was it a dream?"
"Isn't that obvious? You pinched me, of course it doesn't hurt you."
As the physician from the medical center awoke, other doctors from the medical office also opened their eyes one by one. Unlike the former, they wailed and moaned as soon as they woke up, wishing they could bang their heads on the ground. Judging from the chaotic scene, one might think the disease had spread to them.
Ning Yan calmed herself down and stepped in to stabilize the situation.
The garrison of the Four Prefectures was ordered to send away the scholars and warriors who were watching.
When Dong Dao and the others awoke, the auspicious clouds overhead had just dissipated, leaving only the crimson clouds and sunset silently proclaiming the magnificent spectacle that had just unfolded. The onlookers were itching with desire, like a nest of wildcats, but recognizing Ning Yan's presence, they dared not defy her.
Before long, it was all gone.
Ning Yan then had time to ask Dong Dao about the details.
At least we need to figure out what they dreamed about.
Why do all those doctors at the medical office look like they've lost their parents?
Ning Yan's mention of it only made everyone's expressions turn into a colorful palette—including Dong Dao, who was very enthusiastic about the exam.
Dong said, "This is a major test."
Ning Yan: "...A big, big exam?"
An answer I never expected.
One of the physicians couldn't help but cover his eyes: "Those pathogens are indeed extremely vicious. When we introduced them into our bodies, we could suppress them at first, but as the quantity increased, it became difficult... Various afterimages and phantoms kept appearing before my eyes... Somehow, I found myself sitting at a desk, with a hundred-foot-long examination paper laid out on it..."
It was a closed-book exam, taken without any preparation.
There were more proctors than examinees.
Other medical practitioners had the same dream as him.
Ning Yan gasped: "A hundred-zhang-long exam paper?"
How thick would this exam paper be if rolled up?
Physician: "..."
The thickness isn't the main point; the main point is that the text on it is also very small.
The exam questions all revolved around the source of the disease and other epidemics, both familiar and unfamiliar, including fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and true/false questions—a wide variety of question types. This left even the physicians who had passed the Medical Temple's examinations completely stumped, holding their pens in a daze, unable to write a single word.
I instinctively wanted to turn my head away.
Good heavens, all I can see are tables and desks.
There were countless exam desks arranged neatly.
Each exam desk had one examinee, and the examinees on either side were familiar faces. I was just about to start a conversation when I was hit on the head with a ruler.
[Talking is strictly prohibited in the examination room!]
Physician: "..."
Is there something wrong with this dream?
Hey, hurry up and answer the question!
They were all gritting their teeth, staring at the answer sheets, scratching their heads in frustration.
After finishing the exam, the stack of red and blue books, taller than a person, fell from the sky, making the table tremble. Someone shakily took one down and found that each one was as thick as a brick. They didn't remember much of what was inside, but the shock was unforgettable.
Even after leaving the dream, it still lingers in the soul.
"...So, you've finished watching?"
Ning Yan guessed that these ancient texts were treasures from the medical temple; if they could memorize them and bring them out, the medical level of Kangguo would advance by leaps and bounds. Her seemingly casual remark was the lifelong lament of every medical professional: "Prime Minister Ning, are you even speaking human language?"
How could anyone possibly finish reading it?
Physicians and scholars are somewhat different. The former lack the latter's cheating ability to copy what they see into their alchemical palace and create a backup—for scholars, as long as they can condense their literary mind, they all have "photographic memory." Among all the physicians in Kangguo, only Fang Yan is a dual practitioner of both medicine and literature, and Qi Miao is still striving on her path.
Why is it on the path of hard work?
Because the fifteen-year term of the Temple of Medicine is a strict requirement.
Physicians in the medical field have only slightly better memories than ordinary people, and even if the contents are copied onto medical records, they still need to refer to them frequently.
Ning Yan: "..."
It's a bit of a pity.
Just as Ning Yan guessed, the wise physicians of the past lent a helping hand at the crucial moment, which is why Dong Dao and the others were able to survive unharmed.
"How are you all feeling now?"
Dong Dao and the others only survived; the source of the disease remains.
After examining themselves, everyone shook their heads and said, "It's nothing."
This isn't just them gritting their teeth and putting on a brave face; it's the truth.
Their bodies seemed to undergo subtle changes without their knowledge. It wasn't very noticeable on the outside, but a thorough internal examination revealed a dramatic transformation in their dantian. They had essentially become walking glass tubes, capable of containing and imprisoning pathogens without endangering others.
These pathogens behave very docilely in Danfu.
All you need to do is occasionally feed it a little bit of pure energy from heaven and earth.
and--
They could feel a vibrant life force emanating from the source of the illness. When this life force came into contact with the apricot grove within their dantian, the apricot trees formed from the scrolls of medical books became even more vigorous, which didn't seem like a bad thing at all. With each breath, their physical bodies felt lighter.
Dong Dao thought that he was the only one like this.
After asking around, I found that all my other colleagues were in the same situation.
"Although the reason is unknown, it seems to be a good thing."
Dong Dao did not voice his guess, nor did he dare to.
Regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad, the source of the disease is the result of the elites of the last human civilization's exploration of longevity. Even the smallest bit of the disease contains astonishing vitality, which is uncontrollable and exceeds the limits of the mortal body, thus leading to the final bitter result.
Looking back now—
The pathogen within the Danfu Palace seems to have been tamed.
Dong Dao dared not estimate how effective the tamed pathogen would be, nor how many years it could extend lifespan.
If leaked, it could lead to utter disaster.
Dong Dao didn't intend to keep the secret forever; he had to wait for his master to return and take charge. With her there, he had a pillar of support.
Ning Yan noticed something amiss, but didn't pursue the matter further.
"We have received news that all the patients in the ward have woken up. If any of you have the energy, please take a look, so that we can all feel at ease."
"Yes, ma'am."
The auspicious healing phenomenon, "Spring Warmth in the Medical Forest," is only present within Fengluo territory; patients in other regions remain in critical condition. After consulting with Dong Dao and others, Ning Yan ordered the transfer of patients from various regions to the capital for treatment. Simultaneously, border surveillance was strengthened.
Foreign pathogens are not allowed to enter.
"Prime Minister Ning, should Fengluo remain sealed off?"
"Let's lift the lockdown little by little, starting with resuming civilian trade and leaving everything else as is. The crisis is not completely over yet, so we cannot let our guard down." Locking down Fengluo was a last resort; people inside the city couldn't leave, and goods from outside couldn't get in, putting Ning Yan under a lot of pressure.
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys."
Ning Yan added: "Officials' family members are not allowed to leave the country."
These people still need to be kept a close watch on; we cannot let our guard down.
During the lockdown, Feng Luo had very little communication with the outside world, maintaining only a few crucial information channels, and communication with the front lines was intermittent. Shen Tang would inquire about Feng Luo's situation every few days until she received a secret letter from Ning Yan with good news.
They made no mention of the pressure, only saying that the Medical Department had made a great contribution this time.
We also want to thank the Temple of Medicine that came next.
As for why the Temple of Medicine was involved, that remains unknown.
Shen Tang was not surprised.
Gu Chi asked in surprise, "Did Your Majesty foresee this?"
Don't you think doctors are a bit unconventional?
"Is there?"
Gu Chi only knew that the threshold for becoming a doctor was outrageously high.
Even after Dong Dao became the Imperial Physician, he still had to undergo monthly and annual examinations.
While they wouldn't revoke a practitioner's license without passing an exam like the Medical Bureau, effectively kicking them out of the medical sanctuary, it would still be quite torturous. Gu Chi was thankful he wasn't a medical student. Even if he committed murder and arson in this life, he had no intention of studying medicine in his next.
"The Temple of Medicine personally teaches every healer. Look at the other temples, have they ever paid attention to anyone? The Mohist Temple is slightly better, but most of the time they just ignore us. The Confucian Temple, the Military Temple, the Legalist Temple, the School of Diplomacy, the School of Names, the School of Yin and Yang, and even the novelists of recent years... have you ever seen any of them care about the life or death of their temple disciples? Let alone personally guide them..."
Gu Chi: "..."
That makes perfect sense; the various temples really do ignore people.
Scholars with literary minds and warriors with martial prowess mostly come from the schools of military strategy, Confucianism, Legalism, and the School of Diplomacy. They have been fighting to the death for hundreds of years, and their corpses could circle the continent, but none of them have ever personally taken on apprentices.
In contrast, the disciples of the medical school were all raised by the temple itself.
Unlike novelists, who receive nothing once the temple opens, but are constantly pressured to submit manuscripts and wish their disciples would collect three or five snippets of street gossip every day.
Look at the doctors, then look at yourself—
Novelist, don't you think you've gone too far?
Hmm? Look in my eyes!
“The medical school is different from the other schools of thought. First, the cost of training talent is too high and it takes too much energy. Second, when young doctors encounter difficult and complicated cases that they cannot solve, they have to call on others.” In her prediction, there is an 80% chance that the temple of the medical school will be destroyed.
I went to a regular outpatient clinic and ended up seeing a big name in the industry.
The traditions of the Temple of Medicine have remained unchanged for thousands of years.
(*^o^)人(^o^*)
Gu Chi updates frequently not because he wants to _(:з」∠)_
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