Old Dr. Li Jianyuan received the "Emergency Treatment Formulas for the World" and after half a day of perusal and confirmation, he quickly prepared the first dose of medicine. During this time, people from the prince's mansion came looking for him. Upon finding him returned, they wanted to invite him again to treat the young prince. However, as soon as they arrived before his humble dwelling, Ji Xiang blocked them all.
"Do not disturb."
"Who are you to dare block our..."
Before the word "way" could be uttered, Ji Xiang simply pressed his palm and uttered a single word.
"Still!"
As Ji Xiang spoke, he employed his divine art of immobilization. The dozen or so servants were all rendered immobile, turning into wooden statues.
After a while, Li Jianyuan opened the door in a hurry. The old doctor was carrying a kettle, containing the boiled medicine. Seeing the familiar servants at the door, the old doctor paused, and before he could say anything, he noticed they were all unmoving, which he found rather astonishing.
"What happened to them..."
"Pay them no mind. I have immobilized them for a moment. Old divine doctor, please go and save the patient."
"Very well."
Li Jianyuan, in his haste, found the first patient. It was an ordinary kiln worker who had been the first to show symptoms. At this moment, his impoverished wife was at home with their child, kowtowing to the ancestral tablet of Baosheng Dadi. During times of plague, people would offer sacrifices to this deity for disaster relief.
A faint scent of incense emanated from the ancestral tablet of Baosheng Dadi, surrounding the ordinary kiln worker's body. It seemed to be using the divine power of incense to delay the onset of his illness. However, this was not a plague but a curse and poisoning. Even if Baosheng Dadi himself descended, there would be no way to reverse it. Merely sustaining his life with a wisp of incense was already a divine feat.
This family genuinely worshipped the deity and never offered false sentiments. Therefore, they were able to mobilize the incense power of Baosheng Dadi with all their earnest wishes. In essence, this life-saving power did not originate from the deity but from themselves.
When Li Jianyuan arrived, the impoverished woman immediately burst into tears. The old doctor comforted her kindly, assuring her that this time it would surely work.
After forcefully administering the medicine to the kiln worker, Li Jianyuan's forehead was covered in sweat, fearing failure. Unexpectedly, after about half an hour, the kiln worker's complexion had turned from pale to ruddy. Although the paleness had not completely receded, anyone could see that this was a sign of returning vitality.
The impoverished woman and child were overjoyed and wept tears of happiness. After another half an hour, the kiln worker slowly awoke. Everything before him felt unreal, as if he were still dreaming, yet he did not know what he had dreamed. Many of his past memories were confused, and he couldn't recall them.
Li Jianyuan thought he had only succeeded halfway, turning the man into an idiot. Fortunately, Ji Xiang informed him that this was merely an external manifestation of damage to the soul. Now that the soul was stable, the corrupted soul would gradually regenerate. This kiln worker was an ordinary mortal, and it would take anywhere from a short period of one to two hours, to a longer period of one to two days, for him to recover.
Indeed, after another two hours, the kiln worker's cognition had returned. The lost memories, the part that had been corrupted and decayed by the "human-faced fog," could not be recovered. It was best to consider it as a brief amnesia from hitting his head. Nothing else was affected, except that his body would need one to two months to fully recover.
The impoverished woman and child then profusely kowtowed to the old doctor, their gratitude overflowing. Li Jianyuan comforted them kindly and finally let go of his lingering worry. This medicinal formula, when followed, indeed had an effect. Thus, the crisis in Xiangyang could be resolved!
"By devoutly worshipping the deity, they unexpectedly received divine protection. With the help of this lingering incense, the time for soul metamorphosis was delayed. Fortunately, the accumulated wishes in their home were pure and benevolent, allowing them to save the life of their loved one during a time of crisis."
Ji Xiang pointed to the ancestral tablet of Baosheng Dadi. The impoverished woman understood some things and kowtowed a few more times to the tablet of Baosheng Dadi.
After Ji Xiang and Li Jianyuan left, the impoverished woman and the kiln worker discussed setting up a longevity tablet for Li Jianyuan at home, placing it beside Baosheng Dadi.
With the experience of the first case, the second and third patients were also cured by the medicine. Afterward, Li Jianyuan requested Ji Xiang to lift the immobilization on the servants of the prince's mansion.
"Xiangyang City is too large, and there are too many illnesses. I must pass this medicinal formula to other doctors so they can learn it and provide rapid treatment within Xiangyang. The prince's mansion has many people who are familiar with the terrain here. Please ask them to help notify the doctors in Xiangyang City to gather at the prince's mansion."
This was a good idea. Although Ji Xiang could easily gather manpower with his shadow soldiers, he was indeed unfamiliar with Xiangyang City's terrain. Where the doctors lived, their current locations, who was skilled and who was incompetent – he knew none of this. Since that was the case, it was better to let the locals handle it.
The servants of the prince's mansion were quickly mobilized. The reason was that after Ji Xiang released them from immobilization, he sent them back to the mansion with a gust of wind. Then, he invited Li Jianyuan to ascend to the clouds with him and descend upon the prince's mansion, which frightened many of the mansion's guards.
When the token from the Daoist Registry Office was produced, the mansion guards did not recognize it, but the guards who helped manage the mansion did. The imperial seal could not be faked, and Ji Xiang was also from Mount Wudang. No rogue sorcerer in the world would dare to be so arrogant, flaunting imperial authority and wearing the hat of Wudang. This would be tantamount to seeking death.
Soon, the young prince slowly awoke. Like the others before him, he felt as if he had lost a portion of his memory. However, he had been poisoned for less than half a day, so within a dozen breaths, his cognition and mobility were restored.
"Many thanks to the divine doctor, many thanks to the Dao Master, many thanks to both of you for your rescue!"
After hearing Li Jianyuan's request, the young prince did not waste any words. He immediately ordered his servants to go out and find the doctors, even if they had to tie them up and bring them back, regardless of what they were doing!
After all, Xiangyang was also his fiefdom. He might not have the responsibility of defending the land, but he needed people to manage his financial institutions and land. Taxes and livelihood also had to be collected from the common people. If a large number of people died inexplicably, his own princely assets would become desolate. Of course, this was said in advance, because if a large number of common people died mysteriously, the imperial court would definitely send people to inquire... Oh, they had already sent people. In that case, this prince could only cling to their coattails and beg for a ride.
Heard that Prince Lu had recently flipped over, and his mansion was confiscated. This matter could not be kept from other princes. Although Xiangyang was far from the capital, there were special messengers who would travel thousands of miles to deliver notifications. The Ming Dynasty had many courier stations. Li Chuangwang, the famous rebel of the Chongzhen era, was a courier for the Ming Dynasty.
When the doctors were brought in, they saw that Li Jianyuan had requested their presence, and their anger immediately subsided by half. After all, the divine doctor Li Shizhen's reputation was well-known. Even if they didn't give Li Jianyuan a good look, they still had to give face to his father.
And when Li Jianyuan shared "Emergency Treatment Formulas for the World" and taught it, the remaining half of their anger vanished without a trace, replaced instead by a sense of dread!
"There is such a miraculous medicinal formula, and you are so readily sharing it with us? Jianyuan, what are you thinking!"
An old doctor was very confused. What was Li Jianyuan trying to achieve by doing this? Doctors treat and save people, and the benevolent heart of a physician is indeed true, but a unique medicinal formula is their essential means of survival, their livelihood.
Li Jianyuan shook his head: "The meaning of these medicinal formulas is to relieve suffering and poison in the world, not to hoard them as exclusive secret techniques. No matter how good a medical classic is, if it is not allowed to contribute to the world, then it is rotten grass and torn cloth. You should all also know that I have no sectarian biases. I only ask that you all learn diligently and treat the sick."
The other doctors were moved and immediately began to study. Li Jianyuan also carefully told them the dosages he had used previously. By the next day, the young prince, with his keen insight, had his servants continue to go into the city to transport those suffering from the sleeping sickness to this place. He also mobilized the government's forces, treating a large number of people in a short period and earning much praise from the public.
This was a win-win situation.
The temples, Daoist monasteries, and monsters in the mountains and wilds also gathered near the prince's mansion. The monsters, restricted by the power of the state's authority, could not enter the mansion and gathered outside. The young prince had never seen such a grand spectacle in his life. When he opened the gate and saw pig heads, horse faces, and ox faces outside, he almost died on the spot from fright.
During the learning process, Ji Xiang also benefited greatly, gaining a preliminary understanding of pharmacology. The contents of "Fifteen Sections of Emergency Treatment Formulas for the World" were also basically memorized. Of course, he was still not adept at preparing medicine himself. Seeing it with his eyes did not mean his hands understood it.
Li Jianyuan thanked Ji Xiang: "Without you, Xiangyang would have been in grave danger this time! I shall thank you on behalf of all the doctors!"
Ji Xiang responded respectfully and humbly: "You are mistaken. I am confident in the application of my divine arts, but I am completely ignorant of pharmacology. Among the gods in heaven, there are also heavenly physicians. Among the folk deities, there are also venerable figures like Baosheng Dadi, all of whom possess the ability to save people."
"Although I created this 'Scripture of the World,' the reason this scripture could be born and evolve is due to the contributions of 'Compendium of Materia Medica' and other medical books. It is your father, and your writings, that saved everyone here."
Ji Xiang was telling the truth.
This was the first time he had seen a scripture derived through deduction automatically fill in a large number of blanks and generate entirely new meanings. The scriptures he had derived before always solved specific problems and appeared as corresponding immortal scriptures; it had never been this strange before.
He could only assume that the three original manuscripts of "Compendium of Materia Medica" themselves possessed immense divine power. In that case, a classic like "Compendium of Materia Medica," which had been passed down, might have a significant impact on the world simply by existing. Deriving from its original manuscripts would create incredibly powerful scriptures.
If someone could use them wisely, they could bring great benefit to a region. If used with malice, it would lead to immense errors.
"The predicament of Xiangyang has been resolved. I will also help you to loosen your meridians and invigorate your circulation. Your body was too weak before, overdrawing your life to save others. After you die, where will these people seek help?"
"Cherishing your own body is equivalent to saving the world. A clay Buddha, after receiving incense for a thousand years, is very efficacious, but when it falls into the river, it cannot even preserve itself. How can it bestow blessings upon others?"
Ji Xiang helped Li Jianyuan resolve some of the stubborn ailments in his body. Of course, these ailments referred only to the flesh and bones. Changes within the internal organs and problems caused by various viruses could not be handled.
"I understand. I will prepare a prescription for myself for conditioning."
The two parted ways. Ji Xiang also left Li Jianyuan some talismans to prevent him from being attacked by villains or having his classics forcibly taken. Many people have no bottom line for their morality, and for some inexplicable minor reasons, they can commit acts that are an affront to both gods and men.
Following this, Ji Xiang headed towards the vicinity of Taiping Town.
The monsters in the mountains and wilds saw Ji Xiang appear and immediately gathered. Ji Xiang stopped his cloud and saw the old donkey demon, the same familiar faces of monsters. The monsters told Ji Xiang that Xiangyang City had a major disaster and that they had dispatched demon envoys up the mountain to report it, but there was no abnormality here.
"For many days, it has been as before. I have not seen any sign of Taiping Ancient Town."
"The malevolent yang energy is still fierce. We cannot approach."
"As per your instructions, we have sealed off the surrounding mountains and wilds. If anyone approaches, we will scare them away. However, because of this blockade, outsiders have learned some things, saying that demons and monsters are gathered here. This has also attracted some chivalrous heroes and wandering Daoists who wish to slay demons and eliminate monsters. However, they are all too weak. We simply overwhelm them and capture them."
"We do not let them go to the places of Taiping Town, and they say that we demons are afraid that they will attack our lair."
Ji Xiang suddenly had an idea: "Tell me, how many of these captured people are still here?"
"Not many, not many. Hundreds of people have come these days to act chivalrously, coming from all directions. This place has become famous! We have unintentionally done a good deed, but most of them have been dealt with by us."
"There are still more than a dozen people here. This morning, they were sneakily trying to enter through a small path and were captured by us."
The monsters brought a group of tightly bound martial artists and some wandering scholars here. Their faces were grim. Upon seeing Ji Xiang, they were first stunned, then began to curse, calling Ji Xiang the leader of the demons and saying they would accept any punishment.
The wandering Daoists even mocked Ji Xiang, saying that wearing black Daoist robes, demons were indeed demons, completely unable to distinguish between the differences in clothing and usage, only choosing colors they liked to wear.
Ji Xiang found it somewhat annoying. He flicked his finger, and a wind-summoning talisman flew out. A person was immediately lifted into the sky by the wind and spun around like a top in the air.
"You, come out!"
Ji Xiang suddenly pointed at one person. That person looked refined and scholarly, and was somewhat fearful: "Demon Lord, forgive me, Demon Lord, forgive me! I am merely passing by, wanting to collect material, I have no intention of disturbing you!"
"No, that's not the point."
Ji Xiang leaned closer to him, narrowing his eyes: "You actually possess righteous energy?"
Although not a lot, there was indeed righteous energy, and not only from being contaminated by others, but also emanating from within himself. It was not as fierce as Feng Menglong's righteous energy; the difference was like that between a sapling and a small tree.
"What is your name?"
Ji Xiang had an idea in his heart. The matter of Xiangyang could not be left unattended, but Taiping Town was not appearing. Therefore, he could only recreate the team combination of Feng Menglong and his companions.
Three cultivators, one righteous scholar, and one fox... Grand Heavenly Master.
A party of five.
"My name is Zhang Yaofang, a native of Shaoxing, with ancestral roots in Mianzhu, Sichuan. I have come to this region purely to collect material. I was originally returning to my ancestral home to pay respects to my ancestors!"
"Because I have repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, having taken them five times. Since the Wanli era, examinations are held every three years, and for a full fifteen years, I have made no progress. I became a Xiu Cai at the age of ten, and to this day, I am still just a Xiu Cai! My goal is to be like Zhang Juzheng and Yang Tinghe, who both became Juren at the age of twelve, but I..."
Ji Xiang: "Pfft!"
Zhang Yaofang: "?"
"It's nothing. I have received professional training and generally do not laugh."
Ji Xiang nodded at him seriously and made a promise.
However, this name sounded somewhat familiar.
"Do you have a son named Zhang Dai?"
"How does the Demon Lord know! My son was just born this year!"
He thought that righteous energy was being sold cheaply, but it seemed that was not the case.
Ji Xiang chuckled in amusement.
This world is indeed not that large!
"It's you, come with me!"
Ji Xiang's words were as commanding and irrefutable as an order, and Scholar Zhang's face had turned very fearful!
Whether he was to be eaten or taken into a room for philosophical discussion, he did not want either!