Chapter 27: Another Master

"I'm deceiving you?" Gu Xixi didn't understand. "Where does this come from?"

Lao Langzhong chuckled a few times and said, "How old are you? You can recognize so many medicinal herbs. Actually, you've studied medicine, haven't you? And you're deliberately pretending to be ignorant in front of this old blind man."

"What's your master's name? Say it, maybe I've heard of him."

A three-colored cat walked up to Gu Xixi's feet, stretched its body, and meowed while rubbing back and forth against her skirt.

Gu Xixi squatted down to tease the cat's round chin, smiling, "I wouldn't dare deceive you."

"My father is a landlord, and I'm just a farmer."

"On that point, you can just go ask around in our village."

Lao Langzhong was startled, and though he couldn't see, he still turned his body.

"If no one taught you, how do you know these herbs?"

Gu Xixi had prepared: "It's not easy for villagers to see a doctor; mostly they go into the mountains to find herbs to eat."

"My father once learned some basic medicinal theory from someone, and our storehouse still keeps some common herbs; I recognize them, nothing surprising."

She originally studied plants.

Although her main focus wasn't on medicinal herbs, she still had basic knowledge.

"Oh..." Lao Langzhong furrowed his brows and nodded, "I see."

He felt quite moved, "Patients have nowhere to seek medical help, yet I, a doctor, can't find any patients."

"How sad, how lamentable!"

Gu Xixi comforted, "Didn't you just receive a patient a moment ago?"

But her visit wasn't just to help Mu Nan Zhao and Lao Langzhong make connections.

Then she shifted the topic, sighing, "Actually, I'd like to take a master and learn some medicine."

"Too bad... where could I find a master willing to take me?"

While Lao Langzhong was pounding herbs, his ears twitched.

Gu Xixi caught sight of it from the corner of her eye and continued lamenting, "Once I find a master, those herbs I happen upon in the mountains will be his share, and I'll also offer him the tasty food Zhang Shen makes."

"Even the method I use to refine pure salt, I could give him—it wouldn't be a problem..."

After a series of baits were scattered, the fish indeed took the hook.

Lao Langzhong jumped up, "Such pure salt powder—did you make it yourself?"

"You really want to give it all to me?!"

Gu Xixi raised her head, bewildered, "I'm talking about my future master."

"What does that have to do with you, old sir?"

"Me!" Lao Langzhong pointed at himself, his face shining, "If you want to take a master, the choice is far away in the heavens but near at hand!"

Gu Xixi stood up holding the little flower, sizing up Lao Langzhong, "Are you willing to take me as your disciple?"

Lao Langzhong nodded vigorously, afraid that if he didn't nod firmly, Gu Xixi would run away from him.

"But..." Gu Xixi spoke frankly, "Studying medicine to save lives isn't the path I seek in this life; I only want to learn some medicinal theory, especially compounding."

"In that case, would you also be willing to take me as your disciple?"

Lao Langzhong withdrew his smile, his expression suddenly turning stern and somewhat frightening.

"Studying medicine not to heal and save lives—could it be you want to pursue some heretical path?!"

"I wouldn't dare." Gu Xixi said solemnly, "Gu Xixi would rather die a thousand times than bring shame upon her master's reputation."

She paused, "Gu Xixi knows she lacks the ability to hang a pot and save the world, and she doesn't have your physician's parental heart."

"Forcing it would only harm others and oneself."

Lao Langzhong wasn't so angry anymore, just increasingly puzzled.

"How old are you, and you already know this life isn't suited for this path?"

"Hmm." Gu Xixi's eyes clear, tone resolute, "In this life, I'll just farm."

Lao Langzhong fell silent for a moment, his expression softening.

"It's not that farming is bad..."

He sighed, "If all you want is to farm, why go to the trouble of learning how to compound medicines?"

Gu Xixi answered truthfully, "Self-defense."

When she saw Lao Langzhong use medicine to overturn those bandits, she had already been moved.

After that, Gu Xixi pondered deeply before finally deciding to take a master.

After all, this is the ancient world of the book, with poor medical conditions and even worse safety for border folk.

She had only heard the synopsis and the first part of the plot of this book.

Who knows what will happen later?

Disasters, minor injuries and illnesses, bandits... plus, Mu Nan Zhao's intermittent death threats.

Gu Xixi compared the gap between herself and Mu Nan Zhao.

Needless to say, martial prowess.

As for power and influence, a skinny dead camel is still bigger than a horse, and besides, he will eventually remain a powerful minister.

Wealth... Gu Xixi still has confidence in her future.

Accumulating wealth indeed can increase survival odds against ordinary people.

But once faced with absolute violence or overwhelming power, it's not enough.

In sum, Gu Xixi decided to divert some energy from her main occupation to learn an additional life-preserving skill.

Lao Langzhong didn't continue questioning, "Go pour a cup of tea from the windowsill inside."

This is his agreement to take her as a disciple.

Gu Xixi put down the little flower; the smoke in the room had mostly cleared, just as she had thought, in chaos.

It was hard to find even a place to set foot, no wonder the teapot and teacups were placed on the windowsill.

"Master, please have some tea!"

Lao Langzhong drank the tea, and did not immediately let Xixi get up.

"Once you enter the sect, you must observe the sect's rules."

"What you learn must not be used to harm others, and must not be casually passed on to others without the master's permission."

Gu Xixi replied, "Yes."

She guessed that Lao Langzhong must have some background, with a so-called sect behind him, which was not surprising.

Lao Langzhong's expression grew solemn: "You must not use our sect's learning to serve any Imperial Court, nor employ it in any form for the Imperial Court."

Gu Xixi raised her head in surprise.

Lao Langzhong sensed her movement: "Do you think it's just a few physicians, the Imperial Court, and politics—what does it have to do with us?"

Gu Xixi hummed, "Doesn't the Imperial Court have imperial physicians? They also heal and save lives."

Lao Langzhong let out a long sigh: "Our sect's founding ancestor was highly skilled in medicinal arts; he once served someone, and at that person's request created a drug that harmed many. That is why this rule exists."

Gu Xixi never imagined that merely studying pharmacy would involve such a background.

She thought it over and agreed without hesitation.

Imperial Court folk—like the future Mu Nan Zhao—what does that have to do with her!

Lao Langzhong raised his hand: "Girl, get up."

In Huachi Du Cun, Qin Dasao returned carrying her load, saw Gu Xixi, and waved from afar:

"Xixi, you're out already?!"

As she passed by, Gu Xixi walked through the village, and no one would voluntarily greet her.

Gu Xixi replied with a smile: "Eh, I just went to pick someone up and came back."

Qin Dasao stepped forward a few paces, sized up Lao Langzhong, and said: "This must be your distant great-uncle, right?"

Gu Xixi answered again.

Qin Dasao beamed: "How can one not say this child is kind-hearted!"

Gu Xixi knew why Qin Dasao was in a good mood, and smiled: "How did the water spinach sell today?"

Qin Dasao proudly displayed the basket: "Look, two big baskets full—sold out completely."

The copper coins earned from selling vegetables were hidden in the innermost layer of her waistband.