Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 170 Human Nature and Interests, Yet Another Hidden Sun?
Mirror Lake, as its name suggests.

The calm lake surface, like a mirror, reflects the moon in the sky.

Standing by the lake, looking at the moon reflected in the water, Xiu Yuan's gaze became very distant. The Medical Manor was surrounded by Mirror Lake, which provided a natural protection. If any enemy wanted to enter, there was only one way to go.

The area is also shrouded in mist, making it difficult to approach without guidance, thus deterring many potential prying eyes.

Therefore, in another timeline, Jinghu Medical Manor was in a relatively stable environment until the arrival of the quicksand broke this tranquility.

Of course, this tranquility is also related to the principles of Jinghu Medical Clinic. Except for a very few people, Jinghu Medical Clinic will not leave most injured people to die. Therefore, most people are unwilling to offend this sacred place that can treat injuries.

After all, when you're in the world of martial arts, you're bound to get hurt. Everyone wants to have a way out.

Suddenly, the young man spoke softly, "Let's test the waters."

There was another girl by the lake. Hearing the boy's words, she asked, somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Xiu Yuan looked into the distance, a glint of light appearing deep in his eyes. He noticed that on the other side of Mirror Lake, there were several people with somewhat sinister auras.

Thinking back to what happened during the day, he had a guess in his mind.

"Some people want to know the location of the medical clinic, but they can't determine it in a short time, so they came up with the method used during the day."

Upon hearing this, the girl frowned slightly.

"The medical clinic only saves people and never gets involved in conflicts between the martial arts world or the struggles between families and countries. Although that's what my master said during the day, she wouldn't stand idly by even if patients from other countries came."

Xiu Yuan nodded.

He had no doubt about what the girl said, after all, neither he nor Xiaomeng were from the Chu Kingdom, but Nian Duan still chose to treat her.

"I believe what the young lady said is true, but even if everyone is treated equally, some people will still be unhappy."

Everyone has their own mission. In this chaotic world, doctors also carry their own mission forward. He didn't know exactly what the medical master in Jinghu Medical Manor was committed to, but from what he knew, it was more about the benevolence of a doctor.

Those who practiced medicine in ancient times often possessed a compassionate heart, their wisdom transcended time, their virtue encompassed heaven and earth, and they used their skillful techniques to help people overcome difficulties.

Even those physicians who have the world in their hearts use healing as a metaphor for governing the country, benefiting all people.

What do you mean by that?

Duanmu Rong seemed somewhat puzzled by this statement. How could anyone be unhappy about healing the sick and saving lives?

Xiu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze gradually becoming deep.

"There is nothing wrong with treating and saving lives, but for some people, it is a different matter if they offer help without asking where the patient came from or what their stance is."

At this point, Xiu Yuan thought for a moment and casually gave an example.

"Just like the states of Qin and Chu today, would the people of Qin want their rival to reappear on the battlefield?"

"On the contrary, for the State of Chu, it is naturally a good thing that its soldiers can return to the battlefield to fight the enemy."

"Miss Rong should be able to understand the implications of this."

Duanmu Rong lowered her eyelids and remained silent.

After a long silence, the girl finally spoke up and asked, "Was the master's approach wrong?"

The boy thought for a moment, then shook his head again.

"Right and wrong are relative. There is no absolute right or wrong in a matter. Mr. Nian Duan treats everyone equally and treats the wounded. Although it may seem that he has no stance, this matter itself represents a stance."

"It is precisely because of Mr. Nian Duan's actions that the Medical Manor has been able to stand independently among the seven kingdoms, and this place has been able to remain safe and sound until now."

"If Mr. Nian Duan had only treated the people of Chu in the first place, this place would probably have been reduced to ruins by now."

Duanmu Rong seemed to be deep in thought, but upon hearing this answer, she was puzzled. If things were really as the boy said, then what was the current situation?
"The world is vast, and there are all kinds of people. Some harm others for their own benefit, some sacrifice themselves for others, and some harm others without benefiting themselves."

"Miss Rong, can you guess who these people are who came tonight?"

Duanmu Rong frowned and sighed softly in her heart.

She could understand people who harm others for their own benefit, but she couldn't understand those who harm others without benefiting themselves.

Do such people really exist in the world?

The boy flicked his finger and gave a soft shout.

“Peach Blossom!”

Inside a room in the medical clinic, a wooden sword hanging by the bed trembled slightly before it pierced through the air and arrived.

Sensing a whooshing sound behind her, the girl instinctively turned around and saw a long sword emitting a red light shooting towards her in the darkness.

Remembering what the boy beside her had said earlier, she didn't stop him.

In a few breaths, the longsword was already beside them. When the girl saw the sword clearly, a strange feeling arose in her heart. Before, when the sword was in its sheath, she did not know its true nature, but now it was somewhat unexpected.

"A wooden sword??"

Previously, all the people received by Jinghu Medical Manor were proud of their divine weapons; no one would carry something like a wooden sword on their person.

The young man in front of them, who was extremely powerful, carried only a wooden sword.

"The world is vast and full of wonders, so naturally there are all sorts of things, but more often than not, it is driven by profit."

At this point, Xiu Yuan turned slightly and asked, "Would Miss Rong like to meet the guests who came to visit today?"

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Rong tightened her grip on her hands in front of her, and her tone grew colder.

"An uninvited guest?"

Xiu Yuan gently touched his nose. Last night, he and Xiao Meng had actually come uninvited, and in a strict sense, the other party's words also included the two of them.

However, they came seeking medical treatment, while the people who came tonight may have ulterior motives.

Although they were several miles apart, the aura emanating from these people reminded him of the assassin organization from the Qin Kingdom.

A net.

For Luo Wang, targeting Jinghu Medical Manor was not entirely unexpected. Most of the people saved by the manor were from the State of Chu, as the manor itself was located in Chu, giving it a convenient advantage.

As for people from other countries, although the clinic will not refuse them, the journey is relatively long, and the number of people who are willing to travel thousands of miles to seek medical treatment will be significantly smaller.

As time went on, the medical clinic naturally became a thorn in the side of these people.

Therefore, this matter is not fully understood from the perspective of human nature alone; in fact, it involves more of a balancing of interests.

"There are only uninvited wounded here."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan couldn't help but glance at the girl again. It seemed that she had also realized that his previous statement was somewhat inappropriate. However, what intrigued him was that the girl's expression did not change at all.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a damp feeling onto their faces.

Xiu Yuan opened his arms, making a gesture of embracing heaven and earth, and then slowly lay down on the ground.

"Then just wait!"

"Let's see if these people are guests or the injured?"

The peach-shaped sword fell and stuck beside him.

As for Duanmu Rong, she hugged her legs with both hands and sat down as well.

Normally, she might have been worried if she heard that someone would come to the clinic that night, but today, she was unusually calm and not nervous at all.

Looking at the boy lying on the ground beside her, his hands supporting his head, a strange look appeared in her eyes. When did she become affected by this?

However, she had no doubt about the boy's methods.

"Where is your Taoist sect's headquarters located?"

After a while, Duanmu Rong asked softly.

Actually, at her age, her mind is naturally restless, just like Princess Honglian of Korea, who was never still when Han Fei returned to the country.

Duanmu Rong is about the same age as Honglian, but the environment of the medical manor has made this girl more composed.

"Mount Taiyi of the Qin State".

Xiu Yuan replied softly.

Duanmu Rong's gaze dimmed upon hearing the words "Qin State".

Like most people, she grew up hearing about the Qin state's formidable army and didn't have much affection for the country.

Most of the battles currently taking place in the State of Chu are related to the State of Qin, so her impression of Qin has become even worse.

"Did the Taoists also join the Qin state?"

The various schools of thought during the Warring States period were rooted in the seven states, and many of them relied on the power of the imperial court to continuously strengthen themselves. Among the several states she had come into contact with, there were a few like this.

For example, the Mohists joined the State of Yan and used Yan to continuously expand their power. The Confucians, based in the State of Qi, established the Little Sage Village in Sanghai, where they recruited many disciples and spread their teachings throughout the world.

The Qin state's military strength is now so great that it can be considered the strongest among the seven states. It would be reasonable for the Daoists to join the Qin state.

But then she heard the boy's words again, though his answer was not quite what she had expected.

"No."

Seemingly having guessed what the girl meant, Xiuyuan then added an explanation.

“Confucianism and Mohism are worldly paths that require interaction with the mortal world, so they would rely on the imperial court to achieve their goals. Taoism is different. Although it also involves worldly involvement, it is more about transcending the world and can be passed down without relying on the power of the imperial court.”

"Entering the world or leaving the world?"

Upon hearing these two words, Duanmu Rong couldn't help but look at the boy beside her. The words themselves were quite interesting.

"Confucianism emphasizes self-cultivation, family harmony, governance of the state, and bringing peace to the world, as well as self-discipline and restoration of propriety. These things are difficult to achieve by one's own strength alone, so they must rely on the power of the imperial court." "For example, if a doctor wants to realize his dream, he will inevitably have to deal with people. Such a school is destined to be involved in the world. Compared with Taoism, it follows the path of worldly engagement."

"On the other hand, Taoism pursues the ultimate transcendence of emotions and the unity of heaven and man. The cultivation of Tao seeks to eliminate falsehood and preserve truth, to experience the hardships of the mortal world, and finally to attain enlightenment. It is a path of transcendence, so there is no need to rely on other forces."

The boy's calm and measured voice, delivered at just the right moment, clearly answered her inner doubts.

At that moment, she also remembered what the boy had said earlier.

See the world, see all living beings, see yourself.

I seek peace of mind, I seek freedom from worries, I seek tranquility.
Looking back now, it is indeed the Taoist approach.

This approach was quite different from the medical school she belonged to, but she didn't find it difficult to accept.

On the contrary, it's an extremely comfortable feeling. It seems to encompass everything, like the ocean embracing all rivers.

"Taoism is truly a magical school of thought."

Duanmu Rong muttered to herself.

About half an hour later, ripples were heard on Mirror Lake again, and a man in black armor came riding a small boat through the waves.

Behind him were several other people, but compared to the man in black armor, the rest of them looked rather disheveled, soaking wet as if they had just come out of the water.

"Oh?"

The man in black armor seemed to have noticed the two people on the shore and was somewhat curious.

He then waved to the men in black behind him, signaling them to go first. The men in black on the boat behind him did not hesitate and leaped towards the shore.

Upon seeing these people appear, Duanmu Rong's expression changed slightly. What the young man said earlier was true; someone had indeed come to visit tonight.

But seeing how menacing these people were, she feared they had ill intentions.

"Who are you?"

After thinking for a moment, Duanmu Rong slowly stood up, and several silver needles appeared between her fingers.

Could this place be Mirror Lake Medical Clinic?

After the men in black came ashore, they surrounded Duanmu Rong and Xiu Yuan, but did not rush to make a move. The man in black armor on the small boat in the lake first glanced at the boy who was still lying on the ground, and then looked at the girl in front of him who looked a little older and asked.

Duanmu Rong's eyes flashed, and she spoke again, "Yes, and who are you people?"

Upon hearing Duanmu Rong's words, the black-armored man on the ship chuckled.

"They were well hidden, and it took us a long time to find them, but it was worth it. Those soldiers from Chu were so badly wounded, yet after a while they were back on the battlefield, lively and energetic. That must be thanks to you, right?"

Upon hearing this, the girl couldn't help but recall what the boy beside her had said earlier, and her beautiful eyes narrowed unconsciously.

"Are you people from the Qin state?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black armor was taken aback at first, then asked with interest, "How did you guess that?"

Duanmu Rong glanced at the young man beside her, her grip tightening, and then she said in a deep voice, "The Medical Manor treats all patients equally and has never discriminated against them."

The man in black armor seemed to know the rules of Mirror Lake Medical Clinic, and his eyes flickered. What the girl said was true.

“I do know that, but unfortunately, such impartiality is not enough for us. If the medical clinic were to treat only people from the Qin Kingdom from now on, then I could make an exception.”

Upon hearing the other party's words, Duanmu Rong gave a cold smile.

If she didn't understand her master Nian Duan's meaning before, she does now.

The Medical Clinic is located within the territory of the State of Chu. If it only treats people from the State of Qin, what difference would that be from courting death? However, since the Medical Clinic treats the wounded and sick from all seven states equally, the State of Chu cannot say anything, and at the same time, the people from the other six states will not hold a grudge.

While this weighing of options may not be foolproof, it is an extremely rare solution for the medical clinic.

Seeing the girl's expression, the man in black armor smiled.

"Actually, I guessed your answer. Unfortunately, your answer did not satisfy me either, so tonight will be the day your medical manor is destroyed."

At a command, the seven people surrounding Duanmu Rong and Xiu Yuan suddenly rushed towards them.

At the same time, the man in black armor on the ship subconsciously glanced at the young man lying on the ground. Faced with this situation, the young man was still unmoved. In his opinion, the young man was either a fool or a master.

However, the probability of someone being a fool in a medical clinic is not very high, which means that the other party is very likely a master.

“Peach Blossom!”

A voice reached everyone's ears, and Duanmu Rong breathed a sigh of relief. The other party hadn't made a move, and she thought the other party was really asleep!

The wooden sword stuck beside Xiu Yuan trembled slightly, then transformed into a streak of fiery red light and vanished instantly.

The man in black armor standing on the boat felt a sudden jolt in his heart. A true expert's skill is immediately apparent upon making a move.

"Be careful!!"

A loud shout rang out immediately, but the seven men in black who rushed over had no time to react. The difference in their cultivation levels was something that could not be made up for by going first or second.

A red light appeared in mid-air, and Duanmu Rong subconsciously looked over. When the girl caught sight of the wooden sword again, seven blood flowers bloomed in mid-air.

The boy slowly stood up and came to Duanmu Rong's side. The wooden sword hovered in front of him. Then he looked at the black-armored man on the small boat in the lake.

"So it seems you were the ones who injured those people during the day?"

The man in black narrowed his eyes. The young man's move just now had put a lot of pressure on him. If he wasn't mistaken, the other party was a grandmaster who was rarely seen in the martial arts world.

"Oh?"

He was surprised again. He didn't understand why the other party was so sure that the people from the daytime were injured by them.

"Actually, it's just a guess. The injuries of those people during the day were undeniable, but you all came tonight. It's hard not to think things through. If I wanted to find this medical clinic hidden in the lake, I might use a similar method to test the waters and then follow the clues."

The man in black armor's gaze darkened. To have such cunning at such a young age, it was clear that the other party was not only skilled in cultivation, but also likely had a remarkable state of mind.

"You are not from Mirror Lake Medical Clinic, are you?"

Xiu Yuan raised an eyebrow and looked at the other person. This time he didn't speak, but the other person understood what he meant.

"I have long heard of the medical family in this medical manor. Among all the medical families, if a genius like you were to emerge, this medical manor should not be located here, but rather in the capital of Chu—Shouying."

Upon hearing this explanation, Xiu Yuan nodded.

The medical profession follows a worldly path. If a master-level figure were to emerge from the medical profession, then Mirror Lake would indeed not need to be located in this extremely secluded place. Even if it were located in "Shouying," no one would dare to cause trouble, and there would be no need to worry about what the Seven Kingdoms would do.

As Bei Mingzi of the Daoist Tianzong sect said, in chaotic times, strength is the ultimate guarantee.

"You guessed right, I am indeed not a doctor, but unfortunately, I am here to seek medical help."

Upon hearing this, the man in black armor fell silent for a moment.

The eyes visible beneath the black iron mask flickered uncertainly. After a moment, he spoke again: "If Your Excellency is willing to leave, I can invite the Qin royal family's top physician to help you with this matter."

At the same time, an extremely powerful aura rose from the black-armored figure.

"Grandmaster??"

Xiu Yuan pinched his chin. He was certain that the person in front of him was from Luo Wang. However, he was very curious. He had just killed two of Luo Wang's Grandmaster-level combatants, including Yan Ri and Hei Bai Xuan Jian, and had also taken Jing Ni away. When did Luo Wang recruit such a powerful Grandmaster?

Seeing Xiu Yuan remain silent, the girl standing to the side suddenly felt her heart leap into her throat. She could sense that the black-armored man in front of her was extremely powerful, and not someone she and her master could handle.

Furthermore, the other party offered a very attractive deal: she could get what she wanted without having to fight against an opponent of equal strength. If she had the choice, she would be tempted.

However, if this young man from the Heavenly Sect chooses to stand idly by, it will be a disaster for Mirror Lake.

"What if I say no?"

The man in black armor suddenly became more aggressive, revealing his murderous intent.

"This is an extremely unwise choice. Although a Grandmaster can roam freely in the martial world, a Grandmaster can still die."

"I was thinking of your difficult journey to becoming a Grandmaster at such a young age, and I was going to give you a way out. But if you don't know what's good for you, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

As she spoke, a powerful sword aura shot out. Duanmu Rong felt her heart skip a beat, and in the blink of an eye, she saw the sword aura already in front of her. Her opponent was too fast, and her cultivation level was vastly different from his. She simply couldn't dodge his sword.

The chilling sword energy instantly captivated her, and for the first time, this girl felt that life and death were so close at that moment.

"Covering the sun?"

Xiu Yuan let out a soft exclamation upon seeing the sword in the other person's hand.

This sword was the same one he had seen at Zilanxuan in Xinzheng, Korea. Ni Chang had mentioned that it had been recovered by the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven).

Upon hearing this, the man in black narrowed his eyes. Although the Eight Swords of Yue King were famous in the martial arts world, there were not many people who could recognize them at a glance like this man.

"You know this sword?"

Xiu Yuan then broke through the opponent's aura lock and pulled the girl next to him behind him.

He then shook his head and said softly, "You may not know, but the previous Yan Ri and Hei Bai Xuan Jian died at my hands. I saw this sword back in Xinzheng, Korea."

Upon hearing this, the newcomer paused, his expression one of surprise and uncertainty.

He had heard about the previous sword master, who was also a powerful swordsman, but ultimately met his demise in Korea. If this young man hadn't mentioned Xinzheng, he probably wouldn't have believed him.

Who exactly are you?

The newcomer tightened his grip on Yan Ri, his expression turning serious. Yan Ri and Hei Bai Xuan Jian were killed at the same time. At the time, the organization believed that the two were surrounded and attacked, resulting in a crushing defeat. However, according to what this young man is saying now, it seems that this is not the case.

If what the other party said is true, then his strength is completely different, and perhaps I am no match for him.

"Taoist Heavenly Sect Purity and Emptiness".

(End of this chapter)