Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 177 Backer, Grandmaster
"What is Mr. Nianduan doing?"

The next day, Nian Duan invited Xiu Yuan and Xiao Meng to his room. After the two arrived, he found that another girl from the medical manor, Duanmu Rong, was also there.

Looking at the other person's actions, Xiu Yuan was somewhat puzzled.

Nian Duan sighed softly and said, "The seven kingdoms have been fighting each other for years, and the martial arts world is full of bloodshed. This assassination attempt is a disaster that has befallen the Medical Manor. If it weren't for the master here, Rong'er and I would probably be dead."

At this point, a hint of bitterness appeared on the face of the master physician from Jinghu Medical Manor.

In chaotic times, the strong are respected.

This is the law of survival in chaotic times, and as for right or wrong, few people care to comment anymore.

If Mirror Lake Medical Manor had a Grandmaster or even Great Grandmaster level expert in charge, would those assassins still target the master and disciple?

Looking at the two young men before her, Nian Duan's gaze sharpened, and she solemnly said, "This old woman wishes to find a backer for the Medical Manor."

Xiaomeng stood beside Xiuyuan, and upon hearing his words, the girl's expression became somewhat complicated.

In chaotic times, besides becoming stronger, another way to survive is to seek the protection of a powerful force.

Why were we chosen?

Looking at the master of medicine before him, Xiu Yuan suddenly asked a question.

Jinghu Medical Clinic must have received many people over the years, including wounded soldiers from the battlefield and people from the martial arts world.

Most of these people in the martial arts world may be ordinary people, but there will always be a few who come from powerful forces, or who are powerful forces themselves.

Just like Yan Dan before, who was both the crown prince of Yan and a disciple of the Mohist school, and later even became the leader of the Mohist school, if Jinghu Medical Manor really wants to find a backer, they are not the only option.

"The Medical Manor has no intention of getting involved in the conflicts between the martial arts world and the wars between families and nations."

This is Nian Duan's answer.

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan's gaze became somewhat distant.

"The Heavenly Sect doesn't concern itself with worldly affairs, but that doesn't mean I will be the same. If I were, would Master Nian Duan still want to entrust the Medical Manor to us?"

Nian Duan was taken aback. Both of the two men in front of him were from the Tianzong sect of Taoism and were disciples of the sect. According to the doctrines of the Tianzong sect, they should not interfere in matters of the martial arts world or the imperial court. However, judging from their words, this young man seemed to have other ideas.

Then Xiu Yuan's words came through again.

"The Heavenly Sect secludes itself to cultivate, detached from worldly affairs, and pursues the ultimate transcendence of emotions. For most disciples, such a path does not offer many choices. But it is different for me. The more world one sees, the more unique one's pursuits tend to become."

"Since joining the Heavenly Sect, I have been traveling down the mountain for two years. During this time, I have seen a lot, including the warmth and coldness of human relationships, the grudges and feuds of the martial world, the clash of swords, and the joys and sorrows of life."

"Most of the time, I might just laugh off these things, but there are some things I won't stand idly by. Take what happened in Daliang City, for example; I've unintentionally offended quite a few powerful forces."

"It's just that those people were afraid of my strength and didn't pursue the matter. I'm well aware of that."

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan fell silent again. The person in front of him had explained the matter of Daliang City before, which also involved the cause and effect of the silver-haired girl beside him.

"My path involves attachment, enlightenment, gain, and loss. If you truly imagine me as a sage without joy or sorrow, you are sorely mistaken."

"I am far from reaching that level. In this mortal world, how many people can truly transcend it? Most people have simply learned to let go and reconcile with themselves, to say goodbye to the past. But does that mean cause and effect no longer exist?"

There's always a reason behind it. When Nian Duan heard these words, she felt a mix of emotions. She was experiencing the same things the boy was talking about, but she still hadn't let go of the past.

"Although I can deceive myself by telling Mr. Nian Duan that the Heavenly Sect will not get involved in these disputes of the secular dynasties, who can be sure that it will always be so!"

"The concept of 'having a powerful backer' implies a situation where one's rise and fall are intertwined."

Hearing Xiu Yuan's words, a sigh crossed Xiao Meng's eyes. Just like back in Daliang City, the Wan Hua Lou was backed by Li Qing. After Li Qing fell from power, she could guess what would happen to the Wan Hua Lou.

But before Li Qing fell from power, this Wan Hua Lou was the tyrant of Daliang City, and no one dared to provoke it. That was the truth.

"So, is the master really going to take a gamble on me?"

After Xiu Yuan finished speaking, the room fell into a brief silence.

Nian Duan was in a state of complex emotion and could not express himself clearly.

There is no such thing as enjoying rights without bearing responsibilities; such a thing is also unrealistic.

If the medical sect is truly bound to this young man, then the medical sect will share his glory and his fate.

The other party's formidable enemies are likely to come knocking, but conversely, their reputation will save them a lot of trouble.

After a while, Nian Duan sighed softly.

"Every sip and every bite seems to be preordained by heaven. Although Master Qingxu said so, I still want to take a gamble."

"The Medical Manor has always treated the wounded and injured from the seven kingdoms equally, and this will not change in the future. Seeking a master as a backer is just to make outsiders more hesitant to take action, and we don't expect to rise to prominence from it."

Nian Duan's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

Her ideas were different from those of the Wan Hua Lou in Daliang City. She would not do evil just because she had a powerful backer, nor would she break the previous rules. All they wanted was peace of mind.

"I understand what you mean, Master, but things in the martial world often don't go as we wish."

Nian Duan's thoughts are not hard to guess, but would those people in the martial arts world accept such thoughts?
"That's why I said we should take a gamble."

"What are these things?"

"It is the medical research on the eight extraordinary meridians of the human body, as well as the specific locations of some acupoints in the human body. These things will be of considerable benefit to those who practice internal energy cultivation."

Time ticked by, and Xiu Yuan eventually acquiesced to the matter. To him, it was just a title, and besides, he wasn't famous in the martial arts world yet.

This reputation will probably only be useful after he becomes truly famous in the martial arts world. After that, the medical manor will rise and fall with him.

In truth, he didn't suffer any loss in this matter.

Time passed quickly, and at noon, a number of carriages arrived on the official road outside Jinghu Medical Manor. A few days ago, the Prime Minister of Chu sent several groups of people, but they all disappeared without a trace. Only today did this group of people successfully arrive at Jinghu Medical Manor.

However, at this moment, the servants who came to invite the person were quite surprised, as the medical master in the medical manor seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

“I am already aware of what happened to Prime Minister Li. Although this action violated the rules of the Medical Manor, it is ultimately a matter of life and death, so I will go with you.”

Upon hearing Nian Duan's words, the visitor's face lit up with joy. He had thought that this Immortal Physician of Mirror Lake was an unapproachable person, and he had prepared a whole host of words beforehand, but it seemed that he would not need them now.

However, when he saw the other people around Nian Duan, his expression changed. He remembered that Li Yuan had said that there were only two people in Jinghu Medical Manor, and they were both women. One was Nian Duan herself, and the other was Nian Duan's disciple named Duanmu Rong.

Who are those two young men who suddenly appeared in front of us?
"Master, who are these two dolls?"

To Nian Duan, Xiu Yuan and Xiao Meng were indeed children. Hearing what the other person said, Nian Duan subconsciously glanced at the two of them, and then continued, "They are my two patients. Their illnesses have not yet been fully cured, so I have to take them with me along the way."

Upon hearing this, the visitor frowned.

"patient??"

They were ordered by Ling Yin Li Yuan to pick up the person, who was an extremely important figure in the State of Chu. Under such circumstances, they also had to bring their own patient. They had never encountered anything like this before.

“Master Nian Duan, the journey to the capital is long and arduous. Even by carriage, it will take ten to fifteen days. For a patient, the most important thing is to recuperate. Bringing these two along is not only bad for us, but also for them. Master, please think twice before you proceed.”

The visitor spoke with great tact and his arguments were reasonable and well-founded, leaving Nian Duan momentarily at a loss for words.

Xiaomeng gently tugged at Xiuyuan's sleeve. For the two of them, there was no need to be with Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong. They also had their own purpose in entering the capital of Chu.

Ensuring the safe return of the two doctors from the medical clinic was only one aspect; there was something else entirely.

Xiu Yuan had mentioned two people to her, one named Chu Nan Gong and the other named Feng Hu Zi. Her senior brother seemed very interested in these two people.

Sensing the movement around him, Xiu Yuan shook his head slightly. For him, there was indeed no need to be in the same team as Nian Duan. However, since those people had already sent assassins, there was no doubt that they would continue to send people.

"Senior brother, isn't there still that old man?"

Xiaomeng used the Heavenly Sound Transmission to mention another person to Xiuyuan: Yanri, the top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization who had been subdued by Xiuyuan.

Yan Ri is a Grandmaster-level expert. If he were to protect them along the way, the chances of Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong encountering any accidents would be slim.

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan touched his chin. This was indeed a good choice. If so, he and Xiao Meng might be able to arrive in the capital of Chu a few days earlier. They could then investigate the situation and be prepared for what was to come.

Xiu Yuan then used telepathy to briefly tell Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong about the situation on the way, and then said, "Master Nian Duan, my sister's condition has almost stabilized. You just need to write the prescription, and we will wait for you to return at the medical clinic."

Seeing that Xiu Yuan was so sensible, the man's expression improved considerably. He felt as if he had divine assistance along the way, as he hadn't even encountered a rainy day.

Arriving here on a smooth journey, I was fortunate enough to meet the owner of Mirror Lake Medical Manor—the Immortal Physician Nianduan.

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan gave Xiu Yuan a strange look. If Xiu Yuan hadn't informed them of his plans earlier using the Heavenly Sound Transmission, they would probably still be in the dark.

"That's fine!"

"Rong'er, give them the prescription you wrote earlier, and we'll continue the treatment when we get back."

Upon hearing Nian Duan's instructions, Duanmu Rong was taken aback. Xiaomeng's condition had almost fully recovered. Her body had been nourished by Xiu Yuan's Changqing Gong internal energy, and the reason she hadn't woken up was due to other reasons. Therefore, they didn't have the prescription that Nian Duan mentioned.

However, at this moment, she knew what was going on. She then squatted down, took out a prescription from her medical kit, and handed it to Xiuyuan.

Seeing Xiu Yuan's calm and composed expression, Duanmu Rong couldn't help but admire him. When it came to the ability to lie through one's teeth, she was certainly no match for him!

After a while, watching the convoy disappear into the distance, Xiu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back. Then he said softly to the empty space beside him, "Ensure the safety of Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong on the way. As for the others, you can handle it yourself."

"Your subordinate obeys." A figure flashed through the shadows, and then the shadowy area returned to calm.

Xiaomeng looked into the distance and asked softly, "Senior brother, what did Duanmu Rong give you just now?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan turned and opened the prescription in his hand, where several rows of delicate small characters appeared before them.

Upon seeing these words, Xiu Yuan shrugged. Perhaps this was indeed a prescription, but they couldn't understand it at all.

Similarly, Xiaomeng's lips twitched, and then she looked away.

"It really is a bit inconvenient that we can't understand each other's languages!"

"If you want to understand the languages ​​of other countries, you will need to spend more time learning them. If all seven countries used the same language, there wouldn't be so much trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan smiled gently.

This will happen in the future: standardizing cart axles and writing; this is the first thing a unified country should do.

"Don't worry, it will definitely happen in the future."

Xiaomeng raised her head and looked at the boy beside her. At that moment, she suddenly remembered the things left behind by the girl from the Yin Yang School.

"Senior brother, are you referring to the Qin state?"

Xiu Yuan smiled and didn't reply.

"Shall we go too?"

Xiu Yuan let out a long breath and slowly began to speak.

Xiaomeng nodded.

Just like when they left Mount Taiyi, the two figures flashed and disappeared from the spot.

On the way, Duanmu Rong lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. For this girl, everything outside was new and exciting.

This is a completely different scene from the Jinghu Medical Manor, with its bustling carriages and pedestrians.

Compared to Jinghu Medical Clinic, even the official road here has a more down-to-earth feel.

After watching for a while, the girl looked away. When she saw her master, who seemed dazed, she asked in surprise, "Master, what's wrong?"

Nian Duan clasped her hands together in front of her. Hearing Duanmu Rong's words, she said in a somewhat heavy voice, "This time, the problem of entering the palace is probably not so simple."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Rong was taken aback again.

They haven't even seen the Empress Dowager herself yet, so how did Nian Duan come to this conclusion?

"master??"

Nian Duan shook his head and continued, "Judging from the frequency of the visits, Lord Ling Yin Li Yuan has sent several groups of people, which shows that he is very concerned about the matter of treating the Empress Dowager."

"From this perspective, the Empress Dowager's condition has reached a point where it can no longer be delayed, and under such circumstances, the complexity of her condition is considerable."

"Furthermore, from the words of the visitors, I also guessed some things. If it is not a thorny issue, bringing two patients will not have a big impact. The other party just emphasized one thing, that is, the patients cannot travel long distances. I can feel that the other party does not want to delay the journey, and perhaps also wants to keep it a secret. The fewer people who know about this, the better."

"There's even a possibility that some people in this team might go back and keep quiet."

At this point, Duanmu Rong's expression tightened, but when she thought of the strength of that boy and girl, a cold smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

"If those people really have this plan, then they'll probably be disappointed. Of course, if they happen to run into it by chance, then..."

Regarding the matter of keeping quiet, Duanmu Rong immediately realized what might happen. If Xiuyuan and Xiaomeng were really just ordinary patients, then this time, they were probably in grave danger.

Before all physicians, everyone should be treated equally. Jinghu Medical Clinic has been practicing medicine for many years and has always adhered to this rule. Now, these people want to keep it a secret, but they want to kill unrelated people. This goes against the rules of the clinic. Therefore, the girl responded to this speculation with a cold laugh.

"If things have come to this point, then this trip to the palace is probably not a good thing for us. Even if we can really cure the Empress Dowager, the chances of the two of us, master and disciple, leaving the palace safely are not high."

At this point, Nian Duan suddenly felt a pang of regret. If she hadn't insisted on treating the Empress Dowager, perhaps they wouldn't have ended up in this predicament.

"Master, aren't Qingxu and Xiaomeng with you too?"

Duanmu Rong seemed to sense something and spoke up to comfort her.

However, when it came to his disciple, Nian Duan paused for a moment.

Once they arrived in the capital of Chu and entered the palace, the situation was completely different from that in the martial arts world.

The State of Chu, as a powerful state among the seven kingdoms, boasted exceptionally skilled warriors, while the martial world and the imperial court were simply not the same realm.

The young man from Tianzong might not have much trouble dealing with those martial arts practitioners, but there's a huge difference when it comes to dealing with a massive army.

Human strength has its limits, and she understood this better than anyone else. As a master of medicine, she had a profound understanding of the human body's structure, the eight extraordinary meridians, acupoints, and the internal energy that can be stored.

Even for a powerful individual who has achieved harmony with nature, there is a limit to the capacity of their meridians; a person cannot recklessly circulate their internal energy.

Once the meridians are damaged, they become extremely difficult problems, and it is impossible to recover to their original state in a short period of time.

"Rong'er, the martial world is the martial world, and the imperial court is the imperial court. After so many years of war between the seven kingdoms, have you ever heard of anyone who can take on a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand men on the battlefield?"

Human strength has its limits.

At this point, Nian Duan couldn't help but sigh.

"Master, what you're saying are all just guesses."

Duanmu Rong seemed to remember something, and after a moment of silence, she added again.

Nian Duan shook his head.

She never deceives herself; just like when that young man from the Heavenly Sect talked about those things, she never denied them.

She meant to take a gamble.

Therefore, this great physician had her own understanding of the dangers of this world, and she had her own unique perspective on life and death.

"At this point, there's no other way. We'll just have to take it one step at a time!"

Duanmu Rong clenched her fists lightly, then glanced outside. Before leaving, Xiu Yuan had mentioned someone who would secretly protect her and Nian Duan's safety.

If the other person is right outside following them, could they ask that person for help now?

But how to ask for help proved difficult for the girl. Should she shout for help from inside the car? But who would believe her? And what about the people outside? If they realized her intentions, their chances of escaping would be even slimmer.

A silence fell over the carriage. The two women, one older and one younger, were lost in their own thoughts. Their journey, which had just begun after leaving their homes, seemed to have been abruptly brought to a halt.

Time passed slowly, and before long, night had fallen. In an open space, a campfire was lit, illuminating the surrounding area.

Duanmu Rong used an excuse that young women usually use to leave the place. Looking at the dark bushes all around, she nervously whispered, "Hey, are you there? Qingxu told me you would be nearby to protect me and my master. I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing the girl's words, Yan Ri, who was hiding in the shadows, was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, he slowly walked out of the darkness and into the shadows.

"Miss Duanmu, do you have any guidance?"

A voice sounded from behind her, startling Duanmu Rong, but she still asked tentatively.

"You're the person Qingxu was talking about?"

Yan Ri sighed softly, somewhat helplessly.

"Yes."

"What evidence is there?"

"."

"If you have no evidence and don't want to talk, I'll take my leave now."

"I'm sure now."

"."

Then Duanmu Rong whispered what she had said earlier. After hearing this, Yan Ri was silent for a while, then he gave a cold laugh.

"Grandmasters may not be able to fight against thousands of troops, but that doesn't mean Great Grandmasters can't!!"

"Master Qingxu is not just a grandmaster, but a great grandmaster. If the royal family of Chu does not want to be wiped out, they had better not have such thoughts! Otherwise, Shouying will become their graveyard!"

The martial arts world and the imperial court are indeed two different paths, but they can overlap in some ways.

Just like a grandmaster in the martial arts world, no force would be willing to offend such a person easily. Even the royal families of various countries would be courting death if they did not have the combat power of a grandmaster.

A thousand troops can stop a grandmaster, but not a great grandmaster.

Although there is only one word difference between Grandmaster and Great Grandmaster, their combat power is worlds apart.

"Grandmaster?"

(End of this chapter)