From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 160 Immortal Doctor
"Since the Xu family doesn't welcome us, then let's leave!"

After Yingzi finished speaking, she ignored Xu Zhongchao's angry curses and turned to leave in a huff.

She found a carriage, laid out thick cotton quilts in the carriage, went home, carried Ma Shujie into the carriage, and drove away from Baihe Mountain.

If Ma Shujie stays in the Xu family any longer, she will lose her life.

They rushed to the gate of a luxurious mansion in the county town, which was Ma Shujie's family home.

"Isn't this Yingzi? What brings you back?"

The gatekeeper recognized Yingzi.

Yingzi frowned, her voice urgent: "Is the master home? Something's happened!"

"Master is home. What's wrong?"

The servants asked questions and saw Yingzi carrying a person out of the carriage: the person's skin was as pale as paper, bloodless, and his whole body was limp.

"Miss?!"

If it weren't for the obvious birthmark on her face, the servants wouldn't have recognized that the person about to die was Ma Shujie.

"I'll go get someone!" The servant hurriedly ran into the courtyard to deliver the message.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Ma Erjue is a martial arts grandmaster. With such strength, he has established himself in Tonggu County and built a huge business empire. His family has considerable influence.

He's getting old, and in the last two years he hasn't been managing the family business much, leaving it to his sons.

He usually spends his time at home leisurely drinking tea, playing chess, and playing with his grandchildren.

"Master! Master~~"

The servants rushed over in a panic, shouting as they went.

"Why are you so anxious?"

"Miss, Miss is back! She...please come and see her!"

The servant stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence, and pointed towards the door.

Shujie is back?
Under normal circumstances, a married daughter is considered "water spilled from a cup" and rarely returns to her parents' home.

A daughter will only return to her parents' home for major events such as the passing of her parents or the marriage of her siblings.

Just as Ma Erjue stood up, he saw Yingzi carrying Ma Shujie and walking quickly towards him.

"Shujie? Shujie!"

Seeing Ma Shujie's appearance, Ma Erjue's heart trembled, and he almost cried with heartache.

He only had one daughter, whom he cherished dearly since she was little. Because of her birthmark, he took extra care of her.

How did it become like this?

"What happened, Yingzi? Quick, take her home! Hurry! ...Someone, go fetch a doctor. No, I'll go myself..."

In his panic, Ma Erjue spoke recklessly. The dignified martial arts master was sweating profusely, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

When Ma Shujie's mother heard the news, she came over and burst into tears upon seeing her daughter's condition.

“Her mother, you stay home and take care of our daughter. I’m going to fetch a miracle doctor.”

Ma Erjue asked his wife to take care of their daughter while he went to fetch a renowned doctor himself.

Just as he rushed out the door, he realized he had forgotten his money. He quickly turned back and went home to get a stack of silver notes, worth several thousand taels of silver, as well as a small bag that he had kept hidden for many years.

Inside the small bag was a spirit stone and five spirit crystals.

The so-called "immortal doctor" is a folk term; in reality, it refers to a cultivator who possesses medical skills.

In Tonggu County, there was a legendary physician named Zhang Tuo, who was known as "Hua Tuo in the world".

The cost of hiring him to treat illnesses is very high, and ordinary people cannot afford it. Only those who can afford spirit crystals and spirit stones can hire him.

When Ma Erjue unleashed his Grandmaster-level strength, he rampaged through the city at such speed that he left afterimages and nearly hit passersby.

A short while later they arrived at a quiet house on the outskirts of the city, which was Zhang Tuo's residence.

"Boom boom boom!"

Ma Erjue pounded on the courtyard gate, shouting, "Immortal Doctor Zhang! Immortal Doctor Zhang! Please, Immortal Doctor Zhang, save my life!"

The courtyard gate creaked open.

Zhang Tuo, annoyed at being disturbed, dropped his nonchalant expression upon seeing Ma Erjue: "So it's the second son of the Ma family. Is someone in your family sick?" "It's my daughter. She's on her deathbed. Please, kind doctor, save her!"

"Well, you should know my rules..."

Before Zhang Tuo could finish speaking, Ma Erjue stuffed the bag containing spirit stones and crystals, along with several thousand taels of silver notes, into Zhang Tuo's arms.

His rule is that you need at least one spirit stone to ask him to make a house call, regardless of the outcome.

Medical treatment will be charged separately.

"Dr. Zhang, this is all I have for now. Save my daughter first, and I'll make up for whatever else is needed. You must trust me."

"I trust the Ma family's reputation. Let's go."

Knowing that saving lives was the priority, Zhang Tuo stopped talking and used his lightness technique to follow Ma Erjue to the Ma family compound.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Keep quiet."

Inside the room, Zhang Tuo stood by the bed.

Ma Erjue and the others were anxious, but they could only hold back to avoid disturbing Zhang Tuo.

Zhang Tuo gently stroked Ma Shujie's forehead to take her pulse, then lifted her eyelids, pried open her mouth to examine her lips and tongue, and smelled her breath...

He is a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, born into a family of doctors, and possesses ancestral medical skills.

However, there were no cultivators in his family; his family members were just ordinary doctors.

After Zhang Tuo discovered that he had five pseudo-spiritual roots, he spent a lot of effort learning a water-based cultivation technique called "Water Element Health Cultivation Technique".

This technique is quite ordinary; it doesn't contain any powerful fighting techniques, but rather uses water to nourish living beings, treat illnesses, and maintain health.

Cultivators from Qi Refining families look down on such techniques, and even rogue cultivators are unwilling to practice such techniques with weak combat power.

However, Zhang Tuo, who came from a family of doctors, favored this "Water Element Health Preservation Exercise".

His family had no resources to support his cultivation, so his situation was no different from that of a rogue cultivator. After reaching the third level of Qi Refining by relying on the meager spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he began to use the name of "immortal doctor" to treat the sick and save lives.

For this reason, he even changed his name, changing his original name "Zhang Yifeng" to Zhang Tuo.

He was skilled in medicine and possessed the "Water Element Health Preservation Technique," making him far more capable of treating illnesses than ordinary famous doctors. Gradually, he gained a reputation and acquired some spirit stones, which enabled him to cultivate to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

While Zhang Tuo was diagnosing Ma Shujie, Ma Erjue pulled Yingzi outside the door and asked her in a low voice.

"What's going on?"

"Master, the Xu family is bullying us..."

Yingzi tearfully recounted what had happened during that time.

"This……"

Ma Erjue frowned, lost in thought.

He knew about Xu Zhongchao taking a concubine because Ma Shujie couldn't get pregnant.

However, Xu Zhongchao's lack of concern for Ma Shujie when she was seriously ill was indeed excessive.

As for Xu Zhongchao's favoritism towards his concubine and his neglect of his wife?
Ma Erjue did not fully believe Yingzi's words. After all, Yingzi was Ma Shujie's maid and the two had a deep relationship. Her words alone would be biased.

“Yingzi, you did the right thing by bringing Shujie back. The Xu family probably wouldn’t be willing to spend spirit stones to hire a divine physician to treat her illness.”

He had barely finished speaking when he heard a sound coming from inside the room.

"Wake up, wake up!"

"Shh, don't disturb the immortal healer..."

Shujie is awake?

Ma Erjue quickly turned around and went back to his room, where he saw Zhang Tuo making hand seals and transferring several streams of spiritual energy to Shujie.

A sliver of color returned to Ma Shujie's face, her eyelids twitched, and she struggled to open her eyes.

"Hu~~"

Zhang Tuo let out a long breath and stopped his attack: "Your life is saved. Patriarch Ma, come with me."

Ma Erjue followed Zhang Tuo to a secluded spot, thinking that he hadn't given enough spirit stones: "Immortal Doctor, how many more spirit stones do I need to give you?"

(End of this chapter)