People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 103, A First-Class Opportunity, Medical Family Inheritance
Nian Duan looked serious, exuding a powerful aura, and stared at Xu Qing with sharp, sword-like eyes.

Xu Qing felt immense pressure. Under Nian Duan's gaze, he felt like a patient who had been stripped naked, his entire body laid bare before him.

"Mr. Nian Duan, what do you mean by that?" Xu Qing asked with a forced smile.

“I’d like to hear your opinion on physicians,” Nian Duan said.

Xu Qing's smile vanished, and she looked at Nian Duan with a serious expression.

Nian Duan wouldn't ask him this question for no reason. Considering that Nian Duan was the leader of the Wild Faction, yet he came to treat Zhang Kaidi's illness, he became even more certain that there was a deeper meaning behind this question.

Considering their previous conversation and the fortune telling him to assess the situation and make the right choice to turn danger into safety, he realized that he needed to make the right decision.

Although unsure of what the right choice was, after careful consideration, Xu Qing shared her views on physicians.

"Medical practitioners, whether from the official or unofficial factions, have long lost their original intentions."

"Keep talking."

Xu Qing looked at Nian Duan, whose expression remained unchanged, and continued speaking.

“In the past, Bian Que, the ancestor of all physicians, traveled to various countries, treating the common people, prolonging the lives of the powerful and wealthy, and advising the monarchs wherever he went.”

"What I seek is neither fame, nor rewards from the powerful, nor the favor of the monarch, but rather a way to survive for all the people of the world."

Hearing Xu Qing's words, a glint of light flashed in Nian Duan's eyes, and he gestured for Xu Qing to continue speaking.

"When the Zhou emperor was in decline, Duke Zhuang of Zheng pulled him down from his pedestal with a single arrow. From then on, the feudal lords no longer feared the emperor's authority and began to fight for hegemony and annexation."

"As a result, the world fell into chaos, and the people suffered greatly. The wise men of the Hundred Schools of Thought wrote books and traveled to various countries to persuade the rulers,"

"Although each school of thought has different doctrines and methods, what they all seek is nothing more than peace and prosperity for the people."

"My family of doctors is no exception, but there are so many living beings in the world that it is impossible to rectify the world with human effort alone."

"Therefore, the ancestor Bian Que traveled to various countries under the guise of treating illnesses, in order to select a monarch who could truly bring peace to the world."

Xu Qing sighed with emotion, saying that no matter what the intentions of the various schools of thought were, their essence was to seek peace and prosperity for the world, so that the people could live and work in peace and contentment.

The Daoists advocated for small states with few people and non-interference in governance; the Confucians emphasized benevolence and the Zhou rites; and the Mohists advocated universal love and non-aggression. They were all medical practitioners who considered themselves guardians of all living beings.

"Then why do you say that the two schools of medicine have long since strayed from their original intentions?" Nian Duan asked.

Her hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched slightly, her heart filled with anticipation for Xu Qing's answer.

Xu Qing just smiled faintly upon hearing this, as if she had heard something amusing.

"The court faction originally meant those who entered officialdom to assist the monarch and spread medical theories."

"But what about now? Medical knowledge has been lost, and medical officials seek no merit but only to avoid mistakes. They flatter and fawn, pursuing fame and fortune, and have long forgotten their original intentions."

"As for the unorthodox school, their original intention was to practice medicine, save lives, help those in distress, and do good deeds for the world."

"But what about now? The saying 'A doctor can save the world, but not himself' leads to a life of seclusion, far from strife and grudges. Isn't that forgetting one's original aspirations?"

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he shook his head slightly. The doctors' original intention was good, but they forgot one thing: human strength is limited. Trying to save the world by relying on medical means is nothing short of wishful thinking.

As Xun once said, he couldn't save people by studying medicine, so he angrily abandoned medicine and went into literature.

And isn't this the case in today's world? Simply studying medicine is not enough to truly eliminate war and restore peace to the world.

Upon hearing this, Nian Duan closed his eyes, his hands trembling slightly beneath his sleeves, but he still tried his best to suppress the excitement in his heart.

Since the founding father Bian Que, a true savior of the world has finally emerged in the medical field. How could she not be excited?
As the head of a medical family, how could she not understand the true meaning of the family's principles? It was just that she was powerless to achieve such a grand goal.

So she chose to travel the world, practicing medicine and doing whatever she could to continue the hope of medicine.

Although they did not have the ambition to become the best among all medical schools, they still had to make choices and seek the ability to protect themselves in the coming chaos.

Xu Qing, as the Imperial Physician, treated the common people, which gave Nian Duan a glimmer of hope. She saw a true disciple of the medical school who could uphold the principles of medicine, uphold justice, and become a protector of all living beings. Therefore, she defied the rules of the unorthodox school to treat Zhang Kaidi.

Fortunately, she made the right choice; Xu Qing was exactly the person she was looking for.

“The Imperial Physician’s words are excellent. They have pointed out the current state of medicine. Do you have a solution?” Nian Duan asked.

“No, doctors can only save people, not the world,” Xu Qing said decisively.

“Yes, doctors can only save people, not the world,” Nian Duan repeated with a complicated expression.

Looking at Nian Duan's expression, Xu Qing thought that he should have passed this test. Although he didn't understand why Nian Duan asked him these questions, he knew that his answers were correct.

"I wonder who the Imperial Physician's teacher is?" Nian Duan asked.

"I once studied medicine with my father, and also studied for a period of time with the previous Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Academy. After that, I taught myself," Xu Qing said truthfully.

"It's rare to find someone with such talent, achieving so much without the guidance of a renowned teacher."

Nian Duan looked at Xu Qing with a mixture of admiration and regret in her eyes.

As he spoke, he took out a thick bamboo scroll from the bamboo basket he carried with him and placed it in front of Xu Qing.

"This is a medical book compiled by the heads of my family of physicians over the generations. It contains a vast amount of information, including common diseases and all kinds of difficult and complicated cases."

"The Imperial Physician's talent should not be wasted like this. I will stay in Xinzheng for a month. If the Imperial Physician has any medical problems during this month, he can come to me at any time."

Looking at the bamboo slips in front of him, Xu Qing suddenly understood what this first-class opportunity was.

These aren't bamboo slips; they're clearly a medical family tradition!
With Nian Duan personally guiding him in medical skills, even if it's only for a month, he believes his medical skills will definitely improve significantly.

Although he didn't understand why Nian Duan suddenly started teaching him medicine, it didn't matter anymore. As long as the other party was willing to teach, he was willing to learn.

Just as Nian Duan said, his talent is so enviable that one can't bear to see this rough gem ruined by a clumsy craftsman like Physician Wang.

"Then thank you very much for your kindness, Mr. Nian Duan. I will accept it with my humble opinion," Xu Qing said with a smile.

“Well, you can take a look first. I’ll go check on the medicine my disciple is brewing,” Nian Duan said, getting up.

"Respectfully seeing off Mr. Nian Duan," Xu Qing said, rising to bow.

Nian Duan glanced at Xu Qing and then turned and left. Xu Qing, without any hesitation, opened the bamboo slip and began to read it.

After leaving the guest room, Nian Duan found Duanmu Rong brewing medicine in the kitchen.

Seeing her teacher approaching, Duanmu Rong blinked and asked curiously.

"Master, have you seen him? Is he the person you're looking for?"

"He is the person I have been looking for, a true healer who can save the world."

Nian Duan stroked Duanmu Rong's head, a relaxed and relieved smile on his face.

"But I don't understand, why don't you just take him as your apprentice? Wouldn't that allow you to teach him better?" Duanmu Rong asked, puzzled.

“Rong’er, his path is different from ours. Taking him as a disciple will do him no good.”

A look of reminiscence crossed Nian Duan's face, as if he were recalling some past event.

Duanmu Rong looked at her master with confusion, not quite understanding what this so-called path was.

"Doctors can save lives, but they cannot save the world. However, they can help others save the world!"

Nian Duan softly added the second half of what Xu Qing had said earlier.

The remaining two chapters will be posted this afternoon.
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(End of this chapter)