In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 308 The Great Dragon Head, Premature Aging
fifteen.

Jiading Prefecture.

In the south of the city, the flag for "free medical consultation" was inserted into a stone pier.

Passersby's eyes lit up as they saw Gu Shaoan sitting at a table on the side of the street, and Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo placing writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones on the table next to him. They immediately gathered around.

Before long, dozens of people had lined up at Gu Shaoan's free clinic.

Furthermore, many people brought their sick relatives and headed towards Gu Shaoan's location.

In the eleven years since, Gu Shaoan's reputation has spread throughout Jiading Prefecture.

People from other surrounding states even come here every month seeking treatment.

Some people gathered and quickly turned around and hurried home.

Before long, a large number of people had gathered in the area where Gu Shaoan's free clinic was located.

Besides the patients who came for treatment, there were also quite a few women gathered around, all of them looking at Gu Shaoan with eyes full of emotion.

Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo were already used to this.

Anyway, you can see it but you can't eat it, unlike them, who can see and touch it, and then eat it after getting married in a few months.

As each patient left, Gu Shaoan's proficiency and achievement points steadily increased.

However, several years have passed, and Gu Shaoan's proficiency level is now only 40,000.

"Once we reach the Celestial Realm, we'll have to extend the duration of the free clinics."

If Gu Shaoan wants to advance his medical skills from the Grandmaster level to the Saint level, then he either needs to extend the duration of his free clinics each month.

Alternatively, one can obtain items that can upgrade their secondary job level through a lottery.

As his thoughts raced, another patient sat down in front of Gu Shaoan.

However, just as the visitor sat down, a faint scent of Chinese herbal medicine mixed with a hint of musk wafted into Gu Shaoan's nostrils.

The moment the fragrance entered his nose, Gu Shaoan could tell that it contained medicinal ingredients. He then let out a soft "hmm" and looked up at the new patient in front of him.

She was tall and slender, dressed in a plain white robe.

The clothes look simple and elegant, but the fabric is clearly of extremely high quality.

The man wore a smooth, unadorned, plain silver mask that covered his entire face perfectly, revealing only a section of his slightly hard-edged chin.

What is most striking is that the man appears to be no more than thirty years old, yet he has a head of snow-white hair.

Under Gu Shaoan's gaze, the masked man placed his long, slender hand on the pillow used for taking pulses.

The man's unusual appearance not only made Gu Shaoan pause for a moment, but also drew the attention of Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan, who were busy at work.

Meeting the gazes of the three, the masked man looked calmly at Gu Shaoan.

"I would be grateful if you could examine me, Dr. Gu."

His voice was casual and somewhat languid.

Gu Shaoan remained silent, his expression calm and composed, only nodding slightly as was customary for doctors.

She then raised her hand and extended three fingers, gently yet precisely placing them on the three pulse points of the man's wrist—a pulse that appeared pale but felt unusually cool to the touch.

The instant the fingertip touched the ground, an extremely contradictory pulse surge was clearly transmitted to Gu Shaoan's consciousness through the sensitive touch of the fingertip. Its strangeness and rarity were enough to make it the first case in Gu Shaoan's eleven years of medical practice and experience with countless patients!

The pulse is as thin as a spider's thread, weak and unable to penetrate the fingertips; even a deep palpation reveals its emptiness, like lightly touching a withered string about to snap. This is a sign of extreme deficiency of qi and blood, and depletion of essence, which almost only appears in the elderly who are nearing the end of their lives.

Especially the cun pulse (belonging to the kidney), when deeply felt, is empty and without root, the strength of the pulse is negligible, like the last flicker of a candle in the wind.

The pulse is thin and tight like a thread, without any sense of graceful flow.

However, although the man's pulse was as thin as a thread, it carried a sense of heaviness.

The "deep" pulse is no longer just a weak and sinking pulse, but a deep and solid pulse like ice that has been submerged in the sea for thousands of years, which is difficult to shake.

It is clearly a special pulse pattern that only those with at least sixty years of pure internal energy would have.

Moreover, a slight "slowness" could be detected in the pulse of the man in front of him.

This astringency, like extremely fine grains of sand flowing through viscous blood, is not due to external pathogenic factors obstructing the flow, but rather stems from an innate deficiency of one's own vital energy.

Like a piece of exquisite jade, its core is inherently cracked and irreparable. As time goes by, the crack will only continue to widen, eventually causing the jade to shatter.

This astringent sensation indicates that the life force is inherently deficient and lacks a source, a loss due to the natural order, which cannot be easily replenished by medicine or human effort.

Gu Shaoan's eyelashes drooped slightly, concealing the sharp glint and solemnity that flashed deep within his eyes.

Judging from the pulse alone, the person in front of me is a peculiar being who possesses both mastery of martial arts and a congenital premature aging condition.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan instantly understood the origin of the strange herbal musk scent.

That is the result of long-term immersion in countless top-grade nourishing medicines and precious auxiliary spiritual materials.

After confirming the condition of the latter's body, Gu Shaoan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had thought of something.

After a moment's thought, Gu Shaoan slowly said, "What you are suffering from is premature aging."

The masked man's eyes flashed.

"To be able to diagnose my illness simply by taking my pulse, Young Master Gu's medical skills are indeed superb."

Then, the man asked, "May I ask if Young Master Gu can cure the problem in my body?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaoan gently shook his head.

At the same time, the internal energy within Gu Shaoan circulated, and the sound rang in the man's ears.

"It's treatable!"

The moment the sound reached their ears, the masked man, who was slowly withdrawing his hand, suddenly paused, and the pupils of his eyes beneath the mask contracted sharply.

A few moments later, the man smiled gently, gave Gu Shaoan a deep look, and then slowly got up and left.

After the man left, Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Junior brother, I have read many medical books, but I have never seen any medical books that record premature aging. What kind of disease is this?"

In response to Zhou Zhiruo's question, Gu Shaoan replied: "The Miscellaneous Treatise of Bian Que says: There are three kinds of premature aging. The first is the weakness of the mind due to overwork. Before words are spoken, the outcome has already been played out a thousand times. Before the body moves, the mind has already crossed ten thousand mountains. Before the action is completed, the illusion of suffering and sorrow cannot be dispelled. Even after the event has passed, the past still appears in the mind."

Secondly, insufficient innate vital energy and depletion of the body's foundation lead to premature graying of hair, a sign of early aging due to natural causes.

"Thirdly, going astray in cultivation leads to the reversal of meridians, loss of vitality, and the unnatural growth of white hair."

Yang Yan was taken aback and said, "The latter two are one thing, but the first one, premature aging, means that one is constantly thinking about things in their mind?"

Gu Shaoan replied, "It is precisely because of this prolonged mental and physical strain that one's vital energy is excessively depleted, leading to premature graying and the severing of life force." Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Then what kind of situation was that person just now?"

Gu Shaoan said calmly, "This person belongs to the second type. He was born with a deficiency in his original essence. Normally, he would not live past twenty."

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan glanced in the direction the man had left, paused for a moment, and then transmitted his voice through his internal energy, saying, "He has been able to live until now entirely because of the large number of precious medicinal herbs and his internal energy cultivation that has allowed him to prolong his life."

Yang Yan looked at Gu Shaoan in astonishment, and also circulated her true energy to reply, "Is he also a martial artist who has condensed his true energy into a powerful aura?"

Gu Shaoan gave a soft "hmm".

"After all, he is the leader of the Azure Dragon Society. If his internal strength has not yet reached the level of Condensing Yuan and Forming Gang, he cannot intimidate people on the surface."

"Is he the head of the Azure Dragon Society?"

Upon learning the identity of the man they had just met, both Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan's expressions changed.

Premature aging is a rare condition, occurring in only one in ten thousand people.

In the Great Wei Kingdom, those whose internal cultivation could reach the level of "condensing primordial energy into a powerful force" were also extremely rare.

Looking across the entire Great Wei Kingdom, Gu Shaoan knew of only one person who possessed such profound and refined martial arts skills despite suffering from such premature aging.

The leader of the Azure Dragon Society, who secretly held the alias "Gongzi Yu".

Once Gu Shaoan learns about what happened at Yuan Dongyuan, the Qinglong Society will definitely send someone over.

Gu Shaoan never expected that it would be this Great Dragon Leader who came.

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Judging from what Junior Brother said, his condition is very serious?"

Gu Shaoan nodded and said, "Although he has precious medicinal herbs and profound skills, it is ultimately only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Judging from his pulse, his internal organs have begun to fail, and the vitality around his heart is weak. If he is not treated, he will only have two years at most before medicine becomes ineffective."

After thinking for a moment, Yang Yan asked via telepathy, "According to what Senior Brother said, that person is about to die. Why did the leader of the Azure Dragon Society leave immediately after hearing that Senior Brother could cure him? Could it be that he doesn't trust Senior Brother's medical skills?"

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "Now that everyone has left, and there's still some space left, I suppose we'll meet again in a little while."

After speaking, Gu Shaoan continued to focus his attention on the patient in front of him.

It wasn't until noon, when the sun was high in the sky, that Gu Shaoan stood up and said to the remaining people, "The morning's treatments are over. Please take your numbers in turn, and I will come back to continue the treatments around 1-3 PM."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan put down what they were holding and walked to the side with Gu Shaoan.

However, after the three had only walked a dozen steps, a man with an ordinary appearance who was leaning against the wall on the side of the street suddenly stepped forward.

When he was still a foot away from Gu Shaoan and the other two, he bowed and said, "This humble one greets Young Master Gu."

His gaze swept over the man's face, and after discerning from his unusual expression that the man had disguised himself, Gu Shaoan said calmly, "Lead the way!"

Upon hearing this, the person immediately turned around and led the way.

Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan exchanged a glance, and based on what Gu Shaoan had said earlier, they guessed the man's identity.

Before long, led by the man in front, Gu Shaoan and his two companions entered Shiweixuan, a restaurant located on the street.

Shiweixuan is a famous restaurant in Jiading Prefecture. At this time of day, it is usually bustling with customers and noise.

However, upon entering, although the lobby on the first floor was still bustling with people and the sounds of clinking glasses and plates filled the air, an invisible sense of solemnity washed over Gu Shaoan as his gaze swept toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

At the top of the stairs, six figures stood motionless on either side, like cast iron statues.

They were dressed in uniform, light gray outfits, and at first glance, they looked no different from the guards commonly seen in restaurants.

But Gu Shaoan's senses were incredibly sharp; with just a glance, he noticed the anomaly.

These six people possessed a refined and long-lasting aura. Their posture appeared casual, but in reality, they had their chests tucked in and backs straight, their feet firmly planted on the ground, and their shoulders, spines, and knees were all in a subtle state of exertion, implying a combined attack.

What's even stranger is that, although the six faces are different, they all exude an indescribable sense of "stiffness".

Her skin appeared to have been coated with some kind of ointment, giving it a slightly sallow sheen. The lines of her cheeks and jawline were too neat and flat, and the contours of her cheekbones also appeared somewhat rigid.

Six pairs of eyes, like pebbles immersed in a cold pool, cold and numb, scanned the flow of people approaching the stairs without any emotion. The invisible pressure made the guests who originally wanted to go upstairs to dine subconsciously avoid this entrance and look for seats on the first floor.

With Gu Shaoan's medical skills and discerning eye, how could he not tell that the group had all undergone extremely sophisticated disguise techniques to conceal their true identities?

"You're being careful."

Gu Shaoan couldn't help but chuckle to himself at this.

The space near the stairwell seemed to have been cut off by these six gazes, turning it into a forbidden area.

Gu Shaoan remained calm. The "ordinary man" who was leading the way bowed slightly, indicating that Gu Shaoan and the other two should go upstairs.

The eyes of the six guards all focused on Gu Shaoan, and the invisible pressure suddenly tightened.

However, when they met Gu Shaoan's calm, clear eyes, as deep as an ancient well, these six cold gazes seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, and were momentarily stunned.

Gu Shaoan simply strolled up the steps leisurely, without using any of his internal energy. His restrained demeanor, which originated from the depths of his soul and was in harmony with heaven and earth, prevented this imposing aura from truly getting close to him.

Step onto the second floor.

The noise was instantly silenced, and the air suddenly became deathly still.

The entire second floor was empty, all the private room doors were tightly closed, and there wasn't even a waiter in sight.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the carved window lattice, casting clear and lonely spots of light on the polished floor. A tense and oppressive silence filled the air, as if the noise downstairs was another world altogether.

Only at the end of the corridor, in a private room with a plaque reading "Tingtao Pavilion" hanging above the door, were four figures standing silently on either side of the tightly closed door.

Also dressed in a gray-blue outfit, their aura was deep and unfathomable.

He clearly possesses considerable skill.

Their disguises were even more exquisite, with almost no obvious flaws. Only the murderous aura that was restrained to the extreme but could not be completely hidden revealed that they were no ordinary servants or guards.

When they reached the door, the man who had led the way bowed and said, "Young Master Gu, please, ladies."

After a polite nod, Gu Shaoan, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yang Yan stepped into the house together.

The next second, the door closed softly, shutting out all sounds behind them.

An air filled with a mixture of precious agarwood, the slightly damp scent of old book pages, and a faint, barely perceptible, and carefully masked bitter medicinal aroma. Sunlight did not shine directly into the room.

The private room had a bright, carved long window facing the street, but it was now partially covered by a thick brocade curtain, leaving only a narrow gap through which golden sunlight squeezed in, casting a straight, oblique beam onto the master seat in the center of the room.

The young master Yu, wearing a plain silver mask and with snow-white hair, sat upright in a large rosewood armchair, his back to the only source of light.

The sunlight was cut by his shadow, and the golden outline depicted his tall but inexplicably desolate figure, like a silent sculpture.

(End of this chapter)