My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Following Zhang Zhongjing's instructions, Ji Xuanyuan forced himself into a state of "quiet recuperation".

The herbal medicine was taken on time every day, and the diet was strictly adjusted according to the prescription. Except for the most important documents which were summarized and reported by Guo Jia and others, the rest were not read.

Most of the time, he would either lie on his couch with his eyes closed to rest, or stroll slowly in the courtyard with Dian Wei's help, feeling the fading warmth in the late summer breeze.

Zhang Zhongjing then devoted himself to the medical department of the Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences.

This former governor of Changsha completely abandoned his status as a famous doctor and demonstrated amazing medical talent and learning ability.

He lived and ate with the artisans, sorcerers, and itinerant doctors who were not valued by orthodox physicians. He observed the penicillin cultivation process, discussed possible extraction methods, and used his own medical theories to understand, interpret, and even revise these heretical ideas.

Within the medical department, it was common to see Zhang Zhongjing arguing heatedly with a young student, only to burst into laughter and suddenly understand.

An unprecedented academic atmosphere that integrates traditional medical theory with empirical research is quietly emerging.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Zan, who had been granted the title of "Commander-in-Chief" by the imperial court, had already led three thousand Youzhou cavalry on the long journey westward to conquer Liangzhou.

When the news reached Zhuojun, Ji Xuanyuan simply marked Gongsun Zan's marching route on the map without saying anything more.

The main reason he didn't take action against Gongsun Zan was that Gongsun Zan was Lu Zhi's student, and now that Lu Zhi was under his command, he couldn't act without a reason. Otherwise, he would have actually wanted to compete for those three thousand Youzhou cavalry.

Time has quietly flown by for over a month.

On this day, a middle-aged man in a blue robe, looking travel-worn, with a lean appearance and piercing eyes, arrived outside the city gate of Zhuojun.

He led a skinny donkey, which carried a simple bag and a medicine box on its back. He looked up at the words "Zhuojun" with both the weariness of a long journey and a strong sense of curiosity and inquiry in his eyes.

The man went straight to the city gate guard post, speaking in a clear voice with a Yuzhou accent: "Please inform me that Hua Tuo, a physician from Qiao County, whose courtesy name is Yuanhua, has come to request an audience with Prefect Ji of Zhuojun."

The gatekeepers, seeing his extraordinary bearing and hearing him address him as "the doctor" and directly request an audience with the prefect, dared not delay and immediately reported to their superiors.

As the news reached the Prefect's residence, Ji Xuanyuan was walking slowly along the corridor, accompanied by Guo Jia.

Upon hearing the report from his personal guard that "Hua Tuo from Qiao County is requesting an audience," he paused, a look of disbelief on his pale face.

"Hua Tuo? Is that the legendary physician Hua Yuanhua?" Ji Xuanyuan's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Although he placed his hopes on Zhang Zhongjing, he also knew of Hua Tuo's reputation, especially his expertise in surgery and anesthesia. His "Mafeisan" and "Wuqinxi" have been passed down to later generations.

Historical records show that Hua Tuo practiced medicine mostly in the Central Plains region of Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu, and since he was dealing with serious internal diseases, how could he have alarmed this surgical genius who traveled thousands of miles north to Youzhou?

Guo Jia was also taken aback, a look of doubt flashing in his peach-blossom eyes: "Hua Tuo? It is true that I and Lord Yuan Hao issued a notice seeking renowned doctors from all over the country, but... we did not specifically invite this person, and he is far away in Qiao County, so why would he come after hearing the news?"

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Ji Xuanyuan immediately said, "Please come in quickly! No, I will personally go to the gate to greet you!"

Having said that, he was about to set off.

"Senior brother, your body..." Guo Jia quickly advised.

"It's alright, it's just a few steps. The divine physician has come from afar, we must not be impolite," Ji Xuanyuan insisted.

Dian Wei quickly stepped forward to help him up.

When Ji Xuanyuan, accompanied by Guo Jia and Dian Wei, slowly arrived at the gate of the mansion, Hua Tuo had been waiting quietly for a moment.

The moment he saw Ji Xuanyuan being helped out, his insightful eyes narrowed slightly, and his brows furrowed in a manner almost identical to Zhang Zhongjing's back then.

"This humble subject, Hua Tuo, pays his respects to Prefect Ji." Hua Tuo bowed respectfully, but his gaze did not leave Ji Xuanyuan's face, carefully examining his complexion.

"Please rise, Mr. Yuanhua! You have come from afar, and I have already been impolite not to greet you properly. How dare I accept such a great courtesy from you!" Ji Xuanyuan said sincerely, offering a gesture of support.

"It is a great honor for the Emperor to have you grace Zhuojun with your presence, sir. Please come in quickly."

The group moved to the main hall.

After Hua Tuo sat down, he still glanced at Ji Xuanyuan from time to time, his eyes filled with growing doubt.

He practiced medicine for many years, traveling to various prefectures and counties, witnessing countless deaths and injuries. He was also knowledgeable in physiognomy and could often predict the fortune of a patient's condition by observing their facial features and complexion. Historical records state that he "predicted illnesses like a god and foresaw life and death," which is no exaggeration.

However, at this moment, Ji Xuanyuan's appearance greatly surprised him.

"This child's brows are shrouded in an aura of death, his bridge of the nose is obscured, and his life palace is dim; he is clearly destined for an early death. According to this physiognomy, he should have died before he even reached adulthood... How has he managed to live to this day?"

Hua Tuo was deeply shocked.

He observed that although Ji Xuanyuan was young, he was far more than just a young man, and that he had built such a foundation in Zhuojun, which was something that a person with bad luck and an early death could not have accomplished.

This stark contradiction between his appearance and reality left him utterly perplexed.

Could it be that someone defied fate to change his destiny?

Or perhaps there was another extraordinary encounter?

Seeing Hua Tuo lost in thought and staring at him, Ji Xuanyuan couldn't help but recall the jokes about traditional Chinese medicine he had heard online in his previous life.

I'm not afraid of a smiling TCM doctor, I'm afraid of a sullen TCM doctor.

Now, in just two short months, I have been scrutinized by Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo, two top figures in the history of traditional Chinese medicine, with their "lowered eyes." My feelings are indeed somewhat complicated and hard to describe.

"Sir, is it Xuanyuan's illness that is causing you trouble?" Ji Xuanyuan took the initiative to speak.

Hua Tuo snapped out of his thoughts, his expression regaining its physician's seriousness: "May the governor allow me to take your pulse?"

"nature."

Hua Tuo took longer to diagnose the pulse than Zhang Zhongjing. He placed three fingers on the pulse, closed his eyes and concentrated, as if listening to the most subtle fluctuations in the blood vessels.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and slowly said, "The prefect's illness is due to a severe depletion of his innate vital energy, like a rotten foundation; and excessive overwork, like a wind and rain destroying a beam. Phlegm, blood stasis, and heat toxins have deeply entangled in the blood vessels of the lungs and internal organs, like insects and ants hollowing out the rafters. His heart vessels are affected, his qi and blood are depleted, and his yin and yang are out of balance. The disease is so severe that it has reached the incurable stage. Ordinary medicines may not be able to reach the root cause."

His diagnosis was very similar to Zhang Zhongjing's, both saying that the disease had progressed to a critical stage and was difficult to cure.

Hua Tuo changed the subject: "Although the governor's pulse is critical, there is a faint but extremely tenacious life force lingering within him, as if some external force or an anomaly has kept him alive until now. This is quite strange."

Ji Xuanyuan's heart stirred. Could this anomaly refer to his own soul that had transmigrated from another world?

Or perhaps it's the lingering resentment and sense of responsibility that have been building up in my heart all these years?

Hua Tuo continued, "Although I am known for my skills in treating diseases, I also have some knowledge of physical remedies. If the Prefect's illness is treated solely with herbal decoctions, as Zhang Changshao did, it will be stable, but it will be difficult to eradicate the deep-rooted disease. Perhaps... we can find another way."

"Oh? What are your thoughts, sir?" Ji Xuanyuan asked.

Hua Tuo's gaze was intense as he finally revealed the other purpose of his journey: "I have come north for two reasons. First, I have heard of the Prefect's wisdom and his extensive search for skilled physicians, which has moved me deeply. Second... I have heard that the Prefect has established an Academy of Natural Sciences in Zhuojun, which includes a Department of Medicine. The medical methods he studies are quite different from those of the time, and I am curious to see them. Perhaps, the Prefect's new medical system, combined with my own medical techniques, can offer a glimmer of hope for these chronic and intractable diseases?"

That's it!

Ji Xuanyuan suddenly realized that Hua Tuo had not only come to treat patients, but was also attracted by the medical explorations of the Institute of Exploration and Medicine that were ahead of their time, and had taken the initiative to come for "exchange and learning"!

"If you are willing to go, sir, I would be more than happy to oblige!"

Ji Xuanyuan's spirits lifted. Since he was too ill to accompany him, he said to Guo Jia, "Fengxiao, I would like to trouble you to accompany Mr. Yuanhua to the Department of Medicine at the Institute of Natural Sciences to meet Mr. Zhongjing. Both of them are renowned physicians of our time, and they can exchange ideas and learn from each other."

Guo Jia readily accepted the order: "Mr. Yuanhua, please come with me. Zhang Changsha is currently studying medicine with a group of students. He will surely be delighted to see you here."

Hua Tuo's eyes shone with even greater anticipation. He bowed to Ji Xuanyuan to take his leave and then followed Guo Jia toward the Institute of Natural History.