Ascending to the Clouds Alone

Lin Su concealed the arm blade in his robes, thinking to himself:

The female deacon was severely injured at the time and was too busy taking care of herself to come looking for her anytime soon.

However, we shouldn't be careless; it's best to pay close attention to our surroundings.

He touched the private military token in his pocket and continued on his way.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the edge of the town.

Looking out, a plaque hangs on the gate tower, which is over six zhang high. The three characters "Changqu Town" have long been faded and mottled, having stood for countless years in the wind and rain.

A long street, wide enough for a dozen horses to ride side by side, stretches straight into the distance, with houses and pavilions on both sides, vendors setting up stalls along the street, and a constant flow of people, creating the bustling atmosphere of a frontier town.

The aroma of oil, the smell of smoke, the stench of livestock manure, and the scorching heat and sand all mingled together, assaulting the senses and making one feel dizzy.

Perhaps due to lingering poison from the mushrooms he had accidentally eaten earlier, Lin Su felt dizzy and weak, and was physically and mentally exhausted.

He used the mouthparts and scales of the 'Bewitching Moth' to exchange for a few grain cakes, a pot of water, and two low-grade marching pills at the stall.

He squatted down in a dark corner by the street, nibbling on a multigrain pancake with only water, secretly planning to do something:

The wound must be treated as soon as possible, but I don't know how much money it will cost. For now, I can only walk and see what happens.

Most of the people coming and going on the street are ordinary people, with the occasional agile martial artist, and there are also Qi Refining cultivators like him. Those with Qi Refining cultivation are rare, and Foundation Establishment cultivators are almost nowhere to be seen.

After finishing his multigrain pancakes, he inquired along the street about clinics that could treat external injuries.

Before long, a vertical banner fluttered in the wind, bearing the words "Miraculous Healing Hands," which looked rather tacky.

Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the clinic had no name or signboard, but the open door emitted a fragrant aroma of medicine.

In his earlier years in Junling City, he had seen many clinics that were far larger than this one.

However, such a pure and clean medicinal fragrance can only be found in top-tier medical clinics; second-tier clinics often have mixed and mixed smells.

Lin Su sighed inwardly:

The doctor in this clinic is no ordinary physician; he must possess genuine skills.

Upon arriving at the door, one sees a thin old man weighing medicinal herbs in front of a medicine cabinet, with a young apprentice standing beside him, who is half a head taller than the cabinet.

Lin Su gently knocked on the door frame a few times and asked in a low voice:

"Doctor, can this area be used to treat external injuries?"

The old man slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting his. He didn't answer immediately, but just looked at him quietly, as if trying to identify something.

Lin Su felt inexplicably flustered and somewhat uneasy.

After a short while, the old man nodded slightly and said:

"Very well, may I ask where the young master is injured?"

"The boy was hunting the Bewitching Moth in the Rocky Forest when the monster stabbed him in the left shoulder, slashed his left rib, and even injured his left hand."

The old man's eyes widened slightly upon hearing this, and he said:

"Incredible! The Bewitching Moth is exceptionally ferocious. I observed that there was no spiritual energy flowing within the young man's body, yet he managed to hunt it down alone?"

Lin Su knew that if he continued to explain, he would not be able to explain the wound on his left palm. If someone saw through his secret at a glance, it would inevitably cause trouble again.

Thinking of this, he immediately changed the subject and made up an excuse to brush it off.

The old man didn't delve into it. Those who came here for medical treatment were either ordinary martial artists or low-level cultivators. Fighting and strife were inevitable, so he wasn't surprised.

He wrapped up the weighed herbs, handed them to the apprentice beside him, and stepped out from behind the counter, saying:

"Young man, please come with me."

Lin Su nodded and followed the old man toward the side door.

Passing through the side gate, there is a medicinal garden about ten feet square, in which many unknown herbs and exotic flowers are planted, a variety of species but arranged in a very orderly manner.

The aroma of medicine permeated his heart and soul, and as Lin Su smelled these scents, he felt the pain in his wound lessen.

At the end of the herb garden is a neat little courtyard, paved with stone slabs, clean and tidy.

On one side of the courtyard, several houses stand in a row, their eaves simple yet exuding an atmosphere of order and tranquility.

The old man led the way, but as if he had eyes in the back of his head, he asked softly without turning around:

"Young man, do you find the aroma of these herbs quite pleasant?"

Lin Su was taken aback, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back, finally managing to utter:

"The doctor... is truly a miracle worker."

The old man sighed softly and said:

"There are no miracle doctors in the world; it's just a matter of observing their behavior and demeanor, and making some guesses."

Watching the old man's retreating figure, Lin Su said nothing more and quickly followed after him.

After leaving the herb garden, two low-lying houses came into view.

"This is a quiet room for treating external injuries. Common ailments that don't require surgery can be treated in the front hall, so there's no need to come here."

As they were talking, the old man pushed open the door to the first room.

The room contained a soft bed, next to which was a wooden table with various healing tools such as Bian knives, silk threads, and medicine daggers neatly arranged.

Lin Su understood:

This old doctor clearly has years of experience treating external injuries, so his medical skills must be superb.

The old man turned around, his gaze falling on the old man's zither and chest, and said:

"Please remove your zither and place your personal belongings aside. I will prepare briefly before cleaning and stitching your wounds."

Lin Su was secretly alarmed:

This old man has such sharp eyes that nothing can escape his notice.

What is his cultivation level? Why does his aura seem no different from that of an ordinary person?

Could it be like what happened with the female butler? She has such a gentle and kind face, but I never expected her methods to be so ruthless.

Seeing that he hesitated for a long time, the old man said:

"Are you perhaps worried that my medical skills are insufficient to treat the young master?"

Lin Su snapped out of his daze and quickly said:

"No, no, no... old doctor, I was just thinking about what happened before and I got distracted for a moment."

The old man nodded without saying anything more, then turned to prepare the medical supplies.

Lin Su pondered the matter repeatedly. There was no malice in the old man; on the contrary, he exuded a gentle and kind aura that put people at ease.

So he lowered his guard, took off the Qifeng Qin (a type of zither), and then took out his arm blade, placing it aside along with all his belongings.

However, he had already secretly obtained the secret military token.

Once the old man had prepared all the medical equipment, Lin Su was also ready.

The old man walked slowly forward and reached out to touch Lin Su's wrist.

When the pulse was felt, the old man's fingers trembled slightly, his expression became slightly serious, and then returned to normal.

Lin Su took in this scene and said worriedly:

"Old doctor, is the young man seriously ill? Is there any hope for him?"

The old man shook his head slightly and said:

"Young master, please don't worry, there's nothing to worry about."

As he spoke, he reached out and untied the bandage from Lin Su's wound.

Upon seeing the wound, the old man frowned and said:

"This wound is deep enough to penetrate the muscle fibers and has become somewhat festering. It will require surgical removal of the necrotic tissue before being stitched up with medicated thread. Although there will be anesthesia, the process will be excruciatingly painful. Can you endure it, young man?"

Lin Su looked at the old man, gritted his teeth, and said:

"Thank you so much, venerable doctor! Please proceed with your work!"

After saying that, he gripped the edge of the bed tightly and turned his head away.

The old man nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and then began to perform the spell.