Entering the Spirit Void - Chapter 136: Surrounded from All Sides

Mo Dao pondered for a moment and said, "No matter what kind of person someone is, they cannot escape the seven basic human emotions and desires: joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred, and desire. Let us first go out and observe the surroundings, and then use these seven aspects as our method to entice him."

Mo Dao and Meng Biyu walked out together to inspect the layout of the Huian Hermitage. They saw that the hermitage covered a vast area. The walls of the buildings were constructed from whole logs with the tree bark still intact, and even the roofs were thatched with tree bark, giving a rustic and natural aesthetic.

Instead of ordinary flower gardens, the surrounding area consisted of neatly planned medicinal plots. Near the edge of the woods, they cultivated woody medicinal plants, followed by herbaceous medicinal gardens. Beneath the rock pagoda at the back lay a series of water reservoirs, divided into numerous compartments, undoubtedly used for raising various aquatic creatures for medicinal purposes.

After inspecting the layout, Mo Dao and Meng Biyu returned to the guest quarters. Meng Biyu asked, "How can we startle the divine doctor into meeting us? There is no time to lose; the sooner, the better!"

Mo Dao replied, "A person who spends all their time engrossed in a research laboratory must lead a lonely and desolate inner life. If we dance with swords and leap about in the plaza, it might awaken his joy for lively companionship, drawing him out to share in our merriment."

Shuangying agreed, "Right! Let us go out and dance with joy."

These youths were all energetic boys and girls. When they started their merrymaking, their singing and shouting resounded far and wide.

The men, women, old, and young within the medicine hermitage were all startled and came out to watch. Some young people even joined Gao Yunxiang and his companions in their grand singing and dancing.

After the youths had exhausted themselves, becoming hoarse and drenched in sweat, the divine doctor still did not appear, leaving them deeply disappointed.

After a brief pause, Mo Dao applied the "anger" tactic. Everyone began to shout, brandish their weapons, and wave torches, threatening to kill and burn things. Speaking all at once, they hurled furious and provocative insults.

The workers and elderly servants in the medicine hermitage scattered in panic, afraid that Mo Dao and his companions had gone mad and would slaughter everyone in the houses indiscriminately.

Despite putting on a grand display of fury for quite a while, the anger tactic proved equally ineffective.

Mo Dao and the others exchanged glances and immediately shifted to the "sorrow" tactic. First, they knelt in the plaza and pleaded, begging for mercy, imploring the doctor to pity the patient's suffering, raise his merciful hand, and exercise his divine arts to heal the afflicted.

After pleading for a long time without seeing anyone, they resorted to weeping.

When it came to crying, women were the most proficient. Meng Biyu, Yang Yifei, and Shuangying all harbored a wellspring of grievances. Starting with fake tears, they soon began to weep genuinely. As they cried and recounted their woes, the sky seemed to darken, the plants and trees shared their grief, and every man, woman, and child in the medicine estate shed tears of sympathy. Yet, the divine doctor remained unmoved.

Could this divine doctor possess a heart of iron and stone? Logically speaking, someone who studied medicine took saving the world and relieving mankind as their fundamental principle, possessing a benevolent heart. Could it be that he was not at home?

Next, attempts to coerce him through fear also failed. Consequently, they resorted to vicious insults and abuses, exhausting every malicious vocabulary they knew, but the divine doctor still turned a deaf ear.

People have desires, and desires reflect what they love. Some love wealth above all else, some lust after beauty, some crave alcohol, and others adore antique calligraphy and paintings. Desires encompass a broad spectrum. Therefore, they tried to tempt the divine doctor with material gains, shouting loudly that once the patient was healed, they would reward him with countless amounts of gold, silver, pearls, rare treasures, fine wines, and famous master paintings. After shouting for a long time, there was still not the slightest reaction.

Mo Dao said, "We have made a great commotion for a long time and exhausted ourselves, yet we still cannot move the divine doctor's heart. We have already tried six of the seven human emotions. Although we could not fully exert them to their utmost, we have done our best. There is only the emotion of 'love' left untried. How should we apply it? Let us return to the guest quarters to rest, and carefully study how to execute this final 'love' tactic."

Back in the guest quarters, everyone rushed to drink tea to quench their thirst. The special tea brewed by the divine doctor was the ultimate beverage for recovering from fatigue. The moment a cup of tea entered the stomach, their spirits were instantly refreshed. They sat down to discuss how to launch the offensive of love.

Suddenly, Mo Dao said, "The divine doctor's residence is called the 'Huian Hermitage'. Simply interpreted, it means bringing blessings of peace and well-being, and bestowing loving care upon the physical health and safety of others."

Meng Biyu said, "The character 'Hui' carries the meaning of bestowing grace and reward, as well as gentleness and compliance. If the Third Brother were to beg him for the grace of medical treatment outside his laboratory, there might be some hope. But the Third Brother cannot speak and has no way to convey his thoughts."

Gao Yunxiang offered, "I will temporarily act in the Third Brother's stead to implore him."

Meng Biyu shook her head and said, "That won't work! You are a person in good health, and he is a divine doctor; he will know at a glance whether you are sick or not."

With time pressing and no good solution coming to mind, they each closed their eyes in deep thought.

Suddenly, they heard a hurried sound of footsteps approaching from afar, followed by a crisp, sweet voice saying, "Elder Sister, Second Brother, I have already invited the divine doctor here. Please let Second Sister inform the divine doctor of Third Brother's misfortune."

Hearing Feng Jiezhen's voice, Gao Yunxiang and Meng Biyu immediately sprang to their feet. Looking up, they saw a kind-faced middle-aged man of about fifty, wearing a dark green cap and a silk robe, with white socks and white-soled shoes. His face was glowing with health and full of vitality as he followed closely behind Xu Xiaoxia into the guest quarters.

They hurried forward to bow, saying, "Pardon us, we have caused you a great deal of trouble."

The divine doctor smiled and said, "You are innocent and lovely. When I was young, I also liked playing mischievous pranks. Which one of you is the patient?"

Meng Biyu curtsied to the divine doctor, stepped close to his side, and whispered hurriedly. The divine doctor frowned continuously as he listened, expressing clear indignation at such cruel afflictions inflicted upon others.

After Meng Biyu finished speaking, the divine doctor said, "If I had encountered such a case five years ago, I would also have been at my wits' end. Fortunately, in recent years, following my family's hereditary medical arts, I have continuously conducted experiments and gained some insights. However, as to whether the victim can be restored to their original appearance, medical skill is one thing, but it also depends on the victim's ancestral virtues and their own destiny."

Gao Yunxiang smiled and said, "Please trouble yourself greatly."

The divine doctor said, "You are all hot-blooded youths and reasonable rising stars. First, I must make it clear to you that the intention of practicing medicine is to reduce the suffering of patients and help them live a long life. To tell the truth, I can only cure illnesses, not grant immortality. If unfortunately any mistakes happen, please do not blame me."

Gao Yunxiang replied, "Naturally! Those who practice medicine have the kindest hearts, and we trust you."

Meng Biyu added, "We accidentally obtained a copy of the 'Divine Manual of the Azure Pouch' originating from Dong Wanyuan."

The divine doctor asked, "Where did you get it? He is my paternal grand-uncle. Grand-uncle Dong Yuanyuan's medical skills were learned from my grandfather. He possessed extraordinary natural talent and astonishing achievements."

Guo Niang hurried to recount how the farming woman had gifted them the book. Hearing this, the divine doctor sighed and said, "Ah! Human life and death are truly unpredictable! He could not be defeated by illness, yet he met his end at the hands of the Thunder God."

Meng Biyu took out the "Divine Manual of the Azure Pouch" and handed it to him. The divine doctor took it and examined it carefully. Seeing that the handwriting was indeed that of his grand-uncle, his eyes reddened and tears fell uncontrollably.

Li Hao held the brocade box given to him by the divine nun and looked at Meng Biyu. Understanding his intent, Meng Biyu immediately explained the origin of the brocade box to the divine doctor on Li Hao's behalf.

Taking the brocade box, the divine doctor's sorrowful expression instantly gave way to a smile as he said, "Inside this brocade box are very precious medicines. Very well, please follow me, and let us see what fortune brings you."

Meng Biyu asked, "Approximately how long will the treatment take?"

The divine doctor replied, "The patient with the surname Li requires a longer period, about half a month. The patient with the surname Feng is relatively simple; in five days, she will be able to remove her mask and meet with you all."

Meng Biyu said, "Please trouble yourself to take good care of them, Divine Doctor. We shall wait right here."

The divine doctor led Li Hao and Feng Jiezhen into his medical chamber. First, he checked both of their pulses, finding them to be completely normal. He led Li Hao into a quiet room and said, "From now on, you cannot consume any food, and you must also restrict your water intake. I will perform the test surgery for you tomorrow at this time."

This divine doctor never required assistants when performing surgery. Emerging from the quiet room, he smiled at Feng Jiezhen and asked, "Young lady, are you afraid of having a knife cut into your skin?"

Jiezhen replied, "Ever since I learned martial arts, even if a sword were to pierce my heart, I would not feel afraid."

The divine doctor said, "Good. Lie down on your right side, and I will restore your charming face."

Jiezhen removed her mask, lay down on the operating table, and closed her eyes, leaving her fate entirely in the hands of the divine doctor.

The divine doctor retrieved three silver needles, inserted them into Jiezhen's acupuncture points to induce numbness, pressed her lips with a flick of his hand, and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Jiezhen shook her head.

The divine doctor pressed harder and asked again, "Does it hurt?"

Jiezhen still shook her head.

Raising his scalpel, the divine doctor deftly peeled away the monkey skin grafted onto her face, then sliced two pieces of skin from her thigh, grafted them onto her face, and applied medicinal ointment. In less than two double-hours from start to finish, he withdrew the silver needles and said, "Young lady, you may get up and return to the guest quarters. If you need your dressing changed, I will come looking for you; you do not need to come looking for me."

When Feng Jiezhen returned to the guest quarters, everyone was overjoyed for her, and Jiezhen herself began to dance with happiness.

The next day, medical reports issued from within brought optimistic news. Time slipped away hour by hour, and seven days passed unawares.

The divine doctor emerged to announce that the results were excellent, except that the patient's facial skin required skin grafts taken from someone else's thigh to conceal the scars, while the rest of the areas would heal with minimal scarring.

Qingqingzi immediately agreed, volunteering to have the skin from her own thigh grafted onto her cousin's face.

On the evening of the eighth day, the divine doctor stepped out of the operating room, walked straight to the guest quarters, and congratulated Gao Yunxiang and the others with a smile: "Congratulations, everyone. The surgery was a complete success. Tomorrow morning, he will be able to leave the medical chamber and meet with all of you."

Gao Yunxiang bowed to thank him, saying, "The virtue of granting a second life to my sworn brother is entirely bestowed by the divine doctor. We shall engrave this in our hearts forever."

The divine doctor replied, "The aspiration of practicing medicine is to relieve people of their suffering. However, whether one can achieve their wish depends not only on the importance of medical skill, but also on the accumulated blessings of the patient in their daily lives."

Taking their leave of the divine doctor, the group went to the Heavenly Blade Pavilion. Abbot Tianhong was currently residing there, along with the leaders of all the major martial sects.

After a joint deliberation, everyone decided to divide their forces into three routes to attack the Hundred Sects Alliance, with a rendezvous scheduled at Mount Tongbai on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

On the fifteenth of the eighth month, the major sects converged at Mount Tongbai. Led by the elders of the Jade Void Palace, they launched a full-scale assault on the Hundred Sects Alliance.

When the group reached the plaza in front of the main altar of the Hundred Sects Alliance, the bandits had already gathered there in large numbers. With swords flashing and blades gleaming, their momentum was formidable, foreshadowing a brutal and bloody battle about to unfold.

Within the main altar of the Hundred Sects Alliance, there were the General Affairs Hall, the Penal Hall, and the Deliberation Hall. The General Affairs Hall held the greatest power, and its master was the Divine Hand Sacred Physician Yan Bu.

Abbot Tianhong stood in the center of the plaza, swept his gaze across the gathering, brought his palms together, and asked Yan Bu, "Why does the leader of your honored sect refuse to come out and meet us?"

Luo Mingyuan walked down the steps step by step, halted in the center of the plaza, looked up at the ridge of the main altar's roof, and shouted loudly, "Come forth! All our old grievances and debts shall find a complete settlement tonight."

Abbot Tianhong pressed his palms together toward Luo Mingyuan and asked straight to the point, "Was it you who stole the scriptures from our temple's scripture repository?"

Luo Mingyuan said coldly, "Indeed. You bald donkey should have realized this long ago. Without the enlightenment of the scriptures, no matter how high my natural talent is, I could never master the entirety of the Shaolin martial arts."

Abbot Tianhong asked, "Have you destroyed the scriptures?"