Chapter 49: Promotion to Physician! Opening the Consultation Hall; An Old Friend Arrives!

Time flew by, and several days had passed. The apothecaries and physicians of Miaoshou Garden had all returned, and the Xu Manor incident had ceased to be on people's minds. Lu Changsheng continued his routine as always, opening the consultation hall to receive patients.

That day, a steward surnamed Zheng from the higher ranks of Miaoshou Garden came to the herbal medicine shop with a cheerful smile.

"Which one of you is Lu Changsheng?" he asked.

Lu Changsheng lifted his head, looked at the steward, and said, "I am Lu Changsheng. Steward, do you need something from me?"

"Congratulations, Physician Lu. From today onward, you are officially recognized as a physician of Miaoshou Garden and may open your own consultation hall to receive patients! As per convention, each physician receives four silver taels monthly, along with a commission from the shop."

Inside the shop, many apprentices stared in astonishment. None of them had expected Lu Changsheng to become an official physician so quickly. It had been less than two years since he first entered Miaoshou Garden, and in that short time, he had risen from a ragged beggar into a respected physician.

"Thank you for your help, Steward Zheng," Lu Changsheng said as he quickly came back to his senses. After all, this was something he had long expected. With Physician Wu Jing personally speaking on his behalf, there was no way Miaoshou Garden would turn him down.

"Changsheng, you have graduated now," Wu Jing said warmly. "Remember, a physician must have the heart of a parent."

"It is all thanks to your excellent guidance, Master," Lu Changsheng replied and offered Wu Jing a deep bow in gratitude.

"Physician Lu," Steward Zheng continued, "Miaoshou Garden operates many herbal medicine shops. You may choose one to conduct your consultations. Choose carefully, a shop with a good location will bring in a generous monthly commission, but one in a remote area will earn far less."

It was rare for him to offer such advice. Normally, he would never trouble himself with any other physician, but Lu Changsheng was Wu Jing's disciple, and that made him special. Steward Zheng naturally had to give Wu Jing some respect.

Lu Changsheng studied the map of shop locations handed to him by Steward Zheng. Each of the shops listed there operated with only one physician, yet every shop needed to have at least two to avoid situations where none were available. Even in Wu Jing's own shop, there was a second physician present, though that person was often overlooked simply because Wu Jing's reputation overshadowed everyone else.

Lu Changsheng was not particularly concerned about the commission. He already had plenty of silver, and the four taels he would monthly from Miaoshou Garden were more than generous.

A typical courtyard in Nanyang City cost around forty taels, meaning he could afford an entire residence after just one year as a physician. It was no wonder that so many apprentices worked tirelessly for the chance to earn that title. In fact, a physician's pay was even better than that of a martial artist.

Since he cared little about the commission, the shop's exact location mattered little to him. He eventually chose one that was relatively close to Miaoshou Garden, slightly away from the bustling center of Nanyang City but not too remote.

"Let's go with this," he said decisively.

A quieter area suited him better, as it would keep the number of patients manageable, leaving him with enough time to continue his martial arts practice. As long as he had some patients, that was enough; he didn't wish to deal with overwhelming crowds.

Lu Changsheng's role as a physician was secondary—a sort of façade for the world. His true self was that of a martial artist, one who aspired to stand at the very peak of the martial path.

"Are you sure about this location?"

"I'm sure."

Steward Zheng was slightly surprised. However, he believed that Lu Changsheng understood what he meant. Since Lu Changsheng seemed determined to go to that location, he did not try to persuade him further.

"Very well. Tomorrow you will go to the Miaoren Hall to begin consultations."

Lu Changsheng gave a slight nod.

Wu Jing granted him a day off so he could rest and make preparations. As Lu Changsheng considered the responsibilities ahead, he realized it would be best to bring along someone familiar to assist him. Doing so would save him a great deal of effort once the shop began operating.

Thus, he went up to Zhang Huan and asked, "Zhang Huan, would you be willing to come work with me at Miaoren Hall?"

"Oh? Yes, of course! I'd very much like that," Zhang Huan replied eagerly. "Thank you, Physician Lu."

Zhang Huan was overjoyed, knowing that all his previous efforts had not been in vain. Although still just an apprentice, there were ranks among apprentices as well. Once he followed Lu Changsheng to the new herbal medicine shop, he would become his most trusted apprentice.

Even as an apprentice, he would stand as the first under Lu Changsheng's command. At that point, certain benefits from the shop and perhaps even additional rewards from Lu Changsheng himself would come his way. Even as an apprentice, he would become far more comfortable than before.

"Good. Then make the proper preparations, and don't be late for Miaoren Hall tomorrow," Lu Changsheng instructed.

Zhang Huan immediately promised he would not be late and felt deep gratitude toward Lu Changsheng. With everything settled, Lu Changsheng left the herbal medicine shop.

The following day, he went straight to Miaoren Hall. In Nanyang City, almost every herbal medicine shop bearing the character for "Miao" belonged to Miaoshou Garden, and this one was no exception.

"Physician Lu, you've arrived. I've already tidied up your area," came a respectful voice.

Zhang Huan came trotting out from Miaoren Hall as he spoke, his demeanor marked with deference. Lu Changsheng gave a faint nod. Zhang Huan's quick-witted diligence was exactly what he appreciated. Early that morning, Zhang Huan had already cleaned his workspace thoroughly and even prepared a pot of hot tea on the table.

"That's very thoughtful of you," Lu Changsheng remarked with approval. He glanced at the table beside him, which belonged to the other physician from Miaoren Hall. He had already learned beforehand that the man’s name was Wang Ruhai—an experienced physician in his forties, who had served in Miaoren Hall for more than a decade.

Before long, a middle-aged man walked in from outside and took a seat at the physician's table. Lu Changsheng immediately recognized him and rose to greet him.

"You must be Physician Wang? I'm Lu Changsheng, the newly assigned physician here at Miaoren Hall. I'll be counting on your guidance from now on!"

Wang Ruhai hurriedly rose and returned the greeting. "Physician Lu, you’re too polite. You’re the only disciple Elder Wu has ever guided through to the end of apprenticeship, so you must have inherited his teachings. I should be the one learning from you.”

Lu Changsheng felt reassured. Wang Ruhai was humble in demeanor and kind in manner—the sort of person with whom working together would never be difficult. Their future cooperation at Miaoren Hall would likely remain smooth and free of conflict.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two took their seats, and soon patients arrived. Though Miaoren Hall was located slightly off the main streets, it was an old and established shop with a loyal base of regulars from the nearby neighborhood. The number of patients was still considerable.

Lu Changsheng officially began seeing patients on his own, and just like that, a month quickly slipped by. As the weather turned colder, the number of patients at Miaoren Hall continued to rise.

Although still young, Lu Changsheng had gained a solid foundation in medicine under Wu Jing. Over the course of the month, he earned the trust of many patients and firmly established himself at Miaoren Hall. If he encountered a rare or complex illness he couldn't treat by himself, he would always seek advice from his master, Wu Jing. Overall, there were rarely any major problems.

One day, Lu Changsheng received a female patient. The woman wore a tight-fitting red robe that accentuated her graceful figure, but her face was hidden behind a veil. Even so, Lu Changsheng recognized her at a glance.

To his surprise, Li Hongzhuang herself had come to his shop. She was supposed to have left Nanyang Prefecture long ago, so what was she doing here?

In any case, it seemed that Li Hongzhuang did not recognize him. Back when they used to do business, Lu Changsheng had always appeared before her dressed in black and wearing a mask.

With that disguise, there was no way she could recognize him now.

"What seems to be the problem?" Lu Changsheng asked gently.

"I think I may have been injured..." Li Hongzhuang replied after a brief hesitation.

"Injured?" Lu Changsheng asked as he placed his fingers on Li Hongzhuang's wrist to take her pulse. "Indeed, it seems you've suffered internal damage, and your blood qi is depleted. I take it you're a martial artist?"

"Indeed, I am. I accidentally hurt myself during training..." Li Hongzhuang explained.

Lu Changsheng merely gave a faint smile, not pressing any further. Of course, he could tell Li Hongzhuang had been hurt by someone, as such damage couldn't result from mere training. Judging from her condition, and the fact that she had endured those injuries until now, she had likely already reached the Organ Refinement Stage.

"Your injuries aren't severe. I'll prescribe you some medicine. With rest and proper nourishment, you'll make a full recovery," Lu Changsheng said calmly/

"Thank you, Physician," said Li Hongzhuang, exhaling in relief. Once she paid for the medicine, she hurried out of Miaoren Hall.