Chapter 71: Free Treatment

What happened last night was likely a test from him, and now that the Golden Sword Alliance’s probe has failed, Wang Yuanlang may soon take other measures. After all, this is Martial City, and Wang Yuanlang is an official of the Martial Dynasty.

“Daqi, this is what you must do right now.” After a moment’s thought, Fang Xian quickly gave instructions to Li Daqi and the others.

When daylight broke, the signboard of Jishi Hall was taken down and replaced with a new plaque: “The World’s Greatest Divine Physician.” The medical hall threw open its main doors, ready to welcome patients.

“Have you heard? The world’s greatest divine physician has arrived in Martial City, replacing Jishi Hall, which used to be run by the Chief Imperial Physician Situ Xun. He claims he can cure all kinds of rare and difficult illnesses.”

“What wonderful news! The world’s greatest divine physician is here in Martial City, sitting in the former Jishi Hall. If anyone in your family is ill, hurry and seek a consultation.”

“The world’s greatest divine physician is here! If anyone in your family is sick, you must go quickly. I heard the first fifty patients will be treated free of charge!”

“Neighbors, take heed! The world’s greatest divine physician is in Martial City, right at the old Jishi Hall by the North Gate intersection. Quickly bring your sick family members—the divine physician can cure any illness!”

At dawn, hundreds of beggar children ran through the streets and alleys, shouting the news. Someone had paid for them to have a full meal and sent them out to spread the word, promising a banquet at noon and further rewards.

These beggars not only shouted through the streets but went door to door with the news. Fang Xian had chosen to start his publicity in the poorer neighborhoods, knowing that the offer of free treatment for the first fifty patients would certainly attract the common people.

Not far from the North Gate, in the old quarters, tens of thousands of the city’s lower class lived, scraping by with odd jobs at taverns, shops, or doing laundry.

A fit of violent coughing echoed from a side room in a large courtyard that housed more than a dozen families. This was the home of Wang Fugen’s father, an old soldier who had returned from injury more than twenty years ago and whose coughing had grown worse with each passing year.

“Don’t cough so hard, old man, take it slow.” An elderly woman came forward to pat Wang Damen’s back as she offered him a bowl of herbal medicine.

“What’s the use of more medicine? This illness has haunted me for over twenty years—it’s never getting better.” Wang Damen shook his head, waving his wife’s hand aside and motioning for her to put the bowl down.

“Father, are you feeling any better?” At that moment, a sturdy young man, sweating from exertion, hurried in—Wang Fugen, his son.

“You brat, get back out there and practice the Fierce Tiger Fist a few more times! That move, ‘Tiger Descends the Mountain,’ has no force at all—like a lamb, not a tiger! What will you do if you meet an enemy? If you don’t practice, how will you join the army? You’ll die on the battlefield!” Wang Damen scolded between coughs.

“Let Fugen rest, old man. He still has to work at the tavern later. Let him practice tomorrow.” His wife spoke up, heart aching for her son. Though he was already a third-rate martial artist thanks to years of training, in a mother’s eyes, he was still just a boy.

“The world’s greatest divine physician is here! If anyone in your family is ill, hurry and seek treatment—the first fifty patients are treated free!” Suddenly, a loud voice rang out at the courtyard gates.

The Wang family peered out the window and saw it was a beggar child, shouting at the top of his lungs: “Everyone, listen up—Jishi Hall has a new owner! The world’s greatest divine physician has taken the place of the former Chief Imperial Physician. From today, he’s treating all kinds of difficult illnesses, and the first fifty patients pay nothing. If you have a sick family member, go and see for yourself!”

“The world’s greatest divine physician? What an outrageous boast! Even Lord Situ Xun never claimed to be the best—could this be some charlatan?” someone in the courtyard doubted.

“Who cares if he’s a fraud? If you’re sick, just go try. What if he really is a divine physician? This is Martial City, not some small town. If he had no real skill, would he dare make such a claim? He’d be courting death!” another replied.

“Old man, should we go and have a look?” Wang Damen’s wife asked hesitantly.

“What’s the point? We’ve spent all our money on my illness—if not, Fugen would still be in school. My illness is what it is. If I can hold out another couple of years and see Fugen marry, that’s enough for me. I’ve seen all kinds of things in my day… heh heh, cough, cough…”

“Father, what if the divine physician really can cure you? Don’t you want to live a few more years? Don’t you want to hold your grandson?” Wang Fugen, moved, pressed on. His words left Wang Damen speechless—not that he didn’t want to be cured, but he simply didn’t believe it possible after seeing so many doctors who’d only managed to ease his pain, never the root of the illness.

“The first fifty patients don’t pay anyway. Let’s give it a try.” As he spoke, Wang Fugen hoisted his father onto his back and dashed out the door.

Fortunately, they lived near the North Gate, and when they arrived, they discovered they were the very first to come. The Jishi Hall sign had already been replaced with the bold characters: “The World’s Greatest Divine Physician.”

“There’s no one here… maybe we should forget it,” Wang Fugen slowed, seeing the empty hall and feeling a pang of doubt. Wang Damen, too, seemed dejected.

“We’re here now—we might as well go in and see,” Wang Fugen said through gritted teeth, carrying his father straight through the doors.

“Look, someone’s going in!”

“I wonder if this ‘world’s greatest divine physician’ is for real? He certainly has nerve to make such a claim.”

“We’ll know soon enough. Once that father and son come out, we’ll see if it’s true.”

With hundreds of beggar children spreading the news, especially near the North Gate, a crowd began to gather outside the old Jishi Hall, curious to see the commotion.

As Wang Fugen entered with his father on his back, the crowd buzzed with speculation—some hopeful, some skeptical, others there just for the spectacle. Among them were also patients and their families, hesitating on the sidelines.

“Are you here to see the doctor? This way, please.” As soon as they entered, a pretty young maid greeted them with a smile, leading the way. By the doorway stood two burly men, whose vigorous energy Wang Fugen could sense—they were, at the very least, second-rate experts.

Wang Damen had just gotten down when a fit of coughs wracked his body. At that moment, a young gentleman approached, and after hearing his cough, remarked, “Sir, your illness is not a light one. It must have been with you for twenty years or more?”

“Are you the divine physician’s apprentice? How did you know my father’s illness has lasted so long?” Wang Fugen asked curiously.

“My name is Fang Mingda—not the divine physician’s disciple, but the world’s greatest divine physician himself.” Fang Xian smiled. “Just from your cough, I can tell the illness has persisted for about twenty years. Though you’ve taken medicine all along, it’s only ever eased the pain, never cured the root.”

“Then even you can’t cure my father?” Wang Fugen asked anxiously.

“For me, this is a trivial matter. Sir, please extend your hand, and I will take your pulse.” Fang Xian invited them to sit, taking his seat behind the physician’s desk as he spoke.

Wang Damen, half convinced, extended his right hand. As Fang Xian felt his pulse, a mysterious energy flowed into the old man’s body, quickly pinpointing the source of the illness.

“My apologies—I did not realize you were once a soldier, and even a second-rate expert,” Fang Xian said after a moment, withdrawing his hand.

“You could tell just from my pulse?” Wang Damen asked in astonishment.

“I also know that your illness began during a great battle, when an arrow pierced your chest. Though you survived, a fragment of the arrow’s tail remained lodged in your lung, right here. Each time you cough, this spot is tugged, causing the greatest pain—is that correct?” Fang Xian pointed to a spot on Wang Damen’s right chest.