"I've seen it, so I'm relieved," Song Zihe said with a smile.
Song Hao nodded. Out of caution, the grandfather and grandson refrained from mentioning the bronze figure again.
“Go and greet your uncle now; they’re all worried about you. To be on the safe side, don’t tell them the truth yet, but say you got lost and met a friend you met in Baihe Town who’s a businessman. You were bored, so you went sightseeing with him and forgot to tell your family,” Song Zihe said.
Song Hao responded and went out with Song Zihe.
After being scolded by his relatives at his uncle's house, Song Hao enjoyed a sumptuous feast before returning to the old house with his grandfather.
Once inside and seated, Song Zihe said, “Your brothers once obtained a medical license for me to practice medicine here, but because of your situation, I no longer have the heart to run it. In a few days, you will have to go on your studies abroad as instructed by your master. After you leave, I will open a clinic, and we will make further plans when you return.”
Song Hao said, "Grandpa, you should rest for a while first. I'll be back in a year or two at most. Then, Grandpa, help me use that million to start a pharmacy. I've already thought of a name for it: Tianyitang Pharmacy."
"Tianyi Hall!" Upon hearing this, Song Zihe shook his head and sighed inwardly. He knew that Song Hao truly had an inextricable connection with the Tianyi Sect.
"Following the way of Heaven, practicing medicine to save the world! Entering my Heavenly Medicine Hall is like entering paradise, where you can live and protect your life. In the future, I will surpass that Heavenly Medicine Sect. In fact, whether it is the Heavenly Medicine Group or the world-renowned Tongrentang, they have only focused on medicine and distanced themselves from medicine. I want to combine medicine and medicine and create the unique characteristics of Heavenly Medicine Hall." Song Hao said excitedly.
"Grandpa is very happy that you have such ambition! Just go for it. With your abilities, in a few years, the name of Tianyi Hall will not only spread throughout the country, but will also be famous all over the world," Song Zihe encouraged with satisfaction.
"Also, Grandpa, where do you think the Heavenly Medicine Hall should be located in the future?" Song Hao asked.
"Well, that depends on what you think," Song Zihe said with a smile.
"Hmm! I want to set up Tianyitang in a beautiful and convenient location, whether it's a big city or not doesn't matter. As long as it's established, patients will flock to it. In the future, when it reaches a certain scale, we can open branches and other chain institutions in various places. But where should we choose?" Song Hao pondered for a moment, then looked up seriously and said, "Grandpa, I want to go back to Baihe Town to establish Tianyitang Pharmacy in the future. It's a place we used to live in and are familiar with. Not only does it have the foundation laid by Ping'antang in the past, but it also meets my conditions in all aspects. Another important point is that Great-Grandpa's grave is there. I think if Great-Grandpa's spirit is watching over me, he will surely bless me to succeed if I start my business there."
"Song Hao! It's rare to find someone with such thoughtfulness!" Upon hearing this, Song Zihe's eyes welled up with tears, and he said with some excitement.
“We were forced out of Baihe Town, but we will definitely go back in the future. We will get back up wherever we fall, and we will do even greater things.” Song Hao clenched his fist.
"Good boy! Although you did this out of consideration for your grandfather's feelings, it was also the right decision. At the beginning of your career, you don't have the strength to operate in big cities. It's good to be able to establish a foothold in Baihe Town. That's where you grew up. Not forgetting your roots is what a real man should do!" Song Zihe praised.
"Don't worry, Grandpa, we will definitely go back to Baihe Town in the future and create our own world in our hometown!" Song Hao said.
A few days later, under Song Zihe's repeated urging, Song Hao reluctantly bid farewell to his grandfather and set off to visit Lin Fengyi, the expert in pulse diagnosis. Song Zihe didn't want Song Hao to waste time; a man should act quickly. Especially since Song Zihe had a feeling that Song Hao's parents would arrive in the next couple of days, and he didn't want Song Hao to be distracted by their arrival and learn about his origins. He also wanted to get some answers from Qi Yannian and his wife to clear up his doubts before discussing how to arrange for Song Hao to be recognized as a member of the family.
Although Song Zihe had prepared himself for the possibility that Song Hao might be found and reclaimed by his family someday, he still felt a sense of desolation when the time came. Unexpectedly, Song Hao came from a prominent family, specifically the Qi family of the Tianyi Sect, the leading medical sect in the world, which brought Song Zihe some comfort. Perhaps this is how fate works; one's destiny is predetermined from birth, though there may be twists and turns along the way.
The grandfather and grandson had relied on each other for many years, developing a deep bond. Even if Song Hao were to change his surname and join the Qi family in the future, he would not stray far from Song Zihe; their fates were intertwined. Although Song Zihe understood this, he still felt an indescribable pain in his heart. He had watched Song Hao grow up and successfully introduced him to the path of medicine. Although he lacked experience, he had fully mastered and inherited the Song family's medical skills. Having already recognized Song Hao as his own grandson, the thought of him changing his surname and joining another family always brought a sense of melancholy.
“Father!” Song Zihe stood before the portrait of Song Jingchun and said with emotion, “Perhaps it is fate that this child unexpectedly came to the Song family and inherited the Song family’s medical knowledge, preventing it from being lost with me. With this child’s aptitude and future medical skills, he is capable of becoming a renowned doctor like you, Father. Although he is not of the Song bloodline, he has a successor, which is a comfort to your spirit in heaven! This child has lofty ambitions and will one day establish the Tianyi Hall to carry on the true lineage of traditional Chinese medicine. Perhaps the art of traditional Chinese medicine can truly be carried forward and developed by him.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"What's meant to happen will happen!" Song Zihe sighed and went out to greet them.
Chapter Sixty-Nine: Meeting Qingdou
Song Hao embarked on his true medical journey of study. As his master, Xiao Boran, had said, mastering pulse diagnosis would be enough for him to practice medicine and help the world. Song Hao planned to first learn the miraculous pulse diagnosis techniques from the pulse diagnosis master Lin Fengyi, just as his master had described, and then return to Baihe Town to establish the Tianyi Hall Pharmacy. He would then seek an opportunity later to visit the other highly skilled medical masters designated by his master, Xiao Boran.
Song Hao boarded a train bound for a city. Gazing at the scenery outside the window, he was pondering something that puzzled him.
"Qi Yannian from the Tianyi Group actually gave me a million yuan, and Grandpa unexpectedly told me to accept it. What exactly happened back then that made me accept such a generous gift? Even though Grandpa saved the Qi family's child, can that really lead to such an understanding between them? Does Grandpa really think that his actions back then justify accepting this million yuan? This doesn't seem like Grandpa's usual style!"
"Furthermore, Qi Yannian's attitude towards me seems rather strange, perhaps too enthusiastic. Is he repaying Grandpa's kindness in saving his son? With the medical skills of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, what illness can't be cured? Why would he turn to Grandpa for treatment? Moreover, when I mentioned this matter to Grandpa, his expression was somewhat off. Everything is so strange!"
Song Hao shook his head, completely baffled, and stopped thinking about it. He then considered how to become Lin Fengyi's apprentice, since his master had said that Lin Fengyi was not a very easy person to get along with.
Just as Song Hao was pondering this, he suddenly smelled a pleasant fragrance. A woman sat down in the empty seat next to him and handed him a bottle of drink.
Song Hao was taken aback at first, but when he turned around, he exclaimed with delight, "Tang Yu! What brings you here?"
The newcomer was none other than Tang Yu. She smiled sweetly and said, "What! Not welcoming me?"
"Welcome! Welcome! You promised to be my bodyguard!" Song Hao said with a smile.
"Why do you always appear at unexpected times and places?" Song Hao asked.
"That's my skill! I can predict when and where you'll appear," Tang Yu said with a smile.
"It can't be that miraculous!" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right!" Tang Yu chuckled softly, "I've been to your house and met your grandfather. He said you just left today, so I came after you. Luckily, I didn't lose him."
"Oh! Is that so? What brings you all this way to see me?" Song Hao asked. The moment the words left his mouth, he realized how foolish he had been.
"Song Hao, are you annoyed with me?" Tang Yu's expression changed slightly, and she said awkwardly.
"Don't misunderstand, I mean something else happened, otherwise you wouldn't have rushed here so quickly," Song Hao hurriedly said.
Tang Yu looked up and around, and seeing that everyone around her was just an ordinary passenger, she straightened her expression and said in a low voice, "I received news that your danger has not truly passed, and I was worried about your safety, so I came here."
"Thank you!" Song Hao said gratefully. At the same time, a thought struck him: Tang Ji and Tang Qingshan, uncle and nephew from Tang Village, had probably sensed something.
Tang Yu said softly, "You've been hiding in Shangqing Temple for half a year, and your master caused that treasure to disappear unexpectedly. This matter has faded from the public eye. But some people still suspect something is amiss, and someone is still secretly investigating it. I'm afraid someone might harm you, so I've come to warn you. Why are you still coming out?"
Song Hao said, "I don't care about all that. I don't want this to disrupt my life plans. Besides, my master is still dealing with it, so there shouldn't be any major problems. He told me to ignore these things and continue doing what I'm supposed to do."
“Your master is far too arrogant!” Tang Yu said. “How could he let you wander around alone? This incident has already drawn out some medical sects that had already disappeared and some hidden forces in the martial arts world. They are not so easy to deal with. My father told me that even the Heavenly Medicine Sect has intervened in this matter.”
Upon hearing this, Song Hao frowned, secretly surprised. "Could it be that Qi Yannian of the Heavenly Physician Sect, under the guise of repaying my grandfather's debt of saving my son, sent Gu Xiaofeng of the Life and Death Sect to approach me and meet with me, also with the intention of seizing that Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man? Yes! They saw through Master's deception, so they used another method to soften me. But..."
Song Hao shook his head again, feeling that it wasn't quite the case.
"Tang Yu, how much do you know about the Heavenly Medicine Sect?" Song Hao asked.
Tang Yu said, "I don't know much about it, but I've heard my second grandfather mention it. In the old days, the Tianyi Sect members, with their unparalleled medical skills, not only became famous among the common people but also reached the powerful and wealthy, treating patients in their homes. During the Qing Dynasty, they were known as the 'Imperial Physicians Sect,' enjoying a prominent position. Before liberation, the Qi family of the Tianyi Sect gradually expanded their influence overseas and developed into industries. Today, the contributions of the Tianyi Sect members to the development and influence of traditional Chinese medicine overseas are indelible. In recent years, the Tianyi Sect has begun to invest in China with the strong foundation it has built overseas, establishing pharmaceutical factories and hospitals, which has had a significant impact. The current Tianyi Group is an industry under the Tianyi Sect, and the current head of the Tianyi Sect and chairman of the Tianyi Group is Qi Yannian, a prominent figure both domestically and internationally."
"I've also heard some news. After the matter of the item you were protecting was leaked, besides some martial arts sects trying to seize it to enhance their own strength, it also attracted domestic and international antiquities smuggling groups. The one behind this is the Heavenly Medicine Sect, which announced that it would buy the item at an exorbitant price, thus arousing envy and driving people to desperately try to seize it. In other words, Qi Yannian of the Heavenly Medicine Sect is the ultimate buyer, both domestically and internationally. I've fought with people from the Wind and Fire Hall before. They were ordered by Luo Beiming of the Demon Needle Sect, and Luo Beiming was in turn entrusted by the Heavenly Medicine Sect to frantically snatch that item," Tang Yu said mysteriously.