Thinking this, Song Hao wandered aimlessly, avoiding the roads leading to Shandong.
Several days passed without any further incidents. Along the way, Song Hao treated every patient he encountered, achieving remarkable results. The patients often offered him money and gifts as rewards, but Song Hao refused them. Instead, he would enjoy a meal and drinks before leaving. Only then did he realize the benefits of traveling the world as a healer. This was the essence of his leisurely life.
When he had nothing to do, he walked; when he was tired, he took a car. One day, Song Hao unintentionally entered Anhui province.
When they entered a town, they encountered heavy rain. Song Hao took shelter in a restaurant, where he ate and rested.
At this moment, a crowd had gathered around, and an elderly man with white hair and a long beard could be seen sitting among them. The people around him looked at the old man with great respect, as if they were asking him something.
One person said, "Mr. Ji, I have seen many doctors for this illness, but none of them can cure it. Is there really no way to cure it?"
The old man laughed and said, "Those who say it's an incurable disease haven't found the right method! Besides, this isn't an illness."
Upon hearing this, the man exclaimed anxiously, "How can it not be an illness? I have abdominal pain several times every year."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao understood that those people were seeking medical treatment.
At this moment, the old man said, "I just took your pulse and know that you have a special constitution. The so-called 'disease travels through a meridian' is like the common saying 'fire travels through a meridian.' Some people, when they get anxious or angry, can experience toothache or discomfort in a certain part of their body. In your case, the disease travels through the stomach and intestines. However, due to internal or external factors that allow pathogens to invade and cause illness, you feel abdominal pain. But after defecating, the pain is relieved. All the causes of illness are eliminated through the stomach and intestines. In other words, your stomach and intestines are the channels for expelling disease. Although you feel abdominal pain, it is actually the body expelling disease. There is no need to treat it specifically. Furthermore, prescribing medicine according to the prescription for spleen and stomach deficiency will not be effective. As long as you leave it alone, your special stomach and intestines will ensure that you will be free from major illnesses for the rest of your life!"
Upon hearing this, the man seemed to realize something and said, "According to Mr. Ji, it really is true. Once, during a routine physical examination at work, they said I had hepatitis and needed to be hospitalized. But before I even got admitted, I had diarrhea for a few days. When I was finally hospitalized for a follow-up examination, everything had returned to normal, which surprised the experts and professors at the hospital. They all said it was impossible and that it must have been a misdiagnosis during the physical examination. Actually, similar things have happened several times. How could it be a misdiagnosis every time!"
The old man laughed and said, "This is your innate special quality, which has created the special characteristics of your stomach. In the Five Elements, the stomach belongs to Earth. Earth carries all things and can also harmonize all things. All things enter the Earth and can be transformed into Earth. Your stomach has a strong Earth element, so it can resolve all kinds of illnesses. Abdominal pain followed by diarrhea is a special reaction, just expelling the disease, nothing more."
Upon hearing this, the man was greatly relieved and said, "According to this, no matter what illness I get in the future, I won't need to take any medicine. A few bouts of diarrhea will solve the problem."
The old man smiled and said, "That's exactly right. You'll have a more concrete experience of it in the future."
Those around them listened and marveled at what they heard.
Song Hao was surprised and thought, "To diagnose illnesses so well and explain the reasons so clearly, he is indeed a master of medicine!"
Just then, a fair-skinned and handsome young man saw that the rain had stopped and the sky was clear outside, so he said to the old man, "Grandpa, the rain has stopped, let's go." Then he called out, "Boss, the bill!"
A fat man greeted him with a smile, saying, "It is an honor for our restaurant to have Mr. Ji dine here. This meal is on me."
Several people nearby chimed in, "It's not easy to meet Mr. Ji, and he even treated our illnesses. I'll pay the bill! I'll pay the bill!"
The young man shook his head and smiled, saying, "My grandfather and I appreciate your kindness, but we members of the Ji family always pay for our meals."
The elderly man surnamed Ji smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, boss and everyone! It is a doctor's duty to treat people's illnesses, so there is no need to trouble you. You will still take care of my illness and pay for my meal."
The young man then took out some banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the table. He then pushed through the crowd and pushed out a wheelchair. The elderly man surnamed Ji sat in it, his knees dangling, revealing him to be a disabled person who had had both limbs amputated. To Song Hao's surprise, he got up and followed him out.
Song Hao followed the grandfather and grandson surnamed Ji, hoping to find their residence and seek their guidance. He didn't want to miss such a master of medicine. It was Song Zihe's earlier instruction that led him to seek out medical experts and learn from their skills to improve his own. He had already benefited greatly from Wu Qiguang's Ice-Fire Needle technique. Furthermore, during his travels, following Wu Qiguang's methods, Song Hao had mastered the Ice-Fire Needle technique, which could create both ice and fire sensations on the human body, to the point of achieving thirty percent mastery.
The young man pushed the old man surnamed Ji and walked on the street for a while. Then he turned into an alley, changed direction, and followed a bluestone path into a grove of trees.
"This old man lives in a rather remote place!" Song Hao muttered from behind, and followed.
When Song Hao entered the woods, the Ji family grandfather and grandson were nowhere to be seen.
While Song Hao was still puzzled, he suddenly heard a cold voice behind him say, "Who are you? You've been following me here suspiciously all this way. What's your purpose?" It was clear that he had already been discovered.
When Song Hao heard the sound and turned around, he saw that the young man was standing next to a tree, looking at him warily.
Seeing this, Song Hao quickly said, "Don't misunderstand. I just saw that old gentleman in the restaurant. He spoke very eloquently and must be a master of medicine. I am also a student of medicine, so I came to ask that old gentleman some questions about medicine."
The young man snorted and said, "Nonsense! People from your Ghost Doctor Sect are always trying to cause trouble for our Ji family."
"The Ghost Doctor Sect!" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise, "Is it one of the nine sects and eighteen medical schools?"
"Don't play dumb!" the young man said angrily. "The Ghost Doctor Sect has no connection with my Ji family. Why do you keep bothering us? Go back and tell your sect leader that the Ji family's miraculous remedy without medicine is just a legend and has never existed. So the Ghost Doctor Sect should stop having any illusions and wasting their time."
"A miraculous cure without medicine!" Song Hao was completely bewildered. He shook his head and said, "I don't know what you're talking about. Alright, I admit I was rude and shouldn't have come along. I'll be going now." With that, Song Hao turned to leave.
"Young man, take care!" The old man surnamed Ji appeared from the side in his wheelchair and said, "The Ghost Doctor's disciples are elusive, unlike you. You must not be a member of the Ghost Doctor's sect anymore. You've followed me all this way; is there something you need from this old man?"
Song Hao quickly bowed and said, "Junior Song Hao greets Senior. Just now at that restaurant, I overheard Senior talking about the theory that illness travels through the stomach and intestines. This theory is not recorded in medical classics, so I realized that Senior must be a master and expert in the field of medicine. I am not very talented, but I have been learning medicine since childhood, and even now, there are still many things in medicine that I do not understand. Therefore, I would like to come and ask Senior for some guidance."
"Oh! It's rare to find someone with such ambition! I am Ji Xuan, and this is my grandson, Ji Dongyang. Young friend Song Hao, if you don't mind, please come and sit in my house up ahead. It's not far." Ji Xuan nodded and smiled.
"Song Hao?" Upon hearing this, Ji Dongyang was taken aback, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
Song Hao was overjoyed and said, "Then thank you very much, senior!"
Suddenly a voice said, "Young man, the Ji family is a den of dragons and tigers; you may go there, but you may not be able to leave." As soon as the voice finished speaking, a person walked out from behind a tree trunk.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Miraculous Prescription Without Medicine
This man was dressed casually, holding a paper fan. He had a broad forehead, a buzz cut, a fair complexion, large ears, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. A strange smile played on his lips, giving him a somewhat eccentric appearance.
"Ghost Wind, you people from the Ghost Doctor Sect are truly persistent. What brings you here to seek me out again? The Ji family is upright and honest, unlike the dragon's den and tiger's lair you described, which misleads the younger generation." Ji Xuan was quite surprised to see Ghost Wind suddenly appear, and his face showed displeasure.
Ji Dongyang, standing to the side, seemed somewhat nervous.
"The Ghost Doctor Sect! The Ji Family!" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that we've encountered two of the nine sects and eighteen medical schools that are legendary in the martial arts world?"
Upon realizing his mistake, Song Hao was filled with remorse. He had forgotten that he was now embroiled in trouble and had attracted the attention of special individuals. He had barely escaped several kidnappings, only to expose his whereabouts again. News of the Holy Acupuncture Bronze Man in his possession had spread throughout the land; how could the medical community not know? A sudden realization struck Song Hao, and he decided to retreat and escape before the other party noticed his identity.
At this moment, Gui Feng laughed loudly, "Ji Xuan, don't pretend to be a gentleman or a fool. That Divine Formula of No Medicine originally belonged to my Ghost Doctor Sect, but you stole it fifteen years ago, and for that you lost both your legs. Today I'm just here to reclaim what belongs to my sect and settle this grudge between the Ghost Doctor Sect and your Ji family. Now you're a cripple, no longer as strong as you once were. If you know what's good for you, hand over the Divine Formula of No Medicine, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise..." Gui Feng then snorted coldly.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan subconsciously touched his empty knees and said angrily, "Nonsense! There is no such thing as a miraculous cure without medicine in this world. Back then, I cut off both of my own feet to prove my innocence and clear my name. I never expected that even today, the Ghost Doctor Sect would still harass me. It seems that I broke my legs in vain."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao was surprised and thought, "So he broke his own legs. Why would he go to such lengths to prove his innocence? This is too complicated. It's best to stay away." He backed away as he thought this.
Suddenly, someone behind them shouted, "No one is allowed to leave this place without the sect leader's order."
Song Hao was startled upon hearing this. When he turned around, he gasped in shock. There were seven or eight burly men with cold expressions behind him.