"And another thing," Wuguo added, "Go with peace of mind. Your reappearance this time was also intentional on your part. It will make those sects in the martial arts world who once coveted the bronze figure understand that you are no longer related to that acupuncture bronze figure. Of course, some people may still look for you, but you are no longer in the same danger as before. In addition, there are some things that Shangqing Temple is still dealing with. You don't need to worry about these. Just do as your master tells you. Achieving true medical skills is the real and important thing you should do."
"I understand. Farewell, Senior Brother!" Song Hao said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
"Until we meet again!" Wuguo nodded and smiled.
Song Hao got on the highway and waited for a while. Sure enough, a bus came by. He didn't care where it was going, so he got on the bus and figured he'd deal with it when he got to the bus stop.
Two hours later, the bus arrived at a market. Song Hao got off and suddenly remembered something. He deliberately recalled a phone number and found a public phone booth. After hesitating for a moment, he dialed the number. This call was for Dou Haiqin, and Song Hao really wanted to contact her. He had dialed this number once before in Penglai, but the person who answered wasn't Dou Haiqin, so he quickly hung up.
"Beep beep..." The call connected, and Song Hao felt a surge of excitement. He wanted to tell Dou Haiqin that the bronze acupuncture statue of Song Tiansheng was still safe.
Someone on the other end answered the phone, but did not speak.
"Excuse me, are you Aunt Dou Haiqin?" Song Hao asked.
"Who are you? How did you get this phone number?" A woman's cold, questioning voice came from the other end of the line. Clearly, this person was not Dou Haiqin.
Song Hao was taken aback upon hearing this, recalling what Dou Haiqin had once said: if she didn't answer the phone herself, then something had happened to her.
Just as Song Hao was about to hang up, he suddenly remembered that the caller might be Dou Haiqin's family. The first time he called, a woman had answered. So he said, "I'm a friend of Aunt Dou's. I haven't heard from her in a long time and want to know how she's doing. How can I find Aunt Dou?" Song Hao was eager to know Dou Haiqin's whereabouts, so he didn't care about the potential danger. Besides, the other party didn't know who he was or where he was; they would leave after making the call. Even if something went wrong, he was safe for now.
"Who are you? What do you want with her?" the woman on the other end of the phone said coldly.
"What's your relationship to Aunt Dou?" Song Hao asked back.
"You...you're that bastard Li He's friend! What else do you want? Tell me where that bastard is!" the woman on the phone said, sounding agitated and angry.
"Li He!" Song Hao suddenly remembered that Li He was the culprit who caused a series of tragic changes in the Dou family of the Golden Needle Sect. Realizing something, he quickly hung up the phone.
Just as Song Hao turned to leave, the phone rang again, clearly the other party was calling back.
Song Hao hesitated for a moment and didn't answer. He knew he couldn't let himself get involved in anything else at this time. Although he could tell from the woman's tone that she might be from the Dou family, Song Hao couldn't talk to her again unless it was Dou Haiqin herself.
Song Hao sighed inwardly and turned to leave.
Suddenly, someone blocked his path. Song Hao looked up and was startled. This person was none other than the mysterious figure from the Gate of Life and Death; it was Gu Xiaofeng.
"Song Hao, it's been a long time. How are you?" Gu Xiaofeng said with a smile.
“You…” Song Hao still couldn’t tell whether the other party was friend or foe.
“I am Gu Xiaofeng from the Life and Death Sect. We should be considered old friends. May I have a word with you in private?” Gu Xiaofeng pointed to a restaurant across the street, clearly aware of Song Hao’s concerns, but he had no choice but to let him go.
Song Hao was surprised. Although this person had saved him before, he was always "haunting" him, as if he could not get rid of this person no matter where he went. This person must have some other purpose for him.
Song Hao nodded helplessly and followed Gu Xiaofeng into the restaurant. Gu Xiaofeng chose a private room, ordered a table full of food and drinks, picked up his chopsticks, looked at Song Hao and smiled, "Eat something first, then we can talk."
"Sir, could you tell me who you are and what business you have with me?" Song Hao asked himself before moving.
"Hehe!" Gu Xiaofeng put down his chopsticks, propped his chin on his hands, and pursed his lips, saying, "I've already told you, I'm from the Gate of Life and Death. As for why I'm looking for you, a friend of mine wants to see you and asked me to take you there. Please rest assured, I have no ill intentions towards you."
Song Hao shook his head and said, "How can I trust you if you keep pestering me like this?"
Gu Xiaofeng said, "Song Hao, don't misunderstand me. To be honest, I've come to your rescue several times on someone's behalf to protect your safety. Now this person wants to see you. He cares about you so much, you should meet him too. As for the reason, I don't quite understand. You can ask my friend about it later."
"And another thing!" Gu Xiaofeng continued, "You've been hiding in Shangqing Temple for half a year, apparently because you've already become a disciple of that Jade Spirit Immortal. You've had such good fortune, congratulations! It was also beyond the expectations of my friend and me. Your Taoist master is no ordinary person. The name of Old Taoist Xiao is known to almost everyone in the martial arts world, and they all respect him. To have received his complete teachings of the true art of medicine is truly your good fortune. That's why we haven't bothered you for the past six months. Now that you've completed your studies and emerged from seclusion, my friend absolutely must see you."
“Mr. Gu, I really don’t understand why you and your friend have been keeping such a close eye on me. If it’s for that acupuncture bronze figure, I think it’s all in vain, because this matter is completely over,” Song Hao said. Song Hao guessed that the other party’s “concern” for him must also be for that medical treasure—the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaofeng smiled slightly and said, "Old Daoist Xiao's scheme of deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea, and stealing the beams and replacing the pillars, may fool those people in the martial arts world, but it cannot fool me, Gu Xiaofeng."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao was greatly surprised. He had never expected that Gu Xiaofeng of the Life and Death Gate was such a powerful figure who could see through everything. He was speechless and stood there in a daze.
Seeing this, Gu Xiaofeng laughed and said, "What, I've hit the nail on the head. Although some people saw the acupuncture bronze figure being loaded onto a cargo ship and encountering danger shortly after leaving the port, given Master Xiao's shrewdness, how could he do something so improper? Your master is quite cunning, and he's gone to great lengths for this matter. Actually, he's just trying to deceive the ordinary sects in the martial arts world. His real intention is to tell those people in the martial arts world that you, Song Hao, have already become his disciple and have become Master Xiao's student. He has already 'dealt' with the trouble that the bronze figure caused you, and no one should have any designs on you in the future. He's creating this simple 'fact' to silence the various sects in the martial arts world and prevent them from showing any further disrespect to Master Xiao. Those who don't understand will be deceived, and those who do will likely give up any desire for the bronze figure. This will create a safe environment for you. Furthermore, keeping you at Shangqing Temple to study medicine with him for half a year is also to make the matter fade away in the martial arts world."
“You…” Song Hao was speechless, unable to respond.
"Don't worry, my friend and I aren't interested in that acupuncture bronze figure, but rather in you as a person. Of course, it's mainly my friend. Now you should understand that we mean you no harm. Also, my friend repeatedly told me not to force myself on you, but he hopes you can spend some time with him. He also asked me to give his regards to your grandfather, Mr. Song Zihe," Gu Xiaofeng said.
"He...he knows my grandfather?" Song Hao asked in surprise.
“That’s right. My friend said that your grandfather did him a great favor and never had a chance to repay him, which is why he’s taking such good care of you,” Gu Xiaofeng nodded.
"Could you tell me the name of Mr. Gu's friend? And what does he do?" Song Hao asked.
“That’s fine,” Gu Xiaofeng said. “His name is Qi Yannian, and he is the leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. You should have heard of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, right? It’s the head of all medical sects.”
"The Heavenly Physician Sect!" Song Hao was taken aback upon hearing this. Back in Tang Village, Tang Ji had told him about the past of the Heavenly Physician Sect.
"Is Mr. Qi, the leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, an old friend of my grandfather? Why have I never heard my grandfather mention anything about the Heavenly Medicine Sect?" Song Hao was still confused.
The 65th Tianyi Group
Gu Xiaofeng said, "The Heavenly Medicine Sect and your Song family must have some connection, otherwise they wouldn't have asked my Life and Death Sect to protect your safety with all their might. The Life and Death Sect has long since distanced itself from the martial world. If it weren't for the Heavenly Medicine Sect saving my life when I was on the verge of death, I wouldn't have stepped in to get involved in these matters. So I still hope that you can meet with the people from the Heavenly Medicine Sect."
At Shangqing Temple, Master Xiao Boran had also told Song Hao about the Tianyi Sect. The Tianyi Sect was the head of all medical sects, with its members all over the world. Its medical skills were unparalleled. If one could become a disciple of the Tianyi Sect, one could also demonstrate one's ambition to become a great physician.
Seeing that Gu Xiaofeng's words were sincere and earnest, Song Hao realized that the other party was actually the leader of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, and this was a great opportunity to get to know him. More importantly, he also needed to understand the relationship between the Heavenly Medicine Sect and his grandfather, and why they were paying so much attention to him.
Thinking of this, Song Hao nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll go with Mr. Gu."
Gu Xiaofeng was delighted to hear this and said, "You really are a reasonable person! It wasn't for nothing that I helped you out of those situations. Come on, let's eat our fill before we go."
During the meal, Gu Xiaofeng deliberately sized up Song Hao a few times, thinking to himself, "Song Hao's face and demeanor are quite similar to Brother Qi's, and he has repeatedly asked me to do my best to protect his safety. There must be something else going on here."
Song Hao thought to himself, "This Gu Xiaofeng is truly remarkable! He was able to see through Master's plan at a glance and understand Master's true intentions. It turns out that Master was just putting on a show for the people of the martial arts world, with the aim of keeping me out of the mess and taking all the trouble upon himself. Gu Xiaofeng, like Master, is an unfathomable master."
After finishing their meal, Song Hao got up to pay the bill. Gu Xiaofeng stopped him, saying, "Someone has already calculated it; let's go."