Xiao Boran said, "You've come at the right time. There's something else I need you to do, so I won't send anyone else. Otherwise, I would have given this book to you later."
"What book?" Song Hao asked.
"In the 'Extraordinary Prescriptions,' Xiao Boran said, 'Everything in the world can be used as medicine, but a good medicine is one that can cure a disease. However, the principles of pharmacology are vast and profound, and even with the 'Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica,' it is difficult to fully understand them. Even a few unrelated medicines, when properly combined, can produce miraculous effects. For example, the 'Swelling-Reducing Powder' commonly used in the medicine hall outside the mountain is taken from the "Extraordinary Prescriptions, Extraordinary Prescriptions." This formula consists of nothing more than gypsum and phellodendron bark, which are cold and heat-clearing substances, mostly taken internally. Although they are occasionally used for skin diseases, they are rarely seen in trauma treatment. However, when these two medicines are powdered and mixed with wine to form a paste, they have the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. When applied to the injured area, it has a miraculous effect in treating muscle swelling and pain from falls and injuries.'"
Song Hao said, "That's right. There are indeed many miraculous remedies in the world. Their ingredients cannot be guessed by common sense and are beyond the reach of experience, yet they often have miraculous effects."
Xiao Boran said, “When a person falls ill, the world will naturally provide a medicine or remedy to cure it. As the Inner Canon says, ‘Those who say a disease is incurable have not yet found the right method!’ Human wisdom has not yet been able to fully comprehend the principles of all things.”
Song Hao asked, "Master, why isn't this copy of 'Miraculous Prescriptions' kept at Shangqing Temple?"
Xiao Boran said, “It is for the purpose of supplementing and verifying efficacy, so please allow me to explain. Twenty years ago, I met a doctor named Ding Fengjie, who traveled among the people, treating illnesses with simple and effective prescriptions at low prices, which were very popular with patients. At that time, I found a fragment of a book called ‘Qi Fang Yan Chao’ in a friend’s collection. The composition of the prescriptions was often unexpected. Since I could not test all of them, I lent the book to Ding Fengjie, so that he could use the prescriptions in the book to verify the ailments of the world. Ding Fengjie was grateful for my kindness and promised to supplement the book with all the effective secret prescriptions and proven formulas he had acquired in his life. He asked me to send someone to his hometown to retrieve the complete book in twenty years. Now, the twenty-year deadline has arrived. You should go and retrieve it for yourself. Use the effective prescriptions in the book to make medicines and benefit the people, which will help the name of Tianyi Hall. However, he lives far away in Qinghai, and the journey is long. It will be quite a hardship to retrieve ‘Qi Fang Yan Chao’.”
Song Hao said with delight, "Among itinerant doctors, there are many highly skilled individuals. Their knowledge of diseases is extensive, and they have seen many ailments. The effectiveness of their prescriptions and their ability to administer medicine are unmatched by doctors who sit in their clinics. Although it takes twenty years to verify the 'Miraculous Prescriptions and Verified Formulas,' it is probably the culmination of their life's experience. If we can obtain this book of miraculous prescriptions and verify them at Tianyi Hall, they can be made into medicines and widely distributed throughout the world."
Xiao Boran nodded and said, "If Tianyitang is to achieve great things, in addition to practicing medicine at its clinic, it also needs the support of a pharmaceutical factory to benefit the people and gather financial resources to help the business succeed." Then Xiao Boran gave Ding Fengjie's detailed address, which was a remote place.
Song Hao originally wanted to tell his master about his affairs with the Heavenly Medicine Sect, but then he thought it was his private matter and there was no need to trouble his master, so he didn't say anything.
Song Hao turned around and saw Tang Yu, telling her about his desire to travel to Qinghai. Tang Yu was delighted to hear this.
Song Hao then bid farewell to his master Xiao Boran and returned to Luo Beichen's place with Tang Yu. After saying goodbye to Luo Beichen, they drove off to Qinghai.
Song Hao contacted Luo Feiying by phone and told her that he and Tang Yu had something to do and couldn't return to Tianyitang for the time being, so he asked her to take care of everything there.
"You and Sister Tang Yu can go without worry. With me here, Tianyitang won't go bankrupt. Both projects are about to start in the next few days, so you can ride in my car and go sightseeing. You'll have plenty of things to do when you come back," Luo Feiying said reluctantly and sourly on the phone.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Song Hao smiled apologetically and hung up the phone.
The car got on the highway and sped away.
"Song Hao!"
"What?"
"Your Taoist master really values you! These past two days at Shangqing Temple, I've seen the Taoists very busy. When I asked, I learned they're organizing the temple's collection of books. They say they plan to transport all the medical and pharmacopoeias from the temple to Tianyi Hall in the future, and some Taoists skilled in medicine and cultivating Chinese herbs will also be going there. For Tianyi Hall, Shangqing Temple is practically emptying its resources for you," Tang Yu said.
"Oh! Master is going to give me the entire collection of medical books from the temple! That's a huge collection of precious books! Master didn't tell me about this," Song Hao said with slight surprise. He felt immense gratitude welling up inside him.
"Your master is quite mysterious! You lived in Shangqing Temple for more than half a year, did you learn any advanced medical skills?" Tang Yu asked.
Volume Two: The World of Traditional Chinese Medicine - The Heavenly Doctor's Hall - Chapter Thirty: The Medicine King's Gate (1)
The ancient Shennong authored the Materia Medica, distinguishing the properties of herbs, minerals, insects, fish, birds, and beasts. It could neutralize seventy poisons in a single day, and it was combined with the five internal organs, six bowels, and twelve meridians of the human body, clearly outlining the treatment of cold and heat, rising and falling. It contained 365 kinds of medicines, divided into three grades: superior, middle, and inferior, making it the ancestor of all medical books.
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Song Hao said, "My master mostly explained the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic and the meaning of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to me. He said that only by understanding these things can one truly enter the path of medicine. As for specific prescriptions, he rarely talked about them."
Tang Yu nodded and said, "He imparts the Way rather than the technique! Your master is truly remarkable! In the medical field, the techniques of prescriptions and medicines are often passed down, which prevents people from fully grasping the spirit and principles of medicine. They only get the form, which is far from the true meaning of the Way of Medicine!"
"So I have another idea. In the future, we must select a few disciples for each of the renowned doctors at Tianyi Hall, passing on their knowledge orally and through personal instruction, ensuring that their skills are passed down from generation to generation. We not only want Tianyi Hall to become a gathering place for renowned doctors, but also a base for cultivating TCM talents. Once everything is on track, let's first establish a Tianyi Hall Renowned Doctors' Training Institute, focusing on teaching classic medical texts. If possible, we can build a proper TCM college in the future," Song Hao said.
"Good idea! We need a clear direction for the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Current TCM education is largely ineffective, mainly neglecting the study of classical texts. After several years, students still don't know what they're learning or its fundamentals. Especially the forced introduction of Western medicine subjects at the beginning confuses students. We should build a solid foundation in TCM before introducing Western medicine subjects, allowing students to distinguish between primary and secondary knowledge. Otherwise, we'll remain in the current situation, graduating with neither TCM nor Western medicine skills, completely lost!" Tang Yu said.
"The task is arduous and the road ahead is long!" Song Hao sighed.
"Only with a sense of mission can you do things seriously!" Tang Yu said with a smile.
Song Hao then told Tang Yu about the miraculous cure without medicine. Tang Yu listened and exclaimed in surprise, "This isn't convincing enough! A few days ago, when I spoke with my family on the phone, my second grandfather also told me to pay attention to this matter. It seems all the medical schools are focused on this again. It's strange, though, why is your master so interested? He even sent people to investigate!"
Song Hao said, "Master believes that there really is such a miraculous remedy without medicine in the world. Moreover, Master cares about all medical matters in the world. His help in establishing Tianyi Hall shows how much Master cares about the cause of traditional Chinese medicine."
Tang Yu said, "Your master is kind-hearted and honest, which is especially admirable. Perhaps it was a wish he had in his early years that was fulfilled through you. However, the name of Master Xiao carries a mysterious and awe-inspiring aura in the martial arts world. He has lived in seclusion at Shangqing Temple for decades, remaining unknown to the world, yet he is well aware of everything that happens in the world. Do you remember Gu Xiaofeng from the Gate of Life and Death? I met him once, and he even inquired about Shangqing Temple and your apprenticeship, expressing considerable doubt. The affairs of the martial arts world are very complicated, and we may not be able to sort them out for the time being. Now you have also connected with the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect. I wonder what else awaits you in the future."
Song Hao sighed and said, "Everything is troublesome, but who cares! Our main task now is to run Tianyitang well, let everything else go."
"No matter what, I don't believe your parents could have done something so harmful back then. There must have been some misunderstanding. You shouldn't hold a grudge," Tang Yu said.
"I can accept everything they did to me, but I cannot accept what they did to my grandfather, especially to Uncle Song Gang. This is a fact I can never forgive," Song Hao said resolutely, concealing his inner pain.
Seeing that Song Hao remained stubborn, Tang Yu shook her head helplessly.
Suddenly, Tang Yu pulled the car to the side of the road and stopped. A black sedan drove past. Tang Yu watched the departing car and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Song Hao asked.
“This car has been following us ever since we left Baihe Town,” Tang Yu said.
"Who could it be?" Song Hao asked in surprise. At the same time, he was filled with admiration for Tang Yu's alertness.
"I don't know. And Xiao Wu also told me that when he and you went to invite Wu Qiguang and Ye Chengshun, someone was following you. Because the other party didn't do anything, Xiao Wu didn't tell you. It seems that you are still someone's target," Tang Yu said worriedly.
"What is the purpose of these people? Is it still that acupuncture bronze figure?" Song Hao asked in surprise.
"Besides that supreme medical treasure, you now have another special identity: a descendant of the Qi family of the Heavenly Medicine Sect, and the future successor of the Heavenly Medicine Group. This may be why some people are interested in you. Your appearance has already caused some subtle changes within the Heavenly Medicine Group. The unexpected appearance of Qi Yanfeng and his explanation of the so-called truth to you is one example," Tang Yu said.
Song Hao sighed and said, "I don't want to get involved in the feuds and intrigues of those wealthy families, because I will always be a descendant of the Song family and will have no connection with the Qi family."
"That's just your own opinion; some people might not think that way," Tang Yu said.
"No one or nothing can hinder our journey, but anyone who offends us will be punished without mercy!" Song Hao said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu smiled broadly and drove away.
As evening approached, the car slowly drove into a town. It was a large market town, with shops lining both sides of the street, their advertisements a jumbled mess, dazzling the eye. Occasionally, a pharmacy would appear with a conspicuous wooden sign hanging beside its door, which read: "Selling Baicaoyuan Medicines."
"Let's find a hotel to rest for the night before we leave," Song Hao said.