Luo Feiying immediately parked the car on the side of the road. Looking ahead, she quietly said, "Song Hao, there's a person named Ji Dongyang here, right? Otherwise, my father, the people from the Life and Death Gate, and that Diao Cheng wouldn't have appeared here at the same time. My father's purpose in coming to Tianyi Hall was also for Ji Dongyang and for that so-called 'miracle cure without medicine.' But I won't help him anymore."
"I believe that!" Song Hao smiled reassuringly.
“Yingying, there are some things that Tang Yu and I didn’t want to hide from you, but it would be pointless for you to know,” Song Hao then added.
“I know, and I don’t blame you. I’ve sensed something was off these past few days, so I knew something unusual had happened. Song Hao, Sister Tang Yu, please let me know if there’s anything I can help you with,” Luo Feiying said.
“Song Hao has already temporarily withdrawn the group from Shangqing Temple. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Yingying, could you please have Mr. Luo and his men leave this place as well, even if it's just temporarily? The fewer people involved in this incident, the less adverse the impact on Tianyi Hall will be in the future,” Tang Yu said.
“My father is very stubborn about this matter and may not listen to me, but I will try my best to persuade him to leave,” Luo Feiying said.
"You've gone to so much trouble, Yingying!" Song Hao said gratefully.
“I understand that it’s good for the Luo family to be able to withdraw my father from this matter in time. Don’t worry, I will have my father take his men away from here today, because I have come up with an idea,” Luo Feiying said.
"I know you're smart, you'll find a way," Song Hao said with a smile.
After driving Song Hao and Tang Yu back to Tianyitang, Luo Feiying then drove to a hotel in Baihe Town where Luo Beiming was staying.
"Yingying, I knew you would come looking for your father. No one knows a daughter better than her father! So, you want to help me now, don't you?" Luo Beiming said excitedly as soon as he saw Luo Feiying.
"You only care about your own affairs, and you don't even ask how Senior Brother Li He is doing," Luo Feiying said with a sigh and a shake of her head.
"There are priorities. Finding the elixir of immortality is the most important thing for the Luo family right now. We can't worry about the lives of others for the time being." Luo Beiming rolled his goldfish eyes up and down and said nonchalantly.
“Dad, if you want me to help you with this, that's fine, since it concerns the safety of the Luo family. But you have to listen to me, otherwise I won’t be able to help you or anything,” Luo Feiying said.
"As long as you're willing to help me, this matter is already more than halfway to success. Don't worry, Yingying, once the Luo family overcomes this crisis, all of the Demon Needle Sect's assets will be yours. What are your plans? Tell me," Luo Beiming said, his spirits lifting.
“I’ve already confirmed with Song Hao that the man named Ji Dongyang has indeed arrived here and made contact with Song Hao. However, he is currently hiding in a very secret place, and no one but Song Hao can find him,” Luo Feiying said.
"Hahaha! I knew it! Song Hao is no simpleton! As long as he has the person, the Divine Formula will naturally fall into his hands as well. Song Hao took such a great risk to protect Ji Dongyang, which must be for that Divine Formula. With this formula, the Heavenly Medicine Hall can make rapid progress, and he should know this better than anyone else. Yingying, you must find out where Song Hao is hiding Ji Dongyang now," Luo Beiming said.
"Dad, you haven't grasped the complexity of the situation. The Gate of Life and Death and the Heavenly Medicine Group are both involved, as is the Shangqing Temple. You should know that our Luo family cannot currently contend with any of these forces. My plan is to proceed as you suggested yesterday. After Song Hao obtains the secret technique of the Divine Formula of No Medicine from Ji Dongyang, I will try to acquire it from Song Hao, as this is the safest route. Song Hao's words today implied that Ji Dongyang indeed wanted to exchange the Divine Formula of No Medicine for his safety from the Heavenly Medicine Hall; they have already reached this deal. However, with various forces gathered here, they have no opportunity to impart the secret technique. Ji Dongyang will only reveal the true method when he is absolutely certain of his safety. Therefore, Dad, you and your people must leave immediately, otherwise my plan will be difficult to execute. Your presence here will arouse Song Hao's suspicion about your purpose here, and he will be wary of me in the future," Luo Feiying said.
“This…” Luo Beiming hesitated.
“This isn’t something to rush. With our strength, we must proceed slowly; haste will only cause us to miss future opportunities. You know, Song Hao has already persuaded the people from Shangqing Temple to leave. Once he obtains the secret formula of the Medicineless Divine Recipe, he will give a copy to Shangqing Temple, because the secret formula can be copied. Song Hao also said that after obtaining the Medicineless Divine Recipe, he can also give a copy to the Life and Death Gate and the Heavenly Medicine Hall, since they have that special relationship. This will not only protect Ji Dongyang’s personal safety but also prevent the Life and Death Gate from threatening him. Think about it, since Song Hao doesn’t intend to monopolize this secret formula, doesn’t that give me an opportunity in the future? And you being here will only increase my obstacles and make Song Hao resentful. Also, Senior Brother Li He is here; I will ask him to help me accomplish this,” Luo Feiying said.
Chapter Thirteen: The Truth
"Hmm!" Luo Beiming nodded and said, "What you say makes sense. I'll only be in the way here. Besides, we can't openly compete with the Life and Death Gate and Shangqing Temple, so we can only try to get something from Song Hao. Alright, I'll take my men and leave here later, so that Song Hao won't suspect the purpose of my trip. He doesn't like me very much to begin with, so I don't want this to affect your relationship. Good daughter! You're thoughtful and haven't let me down! Don't worry, as soon as I get back this time, I'll transfer the Luo family's assets to your name. Just focus on implementing your plan. Once we get the Divine Formula, everything will be fine. Otherwise, the Luo family will be in big trouble!" Luo Beiming sighed.
"Dad, is it serious?" Luo Feiying asked worriedly.
"I don't know where the mistake occurred, but the reverse needle technique has shown a flaw and has been suspected. Only the God of Medicine can cover it up," Luo Beiming said.
“Dad, I’ve been advising you to stop this for a long time. This kind of thing can’t last. Once something goes wrong, it will be a big deal,” Luo Feiying said, shaking her head.
"It's too late to back down now. Let's get through this crisis first. If we really get through this, then it will be even more foolproof!" A fierce glint flashed in Luo Beiming's eyes.
On the way back to Tianyi Hall, Luo Feiying's heart was filled with complicated feelings again. She had said that she had broken off her relationship with her father, Luo Beiming, but the Luo family was indeed facing a crisis.
"Am I really going to get the miraculous cure from Song Hao?" Luo Feiying thought helplessly.
Luo Feiying returned to Tianyi Hall and met with Song Hao and Tang Yu. She told them that she had persuaded her father, Luo Beiming, to leave the area, which delighted the two of them.
Tang Yu said happily, "Yingying is really capable. She managed to persuade another group of people to retreat. Now only the Life and Death Gate and a few other groups of people of unknown origin remain, along with that Diao Cheng. However, I don't think Gu Xiaofeng from the Life and Death Gate will make things too difficult for us. If necessary, we should also use his power to hold off the other groups."
Luo Feiying stood there, her face filled with melancholy.
Song Hao said, "There are no eternal friends. The biggest obstacle right now is Gu Xiaofeng from the Gate of Life and Death. Although he won't openly snatch it from us, he will try to take it secretly. In a moment of desperation, he might even break off all pretenses. After all, the Divine Formula without Medicine is too tempting for them. If I hadn't personally witnessed Ji Dongyang administer it once and seen its miraculous effects, I would have suspected that these people were playing a childish game."
"Song Hao, is the Ji family's 'miracle cure' really that miraculous?" Luo Feiying asked.
Song Hao nodded and said, "That's right, it's so amazing that it's inexplicable! This kind of wonderful medical technique is either too backward or too advanced compared to people's current understanding. Even if it has appeared in the world, it is not very practical. Just like people today, they cannot recognize the true nature of the thirteen branches of Zhuyou, which should have been lost. But this kind of medical technique did exist and was included in the medical path, so it has its reasons for existing and has its own practicality and effectiveness."
Tang Yu said, "That 'miracle cure without medicine' also treats illnesses without medication. Could it be a variation of the ancient Zhuyou school?"
Song Hao shook his head and said, "Not using medicine doesn't mean not using herbs, but it also means using all things as medicine. It may both be based on the principle of shifting essence and transforming qi, but they are two different secret techniques. Of course, they also have their commonalities. You will never understand the inner workings of the body unless you experience it for yourself."
Luo Feiying said, "Since Tianyi Hall protected Ji Dongyang, he should also give us the secret technique of the medicineless divine formula in return. Then we can understand its internal mechanism, and then we will understand."
Song Hao shook his head and said, "Although this technique is wondrous, it is of little use because it cannot benefit the world. Furthermore, the practitioner must possess a certain level of knowledge of Yin and Yang, truly understanding the profound meaning of 'following the principles of Yin and Yang, and conforming to the principles of numerology' to comprehend it. Otherwise, it will be of no benefit to ordinary people. Moreover, this kind of advanced medical practice may not be accepted or accepted by people today. Forcing its implementation will only invite criticism. The theories of traditional Chinese medicine are already advanced and have already been criticized by those who do not understand them. If we were to use the 'miracle cure' technique now..." Presenting something as seemingly ethereal as a prescription to the public is detrimental to the current development of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In other words, the present world is not suitable for the emergence of miraculous techniques and secret methods like the "Medicine-Free Divine Prescription" and the "Incantation Therapy." These techniques should be secretly recorded and preserved for centuries to come. Moreover, Ji Dongyang is a man in distress; learning it now would be taking advantage of his vulnerability. I never intended to learn it myself, as it is of little use to the Heavenly Physician Hall. The "Medicine-Free Divine Prescription" can only be used secretly for treatment now, not openly shared with the public; otherwise, it would further confuse people's understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.”
"Song Hao!" Tang Yu said admiringly, "I didn't expect you to understand this matter so far and so deeply! If those who want the Divine Formula of No Medicine had your insight, they wouldn't be rushing to snatch it. You're right, the secret technique of the Divine Formula of No Medicine is not something that ordinary people can master. Even Ji Dongyang himself can only show its effects on one person, not benefit the whole world. The Heavenly Medicine Hall upholds the orthodox medical methods, and the Divine Formula of No Medicine is not suitable for this place, otherwise it would be the Witch Doctor Hall, at least for now."
“That’s right!” Song Hao nodded and said, “From a strategic perspective, we cannot allow it to exist or officially appear in the outpatient clinic to treat people within the Heavenly Medicine Hall for the time being. However, we must study and protect this kind of ‘high-end’ thing to make necessary preparations for the Heavenly Medicine Hall in the future. If Ji Dongyang has this intention, we can cooperate with him; if not, we will not force him. Let him do it in the future. Sages can save the world, but extraordinary people cannot save the world; they can only shine for a short time.”
"You don't even want to learn this secret technique that's been offered to you?" Luo Feiying couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"Alright, now that we have a clear understanding of this matter, we can face it calmly and wait for things to change. Everything at Tianyi Hall should continue as usual; let's not let this affect our work," Song Hao said solemnly.
"Then I'll report to President Song now," Tang Yu said with a smile. "Tianyitang Pharmaceutical is developing smoothly, with sales increasing rapidly month by month. Last month, nearly ten million yuan was recovered, and it has become a pillar industry of Tianyitang."
"So many!" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise.
Tang Yu smiled and said, "The medicines produced by Tianyitang are inexpensive and effective, and have now become a golden brand in the hearts of patients. It is said that they are sold out as soon as they are put on the shelves. The pharmaceutical factory is also going to expand its production scale."
"Yes, but we must ensure the quality of the medicine. We'd rather produce less than use inferior products," Song Hao said.
Luo Feiying said, "The number of outpatients at the medical clinic is increasing, and the inpatient department is also overcrowded. Fortunately, the senior doctors are doing their best to train some backbone members in the Famous Doctors' Training Institute in their spare time. Now more than 20 people can independently see patients in the front-line clinic, which has greatly relieved the pressure on the outpatient department. The recruitment work is also going very smoothly, and some like-minded famous Chinese medicine doctors have taken the initiative to apply to join Tianyitang."
"The situation is truly excellent!" Song Hao said happily. "All the renowned TCM doctors accepted by Tianyitang must be given the most favorable treatment, so that they can devote themselves wholeheartedly to their work without any worries. Inform Dean Jiang He that a TCM and herbal medicine research department will be established within Tianyitang soon to comprehensively explore and organize TCM and carry out research in various aspects. Tang Yu, you and Teacher Wu and Teacher Lin should discuss and select a few distinctive research topics for specialized research. When the time is right, ethnic minority medicine should also be included in our research scope. All medicines under heaven are one family; choosing the strengths and combining them is also a direction for the development of Tianyitang." Song Hao thought of the "Dulong Needle" technique used by the Tibetan doctor Naga Linlong.
The county town, the temporary encampment of the Gate of Life and Death.
"Master, the people from Shangqing Temple left Tianyi Hall yesterday, and today Luo Beiming from the Demon Needle Sect also suddenly and inexplicably left with his people." A disciple reported the situation to Gu Xiaofeng.