Chapter 176: Grand Sacrificial Official Gu
Ling Yushu’s expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty. Qin Mu had hit upon his worries.
Gu Linuan had been the crown prince’s tutor in his youth. The crown prince was older than him and occupied the position of heir apparent. If the difference in treatment between a prince and a commoner was as vast as heaven and earth, then the difference between a crown prince and a prince was equally vast—one in heaven, one on earth.
Gu Linuan would not grant him this favor. Not only would he refuse him, but he would also make things difficult for him.
He could already be certain of this.
“I won’t interfere in your matter with Gu Linuan.”
Ling Yushu made up his mind, then said, “But you must be careful yourself. Gu Linuan’s conduct is unlike that of the previous Grand Sacrificial Official; he lacks the magnanimity to nurture others gently.”
Qin Mu nodded. “Rest assured. At most, Gu Linuan will only dare to give me trouble; he won’t go too far.”
Ling Yushu’s expression turned strange. Qin Mu’s tone was a bit too arrogant. Where did he get such confidence?
“Could it be that he and Seventh Sister have already…”
An unpleasant suspicion arose in his heart. If he had become the imperial son-in-law, then indeed he would have no need to fear Gu Linuan.
Ling Yushu was silent for a moment, then said, “I plan to leave the Imperial Academy and go to the border to lead troops. I am a cavalry general with an official post, and I’ve reached the age for military service. But I worry about Seventh Sister…”
Qin Mu comforted him, “Second Prince, rest assured. I am here.”
Ling Yushu’s eyelid twitched. He thought to himself, “It’s precisely because you’re here that I’m worried.”
Qin Mu chatted with the siblings for a while longer, then rose to take his leave. “I’ve just returned from afar, and my luggage hasn’t been put away yet. I need to go back to the Scholars’ Residence first.”
Ling Yushu saw him out of the Princes’ Compound. After a moment of silence, he said to Ling Yuxiu, “Doctor Qin’s mindset doesn’t seem like that of a youth. He sees things very clearly and will surely achieve great things in the future. His words just now struck a chord with me.”
Ling Yuxiu chuckled. “Who says he’s an adult? He doesn’t understand anything, always calling people fat, and can’t say anything romantic.”
Ling Yushu shook his head. “I’ll soon submit a memorial to Father Emperor, leave the Imperial Academy, and cease being a scholar. Now that Gu Linuan has become Grand Sacrificial Official, he likely won’t treat you well either. If you can’t stand it at the academy, you might as well come with me to the border.”
Ling Yuxiu nodded. “Second Brother, rest assured. If I can’t stay, I’ll definitely go to the border to find you. But for now, I still want to train under Sacrificial Official Ba Shan.”
Ling Yushu glanced at her, fully aware of her little schemes, but didn’t say much—only shook his head.
Qin Mu returned to the Scholars’ Residence, followed by the massive Dragon Qilin. As he walked, many scholars in the residence watched him, full of envy.
Yun Que approached, smiling ingratiatingly. “Sister Fox, I’ve earned the ransom money. Can I redeem my set of clothes now?”
Hu Ling’er took the money pouch, weighed it, and nodded. “Wait a moment, I’ll get it for you.”
Yun Que thanked her profusely.
Hu Ling’er went into the house and retrieved his clothes, then announced loudly, “Those who owe me money, hurry up and bring it out to redeem your IOUs.”
After a moment, a few scholars came over reluctantly to redeem their IOUs. Hu Ling’er was quite satisfied and said, “Next time you’re defeated by my master, I can give you a twenty percent discount.”
One scholar shook his head. “The Imperial Academy Doctor is a sixth-rank official. Who would dare to lay a hand on him?”
Hu Ling’er was stunned for a moment, then turned to Qin Mu and said, “Master, our source of income is cut off. We’ll eat through our savings and won’t be able to support this big guy!”
The Dragon Qilin shrank its head and stammered, “One liter of Crimson Fire Spirit Pills a day is fine too, as long as I get something to eat…”
Qin Mu comforted him, “Don’t worry, I can support you. By the way, do you have any saliva? Give me a bottle. I’ll see if I can trade it for money.”
Hu Ling’er fetched a jade bottle and collected a bottle of dragon saliva. Qin Mu put the bottle away, instructed them to stay home, and went to the Imperial Medical Hall. Several elderly imperial physicians were inside studying a pill formula. When they saw him, they were delighted and laughed, “Little Divine Doctor, you’re back! What spirit pills are you planning to refine this time? If it’s anesthetics or poisons, you must let us know in advance!”
Qin Mu greeted the physicians and said, “I’ve come to ask you to test a medicine this time.” With that, he took out the small jade bottle.
When the physicians saw the small jade bottle, their expressions changed drastically. Physician Yu trembled as he said, “I recognize this bottle. Is it another anesthetic?”
“No, it’s a miraculous healing medicine.”
Just as Qin Mu said this, Physician You took out a small knife, hesitated for a moment, then made a cut on Physician Ding’s arm, causing blood to flow freely.
Physician Ding was furious and about to lose his temper, but Qin Mu quickly stepped forward, opened the jade bottle, and applied some dragon saliva to the wound. The wound immediately began to heal, and within a few breaths, it had fully recovered without a trace of a scar.
The physicians were astonished and crowded around. Physician Yu said, “What level of injury can this miraculous healing medicine treat? Can it reattach severed limbs?”
Qin Mu nodded. “Yes. Someone had their waist severed, and I used this medicine to reconnect it, restoring it to its original state. However, the medicine is only an aid; it still requires connecting the muscles and nerves, which is extremely demanding in technique.”
Physician Ding caught sight of Physician You raising the knife again and quickly shouted, “If you dare cut me, I’ll poison your entire family!”
Physician You couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he walked out of the hall. After a moment, he returned with a scholar. The physicians quickly shook their heads. Physician Yu stamped his foot and said, “Old You, have you gone mad? Even if you want to test the medicine, you can’t cut off his hands and feet!”
When the scholar heard this, his soul nearly fled in terror, and he immediately turned and ran. Physician You tried to catch him, but the other physicians blocked him, saying, “No, absolutely not. Scholars are eighth-rank officials. Cutting off their hands and feet would land you in legal trouble. That immortal crane of Lingyun Daoist fought with Sacrificial Official Ba Shan’s green ox a few days ago and got its leg broken by the ox. Go get that crane, cut off its leg, and then reattach it!”
Physician You went out and returned after a while with the crane. Physician Qu pinched the crane’s beak shut. The crane was terrified and struggled but couldn’t escape. Physician You cut off its leg along the line of the old injury.
The physicians cleaned away the bone fragments and waited for Qin Mu to treat it.
After a moment, Lingyun Daoist burst in, about to lose his temper, but saw Qin Mu reconnecting the crane’s broken bones, attaching the muscles and nerves, and opening up the marrow.
Lingyun Daoist dared not speak and waited until Qin Mu had finished reattaching the leg. Only then did the physicians let go.
The crane immediately stood up, moved its leg around in amazement, then gracefully bowed to Qin Mu and thanked him. Its voice was crisp and clear, sounding like a little girl’s.
Qin Mu also wrote a prescription and handed it to Lingyun Daoist. “Use this prescription to brew medicine, then soak her injured leg in the water. It will clear the meridians and activate the collaterals, leaving no hidden problems.”
Seeing the crane fully recovered, Lingyun Daoist was both surprised and delighted. He quickly took the prescription and thanked him repeatedly, laughing, “You made me lose face before the emperor, and I held a bit of a grudge, but now I’m somewhat grateful.”
Qin Mu smiled. “No fight, no friendship.”
Lingyun Daoist always felt the phrasing was a bit off and seemed inappropriate here, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He quickly called the crane away and went to the treasury to fetch the medicine.
Qin Mu laughed. “Physicians, how much is this bottle of healing medicine worth? I’m a bit short on cash lately.”
The physicians were both surprised and delighted. Physician Yu said, “Little Divine Doctor wants to sell it? Its value is considerable. For soldiers going to the battlefield, this kind of healing medicine is more precious than any heavenly treasure! I estimate it’s worth at least ten thousand Great Abundance Coins!”
Qin Mu was amazed. “Faster than Fan Yunxiao’s robberies?”
“What?” The physicians didn’t catch that.
“Nothing.”
Qin Mu smiled. “I can refine one bottle a day. How about selling it to the Imperial Medical Hall for ten thousand gold?”
The physicians’ eyes lit up. They exchanged glances, and Physician Yu laughed. “That would be excellent.”
Qin Mu was satisfied and took his leave. The physicians’ white-haired heads gathered together. Physician Qu said, “We’re rich!”
The physicians nodded repeatedly, excited. “Old Yu is still the cleverest! This small bottle of healing medicine is worth far more than ten thousand gold! When we resell it, we can make half as much again!”
Qin Mu left the Imperial Medical Hall and headed back to the Scholars’ Residence. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him: “Little bald donkey, where is your Xiqiluo Zen staff?”
Qin Mu stopped, turned around, and looked at the purple-robed old man behind him. He smiled slightly and bowed. “Student greets Grand Sacrificial Official Gu.”
This purple-robed old man was Gu Linuan. His purple robe no longer bore the nine insignias, clearly indicating he had shed his first-rank official attire for a third-rank one.
Gu Linuan smiled faintly, walked up to him, and said leisurely, “You tricked me out of my Junior Guardian Sword. Did you know back then that you would end up in my hands one day?”
Qin Mu shook his head. “Grand Sacrificial Official, why do you say that?”
Gu Linuan smiled arrogantly and extended his hand. “Hand it over!”
Qin Mu shook his head again. “I never return what I’ve tricked out of someone.”
Gu Linuan’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, but Qin Mu was unafraid. “I am now a sixth-rank official, an Imperial Academy Doctor appointed by the emperor. The Empress Dowager’s illness was also cured by me. If you touch me, the emperor will exterminate your entire family.”
Boom!
Gu Linuan’s demonic aura surged, forming a hundred-zhang demon god behind him, bristling with killing intent. That hundred-zhang demon god caused the surrounding air to congeal, distorting even space itself, making the demon god look like the ground scorched by the afternoon sun—warped and twisted—as it glared fiercely at him.
Qin Mu smiled slightly. “Grand Sacrificial Official, is there anything else?”
Gu Linuan said coldly, “If I want to kill you, I don’t need to do it myself.”
“You wouldn’t dare either.”
Before Qin Mu could speak, a voice came from behind Gu Linuan. “If you touch my junior brother, there’s no need for the emperor to exterminate your family. I will do it myself.”
Gu Linuan’s body stiffened, feeling as if an indestructible blade was pressed against his neck. He laughed dryly. “Sacrificial Official Ba Shan? You want to stand up for this little bald donkey?”
Ba Shan stood behind him with his robe open, two knives rattling in their sheaths at his back. His face was expressionless. “Old Gu, you’ve been gone for two hundred years. Your techniques and divine abilities are outdated. Do you want me to give you some pointers?”
Gu Linuan suddenly burst into loud laughter, his body dissolving into a wisp of demonic energy as he vanished. His voice echoed from afar: “Give me pointers? You’d need the Heavenly Blade for that!”
Qin Mu turned around and saw a blade aura streak through the air, chasing after the demonic energy.
“Sacrificial Official Ba Shan loves to fight. He’s probably eager for a match and wants to have a go with Gu Linuan. Too bad I can’t keep up.”
Qin Mu sighed and returned to the Scholars’ Residence. As soon as he entered, Hu Ling’er’s voice came: “Master, we have a guest.”
Qin Mu walked in and saw a middle-aged man waiting in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. He was slightly startled.
The Yan Kang Imperial Preceptor.
The Imperial Preceptor turned around, his gaze falling on Qin Mu. “The Sacred Lord of the Heavenly Saint Sect. I never expected you to be the Imperial Academy’s first doctor. Quite an interesting turn of events.”