Chapter 2

Knowledge is power, a truth that remains unchanged in any era or world. Jiang Junming firmly believed this.

Growing up in such a simple way, Jiang Junming was sent out of the orphanage at the age of ten. Because he always faced everyone with a cheerful smile and was diligent and capable, the orphanage manager had a good impression of him. Therefore, unlike other children who were sent to work in the mines, he was sent to a pharmacy called Wild Herb Shop in Moonlight City to be an apprentice.

Like other herbal shops, the Wild Herb Shop not only sold herbs but also provided simple medical treatments. Jiang Junming quite liked this. Wearing a clean white robe, he felt like a doctor in a hospital.

In the herbal shop, Jiang Junming's diligence and his smiling face quickly won everyone's approval. No one could dislike such a hardworking and kind young man. He was always busy inside and outside the shop. Thanks to the existence of the six-sided rectangular space, Jiang Junming always had abundant energy, making him more capable than one or two adults. Moreover, he quickly recognized all the herbs and could help with dispensing and compounding when there were not enough hands.

The name "Junming" became the most frequently called name in the Dusk Pharmacy. It was as if he had become part of the family, and soon Jiang Junming became familiar with everyone.

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Two years later, Jiang Junming was about to turn twelve. From a thin and small child, he had grown into a young man. Relying on the six-sided rectangular space, he grew up healthy and disease-free. His face, still somewhat youthful, always wore a warm smile, making people like him from the bottom of their hearts.

Another busy day passed. Jiang Junming hung the "closed" sign outside the Dusk Pharmacy, closed the door, and cleaned the shop. This was something he did every day, followed by sleeping on a mat and serving as a night watchman.

Originally, the owner of the Dusk Pharmacy did not plan to have Jiang Junming stay overnight, but because of the six-sided rectangular space, Jiang Junming always had abundant energy and did not need to sleep. Lying in bed with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling, would have been even more uncomfortable. By staying overnight in the pharmacy, Jiang Junming could light a small kerosene lamp and study, without disturbing others' rest.

"Junming, tomorrow is your birthday. Everyone is preparing to celebrate it together," the owner of the Wild Herb Shop said from the doorway of the inner room. Jiang Junming straightened up, his face wearing a gentle smile, and turned to say, "Thank you."

Birthday? Wasn't he sent to the Wild Herb Shop on this day? It was rare for the owner to remember this date. Jiang Junming felt a bit moved but still controlled his emotions, his smile becoming more sincere.

"We're a family, no need to be so formal. You've worked hard these past two years. You've done a lot, and I should be the one saying thank you."

The owner of the Wild Herb Shop was named Vincent. He wore a long robe that had been washed until it was somewhat white, his hands behind his back, speaking gently. For Jiang Junming, Vincent always had an indescribable feeling. This child was different from other children from the orphanage, sunny and simple, willing to do any work, and able to complete it well. He was always energetic and never fell ill due to malnutrition in his childhood.

Whenever Vincent saw Jiang Junming, he felt as if he were more like an adult than a child. Could it be because Jiang Junming, coming from an orphanage, had to shoulder the burden of life at an early age?

Looking at Jiang Junming's expression, Vincent continued, "Work hard and consider this your home." After saying this, Vincent turned and left. Watching Vincent's departing figure, Jiang Junming's mind kept replaying the word "home," which seemed to carry a mysterious charm, warming his heart.

Deep into the night, after cleaning the house, Jiang Junming sat at the table, flipping through a book on pharmacology under the kerosene lamp. Thinking about Vincent's words, he found it hard to concentrate on his reading as usual.

At that moment, a series of urgent knocks came from outside. So late, who could be sick in such a hurry? Jiang Junming stood up, quickening his steps to the door and opened it.

As soon as he opened the door, a strong smell of blood hit him, mixed with the stench of internal organs. This smell and feeling were very familiar to Jiang Junming... At this moment, he felt as if he had returned to the morgue, assisting the anatomy teacher in a forensic autopsy.

"Junming, I heard a dog barking, went out to check, and saw this priest from the Care Church..." a neighbor uncle said, not waiting for Jiang Junming's consent, and helped a blood-stained person into the pharmacy.

After placing the person down, the neighbor uncle rubbed his hands, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I couldn't just let him die..."

Jiang Junming looked at the person, dressed in a white robe, similar to the priests who visited the orphanage during festivals when he was a child. The hem of the white robe was embroidered with a pattern of three crescent moons. Jiang Junming knew this was a religion dedicated to a god of care and assistance, called the Care Church.

The Care Church mostly provided aid in the slums, with few followers, only those who had received help from the Care Church in the slums believing in it.

What a big trouble, Jiang Junming thought. Regardless of whether the person would live or die, taking him in and treating him meant trouble. As Jiang Junming was lost in thought, the neighbor uncle had already left, knowing it was a big trouble and wanting to avoid any trouble. Seeing the neighbor uncle rush away, Jiang Junming closed the door behind him, feeling a bit uneasy. With such severe external injuries, herbs would be useless. The only thing he could do was surgical treatment. If anyone found out, it would be considered necromancy, and he would be pursued by the temples and churches of light and justice.

But when Jiang Junming saw the blood-soaked priest from the Care Church, he steeled his resolve, putting aside all his worries. The urge to save the patient overcame his concerns. He decided to try to save the priest from the Care Church first.

During his internship, Jiang Junming had assisted doctors at the medical university's affiliated hospital and knew that time was of the essence.

Laying the severely injured priest flat on the ground, a wound was exposed before Jiang Junming. The wound was on the right chest, about 10 centimeters long, with blood mixed with dirt, and blood foam oozing out with the person's breathing.

The priest's injuries were so severe! The words "hemothorax" and "hypovolemic shock" flashed through Jiang Junming's mind. He quickly searched the pharmacy, grabbing a reagent bottle, a pack of needles and thread, and a tube. He filled the reagent bottle halfway with water and returned to the side of the injured priest.

Cleaning the table, Jiang Junming lifted the injured priest onto it. Seeing the blood, Jiang Junming was not afraid at all. He had seen many dead bodies before, and this person still had a breath of life left, so why would he be afraid?

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