Chapter 5

"Brother Yue didn't die?"

Upon hearing this news, Lu Changyuan and the others rushed out of the tavern and hurried to the shed, intending to see this fortunate and resilient Brother Yue again.

"Yue Heng didn't die?"

Bai Ming's first reaction was also surprise, but he quickly returned to normal. A flash of viciousness crossed his eyes, and he said calmly, "Whether he's dead or not, what does it have to do with me? I didn't do anything."

His original intention was just to teach Yue Heng a lesson, to beat him up a bit. As for whether he died or not, he truly didn't care.

Shun Hou'er, seeing that the young master wasn't blaming him, hurriedly flattered him, saying with a sly smile, "I heard he lost his right arm and can't write, but he still insists on participating in the Spring Examination. No one can stop him."

"Hmph! I guess the lesson wasn't severe enough?" Bai Ming said irritably, "This stubborn bone, who always opposes me, won't give up until he falls off the list! Forget it, I'll handle this myself. I'll definitely humiliate him in the Spring Examination!"

Shun Hou'er kept flattering him, saying, "If the young master takes action, he will surely win the top place in the Spring Examination!"

Bai Ming laughed, stroking his chin, "Although I know you're flattering me, it makes me happy! There are many talented scholars in Hong County, like the third young master of the Ji family, the young master of the Song family, and two apprentices personally taught by the head of the county academy. They all have the potential to become students. They just need a moment of enlightenment to activate their divine palaces and give birth to literary symbols, truly becoming students."

"You are just like those geniuses!" Shun Hou'er didn't forget to say this, making Young Master Bai laugh heartily and reward him generously.

In the shed, Yue Heng lay quietly on the bedding. In front of him sat a spirit physician, with Lu Changyuan and Zhu Zhangguan, among others, looking at him with concern.

In fact, his injuries were recovering faster than he had expected. The "Life" literary symbol, which could communicate with the celestial star Fuxi and draw on the elemental energy of heaven and earth, was indeed a powerful symbol.

In this late winter and early spring, when all things were beginning to grow, the strong life force nearby could resonate with the "Life" literary symbol, providing vitality to Yue Heng. However, this effect didn't last long.

After activating his divine palace last night, he fell asleep. Before seeing the spirit physician today, he tried to summon the "Life" literary symbol in his divine palace again. The pale blue light outside the divine palace was very faint, and it responded coldly to his will. He managed to use the "Life" literary symbol again, but the restorative power was far less intense than the first time.

Yue Heng guessed that the divine palace had a limit on talent. Using a literary symbol once would consume some talent. If he overused it, he might fall into a coma, and the divine palace would be damaged.

A spirit physician is a title for a second-level spirit master, who has systematic research on common injuries and diseases and is qualified to treat ordinary illnesses and independently cultivate spirit medicines.

Most spirit masters from large families and sects have cold expressions. For them, treating patients is just a means of worldly practice, like how scholars recite the Book of Songs. If they have seen various cases in the world, their chances of advancing from a second-level spirit physician to a third-level spirit adept would increase.

But today's spirit physician, Mr. Min, behaved very strangely. He held Yue Heng's hand, examining it repeatedly, and took out a delicate device from his medicine box to listen to Yue Heng's heart and check his breathing. His expression was peculiar.

"Mr. Min, this Yue Heng..." Zhu Zhangguan began, but Mr. Min waved his hand, scaring the绿豆eye (small eyes) to close them quickly.

"Everyone else, out!" Mr. Min ordered calmly. No one dared to contradict him, and they all left reluctantly.

Outside the door, a tavern boy muttered, "This guy is really unreasonable."

Zhu Zhangguan slapped the boy on the back of the head and whispered, "Idiot! Have you ever seen anyone dare to offend a spirit master? In the entire Hong County, there is only one third-level spirit adept, and no more than ten second-level spirit physicians. No one can guarantee they won't get sick or injured and need to seek help! If you dare to say such things again, I'll send you to the blood levy this year!"

The boy was terrified by the words "blood levy" and begged for mercy, hugging Zhu Zhangguan's leg and hurriedly admitting his mistake.

When only Mr. Min and Yue Heng were left in the shed, Mr. Min suddenly smiled mysteriously and asked, "Brother Yue, that vibrant vitality in your body should be the effect of the literary symbol unique to scholars, right?"

Yue Heng was surprised at first, but then he thought, Mr. Min is a second-level spirit master, equivalent to a second-level student in the scholar hierarchy. It's not surprising that this senior in the cultivation world can see the effect of the literary symbol in his body.

"Yes... Mr. Min, I..."

"Don't be so formal. Call me Min Xuhuai, or just Brother Min. Brother Yue, you are truly a genius among scholars. I heard you are a poor student who hasn't passed the Spring Examination or taken the student test, yet you can now give birth to a literary symbol, and it's a rare restorative symbol. I can only admire you! If my fellow disciples knew about this, they would be jealous to the point of madness!"

Min Xuhuai, excited by his words, forgot that Yue Heng was a patient. He accidentally touched Yue Heng's right arm and heard a muffled groan.

Yue Heng quickly analyzed these words in his mind. The "Life" literary symbol of scholars must be a very rare restorative symbol, even considered quite rare by spirit masters. If his fellow disciples knew, they would be jealous to the point of madness. This "Life" literary symbol must have some outstanding qualities and likely hides some great secrets!

"Ah, Brother Yue, I'm really sorry. How are you feeling now?" Min Xuhuai pulled out a silver needle and quickly inserted several into Yue Heng's right arm.

Yue Heng immediately felt much less pain in his right arm and showed a grateful expression, "Much better... Mr. Min..."

"Call me Brother Min!"

"Alright, Brother Min, I just want to ask, can I make it to the Spring Examination tomorrow with my condition?"

"Absolutely no problem. With the vibrant vitality in your body and my spirit medicines, your right arm, although unable to do heavy work for now, can still write. Ah, Brother Yue, what exactly happened yesterday? How dare someone attack a student so viciously? These bandits are truly reckless!"

The two chatted while treating Yue Heng. Min Xuhuai used all his knowledge and skills, using the best spirit medicines and treasures, and did not charge a penny, all to win Yue Heng's favor and try to establish a long-term friendship.

Yue Heng, however, spoke mostly lies, only revealing a small part of the truth, and kept the details of his divine palace and the "Life" literary symbol hidden. He fabricated the entire assault process, which made Min Xuhuai very angry.

"Brother Yue, I have two small requests. Can you bind my right arm with a splint and keep the secret of my literary symbol?" Yue Heng asked with narrowed eyes, observing Min Xuhuai's reaction.

Min Xuhuai replied without hesitation, "Of course, Brother Yue. Even if you didn't say, I would keep your literary symbol a secret. That Bai Ming is so dirty and despicable, disgracing the name of scholars. He is a rotten apple. Binding your arm is no problem, and I'm willing to write a medical report for you to submit to the county magistrate after the Spring Examination. Bai Ming will not escape the charge of harming a fellow student, and he will surely die!"

How ruthless!

Yue Heng was speechless, his opinion of Min Xuhuai deepening, and he became more cautious.

Min Xuhuai was truly ruthless, willing to hide his secret and quickly understand the purpose of the splint, then exaggerate Yue Heng's injuries to dig a fatal pit for Bai Ming. He truly had a cunning mind!

Such a person is frighteningly intelligent!

Min Xuhuai was also observing Yue Heng. They exchanged a glance, understanding each other without words, and both smiled.

After Min Xuhuai bound Yue Heng's arm with a splint and secretly handed him a contact note, he left the shed calmly without saying goodbye to Zhu Zhangguan and the others.

"Mr. Min is truly transcendent and free-spirited..." a student said enviously.

"Of course! Spirit masters are the most respected profession, with a high status. They wouldn't give us commoners any face," Lu Changyuan sighed. Unfortunately, the spirit master profession only accepts disciples from large families and sects, to maintain its mystery and rarity. Ordinary people have no chance.

"Exactly, I also want to be a spirit master. One visit, and you get as much silver as you want, and patients treat you with respect. I wonder if Brother Yue has been treated well," Huang Shihong said enviously.

"Shut up!" Zhu Zhangguan's mouth twitched at these words. To avoid trouble, he paid a large fee for the visit and additional costs to the officials. This time, he really lost a lot.

The group entered the shed again, looking at Yue Heng with a splint on his arm. Zhu Zhangguan, with his small eyes, was seething. This poor scholar not only brought him no benefits but also caused a lot of trouble and financial loss. How could he not feel unlucky?

"Brother Yue, the Spring Examination tomorrow, your arm..." Lu Changyuan was worried.

"No problem. The bandits might not have thought that even if my right hand is broken, I can still write with my left. Even without hands, I still have a mouth that can't be sealed. Scholars may not be as brave as warriors, but their hearts should be as resilient as pines!"

"Brother Yue's breadth of mind is truly admirable!"

The scholars all became solemn, bowing to Yue Heng in respect.

"Move aside!"

Zhu Zhangguan broke the solemn atmosphere, pushing the others aside and standing in front of Yue Heng. He said expressionlessly, "Young Master Yue, if you pass the Spring Examination this time, consider it nothing. The hundred taels of silver will be a gift for your success. But if you fail again, the hundred taels for Mr. Min's visit will be your debt. If you can't pay it back in a year, it will be ten years, and if you have no money, you'll work for me at the Drunken Immortal Tavern until it's paid off!"

Lu Changyuan was the first to protest, "Why? Brother Yue was injured because of you. Not only did you fail to provide security, but you also want him to work for you. You... you are worse than pigs and dogs!"

"Exactly! The officials promised something different last night!"

"Outrageous, outrageous! Despicable, despicable!"

The students all protested, criticizing the tavern's actions.

Zhu Zhangguan coldly snorted, and the accountant behind him shouted, "You poor scholars, what are you complaining about! Zhu Zhangguan is thinking of Young Master Yue. How dare you slander him? No wonder you haven't passed the student test for so many years! If Young Master Yue passes, his success is imminent. If he fails, he will be over eighteen this year and will not escape the blood levy. If he works for the Drunken Immortal Tavern, with Zhu Zhangguan's help, he might save his life. Isn't this saving him again?"