Chapter 88

Upon hearing the words of his servant, Xu Guanzhong's heart burned with anxiety. He exclaimed, "When I left, my mother was still fine. How could she suddenly become so critically ill?!" He then asked urgently, "Have you gone to invite Doctor Ma from the street?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "I have gone, but Doctor Ma is not at home. He has been invited to the residence of the留守相公 for several days!"

Xu Guanzhong's heart raced with worry. He asked again, "Have you been to Doctor Liu on Old City Street?"

"I have! It's the same! Young Master, I heard from other people seeking medical help that all the famous doctors in the city have been invited to the residences of the officials. The remaining ones, who are not skilled, are of no use in a critical situation!" The servant replied with a mournful face.

These words struck the filial son like a bolt of lightning. He slapped the table, creating another hole in the already damaged wooden table. Xu Guanzhong angrily cursed, "Are the lives of these parasites more valuable than the lives of the common people, who are treated like grass and insects?! If doctors are invited, why are they confined and not allowed to leave the residence? If something happens to the people in the city, who will they turn to?!"

Seeing the situation, Yan Qing hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him, "Brother Xu, don't be angry! We must act quickly. I will rush back to the residence and ask the steward to go to Liang Zhongshu's residence to request Doctor Ma to come out for a moment!"

Xu Guanzhong, seeing this, quickly bowed to Yan Qing and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother!"

Yan Qing, seeing the urgency, did not delay. He bowed to everyone present and ran out. Xu Guanzhong could not sit still and wanted to return home. Wang Lun saw this and said, "Brother Xu, if you don't mind, I will go with you. Although I may not be able to help much, I can at least lend a hand!"

Xu Guanzhong, without time for formalities, bowed to Wang Lun and said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Brother! Let's go together!"

Everyone, seeing this, did not hesitate and hurried out. Wang Lun turned to Jiao Ting and said, "Hao Brother and I will go. You wait here for the other brother!" Jiao Ting stopped and watched as Wang Lun and the others left, then turned back.

Wang Lun and Hao Siwen followed Xu Guanzhong in a quick run. Soon, they arrived at a courtyard. The gate was wide open, and an old lady lay on the ground, her body covered in vomit. She was unconscious, and a servant was frantically trying to help, unable to move her. Suddenly, he saw the commotion at the door and shouted, "Young Master, you're back! Where is the doctor?"

Seeing his mother in such a state, Xu Guanzhong's eyes filled with tears, which streamed down his face. He could not speak and rushed to her side.

He knelt beside his mother, helpless. Despite his talents in both literature and martial arts, he knew nothing about medicine. At this critical moment, he could only watch helplessly, his heart filled with sorrow.

Wang Lun, seeing the condition of Xu Guanzhong's mother, felt a sense of strangeness. He quickly pulled the servant aside to ask about her condition. The servant, seeing that he was with the master, did not hide anything and gave a rough account. Wang Lun thought, "Could it be a sudden heart attack?" In his previous life, he had a relative with this condition, who always carried medicine wherever he went. If treated promptly, the patient could be saved from the brink of death. But where could he find such emergency medicine now?

Wang Lun, without hesitation, rushed forward and said to Xu Guanzhong, "I have a relative with a similar condition. Since the doctor won't be here soon, if you trust me, let me try!" Although he said this, Wang Lun himself was not confident. He had only heard about an emergency method from a family member in the past, and he was not sure if it would work. But given the urgency, he had no choice.

Xu Guanzhong, hearing this, was overjoyed and asked, "Brother, do you know medicine?"

Wang Lun shook his head and said, "No, but I have heard about this emergency method from a family member!"

Xu Guanzhong, seeing this, shouted to the servant outside, "Can you see anyone yet? Hold on a bit longer!"

Xu Guanzhong's heart was in turmoil. Seeing his mother's serious condition, he could not afford to wait. If he did not act quickly, her life might be in danger. He looked at Wang Lun and said, "Please help, Brother!"

Wang Lun nodded, squatted in front of Xu's mother, and felt her breath, which was very weak. He thought, "There's no time to waste." He did not use any needles but found a pressure point and gently tapped it. After a few taps, black lumps appeared on her skin. Seeing his mother's head move slightly, Xu Guanzhong's sorrow turned to joy. Wang Lun, seeing that the method was working, increased his speed. Suddenly, the old lady made a sound, and more vomit came out. This time, her eyes did not close, and she stared at Wang Lun, unable to speak.

Xu Guanzhong, overjoyed, tried to lift his mother, but Wang Lun quickly stopped him, "Don't move her. Let's see what the doctor says!"

Xu Guanzhong, seeing this, could not resist. The filial son knelt before Wang Lun and said, "May I ask your name? For saving my mother, I am willing to repay you with my life!"

Wang Lun quickly helped Xu Guanzhong up and said softly, "You don't need to know my name. It would be better not to know!"

Xu Guanzhong was surprised and said, "Are you another envoy of Tian Hu?!" He then shook his head and muttered, "Tian Hu's character is not capable of attracting someone of your talent! Could you be a scholar in plain clothes...?" He thought of the two large men by Wang Lun's side, who were clearly not ordinary, and the scholar's appearance, and suddenly realized.

At this moment, the servant at the door shouted, "The doctor is here, the doctor is here!"

Wang Lun patted Xu Guanzhong's shoulder and said, "To be honest, I had intended to invite you to join me, but seeing your filial piety and your mother's condition, I will not insist. Please have the doctor treat your mother!"

Xu Guanzhong's eyes showed great surprise. He wanted to say something but held back, thinking, "This person has done me such a great favor and is so upright. Although he does not hide his intentions, he does not force me to do anything. I feel ashamed." He sighed, thinking that the rumors of the scholar's righteousness and the people's support were indeed true.

He looked at Wang Lun, sighed, and felt that this person was very different from the envoys sent by the tyrant Tian Hu. Hearing Wang Lun's words, he suddenly felt a sense of mutual respect, warming his heart.

At this moment, Yan Qing brought a doctor running in. Seeing Xu Guanzhong's complex expression, he was worried and asked, "Brother Xu, how is your mother?"

Yan Qing's question woke Xu Guanzhong from his thoughts. He saw that Yan Qing had brought Doctor Ma, whom he knew well, and said, "She is still fine, but it will be a burden on Doctor Ma again!" With his mother awake, his mood gradually calmed. Seeing the doctor rush in, he felt uneasy and hurried to welcome him.

Doctor Ma shook his head and said, "No problem, let me take a look first!" Everyone gathered around as Doctor Ma examined Xu's mother. Seeing her stable condition, he did not rush to use needles but first took her pulse. After a long time, he looked up and said, "This is an old ailment. My skills are limited, and I cannot cure it, but I can manage it!"

Xu Guanzhong quickly thanked him, "In this city, who has better medical skills than Doctor Ma? Please don't be modest!"

Doctor Ma just shook his head. Seeing Xu's mother in good condition, he had the servants carry her inside and prepared to use needles. The two servants busily cleaned the vomit from her clothes.

After a while, only Doctor Ma was left in the room to treat her. Xu Guanzhong and Yan Qing came out. Yan Qing bowed to Wang Lun and said, "Thank you for saving my brother's mother. Please accept my gratitude!"

Wang Lun quickly helped Yan Qing up and said, "Brother Yan, my name is not important. Since your mother is fine, I will take my leave!" Wang Lun thought, "There's no way to persuade this filial son to leave his mother and join me." He sighed and bowed to both of them, signaling to Hao Siwen, who nodded, and they left together. Xu Guanzhong and Yan Qing wanted to see them off but were persuaded to stay.

Just outside the door, Wang Lun had a sudden thought. He remembered that Xu Guanzhong first appeared in Shuanglin Town, where his mother was still alive at seventy. Could this illness have a chance of being cured? Otherwise, with Xu Guanzhong's filial piety, he would not have taken his mother to live in the wilderness, where medical care was not as convenient as in the city.

Thinking this, he quickly turned back. Xu Guanzhong and Yan Qing were still in the courtyard, sighing. Seeing the scholar return, they quickly greeted him. Wang Lun said, "Do you know of a divine doctor named An Daoquan in Jiankang?"

Both shook their heads. At this moment, Doctor Ma, who had just finished treating, heard Wang Lun and said, "I know him. His skills are far superior to mine. If he were here, your mother's condition might be cured!"

Yan Qing was overjoyed, and Xu Guanzhong was excited, wishing he could fly to Jiankang. Wang Lun said, "I have a plan! I intended to invite him to my residence. Please, Doctor Ma, write down your mother's symptoms. If I meet him, I will ask him to diagnose her. If he is confident, I will ask him to come to this city to treat her. What do you think?"

Xu Guanzhong and Yan Qing looked at each other, feeling like they had found a lifeline. They did not rush to respond but asked Doctor Ma, who said, "This scholar is a righteous person. As a doctor, I will not hide information. I will write it down!"

Xu Guanzhong was overjoyed and quickly prepared the ink and brush. Doctor Ma wrote several hundred words, pausing to think and then writing quickly. Wang Lun, standing beside him, was impressed by the doctor's dedication.

When Doctor Ma finished, Xu Guanzhong had the payment ready. Doctor Ma did not pretend and took the payment, instructing Wang Lun, "Scholar, go quickly to invite Doctor An. I can ensure your mother will be fine for a year or two, but her condition cannot be delayed!"

Wang Lun nodded and thanked him. Doctor Ma said, "Xu Guanzhong, if Doctor An comes, please call me. It would be a great honor to