Sui An fell asleep very late, lost in thought, and then had a series of dreams.
In his dreams, Sui An would sometimes transform into an unparalleled master, roaming the Jianghu with his sword, enacting swift vengeance and leaving a trail of headless enemies.
Other times, he would become a brilliant divine physician, traveling the land to heal the sick, living a carefree life.
Finally, he turned into a giant bird wreathed in flames, controlling fire to refine medicines and dominating one region.
Drip, drip, drip.
Just as Sui An was lost in his beautiful dream, a rapid knocking sounded at the door.
At first, Sui An paid no attention, thinking it was an enemy in his dream, and was searching for them, preparing for a grand battle; but the knocking didn't stop, and only then did Sui An realize someone was at the door, and he scrambled out of bed.
"Who is it? In the middle of the night, can't a person get some sleep?"
Sui An rubbed his eyes, muttering as he went to open the door, only to see his grandfather had already gotten up and opened it first.
"Is that Doctor Sui? Hurry and come with us, it's urgent!"
As soon as the door opened, several burly men entered, weapons in hand, and seeing Sui Ping, they immediately spoke loudly.
"Who are you gentlemen? This old man is Sui Ping."
"Doctor Sui, we are villagers from Seven Li Village, my name is Niu Da. Please pack your things quickly and come with us. We can talk on the way, there's no time to explain everything now."
The men seemed very anxious. After speaking, they moved to pull Sui Ping's arm, but Sui An immediately stepped in front of his grandfather.
"Uncles, it's not too late to explain things clearly. Perhaps you could rest here for a bit and wait until dawn, then my grandfather and I can go with you, how about that?"
"Oh no, it really is urgent! If we wait until dawn, I'm afraid it will be too late. If the Immortal punishes us, neither you nor I can bear the consequences! Please pack your things and let's go now!"
Immortal!!!
Both Sui An and Sui Ping were greatly shocked. Sui An suddenly remembered the Immortal who flew across the sky yesterday evening. Several thoughts flashed through his mind, and then his eyes brightened with joy.
Although the risk was great, the potential reward was even greater. Sui An understood the principle of "nothing ventured, nothing gained."
"Gentlemen, you've come to the wrong place. This old man is just a Mortal, how can I treat an Immortal? Please seek a more capable person."
Just as Sui An was about to agree to go with them, Sui Ping spoke, his voice a little hoarse.
"Besides, this old man's medical skills are just ordinary. I dare not delay your important matter. If the Immortal gets angry, don't let it implicate you gentlemen."
"Oh, Doctor Sui, what are you saying? If we can't find a doctor, we're afraid we'll have no way to live! Doctor Sui, you are already the best doctor within dozens of miles of Qing Shi Town. Now is not the time for modesty, please come with us, I beg you."
Niu Da grew even more anxious hearing Sui Ping's words and actually knelt down. The other hunters, seeing Niu Da kneel, hesitated briefly then also knelt, saying, "Please, Doctor Sui, give us a way to live! If the Immortal gets angry, our village, with hundreds of lives, I'm afraid few will survive."
Seeing this, Sui Ping immediately, along with Sui An, tried to help them up, but the old and young pair couldn't lift them.
"What are you doing? Please get up. Saving lives and helping the injured is our duty as practitioners of medicine. What this old man said was not an excuse, but truly because my medical skills are not refined enough, and I fear I might bungle your important matter."
Sui An, seeing his grandfather's resolute tone, tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Grandfather, let's go take a look. Even a small favor from an Immortal would be a great Opportunity for us. I also want to see what an Immortal looks like. As the saying goes, great Opportunities are always accompanied by great risks. If we miss this chance, we won't get another. I'll regret it for a lifetime. Who knows, maybe I can even learn a Spell or two from the Immortal."
Sui Ping, hearing Sui An say this, and thinking of his grandson's unusual precocity, considered that he might indeed have an Immortal Opportunity. He sighed deeply and no longer insisted.
He said nothing more. The two changed their clothes and packed the medicine chest. Sui Ping also took a bag and filled it with many medicinal herbs. Sui An clearly saw that there were medicines for external injuries, internal injuries, and antidotes, all complete, and he also brought several ancient medical texts.
Niu Da and the others, seeing them ready, dared not delay and immediately set off with the two.
On the way, Sui An continuously inquired about the Immortal, but unfortunately, they didn't know much, only that...
Last night, a figure descended from the sky and landed on a small hill. Everyone in the village was greatly alarmed. The village chief bravely went to investigate and saw a person sitting on the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices.
The Immortal only asked the village chief for some clear water and didn't allow anyone else to approach. He also threw a fireball at a large tree, and that tree, which was large enough for one person to embrace, was instantly ignited and soon burned to ashes.
The village chief immediately sent clear water and brought a lot of food, and strictly warned all villagers not to approach, telling the hunters to go to Qing Shi Town to invite a doctor.
Sui An still wanted to ask them about the Immortal's injuries, appearance, and other questions, but none of them had seen the Immortal before being sent by the old village chief to find a doctor, so they naturally knew nothing. Thus, Sui An lost interest in talking.
The group, carrying torches, stumbled along the mountain path. Fortunately, the hunters and Sui Ping were accustomed to mountain roads, but Sui An suffered. In less than an hour, he fell several times. There was no other way, so Niu Da and the other hunters had to take turns carrying Sui An on their backs. Naturally, this didn't make them go much faster, and it wasn't until dawn that Sui An was put down to walk on his own.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that the exhausted group finally reached their destination.
Seven Li Village is located on the easternmost part of Xiao Lang Island, with the sea to the east and a small mountain range spanning north and south to the west. There is a small flat area, about six or seven li long, which gives the village its name, Seven Li Village. There are about a hundred households living in the village. There is only one small, not-so-large gap in the mountain range for entry and exit, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
As soon as they arrived at the village entrance, Sui An saw about ten hunters blocking the road with simple weapons. Niu Da and the others immediately went up and said a few words, then led Sui An and his grandfather into the village.
Soon after entering the village, they saw an old man with white hair and beard coming to meet them.
"Village Chief, these are Doctor Sui and his grandson from Qing Shi Town. We've brought them here," Niu Da said immediately upon seeing the old man.
The old man looked at Sui Ping and said, "This old man is Niu Hu, also the village chief of Seven Li Village. I know your journey was difficult, but I must trouble you to go and treat Immortal Master's injuries now. There's no time to delay. This old man will apologize to you two later. Niu Da, you and the others, please take young Sui brother home to rest first. I will take this doctor to the Immortal Master."
Sui An was greatly anxious to hear that Village Chief Niu wouldn't let him go. He tightly clutched his grandfather's clothes, not letting go. Sui Ping also understood his grandson's thoughts and insisted on bringing Sui An along. Niu Hu had no choice but to lead Sui An towards the small hill not far away.
On the way, he repeatedly warned Sui An not to look around or speak carelessly when they arrived, fearing he might anger the Immortal.
The two also knew the village chief's reminder was well-intentioned, so they followed in silence, only nodding continuously.
Before long, they arrived at the foot of the small hill. The hill was only a hundred zhang high. It was late autumn, and the vegetation on the mountain was not lush. Sui An could vaguely see a person sitting halfway up the slope.
The three of them stopped about a hundred paces from the Immortal, not daring to advance further.
"Immortal Master, this humble one has invited the best doctor from nearby. Would you like to see him?"
Niu Hu knelt respectfully and said. Sui An and his grandfather, seeing the village chief kneel, could only helplessly kneel down with him.
Sui An secretly glanced out of the corner of his eye. The Immortal was sitting cross-legged, dressed in a blue robe, with an ordinary appearance and a pale, defeated complexion. There were no obvious external injuries, and he looked to be about forty years old.
"Hmph! A mere Mortal physician is useless to me. You all, leave quickly, do not disturb my rest! Do you wish to die?"
The Immortal Master snorted coldly, his tone icy.
"Yes, this humble one was presumptuous and disturbed Immortal Master. I deserve to die. We will leave now, we will leave now."
The village chief trembled with fear, unable to speak coherently, and pulled the two to leave.
Sui An was greatly anxious. If they left now, he probably wouldn't get another Opportunity. He loudly said, "Immortal Master, my grandfather has practiced medicine for over fifty years, saving countless lives. He is especially skilled in treating internal organs and bones. Perhaps he can be of a little help to you. Please give him a chance."
Sui Ping and the village chief, hearing Sui An say this, were scared speechless and knelt down again, kowtowing, both thinking they were doomed.
The Immortal Master, hearing Sui An's words, looked at Sui An with sharp eyes and said, "Little brat, you have quite some guts. Aren't you afraid of death?"
"Yes, I'm very afraid. But this junior feels that Immortal Master is not someone who kills indiscriminately, and this junior also doesn't want to miss this Immortal Opportunity."
"Haha, little brat, you have courage. You two, come closer and try."
Sui An was overjoyed, immediately got up, and pulled his grandfather forward. Village Chief Niu Hu also wanted to follow, but was swept by an icy gaze and dared not advance further.
"This old man is Sui Ping, and this is my grandson Sui An. We pay our respects to Immortal Master. This old man's medical skills are only ordinary. This ignorant child has offended Your Excellency, please forgive him."
Sui Ping only felt his throat hoarse, his voice dry and exceptionally strained, clearly at the peak of his nervousness. After all, the person before him was an Immortal, who could easily eliminate them both.
"You don't need to be nervous. If you are truly helpful to me, you will not lack rewards."
Sui Ping naturally understood the unsaid words: if they were not helpful, the two would probably not be leaving the mountain.
Things were already like this; dwelling on other thoughts was useless. He could only steel his heart, do his best, and leave the rest to fate, just do his utmost.
Sui An helped his grandfather open the medicine chest. Sui Ping took out a pulse pillow, took a deep breath, and said, "Please extend your wrist, Immortal Master. This old man will certainly do his utmost."
The Immortal Master said nothing more, rolled up his sleeve, and placed his arm on the pulse pillow. His arm was thin and very fair.
Sui Ping placed his fingers on it, closed his eyes, and began to take the pulse. After a long while, he opened his eyes and withdrew his fingers, but said nothing, only frowning deeply.
"How is it?"
"This old man dares not speak."
"Hmph, what is there you dare not speak of? Just speak the truth."
"Then this old man will be presumptuous. Immortal Master's internal organs are displaced and severely injured. More seriously, his Meridians are mostly fractured, and his Dantian is completely shattered. Such injuries would be fatal for Mortals like us. Although Immortal Master's vitality is not yet extinguished, I'm afraid, I'm afraid..."
"The art of medicine is indeed not bad. This old man naturally knows his own injuries. Do you have a solution?"
"This old man is just a Mortal and has never encountered an Immortal. I don't understand an Immortal's body and dare not prescribe medicine casually."
"My surname is Huang, and I am not an Immortal, but merely a Cultivator. The bodies of us low-level Cultivators do not differ much from Mortals. You can prescribe medicine as you would for a Mortal. Do you have a solution?"
Sui Ping showed surprise when he heard the Immortal Master say this, while Sui An on the side was overjoyed. As expected, he was a Cultivator. He just wondered if he himself could cultivate?
Sui Ping showed surprise when he heard the Immortal Master say this, while Sui An on the side was overjoyed. As expected, he was a Cultivator. He just wondered if he himself could cultivate?