Duàn Xù's eyes suddenly lit up. "Master, you're saying this illness can be cured?" It wasn't that he doubted Li Man'er's ability, but the Three Absolute Illness was indeed incurable. The best treatment was to prolong the patient's life and reduce the frequency of attacks, but a cure had never been heard of.
"Imperial Physician Duàn, don't call me that. Calling me Master like this, I can't accept it." Li Man'er was about to say you're not worthy of being my disciple when she felt someone pull her arm.
Li Man'er turned her head to see Yu Shi looking at her with red eyes. "Man'er, can you really cure Qingyan's illness?"
Li Man'er could completely understand her feelings. The Three Absolute Illness was like a terminal illness. Hearing that someone could cure it, one would naturally be extremely excited.
"Third Aunt, if you trust me, let me treat Qingyan," Li Man'er said. "However..."
"However what?" Yu Shi's heart tensed again.
Li Niàn also said, "Man'er, as long as you can cure Qingyan's illness, no matter how difficult the herbs to find or how rare the items, we will do our best to find them."
Li Niàn was also very excited, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.
Li Man'er quickly waved her hand. "That's not what I meant. I mean, this illness is not as simple as treating it with medicine. It requires the cooperation of acupuncture and cultivation techniques."
"Cultivation techniques?" Li Niàn frowned. He could understand acupuncture, but why would cultivation techniques be needed?
Li Man'er simply said, "The Three Absolutes of Heart, Lung, and Meridians cannot be treated by ordinary means. To put it simply, Qingyan is like someone whose meridians are naturally crippled. It's difficult to completely repair them with medicine alone. It requires the cooperation of cultivation techniques and acupuncture; one cannot be lacking."
"Then, then do you have these cultivation techniques, Man'er?"
Li Man'er nodded. "However, I have also taken disciples under my master. These cultivation techniques cannot be easily passed on."
Li Niàn, being a military general, naturally understood this. He quickly asked, "Then what do we need to do? Do we need to take Qingyan as a disciple?"
"Take him as a disciple?" Yu Shi's eyes widened. "That might disrupt the辈分 (generations/seniority)."
They were cousins.
"Take him as a disciple?" Duàn Xù felt his position as the chief disciple was about to be lost.
Li Man'er lowered her eyelids slightly. "I can accept disciples on behalf of my late master, allowing Qingyan to become his disciple. We will be fellow disciples, so the辈分 (generations/seniority) won't matter, and I won't be violating my master's teachings by passing on the art."
Li Niàn was overjoyed. "That would be best."
Li Qingyan foolishly asked, "Then, who should I call you from now on, cousin or senior disciple?"
"What you call me doesn't matter," Li Man'er said. "As long as you become a disciple of my sect, you can practice our sect's cultivation techniques, and your illness can be cured. Although it might take a little longer, as long as I am here, you will be a healthy person in the future."
Li Niàn and Yu Shi were overjoyed, considering this an unexpected blessing.
Duàn Xù, however, shamelessly leaned in. "Master, what is the name of such a powerful cultivation technique? Can you introduce it?"
"Physician Duàn, please don't call me Master. This is a secret of our sect and cannot be spoken of casually." Li Man'er then looked at Li Qingyan and said, "And you, you are not allowed to casually tell others about our sect's affairs in the future, understand?"
Li Qingyan nodded blankly.
Li Man'er then reached to her waist and took out a pill. "This is an excellent pill that will be beneficial for your condition. Take it first."
Li Qingyan took the pill, looked at it, sniffed it, and then threw it into his mouth, swallowing it as if it were a sugar pellet.
"Aren't you afraid I'll harm you? What if it's poison?"
"Hehe, cousin isn't a fool. Who would harm someone in front of everyone?" Li Qingyan smacked his lips and added, "I've taken countless medicines since I was young, but I've never taken one like this. It tastes sweet in my mouth, fragrant and soft. It seems to have dissolved in my stomach before I even chewed it."
"You have good taste," Li Man'er chuckled. "These medicinal ingredients are extremely precious. A hundred gold might not even buy one. You've gotten off cheaply, young man."
Her words were true. A pill made from Spiritual Mist Spring water could sell for a thousand gold.
"Tsk tsk." Duàn Xù stood by, naturally witnessing the extraordinary nature of the pill. He wondered how this young master of the third branch had caught Li Man'er's eye that she was so generous.
"Man'er, this pill is so valuable, how can it be..."
"It's nothing," Li Man'er said. "Don't worry, Aunt. I have too much money. Besides, since Qingyan is joining my sect, this medicine is rightfully his."
Li Niàn also said, "Qingyan, aren't you going to thank your cousin?"
Li Qingyan quickly thanked Li Man'er, his face beaming with joy.
"Third Uncle, is Qingyan practicing external martial arts?"
Li Niàn looked at Li Man'er with surprise. "You can even tell this."
"Qingyan's bones are sturdier than ordinary children's, and his hands and feet are large. He is indeed a good candidate for practicing external martial arts. However, since he will be practicing our sect's cultivation techniques in the future, this martial art might need to be changed."
"It was originally for strengthening his body, so it doesn't distinguish between internal and external."
Li Man'er nodded. "Qingyan, go to sleep for a while. This pill has a strong effect, and its medicinal power will gather in your internal organs. You might feel tired, but a nap will fix it."
Whether it was the hint in her words or not, Li Qingyan actually felt his arms and legs becoming sore. He nodded repeatedly. "Then I'll go take a nap. Father, Mother, Cousin, Imperial Physician Duàn, this young one will take his leave." He cupped his fists in a bow and then left.
Duàn Xù reluctantly watched him go. "Master, just give me a hint, please. What cultivation technique can cure the Three Absolute Physique? If you don't tell me, I won't be able to eat, sleep, or do anything happily in the future."
"Want to know?"
Li Man'er said, "Then first write a pulse diagnosis report for my cousin. You've met him and felt his pulse, so you should know how to write it! When I treat him another day, I will complete this report, and then you will understand."
Duàn Xù's eyes lit up. "Really? Can I observe?"
"Dream on."
"Alright!" Duàn Xù drooped his head, took out his brush and ink from his medicine box, and began to write the pulse diagnosis report.
Li Man'er naturally had a use for this report.
In a short while, Duàn Xù finished writing the report and respectfully handed it to Li Man'er for review.
Li Niàn and Yu Shi were very surprised. Duàn Xù treated Li Man'er with great respect, as if Li Man'er were truly his master.
Without strong capabilities, how could Imperial Physician Duàn bow to a young girl?
The couple were extremely pleased. Yu Shi was even trembling slightly. If it weren't for the fear of losing composure in public, she might have wanted to hug Li Niàn and cry.
Li Man'er, being such a considerate person, would not stay with the third branch forever.
She put away the report and said to Li Niàn, "Third Uncle and Third Aunt have just returned. You should rest well first. We can talk about anything else later."
The couple quickly sent someone to escort Li Man'er out.