Mythical Three Kingdoms

Fame and fortune are inescapable through the ages. If Chen Xi remembers correctly, he once read in a book that Hua Tuo also came from a family of scholars, specifically a family specializing in the classics. What’s miraculous is that his medical skills were almost entirely self-taught.

The historical records recount that during his youth, Hua Tuo was extensively well-read, excelling in both the classics and health preservation. When he was traveling in Xuzhou, Chen Gui had once recommended him for an official position, and later, Huang Wan, who was the Grand Commandant, also summoned Hua Tuo, yet all offers were declined. From this, it seems that the temptation of profit likely had little effect on him.

As for fame, the gentleman in front of him was indeed a person whose name would be passed down through the centuries. Therefore, all Chen Xi could do was to try his best, and whether it would be successful was just a matter of luck.

”Inspector Chen needn’t go to such lengths,” Hua Tuo said with a smile, ”I never said I would leave. Since the Inspector prioritizes the people, how could I not lend a helping hand?”

Chen Xi sighed. The rest hinged on the hope that Hua Tuo’s teaching of the medical apprentices from Mount Tai would foster a deep bond. Otherwise, once Hua Tuo felt his job here was done, he would depart to wander the world, healing the sick and saving lives, and doing what he should.

”I’m truly grateful for your help, old master,” Chen Xi said, bowing. Accepting the bow, Hua Tuo allowed Chen Xi to feel completely reassured.

”Did the Inspector come here for something specific?” Hua Tuo asked as he glanced at Chen Xi and his entourage, ”I presume you wouldn’t be seeking out this old man unless there was a matter at hand.”

Chen Xi smiled wryly, reflecting on the backdrop of the era. He remembered a saying from Hann Yu centuries later, ”Witchdoctors, musicians, and craftsmen are people a gentleman deems beneath him.” Of course, the musicians referred to here are not like Cai Yan, but rather performers, who were considered by the gentlemen to be in lowly professions, no matter how exceptional their work might be.

Gentlemen looked down upon them, and so, although Chen Xi knew Hua Tuo was significant, he didn’t go to welcome him after Hua Tuo arrived at Mount Tai. Frankly, even asking Liu Yan to inform Hua Tuo about these matters seemed somewhat improper. However, fortunately, Liu Yan of that time was a Grand Scholar who could afford to be uninhibited and to disregard societal norms, doing as he pleased and rubbing elbows with anyone he took a liking to.

Liu Yan could act that way, but Chen Xi could not. As a representative of half the face of Mount Tai, if Chen Xi personally welcomed Hua Tuo, it would set a precedent that he would have to welcome many others afterwards. The pride of the scholars of that era would not allow them to be humiliated. They would turn away and leave, for it was due to the proper order of things that a lowly person was to be met with grand reception, while they were not.

In such an environment, a single person or even a single generation could not change entrenched attitudes. If Chen Xi did not wish to stand against the entire class of scholars, it was best he refrained from doing something so utterly foolish. He was a person, not a ”Long Aotian” who arrogantly declared ”I will defy the heavens.” He was not that foolish.

It was precisely because of these societal norms that he could only meet with Hua Tuo when necessary; at all other times, he was relatively free. Even the bow he had given earlier could be justified as a gesture for the sake of the people of Mount Tai.

”I seek your help to have a look at our officials from Mount Tai, to see if any of them are unwell,” Chen Xi said with a smile, gesturing towards his companions.

Hua Tuo glanced at them, then his gaze settled on Chen Xi before he pointed towards Guo Jia, Lub Su, and Fa Zheng, speaking calmly, ”Each of you is in a state of physical weakness, including you. He, he, and he, if you do not take care of your health, your lives won’t be long.”

Chen Xi coughed, ”I will take care of myself when I return. First, give prescriptions to Fengxiao and the other two, and later provide one for all of us in a state of frailty, depending on your expertise.”

”How could you be so reckless? Although those three were poisoned by drugs, each case was different, and all of you have varying degrees of physical weakness. The youngest one is suffering from excessive fatigue, you from overexerting in battles, and he has a deficiency in lung yin, and he is...” Hua Tuo went over each case individually, and each person had some sort of illness or another. If this happened in the twenty-first century, Chen Xi would have just turned around and left, but faced with Hua Tuo, they could only accept it, because ”observation” itself was one of Hua Tuo’s strengths.

Chen Xi’s acceptance didn’t mean everyone else was convinced, and sure enough, the recently irritable Fa Zheng was the first to jump out and ask, ”May I inquire how the elderly gentleman knows we all suffer from such ailments? Before you mentioned it, none of us felt any symptoms whatsoever.”

Although Guo Jia didn’t speak, it was obvious he harbored some doubts. After all, anyone in a similar situation would likely be suspicious; what if the physician was a quack, pretending to be a miracle healer to deceive us, and even if there really was an illness, are you certain it’s not just being exaggerated to scare us?

Hua Tuo glanced at Fa Zheng, ”You’ve been taking the Precious Pill refined from Mercury, right? You often feel emotionally unstable now, with a slight decline in memory, sometimes suffering from insomnia at night, and you’ve lost your appetite. Your vision has started to decline as well.”

With each of Hua Tuo’s words, Fa Zheng’s expression darkened visibly. He had not noticed these problems before, but once pointed out, he reflected on the time before he arrived at Mount Tai and realized such symptoms were indeed not present, especially the emotional instability. Despite his young age, he was intellectually not inferior to others; his temperament should not be so poor.

Guo Jia, who knew Fa Zheng all too well, immediately understood from his expression that what Hua Tuo said was true, and he couldn’t help but have a shock of concern—could it be that he also really was ill?

”However, you are still young, and if you stop taking the pills, I can prescribe something that you should recover after taking it. Likewise, for you, just get more rest, a full five hours of sleep every day is good, and there’s no need for medicine,” Hua Tuo said without waiting for Fa Zheng’s surprised reaction, while signaling towards Zhuge Liang.

”Next are you two.” Hua Tuo looked at Lub Su and Guo Jia, his brow furrowing—both seemed to have been poisoned quite deeply, and their ages were on the higher side, making treatment difficult.

”For Lub Zijing and Guo Fengxiao here,” Chen Xi gestured towards the two men and said, ”Physician Hua, please speak your mind directly.”

”Let’s start with Lub Zijing. Actually, both gentlemen have been deeply poisoned, but Lub Zijing has not indulged excessively in wine and lust; his body hasn’t deteriorated, and he has a strong physical foundation. At most, he occasionally feels discomfort in his lower back. If he stops taking the pill immediately, follows a month of medication, then the rest will have to be remedied through diet,” Hua Tuo said with a shake of his head, admitting that his specialty was surgery, and he was not very good with this type of ailment.

”As for Guo Fengxiao,” Hua Tuo sighed, ”Essence and Qi are both deficient, you have few children, your skin is pale, you experience breathing difficulties, inverse coughing, a heavy feeling in your limbs, and you’ve taken too much Five-Stone Powder. Stop that first; in small amounts, it’s medicine, but in excess, it damages Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and all your internal organs. Abstain from alcohol and lust, focus on cultivating Inner Breath, nourish yourself with a proper diet over time, and even if there are some residual toxins, it should not cause major harm.”

The fan Guo Jia was waving stopped suddenly.

Hua Tuo indeed had no good solution for the Five-Stone Powder; he could handle pills made from mercury and Gold, but the Five-Stone Powder was inherently a medicinal drug—when overused, it caused problems that even he could not easily resolve, especially since Guo Jia’s constitution was already poor. Taking strong medicine might not cure the illness and might instead carry the patient off first.

Everyone present was no fool; they were adept at interpreting expressions and gauging situations. They could tell that Hua Tuo’s diagnosis was spot on, and it immediately caused them to worry over their physical health. They might avoid talking about their ailments, but every person fears death! (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)