You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

By now, he had officially crossed the threshold of the Medical Dao. He knew the principles of Yin Yang Five Elements, the Four Diagnostic Methods, and the Eight Principles by heart.

Reaching the Minor Success Realm and earning the title of ”Medical Saint Hand” would depend on his own insight.

Of course, Chen Yi hadn’t summoned him to give him pointers on the Medical Dao.

”You must have heard that the Young Miss plans to build a Medical Dao Academy.”

Ma Liangcai’s heart stirred. ”Sir, are you... are you thinking of having me...”

Chen Yi smiled and nodded. ”You should understand the benefits once the Medical Dao Academy is built, not just for the Xiao Family, but also for Physicians like yourself.”

Excitement washed over Ma Liangcai’s face, and he stammered, ”I... I naturally understand. I’m just afraid my Medical Skill isn’t refined enough and I’ll lead the students astray...”

Chen Yi waved his hand dismissively. ”A lack of skill is only relative. Your grasp of medical theory is solid. The only thing you lack compared to other Physicians is experience.”

”Once you master and integrate all you’ve learned, advancing your Medical Dao will just be a matter of time.”

”Of course, the position of the academy’s dean is not for you, at least not for now.”

Hearing this, Ma Liangcai immediately dropped to his knees. ”You jest, Sir.”

”Just being able to enter the Medical Dao Academy is a tremendous Opportunity for me. How could I dare to covet the dean’s position?”

Chen Yi gestured for him to rise and speak. Once Ma Liangcai’s expression had calmed, he continued:

”I’m sending you to the Medical Dao Academy because you are the most suitable candidate, but also because I have some other tasks for you.”

”Please give me your orders, Sir.”

”Right now, the Medical Dao Academy is no longer under the Young Miss’s sole control. A young lady from the Qinghe Cui Family is also involved.”

”I need you to be my eyes and ears. If you notice anything unusual at the academy, remember to send word to me.”

Ma Liangcai understood. ”Rest assured, Sir. I will handle this matter for you without fail.”

Chen Yi nodded and then changed the subject to idle chatter.

Although he had been the one to orchestrate Xiao Wan’er’s agreement to let Cui Qingwu join the Medical Dao Academy, he knew ’it was wise to be on guard against others.’

There was no guarantee that after witnessing the academy’s influence, Cui Qingwu or the Cui Family wouldn’t get any crooked ideas.

It was just like with Xinglin Hall not far away—even members of the same Liu Family could fall into dispute.

How much more so for the Xiao Family and the Cui Family?

Furthermore, Chen Yi’s plan to place Ma Liangcai in the Medical Dao Academy also included having him handle certain matters on his behalf.

Such as compiling medical texts and the like.

It wasn’t convenient for him to show his face, so having Ma Liangcai act in his stead was a fitting arrangement.

He had to find a way to ensure Xiao Wan’er’s Medical Dao Academy succeeded, one way or another.

Seeing that it was the Hour of the Serpent, Chen Yi stood up, walked to the entrance of the Medicine Hall, and gazed toward the entrance of the East Market not far away.

Before long, he saw a tattered figure pushing a flatbed cart to the area just outside the entrance.

It appeared to be a young girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, and extremely gaunt.

Not only was there barely any flesh on her bones, but her face was also so thin it was almost unrecognizable.

After struggling to steady the cart, she took out a wooden sign from on top of it, held it to her chest, and knelt silently on the ground.

The sign was brief, with just three lines.

”Selling myself to bury my father. Seeking a kind person. Willing to be a slave for life.”

Passersby who saw the scene mostly gathered around, though some colder-hearted individuals simply walked away without a second glance.

Amidst the pointing and whispering, the gist of the situation became clear.

”That child is from Lotus Lane in the east of the city. A pitiful one, she is.”

”When her father was healthy, he could carry three hundred sacks a day at the Wharf. With that hard labor, he could just about support her and the family.”

”But during the heavy rains last month, a ship’s mooring rope snapped at the Wharf, and her father was severely injured.”

”That shouldn’t have been the end of it; he should have recovered with some rest. But as they say, when it rains, it pours.”

”With the soaring prices of grain and medicine these past few days, she couldn’t even afford to buy medicine, let alone food.”

”She emptied out everything they had, but in the end, she still couldn’t save her father...”

Chen Yi stood outside the crowd, silently listening to the murmurs, his eyes reflecting the image of the little girl named Yuan Liu’er.

Although the rise in Shu State’s grain prices was a plot by the Ji State Trading Company, and prices would have skyrocketed even without his interference, he had, in fact, played a dishonorable role in it all.

’What is this?’

’I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me?’

Watching Yuan Liu’er’s kneeling figure, Chen Yi gave a bitter, silent laugh.

The unexpected consequence caught him off guard, leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

He watched quietly for a moment.

Chen Yi let out a breath. After a moment’s thought, he summoned Liu Quan and Ma Liangcai.

”Shopkeeper?”

Chen Yi pointed at Yuan Liu’er and instructed, ”Go to the accounts, withdraw some silver, and find someone to give him a proper burial.”

Liu Quan froze. ”This...”

”Shopkeeper, you... you want to buy that little girl?”

Chen Yi shook his head. ”Not me. And no, not buying.”

He didn’t explain further, instead turning to Ma Liangcai, his tone leaving no room for argument:

”That girl has a decent talent for the Medical Dao. Take her on as an apprentice and teach her well.”

Ma Liangcai didn’t hesitate. He bowed in acknowledgement and then walked over.

Seeing this, Liu Quan didn’t linger either. He hurried back into the Medicine Hall to get some silver and followed.

The rest of the matter proceeded as a matter of course.

Amidst Yuan Liu’er’s profound gratitude, Liu Quan dispersed the crowd and used the money to hire people from a funeral service to bury her father.

She had intended to sell herself into servitude, but Ma Liangcai refused, taking her in as an apprentice instead and allowing her to stay at Jishi Medicine Hall.

”Thank you, benefactor, thank you...”

Although Ma Liangcai was puzzled about her supposed talent for the Medical Dao, he didn’t dare, nor would he ever, question an order from Chen Yi.

”The one who saved you wasn’t me, but...”

Ma Liangcai paused and glanced back at Chen Yi. Seeing him shake his head slightly, he understood and said:

”But yourself.”

Tears streamed down Yuan Liu’er’s grimy face as she asked, ”Myself?”

”You have a good talent for the Medical Dao. From now on, you’ll follow me as an apprentice.”

”If you work hard enough, you’ll be able to learn a skill to survive here at Jishi Medicine Hall.”

A look of confusion flickered across Yuan Liu’er’s face. ”The... the Medicine Hall? An apprentice?”

She clearly had no idea what talent she possessed for the Medical Dao, but she knew for certain that she had met a kind person.

Kneeling on the ground, she was overcome with tears.

The onlookers who hadn’t yet dispersed saw this unfold. Some marveled at the girl’s good fortune, others admired Ma Liangcai for his eye for talent, and still others remarked that this was just what you’d expect from someone of the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.

But few mentioned Chen Yi.

Even though he was standing right there in front of the Medicine Hall, he remained like an outsider, watching calmly.

His thoughts were inscrutable.

’The world knows that Heaven and Earth are not benevolent and treat all things as straw dogs, but few speak of how the Saint is not benevolent and treats the people as straw dogs.’

’Alas, I am no Saint, yet I too will harm the innocent to achieve a goal.’

Chen Yi knew this, but he couldn’t change it.

All he could do was his best to make amends and bring these matters to an end as quickly as possible.

Thus, as he stood there quietly observing the scene before him, the chessboard in his mind began to move again.

The entire situation within Shu State City formed a massive chessboard.

All the white and black pieces leaped across it, transforming into different board positions—

’Elder Master Xiao’s health has improved; he should take on more responsibility.’

’Liu Hong has already fallen into the trap. Whether he sends Asutai away or not, his defeat is only a matter of time.’

’Liu Zhaoxue of the Jing State Liu Family and the Five Poison Sect are being watched by people from the Mountain Race. As long as we are careful, they can’t stir up any trouble.’

’The White Tiger Guard’s schemes are gradually becoming clearer. I can faintly see their purpose in stirring up trouble in Shu State...’

’And the people from the Ji State Trading Company are laughing now. It’s time to make them cry!’

Chen Yi was like a giant, looking down upon the entire chessboard, laying out each and every matter with black and white pieces.

Deducing outcomes, making adjustments, and... deciding the life and death of certain people!

It seemed like a single instant, and yet also like countless years had passed.

—The board froze.

[Chess Skill has advanced. Thousand Hands Chess Manual has broken through to the Perfect Level. You have glimpsed the meaning of Chess Dao Perfection.]

[Chess Dao: Great Success, Progress +1000, Perfection Realm reached.]

A thunderous roar exploded in Chen Yi’s mind.

Countless Profound Mysteries of the Chess Dao emerged, and innumerable chess manuals converged within him.

As a result, the chessboard in his mind that covered Shu State Prefecture City expanded even further.

Not only was it clearer than before, involving more intricate details, but it also expanded to encompass the entirety of Shu State and even some regions of other state capitals.

And Chen Yi was the sole Chess Master on this board.

—Like a true Saint, looking down upon the world!