Chapter 41
"A-Qing, do you know what qualities one should possess to become a good healer?"
Hearing his master's question, Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, "Excellent medical skills?"
"That's just one part of it," Doctor Chen replied. "In addition, an outstanding healer should have a calm mind and a healthy body."
"A calm mind and a healthy body?" Lu Qing murmured.
"Indeed," the old doctor nodded. "As a healer, having a calm mind is very important."
"Because as a healer, you will inevitably encounter various patients with different conditions."
"Some patients will be in unbearable pain, crying out in agony. Some will be on the brink of death, barely clinging to life. Some conditions will be terrifying and ghastly, and there will even be those with violent tempers who might resort to insults and violence at the slightest provocation."
"When you encounter such patients, if you do not have a calm and composed mind, it will be difficult to accurately diagnose their conditions and treat them."
"So, you must remember that when your medical skills are accomplished, no matter what kind of patient you encounter, you must maintain a calm mind. Only then can you better help them."
"I will remember, Master," Lu Qing replied respectfully."As for a healthy body..."
The old doctor pondered for a moment before continuing.
"As I mentioned earlier, as a healer, you will always encounter some troublesome patients."
"Some patients not only have bad tempers themselves, but their family members can also be difficult to deal with. Sometimes, even a slight dissatisfaction can lead to them venting their anger on the healer."
"In such cases, as a healer, you should prioritize your own safety before thinking about treating the patient."
"Therefore, a healthy body is necessary. Without it, it would be hard to handle those unreasonable patients and their families."
As the old doctor said this, an indescribable expression appeared on his face, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.
It seems Master had encountered many troublesome patients in the past, Lu Qing thought.
Shaking off those memories, the old doctor continued.
"Besides dealing with difficult patients, a healer often needs to venture into the mountains to gather herbs and travel to different places, which also requires a good physique."
"Therefore, to become an outstanding healer, while medical skills are important, a calm mind and a strong body are equally crucial."
"Master, how can one train to have a strong body?" Lu Qing asked humbly.
"That's a good question," Doctor Chen smiled.
"Do you remember the set of martial arts I practiced when you first came here?"
"I remember."
Lu Qing thought to himself, not only do I remember, but I also nearly imitated it.
This was the first time Master had mentioned anything about cultivation, and Lu Qing couldn't help but feel excited.
"This martial art is something I stumbled upon in my younger years. It is thanks to it that I still have a relatively strong body at this age."
"Since you are now my disciple, it's time to teach you this martial art."
"Master wants to teach me martial arts?" Lu Qing's face lit up with surprise. "I didn't know Master knew martial arts!"
"I only know a little. Your body is somewhat weak. Whether you want to gather herbs in the mountains or travel the world, you need to train more. As healers, we not only need to know how to treat others but also how to take care of ourselves and strengthen our bodies."
"If you are always sickly yourself, how can you be in the right state to diagnose and treat others?"
Doctor Chen knew that someone as intelligent as Lu Qing would never give up on finding out the truth about his parents' deaths.
He had no reason to stop his disciple.
After all, wanting to know the truth about one's parents' deaths is a natural desire.
Since that was the case, the best he could do was to give his disciple some means of self-protection.
Back at the courtyard, the master and disciple stood in the center. Xiao Yan sat at a stone table nearby, happily eating snacks while watching them.
"A-Qing, before officially teaching you martial arts, I need to explain some common knowledge about martial cultivation," Doctor Chen said solemnly.
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing suppressed his excitement.
Finally, he could learn something about cultivation!
"In martial cultivation, as discussed among practitioners, there are several realms," Doctor Chen began.
"The major realms are divided into Postnatal and Innate."
"In the minor realms, just within the Postnatal realm, there are three levels: Qi and Blood, Tendon and Bone, and Internal Organs."
"The Qi and Blood realm is where beginners in martial arts focus on invigorating their qi and blood and regulating their breath."
"When qi and blood are vigorous and breath is smooth, the body naturally becomes strong, strength increases, and energy is abundant."
"Therefore, martial artists who have mastered the Qi and Blood realm are all strong and powerful, capable of easily throwing off three to five strong men."
"The Tendon and Bone realm is where martial artists intentionally train their tendons and bones."
"Through various secret techniques, they temper their tendons and bones, achieving the effect of strengthening and transforming the body."
"Martial artists who have mastered the Tendon and Bone realm possess strength far beyond that of the Qi and Blood realm. They can stop a galloping horse and throw a bull with their bare hands."
"As for the Internal Organs realm..."
Doctor Chen paused before continuing, "Martial artists at this level have their qi, blood, tendons, and bones so strong that it's hard to make further progress. So, they start seeking further physical transformation from within."
"And this transformation lies in the internal organs."
"The internal organs of humans are always fragile. Even a slight injury can be life-threatening."
"But martial artists in the Internal Organs realm can train their internal organs to be exceptionally strong, unified inside and out, with long breath and great endurance."
"Martial artists who have mastered the Internal Organs realm have such powerful internal energy that they can travel a thousand miles without tiring and can stay underwater for hours without running out of breath."
"Reaching this level of martial arts is beyond the imagination of ordinary people, reaching the peak of human postnatal limits."
"Those who can reach this realm are extremely rare, considered dragons among men. Therefore, martial artists who have mastered the Internal Organs realm are honored with the title of 'Grandmaster' in the martial world."
This explanation left Lu Qing both thrilled and awed.
The cultivators of this world were far more powerful than he had imagined.
Stopping a galloping horse, throwing a bull, traveling a thousand miles...
Such feats were beyond human capability.
No wonder he felt such a strong sense of pressure from Master Ma before.
It turned out that he possessed such formidable power.
"Master, if the Postnatal realm is so powerful, what about the Innate realm?" Lu Qing eagerly asked.
"The power of the Innate realm is unknown to me," Doctor Chen shook his head. "Experts at that level are as elusive as dragons. Some roam the world freely, while others guard a nation. Ordinary martial artists rarely come into contact with them."
Lu Qing's eyes shifted as he asked, "Then, Master, what realm are you in now?"
"Hahaha," Doctor Chen laughed. "I am old now, with a declining body. The realm doesn't matter to me anymore. Besides, I am just a doctor. My focus is on healing and saving lives, not on competing for strength. The level of my realm is unimportant."
Alright, Lu Qing knew that the old man didn't want to reveal his cultivation level.
"However, although I don't fight, I can still teach you some methods to strengthen your body."
"You must learn this set of martial arts well."