Listening to the idle chatter of a few old men in the tea house, Cheng Xiaofan finally understood that in this Copper Gong Town, there was a cultivator named Wei Jing.
After the news of the dragon bone appearing on the deserted island in the East Sea spread, Wei Jing was the first to arrive on the island to pick up the dragon bone, getting the jump on everyone else.
However, Wei Jing did not pick up the dragon bone to absorb its dragon energy and break through his cultivation level; he intended to refine his bones.
Wei Jing was nearly seventy years old. In his youth, he had roamed the martial world and engaged in many fights to prove his superiority. He had also been poisoned, leaving him with a lifetime of bone injuries.
Normally, with just a little exertion, his bones would ache unbearably, and he would groan incessantly.
Upon hearing about the dragon bone on the East Sea island, he believed that boiling some dragon bone into soup and drinking it would strengthen his bones and joints, and alleviate his pain.
At his advanced age, having nearly depleted his family fortune in his youth to purchase medicinal ingredients for cultivation, he no longer expected to achieve anything significant in his practice. All he desired was a healthy body.
Unexpectedly, after Wei Jing went to the island and collected a pile of dragon bones, brewed them into soup, and drank it, he was unable to get out of bed the next day.
Instead of strengthening his bones and joints, the dragon bone soup had caused all his bones to soften.
They became as pliable as rubber bands, making it impossible for him to stand.
Nine out of ten cultivators understood medicine.
When Wei Jing diagnosed the problem with his body, he was utterly terrified.
In Copper Gong Town, only Old Man Hu knew about this. He and Wei Jing were good friends and often drank tea together.
Old Man Hu went to Wei Jing's house early this morning to drink tea in the tea room, only to find Wei Jing lying in bed, groaning incessantly.
Upon inquiry, he learned the whole story.
After understanding the events, Cheng Xiaofan approached Old Man Hu and asked with a smile, "Old sir, can you tell me where Old Wei lives in town? I can help him cure his soft bone disease!"
Old Man Hu looked up and saw a young stranger standing before him. He couldn't help but laugh heartily and say, "Young man, what makes you think you can cure Wei Jing's illness?"
"I must warn you, Wei Jing's wealth is not something just anyone can swindle!"
The old man observed Cheng Xiaofan's youthful appearance and simple attire, carrying a yellow cloth backpack. At first glance, he seemed no different from a street charlatan.
In reality, Cheng Xiaofan could have found Wei Jing's home directly by sensing the dragon pearl.
He could have obtained the dragon bone from Wei Jing with effortless ease.
The issue was that upon entering Copper Gong Town, Cheng Xiaofan had sensed a peaceful atmosphere. This town shared a common trait with the people of Zhuxi Village: respect for kindness and harmony.
Because of this, Cheng Xiaofan absolutely would not resort to crude and violent methods to snatch the dragon bone from Wei Jing.
After hearing Old Man Hu's words, Cheng Xiaofan smiled slightly and said, "I know I am young, and it is perfectly normal for you to doubt my medical skills!"
Hearing this, Old Man Hu paused slightly and observed Cheng Xiaofan more closely. He said, "Young man, if you say so, then tell me, how can I possibly believe you?"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "Old sir, if I am not mistaken, seven years ago, you fell while climbing a mountain and severely injured your lumbar spine. You experience unbearable pain whenever it rains.
"There will be a heavy rain this afternoon, and the weather is overly muggy. I imagine your lumbar spine is quite uncomfortable right now, isn't it?"
"You..."
Old Man Hu's eyes widened instantly, a look of disbelief on his face. "How did you know that?"
Seven years ago, Old Man Hu was chopping firewood on the mountain when he fell. His lower back was struck hard by a rock. At the time, he didn't feel much pain and didn't think much of it.
It wasn't until more than ten days later that the pain began to manifest. After a hospital examination, it was confirmed that he had severely injured his lumbar spine.
Old Man Hu, who had a rudimentary understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, had concocted some herbal remedies for himself. Although they provided some relief, whenever it rained, the pain was so severe that he wished he were dead.
He had never mentioned this to anyone before. Now, to have it brought up by a young stranger, who could even accurately state the year of the injury, how could he not be shocked?
Cheng Xiaofan said with a smile, "Old sir, I could tell from the complexion on your face."
"You are so young, yet you have mastered the legendary art of physiognomy?" Old Man Hu exclaimed in shock, standing up with a bewildered expression.
Cheng Xiaofan feigned an air of profound mystery and said, "I once received some guidance from an extraordinary person!"
Old Man Hu became agitated, "Young man, what is your surname?"
Cheng Xiaofan replied, "My surname is Cheng. You can call me Xiao Cheng!"
Old Man Hu cupped his fists towards Cheng Xiaofan and said, "Mr. Cheng, since you could discern my condition, do you have a way to help me treat it?"
Cheng Xiaofan immediately took out a Divine Dragon Pill from his backpack and smiled, "Old sir, this is a pill I refined. Take it, and you will see immediate results.
"Your old lumbar spine injury will never recur!"
"Then I'll try it!" Old Man Hu accepted the pill with a mixture of doubt and belief, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it with a cup of tea.
In less than half a minute, the indescribable aching sensation in his lumbar spine vanished completely.
"Ah, divine doctor, Mr. Cheng, you are truly a divine doctor!" Old Man Hu exclaimed joyfully, giving Cheng Xiaofan a thumbs-up and praising him repeatedly.
He then quickly asked, "Mr. Cheng, how much do you want for it?"
Cheng Xiaofan cupped his fists and smiled, "Old Hu, asking for money is too hurtful. The reason that extraordinary person taught me the secret medical arts was so that I could serve the people and benefit the world!"
He then took out some more Divine Dragon Pills and gave them to the elders around him, saying, "My pills can cure illness and strengthen the body when one is healthy. Take them, and you will feel the effect immediately!"
Upon hearing this, the elders eagerly took the pills and swallowed them with their tea.
"Ah, this is truly an elixir! My old legs have been numb for years, and as soon as I took this pill, the aching numbness disappeared!"
"Huh, it's miraculous! My cervical spondylosis seems much better!"
"Good heavens, this medicine is too amazing! My leg pain of many years is gone too!"
For a moment, the elders cried out in astonishment.
Several of the elders wanted to pay Cheng Xiaofan, but he refused outright, "Everyone, a benevolent doctor cares for the patient. Seeing your happy faces after your pain is eliminated is enough for me.
"As for money, I will not accept a single cent. I detest doctors who are driven solely by profit!"
If the cultivators were to learn that these words came from Cheng Xiaofan, they would never have believed it.
"Mr. Cheng, let's go, I'll take you to Wei Jing's house!" Old Man Hu said to Cheng Xiaofan with a smile.