Chapter 1 The Disease

“Abbot, is there really no way to cure Layman An’s illness, even for you?”

The young Taoist couldn't help but ask Li Qingsheng as he watched the figure gradually disappear down the steps.

“The big hospitals are helpless, so what can this old Taoist do? Little Friend An knows this as well; he’s just unwilling to accept it.”

The old Taoist had both hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression calm.

Medical skills are like boxing.

If the most experts are in the Great Xuan military, then the most skilled doctors are naturally in the major hospitals.

In his life, he’s treated only a few thousand people. A doctor in a major hospital treats far more than that in a single year.

It’s not just the difference in equipment and medicine.

If one weren't truly desperate, why would they hope to find a solution in the folk?

“Then isn’t Layman An…”

The young Taoist felt some pity.

“Life and death are determined by fate, and destiny is unpredictable. Everyone will have such a day.”

The old Taoist sighed softly and turned to walk towards the Taoist temple.

“Rather than seeking longevity, it’s better to seize the present and live without regrets.”

“Without regrets…”

The young Taoist glanced at the foot of the mountain where the figure was long gone and suddenly shouted loudly:

“Abbot, I want to go down the mountain!”

........

Although he had many more ideas he wanted to try, An Qisheng didn't immediately start. His body wasn't strong enough for him to keep pushing himself.

After descending Tianlian Mountain and arriving at the city nearest to it, the sky had already darkened. The afterglow of the setting sun scattered between the tall buildings, then was covered by the bright lights.

Xuanxing didn't have the technological brilliance of the Earth in An Qisheng's dreams of his past life, but it was still dazzling enough.

As far as the eye could see, brightly lit high-rise buildings stood close together, towering into the night.

For the past year, An Qisheng had traveled between many temples and sacred mountains. Now that he had decided to end his journey and return to civilization, he felt a sense of disorientation, as if he had been away for a lifetime.

The three-hundred-year-old Great Xuan dynasty embraced foreign cultures while preserving the ancient charm of its three-hundred-year history.

Ancient temples and skyscrapers coexisted, and Xuan clothing and Western suits were both worn.

Without lingering in this unfamiliar city, An Qisheng took a taxi straight to the train station, and soon after, boarded the train home.

“Son, you’re coming back?”

A cautious and joyful voice came from the phone.

“Yeah, I’ll be there today. Mom, don’t worry, go to bed early.”

An Qisheng felt a pang in his heart.

Ever since he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, his parents had always been carefully accommodating to him.

Dropping out of school, whatever he wanted. Traveling, whatever he wanted.

“There are a lot of people on the train; take care of yourself and just get home safely. Mom will make your favorite hairy crabs, braised pork…”

Listening to the rambling voice on the other end of the phone, An Qisheng couldn’t help but half-close his eyes, hiding the tears.

These tedious words… he just couldn't get enough of them.

“Little brother.”

Just as he hung up the phone, a middle-aged man with a suitcase came up to him, showed him his ticket.

An Qisheng stood up; he hadn't bought a window seat.

The middle-aged man put away his luggage, sat down, and said familiarly, “Where are you from, little brother?”

“Xing City.”

An Qisheng replied, not in the mood for conversation.

“You’re from Xing City too? I’m from Cang City.”

The middle-aged man saw that An Qisheng wasn’t in the mood to talk, said one sentence, and didn’t say anything more.

He took out his phone and started watching a cached video.

An Qisheng glanced at it; it was a recently released movie about the deeds of Gu Changfeng, a legendary figure from three hundred years ago.

“Tch! Another one of these ridiculous dramas.”

A young man across the aisle glanced at the screen. At that moment, the protagonist playing Gu Changfeng was killing enemies left and right, and he couldn't help but sneer.

“What else can the film industry do these days besides repeatedly exploiting our patriotism and insulting our intelligence?”

“What do you want to say?”

The middle-aged man took off his headphones and looked at the young man, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

“Isn’t it true?”

The young man didn't care about his companion’s quiet persuasion and raised his voice.

“I also admire Mr. Gu’s character very much, but is this kind of boundless glorification really worthy of his sacrifice?”

“Enough!”

The middle-aged man’s face darkened, with a hint of anger.

“You don’t understand Mr. Gu at all, you don’t understand martial arts!”

“It’s you who doesn’t understand modern weapons!”

The young man didn't back down.

“Your understanding of modern weapons is probably stuck in anti-Japanese dramas, right? Do you know how fast a bullet is? Do you know that a high-powered gun can blow a person in half with one shot?”

“Perhaps you think that patriotism trumps everything? That patriotism makes you invincible?”

“You!”

The middle-aged man's face turned red.

The two men’s argument attracted the attention of everyone in the carriage, and some even took out their phones to record videos.

The debate between martial arts and modern weapons has always been a point of great interest to the people of Great Xuan.

Although the martial arts faction has long been in decline in the debate due to technological development, this debate has never stopped.

“Mr. Gu’s boxing was arguably the best three hundred years ago, but didn’t he still die under guns, cannons, and airplane strafing? That says it all!”

The young man pressed his advantage, his words as sharp as knives.

“Now they’re boasting about Mr. Gu tearing up tanks with his bare hands, being an army of one. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous?”

“Hoo!”

The middle-aged man’s chest rose and fell, and the flush on his face slowly faded.

“I don’t care what you say about other things, but if you talk about Mr. Gu, then I have to teach you what martial arts is.”

“Oh? You want to hit me?”

The young man stood up abruptly.

“Come on, Wang Anfeng isn’t afraid of you!”

“Good!”

The middle-aged man nodded and was about to get up.

“Sigh.”

An Qisheng sighed, reached out and pressed down on the middle-aged man’s wrist.

“Brother, have you thought about it carefully? Fighting is against the law, disrupting train order will get you detained. If you hit him here, you’ll be spending the New Year in jail.”

Although his boxing skills had diminished a lot with his weakening body, his eyesight had improved.

Although this middle-aged man was thin, his muscles and bones were strong, and his hands were covered with thick calluses, indicating that he had considerable skill in external martial arts.

If the two really fought, then the young man named Wang Anfeng’s body, apart from his voice, probably wouldn’t be of any use.

“Wang Anfeng, you crazy person, what do you want now?! Tell me, how many times have I gone to the detention center with you?!”

The young man’s companion also got angry and grabbed Wang Anfeng’s hand.

“I’m going to be killed by you, you bastard, sooner or later!”

The martial spirit was extremely strong in Great Xuan, but at the same time, law and order were also extremely strict. Once a fight broke out, regardless of who was right or wrong, everyone would be detained.

“Li Yan, let go of me!”

Wang Anfeng was a little guilty after being yelled at by his companion, and he was easily pushed back into his seat, his voice loud but not really struggling.

“I…”

The middle-aged man bit his lip, somewhat hesitant.

“You’ve worked hard all year, the New Year is coming soon, you should think about your children.”

An Qisheng patted him on the shoulder.

“This isn’t the age to be brave and fight. Why argue with a child?”

He’s a child?

The middle-aged man’s lips twitched. Your face is much younger than his.

“I’m sorry, brother, my friend is too impulsive.”

Li Yan forced a smile and apologized for his companion.

The middle-aged man unclenched his fist, put on his headphones again, and didn’t even look at Wang Anfeng.

“Child?”

Wang Anfeng snorted a couple of times, glared at An Qisheng, but suppressed himself under his companion’s fiery gaze.

The people in the carriage, seeing that there was no excitement to watch, dispersed.

An Qisheng naturally didn't bother to pay attention to Wang Anfeng, leaned back in his seat, and glanced at the middle-aged man’s phone screen.

At this time, the movie had ended, and the deeds of the legendary figure Gu Changfeng were scrolling on the black screen.

And his dates of birth and death.