Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 28: Doctor’s Apprentice

"You want to know about meridians?" Doctor He raised a pencil-thin brow sceptically. "What brought about that interest?"

Since her father took over her lessons, Anji spent most of her day reading about martial arts theory. Anji enjoyed lessons with her father, who shared many interesting stories about his adventures as an example of how to apply those theories. However, he was still a busy man with a huge sect to run and could only spend the mornings with her. In the afternoon, Anji did her homework and read the books he recommended. In recent lessons, she was taught that many cultivators in the beginning stages needed to clear their meridians and forge a smooth path for qi to circulate. The key to making more progress for pugilists was the ability to control the qi’s circulation.

Nodding, Anji peeked at the bookshelf behind the thin doctor. Honestly, she was still a little afraid of Doctor He Qiu. However, Lizi reassured her he was merely strict when it concerned his patient’s well-being.

Looking at the young princess and his regular patient, Doctor He wondered if he should be teaching her these things. While many cultivators knew basic anatomy and medicine, they only started learning this after establishing a solid foundation in martial arts. The young mistress was not very fit. The knowledge would not be useful for her unless she intended to become a doctor. Even so, her thin arms would likely break first before they could grind herbs.

"Are you interested in medicine?" he frowned.

Anji blinked. Was she?

"I don’t know," she replied honestly. "However, I’m willing to learn. Wouldn’t it also be good for Doctor He if I knew more about medicine? I can prevent myself from falling ill or recognise the symptoms quicker!"

Scratching his chin in deep thought, the doctor scrutinised her.

"Sit here," he pointed to a stool. "Give me your wrist."

Obediently, Anji folded her sleeve a little and placed her right wrist on the small cushion on Doctor He’s table. He took her pulse in the morning and declared that she was healthy enough. Why did he have to read her pulse again?

"Strange," the doctor hummed. "There’s no sign of fever or indication of poison. Could it be a hallucination spell?"

Gaping at the rude comment, Anji pouted immediately and protested.

"I’m not sick! Father has given me homework to study the theories used in cultivation. The books in the library only mentioned clearing the meridian channels to improve qi circulation. However, they never went into detail about what meridians were. Lizi told me you’re the expert, so I came to find you."

Hiding his smirk, Doctor He Qiu continued to study the fuming girl. Truthfully, he had been tasked by the patriarch of the sect to teach his daughter on his behalf. However, it wasn’t every day he got the chance to tease Anji. She was often too mature and not easy to fool. Not to mention, she was afraid of him because he was the strictest person with Anji in the entire Celestial Dragon Mountain. Nobody else would make the young princess fan the charcoal stove for thirty minutes as a punishment or braid dried herbs until her fingers were numb.

Pretending to be troubled, Doctor He Qiu gave Anji a doubtful glance.

"It’s part of the doctor’s code not to teach medicine to outsiders in case they misuse it," he claimed. Although it was true, that only applied to treatment methods and not basic theory. "I can’t make exceptions, even if it is the little miss."

Heart falling, Anji’s small shoulders slumped forward with dejection. What should she do? Nobody else in the sect was more knowledgeable than the family physician when it came to human anatomy.

Feeling merciful, the doctor cleared his throat and looked away.

"There’s only one doctor in the Celestial Dragon Sect and too many patients. If only I had an apprentice, I wouldn’t mind teaching them some things to lighten my workload..."

That was a lie. The only patient he had was Anji. Anyone else who visited him was only there for medical supplies, not a diagnosis. Doctor He Qiu was often bored out of his mind.

Sensing an opportunity, Anji quickly raised her hand to volunteer as an apprentice. Although she could not have more than one shifu in cultivation, working as an apprentice was not against the murim rule. Doctor He Qiu was teaching her medicine and not cultivation, and the arrangement of an apprentice could be temporary. What a wonderful loophole!

"What about me, Doctor He? I’ll study hard and tie herb pouches for you as your apprentice. I’m also very familiar with braiding herbs and stroking the fire! You will not regret taking me as an apprentice, even if it is for a few days. I don’t need wages at all."

For a young child, He Qiu had to give Anji credit for proposing such a promising deal. If he weren’t her personal physician from birth, he would have easily adopted her as his foster daughter and passed on all his medical skills. It was a shame he couldn’t find a worthy successor for his medical knowledge. However, it was his honour to help a promising seedling grow.

"You’re hired!" the strict doctor pointed his straw fan at her and quickly walked over to his bookshelf.

Anji waited as Doctor He Qiu leafed through many books, shaking his head and muttering to himself as he tossed them haphazardly on the table. She had no idea what he was looking for. However, the titles of those books were related to basic medical principles.

After nearly half an incense stick, the physician finally returned with a stack of loose paper that looked like it would crumble if Anji held it. The paper was yellowed and decayed, but the crumpled marks at its edges told Anji that the doctor must have used it often.

"Here are the notes I wrote myself," he explained. "They’re easier to understand than all those useless books. Read them tonight, and I’ll test your understanding tomorrow. After your morning lesson, come here in the afternoon with Lizi. Normally, we use bronze dolls to train apprentices. However, it’s difficult to get a wooden doll, much less a bronze doll, up in this isolated mountain. You’ll have to use someone else as a dummy for your practice."

Carefully folding the handwritten notes in the order Doctor He recommended for reading, Anji browsed through the scattered books and requested to borrow a few more for better understanding.

"I’ll take good care and return them tomorrow," she promised.

Judging from the titles of the books Anji was interested in, the family doctor hid his smile.

"If there is even the slightest damage to any of my precious books, you’ll be grinding herbs for a week." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Saluting seriously, Anji bowed to thank her new teacher and quickly left with Lizi, who helped carry the heavy books.

Behind them, He Qiu smiled. Should he include in his report to the patriarch about Anji’s interest in medicine? Although she was here to learn more about meridians, Anji also asked to borrow a book about acupressure points and pulse readings. She did not request it outright earlier, but he saw how she contemplated including the book about basic herbs before deciding against it.