Chapter Sixty-Nine: Disdained!

Before long, the young acolyte returned, but this time he was accompanied by three others. The first was a middle-aged Taoist, perhaps forty or fifty years old. His head was crane-like, his back slightly hunched, his eyes bright as a phoenix’s, brows sparse, his complexion rosy and healthy, his bearing ethereal—a man who, at first glance, was unmistakably a master of the Tao.

The second was also a Taoist, but much younger, just past thirty by the look of him. He too possessed an air of otherworldly grace—a handsome man, seasoned yet elegant.

As for the last figure, Li Yi could not guess his age at all. His face was similarly ruddy and fair, his skin almost delicate. At first, he seemed barely older than thirty, yet a mane of silver hair crowned his head. Dressed in coarse linen, he stood as still as a mountain, yet seemed at one with the breeze and the natural world—there was something uncanny about his presence.

The middle-aged Taoist strode over to Li Yi first. “This must be Brother Wen Yong, I presume? Hahaha! I have long heard of your great reputation, little brother!”

Li Yi hastened to bow. “Li Yi greets Senior Brother Yuan. My master often speaks of you, praising your profound knowledge of the Dao—especially in the arts of calculation and divination, where he says you are no less skilled than he!”

Yuan Tiangang’s face flushed. “Ah, I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. Master is too generous with his praise. I am far from his level.” Though he spoke with humility, it was clear he took great pride in receiving such acclaim from Wang Yuanzhi. For Yuan Tiangang, praise from that quarter was something to savor for quite some time.

“How has Uncle Wang’s health been lately?”

Li Yi’s brows knitted and his face clouded. “I don’t know. I’ve been away from Maoshan for more than two months. I have no idea about Master’s condition now. Sigh! He won’t let me go back to see him, either.”

Yuan Tiangang patted Li Yi’s shoulder in consolation. “Don’t worry. Master Wang’s grasp of the Dao is deep; he’ll be fine. Come, let me introduce everyone.”

With that, Yuan Tiangang led Li Yi over to the young Taoist. “This is my disciple, your junior nephew—Li Chunfeng!”

Li Yi was stunned. Oh my God, I’ve become Li Chunfeng’s uncle? The world is full of wonders! So from now on, I’m a senior myself?

Li Chunfeng’s lips twitched as he looked at this fifteen-year-old “uncle.” His heart sank. There was no escaping matters of seniority; one had to face them sooner or later. Forcing a smile, he stepped forward and performed a respectful bow. “Junior Li Chunfeng pays his respects to Uncle.”

“Uncle is uncle—no need for ‘little’! Hmm. I came in a hurry today and brought no gift, but I’ll make it up to you next time.”

Li Chunfeng’s eyelid twitched, but he could only reply, “I leave it entirely to Uncle’s discretion.”

Yuan Tiangang next brought Li Yi before the last man, the one he could not see through. “Brother, this is one of the great physicians of the age—Sun Simiao. His medical skill is without equal in the world.”

Li Yi’s mind spun. “Who? The Medicine King, Sun Simiao?”

Sun Simiao gave a gentle smile. “You may simply call me Daoist Sun, young friend. I dare not accept the title of Medicine King.”

Hearing that the man before him was Sun Simiao, Li Yi was moved to tears. Since Changle fell ill yesterday, Li Yi had been consumed with worry about her health. He had thought long and hard, and concluded that, in all the Tang Empire, only this legendary figure—Sun Simiao—might be able to save her. Never mind his medical skill; the very fact that he had lived to the age of 141 deserved Li Yi’s admiration. After all, even his own master, Wang Yuanzhi, had only reached 126.

“How does the saying go? Worn-out iron shoes, seeking him in vain; searching thousands of times through the crowd; mountains and rivers block the path, yet all at once, turning back, a golden breeze and dewdrops—a single meeting surpasses all else in the world!” Sighing with emotion, Li Yi stepped forward and seized Sun Simiao’s hand, refusing to let go. “Daoist Sun, venerable Medicine King, immortal sage—now that you’re here, you mustn’t leave! Do you know how hard I’ve searched for you?”

Sun Simiao, though he was ninety-some years old and had weathered all manner of storms, was taken aback by Li Yi’s passionate enthusiasm. Yuan Tiangang had to exert considerable effort to pry Li Yi off him. “Brother! Brother! Don’t panic, don’t panic. Let’s talk inside.”

“He won’t run away, will he?”

“Brother, though Daoist Sun often travels the world, this time he came to see me, so he won’t be leaving anytime soon. You can rest assured—really, rest assured!”

“Well then!” Li Yi stared unblinking at Sun Simiao, afraid he might vanish. For a man past ninety to look so young, who knew what extraordinary abilities he might possess? What if he slipped away using some special skill? So Li Yi could not care less for his own image; that was worthless compared to Changle’s life. Nothing else mattered.

Li Yi followed Yuan Tiangang into the Hall of Heavenly Unity. The others took their seats, and the chubby boy served them tea before withdrawing.

“Senior Brother, where did you find that roly-poly fellow? It can’t be easy to find one like that these days!” The moment Li Yi saw the chubby boy, he wanted to laugh—the boy was just too comical.

“Heh, his name is Lan Wei. I took him in ten years ago. He wasn’t always like this, but in the last couple of years, his appetite has soared and his weight has shot up. I suspect it may be an illness. One reason I asked Daoist Sun here was to see if he could find a treatment for this obesity.”

Li Yi chuckled. “Appendix? What a name. As for obesity, that’s easy to cure. Just let me take charge of him, and I guarantee that in three months he’ll have a normal figure!”

“Oh? You have a method? Then by all means, take him. At least I won’t have to see him and be vexed.”

Sun Simiao, who had been pondering Lan Wei’s obesity, was surprised that Li Yi, young as he was, claimed to have a solution. He asked at once, “What method do you have to cure obesity, young friend?”

“Oh, obesity is quite simple to treat. Three things: run more, think more, eat less fatty meat and exercise more!”

Sun Simiao’s eyes lit up. “Ah, so the answer is so simple after all! All these years, I have focused on researching prescriptions, and forgot this most basic method. To have this realization today—my journey has not been in vain!”

“What do you mean, not in vain? Daoist, you’re not thinking of leaving again, are you? That won’t do! I still need you to treat someone!”

Sun Simiao examined Li Yi closely. “Young friend, your complexion is rosy, breath even and long, your body strong and healthy—there is nothing wrong with you.”

“But of course! My body is—wait, no! Not for me, it’s for my future wife, Princess Changle, and my future mother-in-law, Empress Zhangsun.”

“What? Treat the Empress and the Princess? This...”

Li Yi’s brows drew together. “Daoist, is there something troubling you?”

Sun Simiao’s lips moved, but he said nothing. Yuan Tiangang explained, “Brother, since you are family, I’ll tell you. Daoist Sun is devoted solely to medicine and wishes to have no entanglements with officials, let alone the imperial family. Last time the Emperor tried to grant him an official post, he went to great lengths to refuse. So he really does not want to be involved with the imperial household.”

Li Yi laughed heartily. “Is that all? Don’t worry, Daoist. Though I am nothing special, I do have the Emperor’s ear. As long as you agree to treat the Princess and Empress, I guarantee His Majesty will not trouble you in the least!”

Sun Simiao glanced at Li Yi and shook his head.

Yuan Tiangang, half exasperated and half amused, said, “Brother, don’t joke around. You’re still so young, and you claim to have the Emperor’s ear? That’s not something to trifle with—don’t make trouble.”

Li Yi was instantly indignant. How dare they underestimate him! Make trouble? If I don’t show my mettle, do they really take me for a useless teammate?