Divine doctor

"Congratulations! You're now a cultivator! I guess you have no reason to stay since you didn't even need the cultivation technique."

"Thanks brother Xiang, but I'm not leaving. Not for now at least. I'm still new to all this cultivation stuff and I need someone to guide me."

"Speaking of cultivation, I thought you didn't have any techniques? Clearly you have an extremely powerful one to be able to jump straight to the second stage after opening 69 meridians."

"Well aren't I just insanely talented, then? Heh! Actually, I needed to use your technique as well. All my one does is aid in meditation and absorbing qi. I think it's only for foundation building - that's what the teacher said it was for. So, what now?"

Jean forcefully changed the subject and Xiang, picking up his intentions, dropped the matter. He knew that anything related to techniques, no matter how weak, was kept secret from others. This was how the large sects held power and authority.

"What now, you ask? That's for you to decide. If you want to be strong, you need to work hard. Pills really help, but they're costly. I could just barely afford enough of them for myself alone. I couldn't even pay you."

"You're right, so... what do you do to get money? In the time I've been here, you've always had been locked up in the study."

"I tutor other people's kids in different subjects. People pay quite a lot for their children to know the 4 arts."

"Since when where you a scholar?"

"Royals and nobles need their children to become government officials to consolidate their faction's power in the imperial court."

"Oh. But i guess you've dropped the pen for a sword. Is there any way for me to make money for pills? Or rather, how about I make them myself?"

Although Jean was asking, he had already made up his mind. Alchemists were a rare profession and highly respected able of making scores of money from just 1 bottle of pills. To do so, he still needed money to buy a pill furnace, ingredients, and most importantly, he actually needed to know how to make them.

Jean recalled that his Tai Chi cultivation technique worked and remembered a set of acupuncture methods and Chinese medicinal concoctions. For acupuncture, all he needed was a set of golden or silver needles, and for the medicine, his patient could buy that. The theory behind acupuncture was that various illnesses were caused disruptions in the flow of qi, and inserting needles could bring balance and repair the flow. It couldn't cure disease, and the like, on Earth because qi didn't exist.

If these work, I can make a fortunate from being a "divine doctor"! Just stab them a few times, and boom, I'm rich. Hahaha!

Borrowing money to buy a set of needles and a banner, he set off, wandering the streets to look for patients and advertise his expertise. The amount of knowledge he had was useless on Earth, but enough to make him a master in this world. From a glance, he could diagnose patients and create a cure - but only for fictional illnesses. A middle-aged man, with a long robe covering his arms and hands, and his entourage walked the streets with an air of importance around them. As they were walking past Jean, he got closer to the man and whispered.

"Difficulty breathing, daily night pains and insomnia, blackening veins and shrivelling hands. Mister, this started 3 months ago, correct? You don't have much time left. It's a hard poison to cure, but not for a divine doctor!"

The man's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. How could he have known from a single glance? Is he truly a divine doctor? But he looks too young! No no no, there are many crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

Turning back to Jean behind him, he rushed towards him.

"Wait! Young master! Is wait you speak of the truth?"

"Of course! My "divine golden needle arts" is second to none!"

With a respectful bow, the man pleaded for his help. Though his lackeys were skeptical and feared it might be a scam, speaking up would be the same as doubting and going against their master. None of them dared to do that.

"Take me to your house, we can discuss payment afterwards. I'm warning you though, it won't be cheap."

...

"Here we are."

Arriving at a large, guarded, red gate, the man was greeted by the guards upon entering, and a beautiful young girl with a worried expression on her face dashed towards them.

This mansion is huge! Even bigger than Xiang's! I bet he's a rich government official or something. I've struck gold. If he has a lot of connections or famous, word of my medical prowess will spread faster and I'll get more customers!

"Father! Have you found a doctor yet? I've searched the whole city and the surrounding cities, but..."

"I have, indeed! He calls himself a divine doctor. He looks around your age. Doctor, this is my daughter, Xue Er"

She bowed with eyes of suspicion, but still refined and gracefully, and he bowed back with a smile.

"You can call me Jean. I assure you. I'll cure your father, I promise."

They head into one of the rooms and the man lay on the bed as per Jean's instructions. Jean took out a set of silver needles and began inserting them at different angles around various points of his bare back. For the last part, he ordered him to sit up. Finally, he stuck the last needle near the tail bone and took it out. A black substance poured out of the hole, into a bowl, and carried on until the bowl was half full before blood came out instead. Jean wiped the blood away and took the needles out.

"There, the treatment is done and most of the poison has been removed. But you need time to fully heal. Take this concoction every day before bed for 2 weeks."

Ordering one of the servants for a brush and paper, he wrote a recipe and gave it to the man. He wasn't sure if all the ingredients existed in this would, some of them didn't exist on Earth either. The whole thing was a gamble because his knowledge was largely based on fiction.

Thank goodness it worked! I wouldn't be able to leave this place alive if I failed! But now for the most important part... the payment!

"I feel better already! As expected of one who calls himself a divine doctor! I give my sincere thanks!"

"Such a trivial matter! I'm sure your daughter will be delighted to see you feeling better. She's very beautiful by the way!"

"Hahahahaha! If you want, I can give you her hand in marriage as thanks! Name your price! This old man isn't short on money!"

"I have been waiting for you to say that! Aside from that, I haven't gotten you're name yet."

"My apologies! I'm the second elder of the He family - the largest family in this city - He Sheng! Like I said, I can definitely afford the price you ask for!"

Astonished, he tried to hide his greed and overwhelming joy at the mere mention of money. The path to immortality is long and expensive. Even the entire wealth of a powerful sect or family could be spent on a treasure or cultivation method with no regrets.