Chapter 13 The Optimal Solution to Doctor-Patient Conflicts

With her eyes closed, Su Min once again entered that peculiar mental space. But this time, there was no choice to make—instead, a flood of information surged directly into her mind.

[Wood-Fire Transformation Art, First Layer: A dual-attribute cultivation technique emphasizing nourishment and vitality.]

Unlike the fragmented Changchun Gong, this was a complete method—albeit only the first layer. But for Su Min, it was more than enough.

The Changchun Gong had begun to lag behind her progress after reaching the mid-stage of Body Refining. Her spiritual energy had grown denser and more stable, but her cultivation had stagnated. Now, with this new knowledge imprinted into her consciousness, the bottleneck finally loosened.

"Draw in the qi, awaken latent potential. Temper it, refine it—"

Her aura swelled steadily as she cycled the energy. She wasn't in a hurry with the Changchun Gong. Its growth condition was laughably simple:

Just survive.

The longer she lived, the stronger it became. But survival wasn't her immediate concern—she needed power.

"This technique... packs a punch."

The moment the thought crossed her mind, the stifling pressure around her shattered. In the blink of an eye—

Late-stage Body Refining.

"Hah..."

A turbid breath escaped her lips as the breakthrough settled. Cultivation in this era was arduous. The world's spiritual energy lay dormant, its fragments scattered. The great conflicts had yet to begin.

"Next step: preparing for Qi Refining."

Stretching lazily, she noted the deepening twilight outside. Night in the mountains belonged to beasts and venomous insects. Her first year here had been... educational.

Countless Insect-Repelling Pills later, she'd finally carved out a safe perimeter. As for the miasma? Just another weekday.

"That session took half a day—and I was completely vulnerable the entire time. Next breakthrough needs a safer location. Ugh... food first."

A pot of rice and cured meat porridge later, Su Min mused over her plans. Her modern pickiness had long vanished after months of bland fasting pills.

Edible was good enough.

But one goal loomed large: reach Qi Refining within ten years.

Otherwise, that Heaven's Treasure Gourd on the cliff might slip through her fingers.

Because The Awakening was coming.

When ancient powers would etch fragments of their wisdom into the world's laws. When the gifted or fated would grasp these truths in dreams. By then, Body Refining wouldn't cut it. Qi Refining was the bare minimum.

The Next Morning

Su Min was midway through pill refinement when chaos erupted outside her hut. A group of men—reeking of bloodlust, wielding rust-caked "tetanus sabers"—stormed into her clearing.

Then froze.

A year of growth had honed her physique. "Eternal youth" didn't mean perpetual childhood—it locked her at peak maturation. The bandits hadn't expected this.

Tall, poised, and utterly unruffled by their arrival. No screams. No cowering. Just a woman sipping tea like they were door-to-door salesmen.

"You're the famed village healer?"

Their leader's voice wavered slightly. Rumors spoke of a young beauty, but mountain folk were usually sun-baked and wiry. This defied all expectations.

"I am."

Su Min set her cup down.

"Good. Come with us—our boss needs treatment."

"No."

"You fucking—!"

The bandit's blade flashed—

CRACK!

—splitting her table in half.

"Huh. Sharp steel." Su Min eyed the clean cut. "But not sharp enough. You realize you're trespassing, right?"

~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~

She hadn't even flinched. The strike wasn't aimed at her—had it been, the sword would've never left its sheath.

"Ghk—?!"

The attacker's face paled. A dagger now hovered an inch from his forehead.

Minor Sword Control Art—a basic qi-manipulation technique.

At late-stage Body Refining, she finally had the spiritual reserves to wield it. Useless against fellow cultivators, but perfect for bullying mortals.

"Gulp."

The bandit dropped his weapon, back pedaling until he tripped. A dark stain spread across his pants. His comrades stood rooted, eyes wide.

"My rules are simple," Su Min said, sipping her tea. "Alive or dead, bring the patient to me."

There were reasons for this policy. Her "healing" relied heavily on pills. Genuine medical expertise? Questionable. And some ailments—like old age—were beyond even alchemy.

Her hut's remote location acted as a natural filter. Those who made the journey were usually salvageable.

"But our boss can't—"

"Not my problem."

The floating dagger pressed closer, drawing a bead of blood. The bandit whimpered, collapsing in a puddle of his own making.