0029 - Nine Heavens, Nine Tribulations, Nine Incarnations.

They approached Lu Zhan and noticed his twitching face.

"What's wrong?" they asked.

Lu Zhan remained silent, but his glaring eyes spoke volumes. They quickly avoided his glare, they were not sure how to help or to do something but they sensed that their boss might have yielded the duel upon seeing Ming Mei or witnessing Lu Sheng's final strike.

Inside, Lu Zhan seethed with rage and humiliation. The final attack, where Lu Sheng broke his hand, was not just a simple strike; it targeted the nerve center connecting his legs and spine. 

The attack was infused with spirit essence, shocking him and rendering him unable to move. Although he didn't feel like he was injured, he couldn't sense his lower leg, and his spine still felt frozen, still trembling from the impact of that strike.

He is trying to circulate his cultivation base but it seems, his control has become tough, he cannot believe how a fat lazy person like Lu Sheng is able to achieve this. 

Is this some kind of trap? Was this all pre-planned? Is he part of a scheme? Is he a piece on a chess board, disposable? replaceable? Because no matter how much he can bully Lu Sheng, he cannot compare to Lu Sheng when it comes to the Clan's Bloodline. 

Lu Sheng is the son of Lu Ming, who is currently vying for the position of Clan Patriarch. However, Lu Sheng is considered a side family member and often treated as a subordinate by Lu Jing. 

Despite Lu Jing's attempts to use him to bully Lu Sheng, Lu Jing himself cannot take direct action unless he steps into the limelight.

These thoughts swirled in Lu Zhan's mind as he struggled to regain control of his body. The humiliation of being defeated by someone he had underestimated gnawed at him, fueling his anger and frustration.

Meanwhile, Lu Sheng and his entourage reached the Physician Hall, inside one of the treatment rooms Ming Mei was tending to Lu Sheng's swollen hand. "You truly are a fool, you know," she scolded him in a manner akin to an elder sister, despite her petite stature and youthful voice. Her hairpin-adorned hair chimed softly as she reprimanded Lu Sheng.

"You accepted a fool's duel against a Late-stage Spirit Breathing Realm Lu Zhan while you haven't even broken through your Mortal Coil yet." Ming Mei's words struck Zu Xin and Bi Kai with guilt. Despite their awareness of this crucial detail, they had neglected the potential danger to Lu Sheng, too preoccupied with their own concerns to intervene and prevent the duel from taking place.

Lu Sheng winced as Ming Mei applied a healing salve to his hand. "I know, I know," he muttered sheepishly. "But I couldn't just stand there and let him tarnish the name of the Physician Hall. Besides, I had a plan."

"You had a plan? Plan to break your hand for a stupid duel? What was the purpose of it? Showing everyone how to be an idiot? A fool?" Ming Mei scolded, her tone laced with frustration.

Lu Sheng winced at her words, realizing the gravity of his actions. "I... I didn't think it through," he admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. "I just wanted to stand up for us. I didn't want him to think he could push us around. also, he ruined our first day of Martial practice."

Ming Mei sighed, shaking her head. "You're too impulsive, Lu Sheng," she said softly. "You need to think before you act, especially in situations like these. We can't afford to let our emotions cloud our judgment."

"I know," Lu Sheng replied, feeling chastened. "I'll be more careful next time, I promise."

Ming Mei nodded, her expression softening. "Good," she said. "Now, let's focus on getting you healed up. We can deal with the consequences of your actions later."

As she continued to apply the healing salve, Lu Sheng couldn't help but feel grateful for Ming Mei's guidance and support. 

Despite her stern demeanor, he knew she only had his best interests at heart. Deep down, he wrestled with doubt, uncertain whether to fully believe in her care and affection. 

Throughout his life, both on Earth and now with his current memories, he had never experienced someone who was so caring and affectionate.

He also noticed the concern etched on Tu Peng and Tu Rong's faces, the care evident in their eyes, as well as in the expressions of the other members. 

Despite his doubts, he found himself drawn to the warmth and sense of belonging that surrounded him. It was a strange feeling, a feeling he wanted to embrace wholeheartedly.

As Ming Mei finished applying the salve, Lu Sheng flexed his hand experimentally, feeling the pain gradually subside. "Thank you, Ming Mei," he said sincerely, meeting her gaze. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Ming Mei smiled warmly in response before turning towards everyone. "What are you all doing? Go! Attend to your duties," she commanded with a firm gaze, prompting the other members of the Physician Hall to quickly disperse and return to their tasks.

"You two as well," she directed at Tu Peng and Tu Rong, both of whom promptly bowed and left the room.

With everyone else gone, Lu Sheng and Ming Mei were left alone in the treatment room, the atmosphere now more relaxed. Ming Mei turned her attention back to Lu Sheng, her expression softening once again.

"You did well out there," she said, her tone gentle. "I know it wasn't easy, but you showed bravery and quick thinking. Master is very pleased with you and has given me something to give to you."

Lu Sheng felt unsure about how to react. He pondered over whether this news was good or bad. After all, the Master, Physician Hong, had forcefully taken him as his disciple without any direct face-to-face declaration. 

All he had heard was from others. Could he trust any of it? However, the golden token and the respect shown by the disciples of the Physician Hall couldn't be just an act to mock him.

Lu Sheng nodded in response. Seeing his lack of excitement or happiness, Ming Mei understood his inner thoughts.

"Master is a very busy person," she explained. "Although it may not be evident to everyone, he is a renowned and highly respected physician. Many people come to seek his expertise, treatment, and advice. Yet, despite his busy schedule, he still manages to fulfill all his duties, including those concerning you."

"Master has high hopes for you and has entrusted me with the responsibility of assigning you a crucial task," Ming Mei explained proudly yet with seriousness in her tone. 

Then, her voice softened into a whisper. "But before I give you this task, you'll have to pass one of my trials. While the Master has cleared you, I have my doubts. Think of it as a bit of jealousy on my part. Master is giving you duties he never considered for me or the Senior Sister. Even the Senior Sister might get jealous because of it," she added with a mischievous smile.

Lu Sheng nodded, his curiosity piqued by the mention of the new Senior Sister but he kept it to himself for now. As he showed readiness to accept her trial, she rubbed her spatial ring, producing an arm-length metallic token seemingly out of thin air. 

Proudly displaying it to Lu Sheng, she teased, "Do you know what this is?" However, Lu Sheng was not adept at this game, only vacantly staring before shaking his head. Ming Mei smiled in response, seeing the innocence in Lu Sheng's eyes.

The metallic token had an aged appearance, its surface oily with remnants of rust clinging to the intricate symbols and carvings etched upon it. 

Among the markings were depictions of various beasts, creatures, and numerous humanoid figures, each detail telling a story of its own. It seemed to carry the weight of history as if it had been lost and rediscovered, carefully cleaned and oiled to preserve its ancient engravings, yet still bearing the scars of time.

"This is the ancient manual of essence invocation, known as 'Nine Heavens, Nine Tribulations, Nine Incarnations.' It had six more 'Nine' somethings in its name, but those have been lost to time. However, that's not what I'm asking of you here," she explained, cutting short the vivid description.

"What I want from you is to read this manual and understand its content to the letter," she instructed, extending the large token to Lu Sheng. 

Despite feeling a bit mesmerized by its ancient appearance, Lu Sheng remained neutral. He had read many novels describing epic things that turned out to be just a waste of words, so he approached the token cautiously.

Noticing Lu Sheng's subdued reaction, Ming Mei elaborated further. "This manual isn't just any ordinary text. It's regarded by scholars as the very foundation, the fundamental grammar of Essence Cultivation. Mastering it grants you a profound understanding that transcends other cultivation methods. It's like learning the alphabet of a language - once you grasp it, everything else becomes easier to comprehend. Do you see the importance now?"

Lu Sheng nodded, though his expression remained unchanged, tempering Ming Mei's enthusiasm momentarily. However, she quickly regained her composure. "I'll return in a week for your initial assessment," she announced before turning to leave. 

Just as she reached the door, she paused and glanced back. "And about the books I gave you earlier, you don't need to read any of those for the time being."

"Oh, those books? I've already finished them," Lu Sheng replied truthfully, though it almost sounded like boasting.

[Idiot.]

"Already finished them?" Ming Mei laughed out loud, thinking he was kidding. "Yes, Junior Brother is amazing," she responded with a chuckle, quickly leaving before Lu Sheng could make any more outrageous claims to impress her, as she thought to herself.