C10 Mysterious Peach

"Alright."

Chen Xiaoxiao nodded and dashed out of the clinic.

The rest were befuddled, especially the attending physician, who looked utterly perplexed.

The patient's blood wouldn't clot, making wound treatment impossible. Though the bleeding was temporarily halted, suturing was out of the question without the proper equipment.

Moreover, traveling to the city hospital on a rough road would likely cause rebleeding, a scenario no one could salvage.

Elder Lee's dire condition made rescue efforts seem futile, which is why Elder Zhao had previously expressed a sense of helplessness.

A peach, in the face of medical impotence, seemed an unlikely solution to anyone.

"Ming, I've got the peach," Chen Xiaoxiao announced cheerfully as she bounced into the room with the fruit in hand. "Should we feed it to him directly?"

Impatient to see results and aware that none of their peaches had sold yet, Chen Xiaoxiao was eager for the crowd to witness the peach's miraculous effects, which she was sure would boost sales.

"Silly girl, he's in no state to eat," Xiao Ming chided gently, tapping Chen Xiaoxiao on the head before tossing the peach to Dr. Liu with instructions, "Crush it into a pulp and apply it to the wound."

"What?" Dr. Liu caught the peach, his expression one of astonishment.

"Teacher, what is this method? No, what if the wound gets infected? You can't seriously be considering this," he protested.

Elder Zhao, too, was hesitant, having witnessed the young man's use of a forgotten technique to stop bleeding and save a life. Yet, the peach remedy defied all logic.

"Young man, could you please clarify the reasoning behind this?" Elder Zhao asked, his tone courteous.

Xiao Ming had only offered a brief explanation earlier, but it had struck a chord with Elder Zhao, enlightening him on a point of acupuncture that had eluded him. With further reflection, he might resurrect a lost art.

Despite his reservations, Elder Zhao's demeanor remained respectful.

Xiao Ming inwardly sighed. His earlier attempt to gauge whether Elder Zhao was versed in the arts of cultivation had been inconclusive. Clearly, Elder Zhao had a grasp of breathing techniques and a touch of ancient medicinal knowledge, but the intricacies of the peach were beyond his explanation.

"Just do as I say, and I'll shoulder the consequences."

"Teacher, this..."

"Go on, I doubt there will be any serious issues."

After Elder Zhao's assurance, Dr. Liu, still scratching his head in uncertainty, took the peach and departed. Meanwhile, Elder Zhao sidled up to Xiao Ming with a conspiratorial air and inquired, "Young man, may I have your name? Do you have ties to any of the four great ancient cultivator clans?"

"The four great ancient cultivator clans?" Xiao Ming felt a jolt of surprise.

Elder Zhao let out a wistful sigh, "In my younger days, I studied medicine under the tutelage of an elder from one of those ancient clans. I picked up a few minor techniques, which brought me a bit of unwarranted fame. But it also opened my eyes to the vastness of the world and the profound depths of medical knowledge. We are but frogs in a well, and despite my yearning to delve deeper, my abilities have fallen short."

Xiao Ming listened, taken aback by the revelation.

It was then he realized that the elder before him was truly consumed by his passion for medicine.

Elder Zhao pressed on, "I've heard that the ancient cultivator families possess certain Spirit Objects that can mend flesh and bone. Could this peach be one of them...?"

Xiao Ming's mind was roiling with thoughts. He had believed, based on the memories of his current body, that there were no cultivators in this world, but Elder Zhao's words suggested otherwise.

Interpreting Xiao Ming's silence as agreement, Elder Zhao nodded and reassured him, "I understand, young man. Rest assured, your secret is safe with me. Might you be willing to share some insights into the medical arts with me?"

In that moment, Elder Zhao's demeanor was earnest and respectful, reminiscent of a student eager for knowledge, devoid of any pretense.

Xiao Ming pondered the situation. Initially, he had little interest in Elder Zhao; frankly, despite his devotion to medicine, the man's talent was modest at best. His technique with the silver needle had yet to reach a level of mastery, even after many years. However, Elder Zhao seemed to have some knowledge of the world's cultivation practices, and the issue with the peach might yet require his involvement.

With a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind, Xiao Ming made no commitments but simply stated, "First, we focus on saving the person in need."

Elder Zhao internally applauded Xiao Ming's response, impressed by his maturity and sense of responsibility. The young man's composure and prioritization of human life indeed echoed the ethos of the ancient cultivator families.

"How can this be possible?"

Dr. Liu exclaimed, leaping to his feet with a bowl in his hand, still containing half a mashed peach, his face etched with terror.

"Teacher, this... this is inconceivable."

The others, puzzled, followed Dr. Liu's gaze only to see Elder Lee's wound patched with peach pulp, the red and white hues creating an eerie sight.

Yet, even more bizarre was the wound beneath the peach flesh, which was healing at a rate visible to the naked eye, as if it had been sealed with glue.

"Good heavens! Could this be a peach of immortality?"

"What sorcery is this?"

"Hey, young man, are you selling this peach?"

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Xiao Ming remained composed, while Chen Xiaoxiao seized the moment to advertise.

"Of course, we're selling. Our miraculous peach not only promises longevity but also enhances beauty."

"Is that so? Young lady, you better not be deceiving us."

"Why would I deceive you? You all witnessed what just occurred."

"Young lady, how much for one peach?"

"500."

"Ah, that expensive?"

A wave of hesitation swept through the crowd. To dismiss the incident as a hoax seemed unreasonable after witnessing Elder Lee's miraculous recovery. Yet, the peach's steep price gave them pause; for many, $500 was no trivial sum.

Elder Zhao stood by, utterly dumbfounded.

What was happening here?

This young man was unlike any disciple from the ancient cultivation families he had encountered before. Such treasures were rarely shown, let alone sold, and here he was, offering them for a mere five hundred each.

"Um, young man, are you truly selling these peaches?"

"Yes, is there an issue?"

"Well, I may not be skilled, but could you sell all the peaches to me?" Elder Zhao inquired.

"You?" Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow in surprise before responding, "While this peach has its wonders, I'm afraid it won't do much for someone of your years."

Elder Zhao, however, shook his head vigorously, "You misunderstand, young man. Life and death are predestined. At my age, I have no grand expectations. But I was thinking, if this item were used medicinally, it could potentially bring relief to many. As you've seen, we're quite isolated here, and if..."

Elder Zhao spoke with a series of sighs, reflecting on his arrival here to escape worldly distractions and delve deeply into the study of ancient medicine. Yet, as a physician, he found it impossible to stand by and watch patients perish for lack of treatment.

Upon hearing these words, a spark of realization flickered in Xiao Ming's eyes.

Indeed, this was an excellent plan—saving lives and making money could go hand in hand without compromise.