The Martial Doctor-Chapter 81 - 80: The Path to Sainthood

For a young genius physician like Lin Miao, Feng Sheng dared not neglect him, courteously accompanying a smile as he personally escorted him out of the Arresting Department. After all, who knows if one day he might need to seek Lin’s expertise.

He had heard that Lin Miao possessed the medical skills to bring people back from the brink of death, like the little boy in Cuiyun Pavilion and Xiaolian during the face consultation trial.

It was all thanks to Mr. Lin that they survived.

Such medical skills might not be needed by oneself, but what about one’s family? If the relationship is fostered well now, it’ll be easier to ask for help when needed.

In the Da Li Dynasty, physicians have the right to refuse treatment.

If they know they can’t cure or handle a case yet still intervene, they have to bear the responsibility if something goes wrong.

However, the following days are bound to be tough for Mr. Han.

Having stirred up such a mess, he’s bound to find someone to vent his frustration.

...

"Boss, these two people..."

"Shut up, and drive your carriage properly." Lin Miao rebuked, urging Mr. Xie to close his mouth.

The guy likely had figured something out.

"Boss, old Xie admires you more and more; falling into your hands wasn’t in vain." Mr. Xie chuckled.

Through his actions, Lin Miao not only cleared himself of suspicion but also exposed Ye Xizhao’s misdeeds of coveting Sun Youwei, having people stalk, and plotting evil.

There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through; Lin Miao is under everyone’s watch now. His sudden visit to the Arresting Department is sure to raise inquiries.

Connecting the death of Ye Xizhao’s two guards with Lin Miao, given Ye’s past wrongdoings, wouldn’t leave others in doubt.

Yet, no one would guess that Dong Hu and Zhao Wu were killed by Lin Miao.

This Mr. Lin has a ruthless heart; he saw it himself. The Huang Family truly died with grievances!

"To Xinglin Institute, Medical Bureau," Lin Miao suddenly ordered.

"Are we not going home?" Mr. Xie halted the reins and asked curiously.

"We’re not going home; we’re going to the Medical Bureau. I need to handle some matters."

"Alright, you’re the boss. Whatever you say." Mr. Xie chuckled, as his job was to serve Lin Miao.

...

The acting authority of the Dongshan Prefecture Medical Bureau, also responsible for Benefit People Pharmacy, is Mr. Sang, but primarily in charge there are chief Tian Yuan and two deputies, one being Xia Yuan and the other a female physician named Cai Rui.

The court-established medical hall must consider both genders.

Mr. Sang and often work at the Medical Bureau; of course, he also oversees Benefit People Pharmacy, fulfilling his duty.

Coincidentally, he was at the Medical Bureau today.

The Medical Bureau’s office is located in Xinglin Institute, minimizing unnecessary travel.

The acting director of the Medical Bureau is appointed by the court, a seventh-rank official, typically selected from Benefit People Pharmacy.

Additionally, two deputy directors are chosen from outstanding figures in local medical halls, without ranking, but they receive extra court stipends.

Each prefecture has a Medical Association, where all physicians and pharmacists are members.

Beneath the association are the Physician Association and Pharmacist Association, usually dominated by the Physician Association.

Industries related to medicine fall under the management of the Medical Bureau, but are actually managed by the association, as they are the people within the industry.

Lin Miao was aware of these associations; he previously wasn’t even a "physician" and naturally had no exposure to them.

Things are different now. He passed the "Physician Exam," automatically becoming a member of the Dongshan Prefecture Medical Association’s Physician Association.

The status doesn’t provide much unless one becomes the head of the association, entitled to sit at the table to set rules. Otherwise, it is merely a status.

In the medical profession, the young and the elderly are not to be provoked. The young, capable of achievements, are highly talented individuals, and nobody knows to what heights their future may reach. The elderly, who remain active, are bound to be revered figures, who may have numerous apprentices and disciples.

Only those middling, achieving neither high nor low, are disdained—this forms a sort of disdain chain.

Upon hearing the report from his subordinate that Lin Miao sought an audience, Mr. Sang immediately went out to greet him personally.

"What brings Mr. Lin to visit me today?" Mr. Sang and were quite surprised as the Medical Bureau is usually a quiet office, aside from periodically hosting medical exchange activities with nothing special happening.

Moreover, the management of Xinglin Institute is entrusted to a special deputy director, while he serves mostly as a ceremonial signatory.

Although he is one of Dongshan City’s top ten famous physicians, his presence in Dongshan City is relatively low, often thought of only when there’s an issue.

Therefore, he essentially enjoys a leisurely tenure in this position.

"Mr. Sang is a senior, and I, as a newly appointed physician, should pay my respects," Lin Miao said courteously, bowing his hand in salute.

"Mr. Lin is too kind." Mr. Sang was delighted; in his many years at the Medical Bureau, overseeing numerous Physician Exams, visits from newly appointed physicians were exceedingly rare.

"Someone, brew the fine tea I brought back from Nanzhou for me!"

"Yes."

In the small living room.

Hot tea was served, and Mr. Sang naturally first inquired about some situations, checking if Lin Miao was here to seek help from the Medical Bureau.

After all, the new physicians soon have to choose a medical institution as a "trial" institute. Generally, the court does not interfere; it is a mutual choice between individuals and the institutions.

Young talents like Lin Miao are naturally sought after by many medical institutes, with exceptionally generous terms offered.

"Mr. Sang, I do not intend to join any medical institution." Lin Miao’s purpose today was to apply for "temporary consultation" status, and naturally wouldn’t join any institution.

"Mr. Lin, why is that?" Mr. Sang was shocked.

"Mr. Sang, it’s not arrogance, but the truth is that none of the medical institutes in Dongshan Prefecture suit me." Lin Miao explained.

Mr. Sang’s face changed upon hearing this—even if one achieves fame at a young age and possesses highly skilled medical techniques unknown to others, one shouldn’t be so arrogant.

Young people can be proud, but it needs to be tempered. It’s known that too much of anything is detrimental.

"Mr. Sang, the four major hospitals in Dongshan City—the Ye Family won’t have me, so I definitely won’t go there. The Xu Family could have been an option, but they’re in the midst of internal conflict. If I go over, I’d likely become a pawn in their in-fighting. Instead of getting involved in that, why not save more patients? Benefit People Pharmacy is also out, having just accepted Xia Zhu as my disciple. If I join Benefit People Pharmacy, what face would Xia Yuan have? As for Sansheng Hall, they already have Zhong Yu, and they favor the Three Saints Family members. As for other medical institutes, I don’t see the necessity to join."

"What, you’ve accepted Xia Zhu as a disciple?" Mr. Sang was so astonished by Lin Miao’s explanation that his mouth couldn’t close.

"I didn’t want to, but she knelt in my courtyard for a day and night, insisting on apprenticing under me. If I didn’t accept her, she’d continue kneeling there. What could I do?"

"Does her father, Xia Yuan, know?"

"I sent someone to Xia Cixi’s house to invite him to bring Xia Zhu back, but he avoided meeting..."

"That old Xia, he truly is willing!" Upon hearing this, Mr. Sang quickly understood Xia Yuan’s intentions and couldn’t help but express his admiration.

Lin Miao’s reasons were entirely logical.

The Shengyuan Hall of the Ye Family is a treacherous place. What’s expected when someone with no foundation, like Lin Miao, enters?

The internal chaos within the Xu Family makes his unwillingness to be a pawn understandable.

Benefit People Pharmacy could have been an option, but Xia Zhu’s apprenticeship cut off this path. How would Xia Cixi cope?

There’s no way Xia Cixi could resign from Benefit People Pharmacy, right?

Sansheng Hall is very realistic; they already have Zhong Yu and have always favored Three Saints Family disciples.

Why endure unpleasantness without resources?

Yet, if not choosing any of the four major medical institutes, he could consider others, like Qingyu Hall and Lianyue Hall. However, Lianyue Hall only recruits female physicians.

Other institutes are quite good as well.

However, these institutes naturally welcome young prodigies like Lin Miao, but also understand they can’t keep him. After a two-to-three-year transition, he’d leave without benefiting the institute, a losing trade...

Thus, there truly isn’t a suitable institute in Dongshan City for him.

Does he have to go to other prefectures?

If this becomes known, Dongshan Prefecture would become a laughingstock. If forced to send such a talented youth to other prefectures, Dongshan Prefecture would bear the bad reputation of "jealousy towards the talented."

Mr. Sang was anxious: "Mr. Lin, are you likely to leave Dongshan City?"

"No, Mr. Sang misunderstood. I intend to apply to the court for temporary independent consultation qualifications." Lin Miao finally revealed his purpose.

"What, you want to challenge the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial?" Mr. Sang abruptly stood up, staring at Lin Miao, eyes as large as copper bells.

"Mr. Sang, if you call it a challenge, then a challenge it is. I believe since such a rule exists, it means someone can accomplish it. Otherwise, why keep such a rule? Just abolish it." Lin Miao confidently spoke.

"Indeed, there’s a reason to it, but Mr. Lin, do you know there’s another layer of meaning to this rule?" Mr. Sang inquired.

"I am unaware?"

"It’s the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial!" Mr. Sang explained solemnly.

"What does it mean? I’m unclear."

"It seems you don’t know the purpose behind setting this rule." Mr. Sang assumed Lin Miao had ambitions of sainthood, but was surprised that he wasn’t aware, and immediately clarified, "For a physician to achieve extraordinary sainthood, several conditions must be met. Starting from passing the physician exam, a series of accomplishments must be achieved, just like Mr. Zhong, Le, and Sima Sheng went through."

"I seek guidance from Mr. Sang!"

"Becoming a ’trial physician’ within one year requires diagnosing over ten thousand cases with a cure rate above ninety percent and a mortality rate under one per thousand. This is the first step in the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial. Fail to achieve it, and no matter your future accomplishments, sainthood is impossible!" Mr. Sang imparted, "Of course, meeting these standards grants you a ’National Selection’ physician order, different from a state selection..."

Lin Miao actually has no aspirations for sainthood, but he also wishes to understand the conditions required for the ’Path to Sainthood.’

Before thirty, one must author influential works recognized as pioneering medical texts, and before forty, become a grand master and establish a sect.

Moreover, among one’s disciples, there must be a national expert.

Etc.

These are benchmarks measured against the achievements of the previous three medical saints, and one must surpass the foundation of their predecessors to qualify for ’sainthood.’

If one’s achievements aren’t as significant as those who came before, what qualifies them to enter sainthood?