The lights began to shine, and the three-story Huaye Tower next door lit up.
The entire building seemed to come alive suddenly, with melodious sounds of strings and bamboo instruments, and one delightful tune after another filled the courtyard rented by Lin Miao, making Sun Youwei's hands subconsciously stop moving.
The disturbance of these enchanting sounds at night truly tests one's patience.
"Junior Brother, who lives next door?" Sun Youwei curiously asked during dinner.
"Not very sure, seems like it's an opera house?" Lin Miao muttered while scooping rice into his mouth. He certainly couldn't say that next door was a place called Huaye Tower.
What does this Huaye Tower do?
"An opera house, so, if we have free time in the future, we can go watch an opera?" Sun Youwei's eyes lit up, "But don't opera troupes perform only in the daytime? Do they also perform at night?"
"This is Dongshan City; can you compare it to our little town?" Lin Miao declared righteously.
"Oh..."
This was just to muddle through with his sister, this little girl who hadn't seen much of the world; at least he couldn't fool Yun, who definitely knew what kind of place was next door.
But she also surely wouldn't speak out of turn.
However, this secrecy wouldn't last long.
At this moment, inside Huaye Tower.
In the boudoir of Shi Yin, the popular courtesan, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl was sitting in front of the dressing table, wearing a light purple silk dress, the sheer silk exuding a charm, and the girl looked radiant. In the bronze mirror, her tender face had a tinge of tension.
Her hand was placed on her stomach, seemingly clutching a warm bed warmer.
"Shi Yin, Shi Yin..." Suddenly, the door behind her was pushed open, and a mature, alluring young woman entered.
"Shi Yin, what's wrong with you?" The young woman came over, and seeing the girl's complexion, asked immediately, "Is your old ailment acting up again?"
The girl, Shi Yin, nodded: "Yes, Liuli, it hurt so much just now that I couldn't even stand. I'm feeling better with the warmer."
"If you don't perform again tonight, the manager will force you to register for the auction," Liuli showed a slight worry, "The rules of our Huaye Tower state that any courtesan who cannot perform on stage and complete the monthly flower auction must register for the auction. Last month, because of this illness, your performances were limited, causing dissatisfaction among customers. If you don't perform tonight, the manager won't schedule any more performances for you. In that case, you'll never complete your flower auction task."
"What should I do, Liuli, just give me that medicine!" Shi Yin clutched her abdomen, doubling over, her voice trembling slightly.
"No, that medicine is addictive, you know how many of our sisters have been ruined by it!" Liuli insisted uprightly.
"Liuli, just this once, I just need to get through this." Shi Yin pleaded.
"Your illness recurs every month; after this, what about the next time? Even if you have to register for the auction, it's better than getting addicted to that medicine, right?" Liuli advised, "In the end, you'll end up neither a person nor a ghost, you know what happened to those who took it."
"Liuli, then what do you think I should do?" Shi Yin asked.
"Haven't you considered seeing a physician?" Liuli questioned.
"Liuli, people like us, if others knew we had such a strange illness, what do you think would happen?" Shi Yin sighed.
Liuli sighed; she fully understood the girl's worries. Although healers have a duty to protect patient privacy, for ordinary people, being sick isn't remarkable, but with her background, once it's known outside, her value would inevitably plummet, and if she couldn't bring enough profit to Huaye Tower, what would the result be?
They've understood this very clearly since childhood, with many living examples right in front of them.
"Then find a traveling physician, after all, he wouldn't know who you are, as long as this illness can be cured, anything will do. At worst, I'll talk to the manager for you?"
"Liuli, I've secretly gone out; it's useless..." A crystal tear crept out of Shi Yin's eye.
"Perhaps you didn't find the right person. I know a traveling physician who is skilled in a special treatment. Do you want to give it a try?" Liuli asked.
"Liuli, is it still possible now?" Shi Yin asked softly.
"It's definitely too late for today; tomorrow then, I'll take you over tomorrow," Liuli said, "How about you, can you still perform? If not, I'll talk to the manager."
"Liuli, I want to try," Shi Yin nodded.
"Alright, just don't push yourself too hard. If you ruin the performance and anger the patrons, it'll be even worse," Liuli advised.
Shi Yin nodded.
...
"Senior Sister, just follow this prescription, let's try it for a while. It's still one consultation per day, and don't always stay cooped up inside. Besides the exercise routine I taught you, you can also go out more. Actually, your illness is treatable; it requires a good mindset." Lin Miao finished feeling Sun Youwei's pulse and said, "We still have a long future ahead."
"Junior Brother, what you know, even my father doesn't. Where did you learn this from?" Sun Youwei gently asked.
"Didn't Senior Sister say I have 'innate wisdom'? That's it." Lin Miao smiled slightly. Could he say he traveled here from another world? She wouldn't be able to accept or understand it.
"Junior brother, can you tell your senior sister about your plans?" Sun Youwei was very shocked, but she was clever and understood some things even though she hadn't experienced them. She knew her junior brother had a big secret, but since he didn't talk about it, she didn't find it appropriate to ask.
"First, I'll take the 'Physician' exam, and after I gain independent medical practice qualifications, we can talk about it further." Lin Miao considered for a moment. He wasn't going to give up being a doctor; after all, having a skill is a rule of survival in this foreign world.
"And after that?" Sun Youwei asked quietly, her face flushed like rosy clouds. "Is the junior brother willing to stay by my side?"
Lin Miao was slightly taken aback. Her question was implicit and tactful, but it was essentially Sun Youwei confessing to him.
How should I respond?
Liking her was certain. Sun Youwei's appearance and qualities were exceptional, not to mention the obsessions of his original self.
He was indeed willing to spend his life with such a clever and virtuous woman.
Love is something that doesn't require too much rationality. Just follow your feelings. As long as there is love, you can be together. If love fades, that's the end of fate, and parting is better.
"Is sister ready to entrust the rest of her life to her junior brother?"
Sun Youwei's face instantly turned bright red. Her junior brother's question was too direct. Didn't he know that girls have thin skin?
Lin Miao reached out and held Sun Youwei's hands. The light touch of his fingers was like an electric shock, making her cheeks turn even redder.
"If sister has feelings, junior brother will definitely not let her down!"
"Mmm." Sun Youwei was momentarily stirred, subconsciously responding with a nasal "mmm," then bashfully withdrew her delicate hand, "Junior brother, it's getting late, you should go rest."
"Sister should also rest early." Lin Miao gave a brief reminder and returned to his room.
Back in his room, Lin Miao didn't rest immediately. Instead, he pulled out the "Dragon Elephant Wisdom Strength" secret manual gifted by the nun Jing Hui from the Heaven-Reaching Temple.
The content of this manual was something he had already memorized in his mind. Taking it out now, he had a different thought.
He wrote down the "Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita" from the previous Buddhist world, using the script from his past life.
The scripts of these two worlds were both pictographic, with phonetic similarities. By merging the scripts from both worlds, and then comprehending the "Dragon Elephant Wisdom Strength," Lin Miao felt as if a window had opened in the sky.
In general, Buddhist martial arts are extremely fierce, requiring the aid of Buddhist Dharma for cultivation. The more profound one's cultivation in Buddhist martial arts, the higher one's status as a Buddhist monk.
This internal cultivation method was indeed much deeper than the "Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter" he had practiced before. It also involved techniques for circulating internal energy within the body.
It was a supreme method that could cultivate internal energy.
But Lin Miao had the authentic "Yijinjing" with him, and cultivating internal energy was not a problem at all. Now he had another "Dragon Elephant Wisdom Strength," and having more skills doesn't weigh you down.
So, he put away the manual, hid it close to his body, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began practicing according to its breathing techniques.
Internal energy is essentially a breath. When stored in the organs, it can regulate oneself, achieving the effect of strengthening the internal organs. When released externally, it can be used against enemies.
Cultivation is a process from internal circulation to external circulation, until reaching the realm of "Unity of Heaven and Man."
Knowing this process is one thing, but achieving it is another matter.
The five major realms of Bone Marrow Cleansing, Bone Forging, Blood Fusion, Meridian, and Unity of Heaven and Man exist. Generally, reaching Blood Fusion qualifies one as a second-tier expert and a powerful sect leader.
Those who reach the Meridian Realm are first-tier experts and can meet with the monarch without bowing, even in civilian clothes.
Experts in the Celestial Human Realm are rarely seen and were not within Lin Miao's prior knowledge. This is what his mentor Sun Simiao told him from his childhood martial arts training.
Ordinary martial artists can only hope to achieve the highest level of Bone Marrow Cleansing.
The highest martial artist in their former Baihe County was only at the upper Bone Forging level. Experts in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm wouldn't stay in such a poor place.
This narrow view refers to the martial artist's circle, while broadly, the rivers and lakes encompass the whole world. These two are not separate.
Medicine and martial arts are inseparable.
Those studying medicine generally know some martial arts. Otherwise, how could they diagnose and treat martial artists?
Noble families begin martial arts training from a young age.
While not everyone in this world knows martial arts, at least one-tenth of the population does. However, most cannot overcome the hurdle of Bone Forging.
Only by reaching the lower level of Yijinjing can you claim to be a martial artist; others don't count.
Practicing martial arts isn't just for health but also for an extra measure of strength to protect oneself. The world's rules still often dictate that whoever has the biggest fist is right.
Practicing medicine, practicing martial arts.
The road is long and arduous; perhaps this lifetime is a wise choice.