Chapter 139 — A Shocked Guan Xuemin
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Heh. I've read Bian Que's Inner Canon." Wei Zhao hesitated, then said it anyway. For one thing, he had a good impression of Guan Xuemin; for another, the treatment plan for Yang Huaijun had been extrapolated from a case in Bian Que's Inner Canon, and if Guan Xuemin later asked about the pharmacology involved, he would have a hard time explaining it. Better to attribute it directly to Bian Que's Inner Canon.
"You, you've read Bian Que's Inner Canon?" Guan Xuemin had been hanging his head in dejection. Small wonder he lost his composure: his research in Chinese medicine had reached its peak, and to advance even one step further was exceedingly difficult. After all, there were no other reference texts to consult, and relying on his own pondering was no solution. Suddenly hearing Wei Zhao say he had read Bian Que's Inner Canon, he was struck dumb. "Not a forgery?"
Forged versions of Bian Que's Inner Canon had appeared before, though they were later proven not to be the genuine article. Guan Xuemin had read them too; the contents were decent enough, but to call them a medical masterwork on par with the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon was a stretch.
"I read some of it as a child, from an elder." Wei Zhao nodded. "Brother Jun's current condition resembles a case mentioned in Bian Que's Inner Canon. I merely extrapolated a few things from it when I wrote the prescription."
By saying this, Wei Zhao was also indirectly explaining that what he had seen was no forgery, and Guan Xuemin could naturally tell as much. He had read the forgeries himself; where in them was there anything about Yang Huaijun's injuries?
"Truly?" Guan Xuemin was somewhat agitated. "Might I take a look..."
Before Wei Zhao could answer, Guan Xuemin gave a rueful, embarrassed smile. "Forgive me, I've lost my composure. Since it belongs to your elder, it surely isn't shown to just anyone. I was presumptuous. Xiao Yi, don't take offense."
"Heh, it's nothing." Wei Zhao smiled. That elder was, of course, his own old man. Back then he had brought back a great pile of rare ancient texts from a Miao village in Yunnan. It was said that a traitor of the village, a fool called the "Right Elder," had collected them in order to practice some heretical art; in the end the Right Elder was finished off by his master, and the Right Elder's hoard was split between his master and his own old man.
"If there's a chance, I could take Grandpa Guan to see them." Wei Zhao was not a stingy man. Though Guan Xuemin had not cured Yang Huaijun, without him Yang Huaijun would have died long ago and would never have lasted this long. So Wei Zhao had always felt grateful to Guan Xuemin.
"Truly... that would be wonderful!" Guan Xuemin was instantly excited, but then he reflected that Wei Zhao might only be speaking out of politeness, and he could not be so tactless. He had heard that some reclusive families of Chinese herbal medicine and practitioners kept lost, unique medical texts, but he had only heard of it, never seen one. At this moment, hearing Wei Zhao's words, Guan Xuemin naturally assumed that Wei Zhao's elder belonged to some hidden family. How could he presume to look at another family's heirloom? So he hurriedly said, "If it's any trouble, then never mind. It's all right."
"It's no trouble." This was something Wei Zhao could decide on his own; with his master backing him, his old man would say nothing. "Next time I go home, I'll bring it back with me."
"Ah? How could that be right?" Guan Xuemin was startled. How could such a rare treasure be carried back and forth? What if it were lost? Even a photocopy could not be passed around carelessly! "If it's convenient, why don't I go with you to pay a visit?"
"Mm, that works too." Wei Zhao nodded.
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