A Divine Farmer

Chapter 206 - A Rebirth

Zhang Xiaolong ventured into the city to purchase herbs, not seeking any particularly rare or costly varieties. Rather, the complexity lay in the preparation, which often couldn't be completed in a single visit to a small pharmacy.

Many ancient Chinese medical recipes have been lost over time, representing an incalculable loss of cultural wealth.

Once he had all the necessary herbs, Xiaolong promptly returned to Clear River Village. In line with his plan with Wang Tiehzhu, he summoned the villagers under the pretense of treating the plague.

Thanks to Wang Tiehzhu's leadership and the serious nature of the plague, everyone eagerly sought Xiaolong's treatment. They trusted him to take their pulse and dutifully followed his instructions to take the medicine.

?Those afflicted with the illness received the specific concoction Xiaolong had prepared, while the healthy ones were given a similar-looking, yet essentially tonic, soup.

?Mr. Yang, the village's resident doctor, recognized something noteworthy in the medicine. “Xiaolong, there seems to be something special about your concoction. It's reminiscent of something from ancient medical texts, though I can't quite pinpoint what it is,” Mr. Yang remarked with a sense of wonder. “Such valuable knowledge has been lost to time. If you possess this wisdom, you should really promote and preserve it.”

Xiaolong was taken aback. His focus had been on cultivating vegetables, yet he acknowledged the importance of Shennong's medicinal contributions to the community.

?For the moment, however, he felt compelled to set aside these considerations for a later time. “Mr. Yang, as you know, traditional Chinese medicine typically addresses the specific symptoms of an individual. It's rare to find a single formula that can treat a multitude of people, except in cases like the plague where the cause is clear. Under normal circumstances, the same symptoms might require different treatments. So, advancing these practices is quite challenging,” Xiaolong explained with a hint of resignation.

The gap between Western and Chinese medicine is significant. In Western medicine, a practitioner can rely on established protocols to prescribe medication based on diagnosed symptoms.

In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners must discern the underlying conditions of deficiency, excess, cold, and heat. The same symptoms might necessitate vastly different herbs, which is why the field requires numerous skilled doctors. It's unrealistic to expect a single remedy to address all health issues—there is no such thing as a Divine Medicine.

Mr. Yang clearly grasped this concept, exhaling a resigned sigh, “Still, we should preserve what our ancestors left us as much as possible. Not every illness can be cured, but surely some of their knowledge is still useful, right? Xiaolong, if you come across those ancient prescriptions, you must work on them. They could be a boon to the people.”

Zhang Xiaolong took this to heart, nodding in agreement. “Yes, I'll do my best to create something valuable. I won't let our ancestral wisdom go to waste!” His legacy did indeed contain many ancient formulas that were potentially useful, though he hadn't dedicated much effort to them previously.

?Zhang Xiaolong had meticulously attended to everyone in Clear River Village, using his divine powers to enhance the efficacy of their medicines, ensuring their eventual recovery.

Several days passed, and the ailments of the villagers vanished without a trace, finally allowing Zhang Xiaolong to breathe easy.

?”Xiaohong, hop into this bathtub,” he instructed in Lee Xiulian's room, addressing Zheng Hong, who was clad in light attire.

“Ah?” Zheng Hong, who had been previously asked to wear such garments, was initially unaware of their purpose. Only now did she realize she was meant to take a bath.

?Though her illness had been cured, her spirits remained dampened. Having endured what felt like a vengeful yet hellish ordeal, Zheng Hong saw herself as tainted, unworthy of facing others.

?Now, with Zhang Xiaolong present, the prospect of stepping into the bathtub made her self-conscious. Yet, if there was any man in the village she found agreeable, it was undoubtedly Zhang Xiaolong.

“Just jump in if I say so. Do you think Xiaolong would deceive you?” Lee Xiulian chuckled, watching the scene unfold. “If you won't, I will. Everything Xiaolong is involved with turns out well. Ms. Lianzi couldn't even imagine such things.”

“Okay, I'll jump!” Zheng Hong didn't hesitate any longer.

If her body were clean, she would willingly give herself to Zhang Xiaolong in a heartbeat.

With that in mind, taking a bath in front of this man seemed trivial. Besides, she was still clothed.

Her clothes clung to her, thin and soaked, accentuating her curves. The sheer fabric left nothing to the imagination, particularly at her chest.

Zheng Hong felt a blush of shyness but didn't shy away.

She couldn't offer herself to him, but allowing this man to appreciate her beauty felt like a form of gratitude.

Zhang Xiaolong, however, averted his eyes. He approached her from behind, resting his hand on her shoulder, channeling divine power to cleanse the impurities within her meridians.

The initial shyness in Zheng Hong was quickly replaced by a surge of intense pain.

“Endure it,” Zhang Xiaolong commanded without a hint of sympathy, “Once you're through this, you'll be transformed!”

With those words, Zheng Hong ceased to resist. She bit down on her teeth, bearing a pain that would normally be unbearable.

The ordeal lasted half an hour, and by the end, Zheng Hong couldn't hold back her cries.

Yet, Zhang Xiaolong continued, unrelenting. After several more minutes, he abruptly shifted his energy.

The water in the tub turned pitch black as if Zheng Hong was dissolving ink into it.

But for Zheng Hong, the sensation was utterly different. She felt incredibly light, as though she could take flight with the slightest effort.

This was a true metamorphosis, a genuine rebirth!

She lifted her arm, rolled up her sleeve, and marveled at her skin, now far more refined and beautiful than before, seemingly able to exude water with a gentle squeeze, rivaling the celebrities in TV commercials.

Moreover, she experienced a profound change, a sensation indescribable, as if the most intimate part of her had reverted to its state before her time with Wang Fugui.

Had she not been acutely aware of her past, she might have mistaken the entire experience for a mere nightmare.

Zheng Hong hastily felt her face, noticing that the scar seemed to have faded, yet it hadn't vanished entirely—a sure sign that this was no dream.

“Okay,” Xiaolong spoke gently, “your body is now very clean, a well-deserved state after all the hardships you've endured. And don't worry about your face. I'll find some medicine for you during this time. By the time I return, your face will be fully healed; I guarantee not a trace will be left.”

“Thank you, Mr. Xiaolong…” Zheng Hong was so moved that she began to cry once more.

She was acutely aware that even if the scars on her face never healed, she would never degrade herself as she had before.

“Silly girl, why the tears? Mr. Xiaolong has given you a fresh start. Go on, give him a hug to show your gratitude,” Xiulian teased with a playful wink.

With a bound, Zheng Hong leaped from the bath, her chest pressing firmly in a heartfelt embrace.