Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

A pang of longing struck him as he gazed for a long while. He patted his sleeves and left. Carrying a bamboo basket on his back, he walked into a bustling market area.

There, he saw a tall bulletin board dedicated to posting notices, featuring Red List Fugitives, wanted criminals, and families seeking servants. Li Xian pasted a sheet of xuan paper with bold writing on it: "The divine doctor roams the world and has arrived here. Those with difficult and complex ailments, incurable and difficult to treat, may approach the stone pavilion east of the town and knock three times to receive the divine doctor’s assistance."

Li Xian gave a bashful smile. Along the way, he had treated hundreds, ranging from difficult illnesses to common epidemics. Whenever faced with a complex case, he would rather stay a few days, seek the cause, and attempt treatment. For simpler ailments, he never delayed, curing swiftly, collecting his fee, and departing with flair.

To not demean the medical arts, nor the lineage of Ghost Doctors. Li Xian adhered to ancestral rules: no setting up a clinic, no hanging a signboard, no sitting for consultations. Yet he found himself in a great predicament. Though he carried himself with unremarkable grace, how would others know of his skills and seek his treatment?

In generations past, Ghost Doctors always had an old ghost guiding a new one. By the time a new Ghost Doctor took over, their skills had already become mysterious, having traveled extensively with their master. Their name well-known, patients sought them out. Ghost Doctors also treated based on their mood and preference.

Though all Ghost Doctors were benevolent, they weren’t saviors of all. Li Xian, with unrefined skills and a lone ghost, drifted aimlessly. The challenges he faced far exceeded those of his predecessors. Thus, in utter helplessness, he resorted to posting notices to guide patients to seek treatment.

Li Xian once pragmatically wrote: "For difficult and hard-to-cure ailments, at such and such place, sincerely request, and a good doctor may heal." For three days, the notice hung, yet no one sought treatment. He then changed his wording, claiming to be a divine doctor, inviting others to knock three times in earnest request.

Boastful bluster, yet it actually drew patients. Li Xian shamelessly adopted the title of divine doctor. Finished putting up the notice, he then made his way to the stone pavilion east of the town. In front of the pavilion stood a stone tablet with the inscription: "Pavilion of Watching the Wind."

The scenery here was open and the breeze was tranquil. Green bamboo and vines complemented each other.

Li Xian reclined leisurely in the pavilion, lying on a long stone bench, one hand as a pillow, the other retrieving a medical classic from his fish-belly pouch, silently reading its text, and gaining new insights. His medical skills grew increasingly refined. By noon, however, no one came. Li Xian, accustomed to this, turned to another scripture, the "Code of Medical Ethics," and silently read it.

Both scriptures were profound and obscure; their characters resembled ghostly symbols, twisting and writhing. At first glance, incomprehensible; upon closer look, mentally unsettling. Sometimes characters would appear or vanish out of thin air, altering, or in an instant, though a character remained physically the same, it became unrecognizable.

And when silently reading or reciting, one must finish in one go. If a passage is unintelligible, they mustn’t return to scrutinize. This way, even a single passage, its meaning could be entirely contradictory when read through successive times.

It both disturbed one’s mind and made it difficult to grasp the essence. Were the two Ghost lineage scriptures not deciphered, they would yield nothing even if fallen into others’ hands. As Li Xian read on, it was nearing evening, with the setting sun about to fade. He muttered to himself, "Today I hoped to treat a patient and thereby seek lodging at their home. Alas, it’s getting late, and with no one here in this town seeking me out. Tomorrow, I’ll move elsewhere."

As a wandering healer, it was inevitable to sometimes have no takers. Li Xian thought it’s a good thing that in this city, no one is desperately seeking cure. With a light heart, he hummed a tune and found a soft patch of grass to sleep on.

But suffering from this frame of body, he would have to sleep outdoors once more.

The Dragon Court Prefecture’s lands were vast, with bustling counties and populous towns. The people’s customs were open, and the women’s attire daring, exposing shoulders, legs, waist, and back, which was quite typical.

In the marketplace, miscellany books and illustrated stories were sold. Common folk recognized enough characters to read these illustrated stories. Bookstores and art shops were thriving.

Many books, paintings, and miscellanies circulated from Jade City. As Li Xian drew closer to Jade City, he increasingly sensed its prosperity. Even before seeing the city, he could feel its rhythm. During his idle times, if he had spare money, he would buy an illustrated book out of curiosity.

Whiled away his time, taking natural joy.

Under the flickering firelight and moonlight. Li Xian took out "The Tale of King Xiling’s Demon Bane," which recounted a young prince who was once wayward and unambitious. One day awoken, he strived diligently, eventually exterminating a demon’s lair, restoring peace and antithesis to the world. The plot was simple, but the author’s literary style was exceptional, stirring and soul-stirring, leaving readers enthralled.

During his daytime leisure wander in the peaceful town, Li Xian saw many children playing on the streets. Some donned masks, calling themselves King Xiling slaying demons, showing "The Tale of King Xiling’s Demon Bane" was widely popular.

Li Xian had reached the thirteenth Chapter, and he used the "Xunfeng Breath," exhaling lightly as a gentle breeze stirred, flipping a page. He commented, "In Qingning County scarce are there stories and picture books. Even if a couple exist, they’re old relics, unchanged for years. I’ve read two volumes of this ’Tale of King Xiling’s Demon Bane,’ but now it’s out up to forty-three Chapters."

Then, he switched to another book, studying in detail, letting his thoughts drift and savoring the delight. Suddenly frowning, Li Xian swiftly put away the miscellany book, kicked the dirt, extinguishing the campfire. He quickly rolled to the side, hiding in a grass patch. Executing the quality of ’Merging with Heaven and Earth,’ he steadied his breath, blending into nothingness.

Soon, hurried footsteps echoed. A figure dashed by in panic. His steps were erratic; though versed in Martial Arts, quite ordinary. Two figures pursued closely, their Martial Arts superior, swiftly gaining ground.

Li Xian focused his gaze, seeing the fleeing man’s face filled with terror, appearing nondescript. His guise was that of a doctor. The pursuers wore black light armor, hid behind masks, with knives at their sides exuding sinister Yin Qi. Their attire similar, seemingly from the same sect or school.