Chapter Ten: The Ceremony of Apprenticeship

“Master Yan, back then outside Liangzhou City, it was you who guided me through confusion and saved a husband who had just married, rescuing a family on the verge of collapse!”
“Do you not remember me?”
Yuan Hongyu’s voice trembled as he spoke.
Even his eyes began to redden ever so slightly.
His display stunned everyone around him.
The Saint of Liangzhou, a giant of the medical profession—when had he ever exposed such vulnerability in public?
Seeing Yan Yuanqing lost in thought, Yuan Hongyu’s gaze brimmed with hope as he looked at him.
The courtyard became utterly silent.
Even Fan Yongfeng furrowed his brow, not daring to make any rash judgments about the situation before him.
What if Yan Yuanqing really possessed some extraordinary, hidden identity?
“Oh, I think I remember now. Yes, as you said, it was the village seven miles south of Liangzhou City, wasn’t it?”
Yan Yuanqing replied calmly.
His tone and those deep, distant eyes seemed to carry an air of supreme indifference to the world.
“Yes, that’s the place! Master Yan, you still remember me!”
Yuan Hongyu was overwhelmed with emotion. Despite being over sixty years old, he felt a sudden urge to kneel right then and there!
“Your foolish disciple once received your kindness, but due to my own ignorance, I failed to perform the proper rites. Today, please allow me to fulfill this wish!”

“Oh, Master Yuan is about to kneel before Yan Yuanqing, that useless man, and perform the disciple’s ceremony? How can this be!”
“Indeed, could there have been some misunderstanding back then? Someone like Master Yuan, who is practically a saint of medicine, how could he possibly become the disciple of someone as worthless as Yan Yuanqing?”
“Master Yuan, don’t be impulsive! You must think carefully about what happened. This man is merely a son-in-law to the Shi family—a simpleton!”
The surrounding crowd could no longer contain themselves and began to urge him, one after another.
Only one person, Fan Yongfeng, stood silently, his brows tightly knit, as if he were rapidly contemplating something.
“Wait!”
Yuan Hongyu raised his head, only to realize that Yan Yuanqing had somehow appeared right before him.
He reached out both hands and gently lifted Yuan Hongyu back to his feet.
Yan Yuanqing smiled and spoke,
“There’s no need for such ceremony. What I did for you back then was nothing more than a small gesture. I do not deserve this rite of apprenticeship. Let’s forego it.”
“But…”
Yuan Hongyu thought Yan Yuanqing was refusing to accept him as a disciple and anxiously tried to plead further.
Yan Yuanqing interrupted him directly.
“If you wish to call me Master Yan in the future, I won’t mind.”
Seeing the gentle smile on Yan Yuanqing’s face, a flush appeared on Yuan Hongyu’s wrinkled cheeks.

“Your disciple thanks you, Master!”
This scene—a medical titan bowing to an unremarkable son-in-law—left everyone utterly astonished.
The entire place fell silent, not a sound could be heard.
No one dared believe that Yuan Hongyu had truly taken Yan Yuanqing as his master!
Yet discordant voices soon arose as well.
“Hmph, I think it was just a lucky accident back then. This useless son-in-law probably stumbled upon some trick and manipulated Master Yuan into this obsession!”
“That’s right, Lord Fan, you mustn’t trust this son-in-law. Your daughter’s stiff blood syndrome is so severe—there may only be one chance to cure it!”
“Please, Lord Fan, let Master Yuan treat your daughter!”
Several members of the Fan family pleaded, hoping Fan Yongfeng would stay calm and make the right decision.
Fan Yongfeng’s brow remained tightly furrowed; after much hesitation, his gaze finally settled on Yuan Hongyu.
No matter how unexpected the events just now, Yuan Hongyu was still a renowned titan of medicine.
“Master Yuan, I implore you to examine my daughter. If you succeed, there will be ample reward, and such a great favor I will never forget.”
“If you ever need anything from my family in the future, do not hesitate to ask!”