Chapter 44: Elder Yan's Trial

Although Shen Nanzheng had already slowed down and was preparing to stop when he saw Elder Yan, she was still jolted enough to make her feet hurt.

The pain in her feet also convinced her that this was no dream, and the person in front of her was indeed Elder Yan.

Concerned about her feet and failing to notice her expression, Shen Nanzheng reproached her gently, "What's the rush? Wait until I've stopped properly before getting down!"

Realizing her uncombed composure, Wen Ran bent down to touch her ankle.

Overjoyed at the sight of Elder Yan, tears welled up and fell, landing right on the hand Shen Nanzheng had extended. Believing his tone had been too harsh, Shen Nanzheng softened his voice, "I'm sorry, it's my fault!"

Wen Ran quickly wiped away her tears, "It's nothing, my foot just hurts. Am I being too delicate?"

At that moment, Shen Nanzheng had a strong urge to pull her into his arms, but it ultimately translated into a single sentence: "It's good for a young lady to be a bit delicate."

Wen Ran: "..."

Because of these words, Wen Ran's tears fell even faster.

Elder Yan sighed and furrowed his brow.

He had never held high hopes for the person Shen Nanzheng brought, and seeing her delicate appearance only added to his disappointment.

Without a word, he turned around and walked back into the courtyard.

Shen Nanzheng straightened up and said to Wen Ran, "Knowing your passion for studying medicine, I specially invited Elder Yan back to the city. From now on, you can become Elder Yan's apprentice."

"Really?" Wen Ran's eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

There could be no greater joy; it was truly getting what one wished for!

Infected by her happiness, Shen Nanzheng told her responsibly, "Elder Yan has agreed to take a disciple, but you must pass his test."

Wen Ran nodded vigorously, "I'm not afraid of tests."

Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and the more she thought about it, the happier she became.

Shen Nanzheng had never felt such a sense of accomplishment before. He asked softly, "Can you walk, or should I carry you on my back?"

"I can walk, I can walk!" Although her foot still hurt a little, it didn't affect her walking at all. Wen Ran took the lead and walked toward the courtyard.

Shen Nanzheng pushed the bicycle and followed closely behind.

The courtyard was kept impeccably clean. Reluctant as he was to take on apprentices, Elder Yan still owed a favor to the Shen family.

He had already made his inquiries; the only reason he was able to return to the city was because this delicate young lady held him in such high regard.

Unaware that her first impression on Elder Yan was quite poor, Wen Ran called out excitedly, "Elder Yan."

Elder Yan glanced at her sideways, "Why do you want to study medicine?"

Wen Ran remembered the first time she learned medicine from Elder Yan in the past; he had asked the exact same question.

Thinking of her answer back then, she said earnestly, "Having suffered through pain myself, I don't want others to endure it anymore."

Elder Yan: "..."

Elder Yan froze for a moment, quite surprised.

He had expected her to give the clichéd answer typical of aspiring medical students, something like "to save the world and relieve humanity," when in reality, so many who studied medicine ended up betraying their original intentions.

Nodding, he said, "Sit down."

Understanding that this was a form of approval, Wen Ran sat beside Elder Yan and said, "Elder Yan, I have always admired you greatly. Could you please check my pulse first?"

She had tried taking her own pulse. While she could feel it in her memories of the previous life, she couldn't feel it at all now—not in either hand. Yet she was living perfectly well with a normal heartbeat, and she couldn't figure out what was going on.

Noticing her good complexion, Elder Yan assumed that while she was testing him, she was also trying to probe him. He thought to himself that for all her delicate appearance, this young girl was quite shrewd.

Tapping the tabletop, he said, "Give me your hand."

Wen Ran hurriedly extended it.

Shen Nanzheng asked with concern, "Is something making you uncomfortable?"

"Quiet." Elder Yan interrupted him with a stern expression. After feeling the pulse for a few seconds, he said, "Switch hands."

Wen Ran remained silent, but she could tell Elder Yan hadn't found the pulse.

She watched as Elder Yan shifted his fingers to a different spot, then turned her hand over, and a moment later, reached out to check the pulse on her neck.

When Elder Yan frowned, Shen Nanzheng's palms broke out in a sweat.

As soon as Elder Yan withdrew his hand, Shen Nanzheng asked anxiously, "Elder Yan, is she alright?"

Elder Yan stroked his beard and said, "Surprisingly, it's a bilateral *fanguan* pulse. Very rare."

"A *fanguan* pulse?" Wen Ran was somewhat surprised. When cutting the pulse in the reverse direction, she really could feel it, but how had it turned into a *fanguan* pulse?

She had read about *fanguan* pulses in books, but she certainly hadn't had one before!

Otherwise, having taken her own pulse so many times, she couldn't possibly have overlooked such a detail.

Shen Nanzheng asked hastily, "Elder Yan, is this *fanguan* pulse serious? Is her life in danger?"

Elder Yan answered with certainty, "There is no danger to her life. Aside from excessive rumination and worry, there is nothing else wrong."

Wen Ran let out a sigh of relief, "As long as she's fine."

In her eyes, Elder Yan was an authority.

If the authority pronounced her fine, then there truly shouldn't be anything wrong.

Still uneasy, Shen Nanzheng pressed on, "Then what is this *fanguan* pulse all about?"

Elder Yan explained, "A *fanguan* pulse is caused by a blood vessel taking a detour and running alongside the normal path, exactly opposite to the normal pulse-taking location. It is not a pathological condition."

While Shen Nanzheng didn't fully understand, Wen Ran grasped it immediately.

She murmured to herself, "As long as it's not a disease, that's fine."

Stroke his beard, Elder Yan asked, "Judging by your reaction, you also know about the *fanguan* pulse?"

"I've seen it in books before," Wen Ran replied, then asked, "My pulse used to be normal, how did it suddenly become a *fanguan* pulse?"

Elder Yan looked astonished, "A *fanguan* pulse is usually congenital. Are you certain you didn't have it before?"

"Very certain." Wen Ran's pulse had been normal since childhood. "However, I once caught a high fever after getting caught in the rain. I wonder if it changed then."

Elder Yan shook his head, "I've never encountered such a case. Logically speaking, it shouldn't."

Completely lost, Shen Nanzheng asked, "Is she really going to be alright?"

Although displeased by his questioning, Elder Yan patiently replied, "Her pulse is gentle and strong, with regular rhythm. There is nothing major to worry about."

Wen Ran tugged at Shen Nanzheng's sleeve, "I'm fine. Elder Yan's diagnosis is correct, and I don't feel any discomfort whatsoever."

Gazing at her slender, delicate, white fingers resting on his sleeve, Shen Nanzheng nodded and stopped asking further questions.

However, Elder Yan's tests were not over yet. He asked Wen Ran, "Can you guarantee that you will make 'saving the world and helping people' your lifelong mission?"

This question had not existed in her memories. Even so, Wen Ran answered earnestly, "Within the scope of my abilities, as long as it is within my power, I will certainly not stand by and do nothing."

Without resorting to empty boasts, her answer remained modest and prudent. Elder Yan was quite satisfied with this reply.

Yet, unable to completely let go of his concern regarding her delicate nature, he pondered for a moment and asked again, "Do you truly wish to become my apprentice?"

"Yes!" Wen Ran answered decisively.

In her memories, she had never called him master; in this lifetime, she would make sure to secure a formal title no matter what.

Elder Yan nodded, "Then go and gather ten fresh medicinal herbs: Schisandra chinensis, Arisaema erubescens, Aconitum kusnezoffii, Polygonatum sibiricum, Polygonatum odoratum, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Herba Siphonostegiae, Scutellaria baicalensis, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, and Polygala tenuifolia. Bring them back to me, and the moment you find them, I will take you as my apprentice. You are not allowed to ask anyone for help!"

"Elder Yan, listing so many medicinal herbs in one breath—an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to remember them. Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for her?" Knowing nothing about pharmacology, Shen Nanzheng couldn't even understand the names of the herbs he mentioned, let alone remember them.

Elder Yan's intention was precisely to make Wen Ran retreat in the face of difficulties. Learning medicine was a bitter task; someone too delicate simply couldn't endure it. With a firm attitude, he declared, "There is no room for negotiation. This is the final test. Pass it, and you can officially become my apprentice!"