Chapter 12: Gathering Herbs
"I have two older brothers at home, so my father need not worry about the family line."
Qin Sang tried hard to ingratiate himself. "Daoist Master, with your vast knowledge and superb medical skills, you must have had a distinguished past. What were you originally?"
"I have been a Daoist since I was young, but…"
Daoist Jixin sipped his tea and, looking at Ming Yue, said slowly, "My master was once an imperial physician. In his youth, he was quite proud and ambitious. However, once he misused a medicinal herb, nearly facing execution, he was expelled from the palace. Disheartened, he turned to Daoism and called himself the Wandering Man. My Daoist name was given by him, and all my skills were learned from him. So remember, when you practice medicine on your own in the future, you must be careful and thoughtful in prescribing and using medicines. Do not be careless."
Ming Yue swallowed the pastry in his mouth and replied solemnly, "I understand."
"So your master comes from a prestigious background!"
Qin Sang admired Daoist Jixin, refilling his tea. "Your master was honored as an imperial physician and walked within the palace. He must have known many secrets. Did he ever see an immortal master in person?"
The old Daoist shook his head. "He never saw one. However, when he was an imperial physician, he heard many rumors that there were immortal masters visiting the palace and mingling with the royal family. Wealth, beauty, and fame are tempting; in my view, even those so-called immortal masters are unlikely to escape human desires and cannot be considered transcendent."
Qin Sang was astonished.