MD 581 to 590

 Miracle Doctor Chapter 581

“The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?”

Ye Qiu was somewhat puzzled, he had never heard of such a place before, could there really be a hundred thousand mountains?

Master Changmei explained, “The so-called Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is just a collective name for some mountain peaks, much like the Five Sacred Mountains, some peaks are called Huangshan, others are called Taishan.”

“Although the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains don’t actually have a hundred thousand peaks, there are still tens of thousands, and not only that, the area is teeming with venomous insects and ferocious beasts.”

“The heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is even known as the Valley of Death, even the local villagers don’t dare to enter, considering it a forbidden zone, it’s said there are ominous things inside, extremely terrifying.”

Master Changmei continued, “After I returned from the capital last time, I used the Secret Art of Heavenly Divination to deduce the whereabouts of the Heavenly Master Sword, the divination showed that the sword is in Dalong Mountain within the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

“Later, I looked through the notes left by our ancestral master, they mentioned that he had once been to Dalong Mountain and even killed a dragon there.”

Killed a dragon?

What nonsense!

There’s no such thing as dragons in this world!

Ye Qiu didn’t believe it at all, thinking the people of Dragon Tiger Mountain were just bragging, he asked, “How far is Dalong Mountain from here?”

“About two hundred kilometers.”

Two hundred kilometers wasn’t far.

Ye Qiu thought for a moment and said, “How about this, old man, your health isn’t good, why don’t you just return to Dragon Tiger Mountain, I’ll go to Dalong Mountain for you, if the Heavenly Master Sword is really there, I’ll bring it back for you.”

“Little brat, I appreciate your kindness, but I must go to Dalong Mountain.”

Master Changmei said, “The ancestral master wrote in his notes that the heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is full of mystery and strangeness, one misstep could lead to death without a burial place, plus there’s poisonous miasma, wild beasts, and many unknown dangers inside.”

“I’m skilled in some Taoist arts, they might come in handy.”

“As for my health, I think I can still hold on for a few days.”

“If I can find the Heavenly Master Sword before I die, I’ll have no regrets.”

Master Changmei had a deep obsession with the Heavenly Master Sword.

This sword had been sought by Dragon Tiger Mountain for hundreds of years, countless people had gone after it one after another, Master Changmei desperately wanted to fulfill this wish in the little time he had left.

“Uncle-Master, why don’t you listen to Dr. Ye and return to Dragon Tiger Mountain, as for going to Dalong Mountain, I’ll go with Dr. Ye.”

Shuisheng advised from the side, he was also very worried about Master Changmei’s condition.

“Come here.” Master Changmei beckoned to Shuisheng.

Shuisheng walked over to Master Changmei.

Master Changmei made a gesture, Shuisheng understood and squatted down.

“Shuisheng, you’ve been with me for nearly twenty years, you should know my personality, I always mean what I say.”

“So, I must go to Dalong Mountain.”

“Don’t worry about my health, I once told you I’m a person with deep blessings, I won’t die easily.”

Master Changmei spoke while patting Shuisheng’s head.

It was clearly a very serious topic, but seeing this scene, Ye Qiu couldn’t help but want to laugh.

What was the old man doing?

Patting a dog’s head!

And Shuisheng even looked like he was enjoying it!

Ye Qiu couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Shuisheng, this kid’s brain didn’t seem too sharp.

“Old man, have you made up your mind, you’re really going to Dalong Mountain?” Ye Qiu asked again.

Master Changmei’s attitude was firm, “I must go!”

“Then rest first, we’ll set out at dawn.” Ye Qiu finished speaking and lay down beside Master Changmei.

Master Changmei exclaimed, “Little brat, what are you doing? I’m telling you, even though I’m injured, I won’t let you mess around.”

Ye Qiu cursed, “Relax, I’m not into that.”

“Uncle-Master, what does ‘into that’ mean?” Shuisheng looked up and asked.

Master Changmei, “…”

Ye Qiu, “…”

“Shuisheng, go to sleep, we have to travel at dawn.” Master Changmei said.

“Yeah, I’m a bit tired, I’ll sleep first.” Shuisheng said, “Uncle-Master, if you need me for anything, just wake me up.”

“Go sleep.”

Soon, Shuisheng’s snores rumbled like thunder, shaking the room.

Ye Qiu couldn’t sleep at all with the noise.

Master Changmei, preoccupied with thoughts, kept his eyes open too.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Ye Qiu asked.

“After I die, I’ll have plenty of time to sleep, sleeping now is like wasting life.” Master Changmei asked Ye Qiu, “We only parted a few days ago, how did you cultivate true qi so fast?”

“It’s just talent!”

Hearing this, Master Changmei’s teeth itched with irritation, damn it, he’s showing off again.

“Old man, your nephew here is clearly a Taoist, so why does he shave his head bald?” Ye Qiu laughed, “People who don’t know might think he’s a monk.”

“Superficial!”

Master Changmei said righteously, “How can you judge a hero by his hairstyle? Do you think someone with a crew cut is a convict?”

“Little brat, that kind of thinking is wrong.”

“Shuisheng keeps his head bald because he was born without hair.”

What?

Born without hair?

That’s bizarre.

Ye Qiu had read plenty of medical books and seen many patients, but someone who naturally never grew hair, this was a first for him.

Master Changmei sighed, “Shuisheng, this kid, he’s had a tough life.”

“Twenty years ago, in the winter, my junior brother and I went down the mountain for training, we met Shuisheng by the Wei River.”

“I still remember clearly, it was snowing heavily that day, bitterly cold, when we found Shuisheng, he wasn’t even a year old, sitting in a plastic basin, wearing a big red padded jacket, floating on the Wei River.”

“Obviously, he was an abandoned baby.”

“Shuisheng had clear brows and bright eyes, when he saw me and my junior brother, he even smiled at us.”

“My junior brother and I took pity on him, so we picked him up, later we found a note and a jade pendant in his jacket, the note had his birth date written on it.”

“I calculated a divination based on his birth date, this child’s fate lacked water, but water would bring him fortune, so I named him Shuisheng, first because water is the source of all things, anything touched by water thrives, second, my junior brother and I found him by the Wei River, the name means he gained a new life by the water.”

“Later, my junior brother and I brought Shuisheng back to Dragon Tiger Mountain, watching him grow day by day, my junior brother was especially happy, when Shuisheng was three, my junior brother took him as his last disciple.”

“But two years later, when Shuisheng was five, my junior brother fell ill and passed away.”

“Since then, I’ve been raising this child.”

Master Changmei turned to look at Shuisheng and said, “Shuisheng’s heart is kind, he’s honest, little brat, I’m asking you a favor, if I’m gone, help me take care of him.”

“No problem, when you’re dead, I’ll take him to Jiangzhou.” Ye Qiu said.

“No, Shuisheng must stay at Dragon Tiger Mountain.” Master Changmei said, “Whether Dragon Tiger Mountain can regain its glory from a thousand years ago depends on him.”

“Oh?” Ye Qiu was surprised, he hadn’t expected Master Changmei to have such high hopes for Shuisheng.

Master Changmei said, “Shuisheng is a natural-born saint!”

Miracle Doctor Chapter 582

A natural-born saint?

Ye Qiu was somewhat surprised and asked, “Old man, how do you know Shuisheng is a natural-born saint?”

Master Changmei said, “I divined it.”

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes.

Divination again!

When have you ever gotten it right?

Can’t you do something serious for once?

Old fraud!

Ye Qiu cursed inwardly but said, “Don’t worry, with me here, I’ll make sure he’s fine.”

“With those words, I can rest easy.”

In the blink of an eye, dawn arrived.

After eating some breakfast at a roadside shop, the three set off, heading straight for the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Master Changmei somehow produced a map and even found a van.

The driver was a local middle-aged man with dark skin, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth when he smiled.

“You folks aren’t from around here, are you?”

The driver was chatty, striking up a conversation with Ye Qiu and the others as he drove.

“We’re from Dragon Tiger Mountain,” Ye Qiu said.

“Dragon Tiger Mountain, huh? I know that place, it’s full of Taoists, right? They say the Taoists there can exorcise ghosts and slay demons, is that true?”

“Of course it’s true.”

“Where are you all headed?”

“The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

“That’s the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains right there.” The driver pointed ahead.

Ye Qiu looked in the direction the driver indicated and saw towering peaks in the distance, shrouded in clouds and mist, stretching endlessly.

“What are you going to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains for?” the driver asked curiously.

“We’re going to gather herbs,” Master Changmei spoke up, “I’m gravely ill and need a specific herb to save my life, I heard it grows in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, by the way, brother, do you know how to get to Dalong Mountain?”

Screech!

The driver slammed on the brakes and turned to look at Master Changmei, “Taoist, you’re going to Dalong Mountain?”

“Yes.” Master Changmei nodded.

“Taoist, I’d advise you not to go to Dalong Mountain, it’s an ominous place.”

Master Changmei exchanged a glance with Ye Qiu and smiled, “Why do you say Dalong Mountain is ominous? I’d like to hear the details.”

“Well…”

The driver hesitated.

Ye Qiu pulled out his wallet, took out a few bills, and stuffed them into the driver’s hand, saying, “Brother, my elder here urgently needs that herb to survive, please tell us about Dalong Mountain.”

The driver pocketed the money.

“I’m a born-and-raised local, when I was a kid, I heard the village elders say there’s a lot of treasure buried in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, back around the Republic era, there was a famine, a lot of villagers died, with no other choice, a few nearby villages formed an expedition team to go into the mountains to dig for treasure.”

“This team was made up of young, strong men, over twenty of them, all robust and powerful, some even knew martial arts.”

“Guess what happened in the end?”

The driver deliberately paused for effect.

“Did something happen to them all?” Ye Qiu asked.

The driver nodded gravely, “The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains have tens of thousands of peaks, they say Dalong Mountain is in the heart of it all, the expedition team entered the mountains, but before they even found Dalong Mountain, disaster struck.”

“Out of over twenty people, only one came back alive.”

“The one who made it out went mad, babbling nonsense every day, he said there were man-eating demons and monsters in the mountains, and the rest of the team all died.”

“A few villages organized another group to go in, this time not for treasure, but to recover the bodies of the expedition team.”

“That time, about a dozen people went in, and not a single one came back.”

“After that, the villagers never dared to enter the mountains again.”

The driver continued, “Then during the War of Resistance, a group of Japanese soldiers somehow heard there was treasure in the mountains, they brought a regiment of troops to the village.”

“They learned from the villagers that the mountains were dangerous, but the Japanese didn’t take it seriously.”

“They had top-notch equipment, all sorts of weapons, even tanks and artillery.”

“Hundreds of them marched into the mountains in a grand procession, in the end, only two came back alive.”

“Of those two, one ran out of the mountains and then suddenly burst into flames, burning to ashes, a lot of villagers saw it with their own eyes.”

“The other one was covered in coin-sized poisonous sores, biting people and sucking their blood, he was later beaten to death by the villagers.”

“Before that Japanese soldier died, he kept repeating a phrase, no one understood it, it wasn’t until a few years after liberation, when government folks came to our village for a census, that the village chief mentioned what the Japanese soldier said, one of them knew a foreign language, she said the phrase translated to ‘Dalong Mountain is an ominous place, there are devils inside.’”

“As for whether there really are devils, no one knows, but with so many deaths, it’s definitely an ominous place.”

“Since then, no one’s gone into the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

The driver劝 again, “Taoist, you’d better not go in, it’s really dangerous in there.”

“There’s no choice, danger or not, I’m gravely ill, without that herb, I’m dead anyway,” Master Changmei laughed, “Besides, I’m from Dragon Tiger Mountain, I’m not afraid of demons or ghosts.”

“Sigh!”

Seeing Master Changmei wouldn’t be persuaded, the driver let out a long sigh and kept driving.

An hour and a half later.

The driver stopped the car.

“Taoist, follow that mountain path ahead, it’ll take you into the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, it’s been years since anyone walked it, so be careful as you go,” the driver kindly reminded them.

“Thanks.”

Master Changmei thanked him, handed over a few more red bills, and then the three of them set off along the mountain path.

“Uncle-Master, is what that driver said true?” Shuisheng asked.

Master Changmei said, “Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter, what matters is that we’re here to find the Heavenly Master Sword.”

“Old man, does that map of yours mark Dalong Mountain’s location?” Ye Qiu asked.

He figured if it was marked, they could just follow the map, saving a lot of time.

Master Changmei shook his head, “The map I have isn’t detailed, it only shows the routes around the edges of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, there’s no mark for where Dalong Mountain is.”

Ye Qiu frowned, “Then finding Dalong Mountain might not be easy.”

“No worries, I’ll find it, trust me.”

Compared to the confident Master Changmei, Ye Qiu wasn’t optimistic, he worried that Master Changmei might die before they even located Dalong Mountain.

The mountain path was overgrown with weeds, getting narrower as they went, until it was only half a meter wide.

Master Changmei was panting from exhaustion, supported by Shuisheng the whole way.

After a full two hours of walking.

The three finally stopped, and before them appeared a truly spectacular sight.

Miracle Doctor Chapter 583

Before Ye Qiu and the others stood five towering peaks.

These five peaks were connected, each rising about two thousand meters high, like five colossal pillars piercing the sky.

It was an awe-inspiring sight!

Master Changmei studied the map for a while, then said, “According to the map, this is Five Fingers Mountain.”

“Five Fingers Mountain is the gateway to the heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, once we cross it, we’ll officially enter the territory of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

With that, Master Changmei tore up the map.

“Uncle-Master, why did you tear the map?” Shuisheng asked, puzzled.

Master Changmei replied, “I bought this map for a buck on the roadside, it only marks the edges of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, it doesn’t show how to navigate inside, so keeping it is useless.”

“Then how will we find our way after entering the mountains?” Shuisheng looked at the endless peaks in the distance and sighed, “With so many mountains, which one is Dalong Mountain?”

“Don’t worry, just follow me.”

With that, the three entered the mountains.

As they walked, Master Changmei cautioned Ye Qiu and Shuisheng, “Be careful, we don’t know what we’ll encounter once we’re inside, don’t let your guard down.”

“Uncle-Master, you need to be careful too,” Shuisheng reminded him.

“No matter, I’m already a dying man anyway,” Master Changmei said nonchalantly.

The trio crossed Five Fingers Mountain, and the scent of a primal forest hit them.

Everywhere they looked, there were towering ancient trees, each dozens of meters tall and thicker than a bathtub.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of leaves and dry branches, crunching underfoot with each step.

From time to time, the sound of birds chirping echoed through the air.

“Old man, how do we go from here?” Ye Qiu asked.

“No rush, let me divine a reading first.” Master Changmei picked up a stick from the ground, tossed it, and it landed.

Snap!

The stick pointed west.

“Got it, we head west,” Master Changmei chuckled.

Ye Qiu snapped irritably, “Old man, can you take this seriously? You used to at least pretend with your fortune-telling, now you’re not even bothering.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t get it wrong,” Master Changmei said with a grin.

Shuisheng chimed in earnestly from the side, “Dr. Ye, my Uncle-Master is the world’s greatest diviner, his fortune-telling is spot on.”

Ye Qiu scoffed, “You say he’s accurate, got any proof?”

“Of course,” Shuisheng said, “Last time, my pet rabbit went missing, I asked Uncle-Master to divine it, he said it was in the pot, I lifted the lid, and sure enough, there it was.”

Ye Qiu was dumbfounded, “That’s it?”

“Isn’t that proof enough?” Shuisheng stressed, “Uncle-Master’s fortune-telling is really accurate.”

Ye Qiu was utterly speechless.

He could see it now, Shuisheng wasn’t just a blockhead, he was completely devoted to Master Changmei.

“Little brat, trust me, we head west, and we’ll definitely find Dalong Mountain.”

Master Changmei took the lead, walking ahead.

Ye Qiu felt a pang of concern, the old man’s health was poor, if they ran into any ferocious beasts or birds, the person in front would be in the most danger.

“I’ll take the lead instead!” Ye Qiu said.

The three continued along the forest path for another half hour until they entered a canyon.

The canyon was flanked by steep, undulating peaks.

Wildflowers dotted the landscape.

Bees and butterflies buzzed around, the air filled with a fresh fragrance.

After a while, they came across a stream, its waters crystal clear and tranquil.

“That driver from earlier was just trying to scare us, this place is clearly a paradise, where’s the danger?” Shuisheng remarked as they walked.

Ye Qiu didn’t sense any danger either, he just felt the environment was pleasant, standing there brought a deep sense of peace to his heart.

“This place would be perfect for seclusion,” Ye Qiu said.

“Nonsense, you’ve never been to Dragon Tiger Mountain, if you went there, you’d never want to leave, that’s the real spot for seclusion,” Master Changmei retorted.

Ye Qiu mocked, “You’re just tooting your own horn, the world’s a big place, there are plenty of spots better than Dragon Tiger Mountain.”

Master Changmei insisted, “Dragon Tiger Mountain is absolutely the best place for seclusion, beautiful scenery, a land of outstanding people.”

“Uncle-Master’s right,” Shuisheng nodded, adding, “Not only is the scenery great, you can even watch widows bathe, Uncle-Master does it all the time.”

Master Changmei hadn’t expected his nephew to spill that, caught off guard, he shot Shuisheng a fierce glare, “Shut up!”

“Uncle-Master, I was just telling the truth, why are you mad?”

Shuisheng, clueless, looked at Master Changmei with clear, puzzled eyes.

Master Changmei’s face flushed, at a loss for words.

Ye Qiu burst into laughter beside them.

“Laugh at what, keep laughing and I’ll cut your tongue out,” Master Changmei barked at Ye Qiu, then glared at Shuisheng, “No one thinks you’re mute if you don’t talk.”

Shuisheng said, “If I never talk, wouldn’t that actually make me mute?”

Master Changmei, “…”

“Old man, you’re right, Shuisheng’s a natural-born saint, with him around, Dragon Tiger Mountain’s bound to reclaim its glory from a thousand years ago,” Ye Qiu snickered.

Master Changmei instantly caught the sarcasm in Ye Qiu’s tone and shot him a glare, “You shut up too.”

The three chatted as they pressed forward.

Three hours later.

They still hadn’t exited the canyon, and the forest grew denser, the temperature dropping, becoming cold and damp.

Though it was daytime, the thick canopy blocked out every sliver of sunlight.

“Shuisheng, get the flashlights out,” Master Changmei instructed.

Shuisheng pulled out two flashlights, handed one to Ye Qiu, and kept one for himself as he supported Master Changmei onward.

As they walked.

Whoosh—

A sudden gust of cold wind blew through.

Ye Qiu felt a chill on his neck, shivered, and cursed, “Damn, why’s it so cold?”

“Cough, cough…” Master Changmei coughed softly.

Shuisheng said, “Why does this place feel eerie, Uncle-Master, do you think there could be ghosts in this forest?”

“Ghosts, my foot!” Master Changmei snapped irritably, “We’re in the wild mountains, stop saying unlucky things.”

Shuisheng replied, “If there really are ghosts, saying lucky things won’t mean they don’t exist, right?”

“You—”

Master Changmei was at a loss for words, he cursed, “If I die before we find Dalong Mountain, there’s only one possibility, you drove me to it.”

“Uncle-Master, don’t joke, I remember you saying your heart’s as vast as the sky, how could I drive you to death? Besides, I haven’t upset you, have I?”

“Hmph!” Master Changmei let out a cold grunt, stewing in silent frustration.

Shuisheng turned to Ye Qiu, “Dr. Ye, do you think there are ghosts in this world?”

“I…” Ye Qiu turned around, his expression suddenly turning grave, “There are ghosts.”

“Where?”

“Right behind you.”

Shuisheng spun around quickly, and in the darkness less than two meters away, a pair of blood-red eyes stared right at him.

Miracle Doctor Chapter 584

“A ghost…”

Shuisheng yelped in fright, immediately hiding behind Master Changmei.

Master Changmei, after all, was the third-ranked expert on the Dragon List. Though he was now gravely injured and nearing death, he still maintained the demeanor of a master when facing danger.

His expression remained calm as he shone his flashlight ahead.

Hiss!

Two meters away stood a monster.

This creature was two meters tall, resembling a gorilla in shape, with thick, long arms covered in dark red fur. Its blood-red eyes glowed like twin ghostly flames, and a heavy aura of menace emanated from its body.

Even Master Changmei, with all his experience, couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath when he saw it clearly.

Hiss—

“What is that thing?” Ye Qiu asked aloud.

“I don’t know,” Master Changmei replied, “I’ve never seen it before, it must be a species unique to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

“Uncle-Master, what do we do now?” Shuisheng’s voice trembled with fear.

“Little brat, what do you think we should do?” Master Changmei was momentarily at a loss.

“I think it’s best not to provoke it, let’s run,” Ye Qiu suggested.

In the past, Master Changmei would’ve agreed with Ye Qiu’s idea, but things were different now.

“Run?” Master Changmei snorted, “Easy for you to say, I’m badly injured, walking’s hard enough, you think I can run?”

Ye Qiu said, “If you can’t run, what’s that got to do with me?”

“You—” Master Changmei was so mad he wanted to hit someone.

“Just kidding, don’t get mad,” Ye Qiu grinned, then continued, “How about this, I’ll take Shuisheng and run, you stay here.”

“You want me to stay here and get eaten by it?” Master Changmei snapped angrily, “Little brat, do you have any conscience at all?”

Ye Qiu said, “Old man, you’re about to die anyway, why not stay and hold this monster off? If it eats you, let it, your skin’s so thick it’ll take a while, giving me time to escape with Shuisheng.”

“You bastard!”

Master Changmei cursed loudly, “Little brat, stop yapping and come up with a plan.”

“Look at you panicking, it’s just a beast, what’s there to fear?” Ye Qiu didn’t take the monster seriously at all.

Master Changmei grumbled, “If I weren’t injured, I’d kill it with one palm.”

Shuisheng said, “Uncle-Master, a good man doesn’t boast of past glory.”

Master Changmei’s temper flared, and he smacked Shuisheng on the head with a loud “thunk.”

But that sound startled the monster.

“Roar—”

The monster let out a earth-shaking roar at Master Changmei.

Even from two meters away, its breath nearly knocked Master Changmei out with its stench.

“What the hell did you eat, your breath is disgusting!” Master Changmei shouted at the monster.

“Roar—”

The monster roared again, baring its teeth, its eyes gleaming with ferocity.

It was about to attack!

Ye Qiu darted forward, positioning himself in front of Master Changmei.

At that moment, the monster lunged with its gaping maw.

Clang!

The Emperor Sword was unsheathed.

A single slash struck the monster’s chest.

Splat!

Blood sprayed out.

“Ow—” The monster howled in pain, then charged at Ye Qiu again.

Its speed was impressive, an ordinary person would’ve been no match and likely eaten alive.

Unfortunately for it, it was facing Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu stood still, raising his hand for another strike.

Thud!

The monster froze, blood gushing from its throat, then collapsed dead.

“Overestimating itself!” Ye Qiu sneered.

“It’s dead just like that?” Shuisheng gaped, stunned by Ye Qiu’s skill.

Master Changmei breathed a sigh of relief.

“Let’s go!”

Ye Qiu didn’t even glance at the monster’s corpse, pressing onward.

The trio walked for another half hour.

Suddenly, Ye Qiu stopped.

“Little brat, why’d you stop?” Master Changmei asked.

“More monsters,” Ye Qiu said.

Master Changmei looked up and saw another pair of blood-red eyes ahead, glowing like flames in the darkness, striking and ominous, like a devil’s gaze.

Then came the sound of rapid, dense footsteps.

Master Changmei quickly turned his head and saw more blood-red eyes appearing all around them, no small number.

One, two, three, four…

There were fifty or sixty eyes in total.

That meant at least thirty monsters.

They closed in from all sides, surrounding the three of them.

“Uncle-Master, I’m scared,” Shuisheng clutched Master Changmei’s robe tightly.

“With Ye Qiu here, no need to fear,” Master Changmei said.

“So many monsters, can Dr. Ye handle them alone? After all, two fists can’t fight four hands,” Shuisheng said.

“Don’t worry, the little brat can handle them with ease,” Master Changmei, knowing Ye Qiu’s capabilities, remained calm.

Ye Qiu handed his flashlight to Master Changmei, saying, “You two wait here.”

With that, he vanished.

“What’s Dr. Ye doing?” Before Shuisheng finished speaking, sounds of fighting erupted from the darkness.

Then, the blood-red eyes began to dwindle.

Five minutes later.

Not a single eye remained.

“No way, did Dr. Ye kill all those monsters?” Shuisheng was floored.

“Too slow, too slow,” Master Changmei remarked.

“What’s too slow?” Shuisheng asked, confused.

Master Changmei said, “Just a few dozen monsters, and it took the little brat five minutes to kill them, that’s too slow.”

“That’s slow?” Shuisheng was shocked.

Master Changmei said, “If I weren’t injured, I’d take care of them in two minutes, believe me?”

“I believe you,” Shuisheng said, “Uncle-Master, you’re the third-ranked master on the Dragon List.”

Instantly, Master Changmei’s ego swelled with satisfaction.

“About to die and still showing off, classic you,” Ye Qiu’s voice suddenly sounded nearby.

Master Changmei didn’t blush, instead saying righteously, “I’m just stating facts.”

“Enough talk, let’s move.”

Ye Qiu was genuinely worried that Master Changmei might drop dead before they found Dalong Mountain.

The three pressed on.

After another two hours.

They finally emerged from the forest.

Though still in the canyon, the trees were less dense, and sunlight filtered through.

Ye Qiu checked the time, it was already noon.

“Old man, we’ve been walking so long, can you still hold up? Want to rest and eat something to regain some strength?” Ye Qiu asked with concern.

Master Changmei said, “I’m still holding on, let’s keep going, try to find Dalong Mountain sooner.”

They continued forward.

Forty minutes later, they exited the canyon, and before them loomed a sheer, ten-thousand-foot cliff.

Above the cliff hung an iron chain.

Master Changmei’s body jolted when he saw it, “The Heavenly Ladder!”

Miracle Doctor Chapter 585

The iron chain was only as thick as a teacup, strung horizontally between two cliffs, swaying with the mountain wind and clattering with a “rattle, rattle” sound.

“This is the Heavenly Ladder.”

Master Changmei was a bit excited, saying, “I read about it in the ancestral master’s notes, this iron chain is called the Heavenly Ladder, once we cross it, we’ll enter the heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”

Ye Qiu looked up, the other end of the chain connected to a mountain peak.

The chain stretched over a hundred meters, beneath it a bottomless cliff.

Extremely perilous!

For someone with a fear of heights, just one glance might be enough to scare them to death.

Shuisheng peeked over the cliff’s edge, shrank back, and said, “Uncle-Master, let’s find another way, there’s just this one chain, there’s no way we can cross.”

“There’s only this one path into the heart of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, there are no roads anywhere else.”

“Even if there were, taking a detour would delay us by at least a few days.”

“My body can’t hold out that long.”

Master Changmei said, “So, we can only cross via the Heavenly Ladder.”

“But how do we cross?” Shuisheng’s face twisted in distress.

Master Changmei asked Ye Qiu, “Little brat, can you handle it?”

“No problem for me.”

Ye Qiu had cultivated innate true qi and stepped into the ranks of elite masters, though the Heavenly Ladder was treacherous, it wasn’t an issue for him.

He was a bit worried about Master Changmei.

If Master Changmei weren’t injured, crossing the ladder would be no trouble, but now, not only was he gravely wounded, he also had Shuisheng as a burden.

Yet Master Changmei said, “If you’re fine, then I’m fine too.”

Hearing their exchange, Shuisheng immediately piped up, “Uncle-Master, I’ve got a problem.”

“I don’t dare cross this ladder.”

“How about this, you and Dr. Ye go ahead, I’ll wait here for you.”

Thwack!

Master Changmei smacked Shuisheng’s bald head with a chestnut, snapping irritably, “I told you ages ago to learn some martial arts, but you refused, now look, a little challenge and you’re backing out, how can I trust you with Dragon Tiger Mountain in the future?”

“Uncle-Master, what do you mean? You want me to be the head of Dragon Tiger Mountain?” Shuisheng shook his head quickly, “Uncle-Master, find someone else, I can’t handle being the head.”

Master Changmei roared, “You coward, trying to drive me to my grave!”

“Alright, you two stop bickering, I’ve got a way to get you both across,” Ye Qiu said.

“Dr. Ye, what’s your plan?” Shuisheng asked.

Master Changmei looked at Ye Qiu too.

Ye Qiu replied, “Simple, I’ll carry one of you in each hand and take you across.”

“Dr. Ye, you’re not joking, right? This ladder’s so long, you can carry both me and Uncle-Master across?” Shuisheng added, “What if you drop me halfway?”

“Drop you? Good, then I won’t have to die from your nonsense,” Master Changmei glared at Shuisheng, then asked Ye Qiu, “You sure about this?”

Ye Qiu nodded.

“Then let’s do it!” Master Changmei knew Ye Qiu well, he was loyal and righteous, he’d never gamble with their lives.

Soon, the three reached the cliff’s edge.

Shuisheng glanced at the drop, his legs trembling, and said again, “Uncle-Master, maybe I won’t go, you and Dr. Ye cross!”

Master Changmei exploded, “Damn it, how did Dragon Tiger Mountain end up with a coward like you? One more word, and I’ll kick you off myself.”

“If you’re scared, just close your eyes,” Ye Qiu said.

Shuisheng quickly shut his eyes.

The next second, Ye Qiu grabbed Master Changmei and Shuisheng by the shoulders, saying, “Here we go.”

He took a deep breath.

Then, with a flash, he stepped lightly onto the chain, his body leaping into the air, covering three meters in a single bound.

The two of them together weighed less than three hundred pounds, a trifle to Ye Qiu, whose single arm could unleash a thousand pounds of force.

In less than two minutes, the three landed on the opposite peak.

“Little brat, your skills have improved a lot, at this rate, it won’t be long before you can take on the folks from the Forbidden City,” Master Changmei marveled.

When he first met Ye Qiu, Ye Qiu’s abilities hadn’t matched his own.

But now, Ye Qiu had entered the ranks of elite masters, his progress astonishing.

“Such a martial genius, what a pity he’s not from Dragon Tiger Mountain,” Master Changmei thought, glancing at Shuisheng.

Shuisheng still had his eyes closed, legs shaking.

Coward!

Master Changmei’s temper flared, and he slapped Shuisheng’s head.

“Uncle-Master, why’d you hit me?” Shuisheng clutched his head, looking at Master Changmei with a pitiful expression.

“Just seeing you pisses me off,” Master Changmei snapped.

Shuisheng grew even more aggrieved, “Uncle-Master, why does seeing me upset you? I’m not ugly.”

That only made it worse, Master Changmei’s anger surged.

Shuisheng wasn’t just not ugly, with his clear brows, bright eyes, and fair, clean face, he was a textbook “pretty boy,” the kind who’d charm countless rich women in the city.

What infuriated Master Changmei was that this kid was a blockhead, slow-witted, he’d tried teaching him martial arts for over a decade, and Shuisheng hadn’t learned a single move, utterly lacking talent, and he was a total coward too.

Sometimes, even Master Changmei wondered if he’d miscalculated, could a natural-born saint really be this pathetic?

Master Changmei cursed again, “Tell me, besides your looks, what else do you have?”

“Uncle-Master, don’t you think being good-looking is a strength?” Shuisheng said earnestly, “If being handsome is a fault, then I’d rather keep making that mistake.”

“Fault your grandma!”

Master Changmei nearly choked with rage, landing another hard smack on Shuisheng’s head.

“Enough arguing, old man, what’s the next step?” Ye Qiu asked.

“Down the mountain,” Master Changmei said.

The three began their descent.

This peak was at least two thousand meters high, they were currently at the midsection, one side a cliff, the other a forest.

They headed down through the forest.

About five hundred meters from the base, Shuisheng stepped on something, a “crack” sounding beneath his foot.

Shuisheng looked down and shouted in panic, “A person, a person…”

Ye Qiu and Master Changmei rushed to his side, seeing a shattered skull where Shuisheng had stepped.

Master Changmei bent down, intending to pick it up.

Just then, Ye Qiu’s urgent shout rang out, “Old man, don’t touch it!”

“What’s wrong?” Master Changmei looked up, puzzled, at Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu’s face was grave, “That skull is poisoned!”

Miracle Doctor Chapter 586

Elder Longmei retracted his hand the moment he heard it was poisonous, stepping back twice.

“Little brat, how did you know this skull is toxic?” Elder Longmei asked.

“Didn’t you notice? This skull is black, while a normal person’s skull turns white after death,” Ye Qiu replied.

Elder Longmei took a closer look, and indeed, the skull resembled charcoal.

“Most Taoist priests are skilled in some medicine and pathology. Old man, you didn’t even notice the skull was poisoned?” Ye Qiu’s words carried a hint of mockery.

“Nonsense!” Elder Longmei said sternly, “I’m the grandmaster of Longhu Mountain—how could I not recognize poison?”

“I saw it long ago.”

“The reason I reached for it was to test your reaction, and the fact is, you’re observant, spotting the poison, which pleases me greatly.”

Elder Longmei continued, “In these wild mountains, you should be cautious about everything. Shuisheng, you ought to learn from Ye Qiu on this.”

“Mm,” Shuisheng nodded.

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, inwardly cursing Elder Longmei for his shamelessness.

“Dr. Ye, I stepped on it earlier—will I get poisoned?” Shuisheng asked, his face pale.

“No worries, you’re not poisoned,” Ye Qiu said, picking up a stick from the ground and using it to brush aside the leaves around the skull.

Soon, a full skeleton came into view.

The entire skeleton was pitch black.

“Huh, what kind of poison could turn all the bones like this?” Ye Qiu squinted, puzzled, crouching to examine it closely.

“Dr. Ye, let’s go—this skeleton’s creepy,” Shuisheng, timid by nature, said fearfully.

Elder Longmei didn’t want to waste time either, eager to reach Dalong Mountain. “Little brat, it’s just a skeleton—what’s there to see? Let’s move!”

Yet Ye Qiu stayed put, still staring at the bones.

Three minutes later, Elder Longmei, growing impatient, snapped, “Little brat, you’ve been gawking at that skeleton forever—what’ve you figured out?”

“The deceased was male, aged roughly thirty to thirty-five, died about ninety years ago.”

“Cause of death: poisoning.”

“This poison’s new to me, likely from some ferocious beast.”

Ferocious beast?

Shuisheng’s neck shrank as he glanced around, terrified the beast Ye Qiu mentioned might be nearby.

Elder Longmei asked, “You’re saying this man was attacked by a venomous beast before he died?”

“Mm,” Ye Qiu nodded.

“Any idea what beast?” Elder Longmei pressed.

Ye Qiu shook his head, “No clue, but judging by the bite marks, it’s probably small.”

“Bite marks?”

Elder Longmei hurried over, squatting to see the skeleton covered top to bottom in tiny, dense bite marks.

They were fine, like rat teeth.

Ye Qiu explained, “Human bones are protected by flesh and skin, yet this beast left such deep marks on the bone—its teeth must be razor-sharp.”

“Sharp teeth, small size, highly toxic—what beast could it be?” Elder Longmei mused.

“I know,” Shuisheng piped up.

Ye Qiu and Elder Longmei turned to him simultaneously.

“What do you know?” Elder Longmei asked, wide-eyed.

“Uncle Master, the beast you’re describing—it’s a dog,” Shuisheng said. “There are big dogs, medium dogs, small dogs—obviously, a small one killed this guy.”

“I heard once that the smaller the dog, the sharper its teeth and the nastier its temper.”

“Didn’t you just say he died of poison? Dogs have poison too—rabies…”

“Shut your trap!” Elder Longmei’s forehead veins bulged as he glared at Shuisheng, barking, “Should’ve never brought you out—embarrassing me like this.”

“Uncle Master, did I get it wrong?” Shuisheng asked, genuinely confused.

Wrong or not, don’t you have any self-awareness?

Elder Longmei was too furious to speak.

Ye Qiu chuckled, “Shuisheng, you’re clever—read more books when you can.”

“Uh…” Shuisheng scratched his head, sheepish. “Books give me headaches and fevers.”

Headaches, sure—plenty of kids feel that way, Ye Qiu thought.

Fevers, though…

He glanced at Shuisheng, thinking, Can’t you come up with a better excuse?

But Elder Longmei sighed beside him, “He’s not lying about that. He really does get headaches and fevers from reading.”

“As a kid, I thought he was faking, so once I forced him to read for half an hour.”

“Turned out he spiked a fever to forty-one degrees—nearly died, scared the hell out of me.”

“Took him to a doctor later, who said it’s a rare, incurable condition.”

“This kid—no knack for martial arts, can’t study—I’m at my wit’s end!”

Ye Qiu was taken aback—Shuisheng wasn’t kidding. He comforted Elder Longmei, “Don’t worry, Shuisheng’s a born sage—he’ll make something of himself.”

“Little brat, why do I feel like you’re mocking me?”

“I am mocking you.”

Elder Longmei: “…”

“Shuisheng, I’m a doctor—when we’ve got time, I’ll treat you,” Ye Qiu said, then warned them, “The Ten Thousand Great Mountains are strange. I’ve got a hunch we’ll face more danger—stay sharp.”

The trio resumed descending.

Elder Longmei, badly injured, leaned on Shuisheng over rough terrain, so a mere five hundred meters took over twenty minutes.

At the base, the scenery shifted to a flat grassy clearing with a pond in the center.

They approached the pond.

It was small, forty or fifty square meters, clear enough to see the stones at the bottom.

“Such pristine mountains and waters!” Ye Qiu said, noting Elder Longmei’s sweat. “Let’s rest, eat, recharge, then move on.”

“Fine,” Elder Longmei agreed, sitting on the grass.

“Meow~”

A cat’s cry sounded.

Shuisheng turned to see a fluffy black cat perched on a nearby rock.

It was tiny, bowl-sized, covered in thick fur like a Garfield, looking lazy and a bit dopey.

“So cute,” Shuisheng said, stepping over to pet its head. But just then, the black cat opened its mouth, revealing two sharp fangs…

Miracle Doctor Chapter 587

Shuisheng clearly saw the black cat’s two fangs—sharp, thin, three or four centimeters long, and black as ink, sending an involuntary chill through him.

Elder Longmei had been watching the cat too, and when it bared its fangs, his face paled. He shouted at Shuisheng, “Get back, careful—”

But it was too late.

With a “whoosh,” the black cat lunged at Shuisheng, its razor-sharp fangs aiming straight for his throat.

Shuisheng froze in terror.

“Swish—”

At the critical moment, a golden needle sliced through the air, striking the cat’s head.

With a pitiful yowl, the cat fell to the grass, twitched twice, and died.

Elder Longmei strode over, smacking Shuisheng’s bald head, scolding, “I told you to be cautious about everything—how do you listen? If the little brat hadn’t acted fast, you’d be dead.”

Shuisheng snapped out of it.

“Dr. Ye, thank you,” he said, then glanced at the cat’s corpse, muttering, “I didn’t expect a cat to be so vicious.”

Elder Longmei explained, “This isn’t an ordinary cat—it’s a spirit cat.”

Spirit cat?

Curious, Ye Qiu stepped closer, observing it. The black cat looked almost identical to a Garfield, just tiny—maybe one or two pounds, covered in thick fur. Without those sharp, lethal fangs, it’d be downright lovable.

“Huh?” Ye Qiu let out a surprised sound. “I get it—the skeleton we saw on the mountainside was probably killed by this thing.”

Elder Longmei nodded. “Spirit cats are rare ferocious beasts, native to primeval forests. They look like cats, but their fangs carry deadly venom—one bite, and you’re done.”

“They’re incredibly resilient. Most animals, once targeted by a spirit cat, are as good as dead.”

“Don’t let their size fool you—even tigers, lions, and leopards run for their lives when they see one.”

“But…” Elder Longmei’s face grew grave.

“But what?” Ye Qiu pressed.

Elder Longmei said solemnly, “Spirit cats don’t usually act alone. They’re pack animals—and they hold grudges.”

Hm?

Ye Qiu’s brow twitched, and he scanned their surroundings.

Soon, faint rustling sounded nearby. Moments later, over a hundred spirit cats emerged from the grass.

They lined up, meowing at Ye Qiu and the others. The sound was cute, but each one bared its black fangs menacingly.

“Uncle Master, what do we do?” Shuisheng, pale with fright, hid behind Elder Longmei.

“What else? We kill them. Spirit cats are vengeful—if we don’t wipe them out, they’ll stalk us forever.”

Elder Longmei turned to Ye Qiu. “Little brat, strike fast—don’t let their fangs nick you.”

“Mm,” Ye Qiu replied, cautioning, “You and Shuisheng be careful too.”

“No worries, I’ve got protection,” Elder Longmei said, pulling a flame talisman from his robe sleeve. He muttered an incantation and tossed it to the ground.

Whoosh!

The talisman ignited, forming a fiery ring around him and Shuisheng.

Ye Qiu noticed the hundred-plus spirit cats retreat a few steps, fear flickering in their eyes as the flames rose.

They’re scared of fire?

Surprised, Ye Qiu suggested, “Old man, why not use the flame talisman to burn them all?”

Elder Longmei shook his head. “Spirit cats are too quick—before the fire catches, they’d scatter. Quit yapping, take them out.”

“Fine!”

Ye Qiu unleashed the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

“Boom!”

One sword qi blast took out dozens of spirit cats.

The survivors sensed the danger and bolted, their speed impressive as they darted into the grass, cunningly using it for cover.

But Ye Qiu’s sword qi was faster.

Swish!

It cut through the air, striking instantly.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Two more blasts finished off the rest.

Elder Longmei gaped at Ye Qiu. “Where’d you learn the Six Meridians Divine Sword?”

“Master Du’e taught me,” Ye Qiu said.

“That old bald donkey! I begged him for a peek at the sword manual, and he refused—then he gives it to you? Infuriating!”

“I didn’t see the manual. Master Du’e just taught me one move, told me to visit Tianlong Temple for the full text when I’ve got time.”

Elder Longmei’s expression shifted. “So you learned the Six Meridians Divine Sword in just a few days?”

Ye Qiu smiled faintly. “More like a few hours.”

Elder Longmei was floored.

Could that offhand divination I fed Old Ye be true? Is this kid really the Chosen One?

How else could he be so freakish?

Hmph, Chosen One or not, it’s no big deal—our Longhu Mountain has a born sage too.

He glanced back at Shuisheng.

The boy cowered behind him, still shaken from the spirit cats.

Fury flared in Elder Longmei. He backhanded Shuisheng’s head.

Smack!

Shuisheng winced, looking aggrieved. “Uncle Master, why’d you hit me?”

“You annoy me just by existing.”

Elder Longmei turned to Ye Qiu. “Cats are highly spiritual, especially spirit cats—far more than house cats. They wouldn’t just show up here randomly.”

“What’re you saying?”

“I read in ancient texts: where spirit cats appear, there’s bound to be treasure.”

Treasure?

Shuisheng’s eyes lit up, scanning the area. Besides rocks and grass, nothing stood out.

“Uncle Master, this treasure you mentioned—it’s not these rocks, right?”

“You think so?”

Shuisheng nodded. “Yeah!”

“Yeah, my foot!” Elder Longmei raised his hand again.

This time, Shuisheng wised up and dodged.

“Old man, if you’re right about treasure, there’s only one possibility,” Ye Qiu said.

He and Elder Longmei exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They stepped toward the pond together.

The pond was half a meter deep, crystal clear.

Aside from water plants and stones, it held nothing else.

“Was I wrong?” Ye Qiu frowned.

Just then, a flash of silver streaked through the water.

Miracle Doctor Chapter 588

The silver light moved fast, vanishing in a flash.

Ye Qiu hadn’t even gotten a good look before it was gone.

“Old man, did you catch anything just now?” Ye Qiu asked.

“There’s something in the water,” Elder Longmei replied.

“Did you see what it was?” Ye Qiu pressed.

Elder Longmei shook his head. “Too fast, couldn’t tell.”

Hearing their exchange, Shuisheng joined them, staring into the pond.

They waited a full three minutes.

Whoosh!

Another silver streak flashed and disappeared.

Though Ye Qiu was ready this time, the speed was still too quick—he couldn’t make it out.

“Did you see it?” Elder Longmei asked.

Ye Qiu shook his head. “Too fast.”

Shuisheng chimed in, “Uncle Master, Dr. Ye, what did you see? Why didn’t I catch anything?”

“Shut it!” Elder Longmei snapped, then said, “Little brat, that thing slipped past both our eyes—it’s no ordinary creature.”

“Mm,” Ye Qiu agreed.

He was a top-tier expert now—even someone like Long Qi from the Forbidden City couldn’t move too fast for him to track. Yet whatever was in the pond was impossibly swift.

Shock mixed with growing curiosity in Ye Qiu’s mind.

What was that silver light?

He quietly activated his Heavenly Eye.

Thirty seconds later.

Whoosh!

The silver light appeared again, gone in an instant, but this time Ye Qiu saw it clearly.

“It’s a fish,” he said.

“A fish?” Elder Longmei blinked. “What fish moves that fast?”

Ye Qiu described it, “I’ve never seen this kind before. It’s small and thin, like a chopstick, fully transparent—you can see its veins and organs. Its back has shiny scales, almost diamond-like in color.”

Elder Longmei’s face shifted, and he asked urgently, “Does it have two long whiskers under its jaw?”

“How’d you know?” Ye Qiu countered. “Old man, you recognize this fish?”

“It’s a crystal fish,” Elder Longmei said. “I read about it in Longhu Mountain’s ancient texts. Crystal fish grow slowly—barely a foot in a century. They’re transparent like crystal and incredibly fast.”

“So those spirit cats were here for the crystal fish!”

“Little brat, can you catch a couple?”

“For what?” Ye Qiu asked, eyeing Elder Longmei suspiciously.

Elder Longmei swallowed hard. “The texts ended with four lines about crystal fish: ‘Hard to catch, greatly nourishing, the finest of fish, unmatched when grilled.’”

“Really?” Ye Qiu was skeptical.

“If I could eat a crystal fish before I die, I’d have no regrets.”

With Elder Longmei putting it like that, Ye Qiu couldn’t refuse—after all, they were friends; he couldn’t let the old man leave this world with regrets.

Ye Qiu palmed a golden needle, activated his Heavenly Eye, and fixed his gaze on the pond, unblinking.

Half a minute later, a silver light darted through the water. Ye Qiu flicked his finger.

Swish!

The needle pierced the surface.

Next second, a twenty-centimeter crystal fish was pinned to the pond floor, its head skewered.

“Nice work! Grab a few more!” Elder Longmei cheered.

A bit later, another crystal fish appeared.

Ye Qiu struck again.

Swish!

Another one nailed.

In five minutes, he’d caught ten.

“Shuisheng, get the fish,” Ye Qiu said.

Shuisheng hesitated, glancing at Elder Longmei as if to say, *I’ve only got one set of clothes—what if they get wet?*

“What’re you looking at me for? Hurry up!”

Thud!

Elder Longmei kicked Shuisheng’s backside, and with a splash, he tumbled into the pond.

A few minutes later, Shuisheng emerged, holding ten crystal fish.

Elder Longmei ordered, “Now grab some leaves and dry twigs—let’s fire up a grill.”

“Oh,” Shuisheng replied, scurrying off.

Elder Longmei pulled out a small knife and expertly gutted the fish, cleaning them in no time.

Then he skewered all ten on a long branch and set them over the fire.

Soon, a rich fish aroma wafted up, making Ye Qiu’s mouth water.

“So fragrant,” Shuisheng said impatiently. “Uncle Master, when can we eat?”

“What’s the rush? Open the backpack.”

Shuisheng did.

Elder Longmei rummaged inside, pulling out small bottles—salt, chili powder, cumin—and sprinkled them evenly over the fish.

Ye Qiu gawked. “Old man, you carry seasonings around?”

Elder Longmei grinned. “You don’t know—Longhu Mountain’s full of game, so I keep these on me. Hit some wild eats, and I’m ready to grill.”

“Uncle Master, when’d you eat game? How come I didn’t know?” Shuisheng asked.

“Why should you?” Elder Longmei retorted. “You need to stay in shape—eat more, and you’ll plump up. Fat leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol. I’m looking out for you.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks, Uncle Master,” Shuisheng said gratefully.

Ye Qiu smirked, inwardly cursing the old man’s shamelessness—hogging food and spinning it as concern. What a load.

After a bit more waiting, the fish were ready.

“The texts also say crystal fish aren’t like others—you’ve got to eat them carefully. Some parts are toxic if you mess up. I’ll show you,” Elder Longmei said.

He plucked one from the skewer and devoured it in a few bites—practically inhaling it.

Then he grabbed two more, one in each hand, stuffing them into his mouth.

In a blink, three fish were gone.

Damn, this old geezer’s hogging it all, Ye Qiu thought.

He snatched four from Elder Longmei and ate fast.

Poor Shuisheng—by the time he reacted, Elder Longmei had polished off the rest.

Seeing the kid’s pitiful look, Ye Qiu took pity and handed him one.

After three crystal fish, Ye Qiu savored the lingering taste—the tender meat, the fragrance, the melt-in-your-mouth bliss. Unforgettable.

“Too delicious!”

“First time in my life eating fish this good.”

“Shame there’s so few…”

Before he finished, a warm surge rose from his dantian.

Miracle Doctor Chapter 589

Ye Qiu instantly realized something.

The crystal fish could boost his cultivation.

Ecstatic, he quickly closed his eyes and began channeling his energy.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Elder Longmei also sat cross-legged, eyes shut.

Shuisheng, having eaten just one fish, felt his body heat up intensely. He wanted to ask Elder Longmei what was happening, but seeing him meditating, he didn’t dare interrupt. Helpless, he jumped into the pond.

Ten minutes later, Ye Qiu opened his eyes, glaring at Elder Longmei with some annoyance.

Three crystal fish had increased his cultivation by three years.

Had he known they had this effect, he’d never have let Elder Longmei eat so many.

Two minutes later, Elder Longmei opened his eyes, chuckling, “Little brat, how’s it feel?”

“Truly a potent tonic—too bad you hogged six,” Ye Qiu grumbled.

“I gained something too—my stamina’s up a bit, should last me a few more days,” Elder Longmei said with a smile.

“For real?” Ye Qiu’s eyes lit up.

Elder Longmei nodded.

“Then I’ll catch more,” Ye Qiu said. If they helped Elder Longmei’s injuries, grabbing a few extra could buy him more time.

“Don’t bother,” Elder Longmei stopped him. “Their effect has limits—more won’t do much. Rare treasures like these shouldn’t be overharvested. Leave them be… Where’s Shuisheng?”

He turned and didn’t see Shuisheng.

“Probably in the pond,” Ye Qiu said, stepping to the edge. Sure enough, Shuisheng lay naked in the water, eyes closed, looking blissful.

“Tsk, tsk, didn’t expect it—you’re packing some heat,” Ye Qiu teased.

Shuisheng jolted, scrambling out, hands covering himself, face red as he stared at Ye Qiu. “Dr. Ye, why’re you peeking?”

Ye Qiu ignored him, turning to Elder Longmei. “Shuisheng’s wasted at Longhu Mountain—send him to the city.”

“With his looks and assets, he’d rake it in at a club—rich ladies would love him.”

“He could probably bankroll all of Longhu Mountain solo.”

Elder Longmei shot him a glare. “Get lost!”

Ye Qiu laughed.

“Shuisheng, put your clothes on—we’re moving,” Elder Longmei barked.

They ate some dry rations and pressed on.

The journey was smooth, no fierce beasts or birds along the way.

After crossing three peaks, night fell.

Ahead lay a dense forest, looming in the dark like a crouched beast.

“Uncle Master, are we pushing on at night? Why not rest outside the forest till dawn?” Shuisheng suggested.

Elder Longmei shook his head. “I don’t have time to waste—gotta reach Dalong Mountain soon.”

“But that forest’s so thick—what if it’s dangerous?” Shuisheng fretted.

Smack!

Elder Longmei slapped his bald head. “Keep being a coward, and I’ll end you.”

“Remember, you’re from Longhu Mountain—no matter the peril, don’t flinch.”

“With righteous spirit in your heart, fear vanishes.”

Ye Qiu added, “Shuisheng, you’re a man—stand tall. Be brave. Longhu Mountain’s future rests on you.”

Shuisheng nodded.

“Let’s go!”

They entered the forest, flashlights in hand.

It was vast, like a giant net enveloping them.

From dusk till midnight, they still hadn’t exited.

Thankfully, no dangers arose.

At 1 a.m., Ye Qiu, leading the way, halted.

“Little brat, what’d you spot?” Elder Longmei asked.

Shuisheng, tense, swept his flashlight around.

“There’s a skeleton ahead,” Ye Qiu said, hurrying over to inspect it.

The skeleton was long rotted, clad in tattered military garb—unmistakably Japanese from its style.

Beside it lay a rusted submachine gun.

“That driver wasn’t lying—Japanese soldiers did come here years ago,” Ye Qiu said.

Elder Longmei frowned. “The driver said a whole regiment entered—why just one skeleton?”

“More up ahead,” Ye Qiu replied, shining his light forward.

Elder Longmei saw them—hundreds of skeletons.

One, two, three, four…

All in Japanese uniforms, weapons scattered nearby.

One had a samurai sword beside it.

Ye Qiu also spotted three mortars, thick with rust from age.

He picked up a submachine gun—rusted solid, unusable.

“Damn, these Japanese were tough to get this far,” Elder Longmei cursed.

“Can’t underestimate their smarts—they were formidable, or they wouldn’t have sparked a world war,” Ye Qiu said.

“How’d they die?” Elder Longmei asked.

“Can’t tell,” Ye Qiu replied. “No poison signs, no beast marks.”

“Uncle Master, Dr. Ye, we shouldn’t linger—let’s go!” Shuisheng urged.

“He’s right—move,” Ye Qiu agreed, leading on.

By 5:30 a.m., as dawn broke in the east, they emerged from the forest.

“Old man, come see this,” Ye Qiu called from the front.

Elder Longmei joined him, looking out. Three hundred meters away, twenty-eight massive peaks stretched in a chain, scattered like the twenty-eight constellations.

One peak, a hundred meters tall, stood bare and stark, like a giant sword piercing the sky.

“Dalong Mountain—that’s Dalong Mountain!” Elder Longmei pointed at the sword-like peak, voice trembling with excitement.

“We found it!”

Ye Qiu grinned.

Elder Longmei studied it, awestruck. “I get why the Patriarch left the Heavenly Master Sword here.”

“Because…”

“Dalong Mountain is a dragon vein!”

Miracle Doctor Chapter 590

A dragon vein is a term from feng shui.

Ancient feng shui masters liked to use the dragon as a metaphor for the flow, rise, fall, twists, and turns of mountain ranges. Dragons are masters of transformation—able to grow large or small, bend or stretch, hide or reveal, fly or dive. Mountain ranges, with their ever-changing forms, resemble dragons, hence the name.

Every feng shui treasure land must have a dragon vein.

Skilled feng shui masters can trace a dragon vein’s path to locate the dragon, assess the sands, observe the waters, pinpoint the acupoint, and determine orientation—establishing the universe’s order and balancing yin and yang.

Elder Longmei gazed at Dalong Mountain, awestruck. “A dragon vein’s layout is like a great tree, with root dragons, trunk dragons, branch dragons, and leaf dragons. Only where the dragon vein’s spiritual energy gathers is a true feng shui treasure.”

“The Ten Thousand Great Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, and all their spiritual energy converges here at Dalong Mountain.”

“Look closely at Dalong Mountain—though barren of grass, it stands like a sky-piercing sword, exuding extraordinary presence, like an emperor guarded by the other twenty-seven peaks.”

“Plus, Dalong Mountain and its surrounding twenty-seven peaks align with the twenty-eight celestial constellations—a pattern so rare it’s a once-in-a-millennium true dragon land.”

“Whoever buries their ancestors here will see their descendants birth a true dragon emperor.”

Shuisheng’s eyes lit up. “Uncle Master, is that all true?”

“Do I look like I’m lying?” Elder Longmei glared at him.

“Awesome,” Shuisheng said.

“What’s got you so excited?” Elder Longmei asked, baffled.

Ye Qiu shot Shuisheng a puzzled glance too.

Shuisheng grinned. “Uncle Master, when you die, I’ll bury you here—then Longhu Mountain will produce a true dragon emperor!”

Smack!

Elder Longmei slapped Shuisheng’s head, roaring, “I’m not dead yet!”

“You’ll die eventually, right?”

Elder Longmei trembled with rage.

Shuisheng, oblivious, pressed, “Uncle Master, am I wrong?”

“Wrong, your grandma!”

Furious, Elder Longmei unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on Shuisheng.

Ye Qiu watched, amused—these two were a pair of clowns.

Only when Elder Longmei tired himself out did he stop.

Ye Qiu looked over, seeing Shuisheng’s bald head sporting several prominent lumps.

“Uncle Master, you didn’t hold back—hurts like hell,” Shuisheng whined, clutching his head, looking pitiful.

“Curse my death again, and I’ll hit you harder,” Elder Longmei snapped.

“Enough, old man—let’s not waste time. Time to head in!” Ye Qiu said.

Elder Longmei cautioned, “A true dragon land is bound to be extraordinary—be careful once we’re inside.”

The trio set off toward Dalong Mountain.

Among the twenty-eight peaks, Dalong Mountain sat at the center, with the nearest two peaks three hundred meters away.

In minutes, they stood before them.

The two peaks loomed like twin giants, shoulder to shoulder, a fifty-meter-wide canyon between them.

At the canyon’s entrance stood a stone tablet.

It towered three meters high and one meter wide, thick and imposing.

Shuisheng pointed out, “Uncle Master, there’s writing on it.”

“Do you think I’m blind?” Elder Longmei grumbled.

“Let’s check it out,” Ye Qiu said, striding to the tablet. After studying it, he read aloud, “To those who come after: Do not enter the mountain. Fortune and calamity intertwine; life and death hang in balance.”

Clearly, the tablet warned against entering.

Who would leave such a marker here?

Ye Qiu frowned, curious.

Then Shuisheng circled behind it, exclaiming, “Uncle Master, Dr. Ye, come quick—there’s writing on the back too!”

Ye Qiu and Elder Longmei hurried over.

They focused on the back, where six characters were etched in the lower left corner.

“Longhu Mountain, Zhang Daoling!”

Ye Qiu’s heart jolted—this tablet was left by Zhang Daoling, Longhu Mountain’s founding patriarch.

“The journal was right—our Patriarch was here,” Elder Longmei said. He adjusted his robes, knelt, and spoke reverently to the tablet, “Longhu Mountain disciple Longmei pays respects to the Patriarch.”

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

He kowtowed three times, Shuisheng following suit.

Ye Qiu helped him up. “Old man, since Heavenly Master Zhang left this warning, it means there’s danger inside.”

Elder Longmei nodded. “A millennium-rare true dragon land is bound to have risks.”

“But the Patriarch also said fortune and calamity coexist, life and death split even—there’s opportunity amid the danger.”

“Besides, we’ve come this far—I’m not turning back.”

His goal was to retrieve Longhu Mountain’s sacred treasure, the Heavenly Master Sword. Until he found it, he wouldn’t retreat an inch.

“No time to waste—into the valley,” Ye Qiu declared, stepping in first.

Elder Longmei and Shuisheng followed.

The canyon was filled with uniform green bamboo—no trees in sight.

The bamboo grew lush and verdant, swaying gently in the breeze like dancing fairies.

A breathtaking sight.

They moved slowly, wary of danger and mindful of Elder Longmei’s frail state.

Already injured, he’d been worn down by relentless travel. The crystal fish had restored some stamina, but last night’s march had pushed him near collapse.

After about a hundred meters, Ye Qiu’s eyelids twitched violently.

He stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Elder Longmei asked.

“I’ve got a bad feeling—like there’s danger here,” Ye Qiu said.

Shuisheng, ever timid, suggested, “Uncle Master, why not cast a divination?”

“Good idea,” Elder Longmei agreed, pulling three copper coins from his sleeve. He muttered an incantation and tossed them.

Buzz!

The coins hovered, spinning rapidly before him.

Ten seconds later—

Clink!

They fell in a triangular formation.

“Uncle Master, what’s the reading? Any danger?” Shuisheng asked eagerly.

Elder Longmei picked them up. “The hexagram shows no immediate threat—a great auspicious sign. This trip might go smoother than we thought…”

Before he could finish, Ye Qiu cut in, “Old man, what’s that?”

Elder Longmei looked up.

In an instant, the smile froze on his face.