Chapter 528 - 526: Idling the Days Away

Chapter 528: Chapter 526: Idling the Days Away

After Su Qing emerged from the Secret Realm, he looked at the entrance.

He remained silent. Then, with a wave of his hand, a spatial restriction formed around the Secret Realm.

’This is someone’s tomb. It’s best not to disturb them.’

"Yuanheng True Bell, discovered in the 678th Star Sea Year of the 432nd Star Sea Era. The third Soul-Rooted Shadow."

Su Qing silently made a note of it.

This was the standard way of recording time in the Star Sea. One Star Sea Era contained 1,268 Star Sea Years.

After Su Qing recorded it in his book, he finally put the book away.

In a flash, he returned to the second floor of the Qingsu Medical Clinic.

He immediately took out several poisons and swallowed them in one gulp.

Then, his doppelganger appeared outside the city. Sword in hand, it walked into the city looking somewhat disheveled.

The guards saw him but let him pass immediately.

"Divine Physician Su, what were you doing in the wilds?"

"Nothing much. I was looking for some rare herbs, but I didn’t find any." Su Qing smiled as he walked into the city without having to pay any fee.

He strolled back to the Qingsu Medical Clinic.

With Li Renren present, the Qingsu Medical Clinic was already open for business.

When Su Qing returned looking disheveled, Li Renren was still engrossed in studying a rabbit.

His wife was by his side, watching him with a loving gaze.

Su Qing had returned.

The couple both saw him.

"Su Qing, you’re back?"

"I haven’t seen you for days. I was starting to think I was about to inherit the clinic." Li Renren laughed, setting aside the rabbit he was studying.

He looked at Su Qing’s rather wretched appearance and grew a little suspicious.

’The wilds are so treacherous, yet only his clothes are a bit torn?’

’His body is completely unharmed?’

Li Renren could see through the disguise of Su Qing’s "ordinary person" doppelganger with a single glance.

"Even if I died, I wouldn’t let you inherit the clinic."

"I’m not seeing patients today. I’m going to get cleaned up and rest for the day." Su Qing remained perfectly composed. He set his longsword aside and went to the backyard.

He drew water from the well, preparing to wash up.

By the time Su Qing had finished washing, Li Renren’s wife was gone.

"Where have you been these past few days?"

"I didn’t run into you out in the wilds," Li Renren said, clearly confused.

When Su Qing hadn’t returned after one night, Li Renren had gone out to search the wilds.

There was no sign of Su Qing’s aura anywhere near Upper Immortal City, not even a physical trace.

This only made Su Qing seem even more mysterious to Li Renren.

"I had a fortuitous encounter, but it was of no use to me, so I came back," Su Qing said with a light chuckle.

Li Renren chuckled. "It seems you have plenty of secrets of your own."

"Why don’t you focus on healing that little rabbit of yours first."

Su Qing plopped down into the rattan chair and fell asleep.

As the rattan chair rocked back and forth, the day quickly passed.

Li Renren was deeply confused. ’Why did that malevolent Daoist Cultivator suddenly disappear right after Su Qing left? I don’t understand.’

This led Li Renren to a bold conclusion.

’Did Su Qing eliminate him?’

’Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why Su Qing was nowhere to be found in the wilds around Upper Immortal City during that time.’

If that was the case, then Su Qing’s wretched appearance upon his return... was just an act.

Li Renren grew even more suspicious. Perhaps the physical state he had observed was merely what Su Qing had allowed him to see.

If Su Qing knew what Li Renren was thinking, he would certainly praise him. A good guess, and a correct one at that.

’It really was just an act, but you wouldn’t dare call him out on it.’

Sometimes, a confrontation isn’t a good idea.

Especially when the other person is much, much stronger than you.

Li Renren suddenly recalled Su Qing’s words: "Let’s talk after you’ve healed this rabbit."

’Is healing a soul really that difficult?’

But then he remembered Su Qing’s dismissive attitude.

’Is this a test for me?’

’"But no matter what, I have to heal this rabbit,"’ Li Renren resolved.

After all, the rabbit had looked after him during his travels.

Li Renren stroked the rabbit’s soft fur.

He continued his research on the workings of the soul.

In his mind, he had already judged Su Qing to be a powerful Cultivator.

With this thought, Li Renren felt an even greater urgency to heal the rabbit’s soul.

He had a feeling that if he didn’t heal the rabbit’s soul soon, he would miss out on a great opportunity.

Whenever he got this feeling, Li Renren’s expression would turn grim.

This intuition of his had saved his life many times.

He had to trust it.

...

At that moment, Su Qing was still unaware.

He had unwittingly been cast in the role of the wise old mentor.

And the role of the protagonist had fallen to Li Renren.

After dealing with that affair, Su Qing rarely saw patients anymore.

Even when using his doppelganger, the "Praise the Sound of Origin" would constantly echo in his ears.

An ordinary person would likely achieve instant enlightenment just by hearing it.

So Su Qing, with nothing better to do, spent his days slacking off.

Li Renren seemed to work through patients even faster, as if intentionally giving Su Qing more opportunities to slack off.

And so...

「Another year passed.」

Su Qing had been slacking off for nearly a year.

Su Qing turned away anyone who wanted to become an apprentice at the clinic.

Li Renren didn’t take on any either.

Instead, he had his wife help out at the clinic.

He taught her the art of medicine.

Meanwhile, he hadn’t forgotten about repairing the rabbit’s soul.

’"I’ve finally restored one part of its soul!"’ Li Renren desperately wanted to show off the rabbit to Su Qing.

’But then again,’ he thought, ’it’s not fully healed yet.’

’I have to keep going.’

Li Renren’s wife was now a Doctor in her own right. Under her husband’s tutelage, it would have been difficult for her not to become one.

Especially since she adored Li Renren.

She took on almost half of Li Renren’s workload.

She was by his side from the moment work began until it ended.

As for Su Qing, he felt neither envy nor jealousy, only offering them his blessings.

After all, how long any two people could stay together was an unknown quantity.

Li Renren had once even told Su Qing that he somewhat regretted getting married.

Perhaps he felt he no longer needed a wife; that on the contrary, having too many attachments prevented him from moving forward or backward.

Su Qing, for his part, just kept slacking off.

Though from time to time, young women would approach, wanting to get a look at his face.

After all, compared to other men, Su Qing was exceptionally handsome.

「Half a year later.」

Li Renren approached Su Qing, holding the rabbit.

"Su Qing, take a look!"

Su Qing glanced over, then reached out to stroke it.

"Not bad."

"But it’s still not good enough. And you know why I say that."

That one sentence made it obvious that Su Qing was no ordinary person.

The young man had indeed healed its soul, but the rabbit’s eyes were too clear; one look was all it took to see that its memories had not returned.

This rabbit was clearly very important to Li Renren, yet it showed no emotional response toward him whatsoever.

It was, in effect, like a newborn infant.

That was why Su Qing said it wasn’t good enough. Li Renren had merely achieved the standard level of soul restoration common among most beings in the Star Sea.

A typical inhabitant of the Star Sea could accomplish what Li Renren had just done with a single bottle of Soul Nourishing Liquid.

So why did Su Qing think so highly of Li Renren?

Because Li Renren had immense potential.

The Medical Dao Path was a highly conceptual path.

It was similar to the Life Dao Path and the Devouring Dao Path.

But the Medical Dao Path focused on healing. A malfunctioning brain? It could be healed.

Lost memories? They could be healed.

All things were treatable.

Li Renren couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at Su Qing’s words.

’He was right. Even I feel this healing is imperfect.’

Because the little rabbit’s memories were completely gone.

’But how can I restore its memories?’

So, Li Renren once again began his research into the functions of the Three Souls.

’So even this wasn’t enough to impress Su Qing?’

’No, I should call him Senior.’

...