With an added Liu Muyan, Ye Nu's speed was inevitably reduced by several notches. If he had been in a rush, he could have utilized his lightness skill to make quick progress.

Had there been nothing pressing back home, given his cultivation level, he could have sped back to Mount Shu in a matter of days using only his qinggong. But now?

Having the scholar Ye Wen carry someone was not impossible, but Liu Muyan’s scholarly constitution was so frail it made Ye Wen’s hair stand on end. Even when Ye Wen took him and leapt forward rapidly, they wouldn't travel two li before the newly accepted student would either pass out completely in Ye Wen’s arms, or simply vomit until he was thoroughly cleansed.

“Your body is too weak…” Less than half a day out from the county town, Liu Muyan was already panting beside the road like a frightened cur. Ye Wen began to doubt if bringing this scholar along had been a mistake.

“Master, this student… this student is a scholar. I spend all my days studying at home, so naturally, I lack much strength!” Although Liu Muyan didn't much mind his poor health, Ye Wen was now his teacher.

The most he could do when chided by his teacher was offer this kind of defense; to argue back outright was something he definitely dared not do. Hearing this, Ye Wen wasted no words.

He walked over, took hold of Liu Muyan’s wrist, and spent a good while probing with his inner zhenqi. As his zhenqi flowed in and meandered through the limb, Liu Muyan felt a warm current flowing from his wrist, up his forearm, to his shoulder, and finally circulating through every part of his body.

The sensation was incredibly pleasant; it felt as if even the minor ailments accumulated from years of reading had vanished in that instant. But when Ye Wen released his hand, the warm current within him disappeared.

He opened his eyes, looked at his master who was younger than himself, and just as Liu Muyan was about to inquire, he noticed Ye Wen’s expression was exceedingly grim as he scrutinized him from head to toe. “Master… is there something wrong with this student…” Being scrutinized by Ye Wen like that would make anyone uncomfortable.

Liu Muyan endured it for a moment before he could bear it no longer and hastily asked. Ye Wen made no attempt to conceal anything, merely asking, “Have you been confined to your home every day, never venturing out for years on end…” His tone was grave, and even the densest person would have sensed that Ye Wen was asking about something unfavorable.

Yet, Liu Muyan seemed to recall something he was proud of and answered with great self-satisfaction, “This student can read countless volumes in a single day. I can spend a month without leaving my door just to study.

If not for the need to come out for examinations, I could stay inside my room all year long!” As he spoke, he even shook his head with smug satisfaction: “Within books, there is…” “Enough!” Ye Wen cut him off sharply. “It is a blessing you met me.

If you continue this reckless behavior, you won't last two years before dropping dead from exhaustion!” “Dying suddenly?” Hearing the word sharply, Liu Muyan shuddered all over, but then he laughed, “Master, aren’t you being overly cautious? Although my body has minor discomforts, they aren’t serious matters.

Besides, how many people who acquire great knowledge don't have a few small ailments…” Ye Wen let out a few cold laughs: “Believe it or not! I am merely telling you a fact!

Your circulation of qixue is stagnant, your meridians are withered, and your internal organs are weak. If this continues, you will die within two years from systemic organ failure…” Seeing how frightening Ye Wen’s words sounded, Liu Muyan quickly dropped his smile, not daring to speak carelessly anymore.

He asked, “What is to be done about this? Is there any medicine to cure it…” “You merely need to exercise diligently.

Over time, when your qixue flows vigorously again, you will be cured without medicine!” “Exercise…” After Ye Wen spoke these words, he expected the newly accepted student to be overjoyed, as avoiding death seemed so easily achieved; anyone should be happy about that. Moreover, the exercise Ye Wen mentioned didn't require him to do hard labor, only to move about outside every day.

Unexpectedly, even with this, Liu Muyan’s expression was awful, as if he had just heard the greatest piece of bad news. “Can’t I take medicine?

I know several excellent, powerfully nourishing decoctions. Surely such weakness can be restored by taking a medicinal soup!” Ye Wen was nearly driven mad by this and immediately cursed: “Your condition now is 'weakness unable to accept richness' (xu bu shou bu).

Those heavily tonic remedies you drink will not only fail to save you, they will instead cause your demise. If you wish to die, I won't stop you.

Go find a pharmacy now, buy the herbs, and then go find a coffin maker to drink them there! That way, you save the trouble of moving you back and forth—just toss you into the coffin, close the lid, and off to the grave…” Only then did Liu Muyan realize the extent of his poor health.

At that moment, he didn't know how to respond, simply staring pleadingly at the Master who had just sentenced him to death. “Don’t look at me like that; it’s unsettling!” After being scolded again by Ye Wen, Liu Muyan sat upright by the roadside, staring straight ahead at a small stone across the road, terrified of provoking Ye Wen again.

Seeing him like this, Ye Wen could only sigh helplessly: “First, come back with me to Mount Shu, then we will slowly regulate your body. If managed properly, your ailment is not difficult to cure!

However, it requires your diligence!” Having talked for this stretch, Ye Wen finally grasped the nature of this Liu Muyan. To put it nicely, he was excessively scholarly; to put it bluntly, he was a lazy pig who avoided physical labor.

Even the most diligent conventional scholars wouldn't lock themselves in a room reading all day as he did. Those people at least knew to move about outside, occasionally going out with like-minded peers to enjoy the scenery, appreciate flowers, or even visit a brothel (Ye Wen was just guessing wildly here; those who frequented such places were usually not impoverished scholars, but this one didn't strike Ye Wen as poor either).

This one, however, was an absolute homebody in this world! He kept company only with scrolls day and night, never venturing out, making even the simple act of walking difficult.

At this moment, Ye Wen did believe that Liu Muyan was truly a man of profound knowledge; with such diligent study, his knowledge could hardly fail to be vast. Thinking of this, a spark of inspiration suddenly struck Ye Wen.

He casually picked up a wooden stick from the roadside and handed it to Liu Muyan: “Hold this as if you were poised to write, and show me!” Liu Muyan looked utterly confused, but he complied. The small, feather-light wooden branch trembled violently in his hand.

After holding it for just a moment, Liu Muyan was already sweating profusely, his hand shaking even more fiercely. Ye Wen understood immediately with just one glance.

When Liu Muyan had been writing earlier, Ye Wen hadn't paid much attention, simply concluding his assessment after seeing the script. Now, he realized the root cause still lay in Liu Muyan's physical body.

“This is truly extraordinary! He can’t even hold such a light stick steady; no wonder his calligraphy is described as earth-shattering and ghost-moving!” It turned out that Liu Muyan could never write well because his body was too weak—weak to a significant degree.

To put it plainly, if you asked a dying man, afflicted with an incurable disease, to hold a brush and write, the result wouldn't be much better. Besides this, Liu Muyan’s inherent laziness was also a major enemy of calligraphy.

Writing requires a calm mind and steady execution. Liu Muyan would only manage a few characters before losing the desire to continue, wishing only to finish quickly.

When he rushed the movement of his hand, his composure vanished first. Already possessing poor handwriting and lacking underlying strength, when he merely waved his hand casually, the result would be like abstract art!

“I now know why your calligraphy is poor. We can treat that along with your physical condition!” “Really…” Liu Muyan was ecstatic upon hearing this, casually tossing the wooden stick aside.

Ye Wen’s eyes sharpened, his expression turning stern. He made a grasping motion in the air, and before Liu Muyan could understand what he was doing, a small branch suddenly zipped past his ear, landing directly in Ye Wen’s hand.

This sight stunned him speechless. His lips trembled twice before he managed to ask: “Mas… Master, are you perhaps an immortal…” “What immortal?

Just a little trick!” Saying this, he handed the branch back to Liu Muyan and commanded: “From now on, you will hold this wooden stick as if you are writing. You cannot let go unless I tell you to, understand?” Hearing it was just a trick, Liu Muyan was no longer astonished.

He took the branch back. Although he wanted to complain inwardly, having already formally accepted Ye Wen as his Master, he naturally had to obey his orders.

He simply replied: “Understood…” Ye Wen nodded, and once Liu Muyan had assumed the posture, he said, “Let’s keep moving…” “Keep… walking…” “Of course. If we don’t walk, how will we ever get back to Mount Shu?” “But this…” Liu Muyan gestured with his right hand, which was already posed for writing.

“It’s only your right hand; you don’t walk with your hands!” With that, Ye Wen stopped wasting breath and strode ahead, occasionally glancing back to see if the scholar was keeping up. In truth, given Ye Wen’s swiftness, Liu Muyan could never truly keep pace.

However, Ye Wen adjusted his pace based on Liu Muyan’s condition, only moving forward at a speed the scholar could manage to follow. Of course, even so, if Liu Muyan stopped walking and refused to proceed, he would still be unable to keep up with Ye Wen.

But if that happened, Ye Wen would simply consider that he had never accepted such a disciple, and even if the young man sought him out at Mount Shu later, he would absolutely refuse to acknowledge him. This entire affair served as a test for Liu Muyan from Ye Wen.

If he passed, Ye Wen would not only diligently teach him calligraphy but also find ways to cure all his hidden ailments. Liu Muyan was unaware of Ye Wen’s thoughts.

At first, he walked a few steps without complaint, but after half an hour, he started inquiring: “Master, how long must we walk like this? I fear if we walk until dark, we won't even find a place to lodge for the night…” Seeing Ye Wen did not reply, Liu Muyan continued: “How about we rest a while longer?

When we reach the next town, this student can hire a carriage…” This time Ye Wen turned back and smiled: “If you rent a carriage, you may go by yourself!” Liu Muyan was initially pleased, thinking Ye Wen had agreed, until he suddenly realized that Ye Wen’s phrase, “you may go by yourself,” could also be interpreted as “you can just get lost!” Realizing this, he stopped mentioning renting a carriage and meekly followed behind, proceeding slowly. Only occasionally would he ask, “Master, do you wish to rest for a bit?” By now, his right arm felt as if it belonged to someone else, throbbing with ache and numbness from holding it up this entire journey; he desperately wanted to chop it off, but since Ye Wen remained silent, he could only endure, not even daring to use his left hand to offer support.

Another hour passed, and Liu Muyan stopped speaking entirely. He was utterly exhausted, his limbs sore, his legs and feet aching.

He felt too weak even to speak, knowing that Ye Wen certainly would not stop. So, he suppressed the urge to speak, treating silence as a way to conserve strength.

Ye Wen glanced at the sky, then looked back at the scholar still tightly trailing behind him, nodding slightly to himself. He said, “It’s getting late.

It seems we won't make it to the next town; let's find a place near here to rest for the night!” Seeing Liu Muyan still rigidly holding up his right arm, Ye Wen finally added, “You can put your right arm down now…” The moment the words fell, Liu Muyan let out a long, drawn-out breath, and then his whole body seemed to lose its bones as he collapsed onto the roadside. He was still clutching the wooden stick, but this was only because his fingers were too numb to release it; otherwise, he would have flung that accursed thing so far it would never be seen again.

Ye Wen smiled, offering no reply, and went into the woods to look for some wild game. Unfortunately, they were near the main official road, and game was scarce.

Ye Wen searched around but found nothing, ultimately settling for munching on the dry rations they had brought, just like Liu Muyan. “Master, would you like a drink…” While they were eating, Liu Muyan suddenly produced a wineskin from somewhere.

He pulled out the stopper, and a rich aroma of wine immediately wafted out. Although Ye Wen was not a heavy drinker, the scent lured his appetite.

Seeing Liu Muyan raise it to his own lips, Ye Wen immediately stopped him: “Your body is too frail. Don't touch this liquor again for now.

Wait until your health is restored before drinking; at least then drinking won't risk your life!” The scholar was stunned speechless, not expecting that even drinking could be life-threatening. In the end, Ye Wen took the wineskin away, saying, “I will keep this; otherwise, you’ll sneak sips!” After resealing the wineskin, he placed it aside.

Although his appetite was tempted, Ye Wen wouldn't steal from his own disciple. The reason he forbade Liu Muyan from drinking was indeed his extreme weakness.

As for the wineskin? He said he would keep it, and he would.

Once they reached Mount Shu, he would pour the wine into a proper jar and seal it, returning it to Liu Muyan only when his health had recovered. Glancing up, Ye Wen noticed a flicker of suspicion in Liu Muyan’s expression, which annoyed him slightly: “I said I would return it in the future, and I will return it in the future!

Do you think I would covet your paltry amount of wine?” Liu Muyan hastily shook his head: “If Master likes it, this student is certainly happy to offer it!” There it was! It seemed Liu Muyan genuinely thought Ye Wen was after his fine liquor when he said that.

The scholar inwardly concluded that he would never see that wine again. Little did he know, it was precisely this comment that strengthened Ye Wen’s resolve to store the wine properly upon their return.

“I’ll show you what it means to keep one’s word!” Having stirred up a belly full of annoyance for no reason, Ye Wen meditated in the woods for the entire night. At first light the next day, he woke the soundly sleeping Liu Muyan and urged him to set off again.

Liu Muyan, accustomed to a life of leisure at home, never engaging in manual labor or chores, and always traveling by carriage when he did go out, could not withstand such torment! Yesterday’s journey had left him aching all over, and sleeping outdoors the night before made him feel miserable.

But no matter how uncomfortable, it was better than continuing to walk. When Ye Wen woke him, a wave of frustration washed over him.

“Alas! I set out to find a teacher for calligraphy, but I ended up finding a porter for walking!” He could only think these words in his heart; he dared not utter them.

Since he had taken the man as his Master, no matter how eccentric the Master’s temper, he could only endure it. Thus, Liu Muyan followed Ye Wen day after day towards Shushan County.

He walked for an unknown number of days, only realizing that the distance covered seemed shorter each day, yet his body was beginning to fail him. But in the following few days, Liu Muyan was astonished to discover that walking, which had felt like torture just days before, was no longer so difficult.

On this day, he only felt slightly tired after walking all the way into Linshan County. Not only did he enter the town before dusk, but the severe soreness and pain from previous days were gone.

Only then did he understand that Ye Wen forcing him to walk was intended to exercise his body. “Master, after these few days, this student feels his body has improved quite a bit!” Ye Wen shot him a look that was indifferent yet keen: “You call this ‘quite improved’?

You are still far off!” He intended to throw cold water on Liu Muyan’s enthusiasm, but these words drew the attention of an old man nearby. The old man was dressed in rough cloth, with a medicine chest at his feet, and before him sat only a single bowl of plain noodles, which he was eating with great relish, as if he hadn't eaten in days.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin procured from God-knows-where, he unconsciously glanced over upon hearing Ye Wen speak, and after that single look, he let out a soft exclamation: “Hmph?” Then, without waiting for Ye Wen or Liu Muyan to ask, the old man actually moved over and sat at their table. He reached out his withered hand and grabbed Liu Muyan’s wrist.

After only a moment, he suddenly declared: “Indeed, just as I suspected!” Then, stroking his beard with the air of an expert, he addressed Liu Muyan: “Young sir, do you know that your life is not long?” “Hm?” Ye Wen and Liu Muyan were both startled by the sudden intrusion of the old man, but upon hearing the words, they were greatly surprised. Ye Wen took a closer look and realized the old man was a traveling physician.

It was no wonder he had approached; he must have noticed Liu Muyan’s severe weakness and acted on that. “I am already aware of that!” Now it was the old man’s turn to be surprised.

He said softly, “Oh,” then cupped his hands in greeting: “It seems this old man has been meddling unnecessarily!” With a look of regret, he returned to his own table and drank the last remnants of broth from his bowl of noodles. The waiter was about to clear the bowl when the old man turned back, forcefully snatching the bowl from his hand.

The waiter couldn't help but feel contempt, and his tone became rather unpleasant as he spoke: “Old man, are you finished? If you are done, hurry up and clear the space!” The old man was happily drinking, unprepared for the waiter’s sharp words.

However, he had seen such things often enough. He offered a placating smile: “Alright, alright!

I’m finished now!” He then handed the bowl to the waiter, picked up his medicine chest, and prepared to leave. Watching the old man, Ye Wen lowered his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly called out: “Esteemed elder, might I have a word with you?” The old man, who was just about to leave, turned back upon hearing Ye Wen call him and smiled: “What business does this young master have with this humble old man?” Without any pretense, he sat down right next to Ye Wen.

“Let’s skip the rest for now. Please examine this young man thoroughly first, and see if there is any suitable treatment method available?” Ye Wen pointed to Liu Muyan, saying no more, preferring to wait until the senior physician had finished his examination before discussing anything else.