Chapter 262 - Hua Tuo Returns (1/2)
”You have everything you need?” Buddha asked and Hua Tuo nodded. It took a little longer than he expected to complete his errands but he was finally done.
Buddha seemed intrigued by Hua Tuo's report about Zero's inner world and cultivation base. Who would have thought that the octopus Ba Guai would be capable of cultivating independently in Zero's world?
”I'll be heading back to Half Moon Village to resume Zero's medical training. We might visit the abyss for a few months and set up shop there so if there are any customers in heaven, please redirect them over. The usual commission rate applies for any successful referrals from you,” he told the Wise One and Buddha smiled.
”Pleasure doing business with you, as usual, travel safely.”
Hua Tuo didn't bother waving goodbye and stepped through the portal. Buddha watched the reflection in his lotus pond as Hua Tuo reached his hut at Endow Hill safely. The physician busied himself by putting away his newly acquired tools. Buddha decided to leave and continue with his meditation instead. After a few days of reprieve, it was time to go back to the normal flow of things.
Back on Endow Hill, Hua Tuo hid Zero's graduation gift. He quickly changed into a new set of clothes and restocked his medical supplies before heading to Half Moon Village. Thanks to the portal, travelling was simplified a lot.
>> This is a sponsored line break announcement. If you are not reading on Webnovel then the content is stolen. Support the creator - Destiny Aitsuji - on Webnovel and check out their other works. <<
Zero was babysitting the children when he felt a familiar presence in the village. The teen stuck his head out of the window to peer down to the village square and was delighted to see an old man in faded blue robes.
”Shifu!” he yelled and passed Seff over to Rima who held the toddler in her arms. Zero then jumped off the apartment and landed in front of the doctor in a cloud of dust.
Hua Tuo wasn't amused with his student who hasn't seemed to grow out of his bad habit of jumping from high places. If Zero had a past life, Hua Tuo would have bet he was a bird.
”Welcome back,” the apprentice grinned and Hua Tuo studied the improvements in cultivation Zero made during his absence. The qi was more stable and flowed through the meridians more smoothly than before he left. Qin Yun must have been a good teacher for Zero to reach the advanced stage of control. However, knowing his student's usual speed of progress, he should have mastered the elemental manipulation with his Ba Gua basics. Why did Zero's qi lack of any elemental traces?
”I'm back. How is everything?” he asked as Zero offered to carry his baggage for him.
That question immediately put Zero in a chatty mood and he told Hua Tuo a lot of things from the crazy matches and his training with Qin Yun. He also whined a little about needing to attend to so many things that he wasn't given any time for himself while Hua Tuo was gone. The last thing Zero told Hua Tuo made the old man chuckle.
”I don't know if I have anyone worth sacrificing the world for actually. Everyone is equally important to me and I cannot sacrifice one to save the other.”
”All in due time, Zero. Answers like this won't come overnight. If you travel and meet more people, someday you will find the person you are looking for. please start changing into your medical robes, today I will be demonstrating a simple surgery. Do you still remember how to stitch?”
Hearing that he was finally going to be learning how to perform an operation, the brunet jumped in joy. ”Yes! should I prepare a sewing kit?”
Hua Tuo rolled his eyes at Zero's overreaction. ”Yes. Get a sewing kit, prepare to sterilise the knives and acupuncture needles. No magic allowed, we will put the cow to sleep with acupuncture. You're in charge of anaesthesia with the needles, stitching back the wounds and cleaning the young. We start tomorrow morning. Understood?”
Zero nodded and bolted off to ready the items. Half Moon Village started rearing animals a few months back when Coux took over the trading business. Right now, Zero and Hua Tuo were going to operate on a cow who was coming close to her full-term. the calf inside was developed backwards and it made natural birth risky so Hua Tuo would have to operate on her to take the baby out.
This was brilliant news for Zero who couldn't wait to see a live surgery. He was finally going to master his teacher's final skills. Thinking about it, the boy couldn't believe how quickly time flew by. He would soon graduate after learning acupuncture and surgery.
Graduation meant a few things. Firstly, Zero would no longer be staying with Hua Tuo or Half Moon Village. Secondly, he would no longer be an apprentice because he would be a full-fledged doctor. Zero was slightly nervous about making his own diagnosis without Hua Tuo around to guide him. Lastly, Zero would be learning about magic while training under Merlin. He would also most likely not return to Earth for a while during his year with Merlin. He was going to miss everyone.
That afternoon, Hua Tuo went in search for Ruth and the lab members while Zero was occupied with cleanup duties. Zero decided to take some time to discuss some of Zoe's concerns regarding the mindscape and her duties. Hua Tuo was thankful for the opportunity and quickly ushered the vampire into the stone cottage.
”Is the weapon ready?”