Chapter 73 Chinese Medicine Level! (1/2)
Upon hearing the information, Fang Qiu's eyes brightened. He asked hastily, ”When is their next meeting? And where?”
”I don't know where.”
Xu Miaolin shook his head. ”It will be in one and a half years on 28 of the fourth month in Chinese lunar calendar, the lord of medicine's birthday. The location will only be announced then and no one will share it with any outsider. One before a certain level is not qualified to attend this.”
Not qualified?
I'll get qualified!
Fang Qiu whispered to himself.
This is the last hope. He must grab it!
Another year. He can wait!
Before he could ask about the qualification, Xu Miaolin continued.
”Actually, the outside force is hard to predict.”
It seemed that he had seen through Fang Qiu's mind. He went on, ”You have been on the right path. Your biggest chance is not anyone else but yourself. Become a master of all fields on your own!”
”But how long will it take on your own?”
Fang Qiu shook his head.
On my own?
It was a choice. It was a path. It was a chance. But the time would be too long. And there was no certainty in it at all.
Fang Qiu had no idea how much longer he would have to study to reach Xu Miaolin's level.
Or how much longer he would have to study to become able to cure the old master's illness.
Not just study.
He must become specialized in all fields to be able to cure the old master.
It was already very difficult to study all fields. How much harder it would be to become specialized in all fields?
Even Xu Miaolin, long acknowledged by the Chinese medicine circle, dared not consider himself specialized in all fields but only have knowledge in them. He would have to become way greater than Xu Miaolin to be specialized in all fields.
How old was Xu Miaolin? Around 40!
He reached this level at the age of 40. How could he achieve this in a short time?
Was he going to study for two decades?
It would be too long. He could wait but the old master couldn't!
At that moment.
He suddenly came to realize that he had simplified this whole thing in his mind.
Learning medicine well couldn't guaranteed him to be able to save the old master.
”There isn't an exact time but this is the most reliable way. But what if those old guys were also at their wit's end? You would have to start from beginning after wasting a whole year.”
Xu Miaolin added.
”Hmm.”
Fang Qiu inhaled deeply and nodded heavily.
He couldn't agree more with Xu Miaolin.
Working along both lines, he would make his best effort in his study and wait for the get-together in one year.
He'll bring them over even by force!
But what if these experts couldn't treat the old master's illness?
Teaching himself to become a master might be his only choice.
Besides.
Fang Qiu had already begun learning. He had grasped quite a lot within such a short time. Becoming specialized in all fields sounded scary if possible at all but he couldn't quit.
For the old master.
For curing the old master's illness.
However hard this journey would be, he must carry on. However much time and effort it would take, he must complete it.
”Teaching yourself is only the beginning.”
A teasing smirk sneaked out of Xu Miaolin's lips as he looked at the determination in Fang Qiu's face. He continued, ”Simply relying on teaching yourself won't work. To treat your illness, you must earn approval and acknowledgement from the Chinese medicine circle constantly.”
”Acknowledgement?”
Fang Qiu was confused.
Studying medicine was his own choice and treating the old master's illness was his own business. Why did he need approval or acknowledgement from the Chinese medicine circle.
”That's right!”
Xu Miaolin nodded and replied solemnly, ”You have just begun your study in medicine. You don't know much about Chinese medicine yet.”
”As we are already here, let me tell you a few secrets about the Chinese medicine circe.”
”Do you know how many levels are there in Chinese medicine?”
”Levels?”
Asked Fang Qiu, much shocked.
He had no idea there were levels in Chinese medicine.
”Right.”
Xu Miaolin went on with a gentle smile, ”Chinese medicine is a very deep and difficult science. It's easy to learn but hard to master. Knowing a few herbs or memorizing several prescriptions doesn't make them Chinese medicine doctors.”
Fang Qiu nodded gently.
As a Chinese, he knew very well how mysterious and great Chinese medicine was. He was aware that Chinese medicine was as simple as it appeared to be.
”In the Inner Canon, Chinese medicine is divided into three levels, the superior, the medium, and the coarse.”
”According to the Physician chapter of the Rites of Zhou, their skill level and performance in exams will determine whether they are doctors or apprentices as well as their position and promotion.”
”Today, Chinese medicine doctors seem all the same. Only the elderly are called old Chinese medicine doctors out of respect. But if you pay close attention to it, you can see that Chinese medicine now has four levels.”
Xu Miaolin took a pause before giving further explanation, ”These four levels are Doctors of Ingenuity, Doctors of Brightness, Doctors of Greatness, and Doctors of Divinity.”
”What's the difference?”
The names each gave off a very different feeling but Fang Qiu at the very beginning of his study didn't get it.
”The differences are huge.”
Xu Miaolin laughed before continuing, ”Doctors of Ingenuity can tell a patient's illness and fill a prescription or they know one of many techniques. About Chinese medicine, they know what it is but they don't know why it is it.”
”These doctors are called medication doctors in the Chinese medicine circle. They know songs and proses. They've learned about the basics of Chinese medicine but can't put it in good use. They are able to treat common diseases but they become helpless once the illness is complex.”
”Their learning is at the surface so their understanding is not clear. They rely on themselves to apply medicine according to indications.”
Fang Qiu nodded, not fully understanding.