Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly. "I didn't go through anything scary. Brother Luo and Xiao Zhang handled everything. I wasn't frightened at all."
Her spirits were high. She truly hadn't been scared.
Old Master Yao looked at Zhu Yanyi’s expression. Seeing she was fine, she nodded. "Stay at my place for the next few days."
"Okay. We need to operate on Senior Brother Zhao tomorrow. Please help prepare," Zhu Yanyi said. She handed a piece of paper to Gu Jingtian.
Gu Jingtian took it, read it, and nodded. "Alright. I’ll get everything ready. For tomorrow’s surgery, Master and I will be your assistants inside. To the outside world, it will look like Master performed the surgery."
"Good," Zhu Yanyi nodded.
Old Master Yao saw that the instructions were clear. "Alright. Let’s go check on Zhao Guangzong. The surgery is tomorrow, so pre-op checks are important. Also, Grandpa Chun has been waiting impatiently. He’s probably in Zhao Guangzong’s ward right now."
Old Master Yao took Zhu Yanyi’s hand and walked in. Zhao Guangzong was in a special ward. As Grandpa Chun’s disciple, she deserved this treatment. Besides, since the recent events involved her, protecting her was necessary. This special ward area was much safer.
Inside, Grandpa Chun was indeed talking with Zhao Guangzong. Zhu Yanyi saw her and smiled. "Grandpa Chun, you have a new senior brother and forgot about me. Is that being fickle?"
Grandpa Chun came over and tapped Zhu Yanyi’s head. "What nonsense are you saying? Is your Grandpa Chun like that?"
"Very much so," Zhu Yanyi tilted her head and smiled.
"Disrespectful. I haven’t seen you in two months, and your skin has gotten thicker," Grandpa Chun laughed, teasing her gently.
Old Master Yao shook her head and stepped forward to check Zhao Guangzong’s pulse. After the examination, she felt relieved. Zhu Yanyi had done an excellent job maintaining and regulating Zhao Guangzong’s health.
"Ani is absolutely ready to graduate," Old Master Yao said.
She wasn’t speaking lightly. It was the truth. When she discovered Zhu Yanyi had mastered the Thirteen Needles of Reviving Withered Wood, and later saw she had created her own Five-Character TCM Surgical Technique, she knew she was ready. She had just delayed it. Now, she could let go.
"Ani, tomorrow’s surgery on Zhao Guangzong will be your graduation ceremony," Old Master Yao decided. The young eagle must grow. The old eagle’s role was to be the support behind them, not to restrict their development.
"Grandpa Yao, I still have so much to learn," Zhu Yanyi was surprised. She hadn’t expected her to say this.
Old Master Yao smiled gently, his eyes full of comfort. "Child, Grandpa Yao has thought this over carefully. Your talent is the best among all my disciples. I used to worry your mindset wasn’t stable. But through recent events, I see you have your own principles. These principles suit you well as a good doctor. When I learned you created the Five-Character TCM Surgical Technique, I decided you could graduate. But I held back because you didn’t have your medical license yet. Then I got busy, and you went home, so I forgot to mention it. Now that you’re here, and after checking Zhao Guangzong’s body, I can say you are absolutely ready. However, a graduation ceremony is required. Traditionally, the master decides the ceremony. So, I have decided this surgery is your graduation ceremony. Child, do not disappoint me."