She might not fully grasp the deeper meaning right now, but with time, she would understand.
Zhu Yanyi looked up at the sky and frowned slightly. "I know. I will work hard to learn medicine well." She didn't understand everything yet, but one thing was clear: mastering medicine was the only path she could take now.
Yan Aohan observed Zhu Yanyi’s expression. He knew she wouldn’t understand his full intent immediately, but he also sensed a shift in her mindset.
She paused, then asked again, "Ani, do you remember what I told you about being a Medical God?"
"Lower doctors heal people, middle doctors heal the nation, upper doctors heal heaven." Zhu Yanyi would never forget these twelve words.
"Very good," Yan Aohan said with a smile. "Just remember them."
She certainly remembered. Zhu Yanyi knew she was currently a lower doctor, focused on saving lives. Regardless, she would strive harder. "I still hope Grandpa Yao is safe."
"When life begins, death is set first; then life is managed," Yan Aohan said slowly, uttering ten words.
Zhu Yanyi froze, repeating her words softly. "When life begins, death is set first; then life is managed." Why did this sound so familiar? It wasn’t just a simple proverb. She must have heard it somewhere. Fragments of memory flickered in her mind, then vanished. She shook her head, confused.
Yan Aohan rubbed Zhu Yanyi’s head again. "Stop thinking about it. Eat quickly. After you finish, I’ll take you to rest. We leave for that village early tomorrow morning."
The heavy topic seemed to hide many secrets. Yan Aohan offered no explanation. Even if Zhu Yanyi wanted to probe deeper, she couldn’t figure it out. Still, she listened to him, finished the bread in her hand, and stood up. By now, the sky was completely dark. On the sea, only faint black waves rolled, tapping against the shore. The only light came from a lighthouse nearby, guiding the way.
The lighthouse stood alone in the distance. Its only purpose seemed to be offering a glimmer of hope to sailors, helping them find their way home.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yanyi paused. Something inside her seemed to peel away. The lighthouse was hope for sailors; doctors were hope for patients. Both were hope. Their functions differed, but their goals were the same: to give people a chance to live. She was the one creating that chance for patients. Not just her, but Grandpa Yao too. All doctors were.
Why had Grandpa Yao come here? Whether to lure the snake out of its hole or for another reason, his original purpose was to help the sick here. He wanted to relieve their suffering. Not just here, but wherever there were patients in the world, he wanted to bring hope. That was why, at nearly eighty, he still refused to retire.
Now, he was missing, his fate unknown. Regardless of his current situation, Zhu Yanyi had formed a firm resolve. She would follow Grandpa Yao’s path. She would use all her strength to learn various medical skills and help those in need. She would accumulate more karmic merit in this world to prove that the Azure Sovereign Qingdi had chosen the right successor.