Seeking Truth with a Sword

Li Ang's mind was in disarray as he followed the yellow-robed eunuch to the back of Liangyi Hall.

Behind the hall, the Emperor and Empress, now completely sober, were present. Also standing there were the Mountain Master, the Prince, the Crown Prince, a group of highly influential ministers, and even Cheng Juxiu, who stood by a long table, smiling at him.

When did Senior Brother Cheng return to Chang'an?

Li Ang felt a sudden relief. Seeing Cheng Juxiu so happy suggested that there probably wasn't a problem.

"I, Li Ang, pay my respects..."

He had just begun to speak and was about to bow when the Emperor interrupted him, "Alright, dispense with the formalities."

Emperor Yu sized up Li Ang and said with a smile, "Is this invention your work?"

Hm?

A sense of foreboding rose in Li Ang's heart as he saw Emperor Yu pick up a silver, leaf-shaped clip from the table.

Forceps?

Li Ang instantly understood why Cheng Juxiu was present in Liangyi Hall and nodded helplessly, "Yes."

Emperor Yu took a map of the Chang'an water channels from a Confucian scholar in the uniform of an Academic Palace Director, who was standing beside the Mountain Master. He then asked again, "Did you also discover the connection between malaria and mosquitoes?"

That... Li Ang glanced at the water channel map. He remembered the idle chat he had with Yang Yu and others upon his arrival in Chang'an, leaving him no choice but to nod helplessly again, "Yes."

The water channel map, mosquitoes, malaria—could it be that the one he argued with at the tavern that day was the Academic Palace Director?

"You, oh you," Emperor Yu put down the water channel map and lightly twirled his beard, laughing, "The forceps can save countless women and children suffering from distress across the world. And discovering the cause of malaria and finding preventive methods will benefit generation upon generation. Even establishing living temples and temples for you everywhere in Yu Country would not be excessive."

"I am but standing on the shoulders of the sages, having discovered just a little, and I dare not arrogate merit to myself."

Li Ang hurriedly declined. He could easily mention malaria, but if the news of the forceps spread, the title of Gynecology Saint would be hard to escape.

"Merit is merit." Emperor Yu said seriously, "Eradicating malaria not only spares millions of common people the suffering of the Malaria Demon but also clears the worries for Yu Country's grand army. In the future, when we expand our territory, you will certainly have your share of merit. Additionally, since you also cured National Guardian General Yan Yundang, the merits are too numerous to reward casually..."

Emperor Yu fell silent, seemingly pondering what kind of reward to grant Li Ang.

Not a marriage! Please no!

Having talked with the Crown Prince for several hours, Li Ang already had psychological trauma. Seeing the flickering gaze of Emperor Yu and Empress Xue, alarm bells rang in his mind. He immediately gathered his wits and said, "Your servant asks not for rewards, but for one thing."

"Oh?" Emperor Yu asked in surprise, "What do you wish for?"

"I wish to access and read the medical texts from the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Pharmacy Bureau, and the Medicine Storage Bureau." Li Ang stated his prepared answer, "My family has been practicing medicine for generations, and my lifelong dream is to wish for a world without diseases, where even the shelves of medicines gather dust. I wish to access texts from various medical fields to learn from the experiences of many and enhance my medical skills. Perhaps eventually, I can not just prevent diseases like malaria but truly cure those afflicted with it and other severe illnesses."

Requesting medical texts was morally unobjectionable and also laid the groundwork for future inventions. As long as one read enough books, relevant clues could always be found in ancient texts to legitimize new creations.

"To wish for a world without diseases, where even the shelves of medicines gather dust..." Emperor Yu's eyes brightened, and he murmured, "I approve of this matter."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief, but then heard Emperor Yu continue, "However, it is customary in Yu Country to reward those who contribute. The medical texts can only count as a minor gesture. You are still a student of the Academic Palace... So, since you do not yet have a permanent residence in Chang'an City, I shall reward you with a residence in Golden City Square. There's half a month left before the Academic Palace term begins. Kindly refrain from leaving the city for now. The matter of the forceps and malaria prevention is of great importance. The Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Industry, and the Imperial Hospital may need to consult you."

"Your servant obeys."

Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief. Golden City Square was located northwest of Chang'an, in the second workshop directly north of the West Market. The area boasted a superior environment, rich in water and greenery, and was home to many wealthy individuals. If it had been in the northeast, it wouldn't have been as favorable; Squares like Chongren Square, Anxing Square, or Yongjia Square were all inhabited by dukes and ministers. Living there might not necessarily be a good thing.

After quickly finalizing the rewards, Emperor Yu casually asked some questions, such as the situation at Li Ang's house and the scenery of Yizhou. After encouraging him for a while, he finally let Li Ang leave.

Speaking with the Emperor was truly exhausting.

Li Ang took a deep breath and followed the yellow-robed eunuch out of Liangyi Hall. When leaving the hall, he also received an additional gift—a wooden box containing several long gold ingots.

One hundred taels of gold. This was the standard reward of gold and silver given by the Royal Family to important ministers.

One tael of high-quality gold was worth about seventeen strings and five hundred wen. Thus, one hundred taels amounted to one thousand seven hundred and fifty strings—not very much, especially compared to the residence in Golden City Square. The main value lay in the royal seal stamped on the back of the gold ingots, which held symbolic significance.

It's like going into the Imperial City and coming out with goods. Li Ang looked at the shimmering, heavy gold in the wooden box and shook his head, thinking, But this gold from the Royal Family, I'm afraid it's not easy to find someone to melt it down and exchange it for flying money. It would be better to directly reward paper money; at least I could spend it whenever I wanted.

Li Ang casually grumbled about the dignity of the Royal Family. As soon as he boarded the carriage, he saw Cheng Juxiu also coming out of Liangyi Hall.

"Senior Brother Cheng." Li Ang excitedly poked his head out of the carriage. "Is everything alright with Professor Gongyang?"

"Yes, it's been resolved." Even under the moonlight, the sun-darkened Cheng Juxiu smiled cheerfully. "It seems you, Risheng, have had a rich and fascinating few months."

"Don't joke about me, Senior Brother." Li Ang shook his head and smiled bitterly. His time in Chang'an had been full of ups and downs. Just last night at this time, he was in an underground cavern, struggling with wits and dangers against the mechanisms in the Sword Immortal's Tomb of Clothing, facing constant peril.

"Alright, I came out to give you this on behalf of the Mountain Master." Cheng Juxiu turned serious for a moment and handed a rectangular, Taotie-patterned Ink Jade to Li Ang.

Li Ang exclaimed in surprise, "This is..."

"You can take it as the reward for the Academic Palace Top Scholar." Cheng Juxiu said, "Inside the jade pendant is a talisman personally inscribed by the Mountain Master. It is capable of blocking one external attack and could save your life in a critical moment."

"Isn't this too valuable?" Li Ang was utterly astonished. The Academic Palace Master was Yu Country's highest-ranked Cultivator. A talisman personally written by him... How much could it be worth?

"You deserve it." Cheng Juxiu paused, glanced at the yellow-robed eunuch who stood to one side, his head bowed pretending not to hear anything, and spoke in a low voice, "Moreover, earlier in Liangyi Hall, His Majesty asked you not to leave the city; that was for your own good. You should know, once malaria is resolved, Yu Country's army can advance west and south without major concerns. This is not good news for Nanzhou, West Jing, Nan Zhao, or even the Desert People in the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains. Although Chang'an City is safe, danger... still exists. His Majesty asking you to stay in Golden City Square and the Mountain Master giving you the Protective Jade Pendant both stem from this consideration."

Li Ang was stunned. "Senior Brother, are you saying... there might be assassins targeting me?"

"It could be Cultivators." Cheng Juxiu said solemnly, "A hero to us is an enemy to others. Today you managed to prevent malaria; perhaps tomorrow you could completely cure the miasma. The spells, mutated objects, and unpredictable elements from Nanzhou, West Jing, Nan Zhao, and other places must be guarded against. So, you need to be especially careful during this time. Things should get a bit better after the Academic Palace starts its new term."

"Right." Li Ang nodded in agreement. He secured the Ink Jade that felt like a hot potato to his waist and bowed to bid farewell to Cheng Juxiu.

The carriage rolled out of the Vermilion Bird Gate, leaving the Imperial City, heading towards the Huai De Square hostel.

It was deep into the night by now. The celebratory Yizhou classmates and visiting guests had all dispersed. Li Ang unlocked the courtyard door, lit the oil lamp, and silently gazed at the Taotie Ink Jade and the gold ingots in the box.

Chai Cuiqiao had already fallen asleep. Li Ang didn't wake the young maid. He picked up a gold ingot and squeezed it.

He initially intended to verify the purity of the palace-awarded gold. Yet, as soon as he touched the gold ingot, a sharp pain surged through his palm. Innumerable ink-black threads burst from his skin, encasing the gold ingot like a spiderweb, gnawing and absorbing the brilliant metal.