Chapter Twenty-Three: The Emperor’s External Classic

Ye Qiu had assumed that Lin Wan’er was simply a little tsundere. Now he realized that the woman was just outright rude.

Xuan Yuan Datang probably knew his disciple spoke harshly, so he hurried to shift the topic. “Young friend, is there something inconvenient? If so, I may have been too forward.”

The old man was actually rather endearing.

Ye Qiu thought for a moment, then said, “It’s not impossible. I only hope you can help keep it a secret for a few days.”

Once these few days of competition had passed, and his eldest sister announced the development of the latest artificial intelligence, then his second sister—the eleventh daughter—wouldn’t seem so abrupt.

“Oh, now I’m even more eager to see it,” said Xuan Yuan Datang.

Lin Wan’er curled her lip in disdain. “I bet he’s just being mysterious. Probably thinks he invented something unique, only for it to turn out to be something everyone already knows.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, but why do you speak so unpleasantly?” Ye Qiu retorted with irritation. “I didn’t drag you here to see it—you insisted on coming yourself. Stop showing off, and don’t think just because you’re pretty that every man in the world is some pathetic sycophant.”

“Hmph, I don’t need you to tell me I’m pretty; I know it myself,” Lin Wan’er shot Ye Qiu a fierce glare.

Despite her sharp words, even in anger she exuded a unique charm. Surely, she was surrounded by admirers who had spoiled her into becoming a proud princess.

Ridiculous.

Ye Qiu ignored her and turned to Xuan Yuan Datang. “Sir, this way, please.”

Xiao Yuru was now fully absorbed in simulating surgery. Though the skull was merely 3D-printed, it was lifelike enough to pass for real, so she dared not be distracted. She glanced over briefly and continued her procedure.

“No, this won’t do—it could easily damage the nerve tissue,” Yun Yan commented, projecting a video of a successful surgical repair in midair.

Xiao Yuru nodded and began her incision according to the video.

“What is this?” Xuan Yuan Datang stared at Ye Qiu in astonishment.

No wonder Ye Qiu had insisted on secrecy; he possessed cutting-edge technology.

But why was traditional medicine involved? The two didn’t seem connected.

Yet Xuan Yuan Datang’s curiosity was piqued. An idea struck him, and he turned to Yun Yan. “Tell me the information from the Huangdi Neijing regarding dysentery.”

Yun Yan’s already adorable eyes seemed to grow even larger, as she helplessly asked Ye Qiu, “Master, is there something wrong with this old man?”

Xuan Yuan Datang...

To think that a stalwart of the medical world was being looked down upon by an artificial intelligence!

“Older people get excited over new things. Just go along with it and show him something,” Ye Qiu said.

Yun Yan...

It felt much like the awkwardness of a child being made to perform for relatives during New Year.

Xuan Yuan Datang...

This young man was less sensible than his AI.

“The Huangdi Neijing is divided into two main chapters: Suwen and Lingshu. Suwen discusses the organs, meridians, causes of illness, treatments, and acupuncture methods...” Yun Yan began reciting the Suwen chapter of the Huangdi Neijing. At first, Xuan Yuan Datang didn’t think much of it—the early contents could easily be found online. But soon, his brows furrowed, and his eyes began to glow with excitement.

“There are even the long-lost volumes of the Huangdi Waijing!”

How could Xuan Yuan Datang not be thrilled?

The Taisu chapter was said to exist only in folk fragments, painstakingly annotated and supplemented over many years by Mr. Yang Shoujing. The thirty-seven volumes of the Emperor’s External Classic were regarded as legendary within the medical bureau, with only a handful of people holding a few incomplete sections.

Xuan Yuan Datang was one of those rare few.

He never expected to hear the lost Emperor’s External Classic from the mouth of a robot today.

“A treasure, a treasure indeed!” Xuan Yuan Datang surged forward, attempting to embrace Yun Yan, only to pass through empty air. Yun Yan’s form shimmered in midair, her code reassembling into a clear projection.

Yun Yan was quite displeased. “Old man, calm down. Don’t be so excited.”

Hmph.

If the neural interface technology weren’t still under development, and those mechanical bodies weren’t as stiff as fools, I’d have become a robot already. Instead, I can only project a virtual body like this.

No, I’ve been slacking lately—I must hurry up with the neural interface research.

“How can I not be excited... I... you all...” Xuan Yuan Datang was so worked up he could barely speak. To him, these young people were sitting atop a mountain of treasures without realizing it. If they studied the thirty-seven volumes of the Emperor’s External Classic, who knows how many medical challenges could be overcome.

“Sir, it’s just thirty-seven volumes of the Emperor’s External Classic,” Ye Qiu grinned. “I’ll have Yun Yan print them for you later. There are even more lost ancient medical texts I can give you.”

Xuan Yuan Datang immediately calmed down, fixing Ye Qiu with a piercing gaze.

He was excited, yes.

But not foolish.

Ye Qiu’s words clearly implied he wanted something in return.

Yet encountering such a treasure, he’d agree to anything—even becoming a disciple.

Xuan Yuan Datang took a deep breath. If Ye Qiu asked him to bow and become a disciple, he’d do it immediately.

Money meant nothing to Xuan Yuan Datang.

“Sir, here’s the situation,” Ye Qiu began, explaining his wager with Duan Jijin and the others. Only now did Xuan Yuan Datang realize the so-called debate between Chinese and Western medicine had sprung from a matter of pride.

“I won’t hide it from you—I’ve spent the last ten years in the Beautiful Country and know some top experts there.” Ye Qiu paused. “Though they uphold Western medicine, to save face they sometimes claim a lack of support from domestic experts. We can’t let them get away with that, so could you help represent the domestic experts?”

“That’s it?” Xuan Yuan Datang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Ye Qiu. After a few seconds, he angrily kicked at Ye Qiu.

“You little rascal, do you know what you’re saying? This is the Emperor’s External Classic and ancient medicine, and you treat it so lightly? I ought to kick you to death!”

“Old man, if you dare insult my master again, I won’t print the Emperor’s External Classic for you,” Yun Yan puffed angrily at Xuan Yuan Datang.

Too much.

How dare he be rude to my master.

“I...” Xuan Yuan Datang’s face flushed red, left standing there awkwardly.

He’d been bested by a