Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 102: A Remarkable Debut

Since handing over the prescription and medicine to Cai Chao, Li An had not been to Yun Dao Tea House for tea for half a month.

Moreover, in order to avoid Song Mingzhang, he deliberately did not stay at home and left early the next morning.

After leaving Tianyang City, he went to various towns near Tianyang City to purchase a large number of books. It took him two months to slowly return to the city.

In the evening of this day, he finally returned to Anle Street and prepared to have a drink at Yun Dao Tea House.

As soon as he entered the restaurant, Xiaochen, upon seeing him, was overjoyed and hurriedly greeted him.

"Master Zuo, you finally came!"

"Please, please! Our boss has been going crazy looking for you these past two months!"

After saying that, he led Li An inside while excitedly shouting, "Mr. Zuo has arrived, Mr. Zuo has arrived!"

Li An looked puzzled and asked Xiaochen, "Xiaochen, your boss was looking for me? Is there something important?"

Xiaochen was extremely excited but said, "Master Zuo, I dare not speak recklessly. Please wait a moment, the boss will come out soon!"

Sure enough, as soon as Li An sat down, the boss Cai Chao came out from inside the restaurant, walking briskly and directly grabbing Li An's hand. "Brother Zuo, you were so hard to find!"

"Xiaochen, quickly, go inform Master Song, don't delay!"

Xiaochen said, "Alright," and then quickly left the tea house.

"Cai brother, what's going on?"

Li An asked.

"Brother Zuo, your prescription is amazing! Amazing!"

Cai Chao's eyes changed from his previous arrogance and indifference to admiration. "Two months ago, I handed the medicine and prescription you gave me to Master Song. When Master Song saw the prescription, he was immediately shocked and grabbed me, asking where you were, saying that the prescription was something that could save his granddaughter's illness!"

"I hurriedly took him everywhere to find you, but even after asking around this side of Wuyang Street, I couldn't find where you lived. It was Xiaochen who was clever and went to ask on Anle Street before we found out where you were."

"Unfortunately, you weren't there. Master Song waited at the door for ten days!"

Speaking of these things, he still had a thousand emotions. He said, "Brother Zuo, you really hide your talents, really hide your talents..."

His eyes were truly complex. You should know that Master Song was such a prominent figure. For his granddaughter's illness, countless famous doctors and alchemists in the city were sought, but they were all helpless. Unexpectedly, Li An could actually treat it!

For so many years, it was the first time he had seen Master Song wait for someone for ten days.

Later, Master Song couldn't wait any longer and repeatedly instructed him to find out where Li An was.

Li An was somewhat surprised when he heard this. "Master Song waited for me for ten days?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! How could I let such a great master wait for so long... I, Zuo Wen, deserve to die!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, a deep and powerful voice came from outside, "What crime does Fellow Daoist Zuo have!"

An old man in a white robe had already walked in, followed closely by Xiaochen.

"Master Song, you finally came!"

Cai Chao stood up and respectfully greeted him.

Li An also moved and immediately went forward to pay his respects.

"Zuo Wen pays his respects to the senior!"

However, Song Mingzhang personally stepped forward and helped Li An up. In his cloudy old eyes, there was a touch of excitement. "Fellow Daoist, no need for so much courtesy. Come, Cai boss, please prepare a quiet private room. I want to have a good chat with Fellow Daoist Zuo!"

"By the way, we won't drink tea today, we'll drink wine. Please bring two pots of the best wine!"

...

Inside the private room.

Cai Chao carefully accompanied them, and Song Mingzhang and Li An sat down.

"Young friend, I will never forget your kindness in giving me the prescription. Here, let me toast you!"

Song Mingzhang spoke and then raised his cup, drinking it all in one go.

Li An quickly followed suit and drank a cup as well.

"Young friend, I wonder where you obtained this prescription? I am truly curious. I know everything about various things, but I never expected that combining them would have such miraculous effects..." His old eyes were filled with curiosity.

Li An smiled and said, "Senior, actually, this prescription... was given to me by you."

"Ah?"

"Senior, in 'The Art of Alchemy' on page seventy-nine, it says: 'The elixir condenses the essence of medicinal herbs, eliminating impurities.' And in 'The Knowledge of Herbs' on page eighty-three, it is recorded: 'Poison is the impure qi of herbs.' I have done some research on poisonous herbs and have read 'The Compendium of Poisons.' It mentions that in a certain region, there was a powerful person who suffered from hysteria and was saved by the 'Soul-devouring Grass,' which is a poisonous herb..."

Li An confidently continued, "Therefore, as the esteemed Senior knows, if poison is used properly, it can also be a life-saving substance!"

"And for the ailment of 'Yin Decay,' based on its symptoms, it requires the use of 'Yangchun Grass,' 'Solidifying Essence Root,' and other substances. However, if these things are used for alchemy, their impurities and toxicity will be removed, and something will be lost. Therefore, they can only be used as prescriptions and not for alchemy. Moreover, it is necessary to use high-grade spiritual herbs to counteract the poison, in order to avoid chaos..."

He calmly explained, and Song Mingzhang nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He could tell that Li An had read a lot... and not just a little.

Moreover, he had formed his own understanding, able to combine knowledge from different books and apply it flexibly.

This was extremely rare!

Over the years, countless people had approached him in the name of "seeking knowledge," sending him letters or even kneeling outside his door for three days and three nights.

In fact, Song Mingzhang was already in his old age and had considered taking on disciples, but all those people, without exception, were driven by selfishness and superficiality.

But Li An had truly delved into his studies.

Moreover, Li An remembered the theories in 'The Knowledge of Herbs' and 'The Art of Alchemy' so clearly that he could even casually mention a specific page...

This meant that he must have repeatedly studied these two books and memorized them.

But didn't Li An only read them for three days in the beginning?

In fact, Song Mingzhang had developed a negative impression of Li An, thinking that he was using tricks to get close to him.

"Fellow Daoist Li has thoroughly studied 'The Knowledge of Herbs' and 'The Art of Alchemy'?" he couldn't help but ask.

Li An smiled and said, "I dare not say that I have thoroughly studied them, but the books you gave me initially had detailed notes and precise explanations, so I gained a lot from them."

Immediately, he briefly mentioned some of the notes Song Mingzhang had made in the books.

The more Song Mingzhang listened, the more astonished and delighted he became.

Because every word Li An said was accurate, and his understanding was profound and unique.

Originally, he had wondered if Li An had studied elsewhere and put in a lot of effort.

But now he confirmed... Li An really obtained this knowledge from his own notes.

"To comprehend two books in three days and remember them so clearly, you truly have extensive knowledge..." he couldn't help but feel that Li An, this person, was truly a hidden gem, having wasted so many years in this poor and desolate street.

Unfortunately, unfortunately!

Cai Chao beside him also felt complicated. Although he didn't understand much about the books and theories Li An mentioned, from Li An's calm and clear words, he could tell that Li An was definitely a knowledgeable person.

Coupled with Song Mingzhang's expression, he became even more certain that even Song Mingzhang himself had been convinced by Li An.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. Li An had spent the past five years studying various books, even neglecting his own livelihood, and now he had made a name for himself!

For a moment, he thought back to a few years ago when he had misunderstood Li An and treated him coldly and sarcastically. His face couldn't help but turn red.

"By the way," Li An said, explaining, "I have been traveling to various places for the past two months in search of a few books, so I haven't returned. I apologize for keeping Senior waiting for so long. Let this cup serve as an apology!"

After speaking, he finished the cup in one gulp.

Song Mingzhang said, "I heard that you also love reading? I imagine you must have quite a collection of books. Can I visit your place?"

Song Mingzhang already had an idea in mind, but he wasn't in a hurry.

Li An said, "Of course, please come!"