Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 33: Too Much to Lose

When Lizi heard that Anji required someone to accompany her to the Doctor’s clinic, she immediately volunteered. However, she had no idea she would become a human doll for the day. Although the maid had faith in Anji’s incredible mind, she could not help but become nervous.

"This is the human doll I brought with me today," Anji proudly introduced Lizi to the physician. "Meet Lizi! She’s normally my personal maid, but she volunteered to help me with the test today. I dedicated all of yesterday to mastering the twelve meridians, teacher. I’m ready now!"

Surprised that Anji had studied the main meridians this quickly, Doctor He had doubts. Even though the young princess requested a time extension for the other books she borrowed from his library, it was difficult for anyone to remember every meridian and what it did to the body. He studied for ten long years under his teacher since childhood to finally understand enough to become a doctor. How did Anji remember so many things in just one night?

Sceptical but excited to know how much Anji had mastered, Doctor He invited Lizi into the hut. There was no easier way to test her understanding than to have her demonstrate it.

"Since you know all the twelve meridians, recite the names for me."

Without missing a beat, Anji counted with her fingers as she named them, starting from the top.

"The twelve main meridians are the lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, gall bladder, liver, pericardium and triple burner meridians. Most of these meridians are created using the Five Elemental Theory, with each organ representing the yin and yang of each element, except for the heart wall that is related to the heart and circulatory system, and the metabolic system."

Nodding proudly, Doctor He decided to treat Anji seriously. If she memorised this much, she should also know their functions. Most students only memorised the names and functions of the meridian systems. However, they mess up when correlating their support systems because they lack an understanding of the Five Elemental Framework. Anji did her homework thoroughly. However, learning the theory did not make one a doctor. That was only the making of an empty-headed academic.

"If a patient suffers from chronic cough, looks pale and sweats a lot even on a cool day, which of his main meridians are affected?"

Stunned, Lizi stared at the thin doctor for a while before looking at her young mistress. How does an experienced doctor expect a three-year-old child to answer such a complex case?! Even if she learned cultivation previously, Lizi did not know the answer. There were many different kinds of coughs. To answer such questions, one must have many years of experience to know the patient’s condition without taking their pulse. Anji had only started reading the basic theory books. How did Doctor He expect her to make an accurate diagnosis?

Although it was unfair to Anji, the youngest princess of the Celestial Dragon Sect did not shy away from the challenge. Doctor He gave her a case study to check her understanding of the theory she learned. It was similar to when her father asked how she interpreted the paragraph in the Doctrine of the Mean. Previously, Anji thought learning was all about remembering things and answering questions correctly. However, after he taught her why cultivators had to study philosophy, as scholars did, Anji knew learning went much deeper. A concept was only useful with creation and application. If cultivators only studied and memorised the words of Zisi, they would never be able to create new cultivation techniques.

There were three symptoms in this patient’s case study. Anji was not fooled by a simple cough. There were many reasons for a cough. She knew that from personal experience. It isn’t a simple cold if a patient suffers from a prolonged cough. Even the weakest patients will recover from a simple cold in two weeks with enough medicine, rest and nutrition. The crucial detail was in their complexion. The patient was described as looking pale and sweating a lot, even on a cool day. People normally do not sweat much on cool days, especially when not doing physical labour. A sick person with a chronic cough would not be capable of physical labour. Hence, the hint was in their poor circulatory system.

"If the patient is coughing, their respiratory system is definitely affected. The Lung Meridian is weakened with their chronic cough," Anji answered carefully. "However, that is a side effect of their actual condition."

Smiling slightly, Doctor He nodded and prompted Anji to continue explaining while Lizi remained as confused as ever.

Reaching for the notes she drafted using the charcoal pencil, Anji referred to her Five Element diagram. Lungs were of the Metal element. They were supported by the spleen of the Earth element. If the spleen failed, the organs from the Fire element would step in to support the lungs. However, the overburden of the heart and circulatory system in the Fire element will create adverse effects and secondary symptoms.

"If the patient is constantly sweating on a cool day and has a pale complexion, they have poor blood circulation. Without taking pulses and extra observation of other side effects, it is difficult to confirm the cause. However, it is very likely that a cold did not cause this cough. Instead, I suspect they have a weak spleen or stomach. The main affected meridian should be the Spleen Meridian, which causes the Lung Meridian to weaken, burdening the heart Meridian."

Wonderful! Doctor He thought he would never find a successor for his medical knowledge. When he was the best in his field, the world betrayed him and left him for dead. If not for the sincerity of Zhao Mingfeng and the promise of the powerful Celestial Dragon Sect, He Qiu would have given up on life. Humanity was ugly in general. The nature of humans is cruel and selfish, even in the world of immortals.

Only Zhao Anji was different. From birth, Doctor He Qiu watched her grow up. Even when she was sick and told that she would never cultivate, the young murim princess never harboured any bitterness for the unfairness of the world. Instead, she remained kind and humble, never taking anything for granted. The Gods were unfair with their blessings, but Zhao Anji turned her misfortune into hope for everyone else, including He Qiu.

"Marvellous!" he praised. "You’ve demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the Five Elemental Theory applied to the twelve main meridians. Most importantly, you never made the mistake most students would make. No two lives are the same, just as no two conditions are the same. Every person is born with a different constitution, which changes daily. You must never jump to a diagnosis without taking the pulse and understanding the patient’s condition properly. A wrong prescription could easily cost a life, and there is no greater sin for a physician than that." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Amazed by the wisdom of her young charge, Lizi wondered how Anji managed to do what most people struggled to do. Their young mistress must be a fairy from the heavens who descended onto earth. There was no other explanation for why she was such an amazing person.

Thanking her teacher, Anji was glad that she had made the right decision to study the principles of medicine in addition to diagnosis. Although she did not have enough time to understand pulse taking, she read the book’s introduction and committed the vow in her heart never to make assumptions.

Arrogance was a poison that led even the most powerful gods to their downfall, and Anji couldn’t afford to risk her present happiness over a one-time moment of glory. She simply had too much to lose.