Chapter 17: Subject 002—The Lapis Lazuli Apothecary

That evening, the three of them arrived in Hangzhou and returned to the wooden cabin, where Xia Ye immediately began making arrangements.

The first problem to solve was their living situation. With only one bedroom and Chen Duo being a girl, it was impossible for all three to share the space. Thus, Xia Ye decided to expand the cabin.

Since it was manual labor, Xiao Zizai naturally took on the role of the laborer. He was glad to do so, as fully engaging his muscles helped him better control his body—a form of practice in itself.

For the next three hours, under Xia Ye’s direction and with Xiao Zizai’s effort, the basic expansion was quickly completed, adding two more rooms. Subsequent work on insect-proofing, moisture control, ventilation, reinforcement, and simple furnishings was also swiftly finished.

With the addition of mattresses and daily necessities bought on their way back, the living problem was resolved. After showering, Xiao Zizai went straight to his new room, while Xia Ye took Chen Duo to her bedroom.

Seeing Chen Duo’s still calm face, Xia Ye smiled slightly and crouched down. “This will be your room from now on. How do you like it?”

Chen Duo remained silent.

Xia Ye could tell she was still very nervous. Though expressionless, cold sweat had broken out on her forehead and her body trembled slightly. At that moment, she resembled a small cat long domesticated but suddenly given away—her eyes full of unease, her heart gripped by fear.

Noticing these details, Xia Ye didn’t press further. Instead, a gleam flashed in his eyes as he activated “Mingli” to examine her body and assess her current state.

It was apparent that the “Gu Shen Pill” he had specially concocted for her was effective. Under the pill’s power, her vital energy condensed into a “Qi orb” in the lower dantian, with all the original Gu parasites attached and slowly orbiting around it.

This method was inspired by Tang Sect’s “Dan Shi” principle—a similarly toxic technique that condenses poisonous energy into a pill stored in the dantian, sharing similarities with the original Gu.

From Xia Ye’s perspective, this was the best way to control the original Gu: condense and store it ordinarily, and release it only when necessary, thus avoiding harm to oneself or destabilizing the foundation.

As for why he didn’t remove the original Gu from Chen Duo directly, it wasn’t that Xia Ye couldn’t; rather, he deemed it unnecessary.

Chen Duo’s original tragedy and various problems were not entirely caused by the original Gu. At most, it was a trigger—the root lay in her “mental and physical growth.”

To Xia Ye, like countless cultivation methods worldwide, the original Gu was merely a means, a tool. The company saw it as a disaster due to its uncontrollability, but that was easily remedied.

He also remembered that Chen Duo, before dying, had longed most for “freedom” and “choice.” So after helping her “heal” and correctly understand the world, he would grant her freedom.

But before that…

“Don’t worry. The past is behind you. You are safe now,” he said softly. After demonstrating how to use various items, he left Chen Duo’s room.

He knew well that treating Chen Duo would require patience. She had to adapt first. Only once she was familiar with her environment and no longer so tense could further attempts be made.

As an alchemist and healer who had traveled much of China and seen myriad human conditions, Xia Ye understood how strong a person’s adaptability could be—now all that was needed was time.

Closing the door, he turned and entered the clinic. Sitting at the desk, he opened a drawer and retrieved a computer from a hidden compartment, creating a new file:

[Experimental Subject File:]

[Subject No. 002]

[Name: Chen Duo]

[Gender: Female]

[Age: 12]

[Experiment Phase: Not Yet Initiated]

“Hmm…”

Entering these details, Xia Ye pondered deeply. Next, he had to finalize Chen Duo’s experimental direction and settle the specifics.

According to his plan, in the initial phase, each subject would follow a path he wished to explore in preparation for eventual transcendence. Naturally, Chen Duo’s path would differ from Xiao Zizai’s, remaining independent.

From their previous exchanges, it was clear Xia Ye divided the entire process into two stages: the “human” stage, and only when perfected could one ascend to “immortality.”

He further subdivided the “human path” into categories such as “physical body,” “soul,” “birth and death,” “emotions and desires,” “innate true qi,” and “the myriad worldly paths,” striving to master them all and unify all ways.

At present, Xiao Zizai’s path corresponded to the “physical body,” and Chen Duo’s path would naturally be no different. Being the Gu-body sacred child with innate talent, her journey would align with “Gu.”

Throughout history, the “Gu path” has always been intertwined with “disease”—both the “poison to spread illness” and the “cure to eliminate disease.” The key word was always “sickness,” thus the path was decided.

With the path settled, Xia Ye moved on to “naming”…

“Sickness, huh…”

He murmured softly, then narrowed his eyes.

“Healing others is far better than spreading plague. It’s just a method—useful, but not to be named after disease.”

Since Xiao Zizai’s path was “Asura,” Chen Duo’s should correspond accordingly. After much thought, Xia Ye decided to start from “healing the world,” a name far more pleasant than “plague god” or “epidemic ghost.”

“Hmm…”

With that decided, Xia Ye began searching his mind for legends in Chinese culture related to healing and saving the world, hoping to find inspiration for concocting medicines.

Since Xiao Zizai’s “Asura path” came from Buddhist legend, Xia Ye instinctively began with Buddhist lore. Soon, an idea struck him—a legend he recalled:

It was said there was a Buddha named “Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata,” also called the “Medicine Buddha,” ruler of the Eastern “Pure Lapis Lazuli World.”

In his past lives as a bodhisattva, he made twelve great vows to relieve all beings from suffering, perfect their faculties, and help them attain liberation, thus becoming a Buddha in fulfillment of these vows.

“This Medicine Buddha is also called the ‘Great Physician King Buddha’ and ‘Good Physician Who Has Passed Away.’ His vows align perfectly with the path of healing the world. Quite fitting…”

“Moreover, his realm—the ‘Pure Lapis Lazuli’—symbolizes clarity, purity, and untainted nature, emerging unstained even from muddy water. This matches Chen Duo well. Though she came from the filthy Medicine Immortal Sect, she remains as pure as white jade, untouched by dust.”

On a personal level, Xia Ye also wished for Chen Duo to maintain this rare “purity,” both as a blessing and a heartfelt desire.

Thus, he immediately decided and typed on the keyboard:

[Subject No. 002 — Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli!]