Chapter 72: A Household Name

“Mr. Fang is truly a miraculous physician.” Wang Daming was stunned upon hearing this. He had never told anyone about these matters—not even his wife or son—but Fang Xian was able to diagnose them merely by taking his pulse, leaving Wang Daming deeply impressed.

“Treating your ailment is not difficult, sir, but I must employ a new method: I need to open your chest and remove the arrow feather. Only then can your illness be cured at its root,” Fang Xian said with a smile to the father and son.

“Mr. Fang, opening the chest to remove an arrow feather—I've never heard of such a treatment. Is it dangerous?” Wang Fugeng asked anxiously.

“It would be dangerous if another doctor attempted it, but with me, there is no danger at all,” Fang Xian replied, nodding. He had specially forged several surgical knives from fine steel, and with his mastery of acupoints and mysterious energies to assist, modern surgery was not difficult for him.

Fang Xian then led Wang Daming to the surgical table, asked him to remove his shirt, and pressed several acupoints to render him immobile and deeply asleep.

Next, Fang Xian performed the surgery with remarkable precision. He made a swift incision in Wang Daming’s right chest, gently flicked the tip of the knife, and brought out a small piece of black material. He then used his mysterious energy to help the wound heal rapidly, all accomplished in the blink of an eye.

“Mr. Fang, is this the root of my father’s illness?” Wang Fugeng asked curiously.

“Yes, this is the broken feather left inside your father’s body when the arrow pierced his chest and rubbed against his flesh,” Fang Xian answered with a nod.

A few minutes later, Wang Daming awoke. Aside from some pain in his right chest, his body felt astonishingly light. He coughed lightly twice and found he did not continue to cough.

“Father, look—this is what Mr. Fang extracted from your chest. Just this little thing nearly cost you your life,” Wang Fugeng quickly pointed to the knife and the small black piece.

“Many thanks to the divine physician Fang! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank him!” Wang Daming gave his son a slap on the head.

“Thank you, divine physician Fang! Our whole family is grateful to you,” Wang Fugeng said hurriedly.

“Sir, although I’ve removed the root of your illness, its long presence in your lungs has left some lingering effects. I’ll prescribe several medicinal decoctions for you; take them for a period, and you’ll fully recover,” Fang Xian said as he wrote out the prescriptions.

The pharmacy hall still had abundant stocks of various herbs. That day, Fang Xian had asked Li Daqi and the others to purchase even more. He intended to establish his reputation in Wudu, and treating the poor free of charge was essential; the consumption of herbs would be considerable.

“Divine physician Fang, are these medicines really free of charge?” As they were leaving, the Wang father and son asked in disbelief, their regard for Fang Xian growing ever deeper.

“No charge. Just help spread the word for me when you get home,” Fang Xian replied with a smile.

“Divine physician Fang, let me send my son over to help out after we return home. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease,” Wang Daming suggested after thinking for a moment.

“Oh, I am indeed short-handed here. If your son is willing to help, I’ll pay him ten coins a day. Does that sound fair?” Fang Xian nodded.

“There’s no need for wages! I just want him to lend a hand, not earn money,” Wang Daming replied quickly.

“Don’t decline, sir. The medical hall will be very busy soon, and we need to hire people. If your son is willing to work here, he’ll be a great help to us,” Fang Xian said with a smile. Eventually, he persuaded the Wang father and son, and the little girl escorted them out the door.

“Wow, they’re coming out!”

“Look, the old man was carried in on someone’s back, now he’s walking out on his own?”

“Could he be a plant hired by the medical hall?”

As the Wang father and son emerged, the crowd outside gathered around them, chattering and speculating. Among them were local residents, many of whom knew the Wang family.

“Old Wang, is your coughing illness cured?”

“Yes, divine physician Fang is the real deal. I didn’t believe it at first, but my son insisted on bringing me here to try. As it turns out, divine physician Fang is truly miraculous—he found the root of my illness and cured me. After some rest, I’ll be completely well,” Wang Daming replied cheerfully.

“Everyone, I know the Wang family. They live in the old alley behind this street. Old Wang has been coughing for twenty years; the whole alley knows about it. This proves divine physician Fang is genuinely extraordinary.”

“I’m from the old alley too and can confirm that Old Wang used to cough constantly. Now that he’s healed, Fang is indeed a divine physician.”

“Old Wang, you’re finally well now. Remember to treat us to a meal!” Several acquaintances of the Wang family vouched for them, ensuring they were not a staged act for the medical hall.

“Listen, everyone—divine physician Fang is not only skilled, but also kind. He treated my father for free and gave him medicine without charge. I wanted to help at the medical hall to repay him, but divine physician Fang insisted on hiring me and paying ten coins a day. He’s truly a good man. If anyone needs treatment, hurry up; the first fifty are free!” Wang Fugeng called out loudly to the crowd.

Instantly, families with sick loved ones rushed toward the medical hall. Staff came out to organize the crowd into lines, and soon a long queue had formed.

All morning, Fang Xian tirelessly treated patient after patient. Most common ailments were resolved by realigning their meridians and giving them a simple medicinal pill, needing only two or three minutes each.

For the occasional serious case, Fang Xian combined acupuncture, massage, and his mysterious energy, taking no more than five or six minutes to alleviate or cure their suffering.

Within half a day, he consulted, treated, and prescribed medicines for fifty patients—entirely free, including the herbs. The grateful townsfolk thanked him profusely.

The earliest patients were all ordinary folk, especially those from impoverished families who had no other option and dared to try. Those with better means were more cautious and did not come right away.

“Everyone, let me tell you: a divine physician has come to Wudu—the greatest doctor in the land, healing the gravest maladies, said to cure all ailments instantly,”

By noon, storytellers in every restaurant in Wudu began to spread tales of Fang Mingda, the world’s foremost divine physician, all arranged by Fang Xian through Li Daqi and his associates.

At midday, Fang Xian ate only a simple meal before returning to see the waiting patients. By then, hundreds of people were lined up outside the Hall of the World’s Greatest Physician, with even more onlookers in the street and vendors selling snacks, making the scene lively and bustling.

“Brother Fang, you’ve been treating patients for half a day straight. Shouldn’t you rest a bit?” Even Situ Yan, who managed the medical hall, came to urge him.

“As a physician, one must maintain good health, so I’m fine. Besides, look outside—so many patients are waiting. How could I rest while they’re in need? I can treat at least ten patients per hour, so I’ll help them wait less,” Fang Xian replied with a smile.

For later patients, Fang Xian continued to offer free consultations, though he asked them to pay for their medicines. For the wealthy, clad in fine garments, he charged higher fees—after all, they could afford it; it was a way to rob the rich to help the poor.

For three days and nights, Fang Xian worked without rest, treating the people of Wudu ceaselessly. Seeing patients queued even at night, he could not bear to let them sleep in the streets, so he had shelters erected outside the medical hall, provided hot water, and continued treating patients around the clock.

Though arduous and exhausting, Fang Xian gained immensely. In three days, his reputation spread through the testimonies of hundreds of patients and their families, and he had become a household name throughout Wudu.