For some reason, starting two months ago, Serena Zheng’s attitude toward Xu Fu changed drastically, completely different from how she was at first. Meanwhile, Master Bernard Zheng focused solely on teaching Xu Fu, barely instructing Serena at all anymore.
Although Serena had learned quite a bit from Master Bernard Zheng, in just a year and a half, Xu Fu had already absorbed and mastered far more than she had.
It seemed Xu Fu understood what was going on. One night, he knocked on Serena Zheng’s door.
"What is it? Go to sleep."
Serena’s voice was a bit loud. Xu Fu kept his head down, and Serena realized her attitude toward him had changed. It was jealousy—deep down, she was envious of Xu Fu’s ability to quickly memorize everything Master Bernard Zheng taught, and she resented him for it. She had followed Master Bernard Zheng since childhood, but her poor memory meant she was often scolded.
Now things had changed. Master Bernard Zheng had even started using her to test medicines, but what truly angered Serena wasn’t that—it was pure jealousy toward Xu Fu. Master Bernard Zheng would also test medicines on himself, but always controlled the dosage for safety.
"Serena, I... I don’t want to study anymore, okay? Maybe we could... together..."
"Enough."
Serena looked deeply sad. She gazed quietly at Xu Fu, then closed the door. Xu Fu kept his head down. The whole night, neither spoke, and Xu Fu eventually fell asleep.
The next morning, Xu Fu found a blanket covering him. Serena had already left. Today, she and Master Bernard Zheng were heading into the mountains to gather herbs and wouldn’t be back for three days.
Feeling dazed, Xu Fu made himself something to eat. Afterward, he had no desire to look at the things Master Bernard Zheng had told him to memorize yesterday.
Just then, outside the fenced courtyard, a group of villagers arrived. One of them carried a crying boy, about seven or eight years old.
"Hey, where’s Immortal Zheng?"
Xu Fu glanced at the child, who seemed to have a stomachache—probably some kind of illness. The villagers looked anxious, and Xu Fu smiled.
"Let me take a look."
The villagers were skeptical of Xu Fu. He looked barely ten years old, small and slight, with a soft voice and delicate features—he didn’t seem like someone who could cure illness.
"What’s the matter? I’ve studied under my master for years and learned plenty. If you don’t believe me, you can just wait and see."
In the end, the villagers trusted Xu Fu. He knew several remedies for stomach pain and quickly prepared medicine. Using alchemical methods, he swiftly made some pills and gave them to the villagers, who helped the boy take them with water.
Within an hour, the boy’s pain was gone and he fell peacefully asleep. The villagers praised Xu Fu, and inside, Xu Fu felt a surge of pride.
"Everyone gets sick and dies, but what is a doctor? Isn’t it someone who can take the place of the gods and control life and death? Heh, that was the first time I killed someone as a doctor."
My heart skipped a beat—it was already late at night. Upstairs, I heard movement as Rachel Lan, still half-asleep in her pajamas, came downstairs.
"Make me something to eat. I’m hungry."
I grunted in reply and got up to start cooking. As I worked, I noticed Xu Fu’s face darken when he mentioned the first time he killed someone as a doctor.
While I was busy preparing food, Xu Fu began to recount his story again.
The next day, the boy was able to get up, but soon started vomiting. Xu Fu didn’t know—he was still basking in his triumph. By the third day, villagers were gathered outside the courtyard, wailing and crying.
Xu Fu was stunned—the boy was dead, blood at his mouth. Xu Fu was terrified, trembling as several villagers dragged him over. The boy’s father beat Xu Fu mercilessly.
"He was fine yesterday, but after taking your pills, he was dead by morning."
Xu Fu’s mind went blank. He squatted on the ground, frozen, terrified of the angry villagers—he had no idea what to do.
Master Bernard Zheng returned. Upon hearing what happened, he showed no alarm, simply listened to the villagers. After a while, he burst out laughing.
"Since it was my disciple’s mistake, as his master, I’ll make amends. I’ll help your child ascend to immortality."
With that, the situation changed instantly. Many villagers now looked envious. Following Master Bernard Zheng’s instructions, Serena Zheng and Xu Fu began preparations.
They placed the boy’s corpse on a pile of straw, surrounded by colorful cloth strips inscribed with characters, fluttering in the wind. Master Bernard Zheng waved a sword, strange symbols drawn all around.
Xu Fu was still in shock, tormented inside. He knew why the child died—he hadn’t slept well the night before and made a dosing mistake. The medicine was meant for an adult.
Master Bernard Zheng chanted incantations. Xu Fu noticed many black objects around the formation, but had no idea what they were.
As Master Bernard Zheng swung his sword, there was a loud bang. Xu Fu jumped in fright. In a flash, the straw pile caught fire, and the ritual symbols glowed, crackling like thunder. The villagers knelt devoutly.
Watching the straw burn, the crackling black objects, and the fragrant smoke released, Xu Fu didn’t understand any of it. But during the preparations, he noticed Serena Zheng was extremely cautious with every step.
The Ascension Rite ended. Master Bernard Zheng’s words convinced the villagers, and they left satisfied.
"What are you standing around for? Bury the remains."
Master Bernard Zheng spoke, looking at the charred, foul-smelling remains. Xu Fu was anxious—it was the boy’s corpse. In a patch of forest behind the village, Xu Fu and Serena Zheng buried the child. Afterward, Xu Fu sat down, gasping for breath.
"Ascension, seeking immortality—what a load of crap..."
Xu Fu suddenly shouted. Serena Zheng was startled, looking at Xu Fu with sad eyes.
"Serena, you’ve realized it too, haven’t you? It’s all a lie. If Master Bernard Zheng isn’t a doctor, then he’s a complete fraud. Haven’t you seen it yet?"
Serena shook her head, silent. Though she’d doubted her father’s words and actions, she’d never voiced it.
"Let’s leave together, Serena."
Xu Fu grabbed Serena’s hand, but she immediately yanked it away and slapped him hard across the mouth.
"Father saved you—he just saved you—and now you want to leave? You heartless ingrate!"
Xu Fu spent the whole night sitting by the forest at the edge of the village, crying and not returning. At dawn, Master Bernard Zheng approached, carrying a jug of wine, tossed it to Xu Fu, and told him to drink. The warmth spread through Xu Fu’s body.
"Feeling sad?"
Xu Fu nodded, deeply troubled by having killed someone through his medicine.
"It’s all fake—this seeking immortality. You’re just using medicine to swindle people."
"So what?"
Master Bernard Zheng looked at Xu Fu sternly. Xu Fu fell silent.
"You’ve never seen an immortal—how can you say seeking immortality is fake?"
Xu Fu really hadn’t. He didn’t know how to refute it. Master Bernard Zheng pulled Xu Fu to his feet.
"If it’s you, someday you’ll attain immortality. Little Fu, I’ve seen an immortal before."
Xu Fu’s eyes widened, staring at Master Bernard Zheng as he began to speak.
It happened when Master Bernard Zheng had just become a physician. One day, he was invited to treat someone in a village and had to cross a dangerous mountain.
In the morning mist, Master Bernard Zheng saw an old man flying through the fog, with an immortal’s bearing. He chased after him, and the old man said, 'You have the bones of an immortal,' and taught him a few techniques.
Then the old man taught Master Bernard Zheng some methods he’d never heard of, laughed heartily, and left.
"Pretty outrageous, huh? Heh, that old Ghost Painting Book Immortal."
I let out a sound, looking at Xu Fu. After Rachel Lan finished her noodles, she went back upstairs to sleep. Xu Fu took a swig of wine and began to speak again.
"You probably don’t know, but the one Master Bernard Zheng saw was a ghost—specifically, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal. He was notorious in the ghost world for bragging. When Master Bernard Zheng saw him and mistook him for an immortal, he just talked about medicine, so Master Bernard Zheng believed him."
I swallowed, looking at Xu Fu with suspicion.
"I’m not lying—the look and aura of that old guy, I’d recognize him anywhere, even if he turned to dust. He’s done this more than once."
I sighed, planning to ask the Ghost Painting Book Immortal about this when I got back.
"So at the time, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal tricked Master Bernard Zheng, and Master Bernard Zheng’s words misled you, right?"
I asked. Xu Fu shook his head.
"Not at all. Back then, I was still hesitating. As a human, I was still unsure—some things could be done, some couldn’t. Treating patients in the palace taught me a harsh lesson: living by deceit, one day you’ll run into a ghost."