After I Am died, You Tell Me This Is A Life Simulation?
Chapter 12 - Which School Do You Belong To?

Chapter 12: Which School Do You Belong To?

Elder Zhen, standing off to the side, watched the scene unfold with some surprise in his eyes.

He said nothing, wanting to see how things would play out.

The few strong young men who had arrived continued offering their thanks and praise.

At the right moment, Li Ergou said,

“Mr. Fang, we’ve brought the medicinal herbs you asked for. Please take a look—are these the right ones…?”

The other men quickly caught on and placed their bamboo baskets down.

“We knew Mr. Fang needed these herbs,” one said, “so we helped gather some and brought them over.”

Fang Han smiled and nodded.

After inspecting and weighing them all one by one, he went to the back of the hall and returned with some copper coins, paying them the standard rate.

The young men flat-out refused to accept the money, stiffening their necks, faces flushed, and said with emotion,

“No, no! Mr. Fang treated our family and didn’t even take payment. How could we take your money? We just picked a little—didn’t take much effort.”

Li Ergou chimed in, too.

He had initially been tempted by the idea of getting paid, but after returning home and being scolded by his father, he realized he’d been greedy. Now, he dared not ask for payment.

Another round of back-and-forth refusals.

Fang Han, not one for unnecessary formality, said directly,

“Since this is goodwill from the villagers, alright—I’ll accept it this time. But let me make it clear: I’ll be needing these herbs regularly. From now on, everything must be settled clearly! Otherwise, I won’t feel right accepting them again.”

Seeing that the young men were about to protest again, Fang Han cut them off and spoke more to dissuade them.

Finally, they nodded in agreement.

One of the men, looking a little awkward, scratched his head and said,

“Mr. Fang, actually, I also came today hoping you could take a look at something for me…”

Fang Han glanced at him and nodded.

“Alright, sit down for a bit.”

He then motioned for the others to take a seat as well.

Sorting through the baskets of herbs, Fang Han separated and categorized them, then took them to the back.

Elder Zhen still said nothing, quietly observing the entire scene.

This young man… might have some skill after all.

As for specifics, he’d have to keep watching.

Elder Zhen cast a glance at the young man who had spoken up earlier, his eyes slightly strange.

That’s not an easy illness to treat. Let’s see what the boy can do.

Before long, Fang Han returned, carrying his medical tools.

There were acupuncture needles, some high-purity distilled alcohol, and more.

“Come.”

He sat down in front of the young man and smiled.

“Tell me what’s going on. Where exactly does it hurt?”

The man looked uneasy.

“Lately, my stomach’s been feeling bloated all the time… sometimes it even hurts a bit…”

After asking detailed questions and taking his pulse, Fang Han understood the condition.

He had the man lie down on a couch in the hall.

“I’ll start with acupuncture to clear the blocked meridians.”

The man quickly nodded and removed his shirt, lying down.

Li Ergou and the others wanted to move close, but were afraid of disturbing the process.

Elder Zhen, however, had no such reservations—he walked right up and watched intently, eyes scrutinizing.

Fang Han glanced at the old man but said nothing.

He pulled out a set of silver needles, sterilized them over a flame, and began needling.

His fingers moved swiftly and precisely—his technique expertly honed.

At the very moment Fang Han made his first move, Elder Zhen’s eyes narrowed.

As he continued watching closely, his expression shifted, and he looked at Fang Han with astonishment.

Before long, the man’s back was full of silver needles…

“All done. Don’t move yet. You’ll need to rest like this for a while,” Fang Han said.

The man stayed completely still, quickly responding,

“Yes, sir!”

Fang Han smiled slightly, walked over to the medicine cabinet, weighed out some herbs, and packed them into ten bundles.

Timing it just right, he returned to the man, removed the needles in a specific order, added a few more in key areas, and spent another fifteen minutes finishing the procedure.

One by one, he disinfected and put away the needles.

“Alright, you can get up now. It’s done.”

The man let out a sigh of relief and said with surprise,

“It doesn’t hurt anymore! Mr. Fang, am I cured?”

Fang Han shook his head gently.

“It’s not that simple. This was just the first acupuncture session to ease the stagnation. You’ll need to take medicine for a while.”

He handed over the ten bundles and instructed,

“Boil these with water and drink them. Take one dose every two days for a month. After that, come back for a follow-up.”

The man was overjoyed but hesitated,

“Mr. Fang… how much is the consultation and medicine fee?”

Fang Han casually named a price.

The man visibly relaxed, pulling out some copper coins and handing them over.

Fang Han accepted them without hesitation.

Li Ergou and the others were all smiles, thanked Fang Han, and left together, still expressing their gratitude as they walked off.

Elder Zhen looked at Fang Han and suddenly commented,

“Your fee… is rather cheap.”

He could tell that while Fang Han didn’t lose money, he barely made any profit, mostly just covering the medicine cost.

Fang Han simply smiled without replying.

Elder Zhen continued,

“I misjudged you earlier. I owe you an apology.”

He even bowed with cupped fists in a formal gesture.

Fang Han waved it off, saying it wasn’t necessary, and invited him to sit and have tea.

They chatted for a while.

Elder Zhen casually asked a few questions about Fang Han’s background, which Fang Han dodged with vague answers.

The old man had suspicions, but didn’t press.

After some more small talk, he said as if offhandedly,

“You’re quite young, yet your medical skills are remarkable. Did you inherit them from your family? Or were you taught by a renowned master?”

Seeing Fang Han just smile without answering, Elder Zhen sighed,

“Forgive me. I was being presumptuous.”

He took a sip of tea, then stood.

“If you ever need anything, feel free to come find me at my clinic.”

Fang Han cupped his fists in thanks.

Elder Zhen walked away, hands clasped behind his back.

Fang Han watched him go, thinking to himself,

We may not be master and disciple this time, but neighbors can still be allies, no?

He wasn’t one to forget kindness.

Even the villagers of Li Family Village, who helped him a little, he was willing to repay, let alone the old doctor who had taught him medicine.

That said, in terms of medical skill, Fang Han now considered himself no weaker than Elder Zhen—perhaps even superior.

To go and ask to become his disciple now?

Forget how the old man would feel—even I’d find that awkward if I were him.

Others would find it weird too. Better to avoid being misunderstood.

Just keep interacting naturally over time.

He put the matter out of his mind and returned to reading his medical texts.

Fang Han was calm and relaxed.

But Elder Zhen, who had just left, was feeling increasingly unsettled.

A hundred steps away, he couldn’t help turning around to look at that newly opened clinic.

His expression subtly changed.

It wasn’t just because that young man’s skills were superior.

What truly unsettled him was that—

The acupuncture technique Fang Han used, though slightly altered, clearly came from the same school as his own.

Not only that, the full sequence of diagnosis—looking, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking—all showed signs of techniques he found familiar.

Who is this kid? Could he be… from the same lineage?

Is this just fate? Or is it deliberate?

Elder Zhen’s eyes darkened.

By all logic, he had hidden his identity, settled quietly in Linshui City, and lived a low profile.

There shouldn’t be any reason for someone to notice him.

Could it be a coincidence?

A young man from the same medical lineage just happened to settle in the same city?

Judging by this young man’s conduct, he doesn’t seem to be from my junior brother’s side…

No, that can’t be. My junior brother’s temper has softened, sure—but his eye for disciples is utterly terrible. They’re all scheming little rats…

And this Fang fellow doesn’t seem like one of those types. Then again, people wear masks. One can’t judge a heart by its face.

Elder Zhen’s expression grew more and more uncertain.

His pace quickened—not toward his clinic, but back home.

There, he took out paper and brush and quickly wrote a letter.

After sealing it, he had a trusted aide deliver it to a small town.

Footnotes:

1. 梗着脖子 (gěng zhe bózi)– To stiffen one’s neck: An idiom describing someone standing firm in their decision or speaking with conviction.
2. 唉了一声 (āi le yī shēng)– Heaved a sigh: Indicates a moment of emotional softening, often regret or helplessness.
3. 望闻问切 (wàng wén wèn qiè)– Look, listen, question, feel the pulse: The four essential diagnostic methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
4. 表里不一 (biǎo lǐ bù yī)– Outside and inside don’t match: Describes someone who is two-faced or deceptive.
5. 知人知面不知心 (zhī rén zhī miàn bù zhī xīn)– You can know a person’s face, but not their heart: A saying that warns against trusting appearances.

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