Ancestors, Protect Us!

As soon as the document for the Individual Medical Practice License was issued, the registration and exam dates were set, and the exam location was determined. Since the registration and exam times were relatively close to when the document was issued, other provinces and cities weren't chosen — only Beijing and Shanghai were selected as trial locations.

The Song Family and Lu Wen could only deliver news to the Zhu Family. Mingjue Grand Master was the most reliable, and the Action Team agreed to help the Zhu Family with registration. Now the Zhu Family needed to quickly decide on the registration candidates and which exam location to go to.

The registration candidates had already been decided: Zhu Shian, Zhu Shouguang, and Zhu Shouxin. As for the exam location, the Zhu Family barely hesitated before choosing Shanghai. After all, traveling by water from Zhenshan County to Shanghai was convenient and relatively close.

The news came so quickly and registration went so smoothly — much thanks to Mingjue Grand Master and the National Security Action Group's willingness to help. Zhu Shian brought a bundle of incense and Talismans she had saved from recent practice, and went to Wangyun Temple to express her gratitude.

Mingjue Grand Master was naturally pleased to receive Zhu Shian's gift of thanks. He said: "The matter at Xiong Mountain has been settled, but the Action Team suffered considerable losses — several dead and wounded. Even Li Qingyuan, the Li Taoist, was injured. Without Director Li's support, the Southwest Action Team's Talisman supply is quite strained. The Talismans you sent will help ease the situation somewhat."

Zhu Shian's eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Were the casualties severe?"

Mingjue Grand Master sighed: "I don't know the specifics, only a general outline. Director Li and the others went to support at Xiong Mountain, but they arrived too late. Both the team leader and deputy team leader of the Central Action Team were lost."

"So you're saying the overall strength of the Action Team isn't great?"

The statement was extremely direct, but Mingjue Grand Master could only nod with a wry smile. The overall decline of the Xuan Sect was an undeniable fact — everyone knew it in their hearts.

However, Mingjue Grand Master felt compelled to add: "Actually, the situation has improved much since the founding of the nation. Major cases like Xiong Mountain are only heard of once every few years."

Zhu Shian quietly nodded.

Mingjue Grand Master couldn't help but reminisce: "Too many capable masters from the previous generation have passed away. If they were still alive, guarding the four directions, those evil factions wouldn't dare to act so openly."

The incense smoke curled around the Mahavira Hall, with continuous chanting filling the air. Zhu Shian turned to look toward the Mahavira Hall: "Are you performing rituals for those departed masters?"

"Mn. This poor monk is incapable, but can only do this for them."

Zhu Shian advised: "Those with merit will have their own fate."

Mingjue Grand Master smiled and said: "Speaking of which, those in the Xuan Sect should be the ones who see life and death most clearly. But in the end, Xuan Sect members are still human and cannot truly transcend worldly affairs."

This was precisely true. As long as one lives, there are loves, hates, and attachments; as long as one has family and friends in this world, there are bonds hard to let go.

Those who enter the world may not leave the world, but those who truly leave the world must first enter it.

Take Zhu Shian herself: although she currently ignores the Underworld's summons and declines the Action Team's invitation, appearing independent, she still has her family to care for and debts of affection to repay.

Perhaps it's good that no one can truly stand alone in this world. One lives for something, after all.

Mingjue Grand Master smiled faintly: "You're young, but you're not naive. Very well, I assume you have your own plans. Today this poor monk won't be overly talkative."

Zhu Shian leaned slightly forward, picked up the teapot, and poured tea for Mingjue Grand Master, saying with a smile: "Then thank you, Master, for letting me off."

Although she had received favor from the Action Team, she today repaid it with Talismans. If the Action Team wanted to use this favor to persuade her to join, that absolutely wouldn't work.

And Mingjue Grand Master sighed, his worry gradually dispersing in the continuous chanting.

Zhu Shian descended the mountain and returned to Sanqing Lane. As soon as she got home, Zhu Fengqin said: "Lu Wen came shortly after you left this morning. She got news that registration starts July first and ends July tenth. Even if we leave now for Shanghai, it would be hard to catch the registration — there might be problems. She said she could use connections to help our family register, though it's quite troublesome."

"How did you respond?"

"I thanked her, but said we don't need it — we've already entrusted someone to register, so we'll definitely get it. She said okay, then felt relieved."

"Didn't she ask who helped us register?" Zhu Shian had walked all the way and was tired, thirsty, so she poured herself a cup of water.

"She didn't ask." Zhu Fengqin smiled: "I suppose she also knows that with our family's capabilities, the connections we know are definitely more than theirs."

Lu Wen had always kept in mind helping the Zhu Family. Everyone understood her motivations. Families like the Zhu Family had many people like Lu Wen rushing to offer assistance.

Zhu Shian hummed in acknowledgment, saying she understood.

While wiping tables and sweeping, Zhu Fengqin said: "The exam on August first isn't far away either. Don't go to Yuntai Temple these few days — stay home and study. In a few days, we'll leave on July sixth."

Traveling by water from Zhenshan County to Shanghai takes about twenty days. To avoid any delays on the road, it's safer to leave a few days early.

Zhu Fengqin said: "You grew up beside me. I'm worried about you traveling alone. If you go to Shanghai, I must go with you."

"Alright, if you don't mind the fatigue, we'll go together."

Zhu Fengqin put the broom in the corner and said cheerfully: "I'm in good health, I don't mind the fatigue. When we get to Shanghai, you and Uncle Shouguang go take the exam, and I'll go shopping at the department store."

"Should we exchange the tickets in advance?"

"Don't you worry about that — I've already prepared everything. The tickets and certificates will be exchanged in advance."

Zhu Fengqin had made preparations, and the Zhu clan would also prepare. Besides money, certificates, and tickets, this trip concerned the Zhu Family's future. Besides the three test-takers — Zhu Shian, Zhu Shouguang, and Zhu Shouxin — several young people from the clan would also accompany them.

A few days later, after entering July, Mingjue Grand Master sent someone down the mountain to deliver a message to the Zhu Family: registration in Shanghai had been approved, and they were given an address. After arriving in Shanghai, they could go to that address to pick up their exam admission ticket.

By this time, the Zhu Family had packed everything and was just waiting to depart on the sixth.

The Zhu Family was preparing to leave for Shanghai for the exam, but news about the national examination selection for the Individual Medical Practice License hadn't yet reached Zhenshan County. Li Director was keeping a close watch, and only on July fifth did he receive news through his city connections.

It was already the fifth, and registration would close in a few days. It was already somewhat late to find connections to register.

Li Director was making rounds through the hospital's various clinics. Outside Zhu Changming's clinic, he knocked twice and pushed open the door. Zhu Changming thought there was a patient, but looked up to see the director.

"Director, what brings you here..."

"Did you really not register?"

Zhu Changming replied helplessly: "I told you days ago — I really didn't register. Why don't you believe me?"

The Zhu Family had also asked Li Director to inquire about news. After the Zhu Family got advance information and registered, they naturally had to inform Li Director. So even without waiting for city news, Li Director had already gotten accurate information from the Zhu Family.

"Director, is there anything else? I'm a bit busy right now..." Zhu Changming didn't want to waste words with Li Director. He pointed at the medical records on his desk that hadn't been sorted yet.

Li Director didn't respond to this, but asked instead: "When does your eldest daughter leave?"

"She leaves tomorrow morning."

Li Director nodded, saying he understood, then added: "Come to the hospital early tomorrow morning — I have work assignments for you."

Zhu Changming smiled: "Director, I didn't realize I was so important to you."

Li Director coldly snorted: "I don't mind telling you honestly — Doctor Li and Doctor Wang have found connections and will probably be transferred away in these two months. And you probably also know about the younger doctors — they're taking the College Entrance Exam this month. If they pass, they'll definitely leave too. Our county hospital has so few people. If this group all leaves, when the season changes and sick people increase, with just these remaining people, even if you live in the hospital every day, you won't be able to handle the workload."

The attraction of college entrance exams for young people was too great. Not just in Zhenshan County, but young people in city hospitals had more information channels and richer resources. Their determination to take the college entrance exam was even stronger.

Doctors in city hospitals who passed the college entrance exam and left could be promoted from county-level hospitals. But where could county-level hospitals find people to fill the positions when their doctors left?

It's human nature for people to aspire to higher things. He had no reason to stop them, but someone had to do the work.

Li Director was worried.

Zhu Changming lightly coughed and mentioned: "Then wait for our family's Medical Hall to open. With one more Medical Hall opening in the county, the pressure on our county hospital will be somewhat reduced."

Li Director glared at him: "I knew you were a betrayer."

"Director, you need to clarify this — which is the inside and which is the outside?"

Li Director was stumped, grinding his teeth in anger, but at this moment he couldn't afford to offend Zhu Changming, who could do the work. He could only hold his anger and leave.

Zhu Changming couldn't help but laugh. Who would have thought the director would have this day.

The Zhu Family was going to Shanghai to pursue their future. Besides their own family, only a few people knew the details. The next day, when the Zhu Family boarded a boat at the dock to leave, acquaintances who greeted them initially thought Zhu Fengqin was taking the boat back to Zhujia Village. Only when they saw the boat heading east did they realize that wasn't the case.

East — that was leaving the county town, heading toward the Yangtze River.

Lu Wen didn't know which day the Zhu Family was leaving. This wasn't important. What mattered to her was that the Zhu Family passed the exam and obtained that license.

The couple was chatting at home. He Zaiming said: "If the Zhu Family can practice medicine openly in the future, they will fully establish themselves in just a few years."

Those who rely on their skills for a living are much more confident than those like him who rely on connections and luck.

The Zhu Family knew what their trump card was. Traveling by boat eastward, the light was right in front of them.

The Zhu Family's future was getting brighter and brighter. But in the mountain forest where Yin Qi blotted out the sky, Ding Mao, struggling to survive, felt darkness ahead. He had a bad premonition — he felt his life would end here.

"Director Ding, it's bad. The Yin Qi has already reached Ye Dan's heart pulse. She might not make it."

Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, holding the Peach Wood Sword in one hand and raising the ancestral Bagua Mirror in front, he stared hard at the two Demonic Taoists. In a low, urgent voice, he said: "Open my包裹, light the box of Soul-Chasing Incense, and hang it over Ye Dan's heart pulse. It can temporarily protect her heart pulse."

Ding Mao silently recited: "Ancestors of the Ding Family, please protect me!"

After the recitation, Ding Mao gritted his teeth, raised the Peach Wood Sword, and charged forward.

"Your grandfather Ding is here, Demonic Taoists — die!"