Chapter 1: Transmigration to the Ming Dynasty

At the foot of Wuchuan Mountain, by the Xiang River.

The night wind swept through the reeds, and the flickering torchlight cast shifting shadows. Liu Mingyi gripped his sickle tightly, cutting through the overgrown weeds, while the freshly picked medicinal herbs in his basket swayed with his movements. He had lost track of time while foraging in the mountains and now needed to hurry back to Baiyan Village.

A strange sight on the riverbank made him stop abruptly—a figure floating in the shallow water, rising and falling with the waves.

Drownings had occurred in this area before, but he hadn’t heard of anyone going missing recently. Liu Mingyi’s heartbeat quickened. In such a remote place, being alone could be dangerous. Steadying himself, he rushed forward.

It was a woman dressed in thin clothing, her long hair disheveled, her face pale, and her eyes tightly shut. Her chest barely rose and fell, indicating that she was still alive and not a lifeless corpse. Her breathing was faint, her pulse weak—if not rescued immediately, she wouldn’t survive.

Liu Mingyi quickly pulled her out of the water, loosened her collar and waistband, brushed aside her wet hair, and wiped the mud and debris from her nose and mouth, revealing her face.

He held his breath—never had he seen such a breathtaking beauty. Her delicate features, flawless skin, and elegant brows made one wonder how stunning she would be when awake.

Yet, when he placed his hand on her shoulder, he hesitated. Confucian teachings emphasized that men and women should not touch unless married. But as a doctor, he was taught to treat all patients equally, regardless of gender or age. Liu Mingyi had practiced medicine since childhood, and in this emergency, his only concern was saving her life. He had no time for hesitation.

Kneeling on one knee, he positioned the woman over his thigh, pressing on her back to expel the water from her lungs. He then laid her flat, alternately compressing her chest and massaging her abdomen in repeated cycles.

A deep chill seeped into his bones.

So cold… So painful… These were Wei Lan’s first sensations as she regained consciousness. She felt as if she had been crushed by a heavy object and then thrown into a freezer.

“Cough—” She suddenly sputtered, expelling a mouthful of water mixed with mud and sand. Through her blurry vision, she saw the silhouette of a man in a blue robe with his hair tied up. Before she could process the situation, his hands returned to her chest, pressing down again.

A pervert!

Her modern-day instincts kicked in. She wanted to knee him and slap him across the face. But her body, weakened from nearly drowning, refused to obey. She couldn’t even muster a sound.

After several more moments without a full response, Liu Mingyi broke a reed, removed the ends to create a hollow tube, inserted one end into her nostril, and blew air into the other.

Suddenly, Wei Lan clutched her chest, coughing violently. The intense stimulus from the reed-tube resuscitation jolted her fully awake.

So he was actually trying to save me? I almost accused an innocent man! But his technique was odd—completely unstandardized. Clearly, CPR education needed improvement in this era.

Relieved to see her react, Liu Mingyi called out in his local dialect, “Miss? Miss!“

Wei Lan steadied her breath and replied, “What are you saying?” She covered her mouth in surprise—her voice carried the accent of the Jianghuai region, not her usual Mandarin.

Realizing she was confused, Liu Mingyi switched to official Mandarin, “I am Liu Yan, courtesy name Mingyi, from Shanhua County. I apologize if I have offended you.” He began gathering dry wood to start a fire. “The night is cold, and your clothes are soaked. You should warm up before we descend the mountain.“

It was only then that Wei Lan noticed the young man before her—clad in a long blue robe, tall and lean, with handsome features and an air of scholarly refinement. A faint scent of herbal medicine lingered around him.

A distant wolf howl sent a chill down her spine. Instinctively, she reached for her smartphone—only to realize it was missing.

Wait… something’s wrong.

She had… transmigrated.

Years of compulsory education, grueling high school exams, and eight years of medical school had led to her securing a hard-won surgical position at a top-tier hospital. And now? She was stuck in ancient China?

Her last memory was of a family trip climbing the Five Great Mountains of China—Tai Shan, Song Shan, Hua Shan, Heng Shan (North), and finally, Heng Shan (South). She remembered reaching the summit for sunrise… but what happened after that?

Her head throbbed as she struggled to recall.

By now, the night had fully descended.

Liu Mingyi stoked the fire, then sat cross-legged across from Wei Lan. The flickering flames cast long shadows between them. He studied her carefully, noticing her lingering discomfort. “Miss, are you feeling unwell?“

As a doctor accustomed to life-or-death situations, Wei Lan quickly composed herself. If she was stuck in this strange time period, she would have to adapt and survive.

“Just call me Wei Lan.” She massaged her temples. “I have a headache. Where exactly am I?“

“This is Wuchuan Mountain,” Liu Mingyi answered. “How did you end up here?“

I’d like to know that myself!

“Is this near Heng Shan?” she probed.

He shook his head. “No, Heng Shan is in Hengzhou. This is Shanhua County, Changsha Prefecture.“

Changsha? She felt slightly relieved—it was still in Hunan.

“What year is it?“

“The twelfth year of Chongzhen.“

Wei Lan’s stomach sank—the late Ming Dynasty. She knew little about history, but she did remember that the Ming Dynasty didn’t last much longer after Chongzhen’s reign.

Wait, something doesn’t add up. If this is the Ming Dynasty, how does he know CPR?

“Mingyi, how do you know how to resuscitate someone?“

“Resuscitate?” He looked puzzled. “I’ve never heard of that term.“

“I mean, you pressed my chest and performed mouth-to-mouth breathing. That’s CPR.“

Liu Mingyi cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. “Miss Wei, I used a reed to deliver air, not what you’re suggesting…” His deep voice carried a hint of awkwardness, and he avoided her gaze, staring into the fire instead.

Wei Lan laughed it off. “Same thing, same thing!“

He regained his composure. “This technique is derived from Zhang Zhongjing’s Jingui Yaolüe and Ge Hong’s Zhouhou Fang.“

Wei Lan was taken aback. She only knew CPR from modern medicine, but had only a basic understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.

So… similar methods had existed in China for centuries?

Curious, she asked, “What’s the principle behind it?“

“Chao Yuanfang wrote in General Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases that when a person drowns, water enters their orifices and floods their organs, blocking their breath. So, removing the water and restoring airflow can save them.“

Wei Lan nodded. That was essentially the same explanation used in modern medicine.

“‘Cardiopulmonary resuscitation’—those four words are precise. Where did you learn them?“

Liu Mingyi’s curiosity was piqued. His family had extensive medical texts, but he had never encountered this term.

Wei Lan quickly made up an excuse. “Oh, my grandfather learned it from a wandering doctor. It’s a family secret!“

He looked slightly disappointed but pressed on. “So you also practice medicine?“

“Yes, but not the same kind as yours.“

Their conversation continued, and an idea began to form in Wei Lan’s mind. She had extensive knowledge of modern medicine, and this world was lacking in medical advancements.

What if I combine modern and ancient medicine?

She could save countless lives, revolutionize healthcare, and leave an unforgettable legacy.

As the fire crackled, her resolve solidified.

“Wei Lan, where is your home?” Liu Mingyi asked.

Feigning a headache, she groaned. “I don’t remember…“

Classic transmigration amnesia—always a useful plot device.