The Pulse of Mountains and Rivers

Synopsis of Pulse of the Mountains and Rivers Story overview: The realm is in chaos, and epidemics are rampant. Young physician Lu Mingyi flees the Imperial Medical Bureau in Luoyang after his father dies under a false accusation, carrying his father's dying wish to "find the true pulse." He meets a young beggar named Aman, and the two travel together. Along the way, they treat children stricken by the epidemic, but the Imperial Medical Bureau pursues them. In the desolate woods south of the city, Lu saves a dying infant using folk remedies and extraordinary skill, but in doing so, gives away his whereabouts. At their most desperate moment, a reclusive woodcutter directs them to Shu, where they can seek out Fu Weng, an heir to the Bian Que school. The group travels as far as Yingchuan, only to have their path blocked by the raging waters of the Jing River. In an abandoned village, they encounter a mysterious old man playing a flute, then receive help from a hunter and find a trustworthy boatman. The legacy of medicine: Set against the historical compilation of the Pulse Classic, the story explores the meeting and blending of traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis and folk medicine. An epic of growth: From an expelled "madman" to a physician who can stand on his own, the protagonist hones his medical skills and compassion amid epidemics, pursuit, and natural perils. A portrait of an age in turmoil: Factional strife within the Imperial Medical Bureau, reclusive physicians who hold fast to their principles, and heroes of the martial world who lend a hand together paint a vivid picture of the Three Kingdoms era. Two interwoven threads: The overt story follows a journey through Jingchu and the roads to Shu, while the underlying one traces a medical revolution that breaks through the constraints of tradition. Highlights: The story weaves specialized elements of traditional Chinese medicine, such as "cun-kou pulse diagnosis" and the "eight extraordinary meridians," into a suspenseful journey. Vivid episodes, from treating children with the epidemic to administering emergency folk remedies, bring the timeless theme of "a physician's benevolence" to life. Amid the currents of history, the young physician searches for the true meaning of medicine, breaking through old constraints like a surging river. At last, among the mountains and waters of Bashu, he will knock on the door of the Bian Que school and carry on the lifeblood of Chinese medicine.