Chapter 102: One Word Repels The Enemy
The crowd saw this and suddenly understood.
It turned out that the weasel had been chased here by this Great Black Snake!
Cheng Bin moved his toes and carefully retreated back to the crowd.
Lin Shou Zhuo’s expression was grave, his qi radiating outward, his intent surging like a tide, remotely confronting this Great Black Snake from afar.
This snake demon clearly had no lack of intelligence and did not attack rashly, but was probing and hesitating over something.
Lin Shou Zhuo pondered silently in his heart.
“Strange. This black snake probably has a hundred years of cultivation, its strength no less than mine. If I were alone here tonight, if I couldn’t beat it I could just flee, but not only is there the water cart weighing me down, I also have to protect Old Chen, Sun Xiao, and the others…”
Lin Shou Zhuo’s heart sank bit by bit.
Sun Xiao and the others also looked grim, gripping their weapons tightly, exchanging glances, already prepared for the worst.
Who would have thought Chen Shun’an looked somewhat relieved, apparently extremely confident in Instructor Lin, and instead turned to comfort Sun Xiao and the others,
“Brothers, rest assured, what kind of person is Instructor Lin? Back then, a pair of Iron Fists silenced all the heroes of Wuqing County, and at that year’s Lingguan Temple Fair he was the fair head, controlling the overall situation—both black and white paths gave him face, and he was even personally selected by the temple keeper to drape the Spirit Official Master in ceremonial colors!
Even if this demon is a true dragon from the ocean depths, what is there to fear? Everyone, just watch…”
These words practically elevated Lin Shou Zhuo to the heavens.
Not only did Sun Xiao and the others stare in shock.
Lin Shou Zhuo was also stunned, muttering inwardly.
What silencing all the heroes— it was just a bunch of second-rate experts fighting over territory, brawling fiercely, and the reason for the ‘silence’ was giving face to Zhao Guangxi, with no other experts bothering to argue with him.
And that ‘fair head’ was even more not worth mentioning— it was because Lin Shou Zhuo’s grandson Dou Dou was critically ill back then, seeking the Spirit Official’s blessing.
Lin Shou Zhuo set aside his pride, and under Zhao Guangxi’s lead, visited the local tyrants of Wuqing County household by household, spending tremendous favors to exchange for the position of temple fair head.
When the temple fair ended, he automatically stepped down, just for the good luck.
And draping colors on the Spirit Official statue was something anyone with money could buy, as if it were so rare!
But Lin Shou Zhuo and the others knew the inside story, whereas that Great Black Snake in the woods knew nothing of these human schemings.
It was clearly bluffed into staying put, flicking its tongue like the wind, somewhat hesitant.
Did that person just now say I was a true dragon from the ocean depths?
The Great Black Snake thought silently to itself.
Gusts of yin wind blew from the mass grave, ghostly will-o’-the-wisps flickering on and off.
Moments later, the Great Black Snake slowly retreated, plowing flat the ground, crushing branches and shrubs, leaving behind a huge snake trail.
Once the Great Black Snake was far away and completely gone,
the crowd finally turned back together to look at Chen Shun’an.
Some in shock, some horrified, some admiring, some helpless…
Lin Shou Zhuo walked to Chen Shun’an’s side, was silent for a moment, and finally patted Chen Shun’an’s shoulder, saying calmly,
“Old Chen, from now on, don’t praise me anymore.”
Lin can’t take it.
With that, Lin Shou Zhuo walked in front of the water cart, took his pipe and puffed three hard draws of dry tobacco, and his still-trembling hands finally steadied.
“Old Chen, you, you—impressive, impressive, you even thought of a way out of this.”
“Repelling the evil spirit without bloodshed is good too.”
“They say a single word can retreat a million lions; I didn’t believe it before, but today I see there’s some reason to it.”
Sun Xiao and the others said in succession.
Chen Shun’an chuckled hey hey, saying no more.
Though that Great Black Snake had also become a refined monster, in terms of strength it was merely comparable to a martial artist who had slain one bandit, far inferior to the demonic fish Chen Shun’an had glimpsed at the bottom of the water the previous two days.
Fortunately, he Chen Shun’an was cautious and meticulous, always acting carefully, hiding six parts of his strength and revealing only four, allowing him with the strength of slaying three bandits to first encounter these evil spirits.
If he were still like Lin Shou Zhuo, or even Sun Xiao and other second-rate warriors, it would truly be fraught with peril.
But now, repelling the enemy without bloodshed, with the three-inch unbreakable tongue.
Everything was under control.
The cart rumbled onward, the team continuing forward.
Banye Ferry Crossing was already faintly visible in the distance.
The crowd gradually forgot the danger and pressure brought by the Great Black Snake just now.
“Old Chen, the fifth rule, which is also the last rule. When we arrive at the Great Pharmacy later, don’t wander around; be respectful to people. The client buying the water is a master of the healing arts, with master succession from Imperial Physician Zhong Yuan—he’s his final disciple.
He’s the attending military physician in charge of Jiuzhen Hall in the Capital City; even Bai Shan Ren has to be extremely deferential to him.”
Instructor Lin rarely spoke at such length with earnest advice.
Chen Shun’an stirred upon hearing this.
This Imperial Physician Zhong Yuan was a legendary figure in the Capital City, becoming famous young, with intelligence near demonic, passing the juren scholar exam at the age of twenty.
Unfortunately, he suddenly suffered an eye ailment, which was delayed by a quack doctor, causing his left eye to go completely blind.
The Sacred Dynasty had a law: those with imperfect features were not allowed to enter officialdom.
Zhong Yuan then resolved with determination: “If I cannot be a good prime minister to aid the world, I shall be a good physician to help the people.” Afterward, he delved into medicine, hung his pot to heal the world, curing hundreds of diseases and resolving plagues.
When His Majesty the Emperor toured the south and casually caught a headache, with all the physicians at a loss, it was Zhong Yuan who with a single scattered prescription cured him completely, and he was exceptionally promoted to serve in the Imperial Medical Academy.
And Zhong Yuan had quirks too; he rarely took disciples his whole life—those with handsome features he didn’t accept, those seeking officialdom he didn’t accept, those with poor aptitude he didn’t accept.
And as the final disciple of Imperial Physician Zhong Yuan, this water-buying client had a status so high and connections so vast it went without saying.
No wonder even Lin Shou Zhuo cared so much about him.
Chen Shun’an nodded. “I understand.”
Lin Shou Zhuo said no more; regarding Old Chen’s character, he was still at ease.
The moonlight was dim and overcast, damp River Wind rushing out from behind the mountain hollow and drilling into their pant legs, chilly.
Lin Shou Zhuo turned back to look in the direction where the Great Black Snake had disappeared.
“How could such an evil spirit appear near Banye Ferry Crossing? In the past, the worst was merely comparable to a second-rate martial artist!”
Lin Shou Zhuo’s heart grew heavy; he took a fierce draw of dry tobacco, the spark quickly consuming the tobacco and burning it to ash.
Only then did Lin Shou Zhuo exhale a pair of white dragons from his nose with heavy thoughts, pondering silently in his heart,
“Looks like I need to find Senior Zhou Qing and borrow some more manpower to eliminate this evil spirit.
Otherwise, how can I feel at ease when Old Chen delivers water in the future?”
……
Upon arriving at Banye Ferry Crossing, the crowd headed straight for the Great Pharmacy.
This Great Pharmacy had no signboard or name; it was just a large shop facing south from the north, with its storefront at the street corner, quite renowned throughout Wuqing County.
It basically didn’t treat illnesses, only selling prepared formulas and plasters.
Specializing in supplying many apothecaries and private agencies in and outside the county.
The Great Pharmacy had received advance notice from Lin Shou Zhuo’s group about tonight’s water delivery.
They had early sent people to receive them, with open fire torches, countless strongmen, and second-rate experts holding hard crossbows and strong bows.
“Brother Lin, I heard you’ve finally broken through to first-rate—truly congratulations.”
A middle-aged man with a square nose, big ears, and thick beard and mustache emerged from the gatehouse, greeting Lin Shou Zhuo warmly and leading him first into the pharmacy.
Chen Shun’an gave this man an extra glance.
This man’s strength was good; in terms of aura, he was even stronger than Lin Shou Zhuo by a notch, also a veteran first-rate expert.
No surprise there; for the Great Pharmacy to handle such big business and take delivery of this cart of Eight Treasures Mercury, it needed formidable figures to hold down the fort.
Chen Shun’an and the others waited a bit outside the pharmacy; a steward-like figure saw Chen Shun’an’s unfamiliar face, came forward to question him briefly, then withdrew.
The surrounding strongmen, including the hidden sentries, also sized up Chen Shun’an.
Memorizing Chen Shun’an’s appearance and aura.
“Alright, move the water inside.”
Moments later, Lin Shou Zhuo came back out.
The crowd didn’t hesitate, taking buckets to pour water, their movements practiced, nimble on their feet.
Chen Shun’an shouldered two half-buckets of Eight Treasures Mercury and followed the crowd into the pharmacy.
The layout inside the pharmacy was quite complex, a new scene with every step; each room had glass windows covered with plain silk paper as screens—most stylish.
Before long, the thick fragrance of medicinal herbs and pills wafted over.
Chen Shun’an frowned; from this fragrance, he sniffed out a strange fishy stench.
Somewhat similar to the weasel and Great Black Snake encountered at midnight.
Faintly, Chen Shun’an also heard from underfoot beast-like wails and shrieks.
Chen Shun’an’s heart skipped.
This Great Pharmacy—could it be capturing evil spirits for drug testing, even killing demons to refine pills?!
Entering a dwelling like an Alchemy Room, a wave of heat hit them in the face.
Physicians and apprentices in plain robes hurried back and forth among them.
Some ladling medicine with pestles, some stirring plasters, some controlling fire with palm winds.
Grinders for milling drugs, mortars for grinding, pots for straining, wooden basins for wax-dipping skins… all sorts of tools, varied and categorized.
And unlike the tripod-shaped or gourd-shaped pill furnaces in his impressions.
The pill furnaces here were pagoda-shaped; at the bottom of the pill stove burned a roaring great fire, with various small chambers of different sizes above, brightly lit with viscous medicinal liquid boiling and sublimating within.
The furnace walls glowed red-hot; as Chen Shun’an passed the pill stove, his body hair seemed almost scorched.
Everyone was bustling about busily, each at their duties.
In a daze, this Alchemy Room actually gave Chen Shun’an a sense of déjà vu from an assembly line in his previous life.
“Pour the Eight Treasures Mercury into this side.”
Lin Shou Zhuo pointed to the pond built of rammed earth and bricks beside the pill stove.
Chen Shun’an emptied his buckets into it, his gaze noticing in the dim light nearby two large iron cages half-covered by bamboo mats.
He seemed to see something, his pupils contracting sharply, his face showing shock.
In the large iron cages were respectively imprisoned a dark-shelled turtle and a flower deer kneeling on the ground with its branched antlers severed.
The two demons were barely breathing, emanating a thick bloody smell.
“Old Chen?”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind Chen Shun’an, interrupting his thoughts.
Chen Shun’an turned and saw a man in an Official Gauze Robe stepping over the threshold, smiling as he approached.
“Golden Needle Li?”
Seeing this man, Chen Shun’an was stunned for a moment.
Chen Shun’an then learned from Sun Xiao and the others that Golden Needle Li was precisely the final disciple of Imperial Physician Zhong Yuan, and also the alchemist hired by the Great Pharmacy’s landlord with heavy gold.
Golden Needle Li smiled. “I saw your name on the list handed over by Lin Shou Zhuo and thought it was just a coincidence.
But then I thought, isn’t Old Chen you just employed at the Grit Well! Congratulations, congratulations… Right, I heard on the road here you encountered a snake demon—nothing went wrong, right?”
Several scorching gazes fell on Chen Shun’an’s back.
Chen Shun’an explained his relationship with Golden Needle Li to Lin Shou Zhuo, Sun Xiao, and the others.
Upon learning that Golden Needle Li had been invited by Old Lady Zhang back then specifically to treat Chen Shun’an after his drowning, Sun Xiao, Cheng Bin, and the others suddenly understood, looking at Chen Shun’an with envious eyes.
Old Chen’s connections were all familiar faces wherever he went.
But that was fine too; with first-rate expert Lin Shou Zhuo leaving, suave Chen Shun’an arriving was good.
Lin Shou Zhuo took Chen Shun’an’s water buckets, gesturing for Chen Shun’an to go ‘catch up’—they’d handle the work.
Chen Shun’an didn’t refuse, cupping his fists slightly and walking to Golden Needle Li’s side.
“Well, well, Golden Needle Li, Chen only knew you were Wuqing’s divine physician— who would have thought your background was so great?”
Chen Shun’an teased.
