Xiao Yan is respected because he values brotherhood and is willing to go through fire and water for others. That’s why many people are willing to risk their lives for him.
However, this time, it was his deputy hall master who wanted to replace him. He lied to him that he was in trouble in Hezhou and imprisoned him in order to catch him in the trap.
Xiao Yan was extremely cautious. He saw the opportunity to escape and contacted his men to fight back. Just now, they were in a critical situation. Thanks to the help of the blind man, they were finally able to reverse the situation.
A group of people dispersed, and some people stayed to protect him. Xiao Yan had just taken two steps when he suddenly thought of something. He hooked his hand and called someone over, pointing to the ground not far away where blood was dripping all the way: “Go and follow this blood trail to see where it leads to, do it quietly.”
Although this order was strange, but the subordinate still followed it.
Xiao Yan looked at the teeth marks. The bite was shallow and did not break the skin.
Originally, he planned to return to Shanghai immediately after resolving the issue, but now he feels that he needs to stay a few more days.
The next day, early in the morning.
Xiao Yan booked the most expensive Changlong Hotel in Hezhou, and everyone lived there.
He was smoking in the room, and a man was tied up and kneeling in front of him, his face was bruised and swollen.
This was the deputy hall master who betrayed him, Chen Shu.
Someone grabbed his hair and made him look up. Xiao Yan stepped on his shoulder and blew smoke rings on his face.
“You still have some guts. You didn’t cry or beg for your life.”
Chen Shu snorted, “Bah, Xiao Yan, who do you think you are! I joined the gang ten years earlier than you did, you’re just a brat! What makes you the boss?!”
Xiao Yan kicked him and said, “You’ve lost now. Idiot, do you really think that age is the way to go?”
“You’re just f*cking lucky. I didn’t lose to you, I lost to luck!”
Xiao Yan smirked and patted him on the face without hesitation: “Laozi was already fighting and killing in Shanghai when I was 18, and here you are, still lying around on a woman! I gave you some status because you’re old, but now you dare to take advantage of me?”
“The winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit. What’s there to say!”
The subordinate hurriedly asked, “Ghost Master, do you want to drag him out and deal with him?”
“Sever his arteries and let him bleed out slowly. Do it in front of those traitors—and give them the same treatment once they’ve watched. Everyone go and watch it so that those with evil intentions in the gang will remember this lesson.”
After a cold command, Chen Shuo was dragged out with his mouth covered.
Just from this alone, it’s clear that Chen Shuo’s claim about Xiao Yan being young and reckless was complete nonsense. When it comes to cruelty, this King of Hell does exactly as he pleases.
Xiao Yan put out his cigarette, raised his head, and closed his eyes for a while, then asked in a low voice, “Liao Qin, have you found that person?”
Liao Qin replied, “We followed the blood trail all the way to Jinyan Tang. I heard that it was the private residence of a famous physician in Hezhou City.”
Physician? Xiao Yan frowned and sat up. This answer made him feel very strange.
“That’s it?”
Liao Qin lowered his head: “This family is very tight-lipped, and nothing can be learned from them.”
“Trash.” Xiao Yan commented coldly.
Fearing that he would be angry, Liao Qin said, “But I was lying in ambush outside for a long time, until a maid went out to buy sundries. I heard her telling the housekeeper at the door that she was going to the medical hall to get some hemostatic medicine for Teacher Shen… Ghost Master, do you need me to take a few brothers to bring the person back for questioning?”
Teacher Shen… Shen…
It seems so.
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a light flashed in his eyes: “No need, I know who it is. I need you to check for me. Ten years ago, there was a teacher named Shen Jingmo in Cunxi Academy in Hezhou City. What happened to him over the years, and what did he experience? I want to know everything.”
As soon as Liao Qin heard the name—and noticed the surname was also Shen—he immediately knew it was the same person.
“Yes!”
“Oh, and one more thing,” Xiao Yan added, “Especially you need to find out how he became blind.”
Liao Qin has been following Ghost Master for three years already and is very good at observing words and expressions. Naturally, he understands that he must have other purposes in investigating Shen Jingmo. At least, it seems like he cares about Shen Jingmo, not that he wants to punish him.
It seems that this person has some connection with Ghost Master’s past.
If it is really a good past, then this Mr. Shen is really lucky.
————
A young master from a wealthy family who looked very charming came to Heming Medical Hall.
When Zhang Xiuming walked into the medical hall, a medicine boy immediately asked, “Sir, where are you feeling unwell? What kind of diagnosis would you like to have?”
He looked up at the sign. He always went to big hospitals and had no idea that Chinese medical halls now had such detailed classifications.
He said, “I don’t know where I feel uncomfortable, I just want to see Xu Hang.”
The medicine boy was a little embarrassed and explained, “This… our boss doesn’t see patients that easily…”
“I saw him seeing patients two days ago. Why is he not seeing patients now?”
“Our boss only sees patients when he’s in a good mood.”
Zhang Xiuming was about to speak when Xu Hang walked in from the backyard. Having overheard the conversation in the front hall, he stood by the medicine cabinet and said, “Since you trust me, come here and I’ll take your pulse.”
After saying that, he gave the medicine boy a look, signaling him to leave. This wasn’t unusual—there had always been people who trusted only Xu Hang’s medical skills and came specifically to see him. However, regular patients were familiar with his ways and wouldn’t disturb him unless it was a serious emergency.
Zhang Xiuming rolled up his sleeves and put them in front of Xu Hang. Xu Hang stretched out two fingers and began to diagnose carefully.
Because they were so close, Zhang Xiuming could feel the delicate touch of the elegant bone beneath his wrist—a sensation both astonishing and beautiful.
Such a person, such a bone.
He really wants to collect it.
Seeing his glorious face, Xu Hang knew that there was nothing wrong with him. After checking his pulse, he said, “Sir, you are in good health.”
Zhang Xiuming lied: “Really? Cough, cough… Maybe it’s because I’m not used to the climate here, I can’t sleep well at night. Maybe I got internal heat.”
“Then bring some antipyretic medicine.”
Xu Hang withdrew his fingers and was about to reach for the brush when Zhang Xiuming suddenly grabbed his hand. Not only did he hold it, but he also caressed it like a piece of fine jade, his thumb gently rubbing back and forth, tracing the veins on the back of his hand.
“Physician Xu has such beautiful hands. It’s such a pity that you only use them to make medicine and see patients every day.”
He didn’t say it out loud, but he wanted to lick these hands.
Xu Hang frowned, and his voice began to cool: “Is there such a pity for an ordinary person like me to make a living?”
“I just think it’s a waste of natural resources.”
“Can you let go first? If you keep doing this, this hand will break.” Xu Hang pulled it back unceremoniously, picked up a brush, hastily wrote a prescription, and handed it to the medicine boy. “Go and prescribe the medicine for Mr. Zhang.”
Zhang Xiuming stared at Xu Hang, his peach blossom eyes rolling back and forth, and said, “I’ve just arrived in Hezhou. I’m afraid it won’t be convenient for me to boil the medicine myself.”
Xu Hang didn’t even raise his eyelids: “If you are not in a hurry, we will boil it here, you can drink it before leaving.”
“Alright, I’ll wait here.”
Zhang Xiuming held his chin, looking obedient. Xu Hang glanced at him and went to the back.
The medicine boy was preparing the herbs according to the prescription, muttering, “Coptis chinensis, Akebia, Gentiana scabra, Andrographis paniculata, Sophora flavescens… aiyo, this person isn’t just suffering from internal heat—he’s practically on fire, right? Boss, the medicine you prescribed will have him suffering to death.”
Xu Hang said sarcastically, adding another handful of bitter ginseng, “This patient ate too much sweet food in the past, and now he is asking for trouble.”
In less than half an hour, a bowl of black medicine was placed in front of Zhang Xiuming. It didn’t have much smell, but its viscosity was quite surprising.
Zhang Xiuming took a sip, and it was so bitter that he almost vomited.
“Cough, cough… cough!”
The bitterness was like that of Coptis chinensis purified a thousand times. Once it entered his mouth, it went straight to the depths of his heart. Even his temples were throbbing, and his entire tongue was numb.
Xu Hang looked at him and said indifferently, “You should drink the medicine while it’s hot.”
Zhang Xiuming knew that this was a prank on him. Interestingly, it turned out that the beauty’s bones have a little temper; only roses with thorns are called roses.
Good medicine may be bitter, but it’s beneficial for the illness, so he can endure this small bit of bitterness.
So he smiled softly, picked up the bowl, and drank it all in one gulp. This time, he was prepared, and he didn’t even frown and drank it all without leaving a drop. After putting the bowl down, he even licked the corner of his mouth as if he was savoring the taste.
But only he knew his back was slightly sweaty.
Xu Hang watched his actions and narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew who this person was as soon as he entered the door.
From a distance in the red-light district, this pervert who pulls out people’s teeth is quite impressive.
He thought that he could dampen his arrogance by giving him a warning, but he didn’t expect that he was a man who didn’t play by the rules.
It’s not as simple as he thought.
Having seen the physician and taken the medicine, there was no reason for him to stay. As he made his way to the door, Zhang Xiuming remarked that if the medicine worked, he would come frequently.
“Physician Xu, see you next time.” Having already stepped one foot out of the threshold, Zhang Xiuming suddenly turned around, stared at Xu Hang’s face, paused, and then moved closer.
Xu Hang saw Zhang Xiuming’s face suddenly magnified and couldn’t help but take a step back, but Zhang Xiuming stretched out a hand to stop him.
He put one hand around Xu Hang’s waist, and the other hand touched Xu Hang’s face.
Apart from Duan Yelin, Xu Hang had never had such close contact with anyone else. If there hadn’t been others present, Xu Hang might have almost been unable to resist launching the golden needle hidden in his sleeve, piercing Zhang Xiuming’s hand right then and there!
His face darkened, his body stiffened, and he stared at Zhang Xiuming.
“It’s… a little dirty here.” Zhang Xiuming wiped a little powder from the corner of Xu Hang’s mouth. It seemed to be herbal powder. He put it into his mouth and licked it, then said, “Well, it’s Panax notoginseng powder.”
The half-smile on his face really deserved a good beating.
Xu Hang secretly pushed his hand away: “Thank you.”
Zhang Xiuming was not in a hurry to tease him and smiled wickedly: “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zhang Xiuming. Let’s just be friends from now on.”
“…I, WON’T, SEE, YOU, OFF.”
Everything this person says and does gives people goosebumps. Yuan Ye clearly said the same thing, but one makes people feel warm while the other makes people stay away.
Zhang Xiuming thought Xu Hang’s expression was very interesting, so he waved his hand and walked away.
After finally getting rid of the trouble, Xu Hang was about to go back to his work when his wrist was grabbed by someone and he was twisted. The force was so strong that it hurt a little. He doesn’t need to see to know that it must have turned red.
He met Duan Yelin’s furious face and questioning.
“What were you doing being so affectionate with Zhang Xiuming just now?!”
