Unexpected

Chen Fei's strange obsession with cooking had gradually spread throughout the Medical Hall—he loved frying pig liver. Frying pig liver was one thing, but he only used an amount the size of a fingernail each time. It was truly baffling.

Recently, however, he seemed to have stopped frying pig liver. No one knew whether he had grown tired of it or what, but he had switched to frying Chinese yam with chicken. The only thing unchanged was how little he used.

Even Cui Sanjie had specifically come to ask Chen Fei whether he wanted a spot reserved for him in the Medical Hall's kitchen.

Chen Fei politely declined. Instead, he spent some money to rent a small house in the county. He began eating and sleeping outside, only returning to the Medical Hall when he needed to refine pills.

This simple life of going back and forth between two places had been something Chen Fei loathed in his previous life, but in this world, he savored it like honey.

Anyone who saw their efforts constantly rewarded would probably be just like Chen Fei.

Many people were not born lazy. It was only because they saw no returns after working hard for so long that they gradually became slack. Chen Fei cultivated, cooked, and refined pills, busy from morning to night, even cutting deeply into his sleeping hours.

Staying up late could become addictive too.

Time slipped away soundlessly, and more than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the courtyard, Chen Fei held a longsword as he continuously twisted, turned, and shifted. The gleam drawn by the blade flickered all around him. Swift and fierce, the Green Mountain Sword blossomed with tremendous power in his hands.

If anyone from Qingzheng Medical Hall had seen this scene, they would never have recognized this sword art as the Clear Wind Sword passed down by the Medical Hall. Though the two bore some resemblance, the greater part had already diverged drastically.

Screech!

The sound of a sharp blade tearing through the air rang out. At some point, Chen Fei had stopped. A fine crack appeared on the courtyard's artificial rock, its edges incomparably smooth, as though they had been carefully polished.

"Sword Qi?"

Chen Fei had successfully cultivated the Green Mountain Sword to the Great Perfection Realm. After reaching Great Perfection, the Green Mountain Sword had unexpectedly developed the effect of Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi's power was decent, but it could not leave the blade. It only extended less than a foot beyond the sword tip. If an opponent was prepared, it would be somewhat difficult for this bit of Sword Qi to wound them.

But if he suddenly unleashed such Sword Qi, his enemy would likely be caught off guard. After all, no one would expect a mere Skin Tempering Realm martial artist to have cultivated Sword Qi.

Sword Qi was related to cultivation, but it was even more closely tied to one's realm in the sword path. Clearly, the Green Mountain Sword at Great Perfection had already met the basic requirements for Sword Qi.

It was not only the Green Mountain Sword. Chen Fei had also cultivated the Wind Suspension Breathing Method to Great Perfection. The cultivation experience it granted him each day at Great Perfection somewhat exceeded his expectations.

He had originally estimated that it would take more than two months to reach the Muscle Tempering Realm. But after calculating carefully now, he estimated that in just over a month, he would complete his breakthrough and become a Muscle Tempering Realm martial artist.

Among martial artists, the Skin Tempering Realm was at the very bottom. It was only somewhat stronger than ordinary people and was far from enough to stand out among martial artists.

But the Muscle Tempering Realm was different. He did not dare say so elsewhere, but within Pingyin County, it was already considered a mid-level force. Pu Liao of the Medical Hall was only at the Muscle Tempering Realm, yet his status was far higher than that of ordinary guards, and his monthly wages rose with the tide.

It certainly could not compare to being an alchemist, but so long as one did not buy large quantities of pills for cultivation, a Muscle Tempering Realm martial artist could already live quite comfortably in Pingyin County and enjoy considerable social standing.

Nothing major had happened at the Medical Hall over the past ten-odd days, but trouble had arisen outside Pingyin County. A group of refugees had arrived outside the county. They did not enter the city, instead finding a place to settle beyond its walls.

These were troubled times. Chen Fei had heard that the current Dynasty had lasted for more than seven hundred years, and that unrest had begun breaking out in various places several decades ago.

This group of refugees had come because, dozens of miles away, someone had raised the banner of rebellion and forcibly occupied a county town, burning, killing, and looting within it. The refugees had no choice but to leave their homes and come to Pingyin County.

"Today, the young miss will lead us to provide disaster relief and free medical treatment, as well as distribute porridge. All of you, keep your spirits up! Do not tarnish the name of Qingzheng Medical Hall!"

When Chen Fei arrived at the Medical Hall, Cui Sanjie was already giving instructions.

Qingzheng Medical Hall was an asset of Pingyin County's Zhang Family. The Zhang Family was a major household throughout Pingyin County. Besides the Medical Hall, they also owned Rice Shops. However, the Medical Hall was the Zhang Family's most important business, with most of their income and strength coming from Qingzheng Medical Hall.

The County yamen had issued an order requiring all major households in Pingyin County to provide disaster relief outside the city, with porridge distribution needing to take place every day. Otherwise, if this group of refugees caused trouble, even the County yamen would be unable to handle it. In the end, all of Pingyin County would suffer.

"You're Chen Fei?"

A girl walked up to Chen Fei and looked him over several times. He was not as skinny as the rumors claimed, but he was far too dark-skinned and not good-looking at all. She curled her lips in faint disdain. "Now we've met, so the task my father gave me is done."

After saying that, the girl turned and left without another word.

Watching her retreating figure, Chen Fei vaguely recalled that she should be Zeng Defang's second daughter, Zeng Qiling. Zeng Defang had mentioned this matter to Chen Fei a few days ago, seemingly intending to match the two of them together.

Chen Fei had not taken it to heart at the time. He had not expected to run into Zeng Qiling here.

The Zhang Family's eldest miss, Zhang Sinan, arrived soon afterward. Zeng Qiling ran over to her, appearing very intimate with her. Zhang Sinan seemed to turn and glance at Chen Fei as well, but she said nothing.

The group left the Medical Hall in a grand procession and headed outside the city.

They set up pots to cook porridge, while the physicians sat nearby to receive patients. Before long, the refugees began lining up.

As an alchemist, Chen Fei only lent a hand most of the time. The rest was handled by the Medical Hall's and Rice Shop's servants.

The fragrance of porridge filled the air, and noon soon arrived.

"Young Miss, someone wishes for us to make a house call and treat their master."

Cui Sanjie came to Zhang Sinan's side, pointed at a shabbily dressed servant in the distance, and spoke in a low voice.

"Why not have him come here directly?" Zhang Sinan frowned slightly.

"He has a severe illness and can no longer get out of bed." Cui Sanjie tightened his grip on the jade stone hidden in his sleeve and smiled.

"Fine. Send a few people over. Go early and return early." Zhang Sinan nodded in agreement. After all, they had come today to provide disaster relief.

Still smiling, Cui Sanjie selected a physician. Seeing that Chen Fei had nothing to do, he sent him along as well and had Pu Liao protect the two of them.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the three arrived at a dilapidated courtyard.

Pu Liao sniffed the air, and his expression changed. Just as he was about to turn around, a figure appeared before him out of nowhere and kicked him squarely in the chest.

Pu Liao flew backward and slammed into the courtyard wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper.