So Angry He Vomited Blood

Chapter 20: So Angry He Vomited Blood

"Bai Yan!"

Inside the Pacification Bureau's pharmacy, Zhao Gaozhong lay on a hard plank bed, glaring with bloodshot eyes. His roar was thick with venom.

"My lord, why don't we go find Brigade Leader Wang?"

One Brigade Leader urged him on:

"Let's report Bai Yan to him. Brigade Leader Wang will definitely stand up for you!"

Another Brigade Leader hurriedly chimed in:

"That's right! We must report Bai Yan!"

"The Pacification Bureau has an explicit rule forbidding colleagues from fighting. We'll bring proof of our injuries to the Brigade Leader. Let's see how he explains himself!"

Zhao Gaozhong clenched his teeth and said bitterly:

"Fine. Help me up. We'll go find the Brigade Leader now."

The two Brigade Leaders hurried forward and propped up his arms from either side. But just as they had raised him into a half-seated position, a crisp crack rang out.

"Ah—!"

Zhao Gaozhong let out a heart-wrenching scream, the pain nearly knocking him unconscious.

"You two useless fools! Be gentler! Can't you see I'm injured?!"

"We're sorry, my lord!"

The two Brigade Leaders released him in fright. Zhao Gaozhong crashed heavily back onto the bed, baring his teeth in pain as he sucked in sharp breaths again and again.

Just then, the old physician of the pharmacy ambled in with his medicine chest on his back. Looking at Zhao Gaozhong, who was twitching from the pain, he was speechless.

"Didn't I tell you? Injured muscles and broken bones need a hundred days to heal. Don't move around before you've recovered."

"Honestly, I only just set it properly for you, and now we have to do it all over again."

As he spoke, the old physician stepped forward and pressed down on Zhao Gaozhong's broken arm. He pinched hard at the fracture with two fingers, then, before Zhao Gaozhong could react, suddenly pulled and stretched it.

"Crack!"

Another clear sound rang out, and the bone snapped back into place.

"Ah—!"

Zhao Gaozhong screamed again.

"Stop making such a racket!"

The old physician picked at his ear, looking impatient.

"You're a grown man, yet you can't endure this little pain. You're acting like a woman!"

"D-doctor... Don't you need anesthetic to set a bone? If you don't use anesthetic, at least seal my acupoints to numb the pain first!"

The old physician froze when he heard that, then awkwardly coughed twice.

"I forgot. Once a person gets old, their memory isn't what it used to be. Hundred Leader Zhao, you'll have to bear with me."

"Forgot?"

Zhao Gaozhong was instantly dumbfounded.

The old physician said with righteous confidence:

"But the bone is set now, isn't it? We even saved the cost of a dose of anesthetic."

"The process isn't important. As long as the result is good, that's what matters."

He patted Zhao Gaozhong's shoulder and said earnestly:

"The most important thing when recovering from an injury is keeping a calm heart. You really need to change that temper of yours."

"Whatever you do, don't get out of bed these next few days. If you break your arm again, we'll have no choice but to saw it off."

After saying this, the old physician tidied away his medicine chest and turned to leave.

But when he reached the doorway, he suddenly turned back and asked with a nosy look:

"Oh, right. I just heard the lads outside saying that Hundred Leader Zhao went to cause trouble for Bai Yan because Bai Yan stole the woman he loved?"

Before Zhao Gaozhong could speak, the old physician waved his hand, wearing an expression that said I understand, and chuckled.

"Don't worry. Once your injury heals, you can steal her back. A grown man must never give up so easily."

With that, the old physician clasped his hands behind his back and swaggered away, humming a little tune.

"I..."

"Pfft!"

Zhao Gaozhong was so furious that he vomited blood on the spot.

"Bai—Yan! If I don't avenge this grudge, then I, Zhao Gaozhong, swear I'm no man!"

Cloud Come Restaurant stood beside Cloud Lake in Yongtang City, a famous scenic spot in the city.

The waters of Cloud Lake were clear. Misty waves stretched across the lake, and water vapor drifted everywhere, creating a breathtaking sight.

Seen from the sky, it looked as though the immortal aura of the Jade Pool had arisen on its own, with clouds descending into the lake. That was how it had earned the name Cloud Lake.

Many small boats cruised back and forth across the water. Besides various passenger and fishing boats, there were countless flower boats as well.

On the opposite side of Cloud Lake lay Wanchun Alley, where Bai Yan often went. Whether by day or night, the brothels and pleasure houses of Wanchun Alley offered boat excursions.

The wealthy merchants of Yongtang, powerful nobles, and scholarly gentlemen all enjoyed riding flower boats across the lake.

Taking a group of beauties to admire Cloud Lake's scenery and enjoying their company was far more elegant than listening to music and watching dances in a private room.

Bai Yan stood by the window of Cloud Come Restaurant, looking down from above and taking in the entire beauty of Cloud Lake.

The sun was setting, and orange evening clouds spread across the horizon, dyeing Cloud Lake a field of gold and crimson.

The surface glittered with reflected light, mirroring the drooping willows and pavilions along the shore. A gentle breeze swept past, stirring ripples across the water and adding a hazy poetic charm beyond what could be seen by day.

"Lord Bai, the view here is rather lovely, isn't it?"

Ye Youcai walked over and looked out the window.

"'The waters shimmer in the sun, fair and bright; The mountains fade in rain, strange and wondrous. If Cloud Lake were compared to Xizi, Lightly or richly made up, she would always suit.'"

"Cloud Lake's beauty is famous throughout the realm. Naturally, it is magnificent."

Bai Yan nodded with a smile.

Ye Youcai applauded in admiration.

"I never imagined that Lord Bai was not only profoundly skilled, but possessed such extraordinary literary talent as well. You casually recite a poem, and it is already a marvelous masterpiece. This old man truly admires you."

"Still, who is this Xizi you mentioned? And since it did not rain today, where does the 'wondrous' part come from?"

Bai Yan came to his senses. He had been so focused on reciting poetry and putting on an impressive display that he had failed to consider the circumstances, and now he had made a fool of himself.

"Ahem... It doesn't matter. I only said it for the rhyme. It was just a burst of inspiration."

Bai Yan coughed awkwardly twice and hurriedly changed the subject.

"Compared with poetry, I'm more interested in martial arts."

Ye Youcai did not pursue the matter. He merely chuckled.

"Lord Bai is too modest."

"Although I am a merchant, I did study for several years."

"In this impromptu poem Lord Bai just composed, I'd say that even many scholars who passed the county or provincial examinations would fall far short."

After saying this, Ye Youcai looked toward Ye Lingdang behind him and beckoned.

"Lingdang, come and offer Lord Bai a cup. Thank him for saving you yesterday."

Ye Lingdang's pretty face flushed faintly. Holding a cup of wine, she moved forward with dainty steps, bowed gracefully, and spoke in a voice gentler than the waters of Cloud Lake.

"This young lady thanks Lord Bai for saving my life. Please, Lord Bai, drink this cup to the full."

Looking at Bai Yan's handsome and extraordinary face, Ye Lingdang's heart pounded wildly.

Bai Yan smiled, accepted the cup, and said:

"Miss Ye, you're too polite. It was only a small favor."

With that, he drained the wine in one gulp.

Afterward, Bai Yan and Ye Youcai took their seats together. The table was covered with Cloud Come Restaurant's signature dishes.

Steamed Cloud Lake shad, amber-braised bear paw, glazed jade-bead cups... Every dish was as exquisite as a work of art, and each tasted excellent.

Bai Yan and Ye Youcai drank cup after cup, sometimes discussing strange tales from the martial world, sometimes chatting about the Pacification Bureau's trivial affairs. The atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

Ye Lingdang sat to one side, occasionally adding a sentence or two. Most of the time, she listened quietly, though her gaze kept drifting toward Bai Yan almost without her realizing it.

When the feast was halfway over, Ye Youcai suddenly set down his wine cup. Wearing a gentle smile, he asked as if casually:

"May I ask whether Lord Bai is married?"