Humiliated in Tenglong Town

At daybreak the next morning, Qin Hong personally arranged everything at home, had Qin Fengming's Third Uncle send the old physician back, then packed their things and set out with Qin Fengming for Tenglong Town, thirty li away.

Tenglong Town occupied an exceptionally important location, lying on the necessary route between Qijia City and Luyu City. It was also the largest market town within fifty li of Qin Family Village. A main street ran through the town, lined on both sides with every kind of shop. Traveling merchants came and went in an endless stream, making the place bustling and prosperous.

After arriving in Tenglong Town, Qin Hong and his son first went to the blacksmith's shop to visit Qin Fengming's Second Brother. After more than a year of blacksmithing, Qin Fengming saw that his Second Brother's complexion had turned a dark ruddy hue and his physique had grown far sturdier than before.

When asked what had brought them to town, Qin Hong merely said they had come to sell some mountain goods. He did not mention Grandpa's injury. After telling Qin Fengming's Second Brother to take good care of himself, he left with Qin Fengming.

Though Tenglong Town was surrounded by mountains on all sides, the trade in animal pelts was thriving. Without much effort, father and son sold the sable pelt and python skin for three taels of silver.

Three taels of silver was enough to support Qin Fengming's family for half a year, so the two of them were naturally delighted.

After receiving the silver, father and son wasted no more time and went straight into Tenglong Town's largest apothecary: Wanshou Hall.

Inside the apothecary, an old gentleman of around sixty sat beside the counter in a wooden chair with his eyes closed, resting his mind. A youth of seventeen or eighteen was sorting the medicinal herbs in the various medicine boxes behind the counter.

Upon entering the shop, Qin Hong said nothing. He simply took out the snake gallbladder and placed it on the counter.

Qin Hong's action startled the old gentleman awake. At the sight of it, the old man immediately revealed a trace of shock. He straightened up and cradled the snake gallbladder in his hands.

"This is a python's gallbladder. Judging by its age, it must be one or two hundred years old. Are you planning to sell it?"

"Yes, sir. How much do you think it can fetch?" Qin Hong hurriedly asked upon hearing this.

The old gentleman looked over Qin Hong and his son, pondered briefly, then said, "This gallbladder has been preserved intact, and it was extracted recently. It is worth five taels of silver. What do you think?"

Qin Hong did not answer. Instead, he took out the prescription and laid it on the counter. "Sir, this is a prescription for treating external injuries. Could this snake gallbladder be exchanged for the herbs on it?"

When Qin Hong produced the prescription, the old gentleman showed no surprise. He reached out to take it, narrowed his eyes to examine it for a moment, then turned to the youth and said, "Daming, see whether we still have any Dragon Tooth Grass."

"There are still three qian left. I checked just now," the youth promptly replied.

Hearing that there was Dragon Tooth Grass, Qin Hong and his son immediately relaxed. At last, the stone weighing on their hearts had fallen to the ground.

Holding the prescription, the old gentleman thought for a moment. Then he picked up a brush and made several marks on it. After rattling his abacus for quite a while, he finally said:

"Judging from this prescription, it is indeed meant to treat external injuries. After weighing it over, I have removed some excessive herbs from it. Five doses will require six taels of silver. However, seeing that you are hunters from the mountains and life cannot be easy for you, let this snake gallbladder settle the account."

Hearing this, Qin Hong and his son were overjoyed. "Thank you, sir."

Just as the old gentleman instructed the youth to gather the herbs, a burst of clamor arose outside the shop. Then four Burly Men crowded into the apothecary, surrounding a young man of around twenty dressed in gaudy robes.

The young man held a folding fan and wore a stiff hexagonal hat tilted at an angle. Upon entering, he cast a sidelong glance at everyone in the apothecary and gave a soft snort through his nose without saying a word.

One of the four Burly Men shouted, "Old Liu, do you have Chongwei Seed and Dragon Tooth Grass here?"

The moment the old gentleman saw the young man enter, he hurriedly rose and came out from behind the counter. At the same time, he ordered Daming to bring over a chair and said respectfully, "Young Master Zhang, what brings you here? If you needed anything, you could have simply sent someone to pass along the word."

Young Master Zhang glanced sideways at the old gentleman and waved at one of his attendants. The attendant immediately said, "Young Master went hunting in the mountains earlier, and Big Yellow accidentally broke a leg. He needs Chongwei Seed and Dragon Tooth Grass. Bring them out at once if you have them."

At those words, the old gentleman's expression changed slightly. "There is Chongwei Seed, but the Dragon Tooth Grass was just sold to them." As he spoke, he pointed at Qin Hong and his son.

Upon hearing the old gentleman's words, Young Master Zhang did not even look at Qin Hong. With anger on his face, he said, "I need Dragon Tooth Grass now. No matter who has it, they must leave it behind."

Though Qin Hong did not know who this young master was, he knew he must be a man of influence. Not daring to slight him, Qin Hong hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Young Master Zhang, we need the Dragon Tooth Grass to take back and save a life. Please raise your hand in mercy and let us have it."

Only then did Young Master Zhang look at Qin Hong. He gave two cold laughs, turned his head aside, and wore an expression of utter disdain, as though he could not be bothered to speak with him. One attendant rushed up before Qin Hong and shouted:

"You need it to save a life? Hahaha! Big Yellow's life is worth far more than yours. Young Master bought it in Qijia City last month for fifty taels of silver. Get lost! If you anger Young Master, we'll leave your lives behind too." With that, he began shoving Qin Hong forcefully.

Qin Hong had been a hunter all his life. A surge of hot blood rose in him, and he shoved the Burly Man hard to the side, sending him several feet away. Then he turned to Young Master Zhang and said, "There must be first come, first served when buying things. Since we bought it first, what right do you have to take it away?"

Seeing that Qin Hong actually dared to resist and even shouted at him with fury in his eyes, Young Master Zhang flew into a rage. He slapped the table and said to the Burly Men, "Heh heh, someone in Tenglong Town actually dares to talk to me about first come, first served. You truly do not know whether you are alive or dead. Men, throw this ungrateful thing out for me!"

The Burly Men did not waste words. Amid punches and kicks, they drove Qin Hong out the door, snarling, "Keep making noise, and we'll beat all of you to death!"

Though Qin Hong was strong, he could not withstand so many men. As he was shoved out the door, he stumbled and fell onto the street. Seeing his father being beaten, Qin Fengming rushed over to help, only to be slapped across the face by a Burly Man and thrown out of the apothecary as well.

By then, many people had gathered in the street to watch. Some bolder ones whispered among themselves, "Look, the Zhang Family's young master is using his power to bully people again."

"Heaven truly has no eyes, letting Tenglong Town produce such a bastard who deserves a thousand cuts."

Qin Fengming climbed to his feet and helped his father up. Qin Hong still wanted to enter the apothecary and reason with them, but a local villager pulled him back and whispered:

"You look like mountain folk. Don't go back in. He is the local tyrant here, someone you cannot afford to provoke. A good man does not fight against power. You should just endure it."

Though Qin Hong had grown up in the mountains, he knew he would gain nothing by going back. He stood to one side, glaring furiously into the apothecary. Qin Fengming was only ten and had never encountered such a thing before. His mind was blank, with only one thought in his heart: When I grow up, I will avenge this hatred and make sure Young Master Zhang dies a miserable death.

A short while later, Young Master Zhang emerged from the apothecary with his vicious servants. Seeing that Qin Hong had not left, the servants gave sinister chuckles. "You dared to fight our young master for something in Tenglong Town. You truly have grown tired of living. Be careful, or we'll drag you into the mountains and feed you to the wolves."

After saying that, they ignored Qin Hong and his son and swaggered away behind Young Master Zhang.

After quite some time, the old gentleman from the apothecary finally came out. Looking around, he said quietly to Qin Hong:

"The Zhang Family has deep roots and great influence in Tenglong Town. His father is the Town Mayor of Tenglong Town. I heard the Zhang Family also has a younger son studying immortal arts in some Blood Refining Sect. Relying on his father's power, the eldest son bullies men and violates women in Tenglong Town, committing every evil imaginable. You are outsiders, so it is best that you endure it."

Qin Hong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glared with wide eyes, saying nothing.

The old gentleman stood there for a moment, his brows furrowed in thought. Then he said, "I will write you another prescription. Though there is no Dragon Tooth Grass, other herbs can be used in its place, and the effect will not be much worse than that prescription. I will give you several extra doses. No matter how severe the external injury, it will surely be healed."