An Accident

Chen Fei's strange love of stir-frying, and especially his fondness for Stir-fried Pig Liver, had slowly spread through the medical center. Stir-fried Pig Liver was one thing, but each time he only put in a piece the size of a fingernail, which was truly baffling.

Recently, however, he seemed to have stopped stir-frying pig liver. No one knew whether he had gotten sick of it or what, but lately he had switched to Stir-fried Chinese Yam and chicken. The only thing that had not changed was that the amount he used was still extremely small.

Even Cui Sanjie had come over specifically to ask Chen Fei whether he wanted the medical center's back kitchen to set aside a spot for him.

Chen Fei politely declined. Instead, he spent a little money renting a small house in the county. From then on, he began eating and living outside, only returning to the medical center when he needed to refine pills.

This kind of simple life spent shuttling between two fixed points had been something Chen Fei loathed to the bone in his previous life, but in this world, he accepted it as sweet as honey.

Anyone who could watch their efforts constantly bring returns would probably be the same as Chen Fei.

Many people were not born lazy. It was only that after they worked hard and still could not see any returns for a long time, they slowly began to slack off. Chen Fei cultivated, stir-fried, and refined pills, bustling about every day with great enthusiasm. He even appropriated much of the time he should have spent sleeping at night.

Staying up late was something one could get addicted to as well.

Time flowed silently like this, and soon another dozen or so days passed.

In the courtyard, Chen Fei held a longsword, constantly shifting and darting about. The gleam brought up by the longsword flashed all around him. Swift and fierce, the Green Mountain Sword bloomed with tremendous power in Chen Fei's hands.

If anyone from Qingzheng Medical Center saw this scene right now, they absolutely would not be able to recognize this Sword Technique as the Clear Wind Sword inherited by the medical center. Though the two had some similarities, the vast majority of it had already gone down a completely different road.

"Chi!"

The sound of a sharp blade tearing through the air rang out. Chen Fei had stopped at some unknown point, and a fine crack had appeared on the artificial hill in the courtyard. The spot where the crack lay was unusually smooth, as if it 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 actually produced the effect of Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi's power was passable, but it could not leave the sword blade. It only extended less than a foot from the tip of the sword. If the opponent was on guard, it would be somewhat difficult for this little bit of Sword Qi to injure them.

But if he used this Sword Qi suddenly, the enemy would probably be very easily caught by it. After all, no one would expect that a martial artist who was merely in the Skin Refining Realm had actually cultivated Sword Qi.

Something like Sword Qi was related to cultivation, but even more so to one's realm in the sword path. Clearly, the Green Mountain Sword at the Great Perfection Realm had already met the basic conditions for Sword Qi.

It was not only the Green Mountain Sword. The Wind Suspension Breathing Technique had also been cultivated by Chen Fei to Great Perfection. The Great Perfection Wind Suspension Breathing Technique gave Chen Fei more cultivation experience every day than he had expected.

Originally, he had estimated that in a little over two more months, he would be able to cultivate to the Flesh Refining Realm. Now, after calculating carefully, Chen Fei estimated that in a little over one more month, he would be able to complete his breakthrough and become a martial artist in the Flesh Refining Realm.

Among martial artists, the Skin Refining Realm was rock bottom. It was only a bit stronger than ordinary people, and among the martial artist community, it was far from enough to look impressive.

But the Flesh Refining Realm was different. Chen Fei did not dare say how it was elsewhere, but within Pingyin County, it already counted as the level of a backbone force. Someone like Pu Liao from the medical center was only in the Flesh Refining Realm, but his status was much higher than that of ordinary guards, and his monthly wages rose like a boat lifted by the tide.

It certainly could not compare with being an Alchemist, but as long as one did not buy large quantities of pills for cultivation, someone in the Flesh Refining Realm could already live very comfortably in Pingyin County, and their social status was also very high.

In these dozen or so days, nothing major had happened at the medical center, but outside Pingyin County, something had gone wrong. A group of refugees had arrived outside Pingyin County. The refugees had not entered the city, instead finding a place outside the city to settle.

This world was not peaceful. Chen Fei had heard that the current Dynasty had already continued for more than seven hundred years, and starting several decades ago, disturbances had begun to occur in various places.

This group of refugees had come because, dozens of li away, someone had raised the pole in rebellion and forcibly occupied a county town, burning, killing, and looting within the county. These refugees had no choice but to leave their homes behind and come to Pingyin County.

"Today, the Young Miss is taking us to provide disaster relief and free medical consultations, as well as distribute porridge. Every single one of you, pull yourselves together! Don't drag down the reputation of our Qingzheng Medical Center!"

When Chen Fei arrived at the medical center, Cui Sanjie was already giving a lecture.

Qingzheng Medical Center was an asset of the Pingyin County Zhang Family. The Zhang Family was a major household throughout Pingyin County. Under their name, there was not only the medical center but also a rice shop. However, the medical center counted as the Zhang Family's most important industry; the vast majority of their income and power came from Qingzheng Medical Center.

The County Government Office had issued an order requiring the major households within Pingyin County to go outside the city to provide disaster relief. Distributing porridge, in particular, had to be done every day. Otherwise, if this group of refugees caused trouble, the County Government Office would be unable to handle it, and in the end, all of Pingyin County would be affected.

"You're Chen Fei?"

A girl walked up to Chen Fei and sized him up from top to bottom. He did not look as thin as the rumors said, but he was far too dark-skinned, not good-looking at all. She could not help curling her lip in some dislike and said, "We can count as having met today. The task my father gave me can also be considered complete."

After the girl finished speaking, she turned and left directly.

Chen Fei looked at the girl's back and, somewhat dazed, remembered that this should be Zeng Defang's second daughter, Zeng Qiling. Zeng Defang had mentioned this matter to Chen Fei a few days ago and seemed to intend to match the two of them together.

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

The Zhang Family's Young Miss, Zhang Sinan, soon arrived. Zeng Qiling ran over, appearing very close to her. Zhang Sinan seemed to turn her head and glance at Chen Fei as well, but she did not say anything.

A great procession left the medical center and arrived outside the city.

They set up pots and cooked porridge, while the physicians sat off to the side for consultations. Very soon, the refugees lined up and came forward.

As an Alchemist, Chen Fei only lent a hand most of the time. The rest was handled by the handymen from the medical center and the rice shop.

The fragrance of porridge drifted everywhere, and time quickly reached noon.

"Young Miss, someone hopes we can make a house call and help treat their master's illness."

Cui Sanjie came to Zhang Sinan's side, pointed at a servant in worn-out clothes in the distance, and said in a low voice.

"Why not have them bring him directly over?" Zhang Sinan frowned slightly.

"He has a serious illness and can no longer get out of bed." Cui Sanjie tightened his grip on the jade stone in his sleeve and said with a smile.

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

With a smile, Cui Sanjie picked a physician. At the same time, seeing that Chen Fei had nothing much to do, he had him go along as well, and had Pu Liao protect the two of them.

An incense stick's time later, the three of them arrived in a dilapidated courtyard.

Pu Liao sniffed, and his expression changed. Just as he was about to turn around, a figure appeared in front of him at some unknown point and kicked him in the chest.

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