Intimidating Zheng Tu

Chapter 3 - Cowing the Butcher Zheng

His entire cultivation in the Dao of sorcery had become a reflection in a mirror, a moon in the water, unable to be used due to the changes in the Heaven and Earth Rules. Even the Sacred Flame hidden within his bloodline was suppressed, unable to stir.

Perhaps he could still test his Martial Dao combat techniques, but Li Bai had no intention of striking. Instead, he expelled a breath and shouted, his voice like a spring thunderclap: "You ruffian there, stop right now!"

"You... who are you?"

Seeing the young man in a blue scholar's robe suddenly appear before him, even Zheng Tu, who fancied himself as Zhen Guanxi, couldn't help but falter for a moment, his steps hesitating.

It wasn't just Master Zheng. Even Doctor Chen Sheng and the security guards who had caught up felt a sense of temporal dislocation, as if a scholar from the Great Song Dynasty had come alive into this world.

"What coarse fellow is this, refusing to obey discipline? When this young master sends a two-finger-wide note to the yamen, you'll be in for a good flogging. Now, back off at once."

The elegant young gentleman faced the crude butcher, using his Righteous Qi to forcefully suppress this "Zhen Guanxi," making him tremble all over.

The Flower Monk Lu Zhishen could only use his fists to teach Zheng Tu to be reborn as a man, but in the Great Song Dynasty, a scholar who couldn't even truss a chicken only needed a two-finger-wide note.

"Ah, yes, this lowly one has offended. This lowly one deserves a thousand deaths."

Zheng Tu's murderous aura vanished instantly. Where was the mad bull from moments ago?

Seeing the security guards still dumbfounded, Li Bai flicked his sleeves.

"Seize him now. Change the Chlorpromazine dosage to 1 ml."

The security guards swarmed forward and subdued the now-docile Master Zheng. The flustered little nurses hurriedly prepared a new sedative.

The patients' families all breathed a sigh of relief, and applause immediately broke out in the corridor.

Chen Sheng's face turned ugly. That guy had stolen the spotlight again.

He had originally planned to step forward and offer a dry word of thanks, but seeing the admiring and worshipful looks in the nurses' eyes, he swallowed his gratitude back down, snorted coldly, and retreated to his own consultation room to sulk.

"Young Master Li truly has remarkable skill!"

"This servant's heart trembles with admiration!"

The little nurses who had looked at Li Bai as if they'd seen a ghost just moments before instantly turned into cooing fangirls, their eyes sparkling. Doctor Li was simply too cool, a spitting image of an ancient elegant young gentleman.

"What's all this commotion? Get back to your posts!"

A gray-haired female doctor scowled and shooed away these little hussies. Then she gave Li Bai a thorough once-over, her eyes suddenly widening as if she couldn't believe it. "You are... Li Bai? It's work hours now. What the hell are you up to?"

"Heh, Director Meng, I had a bit too much fun yesterday. Woke up late this morning. Didn't have time to change!"

Li Bai smiled awkwardly. He couldn't exactly say he'd just returned from another world after a dream like a yellow millet.

Director of Psychiatry Meng Zhijun was the superior of both Li Bai and Chen Sheng. Clearly, a patient had suddenly had an episode.

"Dean Zhou is waiting for you. Go change your clothes quickly."

Director Meng had come precisely to hurry Li Bai along. True Man Zhou was probably already getting impatient.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Li Bai immediately dashed straight to the changing room. Luckily, he still had a set of casual clothes in his single-person locker. He quickly changed, but there was no time to deal with his long hair. He simply tied it together, borrowing a hair tie to bundle it up. Though he no longer looked like a scholar in a blue robe, he still carried a unique, refined air.

Dean Zhou was just greeting colleagues from the three provinces and one city in East China, ushering them to their seats in the conference room, when he saw a long-haired man clutching a document bag push the door open in a hurry. He was puzzled for only a moment before recognizing him.

"Xiao Li, what's this about?"

It had only been a weekend. How had his hair gotten so long? Was he trying to cause trouble?

"Sorry, I woke up late."

Li Bai shrank his neck, bracing for True Man Zhou's towering rage. Writing a self-criticism, deducting his bonus, a public reprimand—he'd accept it all.

He had rushed as fast as he could, but he was still fifteen minutes late. Fortunately, though the exchange conference had started on time, the greetings and small talk inevitably took up some time. By the time he entered the conference room, the meeting hadn't officially begun.

"I'm talking about your hair!"

With outsiders present, Zhou Tong couldn't lose his temper. He just suppressed his anger and stared at the long hair hanging down Li Bai's back. Two days, and it had grown this long. It was downright bizarre.

"Uh! It's a wig. A friend played a prank and glued it on."

Li Bai's eyes darted around, and he decisively threw a certain "friend" under the bus.

"Don't let it happen again. Come back tomorrow looking neat and tidy. Sit down now!"

As the dean, the experienced Zhou Tong could easily tell the kid was lying through his teeth, but he didn't call him out on it. He casually pointed to a spot near the wall by the conference table. Li Bai would normally have been able to sit at the table, but since he was late, he had to sit against the wall with the auditors.

"Yes, yes!"

Li Bai quickly sat down.

The Psychiatry and Mental Health Exchange Conference hosted by the Seventh People's Hospital was not only for exchanging cases and sharing treatment results, but also a display of strength. They needed highly educated specialists like Li Bai to bolster their image. Having a row of doctors and masters sitting there was pleasing to the eye.

Fortunately, he had reviewed the materials needed for the conference on the way and hadn't forgotten his professional knowledge. He managed to muddle through the morning session, which lasted over three hours.

After the meeting, as he was about to go to lunch with the others, Li Bai was called back. It was Director of Psychiatry Meng Zhijun.

"Li Bai, there's an appointment evaluation this afternoon. You'll handle it."

"Director Meng, I still have the exchange conference this afternoon."

Li Bai had seen the conference schedule. He remembered it was a two-day event, and today was only the first day.

Meng Zhijun's face was stern, and she spoke gravely: "I'll talk to Dean Zhou about the afternoon session. This appointment evaluation was arranged by the Municipal Public Security Bureau. It involves a criminal case. It's very important. You must take it seriously."

"I understand."

Li Bai nodded.

The Seventh People's Hospital had plenty of dealings with the Public Security, Procuratorate, and Judiciary systems, inevitably involving judicial appraisals. When major cases came up, they'd also call in professionals from big hospitals to conduct third-party assessments, ensuring the accuracy and fairness of the results.

Though it couldn't compare to the banquet spread at the exchange meeting, the hospital cafeteria had fired up a special stove today. Li Bai snagged a portion of the master craftsman's signature sweet-and-sour spareribs, chewing them with a satisfying crunch, even crushing and swallowing the bones.

A little nurse in white sat down across from him, bowl in hand. Li Bai looked up, swallowed the rib in his mouth, and greeted her.

"Su Mei, two days gone and you're even prettier."

Teasing these young, pretty little nurses was a favorite pastime for many male doctors and male nurses—likely the only joy to break up the monotony of their tedious work.

The little nurse's apple-round face flushed slightly as she said, "Always running your mouth, and you don't even know disaster's right around the corner?"

"Disaster?"

Li Bai's chopsticks paused mid-air.