Before they knew it, two days had passed in the blink of an eye.
That afternoon, before the hour of the Goat was over, Clinic No. 13 at the Hanging Pot Medical Hall had emptied out, leaving only Shen Han and Feng Hao.
This was all thanks to the new appointment system.
Seeing this, several physicians in other clinics also tried to learn from Shen Han's approach.
As word spread, the medical hall's reputation in Three Rivers County continued to grow.
Shen Han had also become the medical hall's undisputed rising star.
Martial Arts: Angry Dragon Divine Fist (Great Mastery)
On the panel, the fist technique's progress had been astonishingly swift.
It was only natural.
Over the past two days, Shen Han had not only recovered from his internal injuries, but also packed his clone's training schedule to the brim. Of the twelve shichen in a day, he spent one taking Qi Condensing Powder and practicing the Breathing Technique. The remaining eleven were all devoted to the Angry Dragon Divine Fist.
With meat in plentiful supply, his clone had no complaints.
That was how he had forcibly ground the Angry Dragon Divine Fist to great mastery.
It won't be long before it's perfected... Shen Han mused.
But he knew very well that relying solely on the medicinal nourishment of Qi Condensing Powder would bring painfully slow cultivation gains. Finding a new cultivation manual was urgent!
"Senior Brother Shen, have some tea."
After tidying up the clinic, Feng Hao took the initiative to brew Shen Han a cup of goji berry tea.
These past few days, he had stayed by Shen Han's side, and things had gone as smoothly as fish swimming in water. He made no attempt to hide his gratitude toward Shen Han.
"Brother Feng Hao, any chance of an outcall today?"
Shen Han asked with a smile. "The more commission you earn, the sooner you can put your home-buying plan into action."
"Not at the moment. But don't worry, Senior Brother Shen. I've already spoken with the front hall. If an outcall comes in, they'll notify me right away."
Feng Hao replied hastily.
Like Shen Han, he was eager to go on outcalls. After all, the commission they earned was far greater than an apprentice's monthly pay.
And generous as he was, Shen Han would even give him half.
"By the way, Senior Brother Shen, something happened in the county again the night before last. Have you heard?"
"What happened?"
Shen Han had a rough idea what he was about to say. He took a leisurely sip of tea.
Feng Hao leaned in conspiratorially. "The afternoon before last, Guard Zhan came all the way over to tell us that two people from the Iron Fist Martial Hall had been killed, and that things had been unsettled in the county lately. Remember?"
Shen Han smiled. "Of course. That's why you didn't dare leave the city on your day off yesterday."
"Uh..."
Feng Hao's old face flushed red. "That's not the point. I'm talking about something serious, Senior Brother Shen. Another three people died in an alley that very night!"
So it was that... Shen Han made no comment.
Feng Hao went on, "The constables have more or less figured it out. Two of the dead were disciples of Black Wind Stronghold, outside the city. The other was a monk in his twenties..."
"What, did they fight each other and all die together?"
"Hard to say. Word is, all three died horribly, and everything valuable on them vanished."
"The constables probably took it," Shen Han said with a smile. "Which temple was the monk from?"
He was a little curious. A monk dying in the city in the dead of night was hardly normal.
Feng Hao shook his head. "Who knows? But Guard Zhan was right: things really have been unsettled these past few days.
Someone who strikes at night and kills people will probably be hard to catch..."
"I killed them!"
A sudden, booming voice rang out from the clinic entrance.
The two hurriedly looked over.
A young man strode inside.
He had a noble air about him, and his long robe was exquisitely tailored. Every gesture spoke of distinction.
"Young Escort Chief Lin!"
Feng Hao blurted out at once.
"I didn't expect you to recognize me, young friend."
Lin Tanzhi smiled faintly.
Feng Hao hurriedly said, "Young Escort Chief Lin's reputation for heroism is known to all!"
He quickly introduced Lin Tanzhi to Shen Han.
In Three Rivers County, there was an escort agency of respectable size called the Fukang Escort Agency. The young man before them, Lin Tanzhi, was its young escort chief.
Lin Tanzhi was charitable and treated the common people well. He often drew his sword to help the helpless, earning the respect of many. As a result, the escort agency's business had flourished.
"Pleased to meet you."
Shen Han clasped his hands toward Lin Tanzhi. "Did you kill all three of the dead men, Young Escort Chief Lin?"
"No, no. I only killed that lecherous monk!"
"What exactly happened?"
"Physician Shen, Brother Feng, let's talk on the way. I've already prepared a carriage outside the medical hall."
As it turned out, Lin Tanzhi had come to ask a physician to make a house call.
At noon that day, two escorts from the Fukang Escort Agency had been attacked without warning. The assailant had been vicious, breaking both men's leg bones. That was why Lin Tanzhi had rushed to the medical hall to find a physician.
At first, he had intended to look for Huang Tie, but Huang Tie was off that day. On Supervisor Qian's recommendation, Lin Tanzhi had come to Clinic No. 13 to invite Shen Han to treat the men at the escort agency.
"You can tell us now, Young Escort Chief Lin, can't you?"
In the spacious carriage, Feng Hao held the medicine chest steady with one hand.
Lin Tanzhi nodded. "The night before last, that monk openly tried to force himself on two women. I happened upon it, so of course I wouldn't let him get away with it. I fought him.
"But that lecherous monk showed no remorse at all. He even attacked me with murderous intent.
"I was furious, so I used the escort agency's signature move, the Evil-Expelling Sword Technique, and killed him with a single stroke."
If I'd arrived a little earlier, I might have seen you fighting that monk... Shen Han remained impassive.
"Young Escort Chief Lin is truly a man of righteousness!"
Feng Hao praised him.
Lin Tanzhi waved a hand. "You flatter me. I only did something small and insignificant."
Still, the pride in his expression was unmistakable.
"Then the two from Black Wind Stronghold weren't killed by you. What about the people from the Iron Fist Martial Hall?" Feng Hao asked casually.
"Nothing to do with me, either."
Lin Tanzhi shook his head.
Neither he nor Feng Hao could have imagined that the man who had killed Qiankun Two Rats of the Iron Fist Martial Hall and Hu Teng and Kang Zhiwen of Black Wind Stronghold was sitting right in front of them.
Before long, they arrived at the Fukang Escort Agency.
Lin Tanzhi ushered the two of them into the inner hall.
The inner hall was crowded with people. Two middle-aged escorts lay on beds, groaning nonstop, their leg bones both broken.
"Young escort chief..."
The agency's steward frowned deeply. "At this rate, they probably won't be able to stand again..."
Lin Tanzhi turned to Shen Han. "Physician Shen, I'm counting on you."
Shen Han sat down before the two escorts, lowered his head, and carefully examined their injured leg bones.
A moment later, he beckoned Feng Hao over. "Hand me the medicine chest."
Lin Tanzhi asked anxiously, "Physician Shen, can they still be saved?"
"Don't worry. If you follow my treatment, in less than a month both escorts will be able to walk again—and keep practicing martial arts!"
"W-what?"
At his words, everyone was stunned.
Almost everyone had already decided the two escorts would never stand again. How could this physician Shen speak so confidently of them practicing martial arts once more?
Sss!
While everyone was still reeling, Shen Han had already inserted his silver needles.
At the same time, he directed Feng Hao to bandage the men's legs with the ointment they had prepared in advance.
Not a soul dared to breathe too loudly.
Dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on Shen Han's every move as he applied the needles.
Before you continue