Everyone hurried to the front courtyard.
Three men in black stood at the entrance. The one in the middle was tall and muscular, wearing a plain straw hat and wearing an amused expression.
Nearby, Guard Captain Zhan Chaoyang lay curled on the ground, his right arm drenched in blood as he cried out in pain.
The other guards looked tense as they faced off against the three men, not daring to move.
"Master..."
Zhan Chaoyang struggled to speak.
"Carry Guard Zhan over and treat him!"
Han Zhengming waved his hand and immediately ordered the servants.
Two servants hurried to do as he said.
The three men in black made no attempt to stop them, letting the servants carry Zhan Chaoyang away. The man in the straw hat looked as if he were enjoying the show.
"Guard Zhan, are you all right?"
Han Zhengming asked with concern.
As he spoke, Shen Han crouched down and carefully examined Zhan Chaoyang's injuries.
"Master, those three insisted on forcing their way in."
Zhan Chaoyang was already sweating profusely from the pain. "This subordinate was incompetent. I tried to stop them with my saber, but the man in the straw hat snapped it between just two fingers. He even shattered the channels in my right arm..."
Everyone glanced over.
Sure enough, Guard Zhan's saber had been broken in two.
His right arm hung limp, seemingly numb.
No way. He did that with just two fingers? How strong is that man in the straw hat?
Zing!
Shen Han's silver needle pierced Zhan Chaoyang's arm.
After examining him, Shen Han realized that Zhan Chaoyang's injuries were severe. He had to seal the channels immediately, or they would be difficult to heal.
"Young Physician Shen, sorry for the trouble..."
Zhan Chaoyang said through gritted teeth.
Shen Han replied calmly, "Guard Zhan, don't worry. I guarantee you'll recover completely."
He withdrew the silver needle, then personally applied medicine and bandaged the wound.
This was Shen Han demonstrating his consummate medical skills before everyone. His needling technique and speed of movement were both astonishing. Many people watched, dumbfounded. No wonder he'd become so popular; there was no treatment like his anywhere under heaven!
Before long, color visibly returned to Zhan Chaoyang's face.
Han Zhengming also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Impressive! The Hanging Pot Medical Hall really is full of hidden talent!"
The man in the straw hat spoke up.
Han Zhengming asked in a low voice, "Who are you, exactly? What grudge do you have against my medical hall?"
"Of course! I'm Cai Long, the Black Dragon Gang's Right Protector!"
What?
A protector of the Black Dragon Gang!
All hundred or so people in the medical hall were shocked.
The Black Dragon Gang was one of Three Rivers County's top three powers, known as "One Hall and Two Gangs."
Recently, the Black Dragon Gang and the Green Garment Gang had been clashing.
But why had the Black Dragon Gang come to pick a fight with the Hanging Pot Medical Hall at a time like this?
"Master, this man is at least at the Tendon Refining stage. None of us can defeat him..."
Zhan Chaoyang said in a low voice, clutching his arm.
He was stating a fact. Against a Tendon Refining expert, even if everyone in the medical hall attacked together, they'd be no match.
Shen Han silently watched Cai Long, pondering to himself.
Cai Long, the Black Dragon Gang's protector, was indeed no pushover. He could subdue the entire medical hall on his own and was far more powerful than Hall Master Kong Xuan of the Long Blade Sect, whom Shen Han had encountered outside Stone Snake Town.
Han Zhengming considered the matter, then said, "Protector Cai, has my medical hall offended your gang in some way?"
"Hahaha!"
Cai Long roared with laughter and took off his straw hat. "Not at all. Master Han, you've got the wrong idea."
"If that's the case, what do you want, Protector Cai?"
"The Hanging Pot Medical Hall earns a fortune every day, so naturally, it will attract the attention of wicked men. Our Gang Leader Du is compassionate, so he specially sent me here with some men to protect your medical hall."
"I'm afraid I don't understand..."
Han Zhengming said.
Cai Long took two steps forward. "Heh, it's simple. If you want our gang's protection, you have to pay a protection fee."
A protection fee!
At those three words, everyone understood.
So much for compassion. It was plainly extortion, dressed up in a respectable excuse.
"Protector Cai, what if our medical hall doesn't need protection?"
Han Zhengming exhaled heavily.
"Oh?"
Cai Long remained unhurried. "These are troubled times. Without the Black Dragon Gang's protection, perhaps one of your physicians will die every day."
"This..."
The physicians fell silent, too frightened to speak.
Clearly, Cai Long was threatening them.
If Master Han refused to pay the protection fee, the Black Dragon Gang would surely strike without mercy! The lofty Black Dragon Gang wouldn't think twice about killing a few physicians. They could even destroy the medical hall without breaking a sweat!
Having said that, Cai Long waited patiently.
Everyone in the medical hall trembled inwardly, barely daring to breathe as they watched Master Han, waiting for his decision.
Shen Han had no intention of stepping forward.
His cultivation was only at the Skin Refining stage. He couldn't possibly deal with the Tendon Refining expert before him.
Besides, Cai Long had the entire Black Dragon Gang behind him.
The gang leader's cultivation had even reached the Bone Refining stage. Few in all of Three Rivers County could match him.
"Protector Cai, how much is the protection fee?"
At last, faced with such overwhelming power, Han Zhengming chose to yield.
Cai Long chuckled. "Master Han, you certainly know what's best. The protection fee is collected monthly. Your Hanging Pot Medical Hall is a large business, so three hundred taels of silver a month will do."
Three hundred taels a month?
Han Zhengming sucked in a sharp breath. At that rate, all the extra profits would end up in the Black Dragon Gang's pockets.
"What, Master Han? Not willing?"
Cai Long asked in a sinister voice.
As he spoke, he suddenly sprang up and flew into a kick at a nearby willow tree.
Crack!
In the blink of an eye, the willow, thick enough for a man to wrap his arms around, snapped with a crash.
Was this the strength of a Tendon Refining martial artist?
Everyone in the medical hall trembled with fear.
Han Zhengming had no choice. He turned to Supervisor Qian and said, "Supervisor Qian, go get three hundred taels in banknotes."
Soon, Qian Cheng returned with the banknotes and respectfully handed them to Cai Long.
"Master Han knows how to behave. I won't keep you any longer."
Cai Long snatched up the banknotes. "Let's go. We still have five more places to visit today. I wish you prosperous business, Master Han."
The three disappeared beyond the medical hall's entrance.
Phew... Only then did everyone manage to relax a little.
"Master, three hundred taels a month comes to three thousand six hundred a year. We..."
Supervisor Qian's face was ashen.
Han Zhengming sighed. "We can't fight the situation, so we pay to avoid disaster. There was no other choice.
"We're not the only victims. You heard him—they're going to keep troubling others, too.
"I hope the County Yamen can rein them in and move soon to wipe them out."
But everyone knew that was almost impossible.
With nothing but a bunch of half-trained constables at the County Yamen, how could they destroy the powerful Black Dragon Gang?
"Why do you think the Black Dragon Gang suddenly came demanding money?"
"Probably because their clashes with the Green Garment Gang have cost them a lot of money and resources."
"So now they're squeezing us?"
"What can we do? If we don't pay, we're dead."
The celebratory banquet had been going so well, with hosts and guests alike enjoying themselves. Now it could only be brought to an abrupt end.
Everyone was burdened with worries as they gradually dispersed.
"Master, what are your plans?" Qian Cheng asked.
"I'll cover the fee. The monthly pay for the physicians, apprentices, and servants will remain unchanged."
"I understand."
"Guard Zhan, how are you feeling now?"
Han Zhengming turned to ask Zhan Chaoyang.
Zhan Chaoyang hurriedly replied, "I'm much better, Master."
Han Zhengming patted Shen Han on the shoulder. "Shen, I'll leave Guard Zhan's injury to you."
"All right. I'll go brew a dose of Blood-Activating Powder right away."
Shen Han asked Zhan Chaoyang to wait at Clinic No. 13, then personally set about brewing the medicine. He had a few questions he wanted to ask Zhan Chaoyang in private.
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