The carriage raced along at breakneck speed.
An hour later, it stopped in a small town. By then, dusk had fallen.
"Young Master Cao, your gang's stronghold is in Stone Ox Town?"
Feng Hao's brows furrowed slightly.
This was Stone Ox Town, under the jurisdiction of Three Rivers County, about a hundred li from the county seat.
Cao Lin smiled. "No. Our gang is on Stone Ox Mountain, behind Stone Ox Town. The carriage can't go up the mountain, though, so we'll have to continue on foot."
At that, Shen Han gazed toward Stone Ox Mountain.
Sure enough, the mountain blazed with lights, looking even more prosperous than Stone Ox Town at its foot.
"Young Master!"
At that moment, more than a dozen martial artists converged from all directions and bowed respectfully to Cao Lin.
"How is my father now?"
Cao Lin asked.
One of the martial artists hurriedly cupped his hands and replied, not daring to delay. "He's still unconscious..."
"Those physicians are nothing but wine sacks and rice bags!"
Cao Lin's expression turned cold.
The young master was furious. The martial artists fell silent, not daring to utter a word.
Shen Han and Feng Hao exchanged a glance, arriving at the same thought.
Wasn't Cao Lin's father the leader of the Green Garment Gang? Could the person they were here to treat be the gang leader? It seemed the leader was badly injured. Cao Lin had already summoned plenty of physicians, but none of them had helped!
Feng Hao's heart sank. This trip was going to be dangerous...
"Gentlemen, please!"
Cao Lin turned around and led them up the mountain, while the dozen or so martial artists escorted them from all sides.
Soon, they entered the Green Garment Gang's stronghold.
The place had been impressive enough from afar, but once they passed through the mountain gate, Shen Han and Feng Hao were even more dumbfounded.
The Green Garment Gang occupied an enormous area, nearly covering the entire mountaintop.
Buildings crowded the plaza, and torches stood every ten zhang, illuminating Stone Ox Mountain as brightly as day.
Everyone coming and going was skilled in martial arts. Not one looked easy to deal with.
"Young Master Cao, may I ask where the injured person is?"
As Shen Han spoke, he thought to himself that the Green Garment Gang was already this formidable; the Black Dragon Gang, their rival, was probably just as powerful.
Cao Lin led the way. "Come with me to the secret chamber."
The secret chamber was beneath a five-story stone pagoda and was heavily guarded.
"Who goes there?"
An armored guard blocked their path.
"It's me!"
Cao Lin stepped forward.
The guard quickly moved aside. "So it's the young master. Please enter."
Cao Lin led Shen Han and Feng Hao into the pagoda. He pressed a mechanism himself, and with a rumble, a passage appeared.
They followed the passage down, step by step.
Before long, they entered a stone chamber.
A wooden bed stood inside. A middle-aged man lay on it, eyes tightly shut, his face utterly bloodless.
"Young Master..."
Two maids knelt on the ground, trembling. "The gang leader's heartbeat is getting slower and slower. We..."
"Get out of the way!" Cao Lin barked.
"Yes, Young Master..."
"Physician Shen, the injured man is my father, Cao Ziping."
Cao Lin turned to Shen Han, his tone considerably gentler. "My father was seriously injured a few days ago. We've tried everything, but he still won't wake up. It all depends on you now, Physician Shen."
"Brother Feng, take out my silver needles."
Shen Han gave the order.
They were already here, so he would examine the injury first.
Feng Hao did as he was told and took out the silver needles.
Whoosh!
Shen Han took the needles and immediately drove three of them in succession: one into the forehead, one into the chest, and one into the lower abdomen.
"Young Master, he didn't even ask where the gang leader was injured..."
Meng Songyun cried out in alarm.
"Quiet!" Cao Lin interrupted, staring intently. "Don't rush. Let's see what happens first."
With the needles in three acupoints, Shen Han gently turned them.
A moment later, he took Cao Ziping's wrist and began tapping out his pulse with a finger.
Everyone in the stone chamber was dumbfounded.
The Green Garment Gang members were especially bewildered. When had any of them ever seen a physician diagnose someone like this?
After half an incense stick's time, Shen Han pulled out the needles.
"Physician Shen, how is he?"
Cao Lin hurriedly asked.
Shen Han answered solemnly, "If I'm not mistaken, Gang Leader Cao took three palm strikes to the chest. Those fatal blows severed his meridians and scattered his qi and blood."
"Indeed!"
Cao Lin was both astonished and delighted. "What you said matches the facts exactly. You truly are a miracle physician.
"May I ask if there's a way to treat my father?"
"Young Master Cao, may I speak with you privately?"
"Hmm?"
"There's something I need to ask about first."
Shen Han spoke calmly.
A hint of ruthlessness flickered in Cao Lin's eyes, so faint it was hard to notice. "All right. Physician Shen, come with me outside the pagoda."
After leaving the pagoda, they went to Cao Lin's bedroom.
"What is it?" Cao Lin asked.
"Young Master Cao,"
Shen Han said, enunciating each word, "judging by the extent of Gang Leader Cao's injuries, surviving should be utterly impossible. Yet he hasn't stopped breathing. Why is that?"
Meng Songyun snapped angrily, "You bastard! What are you saying? How dare you curse the gang leader!"
"I'm simply stating the facts."
Shen Han continued, "Unless these questions are cleared up, they'll do far more harm than good to the treatment that follows."
Cao Lin's breathing quickened. "Are you sure?"
Shen Han replied gravely, "Of course. A physician must know exactly what treatment and medicine have already been used. Otherwise, if the medicines conflict, the patient will be the one to suffer."
Seeing how calmly Shen Han held his ground, Feng Hao was deeply shaken.
Senior Brother Shen, you can stay this steady even in the Green Garment Gang. It's unbelievable!
Shen Han knew exactly what was going on. At that moment, they needed his help, and he was here in the capacity of a physician, so there was no need to worry too much.
"Good. Physician Shen, you have a discerning eye!"
Cao Lin took out a small celadon bottle. "My father's still alive because he took this pill."
"What pill?"
"The Returning Cloud Pill."
Cao Lin poured a pill out of the bottle.
It was about the size of a little finger, a glossy, translucent dark green.
"I see."
Shen Han nodded.
In this world, extraordinary powers existed, and a good pill could bring someone back from the dead.
"Senior Brother Shen..."
Feng Hao suddenly tugged at Shen Han's sleeve.
"What is it?"
"N-no, nothing..."
Feng Hao stopped himself in time, but Shen Han could tell he had something to say. It just wasn't convenient for him to speak at the moment.
"Physician Shen, can my father still be saved?"
"He can." Shen Han said, "I'll treat Gang Leader Cao with the needles first, then write a prescription for you to prepare and decoct..."
Just then,
A martial artist hurried in. "Reporting to the young master, the deputy incense master of the Moon Worship Cult requests an audience!"
He leaned close to Cao Lin and whispered a few words.
"The Moon Worship Cult?" Cao Lin's expression tightened at once. He immediately said to Supervisor Meng, "Supervisor Meng, take Physician Shen and his companion back to the secret chamber to treat my father. I'll join you shortly."
With that, he left with the martial artist.
The Green Garment Gang was far from peaceful... Shen Han thought to himself. And it was one of the three top powers in the county. Gang Leader Cao Ziping had reached the Bone Refining realm. In a tiny place like Three Rivers County, who had the ability to injure him this badly?
"Please, Physician Shen."
Following Cao Lin's instructions, Meng Songyun led Shen Han and Feng Hao back to the stone chamber.
Before you continue