In the secret chamber.
Shen Han wielded four silver needles at once, moving them across eight acupoints on Cao Ziping's chest.
His movements were light and swift.
With his consummate medical skills, he handled them with ease, without breaking a sweat.
The onlookers were all amazed.
"This... will it work?"
"I've never even heard of anyone using four needles at once."
"Let's hope for a good outcome..."
Only Feng Hao was unfazed. He'd long since grown used to this.
At Clinic No. 13, silver needles were nothing more than child's play for Senior Brother Shen.
Half an hour later, Shen Han withdrew the needles.
"Look! The gang leader's complexion is improving!"
A maid cried out in surprise.
Indeed, a faint flush had appeared on Cao Ziping's once-gaunt face. His skin had begun to rise and fall, and his breathing had grown heavier.
"Bring the gang leader some water!"
A maid hurriedly brought over some warm water.
But Shen Han stopped her. "No. Gang Leader Cao is very weak right now. He can't drink or eat yet."
"Huh?"
Everyone was confused.
Shen Han said solemnly, "As the saying goes, when the moon is full, it begins to wane. If water enters Gang Leader Cao's stomach now, it will burden his body further. That would do more harm than good."
Meng Songyun came over. "Then what should we do?"
"I'll prescribe two formulas. Gang Leader Cao's injuries are severe, so we must proceed with caution. The medicine for morning and evening will be different. Just follow the prescriptions and give them to him."
"Good. Then write them up at once."
Meng Songyun had someone bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone and set them on the boxwood table nearby.
Shen Han didn't move.
He glanced at Meng Songyun, then sat down and began leisurely arranging his silver needles.
"Physician Shen?"
Meng Songyun furrowed his brows.
Shen Han said mildly, "Supervisor Meng, before coming to your gang, I made two requests."
Meng Songyun immediately snorted. "A hundred taels per person for the house call. I know!"
"There's one more."
Shen Han took a piece of paper from his robes. "I'd like you to help me buy some medicinal ingredients. These thirteen."
To his surprise, Meng Songyun didn't even look at it. "Write the prescription and treat the gang leader first. We'll discuss buying medicine later!"
Shen Han shook his head. "That won't do."
"Heh. Physician Shen, do you dare make trouble in the Green Garment Gang?"
"No. I'm not asking for an outrageous price. I'm simply making a request we agreed on beforehand."
"And if I refuse?"
Meng Songyun clenched his fists.
Shen Han remained calm and smiled. "If you refuse? No matter. I'll give up the hundred taels for the house call. Your gang can find someone else to treat Gang Leader Cao's injuries."
Feng Hao was horrified. Senior Brother Shen, we're under their roof. A wise man knows when to yield!
He didn't know that Shen Han dared to say this for one simple reason: Cao Ziping's injuries were so severe that he was all but certain to die. No one but Shen Han could treat him.
"You dare threaten me?"
Meng Songyun was even more enraged.
Shen Han said coldly, "I'm just a humble physician. How could I dare threaten your gang? It's just that you, Supervisor Meng, have made things difficult for me at every turn. You don't seem to care whether Gang Leader Cao lives or dies."
"Utter nonsense!"
Meng Songyun roared.
He bared his teeth, eyes blazing, and was about to step forward and seize Shen Han.
"Stop!"
Just then, Cao Lin arrived.
"Young Master Cao..."
Everyone hurriedly bowed in greeting. Meng Songyun had no choice but to back down.
Cao Lin glared at them and barked, "Daring to fight in front of my father's sickbed? You've got some nerve!"
The maids were so frightened that they dropped to their knees.
"Young Master Cao, if your gang's promise no longer stands, I have nothing to say. Please let the two of us leave."
Shen Han cupped his hands toward Cao Lin.
Cao Lin's face darkened. "Physician Shen, what do you mean?"
He strode over to the sickbed and immediately noticed the change in Cao Ziping. He was astonished. "It's only been half an hour, and my father's already doing so much better?"
A maid hurriedly reported, "Young Master, Physician Shen just treated the gang leader with needles."
Cao Lin turned to Shen Han and praised him. "Physician Shen truly lives up to his reputation. What's the next step in the treatment?"
Shen Han replied evenly, "I'll treat him with needles twice a day, once at chen hour and once at you hour. He'll also take medicine morning and evening. In at most three days, Gang Leader Cao will be able to circulate his internal energy on his own."
"Three days?"
Cao Lin was even more delighted.
Meng Songyun hurriedly said, "Young Master, that's why I asked Physician Shen to write a prescription and treat the gang leader first..."
"Physician Shen, where's the prescription?"
Cao Lin's tone softened.
But Shen Han said, "I mentioned earlier that I'm researching medicinal herbs for healing and saving lives. I need to buy some uncommon ingredients."
"What ingredients?"
"These."
Shen Han handed Cao Lin the paper listing the ingredients and amounts for the Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water.
Cao Lin glanced over it. "What's so difficult about that? The Green Garment Gang has close ties with the medicine merchants. We can get these easily. Supervisor Meng, go take care of it at once! As for the price, charge only the cost."
"Yes, Young Master."
Meng Songyun glared viciously at Shen Han, took the paper, and hurried out of the secret chamber.
Cao Lin turned back. "Physician Shen, can you write the prescriptions now?"
"Of course."
Shen Han sat down at the table and began writing.
Before long, he'd finished both prescriptions.
"Young Master Cao, I carefully balanced the dosages according to Gang Leader Cao's condition. When boiling the medicine, simmer it for thirty percent longer than usual, and give him the morning and evening doses separately."
"Why are you still standing there? Take the prescriptions and get the medicine!"
Cao Lin immediately instructed another maid.
After a flurry of activity, they all left the stone chamber and went to the dining hall Cao Lin had arranged.
Feng Hao's admiration knew no bounds.
Their side had been restricted at every turn and put at a disadvantage, yet Senior Brother Shen had single-handedly turned the tables. He was incredible, so bold and domineering! If it were me, I could never have done that!
They'd barely taken a few bites when Meng Songyun arrived.
"Have you prepared the ingredients Physician Shen listed?"
Cao Lin set down his chopsticks and asked.
Meng Songyun reported, "Reporting to Young Master, the other ingredients are in stock. But the Heaven-Reaching Grass, Scale Skin, and Gourd Cup Root will have to be procured."
Just as expected... Shen Han thought.
Shopkeeper Qiao of Hua'an Hall hadn't been wrong. Those three ingredients were uncommon. Even the Green Garment Gang couldn't get them right away.
"How many days will it take?" Cao Lin asked.
"I expect they'll be ready in about three days."
After reporting, Meng Songyun's expression changed. "But the price of the ingredients..."
Shen Han smiled. "Go ahead, Supervisor Meng."
"At the full cost price, one batch will cost four taels of silver. How many batches do you want, Physician Shen?"
Four taels?
Shen Han thought to himself, Shopkeeper Qiao said one batch would cost seven or eight taels. It seems the Green Garment Gang really isn't making a profit.
"Then buy twenty-five batches. Pay for them with my hundred-tael house-call fee."
"Fine!"
And with that, the matter was settled.
Cao Lin smiled and poured Shen Han a cup of wine. "In that case, you two can stay comfortably in the gang for the next three days. I've already had a room prepared for you. I'll be counting on you to take good care of my father."
Shen Han cupped his hands. "Thank you."
After the meal, the two of them moved into a luxurious room.
As soon as the door closed, Feng Hao leaned close. "Senior Brother Shen, I can't hold it in any longer!"
Before you continue