The next three days passed in peace and quiet.
At dusk, in the Green Garment Gang's secret chamber.
"Father, how are you feeling now?"
The young gang leader, Cao Lin, sat beside the bed, gently supporting his father, Gang Leader Cao Ziping.
"Cough, cough..."
Cao Ziping's complexion was rosy, and his breathing even. "Much better. I never thought I'd manage to keep my life."
"Father, what about your internal injuries?"
"Strange as it sounds, I just tried it, and I can circulate my qi on my own again."
"Congratulations on your recovery, Gang Leader!"
The steward, Meng Songyun, and the others immediately cupped their fists and offered their congratulations.
Cao Ziping raised a hand. "That's enough, that's enough. Has anything gone wrong in the gang these past few days?"
Meng Songyun hurriedly replied, "Thanks to you, Gang Leader, and with the Deputy Gang Leader and Young Gang Leader at the helm, we not only held off the Black Dragon Gang's attacks, but also killed several of their men. Morale in the gang is soaring."
"Good work!"
Cao Ziping gritted his teeth. "That old bastard Du Guangling ambushed me and left me gravely wounded. Once I've fully recovered, I'll make sure not a single feather remains of the Black Dragon Gang!"
"This subordinate will follow you to the death, even if it means spilling every last drop of blood!"
"Good!"
Cao Ziping got out of bed. "Surviving a great calamity brings good fortune. The Black Dragon Gang's days are numbered!
"By the way, Lin'er, where is the physician who treated me?"
"Father, I was just about to report that to you." Cao Lin winked at Cao Ziping.
Cao Ziping understood at once. "Lin'er, you and Old Li stay. Everyone else, leave for now."
A moment later, only three people remained in the stone chamber.
Besides Cao Ziping and his son, there was a chubby, middle-aged bald man: Li Shan, the Green Garment Gang's Deputy Gang Leader.
"Here's what happened..."
Cao Lin recounted, in full, the treatments Shen Han had administered over the past three days.
After hearing him out, Cao Ziping said, "So if Shen Han hadn't stepped in, I wouldn't have been saved?"
Li Shan nodded. "That's exactly right. His medical skills are superb. His silver needles and prescriptions worked like divine assistance, and he's quite renowned in Three Rivers County."
"To have me back on my feet in three days—he's got some skill!"
Cao Ziping slowly circulated his qi. "This Shen Han is someone we ought to make a point of befriending."
"But..."
Cao Lin hesitated.
"What is it, Lin'er?"
"Father, before treating you, he learned that you'd taken a Returning Cloud Pill!"
"What!"
Cao Ziping's expression changed instantly.
The atmosphere in the stone chamber grew strange all at once.
Li Shan murmured, "This is no small matter. If Shen Han lets slip that we have a Returning Cloud Pill, disaster will be upon the Green Garment Gang."
"Exactly. We absolutely can't let our guard down."
Cao Ziping continued, "Have you noticed anything unusual about them over the past three days?"
Li Shan shook his head. "Nothing. Apart from coming to the secret chamber morning and evening to treat you, the two of them haven't even stepped out of their room."
"So they don't know the Returning Cloud Pill is a prohibited drug?"
"This subordinate wouldn't dare jump to conclusions."
"Father, this is too important. I don't think we can let the two of them go back."
As he spoke, Cao Lin drew a finger across his neck.
Li Shan understood. "The Young Gang Leader means... kill them?"
A vicious glint flashed in Cao Lin's eyes. "There's no other way. Only the dead can keep quiet!"
"Old Li, what do you think?"
Cao Ziping turned to Li Shan, his expression grave.
Li Shan hurriedly replied, "The Young Gang Leader has a point. A thousand-mile dike can collapse because of an ant's nest; the Green Garment Gang can't afford to take that risk.
"But Shen Han was personally invited back from the Hanging Pot Medical Hall in the county town by the Young Gang Leader. If he dies in the Green Garment Gang under mysterious circumstances, it could cause unnecessary trouble."
"That makes sense."
Cao Ziping agreed.
It was true. The Green Garment Gang was currently fighting the Black Dragon Gang, and the two sides were evenly matched. The other sects were mostly watching from the sidelines. But if Shen Han's death gave the Black Dragon Gang an excuse to rally the other sects—or even the Iron Fist Martial Hall—and attack the Green Garment Gang, they might not be able to withstand them.
"Oh, right, Father. There's one more thing."
Cao Lin remembered something.
"Go on."
"Three days ago, Bai Wei, a Deputy Incense Master of the Moon Worship Cult, came to see us."
"Deputy Incense Master of the Moon Worship Cult?"
Cao Ziping looked puzzled. "The Green Garment Gang and the Moon Worship Cult have always kept to their own sides of the river. What did he come here for?"
"I don't know, Father," Cao Lin said.
Li Shan rubbed his large belly. "The Moon Worship Cult is powerful, with branch altars scattered all across the country. Almost every county has an Incense Master.
"At that scale, they're nearly powerful enough to stand against the Imperial Court.
"Young Gang Leader, did Bai Wei say anything when he suddenly came to the Green Garment Gang?"
"He said a few things that didn't amount to much," Cao Lin recalled. "Stranger still, he left without a word that very night."
Li Shan furrowed his brow. "That is certainly peculiar."
"Never mind. We don't need to concern ourselves with him for now. At least he hasn't shown any ill will."
Cao Ziping brought the conversation back to Shen Han. "Lin'er, Old Li, is there any way to keep those two here besides killing them?"
"Well..."
Cao Lin spread his hands helplessly.
Just then, Li Shan suddenly chuckled. "Reporting to the Gang Leader and Young Gang Leader, this subordinate has an idea!"
"Speak!"
"We can't kill the two of them openly, but we can use other means."
"What means?"
"Young Gang Leader, aren't you quite familiar with Miaoyu Pavilion?"
In a luxurious room.
"Senior Brother Shen, today's the third day. Can we leave the Green Garment Gang?"
Feng Hao looked troubled.
He'd been staying at the Green Garment Gang for three days, and honestly, the pressure was getting to him. He was starting to feel as if he'd lost his mind.
"Let's wait and see."
Shen Han smiled faintly. "We're just physicians. We have nothing to do with the fighting between their gangs. Besides, we cured Cao Ziping. They have no reason to make things difficult for us."
Feng Hao sighed. "I hope so."
"Don't overthink it. Cao Lin told us to wait, so I expect we'll hear something soon."
Shen Han patted Feng Hao on the shoulder.
Truthfully, he wasn't confident either.
The Green Garment Gang wasn't some upright, respectable sect. The wicked things they did behind closed doors were hardly any different from the Black Dragon Gang's.
So he hadn't slacked off in his cultivation.
Over the past three days, he'd eaten and drunk well, and kept his clone practicing the Ancient Sun Technique every moment of the day to raise his cultivation.
Mirror Master: Shen Han Cultivation: Flesh Refining Technique: Ancient Sun Technique (Mastered) Martial Arts: Angry Dragon Divine Fist (Perfected), Sky-Splitting Blade Technique (Perfected) Skill: Medicine (Perfected)
Thanks to his clone's tireless efforts, although his realm was still stuck at Flesh Refining, he'd secretly tested himself and found that his strength had reached 1,500 jin, a full 300 jin higher than before. His speed and agility had also improved, making him a far cry from the man he'd been three days ago.
If he fought Wen He, the Long Blade Sect traitor, again now, he'd be sure to crush him.
Knock, knock!
Someone knocked at the door.
"Who is it?"
Feng Hao's heart immediately tightened.
"Physician Shen, Brother Feng Hao, it's me."
Cao Lin's cheerful voice came from outside. "You two have worked hard these past three days. I've come to see you off."
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