The Gang Leader Recovers, Plotting to Silence Witnesses

The next three days were calm and peaceful.

In the evening, inside the secret chamber of the Green Garment Gang.

"Father, how are you feeling now?"

Young Gang Leader Cao Lin sat at the bedside, gently supporting the gang leader, Cao Ziping, who lay on the bed.

"Cough, cough..."

Cao Ziping's complexion was rosy and his breathing steady. "Much better. I never imagined I would still be able to keep my life."

"Father, what about your internal injuries?"

"It's strange to say, but I just tried it, and I can actually circulate my internal energy on my own again."

"Congratulations to the Gang Leader on your recovery!"

Steward Meng Songyun and the others standing nearby immediately cupped their hands in congratulations.

Cao Ziping raised a hand. "Spare the formalities. In these past few days, has the gang faced any trouble?"

Meng Songyun hurriedly replied, "Thanks to your blessing, under the leadership of the Vice Gang Leader and the Young Gang Leader, we not only withstood the attacks from the Black Dragon Gang but also killed several of their members in return. The morale within the gang has soared."

"Well done!"

Cao Ziping gritted his teeth. "That old scoundrel Du Guangling caught me off guard and severely wounded me. Once I have fully recovered, I will surely slaughter his Black Dragon Gang until not a single piece of armor remains!"

"Your subordinates swear to follow you to the death, even if it means spilling our brains on the ground!"

"Good!"

Cao Ziping got out of bed. "A narrow escape from death brings future blessings; the good days of the Black Dragon Gang are coming to an end! By the way, Lin'er, where is the physician who treated me?"

"Father, I was just about to report this to you." Cao Lin winked at Cao Ziping.

Cao Ziping understood immediately. "Lin'er, you and Old Li stay behind; everyone else, get out."

A moment later, only three people remained in the stone room.

In addition to the father and son, there was a chubby, middle-aged man with a shaved head: Li Shan, the Vice Gang Leader of the Green Garment Gang.

"The situation is like this..."

Cao Lin recounted Shen Han's treatment methods over the past three days exactly as they had happened.

Upon hearing this, Cao Ziping said, "So, if it weren't for this Shen Han stepping in, I would have had no chance of being saved?"

Li Shan nodded. "That is indeed the truth. This man's medical skills are brilliant; the silver needles he used and the prescriptions he wrote were like divine intervention. He has quite a reputation in Three Rivers County."

"To be able to restore me in three days—he certainly has some tricks up his sleeve!"

Cao Ziping slowly circulated his internal energy. "This Shen Han is worth befriending properly."

"However..."

Cao Lin hesitated, stopping mid-sentence.

"What is it, Lin'er?"

"Father, before he treated you, he found out that you had taken a Returning Cloud Pill!"

"What!"

Cao Ziping's expression changed instantly.

The atmosphere in the stone room suddenly turned very strange.

Li Shan muttered, "This is no small matter. If Shen Han leaks the fact that we possess a Returning Cloud Pill, our Green Garment Gang will face a catastrophe."

"Yes, we must not take this lightly."

Cao Ziping added, "In these three days, did you notice anything unusual about them?"

Li Shan shook his head. "Not really. Aside from coming to the secret chamber morning and evening to treat you, they didn't step out of their room at all."

"So, they don't realize that the Returning Cloud Pill is a banned substance?"

"This subordinate dares not make any rash assumptions."

"Father, this matter is of great importance. I don't think we can let the two of them go back."

As Cao Lin spoke, he made a gesture across his throat.

Li Shan understood immediately. "Does the Young Gang Leader mean to kill them both?"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Cao Lin's eyes. "There is no other way; only the dead can keep their mouths shut!"

"Old Li, what do you think?"

Cao Ziping turned to Li Shan with a grim face.

Li Shan hurriedly said, "The Young Gang Leader's words are not without reason. After all, a thousand-mile embankment can be destroyed by an ant hole; the Green Garment Gang cannot afford to take this risk. It is just that Shen Han was invited here by the Young Gang Leader himself from the Hanging Pot Medical Hall in the county seat. If he dies in the Green Garment Gang without a clear reason, I fear it might cause unnecessary trouble."

"That makes sense."

Cao Ziping expressed his agreement.

Indeed, the Green Garment Gang was currently locked in a conflict with the Black Dragon Gang, and the two factions were evenly matched. Most other sects were merely watching from the sidelines, but if Shen Han's death gave the Black Dragon Gang an excuse to unite with other sects or even the Iron Fist Martial Hall to besiege the Green Garment Gang, they would find it difficult to withstand the assault.

"By the way, Father, there is one more situation."

Cao Lin recalled something.

"Speak."

"Three days ago, Bai Wei, a deputy incense master of the Moon Worship Cult, paid us a visit."

"A deputy incense master of the Moon Worship Cult?"

Cao Ziping wore a strange expression. "The Green Garment Gang and the Moon Worship Cult have always minded their own business. What did he come to the gang for?"

"I do not know, Father," Cao Lin said.

Li Shan rubbed his large belly. "The Moon Worship Cult is vast, with branch altars spread across the entire country; almost every county has an incense master.

Their scale is enough to rival the imperial court.

Young Master, when that Bai Wei visited the Green Garment Gang, did he say anything?"

"He said some nonsensical things."

Cao Lin recalled, "What is even more bizarre is that he left without saying goodbye that very night."

Li Shan frowned. "That is indeed intriguing."

"Never mind, let us ignore him for now. At the very least, he has not shown any malice."

Cao Ziping steered the conversation back to Shen Han. "Lin'er, Old Li, besides killing those two physicians, is there any other way to keep them here?"

"This..."

Cao Lin spread his hands helplessly.

Just then, Li Shan suddenly chuckled. "Reporting to the Gang Leader and Young Master, this subordinate has an idea!"

"Speak quickly!"

"We cannot kill them openly, but we can employ other methods."

"What methods?"

"Young Master, aren't you quite familiar with Miaoyu Pavilion?"

In a luxurious room.

"Senior Brother Shen, today is the third day. Can we leave the Green Garment Gang?"

Feng Hao was deeply worried.

Living in the Green Garment Gang for these three days had been mentally stifling; he was starting to lose his composure.

"Wait and see."

Shen Han smiled calmly. "We are only physicians and are not involved in their gang disputes. Furthermore, we cured Cao Ziping, so 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 there will surely be news soon."

Shen Han patted Feng Hao on the shoulder.

In truth, despite his words, he had no certainty himself.

The Green Garment Gang was no righteous sect; the various evil deeds they committed in the shadows were not much different from the Black Dragon Gang.

Therefore, he had not neglected his cultivation.

Over the past three days, he had been provided with fine food and drink, and he had commanded his clone to practice the Ancient Sun Technique every moment to improve his cultivation.

Mirror Master: Shen Han
Cultivation: Flesh Refining
Technique: Ancient Sun Technique (Great Success)
Martial Arts: Angry Dragon Divine Fist (Perfected), Sky-Splitting Blade Technique (Perfected)
Skills: Medicine (Perfected)

Through the unremitting efforts of his clone, although his realm remained at Flesh Refining, he had secretly tested himself and found his physical strength had reached 1,500 jin—an increase of a full 300 jin. His speed and agility had also improved, making him incomparable to how he was three days ago.

If he were to fight the Long Blade Sect traitor Wen He right now, he could easily secure a victory.

Knock, knock!

A knocking sound echoed.

"Who is it?"

Feng Hao's heart tightened immediately.

"Physician Shen, Brother Feng Hao, it is me."

Cao Lin's cheerful voice came from outside. "You two have worked hard these past three days. I have come to see you off."