Creak!
Shen Han opened the door.
Cao Lin, dressed in fine clothes, strode into the room, a wooden box in hand and his face glowing with delight.
"Judging by Young Master Cao's expression, I take it the gang leader is out of danger?"
Shen Han invited him to sit and smiled faintly.
Cao Lin clasped his hands. "That's right. My father has returned from the brink of death. Doctor Shen's skills are truly remarkable. I chose the right person!"
"In that case, our task is complete."
Shen Han lightly tapped his fingers on the tabletop.
Cao Lin understood. "Of course. I came here especially to see the two of you down the mountain."
As he spoke, he opened the wooden box.
Inside were twenty-five bundles of herbs wrapped in yellow paper, along with a bank draft for one hundred taels.
"Doctor Shen, all the herbs you asked for are here."
Cao Lin handed the box to Shen Han. "The bank draft is Brother Feng Hao's payment."
Shen Han glanced over the contents. These were the ingredients for Marrow-Cleansing and Tendon-Forging Water that he'd asked the Green Garment Gang to purchase three days ago. The gang truly had connections; they'd gotten the herbs with ease.
"Young Master Cao, we'll take these. Farewell."
"This way, please."
Cao Lin personally led the way, escorting Shen Han and Feng Hao down Stone Ox Mountain before sunset.
"Doctor Shen, have you heard of Guan Shu?"
As they entered Stone Ox Town at the foot of the mountain, Cao Lin abruptly turned around and asked.
"Guan Shu? I've heard of her."
Shen Han certainly remembered.
She was the courtesan of Miaoyu Pavilion in the county seat. She claimed to be acquainted with Doctor Lu Qiling and had even visited the clinic to see him.
Cao Lin smiled mysteriously. "To thank you for saving my father's life, I invited Guan Shu to Stone Ox Town. Tonight, she'll be yours, Doctor Shen."
"Um... there's no need for that."
"Not at all, not at all. I've also arranged for two women from Miaoyu Pavilion for Brother Feng Hao."
As they spoke, they arrived at an inconspicuous courtyard.
The courtyard was about six or seven zhang across. A herb shop stood right beside it on the left, and a pawnshop on the right. At the northernmost end was a two-story wooden building.
As soon as they entered, two young women came to greet them. They were indeed dressed in Miaoyu Pavilion's Neon Gauze Dresses, their delicate faces charming and their bearing alluring.
"Make sure you take good care of Brother Feng."
Cao Lin immediately gave the order.
"Yes!"
The women each took one of Feng Hao's arms and led him into a room at the back of the first floor.
Only then did Cao Lin turn to Shen Han. "Doctor Shen, the courtesan Guan Shu is waiting upstairs. Please."
Shen Han didn't move.
"I'm just a humble doctor. I'm afraid I can't afford it."
Cao Lin laughed and put an arm around Shen Han's shoulder. "What are you saying, Doctor Shen? Just enjoy yourself. The Green Garment Gang has already settled the bill.
"Doctor Shen, go on upstairs.
"So many men have spent a fortune without getting to see Guan Shu. Tonight, she'll serve only you. A fine night, a beautiful view—if you'll excuse me."
Fine, I'll go take a look... Shen Han thought. Becoming a lecher was out of the question, but he could ask her about Doctor Lu.
He strolled up to the second floor.
It was an elegant room with an old-fashioned charm, hung with pale pink silk. At the far end stood a large bed. Strangely, there was no dressing table beside it—instead, a huge bookshelf stood there, packed with all kinds of books.
"Doctor Shen, you've come..."
A graceful woman sat in front of the bookshelf, turning the pages of a book with slender fingers.
It was Guan Shu!
Shen Han thought to himself that the courtesan's stage name certainly suited her.
Guan Shu rose. "Doctor Shen, it's been a while. Please accept my respects."
She bowed slightly to Shen Han.
Every movement showed the bearing of a top courtesan.
Shen Han smiled. "I never expected Miaoyu Pavilion to have a hidden outpost in Stone Ox Town."
"No, this place has nothing to do with Miaoyu Pavilion," Guan Shu replied. "This pavilion is simply somewhere I come to relax from time to time.
"Doctor Shen, you've earned Young Master Cao's esteem, so you must have something exceptional about you.
"I've always admired capable men. Come, let me offer you a cup of wine."
As she spoke, she personally poured a cup from the wine pot.
"I don't hold my liquor well."
Shen Han didn't take it. "Miss Guan Shu, I came upstairs to see you with no improper intentions. I only have a question I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead."
Guan Shu slowly set down the cup.
Shen Han's expression turned serious. "What exactly is your relationship with Doctor Lu Qiling from my clinic?"
"Hehehe..."
At his question, Guan Shu covered her mouth and laughed. "Doctor Shen, you're asking me about another man right in front of me?"
Shen Han remained calm, watching her eyes.
There was nothing unusual in Guan Shu's expression as she spoke slowly. "Doctor Lu was clever, capable, and handsome. I admired him greatly.
"But then he disappeared without a trace.
"Whenever I think about it, I find myself sitting alone in a daze, heartbroken for a long time."
She didn't seem to be lying... Shen Han thought.
But he couldn't be sure. After all, she was a courtesan, and acting was her specialty.
"But I'm not sad anymore."
"Hmm?"
"Because now I have you, Doctor Shen. I know you're better than Doctor Lu. I want to drink a nuptial cup with you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gracefully held out the cup.
As she moved closer, the intoxicating aroma of wine drifted over.
"Miss Guan Shu, there's no need for wine."
Shen Han refused again and stepped over to the bookshelf. "To tell you the truth, I enjoy reading in my spare time. Would you mind if I browsed these books?"
Guan Shu was taken aback. "Doctor Shen, please feel free."
"Thank you!"
Shen Han didn't stand on ceremony and began searching the shelves.
He wanted to look through the books for one reason alone: to see if he could find a suitable manual!
So far, he knew the Ancient Sun Technique, while his martial arts included the Angry Dragon Divine Fist and the Sky-Splitting Blade Technique. His repertoire was clearly a little sparse. He still lacked finger techniques, swordsmanship, archery, leg techniques, lightness skills, and so on.
Since there was a bookshelf here, why not try his luck? If he found a manual, he could borrow it with some excuse.
Unfortunately, things didn't go his way.
There were over a hundred books on the shelves, but every single one was a strange piece of fiction.
For instance, Dancing Universe: the coming-of-age story of a boy who loved to dance.
Mysterious Architecture: an account of the mysterious buildings scattered throughout the Xuanzhao Kingdom.
Douluo Great Deer: a myth about a deer that became a spirit.
Who Let Him Be Idle: a call for workers to toil diligently instead of lazing around.
Debate on Stars: a debate about the stars.
Supreme Cauldron: a detective story involving a medicinal cauldron.
The Rolling Man of Da Feng: a depiction of the hardships endured by the common people of a fictional country.
No Sauce at Night: an admonition explaining why people shouldn't put soy sauce in their evening meals.
Shen Han searched for a full quarter of an hour, but unfortunately, he found no books related to martial arts manuals.
"Miss Guan Shu, until we meet again."
He didn't linger any longer. He simply opened the door and went downstairs.
Guan Shu had no choice but to let him leave. She sighed softly and set her wine cup back on the table.
"Senior Brother Shen!"
As soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Feng Hao already waiting at the door. Clearly, Feng Hao hadn't stayed with the two women either.
"Let's go!"
They exchanged a glance, understanding each other without a word.
But they hadn't gone far from Stone Ox Town when, beneath the night sky, Feng Hao suddenly cried, "Oh no, I left my medicine chest in the courtyard. Senior Brother Shen, wait here a moment. I'll go get it."
With that, he dashed back toward Stone Ox Town.
Before you continue