The next day, Hanging Pot Medical Hall.
Clinic No. 13.
Since Shen Han hadn't come in to see patients for several days, the clinic had reopened today, and a flood of patients had packed the place. Fortunately, Shen Han worked at lightning speed, clearing the queue in no time.
"Thank goodness Brother Feng Hao is all right..."
During a break between patients, he thought back to everything that had happened the night before.
Last night, after killing Cao Lin and Du Chong at the courtyard in Stone Ox Town, he had brought the medicinal herbs and medicine chest to the cave and saved Feng Hao's life with acupuncture and medicine.
Afterward, he and Feng Hao, who had regained consciousness, rode back to Three Rivers County on horses left behind by the Black Dragon Gang.
In Master Han's room, Han Zhengming listened to the whole story and let out a deep sigh. He told Feng Hao to recuperate at home and return to work at the medical hall once he had fully recovered.
Of course, Shen Han hadn't told him everything.
He had laid out how he had treated the Green Garment Gang leader in the gang's secret chamber, discovered that the Green Garment Gang had arranged for the courtesan Guan Shu to kill someone with poisoned wine, and how Feng Hao had been shot by an arrow from the Black Dragon Gang's young leader, Du Chong.
But he hadn't mentioned putting on a mask and slaughtering everyone at the courtyard, the deaths of the two young leaders, the Green Garment Gang's possession of Returning Cloud Pills, or how the last two bottles of pills had ended up in his hands.
"Little Shen, time to eat."
At noon, Guard Zhan, the head of the security team, came to Clinic No. 13 with a food pail, grinning cheerfully.
With Feng Hao away, he had volunteered to fetch Shen Han's meal.
"Guard Zhan, you're too kind."
Shen Han smiled.
"Not at all," Zhan Chaoyang said. "If it weren't for your superb medical skills, Little Shen, I'd be lucky just to have survived. There's no way I'd be bouncing around like I am now."
Over the past few days, Zhan Chaoyang had made a full recovery, and his injuries had completely healed. His admiration and gratitude toward Shen Han came from the bottom of his heart.
Shen Han shoveled rice into his mouth. "Guard Zhan, if you keep praising me, I'll get conceited."
"No, no, you deserve every bit of it!"
Zhan Chaoyang said, "By the way, Little Shen, why did the Green Garment Gang want to kill you both to silence you?"
Shen Han shook his head. "Brother Feng Hao and I can't figure it out either."
When he'd brought Feng Hao back last night, he had warned him that to avoid unnecessary complications, they mustn't tell anyone about the Returning Cloud Pills.
"Could it be that you saw something at the Green Garment Gang?"
"Probably not." Shen Han gnawed on a chicken leg. "During those three days on Stone Ox Mountain, we only treated Cao Ziping's injuries. We didn't leave the room at any other time."
Zhan Chaoyang furrowed his brow. "Then that can only mean the Green Garment Gang puts on a respectable face, but deep down they're no different from the Black Dragon Gang—just a bunch of bandits!
"And they even ordered women from Miaoyu Pavilion to carry out an assassination. Despicable!
"The Green Garment Gang and the Black Dragon Gang should both be wiped out!"
By the end, Zhan Chaoyang felt profoundly relieved. If Little Shen and Little Feng had been poisoned to death, the flourishing Hanging Pot Medical Hall would have taken a sudden nosedive.
"Little Shen!"
Just then, the elderly physician Huang Tie stepped into the clinic.
His face was alight with barely contained excitement. "Guard Zhan, you're here too?"
Shen Han hurriedly asked, "Elder Huang, what's got you so happy?"
Zhan Chaoyang shot him a puzzled look too.
"Something's happened—something huge! But it's the best kind of huge!" Elder Huang said mysteriously.
Shen Han and Zhan Chaoyang set down their food pails. "Elder Huang, stop keeping us in suspense."
Elder Huang grew serious. "Just now, one of my patients mentioned something.
"He has a relative living in Stone Ox Town. He said that last night, two gangs had a massive clash there."
"A clash?" Zhan Chaoyang said in surprise. "Let me guess... it involved the Green Garment Gang?"
Elder Huang nodded. "That's right. The Green Garment Gang's young leader, Cao Lin, and the Black Dragon Gang's young leader, Du Chong, brought their men to blows in a courtyard."
Word spreads fast... Shen Han thought.
He already knew what Elder Huang was about to say.
"What happened?" Zhan Chaoyang asked urgently.
Elder Huang stroked his beard. "At first, Du Chong of the Black Dragon Gang had the upper hand. He beat Cao Lin's men until they were flat on their backs, and Cao Lin couldn't fight back at all."
"And then?"
"Who could've guessed that things would suddenly take a turn?"
Elder Huang described it vividly. "A mysterious third party appeared out of nowhere. He barged into the fight and faced off against Du Chong in the courtyard."
Zhan Chaoyang was astonished. "Anyone who could fight the Black Dragon Gang's young leader must be formidable."
"Wasn't he just? My patient said the battle's outcome was even more astonishing: Du Chong lost."
"What? The Black Dragon Gang's young leader lost?"
"Not only that. Du Chong was beheaded on the spot by the mysterious man."
"Whoa!"
Zhan Chaoyang froze where he stood.
Du Chong was the mighty young leader of the Black Dragon Gang, powerful and said to have practiced Flesh Refining for years. Being defeated was one thing, but to be killed outright—did that mysterious man not fear the Black Dragon Gang's revenge?
"Little Shen, why aren't you surprised?"
"No... I just didn't react for a moment."
Shen Han smiled. "Elder Huang, Du Chong's death must be a heavy blow to the Black Dragon Gang, right?"
Elder Huang snorted. "Of course. But they brought it on themselves. If I'd been there, I'd have wanted to chop Du Chong's head into minced meat!"
"Exactly!" Zhan Chaoyang chimed in.
The scene of the Black Dragon Gang swaggering into the medical hall last month and extorting protection money was still fresh in his mind.
"Elder Huang, so the Green Garment Gang's young leader, Cao Lin, was saved?" Zhan Chaoyang asked.
"The strangest part comes next."
Elder Huang went on, "After killing Du Chong, the mysterious man didn't hesitate for even a moment. With another slash, he cut down Cao Lin too!"
"What?"
Zhan Chaoyang was so shocked his mouth fell open.
The chopsticks in his hand clattered to the ground.
Elder Huang continued, "The two gangs' men there couldn't believe it either. But I say good riddance!
"The Black Dragon Gang and the Green Garment Gang throw their weight around and bully the weak. The deaths of their two young leaders are a cause for celebration!
"Little Shen, by a twist of fate, that mysterious man avenged you and Little Feng."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes." Shen Han put on a delighted expression. "Du Chong and Cao Lin both wanted to harm us. They died at just the right time!"
After a long moment, Zhan Chaoyang came back to his senses. "Elder Huang, does anyone know who the mysterious man is?"
Elder Huang said, "He's a middle-aged man with an ugly face."
"Ugly? This..."
"Guard Zhan, you're thinking of what happened at Golden Buddha Temple, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"To tell you the truth, I witnessed Ugly Man kill Wen He and the other two that night at Golden Buddha Temple. So I also think the one who struck last night was that same hero."
As he spoke, Elder Huang's eyes filled with longing.
Zhan Chaoyang murmured, "I never imagined that a hero with such a warm heart would live right here in Three Rivers County!"
Elder Huang praised him. "Indeed. If I could see him once more, I could die without regrets."
Uh... Shen Han stayed silent.
"But he'll probably have to keep a low profile for a while."
Zhan Chaoyang said, "The leaders of the Green Garment Gang and the Black Dragon Gang will surely search everywhere for that hero to avenge their young leaders."
"May that hero be blessed with good fortune and escape calamity!" Elder Huang thumped his chest. "If he's driven into a corner and comes to our medical hall for refuge, I'll risk my life to help him!"
"So will I." Zhan Chaoyang clenched his fist.
"Uh, me too..."
Shen Han hurriedly made his own pledge.
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