Scheming

Lin Wan was so busy she barely touched the ground, yet a look of fulfillment and joy never left her face.

The shop's income was rising steadily, and their days were visibly becoming more comfortable; they no longer had to worry about the cost of firewood, rice, oil, or salt.

She even began to consider whether they should hire a reliable assistant to help out.

After some discussion between the siblings, they invited He Xiaoya to help manage the pharmacy, offering a monthly wage of six hundred wen.

This also resolved the financial difficulties facing He Xiaoya's family.

In stark contrast to this.

Was the deserted state of Security Hall across the street.

Head Manager Pan Yun stood in his own luxuriously decorated yet empty shop, watching the bustling crowds at Benevolent World Hall opposite.

His expression was so gloomy it looked as if water could drip from it.

The fire of jealousy and hatred rose incessantly in his heart.

"Lin Qing, Benevolent World Hall..."

He squeezed these words through his teeth, his eyes filled with rage.

Originally, when they opened Security Hall here, the plan was to monopolize all the pharmacies in the Outer City and stand alone as the sole power.

He never expected to encounter such an opponent here on Yongning Street.

If not for his fear of the Hong Family Martial Hall backing Lin Qing.

Security Hall would have taken action long ago.

But now, Benevolent World Hall was gaining the reputation of being the premier pharmacy in the Outer City.

He could no longer afford to be so cautious.

"If this boy is not removed, my heart will never be at peace!"

Inner City, Pan Family residence.

Inside a study elegantly furnished with various antiques.

Pan Yun stood with his hands hanging down and his body bowed before a dwarf dressed in brocade robes with a bloated face.

This brocaded dwarf was currently reclining in the arms of a still-charming woman, eating black grapes she fed him.

He sat with his feet dangling off the ground, standing less than five feet tall, yet his face was thick with rolls of fat.

This man was the second young master of the Pan Family, Pan Zhongyou.

Because of his narrow-minded and vengeful nature, he was known as "Pan Three-Inch."

Pan Yun reported the performance accounts of the Outer City's Security Hall for the past few months with a trembling demeanor.

The sparse, and even red-inked, figures in the ledger.

Made Pan Zhongyou's expression grow increasingly ugly.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

Pan Zhongyou slammed the ledger into Pan Yun's face in a fit of rage.

He pointed at Pan Yun's nose and cursed: "The family allocated so much silver to you and gave you such great support, and this is how you handle things for me?"

"It's been half a year; not only have you failed to open up the market, but you've lost so much money. Where am I supposed to put my face?"

"What will those in the family waiting to see me make a fool of myself—especially my eldest brother—think?"

Pan Yun was berated until he was drenched in shame, yet he dared not offer a single word of rebuttal, only bowing his waist lower.

The hatred in his heart for Lin Qing and Benevolent World Hall reached its peak.

His eyes darted around, and he hurriedly shifted the blame: "Second Young Master, please calm your anger. It is not that this humble one is incompetent, but that Lin Qing of Benevolent World Hall is far too cunning and treacherous."

"Several months ago, I know not what method he used, but he united several other pharmacies in the Outer City to form a 'Joint Public Benefit Alliance,' sharing prescriptions and guaranteeing one another to boycott our Security Hall!"

"The price war we initiated was completely ineffective against them!"

"Furthermore, the medicinal herbs at Benevolent World Hall are now called a wonder of Yongning Street; that brat is truly a genius in the way of medicine. My master craftsmen at Security Hall have tried to replicate them many times, but to no avail."

Following this, Pan Yun cast a glance at an old man in green robes behind him.

"Elder Mu, your family once had members who served as imperial physicians; could it be that even you are helpless against this person?" Pan Zhongyou's eyes turned stern.

"Young Master Pan, the preparation of this boy's prescriptions is too refined, and his application of medicine is truly unconventional. We have pondered it for a long time, yet we have only grasped sixty percent of his technique..."

That Elder Mu kept his head buried, not daring to speak too much.

Ever since he obtained a few medicinal powders from Benevolent World Hall that day, he had been filled with astonishment.

Let alone the Outer City, even the various managers in the Inner City might not possess such genius as this boy.

But unfortunately, no matter how many famous pharmacies emerged within Qingping County.

The result would always end in a dismal conclusion.

Security Hall had been able to stand firmly in Qingping County for decades.

The power behind it is immense, not something a tiny Benevolent World Hall can compare to.

"Benevolent World Hall, Lin Qing?"

Pan Zhongyou's brows furrowed tightly, his expression turning even gloomier.

Opening Security Hall in the Outer City was a key step he had taken to prove his capabilities within the family and compete with his elder brother.

To think he was now being blocked by some unknown nobody?

He took a deep breath, suppressing his rage, and asked in a cold voice:

"This Lin Qing, what is his background?"

Pan Yun felt a surge of joy, knowing his opportunity had arrived, and hurriedly added fuel to the fire: "Reporting to the Second Young Master, that Lin Qing is merely the young owner of a dilapidated apothecary. His father died early, and he only has a widowed sister to rely on."

"Relying on a bit of talent for pharmacology and having stumbled upon some dog-shit luck, he joined the Iron Thread Fist Martial Hall and became an ordinary outer-sect disciple, barely counting as a martial artist."

"Other than that, he has absolutely no background."

"But this person is arrogant and domineering, repeatedly acting against our Security Hall, and even incited other apothecaries to join in a boycott, which is why we are finding it so difficult to move forward!"

"Manager Pan, that statement seems inappropriate. That Lin Qing has always had a reputation, known for his benevolence and righteousness; he is quite famous on Yongning Street."

"Perhaps we should bring him into our fold..."

Elder Mu retorted, having ultimately developed a desire to cherish talent.

"Bring him into our fold? A worm-like thing, worthy of entering my Pan Family? Worthy of opposing my Pan Family?"

Pan Zhongyou sneered after hearing this.

In the eyes of a scion from a great Inner City family like him.

Unless an Outer City martial artist is a direct disciple of a hall master or an expert in the Organ Cleansing Realm.

They are simply not worth worrying about.

The success of the Outer City Security Hall concerns his face and his future status within the family; it absolutely cannot be allowed to fail.

Now that Benevolent World Hall is affecting business so much, it is a stumbling block on the path of the Outer City Security Hall.

Any stumbling block must be ruthlessly kicked aside.

A cold light flashed in his eyes as he made his decision, coldly ordering Pan Yun: "Since he is a worm that doesn't know life from death, then make him disappear. Do it cleanly; don't leave any loose ends. Remember, I want him to disappear forever, so he can never be an eyesore again."

Pan Yun was ecstatic, though his face showed a look of respectful obedience as he hurriedly bowed and replied: "Rest assured, Second Young Master, this humble one understands. I will certainly arrange it properly and make that Lin Qing disappear from this world without anyone knowing."

Exiting the study and walking along the magnificent corridors of the Pan Family, the respectful expression on Pan Yun's face had turned into a sinister grin.

It was as if he could already see Lin Qing's miserable end.

"Lin Qing, oh Lin Qing, regardless of your talent or luck, so what if you became a martial artist?"

"In this Qingping County, having offended my Pan Family, you have paved your own road to death!"

"I wonder how you will handle what comes next..."

Pan Yun seemed to have already foreseen it.

Before long, there would be no more Benevolent World Hall on Yongning Street.

Just like all those other apothecaries their Security Hall had forced away before.

Security Hall would completely monopolize the medicinal herb business in the Outer City.

And he, Pan Yun, would have handled this matter beautifully.

He would gain even more appreciation from the Second Young Master, and his future would be boundless.