A Uproar in the Government Hall, Seizing the Enemy with One Hand-the Moment to Show Himself Had Arrived! (Thanks to ADEM for the alliance leader)

Now, on this day...

Li Xian, wearing Bronze Face, was performing acupuncture on someone. The Ghost Doctor Lineage had a wide range of medical skills, including the Ghost-Vein Four Absolutes, acupuncture, massage, and medicine making. Li Xian diligently studied the "Medical Ethics Scripture" and the "Medical Heart Scripture," and learned on his own, performing acupuncture with fluid and effortless skill.

His fingers were well-defined, long, and fair, possessing the characteristics of a "Skillful Hands," with flexible and exquisite finger movements. When inserting needles, he was as steady as Mount Tai, and his acupuncture points were both fast and precise. If he were to use his "Ghost Hand" technique, minor ailments would be completely cured even before the needle arrived.

Before long, several patients had been cured. He then prescribed medicine, instructing the patients to pick it upstairs, return home, and decoct it for recuperation, after which they would fully recover. After seeing the patients off, Li Xian relaxed his muscles and bones, making a "crackling" sound as he did so.

Li Xian sat in his hall on the second floor, which was about five zhang high. The Miraculous Healers Pavilion practiced medicine, treated illnesses, provided health maintenance, and refined elixirs.

He had a wide range of interests, and many of his acquaintances came from prominent and wealthy families.

Therefore, the interior of the pavilion was exquisitely decorated, elegant and refreshing. Li Xian sat down to practice medicine, and seeing that it was approaching noon and the number of patients had decreased, he stretched his body and lightly leaped into the air. He jumped several feet high, grabbed a beam, and swung gently.

Upon seeing someone arrive, she landed lightly and returned to her medical position, acting as if nothing had happened. Her proficiency with the "Seven-Star Step" had improved slightly.

In the center of the second floor stood a bronze incense burner. Purple incense burned within, its gentle fragrance soothing and calming. When the incense burned out, the doctors would be off duty. Hence the name "Incense Duty." Li Xian's doctor's seat was near the window, offering a view of the street. As he inhaled the fragrance and idly observed the scene, he couldn't help but think, "Now that I am Jade Citizen, if I were content with my current situation and continued this life of practicing medicine, my days would be truly leisurely and carefree. The environment at the Miraculous Healers Pavilion is excellent; with diligent practice, a few taels of silver would be enough to eat meat and drink wine."

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves was heard. A man dressed in black armor and wearing a black mask let out a long sigh, and his fine horse stopped beside the medical pavilion. The man hurried into the pavilion, as if he had something important to do, and then went upstairs from another part of the room.

Li Xian thought to himself, "This armor is quite magnificent!"

Before long, Yao Baishun and the man in black armor came downstairs together, and then they heard a commotion from the Miraculous Healers Pavilion. Yao Baishun gathered the Hall Physician, assembled a medical team, and headed together to the "Western Gate Office".

Li Xian was on duty and went with the others.

Each "ward" in Jade City occupies a vast area. They are densely packed, with crisscrossing streets, yet they maintain their own order.

Each of the four wards was under the jurisdiction of a government office, which was responsible for managing all matters, large and small, concerning the daily lives of the people.

The Western Gate Office manages the four wards: "Universal Aid Ward", "Benevolent Transformation Ward", "Ingot Ward", and "Prefecture Mountain Ward".

Li Xian had been near the "Western Gate Office". The "Ten-Thousand House Tower" where household registers were kept was located on the same street as the Western Gate Office.

The street was wide and straight, lined with tall trees on both sides, providing ample shade, and one could often see city guards patrolling.

There are lakes, mountains, forests, and gardens not far away.

Several people were waiting outside the yamen, led by a young man and followed half a step by several middle-aged men. The young man was wearing a brown official robe, which was quite different in style from the uniform of Great Wu, and was much more exquisite and handsome, which accentuated his outstanding figure.

This was the magistrate of Western Gate Office County, named Tian Sanfang, a man with Mud Face Mud Body. He held considerable power over several wards. Upon seeing Yao Baishun approach, Tian Sanfang immediately hurried to greet him, saying, "Divine Physician Yao! We've been waiting for you!"

Yao Baishun nodded and said, "I rushed here as soon as I heard the news." Tian Sanfang bowed and said, "Divine Physician, please come in with me."

Upon entering the yamen, screams of agony filled the air. Dozens of sickbeds were laid out on the open ground, each with varying degrees of injury. Tian Sanfang said, "I'll trouble Physician Yao to handle this matter. The payment will be sent to the medical pavilion in due course."

Yao Baishun said, "Treating the sick and saving lives is my duty as a doctor. But why are there so many injured people all of a sudden?" Tian Sanfang pondered for a moment and glanced at a middle-aged man behind him.

The middle-aged man was named Kong Li, the county magistrate of Westgate County, in charge of arresting thieves and carrying out criminal justice. He was tall and strong, with a square face, tiger-like eyes, a large nose, thick lips, and very dark skin. He was a man with a "Mud Face, Bodyless" appearance.

Kong Li said, "Magistrate Tian, this matter—" Tian Sanfang said, "Doctor Yao helped us out of a sense of justice and is an upright person. Why hide this from him? Just tell him."

Yao Baishun said, "If it's an important matter for the government, it's alright if I don't know."

Kong Li hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Master Yao, I am so sorry, it was my negligence! I will explain now."

He then recounted the whole story from the beginning.

It turns out that Kong Li was mainly responsible for the stability of the four wards of "Universal Aid Ward", "Benevolent Transformation Ward", "Prefecture Mountain Ward" and "Ingot Ward". Each ward was several times larger than Qingning County, with a population ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.

The responsibility is heavy, indeed. Recently, "Jade City" has been plagued by chaos, with Surging Waves hidden beneath the calm surface. Yesterday, Kong Li was summoned by a certain figure to join forces in capturing a notorious criminal in the martial arts world.

Little did they know that the wanted criminal was powerful and cunning. He injured many of the constables at the Western Gate Office, leading to the scene we see today.

Yao Baishun sighed, "You've all worked hard to maintain the stability of Jade City."

Li Xian treated several constables, and while he was at it, he also examined their Root Bone. The stronger ones had already Minor Accomplishment in martial arts, possessed considerable inner strength, and might even have acquired the characteristic of "Thunderous Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance." The weaker ones also possessed the strength of "Palm Immortal Insight."

Moreover, all the moves he learned came from the government. There were "Bandit-Catching Grappling Hand", "Eighteen Sin-Severing Blades", "Wind-Seeking Ear", "Evil-Scenting Nose", and "One-Breath Vaulting Step" - although they were all basic, they had become a style, complementing and cooperating with each other, and their strength should not be underestimated.

Treating illnesses is not inherently difficult. A thought suddenly occurred to Li Xian: "Besides martial arts, medicine is one of my strengths. I relied on medicine to obtain the Jade Citizen's body and escape my past predicament. This opportunity is extremely rare. However—after sitting in my clinic for over a month, I've gradually discovered that the Miraculous Healers Pavilion is far too stable."

"Stability itself is not bad; it can help me lie low and survive. But if I want to move up, an overly stable environment becomes an obstacle. On the contrary, a suitable degree of danger can help me advance. Now that I have made contact with them, I will take this opportunity to gather information. If possible, I will seek another place. I will repay Master Yao's kindness in the future!"

He then took the opportunity during his medical journey to subtly inquire about things like "the treatment of yamen runners," "how Essence Treasure is," and "how to get into the yamen"—and so on.

The constable was injured and mentally weak, and was initially wary, not daring to reveal anything about the yamen. However, Li Xian was skilled in persuasion, patiently guiding him and peeling away his defenses bit by bit. Gradually, he learned the clues.

Yamen runners are low-ranking public officials, and can be considered "military officials." They need to be citizens of Jade City and possess martial arts skills.

The constables patrolling the streets were quite imposing, but their limitations were significant, far less than those of "doctors."

Although there are occasional disturbances in Jade City, when such disturbances occur, the constables usually cooperate to arrest the perpetrators. Ninety percent of the credit goes to the higher-ups, and the remaining ten percent is split equally among the group. Usually, a large feast with food and drink and a few polite words are all that's needed to get rid of the disturbance.

Moreover, even if one served as a "yamen runner" for decades, at best one could be selected as the "King of Arrests," barely qualifying as a "half -Mud Body." One could never become a "county constable."

The path to advancement is very low. Even when disciples of the Jade City Aristocratic Clan are sent down to experience life, they do not become government officials. Government officials all come from moderately wealthy families, can learn martial arts from a young age, and can barely get their hands on Essence Treasure. However, they are limited by their vision and knowledge, and end up working as government officials.

However, there was one advantage to being a yamen runner. Every time the seasons changed, the county magistrate would set up a cauldron to boil up some Essence Treasure. He would also organize a grand competition for yamen runners, distributing the Essence Treasure among them. The winners of the competition would receive a large amount of Essence Treasure, enough to slowly consume over several months. Even those who performed poorly would still receive some meat.

Therefore, even though the future of a "yamen runner" is short, one can still strive for excellence in martial arts. The yamen runner complained, "County Lieutenant Kong Li, look at him, he's so respectful to the county magistrate, and he's quite polite when talking to Doctor Yao. But in private, he treats us either by punching and kicking us or by verbally abusing us."

Li Xian's "Ghost Eye" could bewitch, his "Ghost Speech" could guide, and his "Ghost Hand" could apply acupuncture—the effects were all subtle and intangible. The constable, who had long harbored resentment towards Kong Li and was eager to vent, naturally became very talkative. Li Xian said, "If you don't mind, you can confide in me. From a medical perspective, keeping resentment bottled up will eventually lead to illness. If you speak with me, I will not divulge it elsewhere."

The constable had been struck in the body, resulting in coughing up blood and weakness of the internal organs. His lungs were severely damaged, and he was short of breath; he coughed as soon as he spoke. After Li Xian administered acupuncture, his breathing calmed down, and he spoke again, "This Kong Li— "

Bah, he's really no good!

The constable said, "When this man first arrived at the Western Gate Office as the county magistrate, he used ruthlessness to establish his authority. He beat several of his brothers to death and then forcibly suppressed them, so that we would know how cruel he was. He would often summon us in the middle of the night, and when we gathered at the yamen, he would tell us that nothing had happened."

"We all have wives, children, and elderly parents. Under his rule, we live in fear and are often threatened by him."

He said that all the constables were short-sighted and had very shallow backgrounds. Even if he committed further crimes, we would have no way to deal with him.

Li Xian glanced sideways and saw that this man had a rugged face, thick lips, and a large mouth; he certainly looked like he could eat people. The constable said, "As for yesterday's events, they were Kong Li's responsibility. The person we captured yesterday was Heaven-Escaping Rascal. In terms of strength, he was certainly superior to us. But if we formed a battle formation and joined forces to capture him, we could definitely catch him."

"But Kong Li made a crucial mistake, throwing our formation into chaos. He was also arrogant and boastful, engaging the thief in a fight. As a result, he carelessly let the thief escape. Enraged, he berated us for being useless and, in his extreme anger, even attacked and injured us!"

At this point, the constable, still seething with hatred, slammed his fist down, making a loud "thud," and then coughed violently.

Li Xian gently patted his back to help him soothe his stomach.

The constable suddenly trembled all over, lowered his head, and his face turned deathly pale.

After dealing with Yao Baishun and Tian Sanfang, Kong Li heard the commotion and met the gaze of the constable. He narrowed his eyes and walked over.

Kong Li put his arm around Li Xian's shoulder from behind, patted Li Xian's mask, and asked gently, "What is this divine physician's name?"

Li Xian adjusted his mask and said calmly, "My name is Li Xian. May I ask what advice Magistrate Kong has for me?"

Kong Li removed the jade pendant from Li Xian's waist. The pendant was a pale green color, with a drop of blood inside. The moment he snatched the pendant, the blood droplet broke open, instantly staining the pendant blood red.

After being returned to Li Xian, the blood-red color condensed and then turned into a blood bead. This was the "Jade Citizen" identity token. Li Xian wore it, and due to the attraction of their bloodlines, the blood essence of the jade token condensed into a bead, which was the light color. This was used to verify his identity.

Kong Li said, "As for myself, I am a commoner, a Jade Citizen person." His tone was quite contemptuous.

Li Xian wore a fine jade pendant. Kong Li grinned and asked curiously, "This Li—what kind of divine doctor? If I remember correctly, we've never met before, have we? Jade Citizen as ordinary as you probably wouldn't see me normally."

Li Xian knew the visitor was up to no good. The man's words were feigned politeness, but his attitude was utterly contemptuous. His earlier pats on the shoulder and mask were clearly intended to insult. His current chilling smile undoubtedly concealed a hidden malice.

He said, "Of course."

Kong Li said, "Since that's the case, how do you know I'm County Commandant Kong?" His tone suddenly changed, his expression turning cold as he looked at the constable and continued, "But what was this boy discussing with you? Did he say anything related to me?"

Kong Li pressed on Li Xian's shoulder, slowly increasing the force in his wrist, and continued, "This kid is always fond of cheating and shirking his duties. He doesn't practice martial arts diligently, and when catching thieves, he exposes himself completely. Not only did he get injured by the thieves, but he also made us work for nothing."

"Regarding last night's events, I refrained from blaming them because of their injuries. However, this matter is not over yet. I, Kong Li, am not one to let things slide. I will investigate the cause of the error afterward. This—what kind of miracle doctor is this? What did this young man just say to you? Tell me."

The constable was terrified out of his wits. He thought to himself that his life was about to end, and that he would be beaten to death and tortured in every way afterward by Kong Li, with no chance of survival.

Li Xian said, "I only asked him about his illness, that's all." A shrewd glint flashed in Kong Li's eyes. He gripped Li Xian's shoulders tightly, pressing down slightly with his arm, and used some profound martial arts technique. He said with a forced smile, "Don't lie to me. I've been chasing criminals and thieves all these years, how could I be easily fooled? Such a scoundrel looking guilty must be talking about me behind my back. The extreme resentment in his eyes just now can't fool me either."

Li Xian Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "I was the one asking for clues. If I admit it, I'll be neglecting this young man." Feeling the pressure on his shoulder slowly increase, he grew increasingly displeased and said calmly, "County Lieutenant Kong is being too suspicious. Perhaps he's been working too hard catching thieves all night and misjudged the situation!"

Kong Li suddenly shouted, "You scoundrel, kneel down!" He suddenly increased the strength in his hand and used the martial art "Ten-Thousand-Jun Palm". His palm was facing down, trying to crush Li Xian's shoulder in an instant and Li Xian kneel down beside him.

The commotion was immense. The moment he shouted, all the doctors and the injured looked over. Tian Sanfang and Yao Baishun came out of the room. Kong Li was shocked to see Li Xian standing still. His Inner Qi surged wildly, and his "Ten-Thousand-Jun Palm" became even heavier, his palm as heavy as a thousand-pound stone.

The jade bricks beneath Li Xian's feet made a "crackling" sound, and cracks spread like a spider web, but Li Xian remained unmoved and stood proudly. When Kong Li saw that Tian Sanfang and Yao Baishun were looking over, he would not give up. He pressed down on Li Xian's shoulders with both hands, and at the same time, he flashed behind him and kicked Li Xian's knee with the toe of his right leg.

He said, "You petty scoundrel, this is a routine interrogation by the county magistrate. Kneel down and speak!"

Li Xian's body trembled, and the "Thunder Sound Striking the Heart Furnace" within his chest emitted a strange sound like thunder and fire. At the same time, he unleashed the "Iron-Copper Body," and his entire body burst forth with a dark light. In an instant, Kong Li was shaken so badly that he staggered back more than ten steps before barely managing to regain his footing.

Feeling humiliated, Kong Li immediately lunged forward, unleashing two ruthless blows. Li Xian thought to herself, "Such skill, daring to make a fool of yourself in front of me? Since you have no shame, I won't give you any more."

Seeing through his opponent's weakness, Li Xian swiftly reached out and grabbed Kong Li by the neck. Li Xian's strength was immense; with just a little force, he could surely cause Kong Li's head to bleed. Kong Li used his defensive martial arts to try and struggle.

But he immediately felt a terrifying force on his neck, his face flushed red, he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't speak. His face was filled with terror, never expecting that an ordinary doctor could possess such strength. He secretly blamed himself for his momentary carelessness and was filled with regret.

He pounded on Li Xian's arms with both hands and feet. But the outcome was already decided, and he struggled on the way.

Li Xian grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up. The onlookers secretly cheered, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. Yao Baishun quickly shouted, "Don't hurt him!"

Li Xian casually flicked his wrist. Kong Li tumbled out, unable to stop even after several dozen feet. The force was terrifying. Tian Sanfang leaped forward, intercepted Kong Li, and helped him up.

Kong Li's clothes and armor were disheveled, and he was completely disoriented. He had just been in a life-or-death situation, and blood had been poured into his head, so he was still unable to calm down.

Tian Sanfang roared, "You scoundrel, how dare you cause trouble! Seize him!"

Li Xian said in a deep voice, "Fine, since you insist on deceiving me, then I will make a scene in the yamen! Let's see who dies first!" Tian Sanfang and Kong Li took a half step back, and immediately felt the murderous intent intent gathering.

Tian Sanfang glanced at Yao Baishun, thinking to himself, "This Yao Baishun is a member of the Yao Family, yet he controls the Miraculous Healers Pavilion. With him present, we must act with reason and evidence." He said, "It's clearly you who acted violently! How can you say we're bullying you?"

Li Xian said, "How strange, how strange! Who made the first move just now? Could it be that Magistrate Tian couldn't see?"

Tian Sanfang said, "This—" He was speechless and turned to look at Kong Li.

Kong Li, having calmed down, was still furious. He was relieved to have escaped this Mud Face and would never again suffer such a loss of face. He was still resentful after the fight, but knowing the current circumstances, he knew it was unwise to confront them directly. He said, "Magistrate Tian, please make the decision. This man—this man's behavior was suspicious from the beginning, so I was just conducting a routine inquiry—"

Li Xian interrupted, saying, "If it were just a routine inquiry, I would naturally cooperate and answer all your questions without reservation. But County Magistrate Kong was just being arrogant, ordering me to kneel down. According to the laws of Jade City, even though County Magistrate Kong is a county magistrate, he doesn't have that authority, does he? Besides, I am a citizen of Jade City, and I have a jade token on me, which proves my identity. Why should I kneel down when I cooperate with the inquiry?"

Li Xian thought to himself, "Even if I win an argument, it's useless. I'll rest here in the yamen for now. If I have the chance in the future, I will retaliate with sword and spear." He continued, "Furthermore, Magistrate Kong said my behavior was suspicious. That's fine; Magistrate Kong is a thief-catching officer, so it's normal for him to be suspicious and thoughtful. But I really don't know what he means by suspicious behavior. Could it be that my method of treating illness has caused Magistrate Kong to misunderstand?"

Tian Sanfang immediately looked at Yao Baishun. Yao Baishun was observing from the sidelines, and if he made a false accusation that the doctor's behavior was suspicious without a reasonable reason, it would inevitably displease him. Li Xian's words were actually a way of giving him a way out.

Yao Baishun said, "County Commandant Kong, just tell us what you saw and heard. If your suspicions are reasonable, Li Xian will cooperate. If there is any misunderstanding, just clear it up on the spot and leave no lingering resentment. Wouldn't that make everyone happy?"

Even if Kong Li racked his brains and fabricated a charge, it would surely be full of flaws. He could only suppress his anger and say, "I suppose—I suppose it really is a misunderstanding. This Immortal Li Xian's medical skills are so unique that I misunderstood for a moment."

Having said this, he should have taken the opportunity to apologize, clear up the misunderstanding, and everyone would be happy. Both sides could then save face. However, Kong Li stammered, his expression shifting, and he remained unwilling to speak.

Li Xian said, "If that's the case, Li Mou is truly sorry." This seemed like a concession, but in reality, it placed Kong Li on a higher position, revealing his narrow-mindedness, incompetence, and ugly behavior.

Yao Baishun said, "County Commandant Kong, this matter is over. You can rest assured about the medical skills of us doctors. There's no need to worry. Why don't we come inside, have some tea, and chat?"

Kong Li said, "Since Master Yao has invited me, I dare not refuse." He glanced coldly at Li Xian, flicked his sleeve to disperse the dust, and entered the house.

The constable cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your protection, Doctor!" Li Xian replied, "It's nothing. I also find this man's behavior despicable."

The constable sighed, "But even so, you've offended Kong Li. He may look rough, but he's narrow-minded."

I'll definitely cause you trouble in the future.

Li Xian said, "Let's not talk about that. Could you tell me more about what happened last night? Is Kong Li that hot-tempered? Why does he always let thieves escape and then vent his anger like this?"

The constable said, "No. That Kong Li is still plotting against us! Brother Physician should know that status is one's position, and power is another's authority. Kong Li has the title but Bodyless. Although he is in charge of the criminal justice system in Westgate County and his power is unparalleled for the time being, if he were to step down one day, he would be no different from any other Jade Citizen."

"Therefore, the most urgent task is to use this opportunity to secure his own position. He has some connections; the Kong Family is considered a minor clan. However, we haven't been able to take them down yet. As for yesterday's thieves, they were captured by Kong Li, whom the ' Gold-Seeking Guard ' had summoned to assist in the encirclement."

"If this matter is handled well, there will be an opportunity to join the Gold-Seeking Guard. More than ten years ago, there was a constable who performed very well when he was conscripted, and he was valued by his superiors and joined the Gold-Seeking Guard."

"Gold-Seeking Guard is different from us. Their prospects are brighter, and their treatment is better! Moreover, I've heard that the thief's stolen goods are related to someone within Gold-Seeking Guard —in short, quite important!"

"If we could capture him, joining the Gold-Seeking Guard would be very rewarding. Therefore, Kong Li didn't want us to have this fortuitous opportunity, so he gave us some random assignments. In the end, he used his skills to capture the thief himself. But the thief was cunning and escaped."

Li Xian understood and asked, "A county magistrate, would he possibly covet the position of Gold-Seeking Guard?"

The constable said, "Gold-Seeking Guard is one of the True Guard protecting Jade City! It is filled with outstanding individuals. It is directly under the jurisdiction of Jade City's Heavenly Pivot, and is only responsible for major and important matters."

"Legend has it that if one can make a name for oneself in the Gold-Seeking Guard, obtaining Mud Body is a piece of cake. Kong Li had such a plan, seeking Mud Body from the Gold-Seeking Guard. With a different status, one can rise higher."

Li Xian understood, Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "This Gold-Seeking Guard might not be a bad opportunity for me. My medical skills have already helped me secure my position; true fame, fortune, and reputation—must be earned through battle!"

He bandaged the wounds of the constables. He then helped treat the illnesses of several other constables, some minor and some serious, without hesitation.

During each treatment, Li Xian would subtly probe for information, verifying the truthfulness of the words from various angles.

Upon learning that Jun Jiucheng was indeed telling the truth, he secretly plotted and tried to find a breakthrough.

About an hour later, Yao Baishun came out of the house, with Tian Sanfang and Kong Li seeing him off on either side. Yao Baishun said to the doctors, "There are many injured people in the yamen, and we need to reserve ten doctors to take care of them."

This task was both tiring and arduous. The doctors looked at each other, none of them willing to do it. Li Xian knew this was an opportunity, so he immediately volunteered to stay in the yamen to take care of the patients. Yao Baishun, Kong Li, and Tian Sanfang were all taken aback.

Yao Baishun scrutinized Li Xian and saw that he was confident and had already made a plan, so he did not stop him. Kong Li's eyes flashed, and Tian Sanfang seemed to be deep in thought.

Thus, the first few physicians remained in the yamen, while the rest returned to the Miraculous Healers Pavilion. Li Xian, guarding the yamen runners, silently awaited an opportunity to gather information.

That evening.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and a young voice called out from outside, "Kong Li, come out quickly! The thieves have resurfaced. Do you have enough men?"

Kong Li respectfully ran out, bowing low, and hurriedly said, "Sufficient, sufficient, ready to be deployed at any time."

The young voice said, "Oh? I seem to have heard that many of you were injured last night?" Kong Li smiled ingratiatingly, "Just minor injuries, just minor injuries, nothing serious."

The voice said, "Alright! Make the arrangements immediately and await orders."

Kong Li's heart burned with excitement; another opportunity had presented itself, and he was determined to seize it!

(P. S.: I should have added an extra chapter, but I really don't have any drafts saved up, and I've been rushing to finish them recently, so I'll leave it at that for now. I'll add it back later!)