Inside the private room, the others only began asking questions in hushed voices after Chi Qinghu had entered and shut the door.
"Hero Chi, who was that man?" "Brother Chi, we'd best not stir up any side trouble today!"
"Indeed. Besides, his clothing rather stands out."
Chi Qinghu replied apologetically.
"Rest assured, everyone. I was simply too surprised to run into that gentleman here by chance. As Brother Fang said, he certainly isn't a member of the White Feather Way."
He isn't even from this country, Chi Qinghu thought. He could not help recalling Yi Shuyuan's circumstances back then. It seemed unlikely that he had come as a spy; perhaps he really was simply traveling far from home.
"Then who is he?"
"An old acquaintance from another land. Er, he's highly skilled in medicine. Perhaps he could help!"
"A physician?"
"We can discuss that later. He's right outside, so it wouldn't be convenient to go into his affairs now. I'll speak with him again shortly and clear things up. Let's attend to the important business first!"
"Mm! Everyone, sit down first!"
The seven of them took their seats in the private room. Though there were dishes on the table, no one touched their chopsticks.
"Let's have Hero Fang speak first. Are the stories about the Golden Mountain Gate and Yunlu Prefecture true? The Rivers and Lakes are boiling over with rumors!"
A burly man with a full beard and a headscarf nodded, then began explaining the situation.
"If they were false, I wouldn't have called you here today. The White Feather Way is growing more outrageous by the day. The Medicine King Snake that the Golden Mountain Gate had raised for a hundred years was meant to help outstanding martial heroes break into the innate realm once it reached full