The Many Faces of the Crowd

"Dongfang Shuo, you injured me, you have to pay me back!"

"You have the nerve to trespass on my room!"

Compared to the surrounding noble mansions, Zhang Xuezhou's residence was not large, but it was not a problem for him to arrange for some people to live there.

The side room had become a sickroom, where Zhufu Yan and Wei Shao'er were recuperating.

Wei Shao'er looked somewhat dejected, while Zhufu Yan, with his head wrapped in several bandages, was shouting.

"I don't care, I was ordered to check on you!" the Zhufu Yan shouted. "You almost cracked my head open, you have to take responsibility!"

"You seem to think I don't value my medical skills because you like to ramble on so much," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and added, "This kind of work injury can be reimbursed by the Imperial Medical Bureau, and you might even be able to get some extra medicine!"

"Oh dear, you're much more shrewd than me when it comes to being an official. I was always thinking about getting people to come to my door with gifts; I never even considered making money by feigning illness!"

The Zhufu Yan cried out, completely ignoring the previous sentence Zhang Xuezhou had just said.

He watched helplessly as Wei Shao'er, who was being bandaged and cared for by Yi Shuo, tore off the white cloth from her head, and then looked at Huo Qubing, who was lying beside Wei Shao'er, groaning in pain.

When Huo Qubing shook his head repeatedly, Zhufu Yan immediately spoke up and called out to him.

"Hurry up and call me a carriage. I need to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to have my injuries examined and get medicine. Then you have to perform surgery to save me," Zhufu Yan shouted.

"You're quite insightful!"

Zhufu Yan is a difficult person to deal with, but he is also easy to handle if there is something in it for him.

After exchanging a few words, Rong Tianding made sure to call for a carriage, and Zhang Xuezhou agreed. He then performed his healing technique, Zhufu Yan, his body swaying unsteadily, went out the door.

"I... Master, please teach me how to use this treasure! I also want a treasure to help me fight!"

Huo Qubing scratched his head and then looked at Zhang Xuezhou's crooked wooden cane tied behind his waist.

He sneaked into the room, but within three seconds, everything went black, and then he saw a stick coming crashing down on his head.

Huo Qubing was thankful that it was a stick that hit his head instead of the Fish Intestine Sword; at least his head wasn't cut in two.

Although he survived the ordeal, Huo Qubing learned nothing from his injuries.

He looked Zhang Xuezhou up and down at the spirit wood staff on his body, clearly hoping to 'borrow' Zhang Xuezhou's treasure like Wei Shao'er had. If he could get Zhang Xuezhou's staff, he could dominate the Imperial Academy.

"When you reach my level of cultivation, I will teach you this method. As long as you persevere in your cultivation, you will definitely have a treasure to help you fight!"

"That would be too difficult for me!"

Zhang Xuezhou dealt with Huo Qubing easily, handling the situation simply.

"You're not even as good as one of your Law Treasure!"

Wei Shao'er made a comment.

Being defeated by Zhang Xuezhou while he stood still was already unbearable for Wei Shao'er, but being knocked unconscious by a Law Treasure beside Zhang Xuezhou was a disgrace.

Although Wei Shao'er was complaining, her heart was filled with a strong desire to break free from her powerlessness and move forward.

"Unexpected events are uncontrollable. I myself just passed out while I was working on it, not much different from you guys," Zhang Xuezhou shrugged.

"Dongfang Shuo, have you tamed this innate spiritual wood?"

Gongsun Hong stood at the door of the room where everyone was recuperating. He said with great envy, clearly still remembering the wooden staff he had brought back from Fangzhang Island.

"They weren't tamed, they just joined hands!"

Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and even picked up the spirit wood staff to gesture.

Having accepted the ancient tree's gift, the remnant soul of the Spiritwood Staff seemed to have been reborn. It was no longer as dazed and confused as before, and it had gained some ability to communicate, able to perceive things related to itself more clearly.

Zhang Xuezhou praised it, feeling the pleasant sensation emanating from the spiritwood staff, Zhang Xuezhou was equally amazed.

"That's truly remarkable. I wonder if Li Shaojun has managed to tame that gourd vine," Gongsun Hong remarked.

"Li Shaojun is doing well!"

Zhang Xuezhou gave a vague reply, sensing that Li Shaojun was about to face trouble.

Many people in the court were unaware of Li Shaojun's background, but Gongsun Hong knew it all.

If Gongsun Hong didn't become an official, that would be fine. But if he did, Li Shaojun would inevitably have to communicate with him to prevent him from being exposed for freeloading in Chang'an City.

"I need to go see Aqiao and Xiaojia, and I also need to go to the palace. Please make yourselves at home as you see fit!"

Zhang Xuezhou politely cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Ah Qiao also suffered injuries when she came to the mansion, but she did not stay there after her injuries, presumably because she had to go home because of Dongfang Jia.

Although he had married, had children with, and divorced A-Qiao, and they were already very familiar with each other, Zhang Xuezhou had never been to A-Qiao's house.

When the spiritwood staff protects the body, it is used to intimidate before striking. The intimidation will cause the person to feel dizzy and disoriented, while the strike is aimed at the head.

Yi Shuo gave everyone medicine to calm their disturbed spirits. These days, many of them have been in a daze to nourish their spirits, while the injuries from the blows were bandaged and they rested quietly.

The Supreme Purity True Technique can heal wounds from sticks, while the Shangqing True Technique can soothe the stinging sensation in the soul.

If the medicine given to everyone by Yi Shuo is used as a basis, the consequences of Zhang Xuezhou's forced healing will be lower. He should treat A Qiao's injuries as soon as possible to avoid A Qiao having to lie in bed to recover for a while.

After a brief consultation and discussion, Zhang Xuezhou nodded to Rong Tianding, and with a graceful gliding step, he swung his body forward.

"Dongfang Shuo's Technique Method is superb. Except for his lack of offensive power, which requires him to use Law Treasure to compensate for, his abilities far surpass mine!"

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's body float away with a single step, and comparing it with his own flying ability, Gongsun Hong couldn't help but feel envious.

"What does Dongfang Shuo need the power to launch an attack!"

Wei Shao'er muttered something under his breath and then touched his head.

Aside from his level of expertise, Wei Shao'er felt that Zhang Xuezhou had no shortcomings whatsoever.

Even she had to admit that the young man she had once threatened with a sword had grown up so fast that it was impossible for her to keep up.

She was considered a genius, while Zhang Xuezhou was a prodigy.

If it weren't for any physical ailments, Wei Shao'er would have thought Zhang Xuezhou was perfectly fine; his cultivation was almost second only to the emperor of the current dynasty.

This was a cultivator whose strength was outrageous, and Wei Shao'er was well aware that as long as Zhang Xuezhou could maintain his normal level, the other party would inevitably become a giant of the Great Han Dynasty in the future.

After thinking about Wei Zifu, who was also following the new emperor, Wei Shao'er felt that playing chess with both sides was perfectly reasonable. They were essentially tied to the two most talented cultivators in the Great Han Dynasty at present.

Given some time, Wei Shao'er believes these people will surely shine with their most brilliant light.

She wasn't treated unfairly under Zhang Xuezhou's command; she might even have gained unexpected benefits.

The only thing that bothered Wei Shao'er was that she was currently somewhat lacking.

"Liu Xuan has good aptitude, but unfortunately, the Holy Mother dislikes him, and I have also been forbidden from going to Mount Li. Otherwise, if the Holy Mother were to lend me a hand, I should have a 30% chance of reaching the Sole Self Realm..."

Wei Shao'er thought about his own cultivation progress and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on from Liu Xuan, whom Zhang Xuezhou had given him.

She gained nothing from Liu Xuan; instead, when she took him to report to the Holy Mother of Wudang, she incurred her displeasure and was forbidden from going to the underground palace of Mount Li again.

Without the assistance of the Holy Mother Wudang, Wei Shao'er's success rate in breaking through the Sole Self Realm plummeted.

"My child, you said you have a secret base. Can't you really take your mother to see it?"

Unable to utilize the Spiritual Qi energy of the Lishan Underground Palace, Wei Shao'er sighed inwardly, and then she finally remembered another hidden place.