Chapter 36: Meticulous Li Fuzhou

Editor: Atlas Studios

The news of the massacre at the Yu State headquarters of the Cao Gang quickly spread throughout Yu State City.

It created waves upon waves of shock and awe.

Teams of constables, clad in bamboo hats and raincoats, shuttled through the streets and alleys in the pouring rain, searching for the unparalleled swordsman. This swordmaster was a wanted criminal, not only by the Cao Gang but also by the Court.

“I never thought Tieyun Mountain would die just like that.”

“It seems his knife wasn’t that fast after all!”

“To think one could massacre the Yu State headquarters of the Cao Gang in one night, this swordsman is truly terrifying.”

“Tieyun Mountain really messed with the wrong person this time.”

“I didn’t expect someone like Tieyun Mountain to be killed just like that.”

“Who is this swordsman anyway?”

“Isn’t he a master of the Yu Heng Sword Sect?”

“I guess he might be a descendant of the Sword Demon.”

“A person like this is simply too formidable.”

……

In teahouses and taverns, everyone was whispering about it.

Most were amazed at the massacre at the Yu State headquarters, and the unparalleled skill of the swordsman. More people were curious about the swordsman’s true identity.

“You don’t know? I heard the swordsman is a master from the Demon Sect,” someone whispered.

“What!?”

Those nearby were shocked upon hearing these words.

The Demon Sect!

A name that struck fear into people’s hearts!

“Is this true?”

“Of course it’s true. My second uncle is a forensic doctor under the government. He told me personally that this swordsman is indeed the Demon Sect’s newly risen master, the Ghost Swordsman.”

“So he’s a master from the Demon Sect. No wonder he has the guts to raid even a dungeon.”

“I also heard some rumors that the Cao Gang has already sent out invitations to gather at Fa Xi Temple during the Ullambana Festival to discuss hunting him down.”

“With the return of the Demon Sect, there will undoubtedly be another wave of bloodshed.”

……

Rumors among the people grew more and more terrifying.

Because of a black robe, An Jing, who had been labeled the Ghost Swordsman, now had a new identity: a master from the Demon Sect.

At the same time, on the Great Yan’s Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List, the Black Robed Swordsman entered the thirty-seventh spot by killing Tieyun Mountain. Another ‘Demon Sect’ master had made it onto the Jianghu Dragon and Tiger List.

It was like a spark that quietly ignited the entire Great Yan Martial World and the Court.

In a moment, it became a meeting of the winds and clouds, with undercurrents stirring throughout the Great Yan Martial World.

……

Jishi Hall.

“Doctor An, my health…”

A middle-aged man, his face pale, looked at An Jing.

“As they say, ‘Food is better than medicine.’ Although these medicines take effect faster, you should still pay more attention to your daily diet.”

After speaking, An Jing walked to the medicine cabinet to start preparing the medicine.

“Thank you, Doctor An.” The middle-aged man expressed his gratitude repeatedly upon hearing this.

Recently, due to the seasonal change from summer to autumn, more and more people had fallen ill.

An Jing had already been seeing patients for two hours, without even taking a breath. Meanwhile, Tan Yun had said she was going to the dock to meet her Third Uncle, and Zhao Qingmei was in the back room grinding medicine and preparing meals.

So today, it was only An Jing seeing patients, prescribing, and preparing medicines all by himself.

“Next!”

An Jing took a sip of tea and called out.

The woman heard this and felt a bit happy, as she had been waiting for nearly half an hour, and it was finally her turn.

“Make way, make way.”

Just as the woman was about to step forward, a young man cut in front of her.

“How dare you…”

The woman was about to voice her dissatisfaction but swallowed her words after seeing the burly figure of the man.

She recognized this man named Song Lin, a notorious ruffian in the area, well-versed in stealing, cheating, and all kinds of mischief, a jack of all trades in wrongdoing.

Song Lin sat down heavily. “Doctor An, I’m here to ask for a diagnosis for my friend.”

“This friend of mine, he says his palms are always sweaty, he feels weak and drowsy, especially during certain… activities…”

From this, An Jing immediately understood that this ‘friend’ was non-existent.

“Show me your hand.”

An Jing said indifferently.

Song Lin extended his palm, which was already drenched with sweat.

An Jing felt his pulse.

As expected… Kidney deficiency.

“Doctor An, how is it?” the young man asked nervously.

“It’s not a big issue. Your friend might be a bit weak. He just needs to take some nourishing supplements.”

An Jing then walked to the medicine cabinet, took some herbs, and wrapped them in cowskin paper.

“This is half a month’s medication. Along with the consultation fee, it will be five hundred large copper coins.”

“Five hundred large copper coins!?”

Song Lin’s face changed upon hearing this. “Doctor An, the last patient paid only thirty copper coins. Why is mine five hundred large copper coins?”

An Jing replied impatiently: “That’s my price. Take it or leave it.”

“Ha!”

Song Lin sneered and snatched the cowskin paper from An Jing’s hand. “You think you can scare me?”

“What, you want to take medicine without paying for it?”

An Jing glanced at Song Lin and lazily said, “Kid, I’m not bluffing. Everyone who tried to mess with me is now lying down.”

Seeing this, Song Lin couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh, I’m so scared. What should I do?”

A little doctor, trying to play tough in front of him?

Playing tough was his specialty.

“What’s going on here?”

It seemed the noise had drawn Zhao Qingmei, who lifted the curtain and walked out.

The moment Zhao Qingmei appeared, Song Lin’s eyes lit up. He smiled and said, “I’ve long heard that Doctor An’s wife is as beautiful as a fairy. I didn’t expect it to be true.”

Zhao Qingmei frowned. “Either pay up or leave the medicine. Don’t interfere with the other patients.”

“I’ll take the medicine, but I don’t want to pay. What will you do?” Song Lin shook the herbs in his hand, looking confident that he would get away with it.

“Smack!”

“Ouch!”

At that moment, a heavy slap landed on Song Lin’s head.

Song Lin suddenly felt like he had been hit by an iron ball; it hurt so much that he howled and his body wobbled, almost losing balance.

“Who!?”

Rubbing the back of his head, Song Lin turned around to see an old man.

The old man had a wrinkled face and gray blemishes, but his eyes gleamed with a strange light. Despite wearing shabby, washed-out clothes, he carried himself with an air of unwavering righteousness.

“At such an age, you should be striving to study diligently and govern with integrity, yet you do not learn good behavior! Truly pitiful! Pitiful!”

“Who are you!?”

Song Lin howled in pain.

The old man clasped his hands and bowed to Song Lin, “My humble name is Li Fuzhou!”

Song Lin gulped, seemingly intimidated by the serious demeanor of Li Fuzhou, “You… why did you hit me?”

Li Fuzhou snorted, “I hit you for not following the rules, for not improving yourself, for lacking propriety and shame! The Saint once said, ‘Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper, do not speak what is improper, do not act improperly.’ Have you forgotten?”

With that, Li Fuzhou turned to instruct the others: “I hope none of you learn from him. Do not become someone without propriety and shame, lacking in measure. Take him as a lesson to awaken yourselves.”

Li Fuzhou looked like a stern and meticulous old scholar, earnest and serious.

Everyone exchanged glances, then subconsciously nodded.

Song Lin’s face turned red and green alternately under the old man’s scolding.

“Fine, take your five hundred large copper coins.”

Song Lin finally threw down half a tael of silver.

He dared not make too much of a fuss. Others might not know, but he knew very well that Han Wenxin had privately warned him not to cause trouble at Jishi Hall.

“Third Uncle, you’re here.”

At this moment, Zhao Qingmei smiled and nodded.

Li Fuzhou straightened his expression, adjusted his clothes, clasped his hands, and bowed meticulously.

“Miss!”

“Li Fuzhou greets you!”