44: Zhuang Bai gets into trouble

“Heaven has endowed me with talent, and it will surely be useful. Aren’t we just always trying as long as we live?

Let’s just do it first. Even if the Medicinal Cuisine doesn’t work out, there are other things.

Anyway, I’ll give you the recipe, and you can adjust the taste yourself. But let’s be clear, I’m a miser, so you’ll have to give me a share of the profits.”

Jiang Hanwen’s tone was joking, but his eyes were full of seriousness.

In this world, as long as one is alive, there is hope.

As long as there is hope, one can struggle.

Some things aren’t about seeing hope and then persevering, but about persevering through endless darkness to glimpse a sliver of hope.

Gong Qing was silent for a long time, met Jiang Hanwen’s gaze, and clenched his fists:

“I’ll try!”

“Alright then...”

From then on, Gong Qing no longer farmed, but instead displayed all his culinary skills before the father and son.

Father Jiang came to watch every day, like watching a movie, occasionally lending a hand to help with ginger, spring onions, and garlic.

Jiang Hanwen only ate, commenting on the intensity of the flavor, and didn’t bother with anything else.

Half a month later, it was once again mid-spring, the season when evil Qi leaked out, which occurs in the first month of the year.

Jiang Hanwen began his rounds as a Physician.

He started from the farthest part of the Medicine Field, visiting house by house, ostensibly to check on their health. This was a requirement given to him by the Zhuang family after he started studying poisons, to prevent anyone from contracting a plague.

Every day, even though Jiang Hanwen left early and returned late, he could only visit six or seven families.

No other reason, it was simply that the people of the Medicine Field were too enthusiastic and insisted on keeping him for a meal.

The older generation all knew about his book compilation and, though they didn't say it, they already considered him half a steward in their hearts.

Now their monthly salary was thirty percent higher than before, and they were more relaxed. This good life was something the person before them had fought to achieve.

Among the younger generation, some were recruited by Jiang Hanwen, while others knew of his reputation and both admired and feared him.

It should be known that among the new Disciples, the first to serve as an Elder and also an Deacon was Wu Shen, who had studied with him for three years.

Moreover, Wu Shen, in terms of both ability and strength, was peerless among his generation, and everyone already regarded him as Jiang Hanwen’s Disciple.

A person’s name, a tree’s shadow; although he held no official position, Jiang Hanwen’s influence in the Medicine Field could be said to be no less than that of Old Du, who created the Medicine Field.

For half a month straight, Jiang Hanwen walked through nearly half of the Medicine Field.

Night quietly arrived, and idle clouds drifted leisurely in the sky.

Inside Jiang Hanwen’s room, the windows were tightly shut.

On the table, three silver needles rested against an inkstone.

“Hoo~”

Jiang Hanwen gently blew on them, drying the moisture from the silver needles.

In two more days, he would have to go see Zhuang Bai.

He heard that after being taken down by him and stimulated, Young Master Zhuang had changed his ways, obediently farming and raising children, truly a model husband.

However, a mistake made must be punished.

Jiang Hanwen had not forgotten that if Zhuang Bai hadn't, for a moment of gratification, told Gong Qing about buying bloodline grass that snowy night, he wouldn't have fallen out with Gong Qing.

Not to mention, Gong Qing’s subsequent frantic Cultivation was not without Zhuang Bai’s stimulating contribution.

Fortunately, although Gong Qing was impulsive, he adhered to the rules.

If Gong Qing had lost his head at that time, he would have suffered at least severe injuries, or even death.

If he had died, his father being devoured by others would have been inevitable.

Prudence is not weakness; Jiang Hanwen had remembered this grudge for so many years. Zhuang Bai must die!

Now that Zhuang Bai was unnoticed, even if he died, it would only lead to a brief investigation.

Who knows, they might even ask him to perform an autopsy then.

Hesitation causes trouble. As dawn approached, Jiang Hanwen put away the silver needles containing poison, opened the window, and continued to absorb the purple Qi of the morning sun.

After this period of strengthening, his divine breath had grown from a wisp to twenty or thirty wisps. Jiang Hanwen estimated that in a few more days, he would be able to condense his divine breath into a single stream, circulating throughout his body.

He visited four families in the morning. In the afternoon, Jiang Hanwen arrived outside a tiled house.

Yellow walls and black tiles, green trees wrapped around the walls, a small winding path in front of the door, paved with small stones, had quite a Concept.

He walked towards the main gate, stopping three meters from the door.

In front of his feet, a hair-thin silk thread was stretched taut, fixed on either side to flowers.

In the Medicine Field, who would live so well and be so cautious?

Pretending not to know, Jiang Hanwen stepped on the silk thread, slowly walked to the door, and knocked.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Light footsteps sounded from inside the house.

The door opened, and their eyes met.

“Teacher!” Wu Shen exclaimed with surprise.

“Come in, come in quickly!”

His pupils contracted slightly; it was his own Disciple.

Jiang Hanwen entered the room, and a faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

He saw bitter apricot kernels scattered all over the ground, and in the courtyard, a golden osmanthus tree was covered with golden, Perfection-sized grains.

The fragrance emanated from these.

“Are you using these ancient apricots for medicine?” Jiang Hanwen asked casually.

“I use them to make tea, it’s refreshing.” Wu Shen brought tea, removed the porcelain lid, and handed it to Jiang Hanwen.

“Teacher, please.”

Jiang Hanwen took a sip; it was slightly bitter, a bit soothing for the throat, and not bad.

After a brief chat, Jiang Hanwen began to take his pulse.

Wu Shen's body was in good condition in all aspects, more than a step better than when he left him, and his strength had Breakthrough from the third to the fourth stage.

In just half a year, Jiang Hanwen felt a drum beating in his heart; this speed was a bit too fast, there was something strange!

“Teacher, since you’re here today, please stay for dinner. I...”

Chatting about daily life over the past six months, time flew by, and half an hour passed.

The more they talked, the more Jiang Hanwen’s doubts grew.

In the house, there was no medicinal fragrance, no Medicinal Pills to eat, only bitter apricot kernels scattered everywhere.

Could Wu Shen achieve such a great Breakthrough with just this?

“Knock, knock, knock!”

The door was suddenly knocked violently.

“Elder Wu, it’s bad, someone died!”

A life?

The two rushed to the door in a few strides.

“What’s going on?” Wu Shen pushed the door open.

The Medicine Farmer who came to report saw Jiang Hanwen, as if seeing a savior.

“Physician Jiang, we were all looking for you. Young Master Zhuang is dead, quickly come with me!”

Who else could be Young Master Zhuang in the Medicine Field?

Only Zhuang Bai!

He had prepared the silver needles, but the person died first. Was he so unable to endure?

“Take me to see!”

Jiang Hanwen and Wu Shen followed the Medicine Farmer, rushing eastward.

When they arrived, more than twenty guards, dressed in uniform robes and holding long spears, surrounded the residence, their murderous aura isolating the crowd.

The onlookers formed a large circle on the periphery, watertight yet daring not to approach.

Someone shouted, “Physician Jiang is here, make way!”

The crowd made a path for Jiang Hanwen to pass.

Walking to the main entrance, through the open door, a clear smell of blood could be detected.

Jiang Hanwen frowned; the smell was a bit strong, indicating it was likely murder!

“Stop!” Two long spears crossed, blocking Jiang Hanwen’s path.

“Without the Patriarch’s order, no one is allowed to trespass.”

Wu Shen stepped forward and sternly shouted:

“I am an Elder of the Medicine Field. Zhuang Bai died in the Medicine Field, and I have the right to investigate the situation. If something goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?!”

“Without the Patriarch’s order, no one is allowed to trespass.

Those who disobey will be executed!” The guard said with a cold Face, gripping the long spear in his hand, its cold tip aimed at Wu Shen, showing no Face at all.

“Who killed Young Master Zhuang after all? Will they kill us too?”

“Anyway, I’ve completed ten years, so let’s just leave if we have to, don’t lose our lives here.”

“It wouldn’t be a plague, would it? Young Master Zhuang is a master of the seventh stage of Transcendence, ordinary diseases...”

...The word 'plague' dropped like an ink stain into water, and panic spread instantly. The crowd erupted in arguments, their clamor reaching inside the house.

“What’s all the noise about?!”

An impatient voice sounded from the courtyard.

A familiar figure walked out from inside.

Luo Maocai held a white handkerchief in his hand, looking out with disdain.

His gaze swept over Wu Shen, his expression unchanged, clearly not caring.

When he saw Jiang Hanwen, Luo Maocai stepped forward, pushed aside the guard’s long spear, and smiled.

“Gentlemen, he is the only Physician in the Medicine Field. He must come in for this matter.”

The two guards exchanged glances and retracted their long spears.

Jiang Hanwen crossed the blockade. Wu Shen tried to follow, but with a bang, two cold spears blocked him again.

Luo Maocai said with a cold Face:

“Elder Wu, if you can’t control these people, there are plenty who will control them for you!”

Wu Shen stepped out:

“Everyone go back and guard the Spiritual Plants. We will definitely give everyone an explanation for what happened here. Please, everyone...”

After Wu Shen finished speaking, everyone looked at each other, their Faces full of disdain.

“Who knows, Elder Wu, you...”

“I’ve completed ten years, I want to go home...”

The clamor continued, everyone saying that Wu Shen and the Zhuang family were in cahoots.

Jiang Hanwen patted Wu Shen, stepped forward, and lightly pressed his hands.

Over the years, those he had treated numbered at least a hundred, if not two hundred. Jiang Hanwen’s prestige was evident to all.

Like a loudspeaker losing power, the noisy crowd instantly fell silent, all looking at him.

“Are you all too idle? Go back and guard the Spiritual Plants. I will investigate the cause clearly. If it’s a plague, just come find me!

My old man is in the fields, and I’m not afraid, so what are you afraid of? Scram, scram, scram.”

Jiang Hanwen waved his hand dismissively, speaking very casually.

“Let’s go, let’s go. Since Brother Jiang said so, it should be fine.”

“Then we’ll listen to Physician Jiang and leave first.”

...The atmosphere shifted abruptly. In less than ten breaths, most of the gathered Medicine Farmers dispersed.

Wu Shen smiled bitterly, realizing he was a bit too naive, whether in front of his teacher or the Zhuang family.

Beside him, Luo Maocai’s eyes narrowed, a hint of surprise, or perhaps jealousy, flashing in his eyes.

“Brother Jiang, you truly are the uncrowned king, living up to everyone’s expectations.”

Jiang Hanwen heard the implied meaning, but couldn’t be bothered with Luo Maocai. Was Zhuang Bai truly dead or alive? If he was dead, who killed him?

These were the questions he desperately wanted to know now.

“Steward Luo is joking, let’s go.”