55: Zhao Zhiyi, the orthopedic master, is known for his black gloves!
Seven days later.
Chen Changsheng was sitting leisurely on a recliner, sipping a cup of jasmine tea, watching the brats study.
Suddenly, the sound of music and drumming came from outside the door, and immediately after, Jiao Big Head's face, filled with a flattering smile, poked in through the doorway!
"Shopkeeper, you are truly a miracle doctor! My leg is completely healed!"
"Quick, bring over the plaque prepared for the Shopkeeper!"
While fawning over Chen Changsheng, Jiao Big Head beckoned to the Gang members behind him to carry in a huge plaque over a meter long.
Chen Changsheng took a glance and saw four gilded characters written on it: Orthopedic Sage!
"Oh, Little Jiao, you really kept your promise. Just have your brothers hang the plaque on the wall!"
Chen Changsheng sat up from the recliner and walked over to Jiao Big Head, speaking as he glanced outside the door, where many people were watching the commotion.
It seemed his reputation as a miracle doctor was about to spread!
"Haha, Shopkeeper, we who walk the Jianghu rely on trust and righteousness. I, Jiao Big Head, of course, keep my word!"
Jiao Big Head chuckled and wanted to boast a bit more, but was shoved aside by a tall, sturdy middle-aged man behind him.
"I am Scorched Skin, a Hall Master of the Black Dog Gang. Thank you, miracle doctor, for healing my son. This is a small consultation fee, a mere token of my respect!"
The tall, sturdy middle-aged man was burly and rough-looking, with a face full of stubble, yet he acted with great courtesy, which did not match his rugged appearance at all!
"So it is the Hall Master. I am named Zhu Zhiguo. Hall Master, you are too polite!"
Chen Changsheng intended to separate this Medical Hall from the Chen family and did not want people to guess the relationship between the two, so he used a pseudonym.
"Miracle Doctor Zhu, from now on, you don't need to pay protection money on Temple Street. This Medical Hall of yours is under the protection of the Black Dog Gang. If anyone on Temple Street gives you trouble, just mention my name!"
Seeing Chen Changsheng accept the gold ingots, Scorched Skin's face lit up with a smile, and he hurriedly made promises, wanting to get closer to him.
This wasn't because Chen Changsheng had healed his son, but because he understood the importance of a miracle doctor. If something happened, a miracle doctor could truly save a life!
"Many thanks to Hall Master Jiao for your care!"
Chen Changsheng cupped his hands to express his gratitude. Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Scorched Skin put forward his own request.
"I wonder if our Black Dog Gang could invite Miracle Doctor Zhu to serve as our dedicated physician? Money is absolutely not an issue!"
Chen Changsheng knew the other party wanted to win him over. After all, a famous doctor was a resource, and it was best to keep it in one's own hands, or at least not let him treat opponents.
"Serving as a dedicated physician for the Black Dog Gang is out of the question. My Medical Hall is right here on Temple Street. If the Black Dog Gang has any injuries, you can just come here for treatment!"
Hearing Chen Changsheng's refusal, Scorched Skin's brows immediately furrowed. He was truly unwilling to let such a miracle doctor not be under his control.
"Sigh, since Miracle Doctor Zhu is unwilling, I won't force you!"
"However, it's not just my Black Dog Gang on Temple Street. Jiang Kun of the Viper Gang is a troublesome person. Once he knows of your medical skills, he will definitely invite you to serve as his physician. Jiang Kun is ruthless; he is not as easy to talk to as I am!"
Scorched Skin's words actually carried a hint of a threat. Chen Changsheng's lips curled up, and he beckoned to Steamed Bun, who was standing in the corner.
"Steamed Bun, show them a trick. Tell Hall Master Jiao that besides medical skills, our Medical Hall also knows a thing or two about martial arts!"
Steamed Bun walked over from the corner with an indifferent expression. Since they were in the main hall of the Medical Hall, he certainly couldn't smash stones, so he gently pressed his palm onto the table.
A clear palm print appeared on the tabletop, yet the table itself did not move an inch and was not affected in the slightest.
"This strength of treating heavy as light... A Blood Refining Martial Artist!"
A glint of light appeared in Scorched Skin's eyes. He scrutinized Steamed Bun twice before saying with a chuckle:
"Miracle Doctor Zhu is truly formidable. It was my rudeness!"
"However, Miracle Doctor Zhu, you must still be careful. The waters of Temple Street are very deep... A Blood Refining Realm martial artist is indeed not afraid of the Viper Gang, but the Viper Gang's backer is... the county's Military Official, Zhao Zhiyi!"
"Zhao Zhiyi is a Xiantian Martial Artist. If the Viper Gang brings out their backer, a Blood Refining Martial Artist won't be of any use!"
Scorched Skin spoke in a tone as if he were thinking of Chen Changsheng, but in reality, he was subtly trying to regain his footing. So what if your Medical Hall has a Blood Refining Martial Artist? The Viper Gang has a backer, and our Black Dog Gang naturally has one too; we still have the upper hand over you!
Upon hearing Scorched Skin's words, Chen Changsheng narrowed his eyes, but quickly returned to normal!
His main purpose for coming to Longkou County was to gather intelligence on Zhao Zhiyi and obtain an Immortal Cultivation Manual!
He didn't expect that just half a month after arriving, he would hear such important news: the Viper Gang was actually Zhao Zhiyi's black glove!
Perhaps planting a piece in the Viper Gang would make it easier to get close to Zhao Zhiyi!
"Many thanks to the Hall Master for informing me. Since the Viper Gang has a backer, and the Black Dog Gang can contend with them, I presume your backer is not simple either!"
Chen Changsheng said with a smile while cupping his hands. Scorched Skin did not hide his own backer. These matters were understood by everyone in the circle; as long as one's status was high enough, one could easily find out.
"Our backer is naturally not afraid of Zhao Zhiyi. We work for the Immortal Official!"
"No matter how powerful Zhao Zhiyi is, he is just a Xiantian Martial Artist. Cultivating to the Innate stage is the limit. Lord Immortal Official, however, is a Cultivator, and his cultivation will only get higher and higher!"
"You must understand in your heart; don't stand on the wrong side!"
Chen Changsheng had finally figured out the two largest forces on Temple Street. An Innate martial artist could contend with a Qi Refining Early Stage Cultivator, which was why the black glove supported by Zhao Zhiyi could be on equal footing with the Immortal Official!
Judging from Scorched Skin's words, the Immortal Official was clearly at odds with Zhao Zhiyi; perhaps he was an ally he could win over!
Perhaps Zhao Zhiyi's snatching of an Immortal Cultivation Manual was because of this Immortal Official. He didn't want to wait for the Immortal Official's cultivation to rise and then be liquidated, so he had no choice but to find a way to Cultivate!
"Many thanks to the Hall Master for the information. I will definitely stand on the side of the Black Dog Gang!"
Having received this statement from Chen Changsheng, Scorched Skin's face showed a look of satisfaction. Being able to get this promise was already quite good. Was he really going to kill Chen Changsheng?
If he killed the miracle doctor, what would he do if he got injured in the future?
Besides, Scorched Skin was only in the Bone Refining Realm; he really couldn't beat Steamed Bun!
"Haha, then I am relieved. Mr. Zhu, please continue your consultation. I shall take my leave now!"
Scorched Skin cupped his hands and left Chen Changsheng's Medical Hall with his subordinates.
After the group left, the Medical Hall quieted down. Chen Changsheng pondered for a long time and then had Steamed Bun call Zhao Song over.
"Zhao Song, I want to send someone to join the Viper Gang, which will be of great use in the future. Who among these brats do you think is suitable to go?"
Chen Changsheng did not want to wait too long. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that they had just arrived and hadn't shown their faces much to plant a secret agent within Zhao Zhiyi's forces.
"Foster Father, I will discuss this matter when I go back and will definitely find a suitable person!"
Zhao Song knew that mixing in a Gang was difficult, but his Foster Father had shown him great kindness, and he had to complete the assigned task, so he prepared to inquire about the brothers' views on the Gang before selecting a suitable candidate!