Late at night, Wende Bridge.
"Dong dong dong~~~"
In the dead of night, a knock on the door rang out outside Wang's Medical Clinic, which had already turned off its lights.
The apprentice on duty opened the side door of the medical clinic and, seeing two women wearing veiled hats standing on the street, asked in confusion:
"Two young ladies, what are you here for..."
"I'm a family member of Lord Ye, the Deputy Commander of the Black Yamen. I'm here to get some medicine for injuries. I wonder if Madam Wang is available now?"
"Oh, please wait a moment, miss."
Upon seeing the waist token of the Black Yamen, the apprentice didn't say more and quickly ran to the Wang family's grand house at the back.
After a while, lights came on inside Wang's Medical Clinic.
Madam Wang, looking a bit sleepy, opened the door of the medical clinic while fanning herself with a small round fan.
Creak——
Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning outside the door both took off their veiled hats:
"Madam Wang."
"Oh, Miss Ninger, Miss Pei. You're here to get medicine for Lord Ye?"
Luo Ning, already familiar with the situation to some extent, bowed her head in greeting:
"Jingtang has an errand and needs to go out. We're sorry to disturb you so late. Please forgive us, Madam Wang."
"It doesn't matter. The military orders of the court are as unyielding as a mountain. There are even generals who were urgently dispatched to the border right after their wedding without even having their wedding night. This is hardly an interruption."
Madam Wang had a kind expression and invited the two of them in. She led them to a small, enclosed room at the back.
The small room was filled with medicine boxes. Seeing that it was the first time the two had come here, Madam Wang introduced:
"These medicines were all paid for with the silver allocated by the court and personally prepared by Imperial Physician Wang. Young Master Ye can take them away, but please remember not to sell them on the black market. Once, a adult from the Six Doors took a bottle of the White Emperor's Elixir and sold it outside for a thousand taels of silver. As a result, he was caught, removed from his official position on the spot, and didn't get out until he had served half a year in prison..."
The White Emperor's Elixir was a miraculous antidote. It could cure common snake venom and the like with ease. Even if it couldn't completely neutralize poisons in the martial arts world, it could still suppress the flow of qi and blood, buying a few days' time to find a doctor. It was almost one of the essential medicines for martial arts masters.
Pei Xiangjun had bought it a few times before and asked upon hearing this:
"Aren't there White Emperor's Elixirs sold outside?"
"The ones prepared by the apprentices are not the same as those personally prepared by Imperial Physician Wang. Moreover, the medicines prepared for court officials use rhinoceros horns from the Southern Border, which can neutralize all kinds of poisons. The White Emperor's Elixirs sold outside are produced in such large quantities that even if all the rhinoceroses in the world were killed, it wouldn't be enough for those in the martial arts world to squander. They are all replaced with water buffalo horns and only have less than half of the medicinal effect."
Pei Xiangjun suddenly understood and asked, "These specially supplied medicines aren't sold outside?"
"If you gather the medicinal ingredients and pay the consultation fee, the medical clinic can prepare them, but I'll be the one to do it. Imperial Physician Wang is old. Even the princes and ministers from Wende Bridge have to queue up when they come to see a doctor. He doesn't take on these private jobs..."
Madam Wang searched in the drawers and found medicines for detoxification, stopping bleeding, treating internal injuries, external injuries, and a powerful stimulant. She put them in a small leather medicine case and also took out three sealed golden needles and put them in the case:
"Lord Ye holds a military position of the fourth rank. He can receive these things, but if they aren't used outside, they must be returned intact. If they are lost or if the purpose can't be clearly explained, one will have to take responsibility..."
"Okay."
After Madam Wang had assembled the medicines, she took the small leather medicine case and walked out of the room. After thinking for a while, she handed it to Pei Xiangjun and asked her to count the items. Then she pulled Luo Ning aside and asked in a low voice:
"How have you been feeling recently, Miss Ninger?"
Luo Ning understood what Madam Wang meant. She blinked her eyes, looked back at Sanniang, who was checking the medicines by the lampstand, and said implicitly:
"It's okay. That Fragrant Concubine Dew is quite slippery..."
Madam Wang smiled and looked at Luo Ning's chest:
"Did you use it here?"
Luo Ning felt a bit shy talking about such topics among married women and said softly:
"I didn't know how to use it. When I gave it to him, he smeared it on my chest, and then that thing... Have you tried it too, Madam Wang?"
Madam Wang waved her fan gently: "Let's not talk about this... I also heard this method from the ladies in Wende Bridge. Hmm... Actually, there are quite a few ways to please one's husband."
"Oh?"
Seeing that Miss Ninger was interested, Madam Wang went behind the counter, took a medicine box, and handed it to Luo Ning. She leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.
Luo Ning listened attentively. After understanding the meaning of things like "Jade Tree in the Backyard," her face turned red, and she looked at Madam Wang in disbelief:
"Madam Wang, you..."
Madam Wang's face also turned a bit red, and she said softly:
"I also heard it from the ladies in Wende Bridge. The first time you do that sort of thing, you feel too ashamed to show your face, but after getting used to it, it's quite interesting. Many men like it... If you use the medicine according to the method I told you, it will be spotless, and it will have a floral fragrance. It won't cause any harm either..."
"..."
Luo Ning really didn't expect that Madam Wang, who seemed to have a kind heart as a healer, had so many tricks:
"Hmm... After all, this is still a bit too much. Don't the ladies in Wende Bridge have any more conservative ways to please their husbands?"
Madam Wang thought that Miss Ninger was still too innocent at the moment and wasn't into such elaborate things yet. So she ran back again, took a small medicine bottle, and whispered softly.
Luo Ning listened attentively – it probably meant making her already sparse body hair disappear...
??
Luo Ning was filled with astonishment and looked down at Madam Wang's waist.
Madam Wang quickly blocked her view with a fan: "This is prepared for the ladies in Wende Bridge. I haven't used it myself. I think both you, Miss Ninger, and Miss Pei have nice figures. If you use this, it will be just like being born with it, and men will definitely like it..."
"How could men like this... What if I regret it?"
"If you regret it, just don't use it. It will recover after a while. You can control it freely, and it's actually more advantageous than being born with it..."
...
Pei Xiangjun finished counting the medicines and found that Luo Ning and Madam Wang were whispering together and obviously hiding something from her. She was a bit puzzled:
"Ninger?"
Luo Ning quickly stood up straight and put the things away:
"We've disturbed you, Madam Wang. Since we have important matters, we'll take our leave now."
"Take care on your way."
...
——
At the same time, outside Jing Wang's Mansion.
The moon was bright and the stars were few. There were no pedestrians left on the white stone long street. A luxurious carriage was parked by the side of the street, next to a jet-black steed. The carriage was hung with luggage and a long spear wrapped in black cloth.
There was light inside the carriage, and two figures sitting side by side could be seen at the window. Voices came from inside:
"His Majesty has appointed this prince as an imperial inspector and asked me to lead the court officials to Wuzhou. I have to handle the matter well. The Prince of Wu will surely flee. Someone has to go ahead and track him down..."
Yejingtang sat by the carriage window, with Niaoniao, who was dozing off, beside him. Since he already knew the arrangements from Yuhu, he was not surprised at all. He just listened carefully to Dongfang Liren's instructions and then nodded:
"Your Highness, please rest assured. I'll set off immediately and strive to get everything done before Your Highness arrives in Wuzhou, so that Your Highness can show your great power in front of the court officials."
Dongfang Liren felt that Yejingtang was quite sensible, but not particularly so. He had put the words too bluntly. Since it was a private conversation, Dongfang Liren didn't mind. She just snorted softly.
Yejingtang had to hurry to Wuzhou. After saying goodbye to Benben, he stood up and took his leave:
"I've already prepared a boat. If I go an hour earlier, I'll have more clues to find. I'll take my leave now. I'll visit Your Highness again when I arrive in Wuzhou."
Once Yejingtang left, they might not see each other for more than ten days. Dongfang Liren felt a bit reluctant. She glanced at Yejingtang twice, her red lips moved slightly, but she didn't know what to say.
Yejingtang could understand Benben's thoughts. He secretly sighed and said:
"Your Highness should practice martial arts well during this time. When we meet next time, I'll test Your Highness's spear skills. If you don't practice well, don't blame me for being merciless."
Dongfang Liren tried to put on the imposing manner of a cold and aloof princess, but after trying several times, she couldn't manage it. Thinking about it, she took out two miscellaneous books from the small bookcase beside the couch and handed them to Yejingtang:
"You're going by waterway on a boat, and you'll probably be bored on the way. Take these. This prince is rewarding you."
Yejingtang took them and saw – "Secret Records of Joy" and "New Compilation of the Tears of Chivalrous Women" – they seemed to have been copied from the residence of the Prince of Wu's son. He immediately became more serious, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and was about to start reading.
?
Dongfang Liren was stunned. She pushed Yejingtang's shoulder:
"This prince asked you to go and do something. Are you going to read by lamplight here?"
Yejingtang paused in his actions: "I'm a bit surprised and almost forgot about the important matter." He said as he put the books into his arms: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Dongfang Liren snorted softly and then looked at Niaoniao, who was nodding off. She reached out and stroked its head:
"You also be good when you go out. Don't beg for food from everyone you see."
Niaoniao rubbed its head against her palm and then jumped onto Yejingtang's shoulder, flapping its wings:
"Ji~"
"Ji!"
Yejingtang got out of the carriage, mounted the horse, looked at the tall princess standing outside the carriage, waved his hand, and then clamped the horse's belly hard and galloped towards the end of the street in front of the mansion.
Clip-clop, clip-clop –
Dongfang Liren stood outside the carriage and watched him leave. She originally wanted to maintain an extraordinary demeanor. When the horse was about to turn the corner, her red lips moved, and she still called out:
"Yejingtang, be careful on the way."
Yejingtang turned his head and waved from a distance:
"I know. Your Highness, also be careful on the way. See you in Wuzhou."
As he spoke, the steed turned the corner, leaving only the sound of the hooves gradually fading away.
Dongfang Liren's eyes moved. She stared for a long time. Only when the sound of the hooves disappeared did she take a gentle breath and return to the carriage...
———
On the other side, in Wuzhou.
At dusk, the setting sun like blood in the sky shone on the official road along the Wu River.
A motorcade that had traveled a long way was moving slowly. The more than ten martial artists at the front looked at the scenery along the river, and there was a hint of bewilderment in their eyes due to being unfamiliar with the place.
Yang Guan, the leader of the Qinglian Gang, was dressed like a martial artist in the martial arts world. He rode a horse, carried a big sword on his back, and his expression was obviously more confident, with a sense of "having someone powerful backing me up," compared to his previous submissive look in the capital. Seeing that his subordinates looked uncertain, he comforted them:
"In the capital, I was alone, and I had no choice but to give in to others. But it's different in Wuzhou. Wuzhou is my hometown. My Yang family is also a prominent clan in this area, and the Sanjue Valley is a top-notch wealthy and powerful family in Wuzhou. My master, the Immortal of the Three Wonders, is a person whom even the Eight Great Champions would show some respect to..."
Yang Guan's words were obviously exaggerated to some extent, but not too excessive.
The territory of the Great Wei was too vast. No matter how powerful the martial arts sects were, they could only dominate one region.
In Wuzhou, there was no single powerful force among the Eight Great Champions taking over everything, and it was far from the capital, so the resources could be evenly distributed among all the forces.
The saying "Poverty breeds scholars, wealth breeds martial artists" was never a joke. With sufficient resources, the number of first-class martial arts sects in Wuzhou was much larger than in other places. The martial arts forces in Wuzhou were generally referred to as the "Twelve Gates of Wuzhou."
Among the Twelve Gates, the "Sanjue Valley, Tiehe Villa, Xianyue Tower, and Wushan Sect" were the four most powerful forces, and the other eight were of the second rank but should not be underestimated either.
Guang Hanlin, the Immortal of the Three Wonders, was the leader of the Sanjue Valley. Although he was old now and his martial arts skills were not among the top among the grandmasters and he had gradually retreated to the second line, he was no ordinary person when he was young.
People in the martial arts world all knew that the Immortal of the Three Wonders had been instructed by Fengguancheng. The way of instruction was that Guang Hanlin went to Tiannan to challenge Fengguancheng.
Finding that the gap between him and the number one in the world was too great, Guang Hanlin went on to challenge Xuanyuan Chao, Liu Qiansheng, and Lu Jieyun, hoping to become one of the Eight Great Champions.
Although he lost all three battles and gained nothing, his comprehensive cultivation of both internal and external skills, and his ability to compete with the Eight Great Champions in weapon strikes, boxing, and footwork still made Guang Hanlin a legendary figure who was never completely defeated in the martial arts world, and the title of the "Immortal of the Three Wonders" came from this.
Yang Guan was a registered disciple of Guang Hanlin, having entered the sect and become his disciple by spending money. He didn't learn too many skills, but this master-disciple relationship still existed.
In Yunzhou before, people like Yejingtang and Cheng Shilu could show no respect to him. But in Wuzhou, if someone dared to spank him, Yang Guan, it would be like slapping the face of the Immortal of the Three Wonders!
Yang Guan returned to his hometown. Thinking that he now had a backer and no longer had to worry about being stepped on by others, he felt his backbone straighten a bit.
When they arrived in the huge mountain valley along the Wu River, Yang Guan didn't even take a sip of water. He carried a gift box and quickly ran to the residence of the sect leader in the back mountain of the Sanjue Valley.
Wuzhou got its name from the Wu Mountain Range and the Wu River. It was full of towering mountains and lush forests and was rich in various medicinal herbs.
The main source of income for the Sanjue Valley to maintain the sect's livelihood was trading in medicinal herbs. Guang Hanlin had managed it for a lifetime, and now the family business was quite large. The entire valley looked magnificent and imposing, and it even had a bit of an otherworldly immortal aura.
Yang Guan trotted to the side of the waterfall at the back of the valley. He could see Guang Hanlin, whose hair was white, drinking tea by the water pool. He quickly ran over and kowtowed:
"Master! Your disciple has missed you so much!"
Guang Hanlin gently swayed a small tea cup and casually glanced at him:
"You were doing well in the capital. Why did you come back?"
Yang Guan carried the gift box and ran up to him: "The capital is not a place for people to live. I mentioned your name, Master, but no one paid any attention. Even the young leader of a third-rate sect dared to threaten to break my two legs..."
Guang Hanlin waved his hand slightly: "All right. I'm in a bad mood. Go and rest."
"Why are you in a bad mood, Master? Is it that Madam doesn't satisfy you?"
Yang Guan sat down beside him, picked up the gift box, and opened it. Inside was a row of pills:
"These are the Sweet Dew Pills prepared by the Divine Doctor Wang in the capital. They are powerful and don't harm the body. Ordinary people can't buy them at all..."
Guang Hanlin frowned, closed the medicine box, and put it aside:
"Do I need this thing? You're just being overly attentive... Something has happened to the Prince of Wu. It seems he's been charged with the crime of rebellion. It's very chaotic in Jianyang City now, and Wuzhou is probably going to change."
After being beaten by Cheng Shilu, Yang Guan packed his things and fled in a