Chapter 50: Such a Person Truly Exists

"Jiu Si, you have read the Medical Classic so many times; have you gained any insights?"

In the Bai Family Estate, Physician Bai asked Chen Jiu Si.

Jiu Si replied, "I have gained much. I wonder, Master, which aspect would you like to ask about?"

"Haha, though there are many medicines, there are certain ones that are indispensable. Do you know what the signature medicines of our Bai clan are?"

"Coptis and Houbu!"

Chen Jie thought for a moment before answering.

Physician Bai's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Why these two?"

Chen Jie pondered briefly and said, "Coptis is bitter and cold; it drains the heart, removes stagnation, clears heat, and brightens the eyes. It can reduce internal fire and allow the Qi to rise naturally."

"Houbu is bitter and warm; it can dispel bloating, relieve fullness, drain phlegm and Qi, and discharge dysentery. It can raise Yang and descend desire. When the two are combined, they form the simplest of medicines. Though unremarkable, they can play a massive role and have very wide applications—much like the cabbage and radish we eat daily; though simple, they can serve as the main course."

"Haha, good, good! With such insight, it shows you have truly understood the Medical Classic. Not bad, not bad at all."

Physician Bai was very satisfied with Chen Jie's words.

"Thank you for the praise, Master."

Physician Bai nodded and then said to Chen Jie, "Jiu Si, starting tomorrow, you may begin learning medicinal formulas. If there are patients, you may also accompany me on house calls."

Chen Jie nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Good. That is all for today's lesson. By the way, take this packet of medicine back first and soak it in water; it will be very beneficial for your martial arts training."

Looking at the medicine Physician Bai gave him, Chen Jie said excitedly, "Master, is this formula already prepared?"

Physician Bai said, "Yes. However, although this formula is very effective, it is also quite aggressive. If you cannot tolerate it, tell me, and I will modify the recipe for you."

"Master, the formula can be modified?"

Physician Bai said, "Why not? You are studying medicine; you should know the method of differentiation. A single formula is not suitable for everyone. For example, this formula is cold in nature; if your constitution is on the colder side, you cannot use it. You must adjust it to be warmer to make it usable."

"The medicines for martial artists, though powerful, never stray from their core principles. It is nothing more than using some precious, high-potency herbs."

"Take this Skin-Tempering Soup, for instance. I transcribed it from a damaged ancient text. Because it was incomplete, only five herbs remained, and its efficacy was mediocre. After some experimentation, I finally formulated this twelve-herb Skin-Tempering Soup."

"It was solely because of this formula that I established my footing in the Fishing Gang and became one of the eight physicians of the Inner Hall."

Physician Bai spoke of his glorious past with great pride, unable to help but feel deeply moved.

Hearing this, Chen Jie secretly noted it down. It turned out that medicinal soups were not fixed; one could add or subtract herbs based on their own condition to achieve the best effect.

Fortunately, he was studying medicine; otherwise, he might have foolishly used the same formula on himself repeatedly.

He could truly learn a lot from Physician Bai.

Having taken the medicine, Chen Jie took his leave. Physician Bai invited him to eat, but Chen Jie declined, saying he needed to go to town to buy a tub to soak in the medicine.

Hearing this, Physician Bai said, "True. Do you have enough money? If not, I have..."

"Master, I have enough money."

Chen Jie declined tactfully, and Physician Bai did not insist. Upon leaving the Bai residence, he ran into Mrs. Bai returning from the market.

"Jiu Si, dinner will be ready soon. Where are you going?"

Chen Jie: "Auntie, Master prescribed some medicine for me. I'm going to town to buy a tub..."

"Oh, alright then. Go quickly and come back soon; we'll wait for you at dinner."

"No need, Auntie. I'll go straight home. Carrying a tub around is too much trouble."

"Alright then, I won't keep you. Be careful on the road."

"Yes, I know, Aun—"

Chen Jie walked westward, left the village, and headed straight for Xiantao Town. Once in town, he first went to a grocery store to order a tub, then to a clothing shop to buy two sets of new women's clothes—one large and one small—and finally went to buy some grain.

There were less than seventy catties of sorghum left at home; that wouldn't be enough.

This time, Chen Jie bought another hundred catties of millet and ten catties of unhulled wheat. Flour was too expensive, but this unprocessed wheat was at an acceptable price.

He went to a cooked food shop to buy a roast chicken, a steamed bun shop for ten large white buns, and a meat stall for ten catties of raw pork.

He filled an entire small pushcart. The cart was the one he had borrowed from a fellow villager last time; this time, Chen Jie gave him ten wen as a rental fee.

After all his errands, Chen Jie had purchased a massive amount of goods.

Just as he was preparing to go back to the grocery store to load the tub onto the cart to push home, he suddenly froze.

He had spotted a figure at a wonton stall on the main street. The man was dressed in the attire of a wandering martial artist, looking travel-worn, wearing a bamboo hat, and sporting a ferocious scar on his face.

He was currently eating wontons there.

His eyes scanned the surrounding pedestrians with a look of vigilance.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened and fixed in one direction, meeting Chen Jie's eyes.

Chen Jie was startled and wanted to lower his head to avoid eye contact, but doing so would look guilty and make people think he had ulterior motives.

Thus, he calmed his mind, met the man's gaze, and slowly walked toward the wonton stall.

The man continued eating his wontons while watching Chen Jie, his eyes narrowing slightly as if in mockery.

Chen Jie soon reached the stall and called out, "Boss, a bowl of meat wontons, please."

"Coming!"

The owner responded. Chen Jie sat down in front of the "wandering hero" fabricated by the village aunties and said, "Can I share this table?"

The wandering hero smiled. "You may!"

As Chen Jie sat down, the man scrutinized him, much like a lion observing a rabbit.

The terrifying pressure made it difficult for Chen Jie to breathe.

Finally, the wandering hero spoke: "Do you know me?"

"I don't," Chen Jie replied.

The wandering hero said, "You don't? If you don't know me, why have you been staring at me for so long? If you don't know me, how dare you sit before me?"

Chen Jie: "Actually, saying I don't know you isn't quite right. I heard people talking about you this morning."

"Talking about me? Has my business reached this place already?"

As the man looked at Chen Jie, Chen Jie's heart sank. *This is another person with a story, but I really don't want to hear your martial arts tales.*

"Yes, it has indeed reached us. This morning, someone in our village was even asking if anyone had seen you."

Chen Jie remained very calm.

"Oh? Who was asking about me?"

Chen Jie said, "It was Master Yu from the Yu Family Gambling House."

"Master Yu? Heh? Not many dare to call themselves 'Master' in front of me. What is this Master Yu's background?"

"This Master Yu is quite something. He runs the largest gambling house in our town and is known as 'Yu Half-City.' He maintains dozens of servants and thugs, all of whom are fierce and menacing. None of us dare provoke him. Moreover, I heard he is a member of the Water Gang in the city."

"Haha, in this backwater place, there's actually a character like 'Yu Half-City'? Is he very wealthy?"

Chen Jie said, "Very wealthy."

"Fine, little brother. This information is useful. I happen to be short on travel funds; I'll use this Yu Half-City to test my luck."

Chen Jie: "Oh dear, big brother, forget it. That Master Yu is a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist; he's quite formidable. You shouldn't provoke him."

"Skin-Tempering Realm? What kind of thing is that?"

The wandering hero was completely unconcerned!