Chapter 100: Ridding the People of an Evil

Chapter 100: Eliminating Diseases for the People

The great mastery of medicine, the art of drawing forth qi. Though merely at the initial stage of glimpsing the path, Chen Yi had already come to see through the bodily conditions of others with a single glance.

At least he could discern the presence or absence of disease, and then, by combining their complexion, eyes, lips, and posture, determine their ailments.

Typically, his experience was still insufficient to penetrate the specific illness of that small, squat figure with a pointed mouth and protruding teeth.

Yet the features of the little man were too conspicuous to overlook.

"Sweating profusely, limbs limp and cold, complexion pallid, breath faint... 'Spleen collapse'."

According to the *Shang Han Za Bing Lun*, spleen collapse occurs when the qi, yang, or blood is struck by sudden fright or external force, causing the heart’s yang and qi to instantly depart.

In plain terms, any such small, squat figure with a pointed mouth and protruding teeth, if struck or bumped even slightly, would die on the spot.

Not to mention being struck—merely frightening him could cost him half his life.

Thus, Chen Yi hastened to stop Ge Lao San.

"Your nephew?"

The leading figure among the strange race, a burly man, glanced at Ge Lao San, then fixed his gaze on Chen Yi. "Xiao Family Pharmacy?"

His short blade wavered slightly, clearly uncertain.

He eyed the small man behind Chen Yi warily, noting his sweat-soaked face, and asked, "You’re certain this pharmacy caused your illness?"

The small, squat figure with a pallid complexion nodded, his voice weak and breathless: "I—I’m not lying. It was him..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yi strode into the pharmacy, scattering a handful of white powder.

The small man’s eyes turned glassy, and he lay still, his body rigid.

The burly man paused, eyes wide at Chen Yi, then roared and plunged his blade forward.

Chen Yi stepped back, signaling Ge Lao San: "Secure him."

Ge Lao San didn’t hesitate, stepping forward to block him, kicking the burly man to the ground.

As a nine-grade upper-section martial artist, dealing with these earthly thugs was no trouble at all.

A couple of strikes sent them sprawling.

Chen Yi glanced at the still-silent small man, tucking away the porcelain bottle in his hand.

Not a mere pharmacy, but one capable of breaking into the Duke’s mansion—this was no ordinary medicine. Truly ferocious.

Perhaps he could study some poisons as well.

After all, since ancient times, medicine and poison have long been intertwined. A healer carrying poisons was not unreasonable.

As he mused, Chen Yi glanced at the crowd gathered outside, noticing a slight, hunched figure slowly retreating, his brow furrowed.

Uncle?

These people were brought here by the hidden guard?

Chen Yi understood.

It must be his own doing as the pharmacy’s manager that drew the hidden guard’s ire.

At that moment, Ge Lao San clapped his hands and asked: "Your nephew, what next?"

Chen Yi replied casually: "Report to the authorities."

He paused, then asked: "With our Xiao family’s influence, could the magistrate show leniency?"

Ge Lao San blinked: "Leniency? Your nephew, you don’t mean to let them off lightly, do you?"

To his surprise, Chen Yi shook his head. "I mean, I hope the magistrate will punish them severely—best yet, execute them on the spot."

The words drew a collective gasp from the pharmacists, apprentices, and onlookers alike.

After a moment of silence, someone muttered lowly: "That’s harsh, even if they deserved it. To demand their lives for merely showing up... that’s too much."

Another agreed: "This manager’s nephew is truly ruthless."

"Ruthless? You don’t know who he is, do you?"

"The Duke’s son-in-law, Xiao... he treats the kiln district like his own backyard. Even the candidate for the imperial examination’s wife nearly got taken by him."

"Ah, him? No wonder..."

Ge Lao San, hearing whispers, cautiously asked: "Your nephew, are you serious?"

Chen Yi flicked his gaze toward the pharmacist of the adjacent Lingnan Pavilion, Xiao Kuang, and smiled: "Of course it’s a jest. In any case, let’s report to the authorities first—let the magistrate decide."

These scum and brutes are just pawns in others’ games—alive or dead, it matters little.

His words were meant for outsiders.

While the authorities were still absent, Chen Yi crouched down and asked the still-sobbing burly man: "Brother, what brought you here?"

Ge Lao San’s face twitched slightly, not knowing what to say—his nephew was to be executed for such a trivial matter.

Chen Yi... how reckless, how unconsiderate.

That burly man, beaten, finally understood he wasn’t a match for Chen Yi, and spoke honestly: "That little squat man said your medicine was flawed, that it made him ill..."

Chen Yi shook his head. "You’re not wronged at all."

How foolish.

Though the blame didn’t entirely lie with them.

It must have been Uncle who somehow found that small man, letting him bring a group to cause trouble.

If a quarrel erupted, and that small man was frightened—or worse, died in the pharmacy—then this manager would have no choice but to find another path.

"These hidden guards are quite cunning, trying to push me up the ladder."

Of course, there was another possibility—Lingnan Pavilion.

Though if Lingnan Pavilion had sent these people, it would be yet another scenario.

The pharmacy’s medicine was not refined; Lingnan Pavilion’s master was a miracle worker.

Hmph. Impossible.

The small man’s "spleen collapse" had progressed too far—even Chen Yi’s great mastery could do nothing.

Chen Yi didn’t believe Lingnan Pavilion harbored a physician capable of reviving the dead.

If so, he’d have urged Xiao Wan’er to shut the pharmacy and seek another path.

Not long after, the county magistrate’s clerk arrived.

After a brief inquiry, he took all the ruffians away.

Chen Yi bowed his hand and smiled, saying, "I'm grateful for your efforts, everyone."

The clerk naturally understood the background of the pharmacy, smiling as he replied, "Chen the shopkeeper, rest assured. These men have already left a record in the magistrate's office."

"Should there be no such matter, the magistrate will soon send us to take them."

Chen Yi listened and smiled, then instructed Qiu Laosan to go take a look.

There was no need to execute them outright; even a few years in prison would suffice to remove the harm from the people.

After the clerk had led the men away,

Chen Yi glanced at the few remaining people in the pharmacy, his gaze settling on Liu Quan. "How much silver remains in the till?"

Liu Quan clutched his face, speaking with a bitter lament, "Shopkeeper, there's only sixty-eight taels left in our till."

Chen Yi nodded, smiling, "Take five taels for yourself, as compensation for the slap you received today."

"Me?"

Liu Quan double-checked, his face instantly brightening with joy, "Many thanks to the shopkeeper, many thanks to the shopkeeper!"

Chen Yi waved his hand, "Well then, open the doors and get to work."

Work?

For the entire duration of one shi, Jishi Pharmacy remained cold and empty, with not a single patient in sight.

It had always been struggling due to Linglan Tuan's presence.

After those ruffians had caused such a commotion, Chen Yi's remark about executing them had spread throughout the East Market, making it even less likely for anyone to come.

Meanwhile, across the street, Linglan Tuan saw a steady stream of visitors, regardless of their health.

Observing this, Chen Yi scratched his head and thought, "How foolish of me."

He had been staying at Jishi Pharmacy only to practice medicine. But since there were no patients there, Linglan Tuan's patients were just as good.

With this in mind, Chen Yi moved a stool to the entrance of Jishi Pharmacy and fixed his eyes on the door of Linglan Tuan, not blinking once.

This one suffered from the cold, a minor illness that could be cured with a warming formula.

That woman clearly showed signs of pregnancy; she needed a formula to protect her child.

And this emaciated, gaunt woman with puffy eyes—she suffered from kidney deficiency, requiring a year of abstinence and warming herbal decoctions.

The money from the door—on one hand, welcoming and sending away clients, on the other, observing Chen Yi, unable to discern his true intentions.

This one, might he harbor ill intentions?

Hearing his earlier words, it was clear they were not on good terms.

If he intended to use the magistrate's authority, wouldn't they have prepared in advance?

Chen Yi didn't care what he was thinking. Seeing a slow, limping patient blocked by him, he frowned and said unhappily, "Shopkeeper Qian, your Linglan Tuan business is fine, but it can't just be left unobserved, can it?"

Qian Kuang, confused, stepped aside, suddenly seeing Chen Yi's smiling nod.

"..."

Was he, having a bad business at Jishi Pharmacy, gone quite mad?

(End of Chapter)