From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Xu Chunliang gave Hua Zhuyue a glance, and the two quietly retreated. After a short while in the mountain forest, they saw a bald head emerge from a cave—it was an old monk. He looked around to make sure no one was around, then climbed up the mountain, scaling the rock face as if walking on flat ground.

Hua Zhuyue whispered, "He’s a master. Should we follow and see?"

Xu Chunliang shook his head, based on the conversation he heard earlier, he judged that the old monk was unrelated to the assassination attempt at home; the three remaining guys in the cave were the real focus.

After the old monk left, the two returned along their original path and hid around the stone house.

Xu Chunliang speculated that if the matter was life-threatening, these three wouldn’t dare to delay too long and would likely head to Qiaocheng overnight for treatment.

The two waited on site for less than half an hour before they saw those three sneaking down from the mountain, started a small van, and headed west.

Xu Chunliang and Hua Zhuyue got in their car and followed them.

From Canghuang Valley to Qiaocheng is over a hundred kilometers, and two hours later, the small van had already entered the border of Qiaocheng.

It was already half past ten at night, and Xu Chunliang initially thought they would enter the city directly to find accommodation, but unexpectedly, they didn’t enter the city and drove into the development zone in the southern outskirts of Qiaocheng.

The van in front was slowing down.

Hua Zhuyue reminded, "Looks like they’ve noticed us."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "It’s even better if they’ve found us." He drove the car to overtake the van on the left side.

Just after overtaking, the van accelerated and surged forward. Actually, if Xu Chunliang wanted to shake them off, it would be easy, but he didn’t do so.

Once the van passed their car, it immediately cut a diagonal line, intending to force them to stop.

Xu Chunliang took advantage of this and braked, stopping the car by the roadside.

Three thugs descended from the van, each wielding iron rods and steel pipes—the tallest one pointed a steel pipe at the car and yelled angrily, "Get out!"

Xu Chunliang and Hua Zhuyue exchanged a glance and got out of the car from the left and right doors respectively.

The originally arrogant three thugs saw it was them, Xu Chunliang and Hua Zhuyue, and were so frightened that their souls flew away, they turned and ran, but it was too late to escape.

Xu Chunliang rushed forward and kicked the lead thug in the rear, knocking him down hard.

Hua Zhuyue stepped forward, grabbed a thug by the hair and yanked him down to the ground, then followed up with a punch to his face.

The shortest one fled the fastest and had already reached the van side. Xu Chunliang grabbed an iron pipe from the big guy, aimed at the fleeing thug, and threw it over. The steel pipe drew an arc, rotating like a windmill in the air, and struck the little guy on the back.

The thug, hit by the pipe, lost balance, knocked his head against the van, saw stars flying everywhere, and fell down in a daze.

The big guy screamed, "You’re untrustworthy, you said you’d let us go?"

Xu Chunliang recognized from his voice that he was the one who had conversed with the old monk in the cave.

Xu Chunliang first sealed his acupuncture point, then restrained the other two’s acupuncture points, stuffed them back into the van, returned to the big guy, searched him and quickly found the letter the old monk had written to Weary Sect Leader Xiahou Zun.

Xu Chunliang unsealed his mute acupuncture point, and the big guy said, "Since you know we belong to the Outer Pimu Sect, you’d better not make enemies with us, otherwise..."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Or what? You yourself are crossing the Yangtze River while still a clay idol, dare to threaten me? I dared to follow you here, I’m not afraid of your Outer Pimu Sect. Your monk uncle is quite capable though."

Only then did the big guy realize the other party clearly heard his conversation with the uncle, indicating they’d been tailed since Canghuang Valley, their secrets likely heard completely. Trembling, he said, "You... did you really plant poison needles in my acupuncture points?"

Xu Chunliang smiled, "Don’t be afraid, you’re not going to die immediately. It’s called the Autumn Death Needle; you all have about half a year’s life left. During this time, you’ll endure constant torment and agony, causing unbearable pain, wishing for death."

"You’re so vicious! Why use such cruel methods if you want to kill us?"

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re being unreasonable. You did break into my house with intent to harm me first. I could’ve killed all of you at that time, but I didn’t; out of mercy, I spared you guys for six more months of life. You’re ungrateful and call me vicious? Fine, let’s go our separate ways, you fend for yourselves."

The big guy recalled his uncle’s words that only the one who ties the knot can untie it, even if seeking out the Sect Leader, their lives might not be saved. Standing under another’s eaves, he sighed, "What will it take for you to spare my life?"

Xu Chunliang said, "That’s the right attitude. I could spare your life, but I have a condition. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you." He raised the letter in his hand and said, "Take me to see Xiahou Zun. I want to confront him directly."

The big guy fell silent. The purpose of his visit to Qiaocheng tonight was likely all known to Xu Chunliang. If he took Xu Chunliang there, he might be branded a traitor to the Weary Sect. If he didn’t, tonight could very well be his end. With these thoughts, he finally made up his mind. "Fine, I’ll take you there, but you must first remove the poisoned needle from my body."

Xu Chunliang said, "Do you think you’re in any position to negotiate with me?"

Hua Zhuyue saw the big guy being completely subdued by Xu Chunliang and couldn’t help but feel like laughing.

The big guy finally chose to comply. Xu Chunliang originally wanted Hua Zhuyue to stay behind while he visited the Weary Sect Leader Xiahou Zun with the big guy. But Hua Zhuyue wasn’t comfortable with him going alone and insisted on accompanying him. Xu Chunliang had to agree.

The big guy parked the van on the nearby open space. The two companions were restrained by Xu Chunliang and left in the van, unable to regain their freedom for at least a day and a night.

The three of them got into Xu Chunliang’s car.

After Xu Chunliang started the car, he turned to the big guy sitting in the passenger seat and said, "I forgot to ask your name."

"My name is Yan Hong."

The Xiahou surname was not uncommon in Qiaocheng. According to historical records, this was the birthplace of Cao Cao, and some say Cao Cao’s original surname was Xiahou.

The Weary Sect initially focused on the healing and aiding of others. In the past, anyone who healed people in various ways was considered part of the Weary Sect.

But over time, the sect changed, splitting into two branches: the Inner Pimu Sect, which still had competent and ethical physicians, and the Outer Pimu Sect, which mostly dealt with fake medicines and scams, becoming rogue doctors. The term ’Weary Sect’ now generally refers to the Outer Pimu Sect.

The Outer Pimu Sect is divided into two major factions. One focuses on selling various medicinal herbs and counterfeit goods, mostly gathering north of the Yangtze River, especially in the central plains where they influence major herb markets. Internally, they are called the Medicine Sect.

The other faction primarily involves themselves in dubious medical practices, featuring rogue doctors selling folk remedies independently and infiltrating hospitals to take over departments—the Minbei System. The Outer Pimu Sect internally refers to them as the Medical Sect.

In recent years, the Medical Sect has grown substantially, spreading nationwide. However, they largely deny any association with the Weary Sect, believing that the Weary Sect cannot protect them and instead brings negative influences.

Currently, ’Outer Pimu Sect’ generally points to the Medicine Sect lineage. Wu Yuanyi also belongs to the Medicine Sect, profiting heavily from selling contraband and producing counterfeit medicine, though his base was heavily damaged by Xu Chunliang and Hua Zhuyue’s joint efforts last time.

Yan Hong told Xu Chunliang that the current head of the Weary Sect is named Cao Mulan, who is actually the daughter of the Sect Leader Xiahou Zun, though it’s unclear why her surname is Cao.

Cao Mulan’s herbal business is massive, essentially controlling the entire central plains herb market. Yan Hong came holding this letter to find her. Although Xiahou Zun has not officially retired from the Jianghu world, nobody has seen him publicly in years, and any orders have been through his daughter, Cao Mulan.

Wu Yuanyi’s increasing arrogance and outrageous behavior over the years are also somewhat due to Xiahou Zun stepping back, and they are sworn brothers.

Yan Hong, now thoroughly scared by Xu Chunliang, had been managing businesses for Wu Yuanyi in the northwest. Wu Yuanyi sought him out, gave him a hefty sum, and instructed him to assemble a group to deal with Hua Zhuyue. They planned to humiliate her first, then take her life.

Yan Hong had been observing Hua Zhuyue for a considerable time, but found it challenging to act as she was very vigilant, and recently she had been in the Capital City with many helpers around, so Yan Hong’s group couldn’t find an opportunity.

Finally, Hua Zhuyue arrived alone in Dongzhou. They had intended to ambush her at the hotel she booked but didn’t expect her to go to Xu Chunliang’s place instead.

Hua Zhuyue, hearing this, was both embarrassed and angry, raising her hand to slap the back of Yan Hong’s head. "You scoundrel, how dare you talk like that?"

Realizing his slip, Yan Hong quickly corrected himself, "I misspoke. You two did not sleep together."

A furious Hua Zhuyue could barely resist drawing a knife on him.

Xu Chunliang said, "Keep to the main point."

Yan Hong nodded and said, "We reported to Wu Yuanyi, and he urged us to act. I have no grudge against you, nor did I ever intend to take your life. Wu Yuanyi paid me only for Hua Zhuyue’s life."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Do you know where Wu Yuanyi is?"

Yan Hong shook his head. Xu Chunliang had already asked the previous night, and Yan Hong repeated that Wu Yuanyi was abroad and mostly communicated through email. Generally, Wu Yuanyi would be the one to initiate contact. To prove he wasn’t lying, Yan Hong showed them the emails.

After checking, Hua Zhuyue was convinced Yan Hong wasn’t lying.

By now, they had entered the Mulan Chinese Herbal Medicine Planting Base in Qiaocheng. According to Yan Hong, Cao Mulan was always in contact with Wu Yuanyi.

Since Wu Yuanyi was listed by the police as a priority target, he fled abroad. He entrusted his previous businesses to Cao Mulan. According to Yan Hong, if there’s one person in this world who could find Wu Yuanyi, it would be Cao Mulan.