"Quick reactions, but your cultivation is far too weak."
Shao Rong glanced at Du Zheng, then turned to Lu Zhiyuan and Physician Xu with a smile. "I hope I haven't frightened you. These are unusual circumstances, so I had no choice but to impose on you."
"Weren't we brought here to treat someone? What are you doing...?"
Physician Xu looked fearfully at Shao Rong and the two men who had appeared atop the courtyard wall.
Lu Zhiyuan frowned deeply, searching for an escape route. A moment later, he sighed inwardly.
There was no way out. Shao Rong's position effectively blocked every possible route. With Lu Zhiyuan's current strength, forcing his way through would probably leave him little better off than Du Zheng.
Judging by what he had just done, Shao Rong was utterly ruthless. This trip had become truly dangerous.
"You are here to treat someone. Your friend overreacted, so I had no choice." Shao Rong spread his hands. "Please, both of you."
Physician Xu's hands and feet trembled. He was an ordinary physician. When had he ever faced anything like this? Lu Zhiyuan stepped forward to support him and led him into the courtyard.
Shao Rong tilted his head toward Du Zheng. Someone immediately came to help Du Zheng up and brought him inside as well.
"Something happened, and our brothers were injured. Heal them, and you'll receive every bit of your medical fee. We won't harm either of you."
Many wounded men lay on the floor of the main hall. The smell of blood struck them as they entered. That was what Du Zheng had smelled, alerting him that something was wrong. Unfortunately, it had been too late.
"You must keep your word," Physician Xu said, forcing himself to remain calm.
"We have that much honor when it comes to the men who save our lives."
Shao Rong grinned. "But you have to heal them first. If you can't, don't blame us for what happens!"
Physician Xu's expression stiffened. Not daring to look at him again, he went straight to a wounded man. He wanted only to treat them quickly and leave.
As a resident physician at Clearwell Clinic, Xu Wencen was highly skilled in medicine. A brief examination was enough to decide on treatment.
He gave Lu Zhiyuan a few quiet instructions. Lu Zhiyuan began applying medicine while Xu Wencen moved to the next patient.
Du Zheng leaned against the wall and watched, his eyes filled with cold resentment. Afraid the others would notice, he lowered his head and closed his eyes. Only his clenched jaw betrayed his feelings.
Before long, all of the ten-odd injured men in the hall had been treated with medicine. As their pain eased, smiles appeared on their faces.
Xu Wencen wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a small breath of relief. Their injuries were similar, mostly blade wounds, so treating them was not particularly difficult.
Almost any clinic in Stillshade could probably have treated these people.
Presumably, however, they had identities they needed to conceal and dared not enter the city. They had to trick others into coming out to treat them instead.
"You're a skilled physician indeed. On behalf of my companions, thank you!"
Shao Rong was all smiles now, with no trace of his earlier menace.
"You flatter me." Xu Wencen waved a hand. "May we leave now?"
He did not even ask about the medical fee. He only wanted to leave safely.
"Not yet. One more person needs treatment. Follow me."
Shao Rong walked ahead. Xu Wencen glanced at Lu Zhiyuan and sighed. It was still not over. Lu Zhiyuan said nothing, continually assessing the worst that could happen and preparing to escape.
They reached the rear courtyard. It had evidently been tidied and was much cleaner. Servants came and went. Judging by their clothes, they were probably refugees.
"Boss, the physician is here."
They entered a room where a man lay in bed. Several others stood beside him, watching the two newcomers intently.
They looked ready to pounce and kill them at the first sign of anything wrong.
"Heal our boss, and you can leave. All of this will be yours, too." Shao Rong pointed to the silver on a table. At a glance, there were at least a hundred silver taels.
The medical fee was certainly generous, but accepting it might cost them their lives.
Shao Rong had probably made Xu Wencen treat the others first because he doubted the physician's skill. Only after they had been treated had he brought the two men here.
Refusal was impossible. Xu Wencen stepped forward to take the man's pulse. A moment later, he frowned slightly, looking hesitant.
One of the men spoke in a low voice, radiating such viciousness that Xu Wencen's wrist shook. He nearly fell over.
"I can, I can." Wiping sweat from his brow, he spoke quietly. "Unlike the others, this man has serious internal injuries. Ordinary medicinal ingredients won't be enough to heal him completely. He'll need Healing Pills as well."
"Then why are you hesitating?"
"I haven't brought any Healing Pills."
Xu Wencen looked miserable. Today's free medical treatment was for refugees, so he had brought only ordinary medicines. Remedies for treating martial artists were all back at the clinic.
"So you can't treat him now. Is that it?"
The voice turned cold. They knew about Healing Pills, but the earlier fighting had already depleted their stock. Were they supposed to send someone into Stillshade to buy more?
The gate guards were checking everyone strictly. Refugees could not enter, and people with uncertain identities like theirs would have difficulty as well. Besides, only Xu Wencen claimed Healing Pills would work. Who knew whether he was right?
Perhaps the physician was merely hiding his inadequate skill behind a lack of pills. If so, they might as well kill him and prevent word from getting out.
"Let me think. Let me think!"
Xu Wencen trembled involuntarily. The men around him no longer concealed their killing intent. If his answer failed to satisfy them, a blade would probably fall in the next instant.
"Physician Xu, I have some Healing Pills."
Lu Zhiyuan stepped forward and took a vial from the pouch at his waist. He had brewed them as a trial batch a few days earlier, after reaching Proficient in their preparation.
They looked ordinary, but were good enough for treating injuries. He had not sold them and still carried them with him.
Xu Wencen was taken aback for a moment, then brightened with relief. He quickly took out a pill and offered it to Shao Rong. "Have him take this with warm water. I'll then use acupuncture, and his condition should improve."
Shao Rong smelled the pill, confirmed it was a Healing Pill, and put it into the mouth of the man in bed.
Xu Wencen took out silver needles and inserted them one by one into the patient's body. A moment later, the man coughed loudly and spat out a mouthful of blood. His complexion visibly improved.