TWWDS - Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Dr. Zhou quietly studied the woman before him. The more he looked, the more he felt that though Chao Qingxiu was young, she acted with uncommon steadiness and was intelligent as well. Then he thought of his disciple and could not help feeling a pang of regret, convinced that he truly had no talent for teaching students.
Other families' children might make something of themselves, while his own could not. Such a stark contrast made it hard not to lose heart.
Dr. Zhou said, "Gang Leader Chao has honored my humble home with a visit. Why did you not tell me your true identity? I prepared nothing here, and I have entertained you far too casually these past few days."
Chao Qingxiu smiled faintly. "I am young and of little virtue. If I went about invoking my gang's name at every turn, would that not diminish Zizhuo Gang's standing?"
After speaking with them a little longer, Dr. Zhou finally explained why he had come. "My unworthy disciple has caused such a scene. This is entirely my fault for failing to guide him properly. Not only will the pharmacy be unable to open now, but I fear I shall have to find somewhere else to live."
Chao Qingxiu followed his lead. "Your residence is secluded, so it would indeed be best to choose somewhere livelier. Since Zizhuo Gang accepted the escort, one of our people will see you there."
Dr. Zhou said, "I can still get about for now. I had intended to sell the stock of medicine in my possession to Wenbei Sect, then move to Shouzhou. Now that Gang Leader Chao has saved my life, I have no way to repay you. I would like to join Zizhuo Gang and serve at your command." He rose and bowed to Chao Qingxiu.
Chao Qingxiu reached out to help him rise. "I have had that thought for some time. I am honored by your willingness, Dr. Zhou."
Even before their visit, Chao Qingxiu and Yan Kaixian had suspected that the Zhou residence had attracted the attention of men from the martial world, and that Dr. Zhou himself might have had some warning. Originally, Chao Qingxiu assumed he meant to seek shelter with Wenbei Sect and place himself under Cen Zhaoque's protection. Yet Wenbei Sect was so powerful and wealthy that it might not have valued him. Having also been saved by Chao Qingxiu, he had instead resolved to join an emerging gang, where he would find it easier to make a name for himself. In time, he might even become one of its elders.
One was looking for work, while the other needed an employee. They agreed at once.
Once they had reached terms, Dr. Zhou became even more respectful. His full name was Zhou Youwen. He had loved the way of medicine since childhood and had even practiced seated meditation and regulating his breath, so he knew a good deal about treating internal injuries. Unfortunately, because he had never trained in the external martial arts, he lacked any ability to fight, and when someone struck him from hiding, he had been unable to offer any resistance.
Dr. Zhou had assembled many rare medicinal ingredients in his home. Now that he had joined the gang and become one of Chao Qingxiu's subordinates, he might as well take her to his storeroom and choose a few gifts for his future Gang Leader.
Though Wenbei Sect had a physician of its own, it would still buy Zhou Youwen's medicines because he possessed certain unique skills. He was expert at making two pills. One was the Chenxiang Pill, used specifically to clear toxins from the body. Even when it could not remove them entirely, it could suppress the poison. The other was the Huazhi Pill, which treated stagnation of vital energy and damaged meridians.
Noticing that Chao Qingxiu was interested in medicine, Zhou Youwen asked her a question now and then, each one cutting straight to the heart of the matter. He soon became engrossed in their discussion and carefully explained where many of the herbs had come from. He then pointed to a brocade box on a wooden shelf. "That is Golden-Thread Miwu, a fragrant medicinal herb. It can only be stored in a silver or gold box. In truth, ordinary aromatic herbs can also be used to make Qixiang Pills, but using these will make them work far better."
Chao Qingxiu followed Zhou Youwen's gaze. The wooden shelf before her bore a label reading "Aromatic Herbs B2." Only four boxes stood upon it, and the seals on their lids read "Golden-Thread Miwu," "Juan Shi," "Luofu Sweet Flag," and "Baihua Lingling Herb," respectively.
Zhou Youwen noticed that Chao Qingxiu's gaze lingered a moment too long. Although she was the head of a gang, her bearing was much like that of a scholar, so he wondered whether she made a habit of wearing fragrant herbs. In any case, every herb on that shelf could ward off poison and repel insects, so it would not hurt to send her some later.
While examining the medicines on the wooden shelves, Chao Qingxiu turned over the possible motives behind her host's disciple.
She herself was nobody of any renown, Yan Kaixian had spent years running escorts without encountering any serious trouble, and Zizhuo Gang had only just been rebuilt. Even if someone had wished to target them, there had been no need to expend so much effort.
What if the aim had been to weaken Wenbei Sect?
Chao Qingxiu considered this, then decided to set her suspicions aside for the time being. Looking into the matter would be too troublesome, and it had little to do with the main purpose of her journey.
Should Dr. Zhou remain safe after joining Zizhuo Gang, it would be far more likely that whoever stood behind this was preparing to move against Wenbei Sect.
Since they had agreed that he would live with Zizhuo Gang, Dr. Zhou would naturally have to move the valuable belongings in his residence. To be safe, Yan Kaixian immediately wrote to headquarters and asked Yue Zhiwen to bring some of the gang's elite fighters and come in person.
Yue Zhiwen was fond of learning about many different things. When he heard how many medical books Dr. Zhou had collected, he readily agreed to make the journey.
As for the medicines originally bound for Wenbei Sect, Chao Qingxiu and Yan Kaixian would continue to Shizhou and escort them there.
Zhou Youwen felt terribly embarrassed. Before, he had not known who they were, but now he knew that Chao Qingxiu was the Gang Leader of Zizhuo Gang and his own superior. How could he let her run errands for him? He refused again and again. "It is only a small matter. I could never dare put the Gang Leader to such trouble."
Chao Qingxiu shook her head. "Once we have accepted the escort, we must see it through to the end. Besides, I am young and know little. This is exactly the sort of journey I need for experience."
Remembering how Chao Qingxiu had seen through that group's scheme at their first encounter, Dr. Zhou felt the Gang Leader truly lived up to her title. She held herself to exacting standards.
Until Second Hall Master Yue arrived, Chao Qingxiu could not leave, so she remained at Zhou's Pharmacy for another three days. She made the most of her time reading Medical Outline of Pulse Diagnosis. Whenever she encountered something she truly could not understand, she placed the book in the newly unlocked Skill Slot and let the system interpret it. From time to time, she also went to ask Dr. Zhou about questions from the book. The days passed so contentedly that they reminded Chao Qingxiu of the many days and nights she had spent facing deadlines before her transmigration.
During this time, Chief Constable Tan called several times, first to ask after an old friend's health and then to supply a few details the case still required. Later, he found an opportunity to speak with Chao Qingxiu and Yan Kaixian alone.
"...At first, I thought they were simply a band of strong-arm men. But when I looked back later, I realized how meticulously they had planned. They had even arranged for someone to take the blame for them. They did not behave like ordinary bandits in every respect."
Chao Qingxiu asked, "Did Chief Constable Tan get anything out of them?"
Chief Constable Tan replied, "Those men refuse to say anything, but I did find a token."
He drew a scroll from his sleeve, unrolled it, and held it where Chao Qingxiu could see.
The scroll depicted a strange insect with wings like a moth's, a body like an ant's, and a fierce, horrifying appearance that was difficult to describe.
Chao Qingxiu studied the insect, but her biological knowledge was plainly insufficient to determine what kind it was. She turned to Chief Constable Tan with a questioning look. He said, "Actually, I am not entirely sure what it is either. But the Six Doors once sent down an official dispatch mentioning an organization called the Vermilion Moth. Its members have been implicated in a number of cases. Gang Leader Chao, please be sure to remain on your guard."
"Thank you for the warning, Chief Constable Tan. I will keep it in mind."
Chao Qingxiu's peripheral vision swept across Yan Kaixian's face, and she saw a shadow cross her features as well.
After Chief Constable Tan had left, Yan Kaixian said, "The Gang Leader need not dwell on it. I have heard the name 'Vermilion Moth' before as well. They say the Vermilion Moth is linked to many unsolved murder cases. But the Wulin Alliance overawes the martial world, and those people do not dare commit evil openly. As for the region south of the Yangtze, since Sect Leader Cen became famous, they have behaved themselves far more quietly."
Chao Qingxiu nodded.
As a newcomer to the martial world, whenever she encountered information whose background she did not understand, Chao Qingxiu's usual approach was to listen and observe before forming a judgment.
As they spoke, footsteps approached from a distance. One set was heavy and unsteady, while the other was light but hurried. Chao Qingxiu turned toward the door and ushered a man in close-fitting martial attire inside.
The instant he saw Chao Qingxiu, the man bowed deeply. "Your subordinate greets the Gang Leader and the Senior Hall Master."
Chao Qingxiu asked, "Has Second Brother Yue arrived?"
The man replied, "The Second Hall Master will arrive tomorrow morning. Fearing that the Gang Leader had been kept waiting too long, he sent me ahead on a fast horse to bring word."
Chao Qingxiu looked at Yan Kaixian and smiled. "We still came with too few people that day. If we had sent word ahead, as Second Brother Yue did, the two idlers on the street would not have had to spend half the day waiting and still fail to identify their target."
Having spent some time with Chao Qingxiu, Yan Kaixian had come to understand something of her temperament. She followed her lead with a smile. "The Gang Leader moves with such composure that even if those men knew when we were returning, they might still not know who we were."
She too understood then that the entire enemy plan had come to nothing precisely because, after arriving in Huashui City, the Gang Leader had not rushed to collect the escort goods. Instead, she had wandered here and there along the way, successfully hiding them from the eyes and ears of the two advance lookouts.
If it had been anyone else, Yan Kaixian would only have thought the woman had been lucky. Yet the one who had done it was their own Gang Leader...
No wonder she was the Gang Leader. Her strategic insight was truly astonishing!
Yue Zhiwen had estimated the time well and appeared precisely outside Zhou's Pharmacy a little after seven the next morning, knocking on the door.
Chao Qingxiu brought him before Dr. Zhou and introduced them. "This is Dr. Zhou, and this is Second Hall Master Yue. His martial arts are formidable, and he is meticulous. With him in charge here, you will both be safe." She then turned to Yue with a smile. "Second Brother Yue, I am leaving the Zhou residence in your hands."
Second Hall Master Yue replied, "I will not fail your trust. I also brought some things to give you."
Chao Qingxiu asked curiously, "What is it?"
Yan Kaixian said, "When I asked Brother Yue to come, I had him bring you a piece of soft armor."
It was an old piece of equipment left behind by the previous generation of Zizhuo Gang. Yan Kaixian had kept it, but it had been made to an adult's measurements. On Chao Qingxiu's present frame, it was only just possible to squeeze into.
Because she trusted the gang's members, Chao Qingxiu assumed she could not possibly have meant to mock her height. She had simply wanted to give her a little more protection.
Chao Qingxiu accepted her subordinate's consideration without embarrassment, but while changing she asked one additional question: "Is there trouble in Shouzhou?"
Yan Kaixian hesitated. "With Wenbei Sect there, Shouzhou is still fairly safe. But one should never overlook the possibility..."
Before her subordinate could finish, Chao Qingxiu understood what she meant. The soft armor had nothing to do with the atmosphere in Shouzhou's martial world. Yan Kaixian had simply gained an even fuller appreciation of her own Gang Leader's knack for stirring up trouble.
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