Chapter 39: Great Memory Restoration Technique

After the time it took to finish a cup of tea, the guests were just about to report what color Sasaki's underwear was.

Ding Yi also carried out ten crates of soybeans with a few Embroidered Uniform Guard, looking at the ten crates with delight in his heart.

This wasn't just ten crates of soybeans; this was Ding Yi's achievement, the door‑knocker that let him and his two brothers eat at the official's table.

"Sir, the ten crates of soybeans are still here."

"Well done, step aside and rest for now."

Suddenly, a clamor rose from outside the house.

An old voice called out: "Is this the place? Hurry, hurry, hurry, move faster!"

Fang Ming's voice also came: "Minister Zhang, this is it; our superiors have already taken control of this place, please don't rush."

All that could be seen was an old man rushing into the courtyard, his eyes continually scanning it.

"Where are the soybeans? Where are the soybeans? Where are the soybeans?"

Immediately after, the old man saw Sasaki and Yamamoto undergoing punishment, his face turning pale; although he possessed Innate Realm cultivation, he had clearly never killed anyone, and had hardly ever seen blood.

The scholar hurried over to report to Shen Qing: "Sir, this is Zhang Shoutian of the Divine Agriculture Institute, Minister Zhang."

Shen Qing rose and waved: "Minister Zhang, please come this way; let's talk inside, the soybeans are here as well."

Shen Qing felt favorable toward these Ministers of Agriculture.

The reason was simple: in the capital, big and small officials all wanted to curry favor with the Shen family; on every holiday, many officials came calling, looking for ways to present gifts.

But Shen Qing had never seen an official from one department: the Divine Agriculture Institute.

As he knew, those old men spent all day holed up in the Divine Agriculture Institute researching the cultivation of various crops and precious medicines.

The fourth‑generation Tianhe rice now planted throughout the Wu Dynasty was bred by them, its yield exactly double that of the original.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's ability to exchange various precious medicines also had nothing to do with the Divine Agriculture Hall; the Hall's Minister of Agriculture measured the Wu Dynasty's lands, found the most suitable places for growing precious medicines, and made their production possible on a large scale.

Who could bear ill will toward a group of diligent, non‑power‑seeking farmers?

Upon hearing about the soybeans, Zhang Shoutian's expression improved a little; he strode toward Shen Qing, at which point Fang Ming and a black‑skinned youth carrying a wooden crate also hurried over.

This youth was Zhang Shoutian's disciple, Jiao Yu, who without catching his breath hurriedly followed behind Zhang Shoutian.

Shen Qing led Zhang Shoutian into a side room.

Zhang Shoutian's tone was somewhat anxious: "Captain, where are those soybeans?"

"Ding Yi, bring a crate inside."

"Got it!"

Upon seeing the soybeans, Zhang Shoutian felt a bit refreshed, took a slight breath, and calmed down.

"Jiao Yu, prepare the Five Elements Calibration Device."

"Yes, Master."

Jiao Yu quickly cleared a space in the room to set down the wooden crate on his back, then opened the crate and took out a black stone the size of a human head and five dark‑silver magnets.

Jiao Yu skillfully assembled the pieces, using the black stone as a base and fixing the five dark‑silver magnets to it with brackets of unknown material.

Zhang Shoutian placed a soybean in the center of the black stone, pressed two fingers against the stone, and as his vital energy flowed in, the five dark‑silver magnets on the bracket began to spin rapidly.

In Shen Qing's view, Zhang Shoutian's vital energy split into five streams that flowed into the five magnets, then focused on the soybean.

The soybean in turn fed the five magnets a special tiny particle.

These tiny particles came in five colors, seemingly corresponding to the Five Elements—some unusually bright, some ordinary, some dim.

The scholar and Ding Yi were stunned; the sight was too fantastical for them to accept at once.

Jiao Yu, seeing their reaction, hurried to explain.

"Both sirs."

"According to the Five Elements Agriculture Classic written a thousand years ago by the Grand Minister of Agriculture Wang Zhuang, we discovered the plants' Five Elements deficiencies, and later generations improved crops and precious medicines based on the Five Elements."

"This Five Elements Calibration Device can capture the plants' Five Elements particles to judge their Five Elements balance."

"Unfortunately, this Five Elements Calibration Device is only a simplified version; its limit is capturing a few thousand Five Elements particles, but if placed in the capital with the most complete instrument, it could capture millions of such particles."

Ding Yi and the scholar were already stunned; the idea of a million particles painted a shocking picture.

Shen Qing's eyes also flickered; is this world's tech tree twisted?

No, you can't say it's twisted.

They simply abandoned developing electricity and used Qi instead.

It would be more accurate to say the tech tree has become the shape of this world.

Gradually, the black stone revealed particles mixed with a faint gray, seemingly showing a faint abnormality.

Zhang Shoutian's displeasure grew worse, and he couldn't help cursing.

"Vicious! So vicious! How could there be such a vicious people in the world!"

Jiao Yu was also dumbfounded; he had never seen his master so angry, and hurried forward to ask softly.

"Master, what's going on?"

Zhang Shoutian's voice suddenly rose.

"These soybeans look exactly like our third‑generation Zhonglin soybeans, but they are actually a completely different variety."

"These soybeans lack all Five Elements, and even mix harmful Five Elements substances into them."

"If ordinary people consume them long‑term, they will damage the body's Five Elements, impair the mind, and harm the body."

Shen Qing suddenly asked.

"What will the offspring be like?"

Zhang Shoutian clenched his fists tightly.

"If these soybeans are eaten long‑term, the infants born will have a much higher chance of physical defects and mental impairments."

Ding Yi and the scholar's faces changed drastically, and they shouted angrily.

Damn beast! How could they use something so vicious?

Zhang Shoutian lifted his foot and was about to walk outside.

We must find the original seeds; we cannot let this thing harm the people.

Jiao Yu, go go go! Quick quick quick!

Jiao Yu hurriedly grabbed Zhang Shoutian: "Master! Wait, wait! The Embroidered Uniform Guard officials are here."

Zhang Shoutian also came to his senses, his gaze fell on Shen Qing and the scholar; he stepped forward and tightly grabbed Shen Qing's arm.

Sir! I beg you, you must retrieve the original seeds.

Shen Qing nodded, his voice calm.

Okay, I understand.

Shen Qing slowly walked out of the house; outside, Sasaki and Yamamoto had already been interrogated until they were like dogs.

Seeing Shen Qing approach, Lao Li immediately handed over the Register of Impermanence containing the interrogation records.

After a quick glance, there were still seven hidden Japanese pirates in Luo River City, and several others associated with them.

But they never managed to find out where the soybeans came from.

Shen Qing looked down at Yamamoto, who lay like a dead dog.

Tell me, where did this batch of soybeans come from?

Yamamoto panted heavily: "I don't know..."

Don't know? Fine, fine, it seems the Japanese pirates have terrible memories—I'll help you remember. Black Dog, bring me a hammer!

Black Dog moved extremely quickly and found a copper hammer in the courtyard.

Someone, hold his hand down.

The two junior flag officers rushed forward and firmly pinned Yamamoto's left forearm.

Yamamoto panicked: "What are you doing?"

"What? Of course I'm helping you regain your memory."

As his words fell, the copper hammer traced a cold arc in the air and slammed hard onto the back of Yamamoto's hand.

Only the sound of the iron hammer striking flesh was heard, then the sound of bones breaking.

This blow directly caved in Yamamoto's palm.

Yamamoto's mouth opened wide, but he could not utter a scream; only his bloodshot eyes bulging out proclaimed his agony.

I... really don't know...

Of course, the only response was another strike of the copper hammer.

Bang!!!

The copper hammer directly smashed Yamamoto's palm into a pulp.

Yamamoto completely collapsed, screaming like a madman.

I'll talk! I'll talk! They came from the Blue Forest Sword Sect...

The two junior flag officers snorted coldly and spat on Yamamoto's face.

You bastard, you won't talk unless you get beaten!

The two turned to look at Shen Qing, but Shen Qing remained icy and calmly said:

"Hold down his other hand."

The two junior flag officers immediately complied; Yamamoto struggled like a madman, but to no avail—his Sea of Qi was shattered, and with the frenzied torture, his strength had dropped to less than one percent, making it impossible for him to break free from the arms of the two Acquired Realm junior flag officers.

What are you doing? I already told you...

Shen Qing raised the copper hammer high.

Your memory hasn't returned yet? Does randomly saying a name help?

This is one function of the Innate Six Senses: it can sense whether someone is lying, and when facing someone on the verge of collapse, its accuracy can reach a hundred percent.

A sound of breaking wind rang out.

Bang!

Yamamoto's right palm also caved in deeply, the whole hand twisted irregularly.

I'll say... it's the White Cherry Mountain Villa...

Please don't hit me anymore...

Shen Qing snorted, and the copper hammer came down again, smashing Yamamoto's hand into bloody pulp.

You say don't hit, then don't hit?