Chapter 324

Zhang Lao can be considered a master of riddles, his words everywhere full of hidden traps.

Fortunately, Chen Wuji's brain hasn't rusted yet; he understood the meaning behind Zhang Lao's words.

Xiao Yuji's father, or rather the Xiao Family, deals in information.

In Yunan City, for any big or small matter, if you go find him, you'll surely get an answer.

"Then you rest, Old Master; I need to prepare some things and go pay a visit to the Xiao Family Head." Chen Wuji said, "Better to act today than pick an auspicious day; now that we have this news, let's get it done quickly."

"Wait a moment." Zhang Lao stopped Chen Wuji, "I've hired an assistant these past two days to do odd jobs in the rear courtyard; you'll be taking over the Merciful Relief Hall someday, so meet him."

"Old Master, I'm now involved in so many things; do you still intend to hand the Merciful Relief Hall over to me? I'm worried I'll ruin its sign." Chen Wuji asked.

"No problem." Zhang Lao waved his hand, "In the future, find a few apprentices who can understand instructions, teach them well, leave the daily chores to them, and you just come by when you have time."

"The sign of the Merciful Relief Hall simply means to save people, letting those who seek treatment spend less money and get things done. I never required you to stay here every day; if you truly became a doctor, then back then I wouldn't have said another word, and you weren't lacking in matters either."

"Alright then." Chen Wuji said.

Zhang Lao smiled kindly, nodded, and called out toward the back.

Moments later, a young man dressed in gray coarse short clothes, wearing a tattered straw hat, with a pallid complexion, stepped out with somewhat unsteady steps.

Seeing him, Chen Wuji immediately thought of Xu Zengyi.

The two of them could totally become sworn brothers; both look gravely ill, as if they're about to die any moment.

"Greetings, Deputy Commander Chen."

He stepped up to Chen Wuji, and with politeness mixed with a hint of shyness, he clasped his hands.

Zhang Lao displeased said, "Why bother with official titles among our own? From now on call him Shopkeeper, or Senior Brother. I, this old fellow, have already decided to step down, so I won't take this name. Chen Wuji still has some troubles lately; let him have the name first, and I can temporarily help with the duties."

The young man looked over, greatly surprised by these words.

His reaction was somewhat strong, but he didn't say anything more.

He stared at Zhang Lao for a few breaths, then again clasped his hands toward Chen Wuji, saying, "Big… Shopkeeper."

Between the titles Senior Brother and Shopkeeper, he hesitated a moment, finally choosing Shopkeeper.

"No need for such formality; names are secondary. I don't even know what you're called yet." Chen Wuji said.

This young man presumably came to see Zhang Lao for treatment, and then Zhang Lao kept him here to work.

The rear courtyard indeed needs someone to do odd jobs.

Sorting and preparing medicinal ingredients is a complex process that takes much time; Xiaoyu is flighty, he does what Zhang Lao orders, but if not told, he often pretends not to see what he sees.

"I have no name; I only know my surname is Kong. Once I met someone who asked my name; I saw a large stone by the road and casually took the name Jianshi." The young man replied with a half-smile, indifferent.

"You can call me Kong Jianshi, Shopkeeper, or like many others call me Wild Dog. As a child begging, people often grew annoyed, always scolding me as being as hateful as a stray dog; later I found this nickname not so bad."

He calmly recounted his past hardships as a joke, his face showing a trace of reminiscence, paired with that half-smiling expression, as if those weren't hardships at all, but rather a youth worth commemorating.

"I won't turn your suffering into a name to shout all day; let's just call you Kong Jianshi. Your name is well chosen." Chen Wuji said.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper."

Kong Jianshi glanced at Zhang Lao, slightly bowed his head to Chen Wuji, and said, "Shopkeeper, if you have no other orders, I'll go do work in the back."

"Go ahead."

After Kong Jianshi left, Chen Wuji asked Zhang Lao, "Old Master, what illness does he have?"

Just looking at Kong Jianshi's complexion and appearance, Chen Wuji couldn't see anything at all.

"He doesn't have any illness; he's just weak, and from often going hungry as a child he ended up like this." Zhang Lao said with a light smile, "Alright, if you're busy, go attend to your business; don't block this old man basking in the sun."

"Got it, then you take your time sunbathing; I'll go see if the Xiao Family Head is willing to take me as a son-in-law." Chen Wuji joked, then left the Merciful Relief Hall.

Having just crossed the street and taken only a few steps, he suddenly saw Qin Zhanhong standing under a roadside tree, still wearing an eye-catching red dress, holding a sword in her arms, her eyes full of fervor.

Chen Wuji, upon seeing her appearance, felt his heart skip a beat.

This woman seems to have become addicted.

"Already free so soon? There's a quiet, elegant inn nearby; let's go up and sit." Qin Zhanhong laughed, lecherous yet warm, like a small creature that has come out to gently hunt for food.

Chen Wuji gave a light chuckle; he just knew.

As they got along longer, those subtle hints hidden in their features also began to become apparent.

"Really not possible right now." Chen Wuji laughed.

"You also know about the Cao Family's matter; it cannot be left unresolved, but resolving it is somewhat tricky. Right now I need to go visit someone to see if they are willing to give me some guidance, to point out a clear path for me."

Qin Zhanhong furrowed his brow, pouted his reddish lips, and muttered petulantly, "Really annoying, who should I go find? Or I could wear a mask and have him brought here."

"Don't, this matter really must not be acted on impulsively." Chen Wuji hurriedly advised.

"These leaders cannot die; losing even one would easily cause trouble, so we should proceed steadily. The person I want to see is the master behind Jian Shan, the head of the Xiao Family, that is, Xiao Yuji's father."

Yunan's current situation is like a powder keg.

Sparks have already begun to appear on the surface; if he secretly eliminates any one of them at this critical juncture, that powder keg will definitely explode.

Once it explodes, everything is over.

"Little Tickling Chicken's father? What's so special about seeing him? Just have Little Tickling Chicken pass a message." Qin Zhanhong said, "I thought it was someone else; turns out it's an acquaintance."

Chen Wuji looked astonished, "Little Tickling Chicken? When did you two become so close?"

"We two... are like that." Qin Zhanhong gave a somewhat lewd chuckle, "Haven't you heard the saying, comrades must gather together?"

"I've heard it before, but I really didn't expect your relationship to be good enough to earn such a nickname." Chen Wuji laughed.

The nickname Little Tickling Chicken— the more people who know it, the more Xiao Yuji will want to kill Qin Zhanhong; if they were merely acquaintances, Qin Zhanhong would definitely not dare give Xiao Yuji such a nickname.