Chapter 438: The Crazy Probe of an Old Man and a Youth

"He was needled by me?" Zhang Lao stared in disbelief for a while, then asked as if just waking from a big dream.

Chen Wuji's expression slightly stiffened, "Old sir, why do you say that?"

Kong Jianshi, fetch my silver needle. Zhang Lao ordered.

Kong Jianshi put away the ruler, took from the front medicine shop a wooden box that looked old at first glance, two feet square, placed it on the table, and opened it.

Chen Wuji glanced at the items inside and his expression froze slightly.

What lay inside the box were indeed silver needles, but they should be called the oldest version of silver needles.

From Chen Wuji's modern perspective, these silver needles accurately speaking shouldn't be called silver needles; calling them torture devices might be more appropriate.

Half a finger wide, half an arm long silver needles—who seeing them wouldn't be dazed?

Those who need needling just seeing this thing, their illness might be cured on the spot.

"Although silver needles have become ever finer and smaller nowadays, I still am used to this kind." Zhang Lao said leisurely, "My master could be considered an antique; he always insisted on returning to antiquity in medical theory, everything as in ancient times, I learned this set and have used it all my life."

"It's a pity that those I have needled before, when they come for treatment a second time, accept any other method, but cannot accept acupuncture, which I regret."

"If there's no accident, the person you mentioned should have seen me for illness and undergone needling."

"That answer is like an answer, but unfortunately Chen Wuji doesn't believe it."

He could still distinguish the fear in Zhang Lao's words from the apprehension in Snake Staff Old Man's words.

"Old Master, I'm a bit older than Little Fish." Chen Wuji said wistfully.

"This old man, if he doesn't want to say, just say it; why beat around the bush telling him such a story."

Zhang Lao fell silent after hearing that, then closed the wooden box holding the silver needles and pushed it toward Chen Wuji: "You're busy with official duties now, but you mustn't forget what you promised earlier—take this set of silver needles. The shopkeeper of Ciji Zhai must keep this set of silver needles; don't discard it just because it looks old—it's a top important item."

Chen Wuji sighed inwardly; Old Master again defaulted to changing the subject.

"Since Old Master insists, I'll accept it." Chen Wuji said.

"It's not that I don't want to take over Ciji Zhai's sign; I'm just worried I lack the energy to attend to this place, which would ruin its reputation and disgrace this century-old sign."

"Take it, take it." Zhang Lao waved his hand with a chuckle, then returned to the previous topic and said, "Ciji Zhai indeed has some sayings; that Snake Staff Old Man probably hasn't endured my needles either, but I can't tell you these things now—speaking mysteriously, the timing just isn't right."

"If spoken plainly, this matter involves a wide scope; knowing it now would only add worries, affecting what you'll do next, delaying your layout in Hezhou and establishing yourself in Nan Jun."

Chen Wuji heard what he wanted to hear, yet it felt as if he heard nothing.

If one must be direct, it's probably that his many earlier speculations were finally affirmed by Zhang Lao in these few simple words lacking any substantive content.

Chen Wuji sat upright, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "Old Master, then this way: I'll ask; if you can speak, speak; if not, we won't discuss it."

"Good."

"Ciji Zhai is essentially a power in its own right?"

Zhang Lao sighed helplessly, "You little brat are quite slippery; Ciji Zhai is indeed a power, with medicine shops spread throughout Da Yu and the surrounding countries, all disciples of the same ancestral master."

"Is it court or wild?"

"Isn't this obvious enough? Naturally we are Jianghu wildlings; people like us wouldn't catch the court's eye. Don't think us too mysterious or too powerful; some fear us merely because they've suffered at our hands." Zhang Lao said softly.

"Just as the Li family, which no longer exists in Yunan, and the Gu family now occupying Hezhou, you guess whether they now fear and hate you?"

Chen Wuji nodded, "The reasoning is indeed so, but it's not just Snake Staff Old Man fearing you; that's why I ask."

"How many fear me isn't important; more people in Yunan City have received my old benevolence." Zhang Lao said, "It depends on who says it and from what position."

"Yunan, a place of mixed fish and dragons; even if I'm a doctor, without some ruthless means it's hard to stand firm here—surely many fear me."

Chen Wuji accepted this reasoning.

But he always felt Zhang Lao was changing the subject on purpose, covering up.

"Is Ciji Zhai's main purpose healing and saving people, also a source of wealth?" Chen Wuji asked from another angle, continuing to probe.

Zhang Lao nodded with a smile, "Ciji Zhai is fundamentally a medicine shop; healing and saving people is naturally the main business and the fundamental source of wealth."

"Speaking of this, my good disciple, I have a question: do you understand the Daoist sect?"

"I know a bit, but not much!" Chen Wuji said honestly.

Zhang Lao suddenly showed a hint of relief, saying, "After thinking for a while I finally found an example that can simply explain this to you: Ciji Zhai is very like the Daoist sect—an ancestral master passed down the lineage, and countless disciples have carried it forward."

"But Ciji Zhai across the world isn't monolithic; it's a power—if you bring this set of silver needles to any Ciji Zhai anywhere, they'll give you assistance."

"However, saying it's strong doesn't quite fit; I make some people in Yunan City fear and be associated with Ciji Zhai, but regarding that plaque, this lineage isn't closely related."

Chen Wuji realized, "So it's just because of you yourself, Old Master?"

"That can be said; as for the specifics—what it's because of and what I've done—I'll tell you after you've firmly established yourself in Nan Jun, or before this old bone of mine dies; hearing it now would only affect you." Zhang Lao said frankly.

Chen Wuji actually still had some doubts.

But Zhang Lao's explanation is indeed reasonable and well-founded.

After much thought, Chen Wuji found he couldn't come up with another tricky angle to further test this old man; he could only give up the pretense.

But deep down, he only believed Zhang Lao's saying fifty percent.

"Old Master, do you know about that Snake Staff Old Man?" Chen Wuji asked.

Zhang Lao nodded, "I have indeed had some dealings with him."

"This person uses the false name Huo Wudi; what he specifically did in his youth and what crime got him exiled to Yunan I've never figured out. But it seems he either had no official post or came from an official family."

"This name is false; information that can be clarified about a false name is very limited—just listen, no need to quarrel over the false name."