Chapter 182: Shall We Cooperate, Master?

The next day, Ming Tiao guided Wen Gu to the courtyard where Huang Ji resided.

The courtyard was located within a military ward in the Outer City District.

It had high courtyard walls, with Armored Soldiers guarding both inside and out.

Wen Gu took out the token given by Lao Zhao to verify his identity before they were allowed to enter.

Huang Ji was a middle-aged man with dark skin and a somewhat slovenly appearance.

He was very thin, and his body was covered in dot-like scars.

According to what Ming Tiao had said, these were all left behind when Huang Ji performed Gu-cleansing on himself.

After a year of recuperation, although Huang Ji was still very thin, the scars had faded somewhat, and he looked more spirited.

At this time every day, Huang Ji would be in the small courtyard's pergola, blowing in the natural breeze and savoring high-grade tea.

He hadn't been used to the tea at first, but as he drank it, he began to appreciate its flavor.

The tea set he was currently using was of high quality, all taken from the storehouse by Lao Zhao.

It truly was the sort of thing used by the nobility!

I, Huang Ji, have also started living a good life without worrying about food or clothing!

Today, just as Huang Ji was savoring his tea, there was a sudden commotion outside the courtyard, followed by the opening of the courtyard gate.

The thickened courtyard gate was not opened often, and it made a creaking sound as it was pushed.

Huang Ji calmly raised his eyes to look over.

He guessed that after so many days, Pei Jun must be coming to urge him again.

In the past, it was Pei Jun and the people around Lao Zhao who took turns coming to work on him, telling him to hurry up and display his expertise.

But each time, Huang Ji used the excuse that his body had not yet recovered and he needed time to recuperate in peace to continue stalling.

Oh, it wasn't that he hadn't done anything. The Gu insects he had brought to Beidi were still being raised; as their numbers increased through breeding, he would occasionally give a few to Lao Zhao for those famous physicians to use in their experiments. Therefore, upon hearing the movement at the gate, Huang Ji was not the least bit flustered.

That was until he saw a young man with a scholarly air step into the courtyard.

Beside the young man stood Commander Ming Tiao, who was standing respectfully.

It wasn't Pei Jun, and yet someone who could make Ming Tiao so respectful...

Huang Ji said, "Zhao Clan Young Master?"

Wen Gu walked toward him and replied, "That is my cousin."

Huang Ji scrutinized him: "An ordinary person wouldn't be able to come here."

Wen Gu arrived at the pergola and sat down: "I am a person with connections."

Huang Ji couldn't be bothered to express an opinion, only shooting him a look: I don't believe a word of it!

If the Zhao Family really let a superficial person with connections come to this place, then—the Zhao Clan is finished!

Huang Ji could still reason that much out.

However, the gentle and refined face opposite him always made him feel uneasy.

To tell the truth, Huang Ji would rather face Pei Jun's cold face.

Although Pei Jun was strict and cold-hearted, Pei Jun couldn't use the methods he excelled at, so he couldn't do anything about him.

But the person in front of him looked gentle and easy to talk to, seemingly a very reasonable scholar, yet Huang Ji had an intuition that this person was not easy to deal with!

Not having figured out the other party's background, Huang Ji did not speak.

Ming Tiao introduced him: "This is our Patrol Guard Division's Deputy Envoy Wen."

Huang Ji could not receive news from the outside and did not know about Wen Gu, so upon hearing this, he just gave an "Oh."

As soon as he heard Patrol Guard Division, he knew that Pei Jun probably didn't have time to come, so this Deputy Envoy had taken over the task to persuade him to display his talents. Wen Gu asked at this moment: "Huang Dashi, do you have any interest in a Microscope?"

Huang Ji thought to himself: Sure enough, he wants to use bait to fish for me again!

Coming back empty-handed so many times, yet still not learning his lesson!

That Microscope was indeed a bit interesting; if he could use it, that would certainly be fine, but if he couldn't get it, it didn't matter.

Thus, Huang Ji replied: "It's alright."

People with ability have confidence.

When he fled to Beidi, the Gu insects he brought had passed practical tests; only after proving they were useful did he bring them along to perform Gu-inoculation on himself.

And the Gu insects he raised, he had also generously given a few to Lao Zhao, letting Lao Zhao's subordinates go and study them.

I'm afraid those people can't even keep the Gu insects alive!

They still have to rely on me!

Huang Ji drank his tea to himself. In his heart, he continued to mock the group of physicians under Lao Zhao.

Although a long time ago, shaman-physicians were not separated, nowadays, it was like a set of parents having many children; those children had all grown up, established their own families, and separated, each with their own future, and often fighting among themselves. Likewise, a Gu Master like Huang Ji and that group of physicians looked down on each other.

Even sharing the same surname doesn't mean they are the same family; school-of-thought disputes only lead to more intense conflicts!

Lao Zhao understood this too, so he didn't force him to talk much with that group of physicians.

Wen Gu observed Huang Ji's micro-expressions.

People who can achieve success in their own fields of expertise mostly have extremely strong self-confidence and firm beliefs.

Ordinary methods could not persuade him.

Huang Ji indeed looked down on many of the people who came to persuade him, especially those who weren't even of the Physician school, yet opened their mouths to talk about how to resist the Evil Plague. My master-disciple lineage has lasted for hundreds of years, focusing all our energy on studying this; you want to challenge my lineage with your few short decades of knowledge?

There were too many ideological conflicts, and there were even people who wanted him to turn from "evil" to "righteous," which Huang Ji was even less willing to do.

Wen Gu really had no intention of changing Huang Ji.

Professional matters should be left to professional people; at most, it would just be more exchanges and offering suggestions to see if they could be realized.

"I came here today because I have some questions and would like to ask Huang Dashi to clear up my doubts."

"I wonder if Huang Dashi has ever heard of the Inoculation Method for preventing smallpox?" Wen Gu asked.

Huang Ji nodded slightly: "I have heard of it."

He paid attention to all those "strange and peculiar" medical arts.

But this "inoculation technique" had not been widely used, and it was said the success rate was not high.

The people of the Physician school had not publicized it either.

Wen Gu continued: "The inoculation technique has been constantly improving. When I was on my Study Tour, I once heard that someone from the Physician school had improved the 'Human Pox Technique' to the 'Cow Pox Technique'. The virulence of cow pox is weaker, and those who contract it only have severe local reactions; overall, it is milder and safer."

Huang Ji had yet to react, but Ming Tiao and the others beside him exclaimed in shock: "Truly? Deputy Envoy Wen, is what you say true?"

Wen Gu was not annoyed at being interrupted: "I have already spoken to Commissioner Zhao about this matter, and the physicians are also conducting trials. If results are produced, they will be used on you all as well." In such chaotic times, various epidemics were like a dance of demons; being able to prevent even one was a life-saving method.

While speaking, Wen Gu observed Huang Lin's reaction.

Ming Tiao and the others were so agitated, but Huang Ji only revealed a hint of surprise and curiosity upon hearing of cow pox, which quickly subsided afterward. It did not seem feigned; he truly lacked any great curiosity.

After all, both the Human Pox Technique and the Cow Pox Technique were aimed at viruses, while Huang Ji dealt with parasites.