Chapter 217: Following the Master's Orders

Although the information previously investigated by the Patrol Guard Division had mentioned it, the experience of actually seeing the "mountain scenery" of the mountain opposite was quite different! Li Sihu suddenly felt the surroundings were filled with yin energy and could not help but shiver.

He asked in a trembling voice: "... Gongzi! Do we really have to stay here?!"

Seeing Wen Gu nod, Li Sihu could only cheer himself up inwardly. If his master didn't care, he, as an attendant, couldn't be too cowardly! Wen Gu looked at the stone tablets on the opposite mountain, and thought again of the information in the Patrol Guard Division's investigation regarding Doctor Tang.

This Doctor Tang was a research fanatic who had bought corpses for dissection even before the chaotic times. When he was strapped for cash and couldn't afford them, he ran to the border, where wars occurred and there were always corpses that couldn't be buried in time. Today, the graveyard on the opposite mountain was partly arranged by the families of the deceased, and partly by these famous doctors.

Taking Doctor Tang as an example, those who were severely injured and couldn't pull through, or those infected with the Evil Plague, could choose to come to Doctor Tang.

Besides being able to exchange food and medicine for their families, they could also be buried instead of being burned. They could obtain a "resting place" and also have a spot for their families to pay their respects. If they couldn't afford a coffin, at least they could have a stone tablet. For the common folk, this was already a very good final destination.

In this era, there were distinctions between noble and base.

People of different status had different forms of tombstones.

Even in these chaotic times, where there were no great constraints on etiquette, the commoners still dared not use anything too extravagant.

There was no government to pursue it, but the nobles would be displeased. No one dared to imagine what the noble lords would do if they became angry.

So, looking out, on that mountain opposite, near the foot of the mountain, many were very small, like stepping stones—small stone tablets that people with poor eyesight might not even see. Doctor Tang, who never considered taboos, even felt he had arranged a very good courtyard that would surely satisfy this new Apprentice! He summoned his eldest Disciple to introduce him to Wen Gu:

"This is my eldest Disciple You Yu. I am usually busy with matters; if you have anything, just look for him directly. Don't be constrained here; do whatever you like." As long as you don't come to bother me!

Doctor Tang recited the second half of the sentence in his heart.

His eldest Disciple You Yu looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, very young, and was from the South; his father was a rural doctor.

Originally, he wanted to follow his master to learn more techniques so he could return to inherit his father's profession and also become a rural doctor. If he learned well, he could open a shop in a Town or County Town. But encountering the chaotic times, You Yu followed Doctor Tang to flee north and arrived at Shenyi Gu.

Unlike the superficial master-disciple relationship with Wen Gu, You Dashixiong was a properly initiated student, Doctor Tang's first-entry eldest Disciple.

Doctor Tang turned to his eldest Disciple again and said: "This is the new Apprentice, surnamed Rong. You treat them well on my behalf." Once You Dashixiong heard his master's words, he understood—treat them as an honored guest!

"Yes, this Disciple understands!" he replied.

Doctor Tang gave a few more simple instructions, his mind completely off these trivial matters.

With the divine artifact in hand, he only wanted to return to his room as quickly as possible to continue his research. He ignored all other chores, leaving them to the Apprentices and medicine boys. The eldest Disciple was young, but he was usually very steady in handling affairs, so Doctor Tang was very at ease.

With Doctor Tang gone, You Dashixiong faced Wen Gu and the other two with politeness tinged with respect, specifically having someone come to sweep the room again. Wen Gu thanked him: "Sorry to trouble you, Brother You."

You Dashixiong hurriedly said: "I wouldn't dare!"

Having entered the sect, forms of address were naturally based on the order of entry.

But this Young Master Rong was not a proper Apprentice, so even if the other party was polite, You Yu dared not respond with full confidence.

The master had already said to treat him as an honored guest, so You Yu naturally would not presume to act as the eldest Disciple.

After settling this honored guest, You Yu chatted with Li Sihu at the door for a while, then left quickly so as not to disturb the guest's rest.

The surrounding Apprentices and other medicine boys and medicine workers gathered around You Dashixiong at this time to inquire about the background of this new Apprentice. Without needing an introduction, it was clear at a glance that this newcomer was a connection!

They were not repulsed by this kind of pre-arranged connection.

He didn't take up a quota and brought his own resources to join, so he didn't constitute a competitive relationship with them.

The more such connections Doctor Tang had under him, the more sufficient the sect's Granary would be, and they wouldn't have to worry about going hungry.

Previously, Doctor Tang had never taken in such "connections," and they were actually a bit anxious.

Now they were at ease!

"Brother You, I just saw you chatting with that attendant for a long time. Are they from Xinzhou? Is Xinzhou City very chaotic right now?" an Apprentice asked. You Yu recalled his chat with Li Sihu and said: "It's not chaotic, but it is indeed quite tense."

The news of the assassination of that famous person in Xinzhou had already spread throughout Shenyi Gu.

"What a pity, I haven't even seen that renowned Deputy Envoy Wen!"

"I haven't seen him either."

"A person of that stature is not someone we can see just whenever we want!"

As they discussed, another Apprentice giggled: "Brother You, didn't you ask more about that new little junior brother?"

You Yu scolded in a low voice: "What little junior brother? Is that something you can call him?! You must address him as 'Young Master Rong'!"

"That's true, even the master didn't give him a cold face, so who are we." The Apprentice also lowered his voice, "That Young Master Rong looks like he comes from a great family, and he even brought attendants and guards; he seems quite unapproachable." You Yu said: "Just be respectful to him as usual."

The others felt the same way.

That Young Master Rong, one could tell at a glance, was not someone they could talk to.

Respecting him while keeping a distance—that was the safest way.

Soon, they began talking about the grain they had received after delivering their goods a while ago. That was their pay; if they brought the grain back, their families wouldn't have to go hungry. There was even a little left over to exchange for some warm clothing. "The armies of the Six Great Clans of Beidi are coming to change shifts, and many new people have appeared in the Town." Someone looked toward the Town in the valley.

As Doctor Tang's medicine workers and medicine Apprentices, they could not easily take outside jobs.

And they shouldn't think about going to the Town to do odd jobs to earn living expenses.

Even if they had nothing to do, they had to honestly wait here, in case Doctor Tang suddenly needed them to work.

On the other side, Wen Gu settled into his new residence.

He opened a map.

On the topographical map of Shenyi Gu drawn by the Patrol Guard Division, many pieces of information had been marked according to Wen Gu's request.

Which mountain, who lived there, roughly where they were located... all this information was marked.

Some mountains were crowded with famous doctors. Some had none at all.

Those crowded mountains, such as the one they were on, had mountain spring water.

The spring water was diverted to the residences of each famous doctor. It was running water, clean, and conducive to the famous doctors' research.

As for playing dirty tricks like poisoning the water?

Which of the famous doctors who could survive until now didn't have a few tricks up their sleeves? Such ploys were things they had already played out!

Comparing the map and understanding the general situation, Wen Gu put the map away and called Li Sihu over.

Just now, he had asked Li Sihu to pay attention to the movements of the medicine workers and medicine boys outside.

When following Doctor Tang up the mountain, Wen Gu had seen those medicine boys and medicine workers walking back and forth in the midst of their busyness.

However...

"It seems they have all become idle," Li Sihu replied.

When he was chatting with that You Dashixiong at the entrance, he had paid attention to the surroundings.

"After Doctor Tang returned to his room, those medicine boys and medicine workers didn't seem so hurried anymore."

Wen Gu listened to the commotion outside; indeed, there was no sound of running, but there were quite a few indistinct murmurs of discussion.

These were all within expectations.

The six major forces stationed at Shenyi Gu had rotated their troops and already taken away the medicinal materials and medicines, which meant the orders were all completed. With the delivery finished, they were naturally more at leisure.

However, when Doctor Tang went up the mountain, the medicine boys and medicine workers would put on a better show, finding things to do even when there was nothing.

At least within Doctor Tang's field of vision, they all appeared busy.

Being a medicine worker or medicine boy under a famous doctor is not easy. If Doctor Tang felt they were slacking off, he might just kick them out, so they had to keep up appearances even if they were faking it. It couldn't be called being lazy or cunning; it was just human nature.

"So they are actually all idle now?" Wen Gu asked.

"It certainly looks that way," Li Sihu replied.

In Li Sihu's impression, those young masters, in order to appear approachable, build good relationships with the locals, or gain a deeper understanding of those people, would always host banquets or distribute food and wealth. Thinking this, Li Sihu took the initiative and said, "Young Master, what else is needed here? I will go down the mountain to buy it."

Wen Gu said, "No need, your injuries have not yet fully healed, there is no need to overexert yourself."

He then instructed, "Go and check again how many people outside are idle, and whether it exceeds eighty percent."

Li Sihu was puzzled, but followed the order.

Wen Gu returned to his room.

Regarding this person Doctor Tang, the Patrol Guard Division had investigated very thoroughly.

Doctor Tang specialized in medicines for metal-blade wounds; most of the time he conducted his own research, letting his Apprentices collect medicinal materials, manufacture the medicine, and then sell it. The technical secrets were controlled by Doctor Tang, while the rest of the manufacturing process was done by the medicine boys and medicine workers.

He didn't sell the manufactured medicine to just anyone; he only sold to those who could produce the medicinal materials Doctor Tang wanted.

Money was useless to Doctor Tang; he only accepted barter, trading medicinal materials and food for the finished medicines.

There were powders, pills, and ointments.

Doctor Tang was very self-willed in this regard, selling whatever he manufactured, never worrying about it not selling. They were all hot commodities!

However, Doctor Tang's mind was not on management; he mainly used these medicines to trade for the medicinal materials he wanted and to exchange for some food and supplies for his subordinates. Recalling Doctor Tang's information, Wen Gu took a health-nourishing prescription out of his document case.

This was a formula drafted by several Pharmacists in Xinzhou City, which had already been tested and was viable.

There was a ready-made Production Line here!

There were ready-made employees!

Procurement officers, technicians, inspectors... everything was fully equipped.

And they were all experienced veteran employees, strictly selected by Doctor Tang!

It would be too wasteful for them all to be idle!

Anyway, before Old Tang went into seclusion, he said personally that he could do whatever he wanted here.

Wen Gu would, of course, strictly follow his master's orders!

According to the sect rules, one could not accept external orders at will, but internal orders should be fine, right?

They were all members of the Tang Sect, so there was no need to stand on ceremony.