Chapter 8: Urban Legends About Ji Ming

Professional…

Just you?

The beastman's expression instantly turned strange.

Never mind the adventurers' circle; the bizarre jokes about the quack doctor Ji Ming have almost reached the Inner City.

The most classic one goes like this:

Once, a snake person from out of town came to Ji Ming for treatment; the wound on his arm was small, and a haphazard dab of medicine would have sufficed.

But before he could react, there was a snap, and Ji Ming had already cut off his arm.

"Ehh—what are you doing!"

"Hey, I thought you were a lizard person who could regrow arms on your own."

Pfft.

No, I can't laugh; the knife is still hovering over me.

Using all his strength, the beastman swallowed the laugh that was stuck at the corner of his mouth.

But Ji Ming had no time to bother with him; he pulled a dagger from his coat and, without a word, probed the beastman's wound.

The beastman instantly panicked, moving a little instinctively.

"Don't move."

After a low reprimand, Ji Ming gently pried the wound open with the back of his blade.

He glanced at the arrowhead embedded within and exhaled in relief.

"Indeed, since it's a novice's hunting bow, it must be a regular arrow, not a barbed one."

"That's good news; for you, this arrow can be pulled out directly."

"Is that so?"

The beastman stared nervously at the sharp blade in Ji Ming's hand, feeling it might plunge into his thigh at any moment.

"What? It seems you haven't believed me from the start."

Ji Ming furrowed his brows and asked loudly.

"You came to me voluntarily for treatment; I didn't tie you up. If you don't want treatment, you can leave!"

"Uh, I…"

Seeing Ji Ming flare up, the beastman, realizing he was at fault, stammered.

Then Ji Ming suddenly moved, reached out, grabbed the arrow lodged in his knee, and yanked it out forcefully.

The beastman widened his eyes, opened his fang‑filled mouth, and let out an indescribable green‑skinned scream.

"Ah!"

But the sound vanished after just one syllable.

He blinked, tilted his head, and felt around.

"Hey, why doesn't it hurt?"

"Of course it doesn't hurt now."

Ji Ming pinched the arrow and waved it before his eyes.

"It was less than three centimeters in, shorter than the length of your fingertip."

"If you made a bigger movement while walking, it would have just shaken loose!"

It wasn't until Ji Ming took a jar of coagulation powder from the medicine rack and sprinkled it onto the wound twice, like sprinkling salt, that the beastman finally realized.

"So… no amputation needed?"

Ji Ming lifted his head.

"What, you want a slash?"

"No, no, no…"

The beastman shook his head quickly.

"Exactly, since the wound isn't serious, just slather me with that miraculous potion and it'll be fine."

"Hmm, indeed."

Ji Ming nodded, then changed his tone.

"However, our shop recently updated the preparation technique for the Rejuvenating Liquid, developing a newer, superior potion with even stronger effects."

He opened his coat, spread his palm, and gestured.

"From left to right: the inferior, the standard, and the premium, priced at 20, 30, and 100 copper coins respectively."

"The higher the price, the better the effect; which one do you want?"

Looking at the neatly arranged row of red vials in his pocket, the beastman scratched his head, puzzled.

"Wait, why does the premium cost so much more all at once…"

But Ji Ming's eyes lit up, and he asked immediately.

"What, you want to try the premium?"

"No, no, no…"

The beastman, unable to afford such an expensive medicine, waved his hand quickly.

"Give me the inferior… the standard one, I think that's enough."

"Alright."

Just a little wordplay earned an extra ten copper coins; where else can you find such a good deal?

Ji Ming cheerfully picked up a small brush, carefully applied the medicine to the beastman, and then wrapped it with gauze.

"All set, get up and walk a few steps."

The beastman rose hesitantly, discovering that his knee really wasn't that painful anymore.

Moreover, whether standing or walking, everything was steady and secure; aside from not daring to hop for the moment, everything was normal.

The therapeutic effect was astonishingly good, making him unable to resist glancing back.

Ji Ming was tidying up the medicines and bloodstains beside the bed, his face solemn and meticulous.

There was no extra pain, only a concise examination and efficient bandaging; this seemed already comparable to a regular doctor in a hospital.

Could it be that this kid has really changed his ways?

While he was lost in thought, Ji Ming picked up the price list nearby, did a quick calculation, and then tapped the board at him.

"Look, I'm not asking for more; you just need to pull out fifty copper coins."

Taking out a pouch from the lining of his leather armor, the beastman readily counted out fifty and handed them to Ji Ming.

Looking at the dark-eyed youngster before him, he thought for a moment, then finally coughed lightly.

"Um, just now I was too nervous; my attitude might not have been great."

"It's fine; in the course of practicing medicine, I've encountered too much skepticism and have long grown accustomed to it."

Ji Ming stared into his eyes and gave a carefree smile.

"Being cautious and careful shows that you're an excellent beastman warrior."

"Hmm..."

The beastman instantly felt his heart twitch, and an inexplicable guilt welled up in his chest.

I really ought to die!

As a proud beastman warrior, how could I have believed those rumors and jokes?

"Today, I truly owe the doctor an apology."

He gestured incoherently for a while, then finally straightened up solemnly.

"My name is Huoke, and I live on North Street."

"You are a brave and compassionate doctor; I am very willing to befriend you!"

A full seventh-level beastman warrior, whose qi and blood, thanks to his racial talent, are comparable to Sitong's……

If he wore heavy armor and wielded a sharp axe, he would undoubtedly be a fierce general on the battlefield!

This, too, is a relationship that can be developed.

Ji Ming's little schemes had already soared to the heavens, yet his face remained unchanged as he earnestly advised.

"Let's bring these up later; for now, the urgent matter is that you remember to go home and properly nurse your wounds."

Huoke nodded, moved.

"I've remembered it."

Standing at the clinic's entrance, watching the big green-skinned one limp away into the distance, Ji Ming broke into a pleased smile.

Gazing at the goblin corpse being dragged away by the guards from the alley across the street, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Who said everyone in Sunshine City is a bunch of scoundrels?

In just two or three hours, the same patter could greatly boost the favor of two simpletons.

The folk customs are clearly simple and honest!

However, perhaps after encountering two waves of honest folk that exhausted all his luck, the next several customers were all slippery troublemakers.

Some, relying on their tall stature, clamored to forcefully run up a tab.

Others, taking advantage of their many kin, plotted inside and out to sneak out without paying.

Back and forth, this revealed the gang of adventurers' inherent deceit and slickness in full view.

Even the last shred of good feeling in Ji Ming's heart was worn away completely, readying him to pick a typical example to knock some sense into.

"Hey, it's just making you fold a crease, right? Don't think I don't know—folding a crease is also a way to make money..."

"Fine, you're the one."

Ji Ming directly pulled a hand axe from his bosom and slammed it onto the bed with a bang.

"I see you really want to go toe-to-toe with me, huh?"

The thin, aggressive fellow just moments ago was instantly frightened and retreated several steps.

His complexion flushed between pale and red, then he drew the old rust‑streaked knife at his waist and bellowed, not willing to back down.

"Don't think I won't dare to chop you just because you're a doctor—our Steel Blade Squad isn't to be trifled with!"