Chapter 61: One Must Act with Caution in Life

The county magistrate’s nephew was now staring at her with a scrutinizing gaze, unwavering and intense. That look seemed almost penetrating, making Wang Keyue, hidden behind her mask, feel a sudden unease in her heart.

"9538 System, why do I feel like this man has already seen through my disguise? Is there something wrong with my ever-changing mask?" Wang Keyue called out silently within.

"Rest assured, Host. Products from the system shop are secure and reliable, absolutely flawless," 9538 replied, then added, "However, the mental fluctuations from the person opposite are rather unusual. Strange!"

Relieved that there were no issues, Wang Keyue calmed herself, maintaining a kindly smile on the surface. "Young Master Chen, your leg has recovered well, and your internal injuries are fully healed. Now you only need to rest quietly."

"Doctor Wang, your bandaging technique is quite impressive. May I ask, from whom did you learn it?" Young Master Chen inquired.

"Ha, you flatter me, Young Master Chen. This is merely something taught by my sect, nothing particularly special," Wang Keyue answered with a smile.

"Oh? Which sect?" Young Master Chen seemed especially interested. His sharp, deep brown eyes shone with a piercing light, as if they could stab through anything, catching one off guard.

Wang Keyue steadied her nerves, stroked her beard, and replied, "Ha, it’s just a small, obscure sect, nothing worth mentioning. Please rest well, Young Master Chen. I have other matters to attend to, so I bid you farewell."

"Wait, Doctor Wang. I heard your herbal decoctions require a secret recipe from your sect, called Plague-Clearing Powder. Would it be possible to purchase some from you?" Young Master Chen spoke with a calm tone, as if discussing business.

"Well... crafting Plague-Clearing Powder is a bit troublesome..." Wang Keyue was unsure what Young Master Chen was up to and hesitated to agree.

"One hundred taels per pouch," Young Master Chen pointed to the leather pouch at Wang Keyue’s waist, used for carrying water.

"It’s not about the money..." Wang Keyue was somewhat helpless at this young master’s extravagant offer.

"One hundred fifty taels per pouch," Young Master Chen said again, his eyes bright, as if searching Wang Keyue’s expression for clues.

"You’re making things difficult, Young Master Chen..." Wang Keyue frowned, though her heart wavered. What was there to fear? Only a fool would turn down easy money!

"Two hundred taels per pouch!" Young Master Chen spoke again, pulling out a thick stack of silver notes from his breast, "I’ll take twenty pouches to start!"

"Ha!" Wang Keyue was utterly stunned by the display of wealth and took a long moment to recover. "Alright! Since Young Master Chen trusts me, I won’t conceal my skills. By this time tomorrow, I’ll deliver twenty pouches of Plague-Clearing Powder to you."

With such sincerity, Wang Keyue could no longer put on airs, especially since she was now on someone else’s turf—it was best to tread carefully.

"Then, I’ll... cough... take the deposit first..." Wang Keyue intended to take half as a gesture of good faith, but the other party was even more generous.

"Doctor Wang, I trust you. All four thousand taels are here—keep them well. Tomorrow, I’ll also present you with a treasure!" As he finished, the always stern-faced Young Master Chen unexpectedly revealed a faint smile. That smile was like a ray of sunlight breaking through the abyss, astonishing to behold.

Wang Keyue sighed inwardly, What a frail but beautiful young man! If I didn’t have a strong will, I might fall for his charm and lose everything.

Quickly averting her gaze, Wang Keyue reached out and swept up all the silver notes from the tea table. "Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Chen. I will give my utmost and never betray your trust. Now, I’ll return to my courtyard to prepare the powder."

Clutching her newfound fortune, Wang Keyue was elated.

"Very well. If you lack any herbs, just ask my servants," Young Master Chen said, signaling that Wang Keyue could leave.

Watching Doctor Wang’s departing figure, Young Master Chen’s shining eyes dimmed, turbulence swirling in their deep brown depths. With a wave of his hand, a figure clad in black slipped silently from the rooftop.

"What is Doctor Wang’s background?" Young Master Chen asked.

"Sir, he appeared suddenly at the East Gate four days ago, began treating the sick and preparing herbs without taking a single coin. He claims to be the 128th generation descendant of the Shennong clan from Kunlun Ruins, calling himself the Wandering Sanctified Healer Wang Yibo..."

"Pfft!" Young Master Chen, just sipping water, sprayed it all over the secret guard’s face.

The guard’s face remained wooden, unmoving.

"Cough, continue..." Young Master Chen pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, covering his embarrassment.

"Yes, sir. Doctor Wang later followed the county magistrate’s officers into the city, taking over the Land Temple and tending to the sick gathered at the city gates. Except for the most serious cases, most patients recovered within two or three days. Doctor Wang also insisted that the bodies of the deceased be cremated, claiming it would prevent contagion..."

The secret guard reported Wang Keyue’s movements in detail.

Unfortunately, it had proved impossible to trace Doctor Wang’s whereabouts before then; he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, as if falling from the heavens, leaving no trace behind.