The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 8 The Truth About the Epidemic

"Uncle, what brings you here?" Luo Ying asked with a smile.

"Come with me." Luo Sheng turned and walked away. Luo Ying's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong.

The two walked out of the compound one after the other, and many teenagers were whispering among themselves.

"The Luo family is really something. This Luo Ying is extremely lazy. He hasn't practiced martial arts for more than two hours in two days combined. He must be relying on something," one person said.

“Yes, he might have already reserved a spot,” another person said.

"Stop talking. You can't envy someone's reincarnation. You should focus on your training instead," someone advised.

At the gate of the courtyard.

Luo Sheng said with a stern face, "The situation has changed. You are no longer eligible for those three spots in the constable team."

"What? Uncle, didn't we agree before that I would be included in the constable team?" Luo Ying's expression changed drastically.

“Do you think I don’t want to give face to the Luo family, Magistrate Qi? Right now, the only vacant position is the bailiff, but the bailiffs are under Yang Wu’s control, so I have no say in the matter.”

Go back and practice hard. If the gap between you and Yang Wu isn't too big, I can put in a good word for you. Yang Wu will choose you out of respect for me.

"If someone is far stronger than you, then my words won't matter. I know Yang Wu; he's very principled and won't compromise," Luo Sheng said in a deep voice.

"That's alright. I've already mastered the Nine Yang True Skill, so I'm already much faster than everyone else. Let's see who can catch up with me!" Luo Ying breathed a sigh of relief.

He came prepared. It would be easy for the Luo family to get a set of Nine Yang True Skill from the government office, so he had practiced it for several years before he came to work as a servant.

"You shouldn't let your guard down either. If someone has excellent aptitude and comprehension, it's not impossible for them to achieve minor success in three months," Luo Sheng added.

"I understand, Uncle." Luo Ying nodded, but didn't really take it to heart. To achieve minor success in three months would require a genius. He didn't believe he was that unlucky.

"Go back." Luo Sheng waved his hand, somewhat impatiently.

"Alright, Uncle, I'll invite you to Chunxiang Pavilion for a drink another day. I heard that some barbarian girls from the desert empire have arrived. They're blonde, blue-eyed, big-breasted, and plump. Hehe, when the time comes, we'll both go for it and make them wish they were dead!" Luo Ying grinned wickedly.

"Get lost! You'll die on a woman's belly sooner or later!" Luo Sheng cursed.

...

In the courtyard.

Yang Wu returned in a hurry, and the boys practiced even more diligently, wanting to leave a good impression on him.

"Han Qing, come here."

Han Qing was practicing thirty-six movements when he suddenly heard Yang Wu call him. He turned around and came to stand in front of him.

"To practice martial arts for the long term, one must have a balance between exertion and relaxation. I heard you didn't sleep at all last night?"

"Yes." Han Qing nodded.

“If you keep training like this, you’ll ruin yourself sooner or later. Get plenty of sleep tonight.” Yang Wu said solemnly. He valued talent and didn’t want to see such a promising young man go to waste.

"Okay." Han Qing nodded again.

Suddenly, Yang Wu looked Han Qing up and down, noticing something was off. Han Qing seemed stronger than before. He reached out and pinched Han Qing's shoulder, and his heart skipped a beat: "You've entered the sect?"

"Yes." Han Qing understood that this matter couldn't be kept secret, but the difference between being an expert and a beginner wasn't very noticeable to outsiders, so it was normal for Yang Wu to make a wrong judgment.

"Good lad, you're still so calm after only two days of learning. I wasn't wrong about you. You're a true martial arts prodigy. But don't get arrogant. This little lead is nothing. Don't let your guard down. Whoever performs well will get the position of axeman." Yang Wu's eyes were full of praise as he patted his shoulder hard.

"Squad leader, I want to kill someone!" Yang Wu turned to leave, but Han Qing suddenly said.

His murderous intent would grow over time. Although he could suppress it now, he wanted to improve his strength as soon as possible, and killing was the fastest way to do so.

“Ma Er is right. You’re so young, yet you’re so bloodthirsty. You’re born to be a butcher. Come with me!” Yang Wu said.

Han Qing was overjoyed. He had asked casually and hadn't expected there to actually be death row inmates. Indeed, one must fight for opportunities.

...

It's the familiar archway, the familiar square, and the familiar Ma Er again.

Ma Er was waiting by with his knife in hand. When he saw Han Qing coming over, he grinned.

"It's you again, kid. With you around, I'm the one who's safe."

"Ma Er, stop dawdling and give him the knife," Yang Wu shouted.

"Alright." Ma Er was happy to agree. The monthly salary in the yamen was fixed, and there was no such thing as getting more pay for more work.

Han Qing took the knife, a murderous intent surging within him. The stench of blood here stimulated him, but it was still within his control, as he had just vented his anger a couple of days ago. After a while, two burly men brought an elderly man with a full head of white hair to him.

Han Qing glanced at him and recognized the old man. He was a doctor from Dan Gui Fang in the city, and also a small pharmacy that had been in business for more than 30 years.

"Chen Guilin, a physician from Dan Gui Fang, poisoned a well in Dongcheng Street, causing an epidemic in the city. According to the law, he should be executed! Take action!" Yang Wu shouted.

The smell of blood lingered in Han Qing's nostrils, and his killing intent surged. He raised his hand and with a swift stroke, cleanly severed the old man's head.

In an instant, the killing intent surged forth like water bursting its banks, and a sense of pleasure arose spontaneously.

As everything receded like the tide, Han Qing regained his composure, but then felt a wave of unease again.

“Good! You can go back now.” Yang Wu took the knife from Han Qing.

Han Qing didn't say anything, and turned to leave.

Ma Er watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but comment, "Tsk tsk, he's quick and ruthless, he didn't even blink. Where did he find such a vicious person? If I were his age, I wouldn't dare to kill anyone."

"Don't ask around, just do your job." Yang Wu glared at him.

...

As Han Qing walked back, many images flashed through his mind, accompanied by intermittent sounds—all of which were Chen Guilin's memories.

"Old Chen, why are you struggling at your age? I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't hand over the prescription, I'll make sure you lose everything!"

A man with a high-pitched voice was speaking.

...

"Son, don't scare me! Wake up!" This is Chen Guilin crying out.

...

"Old Chen, have you thought it through? As long as you throw this packet of medicine into the well on the east side of the street, I'll let your son go." It was that man again.

...

"Keep this to yourself. If you dare to tell the truth when we get to the yamen, and it involves my Wan Chuntang, you know the consequences!"

"I understand."

The image faded away, and Han Qing frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"The people from Wanchuntang stole Old Chen's unique medicine formula and forced him to poison him!"

"No wonder there was an epidemic in the city, and only Wan Chun Tang was effective. So that's why."

"That manager of Wanchuntang is a real scoundrel. He's despicable and unscrupulous. Aren't my parents in great danger?"

Han Qing suddenly realized that the people from Wanchuntang were also pressuring his father to hand over the family's secret recipe.

But his own father was also stubborn and kept refusing, fearing that the other party might resort to some underhanded tricks.

Thinking of this, Han Qing's desire to become a clerk in the yamen grew even stronger. After all, he was still an official, and that old bastard Wan Fuchun wouldn't dare to be too presumptuous.

As he pondered, seven or eight skills appeared before him, but not a single martial art.

Please select a martial arts skill to inherit its proficiency level.

1. Chen's Famous Physician's Notebook (100% Complete)

It brings together the medical skills of six generations of renowned doctors from the Chen family in Sichuan, and learning it can greatly improve one's medical abilities.

2. Cooking method for Pacific saury (86.5% of Da Cheng recipe)

The Chen family of Sichuan has a traditional cooking technique that is specifically used for cooking saury.

3. Returning to the Origin of Chess. (Beginner level 28.6%)

The secrets of Go lie in the study of standard opening patterns; practicing them can improve one's Go skills.

...

"As expected, killing ordinary people doesn't help my martial arts. If I'm going to kill, I have to kill powerful martial artists," Han Qing said.

"However, it would be good to learn a medical skill at the perfect level. The Chen family in Shu has been practicing medicine for generations and has a resounding reputation throughout the world." Han Qing said, choosing to inherit the Chen family's famous medical manual.

(End of this chapter)