The escaped prisoner had a scar on his right cheek, a ferocious and vicious appearance, with a broad back and sturdy waist. It was unknown if he had killed before or been stained with blood, but he carried an air of killing intent.
If he didn't capture the man and bring him back, he himself might have to return to farming in the village tomorrow.
The old soldier thought, under the promise of a heavy reward, there would be a brave man. So, gritting his teeth, he said, "I'll add three taels of silver!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw a young man dart out from a nearby alley. In just a few strides, the youth closed the distance, matched the horse's speed, then launched himself into the air and delivered a sweeping kick toward the escaped prisoner.
The prisoner was knocked from the saddle. He scrambled to his feet and swung his club at the young man. The young man caught the incoming weapon with one hand and drove his foot hard into the prisoner's stomach.
His movements were ruthless and efficient.
After subduing the prisoner and dragging him before the old soldier, Fang Zichen stretched out his hand to the old soldier. "Give me the money!"
Working at the yamen was respectable, but the monthly salary wasn't actually that high. The old soldier said, "How about... I just call you 'father' and we forget the money?"
Fang Zichen was absolutely not willing to settle for that.
When the chaos broke out on the street, he had immediately helped several old peddlers hide in an alley. If he hadn't heard about the three taels of silver, would he have intervened?
Definitely not!
He now had elderly dependents above him and young children below him to care for. He greatly cherished his life.
He stated directly that he wanted the three taels of silver. The old soldier was reluctant to pay, but Fang Zichen pestered him relentlessly.
The old soldier had no choice but to give it.
This was considered an act of ridding the people of a scourge. Two new recruits, relying on their status, tried to stop Fang Zichen. Fang Zichen stuffed the silver into his pocket and said warily, "What? Trying to rob me of my silver? Yo, what's with that look? Not happy with me? It's fine if you're not happy with me! You can try to hit me, but only if you're not afraid of my brother Lao Wang. I'm telling you, when Lao Wang goes crazy, it's not as simple as eating sh*t."
Lao Wang happened to bring men for support and, hearing this, directly chased Fang Zichen to hit him.
Seeing the other party knew officials from the yamen, the young soldiers immediately fell silent.
Fang Zichen had intervened for the silver. The old soldier had originally thought he was just a reckless man who would do anything for money. However, after witnessing the events of today—Fang Zichen's desperate race through the storm, his willingness to spend a fortune to save a child he barely knew, and his steadfast vigil at the boy's bedside—the old soldier's opinion of Fang Zichen improved considerably.
Xiao Feng was severely injured. Between forcing medicine down and applying acupuncture, Physician Xu was busy all night. It wasn't until early morning that he told Fang Zichen he had done all he could and should do. Whether Xiao Feng could pull through depended on his own fortune.
Fang Zichen didn't dare leave even half a step, checking every few minutes to see if Xiao Feng was still breathing.
Physician Xu took a short nap, then went back to see patients. As there were no guests at the moment, he had the medicine boy call Fang Zichen over.
"Stretch out your hand. This old man will take your pulse and see your condition."
Fang Zichen felt that besides being tired, he was perfectly fine now, but he still stretched out his hand.
After a moment, Physician Xu frowned and asked seriously, "You've been intimate with your fulang?"
Fang Zichen stiffened his neck. "What of it? Is it illegal for me to be intimate with my fulang?"
"How could you be so unable to restrain yourself!" Physician Xu scolded. "Didn't this old man tell you last time that your vital energy is depleted and you must refrain from marital relations? Why did you not listen?"
What did he mean by 'vital energy is depleted'?
Fang Zichen didn't like hearing that. "Old man, you never mentioned this last time!"
Physician Xu asked doubtfully, "This old man didn't say it?"
"No, you didn't. I cherish my life the most. If you had said it, I wouldn't have done it," Fang Zichen said.
Although Physician Xu's medical skills were good, he was advanced in age and often made mistakes on some minor details.
The young medicine boy leaned close to his ear. "Master, you really didn't mention this last time."
Physician Xu coughed and looked at Fang Zichen. "This old man originally thought that after suffering such a disaster, you probably wouldn't have the mind for romantic trysts and passionate encounters with your fulang. That's why I didn't mention it."
Fang Zichen: "Why wouldn't I have the mind?"
It's not like I'm impotent.
I have a strong psyche, okay?
Even if the sky were falling, I'd have a steamed bun first. This little issue? It's nothing.
If this illness could not be cured, he might be cut off from descendants for life. An ordinary man facing this would likely lose his appetite and be unable to sleep or rest. Physician Xu looked at him, as if trying to discern something on his face. Yet, apart from an expression of anger, he could detect nothing else on Fang Zichen. Physician Xu asked, "Do you not feel depressed? Distressed?"
"I don't," Fang Zichen said. "Just tell me, what's my condition now."
"You currently have a decline of the fire at the life gate, deficient cold essence-qi, the seven emotions and overwork have damaged the qi that generates yang, damp-heat is blazing and excessive, resulting in relaxation of the ancestral sinew, the illness involves the yang brightness and thoroughfare vessels, damaging the kidney..."
Fang Zichen's temples throbbed. "Speak human language."
Physician Xu stated directly, "It means all the medicine you took before was for nothing."
Fang Zichen slapped the table, glaring at Physician Xu, sulkily saying, "It's all your fault."
"It's fine," Physician Xu coughed. "This old man can prescribe some more medicine for you."
"'Fine' what? That medicine is so bitter, I suffered for nothing? Doesn't boiling medicine require firewood? Aren't the candied fruits I eat after taking the medicine costing silver?"
Physician Xu also felt guilty. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
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