After listening, Chen Yi showed no sign of pleasure. Instead, he waved his hand dismissively and said with a smile,

"I don’t dare accept such a title from you, Boss Wang."

"After all, the business between Hundred Herbs Hall and the Xiao Family Medicine Hall was arranged between you and the Young Miss. I’m just running an errand on her behalf."

Even though Liu Lang was injured and his True Essence was likely not flowing freely, his hearing alone was sharp enough to pick up the voices from upstairs.

Even with all the soundproofing in this quiet room, it was no use.

In fact, it wasn’t just Liu Lang.

Chen Yi himself could also hear some of the sounds from outside at that moment, but they were too faint for him to make them out clearly.

Wang Ji paused at his words, but when he saw Chen Yi raise a hand and point downstairs, he understood.

"You jest, sir. Outside, I can call you Shopkeeper, but I’m afraid it’s improper in private."

"If the Young Miss found out, she’d surely have me flogged."

Chen Yi made a gesture to maintain the status quo, then continued, "As long as the person is capable enough, spending a bit more on silver coins doesn’t matter."

"Rest assured."

Wang Ji took the opportunity to mention Liu Lang, saying, "Just like Liu Yuan, this person’s abilities will certainly not disappoint you."

Chen Yi said with a smile, "After what happened with the Illusory Sound Sect, it’s good that you’re being cautious, Boss Wang."

"Indeed..."

The two chatted idly upstairs, their voices carrying clearly to Liu Lang’s ears.

Listening to the Xiao Family’s son-in-law and the Hundred Herbs Hall Shopkeeper trade pleasantries, he couldn’t help but purse his lips.

’If you told people he was a scholar, I doubt anyone would believe you. What kind of scholar is so mercenary?’

Liu Lang felt more and more that Chen Yi was unworthy of Xiao Jinghong.

It wasn’t just a matter of education—in every conceivable way, he was unworthy of General Jinghong.

’I’d always heard the saying "a beautiful flower stuck in a pile of cow dung," and I used to think it was just an expression. Now I’ve seen it with my own eyes.’

’This is an even more extreme case.’

Liu Lang continued listening to the conversation from upstairs, feeling indignant on Xiao Jinghong’s behalf.

As he mulled it over, his thoughts took another turn.

’Then again, for someone like General Jinghong, there aren’t many people in this world who would be worthy of her.’

His thoughts then drifted to this topic, and he began to list, one by one, the men who might be worthy of Xiao Jinghong in terms of family background, status, appearance, and power.

’The Young Master of the Broken Sword Manor is one. At only twenty years old, his Cultivation has already reached the Upper Three Grades, and he’s said to be strikingly handsome.’

’However, the Broken Sword Manor is a far cry from the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, so he’d have to be at the bottom of the list.’

’The second son of the Luo Family in Jiangnan Prefecture is another candidate. His family background is impressive, and his appearance, status, and Cultivation are likely all top-notch.’

’Then there’s "Flying Flower Sword" Gao Xun...’

Fortunately, Chen Yi didn’t know what Liu Lang was thinking. Otherwise, he would have, at the very least, tossed a bottle of Immortal Drunk his way before sharpening his blades.

After confirming the details about the Jianghu person skilled in the Disguise Skill that Wang Ji had mentioned, Chen Yi told him to get the man settled in first.

Wang Ji nodded with a smile. "Sir, he’s in the back courtyard right now."

"Speaking of which, he’s quite capable. Besides that particular skill, he also used to brew wine."

"His technique is so-so, though. Just a little better than the rice wine an ordinary person might brew."

"A well-rounded talent, I see."

As he said this, Chen Yi mused, "But it’s not quite appropriate for him to be in the back courtyard. Find another place for him."

Wang Ji paused for a moment, then readily agreed. "I’ll find another place for him tomorrow."

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment, asked about the current situation at Hundred Herbs Hall, and once he had a general idea of Wang Ji’s plans, he rose to leave.

As he walked downstairs, he added a word of caution,

"Ma Liangcai and the other Divine Doctors are consulting at the Xiao Family Medicine Hall now, and they’re attracting a lot of attention."

"In a bit, I’ll have to trouble you to look after a few things for them, Boss Wang."

Wang Ji’s expression shifted slightly. "You mean..."

"For example, his family or neighbors... we should make a gesture of some kind."

Chen Yi was being subtle, merely reminding him that someone had their eyes on Ma Liangcai and that he needed to tie up any loose ends.

Wang Ji nodded in understanding. "I’ll make the arrangements shortly. We certainly won’t treat them poorly."

"Good."

Arriving downstairs, Chen Yi glanced at Liu Lang and saw him maintaining his usual lazy posture.

After a moment’s thought, he walked over, clasped his hands in a polite gesture, and said with a smile, "I was just listening to Boss Wang praise Brother Liu’s incredible skills."

"And looking at you now, Brother Liu certainly has an extraordinary air about him."

Liu Lang shot him a sideways glance and said flatly, "You’re too kind."

"I don’t know much about the affairs of the Jianghu. I was wondering, where would Brother Liu’s skills rank among its members?"

"Not as good as the best, but better than the rest."

Chen Yi asked with a smile, "The Upper Three Grades?"

Liu Lang’s eyes flew wide, and a curse almost escaped his lips.

’Do you think the Upper Three Grades are a dime a dozen?’

"Shopkeeper Chen, you jest. I am merely in the humble Middle Three Grades Realm."

Chen Yi paused, then said with a smile, "That’s already incredibly impressive. You’re a great deal stronger than the Personal Guards in the Xiao Mansion."

Hearing this, Liu Lang looked displeased. "Shopkeeper Chen, you really don’t understand the ways of the Jianghu. Most men in the army only begin their Cultivation as adults, so it’s perfectly normal for their Martial Arts Cultivation to be low."

"Is that so..."

Seeing that Chen Yi wasn’t in a hurry to leave, Wang Ji didn’t rush him, simply chiming in with a few agreeable remarks from the side.

After a bit more small talk, Chen Yi’s expression turned serious, and he asked, "Brother Liu, your complexion doesn’t look good. Is there something wrong with..."

Before he could finish, a subtle change came over Liu Lang’s eyes. "You’re mistaken, Shopkeeper Chen. I am in perfect health."

At his words, Chen Yi said no more. With a brief apology for his presumption, he turned and walked toward the exit. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Wang Ji followed behind him and asked in a low voice, "Sir, is he ill?"

Chen Yi shook his head with a smile. "I’ve only learned the barest basics from Divine Doctor Ma. I must have been mistaken."

With that, he patted Wang Ji on the shoulder, told him to keep an eye on things as usual, and headed out of the West Market.

’To be so heavily injured, yet not be the least bit anxious...’

’Could it be that Liu Lang didn’t come to Hundred Herbs Hall for healing?’

’Or does he already know his injuries are beyond what an ordinary Physician can treat?’

’How strange.’

As Chen Yi thought this, a slight smile appeared on his face. ’First, I’ll set out some bait and see if he bites.’

Once Chen Yi was a good distance away, Liu Lang pondered for a moment, his hand unconsciously pressing against his chest.

’Did that Xiao Family son-in-law really see my injuries, or was he just making a casual remark?’

After a moment of contemplation, he saw Wang Ji return from outside and hesitantly asked,

"Shopkeeper, that man just now... does he know anything about Medical Skill?"

Wang Ji froze for a second, looked him up and down, and countered, "What do you think?"

Without waiting for Liu Lang to reply, he walked straight upstairs.

’Others might not know whether Chen Yi knew Medical Skill, but how could he not?’

’He’d managed to coach those limping, "renowned doctors" like Ma Liangcai into looking the part. How could Chen Yi possibly be ignorant of Medical Skill?’

Liu Lang frowned slightly. Recalling the conversation he’d overheard, he made a decision.

’Ma Liangcai at Jishi Medicine Hall... I’ll have to go take a look when I have a moment. Maybe...’

...

「That entire afternoon.」

Chen Yi remained in Spring Lotus Garden.

Or to be more precise, in his study.

He would practice his Cursive Script and Wei Qing’s Style for a while, then his Cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill, before playing a few games of chess with Xiao Wuge.

After dinner, he told the others to go rest as usual.

Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge readily agreed. Only Pei Guanli seemed to have run out of patience, asking how much longer she had to keep "wandering around."

Pestered until he had no other choice, Chen Yi could only hint that it would be another three to five days.

"That’s good."

"Ge the Third seemed suspicious today. He kept staring at me."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"

Pei Guanli thought for a moment. "I don’t remember."

"Today, I went to South City Yanhua Lane with Sister Tingyun and the others..."

Before she could continue, Chen Yi cut her off. "If I were him, I’d stare at you too."

’What proper young lady goes for a stroll in Yanhua Lane?’

Pei Guanli looked bewildered. "But why?"

"Because you’re pretty."

"Hehe... Brother-in-law, you’re not the first person to say that, but I’m still very happy to hear it."

Chen Yi gave her a light flick on the forehead and said irritably, "Enough chit-chat. Go back to your room, do your Cultivation, and go to sleep."

"Oh."

Pei Guanli pouted and shuffled reluctantly out of the wooden building.

But a moment later, she poked her head back through the doorway, her round face once again wreathed in smiles.

"Brother-in-law, am I really pretty?"

"As genuine as pure gold."

"Hehe..."

Pei Guanli seemed even happier now, and the TINKLE TINKLE of bells on her person faded into the distance as she skipped away.

Chen Yi shook his head with a smile, then returned to his room and, without delay, began preparing for the night’s activities.

Black martial arts attire, a face covering, and a vial of Immortal Drunk, among other things.

Over it all, he wore a black long-robe as a disguise.

Early in the evening, before Xiao Wuge, Xiaodie, and the others had fallen sound asleep, he quietly slipped out of Spring Lotus Garden.

Fortunately, his Cultivation had improved significantly, and his Martial Arts Step had reached the Great Success stage. So even without using the Meteor Butterfly Step, he could silently slip past Pei Guanli and cross through the Purple Bamboo Forest.

It was also a good thing it was Pei Guanli who was there.

If it had been Xie Tingyun or Shen Huatang, they likely would have discovered his movements long ago.

The journey was tense, but without incident.

Chen Yi bypassed the sentries and reached South Street. From there, he began to wind his way through the alleys, starting from in front of Liu Jing’s residence and heading toward the Hui Xian Building.

However, before he could reach the hiding spot he had picked out during the day, he heard several voices approaching from a distance.

"Lord Hundred Households, my subordinates found someone over there who saw the Liu Family Guards."

"He recalls that on that night, the Liu Family Guards were gathered near the Hui Xian Building, as if they were waiting for someone."

"Where is he?"

"Oh, he lives not far behind the Hui Xian Building."

"Take me to him!"