He had no idea if the neixi could resist the bugs causing the curse.

It was something he had never tried.

How long will I need to take this? Su Xiaoxue asked.

About seven days, Wang Yao replied.

Seven days?

Yep.

Is that too long of a period? Wang Yao asked.

No, Ill dont have to go back to school until the 15th. Su Xiaoxue smiled and added, I have nothing else to do for the time being, so Ill just stay here.

Great. Thats more than I couldve asked for, Wang Yao replied.

The two were always together during the day. They were either on the southern mountain or in the clinic. She stayed by his side when patients came to his clinic, mostly helping out by fetching medicine. She also asked questions after he was done with the patients. The two were not all lovey-dovey and stuck to each other all the time like many couples. The atmosphere between them felt warm, joyful, and all-around comfortable.

Another patient arrived as the evening approached. It was a villager in his 40s. He did not look well, and he reeked of alcohol.

Hi there.

Hey, Xiao Yao, my stomach is churning.

I guess youve been drinking a lot the past two days, Wang Yao said.

Aye, Ive been drinking for a bit.

It seems like more than a bit from what I can tell, Wang Yao said. Youve been drinking right after getting out of bed and at least three times a day. Youve been probably doing so for three days.

The past two days, many people had been coming to the clinic with upset stomachs from overdrinking.

He-he, oh well. The man smiled and nodded.

No more drinking for at least a whole month, Wang Yao said. Eat a light diet and avoid all the heavy stuff.

Come, have a seat.

Wang Yao did some simple massages on the man before giving him some medicinal soup to clear the alcohol out of his system. It also fixed his stomach to a certain degree.

Cook this when you get home. Drink it twice a day. Once in the morning, and once at night.

Sure, Ill keep that in mind, the man said.

Remember, no booze, Wang Yao said.

Sigh.

The middle-aged man took his medicine, paid, and left.

Too much alcohol is not good for the body.

He probably wont listen, Wang Yao said. If he keeps doing what hes doing, his condition wont be able to get fixed within the month.

Is that so?

Yeah, this guy is known in the village for being a hardcore alcoholic, Wang Yao explained. He drinks at his place twice a day, even if there isnt any occasion calling for it. He just wont listen. The man was one of the more well-known villagers specifically because he was an alcoholic.

Let me tell you something. During the New Years festivities one year, he drank a lot and held a length of firecrackers in his hand. He lit it up on the roof. He ended up blowing up his hand, dropping into a pig farm, and breaking two of his ribs. None of that prevented him from going back to his habits. There was another time where he drank a lot outside at night. He wandered all the way into Lianshan Countys town center. That trip had been miles long. He was dumbfounded about it when he woke up the next day.

Ha-ha! Su Xiaoxue chuckled.

People who drank often embarrassed themselves.

Do you have any ways of helping him? she asked.

I do, so I added some other stuff to his meds, Wang Yao replied.

What was it?

Several types of herbs with miraculous effects when mixed together. He will feel nauseous when he smells booze. If he drinks, hell end up puking.

For real?

Of course, its real, Wang Yao smiled and said. Just wait and see. Hell come back before sundown.

Well wait and see then.

In the Valley of Thousands of Medicine in southern Yunnan, thousands of miles away

Miao Zhengnan and his young driver returned to the village and were treated by Miao Xihe.

This is interesting. He grinned after checking their bodies.

Is the chief grinning?

They were shocked to see such an expression on Miao Xihes face. Their chief was a serious figure who was not prone to laughter. Most of the time, there was hardly any expression seen on his face. Whether he was angry or happy, he always kept a serious, deadpan expression and looked unfazed.

Did you say that he just pressed at the air, and you were pinned down altogether? Miao Xihe asked.

Yes, it felt like a mountain was sitting on my shoulders and was about to crush me altogether, Miao Zhengnan replied.

Did he jab at your abdomen as well? Miao Xihe asked.

Six times.

Miao Xihe turned to the young man and asked, What about you?

Umm, Im sorry, chief, I didnt keep count, the young man replied.

Right, so how did you feel? Miao Xihe asked.

I felt like I was being trapped, and I was unable to move, that young man replied. He had been very frightened back then, so he was unable to recall exactly what he had felt at that time. However, given how a senior many times more capable than he was elaborated the experience to be such, he saw fit to go along with that story. He was certain the actual experience didnt deviate much from what had been said.

He used some special methods to distort your meridians, causing blockages around your abdominal areas, Miao Xihe said. It is also periodical since the pain suddenly comes after a certain period of time. At the same time, you both experience the pain.

He was thoroughly shocked. He had not seen this method of doing things for ages. Furthermore, that other man was able to do so by simply jabbing at the target several times. It meant that the young man was probably a highly trained martial arts master. Given how uncannily accurate he was at manipulating the points, he also seemed very familiar with the meridians of the human body.

Is he really in his 20s?

Miao Xihe found the age of that man to be absurd. It was not possible for a man that young to achieve such feats, not even if he had been training before he was even born.

Is Yinghao back? he asked.

Hell be back tomorrow.

Right.

Get the medicinal baths prepared.

Although it took quite an effort, he had no problem fixing the illnesses afflicting the two men. The symptoms caused by simple jabs from that young man, whom Miao Xihe had never meant, required him to go to extra lengths to fix.

I havent encountered something so interesting for quite a long time, he said. He is one interesting man.

Miao Xihe instantly had an intense urge to go to that village and meet up with that young man.

Tell Qingshan to come back, he said.

Yes, Master.

Shortly after, Miao Qingshan returned to the house.

Sir.

Get someone outside to look into this guy called Wang Yao, Miao Xihe said. I need to know as much as possible about him.

Understood.

Miao Xihe had used special healing methods to rid the two men, who had just come back to the village, of the problems plaguing their bodies.

Huff.

This young mans methods have exceeded my expectations.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged villager had indeed returned to Wang Yaos clinic later that day.

Something up, Sir?

Something is wrong with the medicine you gave me, Xiao Yao!

Whats the problem? Wang Yao asked.

I got nauseous after taking it, the middle-aged man said.

Nauseous? That cant be. Did you drink again? Wang Yao seriously asked.

Umm, no.

Dont lie to me, Sir, Wang Yao replied. Youve definitely been drinking. I told you that you cant drink while youre on meds. Youll suffer the recoil if you do so.

Alright, sure. The middle-aged man sighed, waved his hand about, and left the clinic.

See? Wang Yao smirked at Su Xiaoxue.

Youre quite the fortuneteller, she replied.

I know his kind, Wang Yao said. Drinking too much causes one to get addicted, just like how it is with smoking. If someone is used to drinking, the withdrawal makes them feel as if something is lacking. They feel wrong all over. The condition leaves them feeling lethargic. It can persist for quite some time, but theyll be fine after making through that stage. If they cant, things just get worse for their bodies as they sink deeper into it.

That was the only patient who came to the clinic the entire afternoon. No one else showed up.

Boy, its been quite boring the past two days.

Wang Yao and Su Xiaoxue were drinking tea and chatting in the clinic as the evening approached.

Have you thought of taking in students? she asked.

Ive taken in quite a few already, Wang Yao replied.

Well, I mean someone who could stay here and help you out consistently, Su Xiaoxue said.

That would be rather troublesome, Wang Yao said. That person would have needed to pick up a lot of things and be talented. Most importantly, they need to have the right temperament to make it as a doctor. Young people these days are just too restless to sit through researching one specific thing. Most of them have little else on their minds than to make a quick buck and become rich. Such people are not suited to learn by my side.

Wang Yao wanted to teach medicine, but the requirements for the would-be student, especially when temperament was concerned, were just too much.

That night, Su Xiaoxue called Chu Lian.

Auntie Lian, please do me a favor and check a place out for me, she said.

Sure.

It is called the Valley of Thousands of Medicine, Su Xiaoxue said. It is down in southern Yunnan.

Chu Lian agreed to it without asking any questions.

She found it intolerable that someone was out to threaten Wang Yao. Although she knew that Wang Yao was extremely proficient in various arts, as well as that his martial arts capabilities were probably nothing short of mystical, it was still difficult to guard against someone shooting in the dark. There were also his friends and family to consider. Based on what she had been told, those people from that valley were really brutal, be it using bug curses or poisons. Getting targeted by people from such a place had dire consequences.

At the Su familys residence in Jing

Xiaoxue asked you to look into this place? Song Ruiping asked.

Yes, she said that people from that place are looking for trouble with Wang Yao.

People from a village down in southern Yunnan are looking for trouble with someone up north? This is interesting. Umm, I believe that was the place where Guo Zhenghe was. Didnt he get into trouble somewhere nearby?

That place is in southern Yunnan. From the looks of it, those problems have a lot to do with that valley.

Song Ruipings expression changed after hearing that.

Keep a close eye on that place, she said.

Yes, Madam.

Look into Guo Zhenghe as well while youre at it.

Will do.

Back in Tianjin

Two people were sitting at a table in a restaurant. There were six dishes, a bowl of soup, and two glasses of wine on the table.

Thanks.

I told you that you didnt need to be so polite with me, Xu Xinyuan said with a chuckle.

I was able to live through the ordeal this time, but I wont be able to if I am hit again. Miao Chengtang downed the contents in his glass after saying that.

Those people from your hometown sure surprise me, Xu Xinyuan said.

The recent incidents made him realize that the village hidden deep in the woods was more than what it seemed. It was surprising that a place meant to be mostly hidden from the outside world had created such a vast network of connections in the outside world. Moreover, they had someone capable of such tracking feats in their midst. Those were typical skillsets of assassins and hitmen. None of that was something associated with place determined to maintain secluded peace. Then again, it was hard to tell exactly what someone from such a place really wanted.

So, are saying that not only is Dr. Wang good with medicine, but he is also a highly skilled martial arts master? Xu Xinyuan asked.

Yeah. Its either martial arts or some supernatural abilities. I know that Miao Zhengnan and the other man were known as brutal characters back in the village. He doesnt usually go out much, but all of the operations assigned to him have been extremely brutal. He has quite the capabilities. He was extremely good with poisons as well. Miao Xihe would not have had him to do the job otherwise.