Celestial Master： I Have an Otherworld-Chapter 174 - 67: Truth Serum (3)

Even though Shen Ji has had quite a bit of contact with them, he still instinctively wanted to step back.

"Sit."

Jiao Gu grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth. He reached out to grab the chicken feet and pig bones on the table, then took out a roast chicken and placed it on the table:

"Care for some?"

"No." Shen Ji forced a smile:

"You all go ahead."

"Then we won't stand on ceremony."

The beggars really didn't hold back, tearing at the roast chicken, and in a few bites, it was torn to pieces, greasy oil smeared all over their mouths.

"Burp..."

One of them burped with satisfaction:

"Comfortable!"

"Master Jiao." Shen Ji took some silver notes out of his pocket and handed them over:

"This is part of today's gain, totaling eight hundred taels of silver. These are the Celestial Master Dao's silver notes, usable anywhere."

"Hmm."

Jiao Gu pursed his lips, grabbed the silver notes, and quickly tucked them into his pocket, seemingly indifferent to the eight hundred taels, only saying flatly:

"Good job."

"Recruiting so many under your banner, kid, you've got some skills. Plus, with the Beggar Gang, you're quite a force in Gu'an County."

"You flatter me." Shen Ji bowed his head and whispered:

"But there are still some families unwilling to send people or money. What should we do?"

"Then let them go to hell." Jiao Gu grinned:

"Watch the situation; Gu'an County will be in chaos for at least another month. The White Lotus Sect people are crazy, wipe out a few families, and they'll learn fear."

"Don't worry."

Seeing Shen Ji's worried face, he chuckled:

"The environment has changed. In the coming month, it's survival of the fittest. Adapt as soon as possible. Now tell me, which families haven't paid?"

"Three streets, nine families in total haven't contributed money or men."

"Some of those families really don't have much property..."

"Hmm." Jiao Gu touched his chin with his greasy hand:

"How about targeting a few families first?"

"Where rich folks live, raiding any one of them might yield more than eight hundred taels, right?"

"Not appropriate." Shen Ji's expression changed:

"Too deliberate; it could arouse suspicion."

"Then hit those who paid along with those who didn't. That way, no one misunderstands." Jiao Gu snorted coldly and asked:

"Who's the richest among these streets?"

"Well..." Shen Ji thought for a moment, then said:

"The Mi Family, the Zhang Family, and... the Fang Mansion."

"Master Jiao, if we do such things, we should avoid the one named Zhuang. He's a bit... stubborn. If he finds out, it might ruin our plans."

"Haha..." One beggar in the room laughed upon hearing this:

"Shopkeeper Shen, you're too cautious. Look at Zhuang Yifang, acting all high and mighty. Would he even deign to interact with us?"

"Wherever we go, he stays far away."

"He's a noble family's young master, not walking the same path as us beggars."

"Yes."

Shen Ji bowed his head:

"I was overthinking."

*

*

*

Modern society.

Hospital.

Fang Zheng, carrying a fruit basket, walked familiarly to the ward. He pushed open the door, and upon seeing the people inside, he momentarily paused.

His nominal senior brother Zhou Ping and his daughter Zhou Qingqing were also there.

"You've arrived."

Guo Ziran lay on the bed, smiling as he saw Fang Zheng:

"Is the company not busy today?"

"Nothing major, I came to check in." Fang Zheng placed the fruit basket down and asked:

"How's Master feeling these days?"

"Much better." Guo Ziran gestured for Zhou Qingqing to raise the bed:

"This is an old problem, just needs a check-up, no need to book such expensive hospital rooms. I hear it costs several tens of thousands per day?"

"Don't worry about the money." Fang Zheng shook his head:

"Getting in good health is what matters."

"Ahem..." Zhou Ping coughed dryly a couple of times:

"Later, send me the bill. I'm also Master's disciple; whatever the expense, we'll split it."

"Ah." Guo Ziran waved him off:

"How much do you earn in a month? No need to compete with Fang Zheng over this. I'm lucky in my old age to have such a wealthy disciple."

"Heh..."

"A good place for nourishing the body!"

Saying that, he stretched comfortably.

"Exactly." Fang Zheng said expressionlessly:

"It's just tens of thousands of yuan; Chief Zhou doesn't need to be polite with me."

"However, Senior Brother, you are the Chief of the Public Security Bureau. You hold a significant position. Why can't you even arrange for a special care ward for Master?"

Zhou Ping opened his mouth, clenched his fingers tightly, and had no reply.

"My father is honest; naturally, he cannot compete with some who are more business-savvy." Zhou Qingqing's voice was filled with indignation, and seeing Fang Zheng look over, her heart skipped a beat. Hurriedly, she picked up a peeled apple and placed it by Guo Ziran's mouth to ingratiate:

"Grandmaster, have some fruit."

"Haha..." Guo Ziran laughed heartily:

"Good, good."

"I'll go get some water." Zhou Ping, feeling uneasy, found an excuse and left.

"Fang Zheng." Guo Ziran turned his head, advising:

"Don't take your senior brother too seriously. He's just a bit stubborn. Knowing his nature, give way to him in everything."

"Master." Fang Zheng sighed lightly:

"You truly favor Senior Brother."

He never intended to oppose Zhou Ping, but Zhou Ping never intended to spare him. There was simply no way for them to discuss things.

Guo Ziran chuckled softly.

At his age, he had already come to terms with life and death. What else was there to worry about?

Let young people's conflicts,

be resolved by themselves.

Both of them are good kids; this, Guo Ziran confidently believed, except they chose different paths, so a little friction was inevitable.

"Master, rest well."

After chatting for a while, Fang Zheng stood up:

"I'll go ask the doctor about the situation."

"Okay."

Guo Ziran nodded.

......

"Mr. Fang."

Doctor Wang was the chief physician at this private hospital, his background adorned with various prestigious honors, yet he was examining seemingly trivial issues now.

"Elder Guo's overall health is considered good, but he is getting older, so some geriatric issues are inevitable. His physical condition is, after all, not comparable to the young."

"Additionally..."

"He suffered injuries when he was younger, so his back and legs aren't in the best condition. It would be best to have regular check-ups."

"Yes." Fang Zheng nodded:

"I'll trouble Doctor Wang for the regular check-ups. If possible, have the hospital send a car to pick my master up. If convenient, it would be best to conduct examinations at home."

"Sure."

Doctor Wang nodded:

"For the elderly, avoiding travel is naturally best."

"By the way." Fang Zheng said:

"About what I mentioned a few days ago, Doctor Wang, any progress?"

"Truth serum?" Doctor Wang looked up, his eyes flickering, then softly said:

"Some medications in anesthesiology can indeed quickly put someone into a special state of consciousness, but they don't achieve the effect of so-called truth serums."

"Moreover, most of them are addictive, and if the dosage is incorrect, they can cause irreversible harm to the body."

"In the past, some foreign departments used a few such drugs as truth serums, but the answers might not necessarily be true."

"No problem." Fang Zheng smiled slightly:

"Just give me a few samples."

Inducing a special state of consciousness?

That's enough!