From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor-Chapter 295 - 270: Shennong Base

Xu Jiawen said: "I heard about this from your grandmother. Your grandfather had a sister and a brother..."

Xu Changshan's sister, Xu Changying, was a beauty. In her youth, the threshold was worn out by suitors, but unfortunately, she didn't fancy any of them. Instead, she fell for Huichun Hall's apprentice, Zhou Renhe. Zhou Renhe was an orphan, so the Xu Family, feeling sorry for him, kept him at Huichun Hall as an apprentice.

Although an apprentice, Xu Family's rules couldn't be broken. His learning was limited to basic medical techniques; he wasn't qualified to learn the Xu Family's secret recipes. Nonetheless, Zhou Renhe worked diligently and conscientiously, earning the Xu Family's favor.

Xu Changying grew up with him, and over time, they developed feelings for each other. Xu Changying wanted to marry Zhou Renhe wholeheartedly, but the Xu Family rejected the idea. Stubborn by nature, Xu Changying took drastic measures.

Consequently, Zhou Renhe held a grudge against Huichun Hall, for he believed the Xu Family forced his beloved to her death. Meanwhile, the Xu Family thought he caused their daughter's demise.

Zheng Peian said, "Zhou Renhe? Do you have a photo of him?"

Xu Jiawen shook his head.

Xu Chunliang asked, "Do you know him?"

Zheng Peian replied, "I just find it a coincidence. The founder of Renhe Hall has the same name."

Xu Chunliang was momentarily stunned and suddenly recalled the day he was leaving for Nanjiang. They went for hotpot together, and back then, Zheng Peian mentioned Renhe Hall, especially praising Renhe Hall's plasters. Since then, Elder Xu seemed unhappy and even left early.

Xu Chunliang and Zheng Peian exchanged glances; both were thinking about this matter. Zheng Peian said, "I'll look into it."

Xu Chunliang thought there was nothing worth investigating. To him, if the founder of Renhe Hall was indeed Zhou Renhe, then his grudge with Huichun Hall must be profound. Regardless of the reasons back then, if Renhe Hall played a role in framing his grandfather, he would make them pay.

There was a lot of information about Renhe Hall online. Zhou Renhe was the founder of Renhe Hall Co., Ltd. According to the encyclopedias, Renhe Hall was founded in the late Ming and early Qing periods, boasting a long history. The Zhou ancestors once served as imperial physicians, with numerous secret recipes passed down for generations. They even still have a plaque gifted by Kangxi.

After reading, Xu Chunliang felt that the history of Renhe Hall bore a striking resemblance to their Old Xu Family's Huichun Hall. Anyway, Huichun Hall's plaque was fake, and perhaps Renhe Hall's was too. Who imitated whose pattern here?

However, the influence of Renhe Hall and Huichun Hall at present isn't comparable. Although Renhe Hall hasn't gone public, they've developed into a comprehensive medical group focusing on traditional Chinese medicine clinics, proprietary Chinese medicine manufacturing, and physical e-commerce sales. Renhe Hall's plasters alone bring in tens of millions annually through online sales.

Xu Chunliang pondered: could it be that Zhou Renhe took advantage of a raid back then to steal some Xu Family secret recipes and used them to establish Renhe Hall? Given the current situation, it was very likely. He would have to ask his grandfather.

Just then, his phone rang, and it was Hua Zhuyue calling. She was outside Huichun Hall.

After notifying his aunt, Xu Chunliang went out and got into Hua Zhuyue's car. Hua Zhuyue asked, "How is the elder?"

"Nothing serious."

Hua Zhuyue said, "That's good. I checked around; this affair shouldn't be related to the Dongzhou Thieves' Sect. Tiger bones and rhino horns are hard to come by nowadays; those who framed Elder Xu might be from the Pimu Sect."

Pimu Sect is also one of the outside eight sects, divided into inner and outer sects. The Outer Pimu Sect is mostly comprised of fraudsters selling fake medicines, claiming to cure incurable diseases, offering ancestral secret recipes promising to cure all ills—most are cheats.

The Outer Pimu Sect claims to treat seriously ill or terminally ill patients whom regular doctors couldn't help. In the end, the illness remained untreated, the patient died, and the money was pocketed by Pimu's disciples. After the patient died, their family was left destitute. Encountering a Pimu disciple is akin to being skinned alive, which is the origin of Pimu Sect's name.

The Inner Pimu Sect refers to disciples with genuinely skilled abilities—these aren't swindlers; they were once upright, practicing doctors. However, due to reasons such as being framed or medical mishaps, they could no longer practice. So they wandered Jianghu, relying on their medical skills to save lives here and there.

Individuals from the Inner Pimu Sect usually possess superb medical skills and a benevolent heart. Many impoverished individuals with severe illnesses could find a glimmer of hope only by encountering Inner Pimu Sect members.

Xu Chunliang asked, "Can we find out who this person is?"

Hua Zhuyue replied, "As long as we trace the source of the tiger bones and rhino horns, this person will naturally surface."

Xu Chunliang's eyes lit up—Hua Zhuyue seemed to have discovered something.

Hua Zhuyue said, "Don't forget what you promised me; this matter shouldn't be reported to the police."

Xu Chunliang replied, "Sister Hua, I'll listen to you."

Being a Protector of the Orchid Sect and a member of Jianghu herself, Hua Zhuyue knew Jianghu never disappeared; it evolved and adapted with the changing times.

Hua Zhuyue laughed alluringly and said, "Since when did your tongue become so pleasing?" She typed an address into the navigation system: "Get some rest; tonight, we might need to stretch our muscles a bit."

Xu Chunliang looked at the destination—Xia Pi.

Xia Pi is located at the confluence of the Yishui and Si Rivers, and it used to be a strategically crucial location. It has a very long history, with over 2000 years of city-building history.

Due to its location in the eastern part of the Central Plains, Ancient Huai-Huang Region, it has many water systems. Xia Pi Ancient City was destroyed by a catastrophic flood.

During the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms Period, Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Lu Bu fought in the Xia Pi area. Lu Bu was hanged here by Cao Cao, and Guan Yu also briefly surrendered to Cao Cao here. Historical records from "Records of the Three Kingdoms" state: "Bu excelled in archery and horse riding, his arm strength surpassed others, known as the Flying General," and there's a saying among the people, "Among men, Lu Bu; among horses, Red Hare."

The place they were going was once the ancient battleground, which is now called Wu Village. No one in the village is surnamed Wu; it's said this is related to the fact that the first great general of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Bu, died here.

In Xia Pi, Wu Village is just an ordinary small village, but recently, excavations nearby have unearthed Xia Pi Ancient City and discovered an ancient tomb, rumored to be Lu Bu's true burial site.

Wherever there is archaeology, the presence of artifact traffickers can be found, and Wu Village is no exception. Recently, many outsiders have come to Wu Village to rent houses, with a clear purpose of hoping to acquire some valuable artifacts from local villagers.

Wu Village primarily engages in Chinese medicine planting, and the village's medicinal herb processing plant is quite sizable.

Hua Zhuyue chose to visit here because this medicinal herb processing plant is actually the biggest black market for medicinal herbs in the Dongzhou Region, run by Boss Wu Yuanyi, who came from the Outer Pimu Sect. To put it bluntly, it's about peddling fake medicine on the streets and alleys.

Later, Wu Yuanyi's business grew continuously, and he opened a medicinal herb processing plant. The processed herbs are sold all over, using the processing plant as a facade while conducting black market business behind the scenes.

Every trade has both legitimate and underground routes. For instance, when you buy a phone, there are official products and black market goods; the same goes for medicinal herbs. There's a saying in the industry that there's no herb Wu Yuanyi can't source.

Hua Zhuyue arrived at the designated location at nine in the evening, where a Great Wall pickup truck was waiting.

Hua Zhuyue parked her car, and a lean middle-aged man with a ponytail and slightly hunched back got out of the pickup truck, walked to Hua Zhuyue, and respectfully said, "Sister Hua is here."

Hua Zhuyue smiled, "Uncle Qi, thank you for the trouble." This person was Liu Qi, a well-known figure in the Dongzhou thieving circle, now retired. He was here tonight to act as their guide.

Hua Zhuyue introduced to Liu Qi, "This is Boss Xu."

Liu Qi scrutinized Xu Chunliang and said, "Are you looking to buy tiger penis?"

Xu Chunliang nodded.

Liu Qi said, "You must be wealthy!" Even in the normal market, it can't be purchased despite the cost. The black market price of tiger penis has been speculated up to twenty thousand per gram, much more expensive than gold, with a whole tiger penis ranging from two million to eight million.

Hua Zhuyue contacted Wu Yuanyi through Liu Qi under the guise of buying tiger penis, and Xu Chunliang was portrayed by her as a wealthy second-generation friend.

Liu Qi instructed them to park their car on the provincial road and got on his pickup truck, taking them to continue heading to Wu Village.

Wu Yuanyi had leased five hundred mu of land locally, where his medicinal herb processing plant is located. It includes a planting operation area, fish ponds, and the processing plant. Nowadays, many lease land for planting, mostly eyeing national subsidies.

The car arrived in front of the farm, seeing the farm's gate tightly closed, with barbed wire around, and several signs hanging next to the entrance.

Shennong Chinese Medicine Planting Base, Wu Village New Agricultural Demonstration Base, Shennong Herbal Processing Center, Enheng Pharmaceutical Herbal Planting Cooperative Unit.

Upon seeing Enheng Pharmaceutical, Xu Chunliang naturally thought of Sheng Chaohui and Liang Wenjing, according to Hua Zhuyue, this Wu Yuanyi wasn't a good person, and if Enheng had connections with Wu Yuanyi, it would indicate that they might also have problems.

Liu Qi made a phone call, and after a while, the gate slowly opened. According to regulations here, no visiting vehicles were allowed inside.

Before getting out of the car, Hua Zhuyue reminded Xu Chunliang to be adaptable tonight; they had none of the favorable timing, location, or harmony. She handed a combination box to Xu Chunliang, hefty at about thirty jin, filled with cash. Wu Yuanyi had a rule of only accepting cash for such dealings.

They got on a Chang'an van on the farm, the driver drove aggressively, and soon they arrived at the farm's office area, where two rooms were lit.

In one room, people were drinking, while in another, someone was playing cards.

The car arrived in front of the building, and several people came out of the room where they were playing cards. Leading them was a man in his fifties, Wu Yuanyi, wearing a military coat with hands tucked inside his sleeves and a cigarette in his mouth.

Liu Qi cheerfully walked over, "Boss Wu, it's been a while."