212 Time to Get Serious and Teach Them a Lesson (1/2)
His hearing was considerably good, and it was only a few walls anyway. If it was one wall, as long as he tried, he would be able to hear everything clearly. Even if he didn't try, he would still overhear a few sentences now and then.
He had not practiced to the point that he could shut out the world around him yet.
Big families have more problems…Wang Yao thought.
Through the conversation that he overheard, he could guess some of the conflicts happening within the Zhou family.
Regardless, he continued preparing the herbs that Zhou Ying had bought, weighing and preparing them for decoction the next day.
Just as he was busying himself, there came a sound of a woman crying outside which started abruptly and stopped just as suddenly. Then, there were sounds of footsteps going further away.
...
Later that night.
Wang Yao sat cross-legged on his bed in meditation.
Creak. There came an odd sound from the ceiling, as though something was walking around on the ceiling.
Hmmm?
Wang Yao looked up.
It couldn't be that much of a coincidence, could it?
Outside, someone shouted, ”Who's that?!”
Creak creak. The sounds from the roof became more and more frequent. It sounded like someone else had climbed onto the roof. Then, there was the sound of someone snorting.
Wang Yao sat calmly in his room.
A moment later, there was a knock on his door.
”Dr. Wang?” It was Zhou Xiong.
”What is it?”
”Are you alright?”
Wang Yao got up and turned on the lights. He opened the door.
”I'm fine. What's going on?”
”There was an intruder earlier. It's good as long as you're fine. Apologies for disturbing you,” Zhou Xiong said. Regarding the disturbances that arose because of his family, Zhou Xiong was still rather apologetic. The previous time, Wang Yao and Sang Guzi were assaulted and placed in a dangerous situation. They were thus more cautious this time. However, they never thought a similar incident would happen again today.
”Don't worry about it.”
Wang Yao laughed before returning into his room to rest.
Is this what they call the jianghu? A place where fighting is common, and violence is used to resolve disputes?
That night, the village was bustling. There was an intruder who trespassed with ill intentions. This was challenging their authority.
That person had been injured by Zhou Xiong's father and would not have been able to escape far.
At about 1 am, he was discovered hiding in a deserted corner in the village.
The Zhou family did not immediately call the police. Instead, they used their own methods of interrogation to get information out of the man. Only after they were done did they hand him to the police.
In another house in the village, there were a few elders gathered together. One of them was Zhou Xiong's father.
”These men are getting out of hand!”
”We've been too soft on them.”
”It's time we get serious and teach them a painful lesson.”
”Agreed.”
…
The next morning, the sun was bright.
After breakfast, Wang Yao first visited Zhou Wuyi to check on his condition. After confirming that his condition had somewhat stabilized and that the Blood Deblocking Powder had been effective, he went back to the courtyard to decoct medicine for Zhou Wuyi.
Master Sang Guzi also woke early and had come to the courtyard. When he saw Wang Yao decocting medicine, he smiled and walked over.
”Good morning, young fellow.”
”Good morning, sir.”
”What are you decocting?”
”It's some medicine to revitalize the body.”
Sang Guzi nodded his head and stood there, watching Wang Yao with interest.
”Sir, a stool for you,” a servant said.
”Thank you.”
Young and old, one decocting medicine and one watching—they were deeply engrossed in what they were doing.