CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60 ELEPHANTS

Early in the morning, Medicine King Hall was shaken to its core. In fact, the entire street was abuzz; people who had risen early had seen the letter...

"Pharmacist Huang Gun, who’s in charge of Medicine King Hall’s Inner Treasury, has actually been embezzling and lining his own pockets in secret! Good heavens, where did this letter and evidence suddenly come from!"

"It’s often said, ’A cook who doesn’t pilfer isn’t a cook, and grain that isn’t skimmed won’t be harvested.’ Everyone suspected that those in charge of the storeroom wouldn’t have perfectly clean hands, but this is too much! He even dared to sell off Medicine King Hall’s property and cook the books..."

While the people on North Street discussed the matter with an air of anticipation, excited to watch a good show and see Medicine King Hall embarrassed, Medicine King Hall itself was in a complete uproar.

For the first time, all three Shopkeepers had gathered.

"Where did this letter come from?!" Store Manager Qin Sifan shouted, clearly infuriated. "Is any of this true?"

Cao Shouxiong closed his eyes slightly and said, "Officials from the county government office have already been here. The handwriting is indeed Huang Gun’s. I immediately sealed the Inner Treasury to inspect the accounts and determine the truth. As for where the letter came from... after the Government Officials arrived, they deduced it was secretly posted on the front door at Midnight. It’s difficult to investigate who posted it, as they left no demands or traces. It seems their only intention was to humiliate Medicine King Hall and make the scandal known to everyone."

"This is outrageous!" Qin Sifan growled. "What about Huang Gun? Have you interrogated him? Does he know who did it?"

"He... he’s run away. The moment the incident occurred, I sent someone to his house. His family was gone too. He must have heard about it on his way to work today and chosen to flee."

Cao Shouxiong rubbed his brow, troubled. "I’ve already had the Government Officials open a case and post a wanted notice. I’ve also sent Instructor Chai with a team to search for him. The Yamen promised to notify us immediately once he’s found."

BANG!

Store Manager Qin Sifan slammed his fist on the table, then turned his cold gaze to Second Shopkeeper Zhang Yuanhai, who had been silent. "Yuanhai, the position of Steward of the Inner Treasury was your appointment. Huang Gun was directly accountable to you. Are you going to say nothing?"

Second Shopkeeper Zhang Yuanhai, a scholarly man appearing to be in his forties, said calmly, "Since the incident has occurred, we must do what’s necessary. My subordinate’s wrongdoing reflects my lack of discipline. I will also issue a reward on the black market to bring him in, alive or dead, as soon as possible."

Cao Shouxiong saw Store Manager Qin Sifan hear this and say nothing, seemingly accepting it. Cao Shouxiong opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

「In a secluded courtyard just outside Baojiao County.」

BANG!

Huang Gun kicked a stone mill in the courtyard to pieces, his Inner Qi swirling, his face shifting from pale to livid as he gritted his teeth. "AHH!!"

He was completely unprepared. He racked his brain but couldn’t understand why... Chen Ku could be faster than him? Such a coincidence? Just last night, based on a few clues, he’d begun to suspect Chen Ku had something to do with Skinny Dog. He’d only harbored the thought of dealing with that little whelp for less than half a night... Then, the next day, the very letter he was most worried about was posted on the main entrance of Medicine King Hall! It was as if he’d been stripped bare and paraded through the streets! If he hadn’t heard about it on his way to work today, he would have arrived oblivious. By then, he might have been struck dead by the murderous gazes of the three Shopkeepers! So cunning, so vicious, such scheming! To post it directly on the main gate... instead of secretly handing it to one of the Shopkeepers! Huang Gun was now 90 percent sure it had to be Chen Ku, but he didn’t understand how Chen Ku had managed to act first. With such a move, Chen Ku had maximized the letter’s effect without any real effort. Even if Huang Gun had gone to one of the Shopkeepers to report him secretly, it wouldn’t have had such a massive impact because... the money he embezzled wasn’t taken by him alone! A secret report would naturally have been suppressed. Instead, the letter was posted on the front door, and the poster didn’t even show their face, making it impossible for him to remain at Medicine King Hall any longer. Now, he didn’t even dare return home; he could only hide in this quiet courtyard he’d once purchased.

"Chen Ku, Chen Ku..." Huang Gun’s murderous intent surged. How dare you offend me? You little beast, you truly wish to die! A mere Apprentice who had just learned Force Transforming dared to act this way towards an Inner Qi expert? Wasn’t he afraid of dying out there?

Huang Gun’s eyes surged with killing intent as he took out a human-skin mask from his robes. I can’t stay in Baojiao County any longer. But before I leave, I must kill you, you little whelp! He remembered that this little whelp, Chen Ku, often seemed to go out at night.

「Within Medicine King Hall.」

Chen Ku considered the impact of his actions on Medicine King Hall, and even on North Street. Huang Gun can probably guess it was me by now. He must be wishing for my death...

Just then, news arrived from outside: Chai Tiangui had delivered the weapons he had sourced for him.

"Young Master Chen, our Official Chai said this is a 1,000-pound Refined Iron Dragon Stick. He hopes it will shine greatly in your hands."

The Chai Family had delivered the staff by horse-drawn cart.

Chen Ku didn’t wait for several men to lift it. He stepped forward and took it himself, feeling its extreme weight. Only after activating both Fierce Tiger Transformation and Skinny Dog Transformation could he handle it with ease. To truly brandish such a heavy weapon, one needed to rely on one’s own Divine Power and the Unity of Move and Force—applying just four ounces of force to move a thousand pounds, making heavy seem light—to control it.

"The weapons have been delivered. We shall take our leave."

"Please extend my thanks to Official Chai. Tell him Chen Ku deeply appreciates this kindness."

Chen Ku saw off the men who delivered the weapons. Weighing the 1,000-pound Refined Iron Dragon Stick in his hand, he turned and went back into his room. That evening, with Skinny Dog Transformation active all day, Chen Ku suddenly smelled Huang Gun’s scent lingering about 70 to 80 feet outside Medicine King Hall.

Just as I thought. He’s waiting for me to leave so he can ambush me in the dark...

Knowing Huang Gun was targeting him, Chen Ku actually felt reassured.

Huang Gun waited all night but didn’t see Chen Ku leave, so he eventually returned to his courtyard. However, he didn’t know that 3 to 4 miles away, a white dog had been following him from a distance and had found his hiding place.

The next day, Chen Ku initially planned to deal with Huang Gun the same way he had dealt with Ni Kun: by leaking information about Huang Gun’s whereabouts when an opportunity arose. But a delivery from Butcher Court that day—a massive creature—made him consider a different fate for Huang Gun.

Inside Workshop No. 6, Chen Ku was still processing Pangolins.

Suddenly, Qin Sheng hurried to Workshop No. 6 and shouted to Chen Ku, "Junior Brother Chen, they brought in a wild elephant from the southwest today! Its skin must be completely stripped off; it’s top-quality beast medicine. But the creature’s strength is immense—10,000 pounds of it! Even chained to the iron poles of a cage, it’s hard for anyone to get close! We don’t have enough hands, come help!"

Ten thousand pounds of strength? An elephant?

Hearing this, Chen Ku didn’t hesitate. He stepped out of Workshop No. 6 and headed towards Workshop No. 3. "I’m on it!"