Chapter 1108: Chapter 184: The Willing Take the Bait

Wang Anfeng smiled and said, “Thank you, Brother Pu, for the reminder.”

“The safety of the city will be entrusted to you, Brother Pu.”

Pu Yongyan, still slightly drunk, couldn’t help but feel a bit smug and laughed heartily, saying:

“Naturally, I’m telling you, reaching my current position isn’t something that can be achieved just by accumulating experience. You must have real skills.”

Wang Anfeng nodded with a smile, then took out something from his chest, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it over. Pu Yongyan saw it was a small square wooden box and was puzzled. Wang Anfeng smiled and said:

“In my humble self, I am powerless, merely a common scholar, and have no way to ensure the city’s safety. Fortunately, I have followed my master since childhood to study the Qihuang technique, and I have some insights into making healing medicines. This elixir is called the Five-Heart Pill, capable of slightly restraining the usual fierce poisons of the Jianghu.”

“Please, Brother Pu, accept it.”

Pu Yongyan was idly toying with the box when he was startled by the words, suddenly stood up, and held the small box as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

He had seen the young man’s medical skills today, even capable of countering the poison of the famous Celestial Azure Powder, which was extraordinary. Moreover, he did not carry such an important elixir on him earlier this morning, but now he treated it with significant importance, obviously indicating that this elixir was much more valuable than the previous one.

He hesitated a bit, saying:

“How could I possibly deserve this?”

“Such a precious elixir, how can old Pu accept it?”

Despite his words, he clutched it tightly, seemingly afraid that Wang Anfeng might want it back, all the while thinking that if the young man insisted even slightly on giving it to him, he would ‘reluctantly’ accept it.

Wang Anfeng glanced at him, smiled, and said, “It seems I have misunderstood. Brother Pu is truly noble and unselfish, so be it, I shall take back this elixir.”

Upon hearing this, he reached out to take back the elixir.

Pu Yongyan had planned that if the young man insisted a bit more, he wouldn’t refuse, but he never expected Wang Anfeng to react like this. This surprised him as he subconsciously pulled the box back, leaving Wang Anfeng’s hand grabbing at air.

It was only then he realized what he had done, blushing with embarrassment.

However, he was a seasoned old official, often dealing with various people from the Jianghu, his face thick-skinned from practice, and with some wine still in him, it was not noticeable. He cleared his throat lightly and said, “But, since it’s given by my brother, old Pu cannot refuse. I thank you again for this.”

“In the future, my brother’s matters will be my matters as well.”

“If there is any evasion, there will be no second word!”

Wang Anfeng smiled and withdrew his right hand, naturally saying that there was no need for such formality. Pu Yongyan was naturally delighted to acquire this life-saving precious elixir. The two continued to drink and chat until late at night when Wang Anfeng took his leave.

Pu Yongyan, in high spirits, sent Wang Anfeng out before walking back into the courtyard.

When he returned to the house, the big dog at home barked incessantly. Pu Yongyan recalled the oath he swore earlier, cursing ‘raised by a dog mother’, his face darkened, and he picked up a stick to scold the dog fiercely.

Only when the dog stopped barking did he grumble back into the house, unwilling to wake his deeply sleeping wife, heated up some sobering soup and hot water for himself, soaked his feet, and then fell onto the bed, snoring within moments.

……

Wang Anfeng returned to his room, prepared some meat for the little beast to eat, looked at the night outside, his expression slightly contemplative, while gently stroking the small black and white patched beast’s fur, he muttered to himself:

“The bait has been set, just not sure when the fish will bite, but it shouldn’t be too long, right?”

“There are at least three or four groups of Martial Artists with different martial arts techniques in the city, not counting those hidden from view. I reckon there might soon be some conflicts, and among Jianghu fights, a highly skilled doctor is as conspicuous as a highly skilled martial artist.”

“In gang battles, one must first take out the opponent’s martial artist skilled in healing.”

“After today’s healing incident, coupled with those pills, I suspect someone will come looking for me soon. However, whether they mean to recruit me or eliminate me, the ‘busybody’, remains unknown.”

“Ha, it turns out I’m the bait myself.”

Wang Anfeng sighed bitterly, raising a hand to his forehead, while the little beast just kept eating, making him slightly annoyed. He flicked its forehead with his finger, causing it to whine foolishly, making Wang Anfeng laugh:

“My Third Master assuredly said you’re just a cat, and I increasingly doubt you’re just a cat. That horse has already mastered the Leg Technique and Staff Technique, what about you, what do you know?”

“Could it be the fist technique?”

The black and white beast seemed angry, its fur standing on end but was easily teased by Wang Anfeng’s finger.

“With guests coming, I should prepare something.”

……

In the days that followed, Wang Anfeng merely continued living as usual. This residence was one he had acquired after stabilizing his injuries, intending to continue contacting the White Tiger Hall when he entered Balman Royal City and happened to meet a merchant.

That merchant had to leave Balman Royal City and offered a price that Wang Anfeng could barely manage, so after some consideration, he bought it.

In these few days, he gradually became familiar with the neighbors around him.

These people in the neighborhood knew that the previous owner of the house, a cold and sinister man, had moved out, and a young man with a friendly demeanor, who was good at cooking, had moved in. He was courteous and liked reading.