Chapter 74.2: Catching a Saber like Crushing Iron into Mud! (II)

Lady Xia glanced at Lu Changsheng, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. In recent days, the Xia Clan had invited famous physicians from all over, and almost all of them had been elderly men. It was truly rare for someone as young as Lu Changsheng to be called for a consultation.

"I keep having nightmares," she said weakly. "They leave me deeply unsettled, and all day long I'm stuck in a daze, as if I didn't fully wake up. Sometimes I'm not sure whether I'm awake or stuck in a dreadful dream..."

Lu Changsheng's brow furrowed slightly. This certainly seemed like a complicated case. He reached out once more to take Lady Xia's pulse.

"What do you think, Physician Lu?" Official Xia asked anxiously.

Lu Changsheng did not answer immediately. Instead, he signalled Official Xia and walked out of the room with him.

"Official Xia, your daughter appears to suffer from some nightmare affliction."

"A nightmare affliction?" Official Xia was taken aback.

"Yes. This kind of affliction is not fatal, but being tormented by unending nightmares, the patient is left weak in spirit," Lu Changsheng explained. "However, as far as I know, this kind of affliction is often induced deliberately?"

"D-Deliberately? What do you mean?"

"Bewildering incense, sir. I'm thinking someone has used it on Lady Xia, more than once. Lady Xia has probably been long exposed to such incense, which causes ceaseless nightmares and leads to this disorder."

At that, Official Xia's expression changed dramatically. Bewildering incense—he knew very well what that implied. Someone had been trying to harm his daughter.

"Physician Lu, can this affliction be treated?"

"Of course. I'll begin by prescribing a course of medication, and the prescription shall be adjusted every three days. After three courses, her body should be cleansed of the incense, and the nightmares should go away on their own. However, it is essential that she be not exposed to the incense during and after the treatment. Otherwise, even if the symptoms cease at first, the condition will recur."

Official Xia fell into thought, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. Whoever dared to use bewildering incense on his daughter would be punished accordingly, without any mercy.

Lu Changsheng could tell how Official Xia felt, but he was merely the physician, here to treat the afflicted. He would not get involved any further than that.

"I understand. I will handle the matter of the bewildering incense. Thank you for your efforts," said Official Xia.

Lu Changsheng wrote out the prescription and had the people of the Xia Clan prepare according to his instructions. Since he would need around ten days to bring Lady Xia's condition under control, he was shown to his guest room.

Three days flew by. Lady Xia had finished the first course of treatment, and her prescription was adjusted as planned. Her condition had improved significantly. Apparently, she was no longer tormented by nightmares at night, and she was in better spirits overall. However, to make a full recovery, she had to finish her treatment.

During those three days, Lu Changsheng had heard some rumours. Official Xia had apparently beaten several servants to death and even ordered the Organ Refinement martial artists of the household to take action. He had made quite a stir. This was obviously about Lady Xia, but no one dared to gossip openly about her.

As far as Lu Changsheng was concerned, he did not care for whatever scandals she was involved in. During his stay at the Xia residence, he occasionally walked around when he was idle. Given the sheer amount of salt production, Yan City was naturally bustling with countless merchants.

As he walked along a busy street, he heard a loud clatter of hooves ahead.

"Out of the way! Get out of the way!" someone roared.

Two horses raced down the crowded street. Several unwary pedestrians were knocked sprawling. A boy of four or five stood frozen in the middle of the road, as if in a daze. The galloping horses charged straight at him and showed no sign of slowing. Lu Changsheng's expression hardened.

Suddenly, a burly man shot out from the side of the street, snatched the child up with one hand, and slammed his palm into the onrushing horse.

Thud!

The galloping horse collapsed on the spot, but the rider had managed to leap off. He shot a glare at the burly man and shouted, "Hey, what the hell?! Do you even know who I am?"

The burly man set the child down and snorted. "I don't know who you are, and frankly, I don't care. But anyone riding a horse like that through a crowded street deserves a beating."

"You..." the rider growled, his face flushing.

At that moment, the other rider hurried to restrain his companion. After glancing at the burly man, he pressed his palms together in apology.

"I cannot believe we've stumbled into Great Hero Lei Xiong himself, the Top Saberman of Mount Ba. I apologize, we were in a great hurry and bumped into you by accident. Great Hero Lei, we hope you can forgive us."

Lei Xiong let out a cold laugh. "You didn't run into me, but you certainly frightened the child. Judging from your attire, I'm guessing you're part of the Blackwater Gang. Many in Yan City fear you, but not me. Relay this message to your leader for me, will you? If you think the Blackwater Gang can swallow the Four-Eyed Toad all by itself, you're out of your mind."

The two gang members blanched.

"Go on, now," urged Lei Xiong."

They dared not linger and immediately mounted their horses, riding away swiftly.

"Oh, Great Hero, thank you!" the child's mother cried as she came rushing over. She snatched up her child and fell to her knees.

Lei Xiong hurriedly helped the mother and child back to their feet. "Watch your child closely from now on. Go on. You live in Yan City. If those two Blackwater Gang members decide to take notice of you, you will be in trouble."

He waved them away. He himself did not fear the Blackwater Gang, but ordinary people living in Yan City certainly could not afford to offend them.

Afterwards, Lei Xiong departed swiftly. Lu Changsheng, who had witnessed the entire scene, felt a sharp glimmer flash through his eyes.

The

Four-Eyed Toad? The Celestial Treasure Refinement Secret Technique required seven kinds of rare treasures, and one of them was exactly this Four-Eyed Toad. To think I'd run into it here, in Yan City... What a coincidence.

***

After circling several times, Lei Xiong finally returned to the lodging he had rented. He was not as rough as he appeared to be, just extremely cautious. He had journeyed a thousand li from Bashan to Yan City for one sole purpose: the Four-Eyed Toad. He had received news that it had appeared here.

If consumed, the treasure granted immunity to all poisons, and for an Organ Refinement martial artist, its true value lay in greatly strengthening the body. With it, Lei Xiong would dare to attempt breaking into the Divine Strength Realm.

Many martial artists had come to Yan City in pursuit of the treasure. In the past few days, he had encountered several well-known experts from the jianghu, each no weaker than himself. If he wished to obtain the Four Eyed Toad, he needed a meticulous plan.

Today, he had merely probed the Blackwater Gang to test their reaction. He had no idea whether they possessed the treasure or not. As the local gang of Yan City, they were the most likely ones to acquire it first.

A voice suddenly sounded behind him. "How much do you know about the Four-Eyed Toad?"

Lei Xiong's expression changed at once. "Who is it?"

Shing!

Lei Xiong was known in the jianghu as the Top Saberman of Mount Ba, and he did not carry that title for nothing.

Without even turning, he instantly drew his saber and swung in backwards in a smooth, powerful motion. Even an Organ Refinement martial artist would struggle to parry that.

As he turned, he caught a glimpse of a young man watching him calmly. The saber's edge was just about to cut into his neck.

Swish!

The young man instantly thrust his hand forward, reaching for the razor-sharp blade with nothing but flesh and bone.

Krrrr!

Lei Xiong stared at him wide-eyed. He could not believe this man had stopped his saber with just his bare hand. The man's hand did not even tremble as he gripped the blade, no matter how hard Lei Xiong tried to pull his saber free.

Schhhhh!

The young man squeezed the blade to crumple it like paper. Lei Xiong's saber had just been reduced to a lump of scrap metal.

"Such a shame. This was a fine saber, but your technique is lacking," Lu Changsheng remarked.

While Lei Xiong's saber technique was not weak by any means, it was inferior to Zhao Qilei's by a clear margin.

"Catching my blade with your bare hand and crushing like that... You're in the Divine Strength Realm!"

Lei Xiong failed to control his trembling, his face pale.