Chapter 514 - 512: Playing Chess, Mountain Bandits Enter

Chapter 514: Chapter 512: Playing Chess, Mountain Bandits Enter

A few days passed.

Li Renren’s medical clinic had closed down.

All his patients started coming to Su Qing to be treated.

They couldn’t just not see a doctor, could they?

Although Su Qing also charged a fee, it was generally cheaper than the other clinics in the city.

Since they were already in the area, it was only natural they’d come to see Su Qing.

Su Qing had another busy day.

’That kid... He was found out after all.’

’And here I thought he actually had some trick for Qi Concealment.’

As a mere spectator, the most Su Qing could do was comment on it.

...

...

After seeing patients for several days straight,

Su Qing found something a little strange.

It wasn’t because he was tired.

Su Qing’s temperament was far too steady for that.

Tiredness wasn’t an issue.

Rather, the sign for the Qinghe Medical Clinic across the street was gone.

’Looks like he’s left?’

’Didn’t even say goodbye to the neighbors?’

’Seems like things didn’t go smoothly for him.’

This ordinary clone of Su Qing didn’t have much ability to understand the outside world’s affairs.

So, as for how Li Renren left...

...he had no idea whatsoever.

...

"Old Chen, why aren’t you leaving?" Su Qing asked, puzzled.

Old Chen, whose full name was Chen Nianhua, was actually a retired official from the County City who had returned to his hometown.

Which is to say, he was quite advanced in age.

But since he was still in good health...

...he often wandered about.

His favorite pastime was visiting the various medical clinics.

Not for any particular reason.

In his youth, he had wanted to be a doctor.

Unfortunately, his wish was never fulfilled.

Even at his age, he was still learning how to be one.

"I’m not leaving. I’ll just sit here and watch. Doctor Su, you’re probably going to be very busy from now on."

"Your fee of five copper coins is really too low. That’s why so many patients are coming to you," Chen Nianhua said with a smile.

"Oh?"

"Looks like I’ll have to raise my consultation fee, then. I don’t want to be so tired, and stealing everyone’s business is even worse."

Su Qing nodded. No wonder there were so many patients.

It was all his pricing’s fault.

"But, Old Chen, are you saying Li Renren won’t be coming back here?" Su Qing was confused.

"Heh." Old Chen gave a mysterious smile.

Then he said, "That kid, he’s gone to the Capital City. He’s going to be an Imperial Physician for the Holy Emperor."

"And not just him, even his wife’s family has been promoted to official posts in the Capital City."

"He is very skilled. After all, wasn’t it his prescription that cured everyone from the recent plague?" Su Qing said with a smile, his gaze clear and discerning.

From Old Chen’s perspective,

there wasn’t the slightest trace of jealousy in Su Qing’s eyes.

Su Qing’s expression was one of complete calm.

It gave Old Chen an ineffable feeling: ’This young man will surely have an extraordinary future.’

"Oh? So he was promoted."

"That’s a good thing."

Su Qing smiled. ’It seems Li Renren was discovered after all.’

’He was just one step away from becoming what mortals would call a god.’

’Li Renren probably won’t be content serving as an Imperial Physician in the Capital City for too long.’

"Su Qing, an official from the Capital City was recently demoted and sent here."

"I think he’s the new Prefect. You should be careful," Old Chen warned.

"How about a game of Xiangqi?"

"Xiangqi?"

Su Qing saw that there were no patients waiting.

’Alright, then.’

’Ah, Old Chen, you never give up. We’ve played hundreds of games, and if I didn’t let you win on purpose, you wouldn’t have won a single one.’

Su Qing chuckled inwardly.

But the best kind of entertainment was having someone to be entertained with.

That was the best thing of all.

Su Qing never refused a game.

Besides, playing chess was just for fun.

To be honest, Xiangqi didn’t exist in this world.

Neither did Go.

They had another type of chess: Bingqi, or Soldier’s Chess.

The board even had to be custom-made.

It was usually played by nobles and officials. Su Qing had looked it over once and felt it was inferior to Go.

Old Chen and Su Qing started their game.

He frowned, staring intently at the board.

"You young punk, you always put so much pressure on me. Your moves are so unexpected."

"Are you really not planning on getting married and having children?"

"You must be joking, sir. I have no such plans."

"Sigh..."

"It’s a pity. My youngest is quite fond of you."

"I can perfectly understand why your granddaughter would be fond of me. Who can blame her when I’m this handsome?" Su Qing grinned shamelessly.

Old Chen had heard this sort of thing from him many times. "If my son had been as thick-skinned as you, he wouldn’t have drowned himself in the river. Sigh..."

"What’s past is past."

"Old Chen, that’s a check." Su Qing was completely unaffected by the somber turn.

While they were chatting, he had already trapped the king.

"Huh?"

"You brat, I wasn’t paying attention. Let’s start over."

"A move made cannot be unmade." That was a saying Su Qing himself had introduced.

Old Chen always remembered it. He wasn’t trying to go back on his move just because he’d gotten distracted and lost the game.

He just wanted to play a new one.

"Su Qing, you know my physical condition. How many more years do I have?"

"Barring any illness or disaster, you’ll die of old age. You probably have over twenty years left. No need to worry so much," Su Qing said with a smile.

This Old Chen was obsessed with his health.

He came for a check-up almost every day.

Most importantly, he always followed the doctor’s orders.

He was the perfect patient.

By coming every day, if any minor symptoms were found...

...a single dose of herbal medicine would solve it.

"I still have that long? I thought I didn’t have many years left."

"An optimistic mindset, a good diet, and a regular schedule will let you live a long life."

"Old Chen."

"A good mindset is what’s truly important. Someone in a bad mood could die in less than a year."

Su Qing chuckled softly.

Sometimes, illness was just like that.

A sickness of the mind could cause a sickness of the body, and a sickness of the body could also cause a sickness of the mind.

The two influenced each other.

"You’re right, Su Qing."

"Come visit my estate when you have time. My little one wants to meet you."

"There’s no need. I’m really not getting married."

"I’m afraid if your granddaughter sees me, she’ll lose her appetite completely. That would just be making her suffer," Su Qing said narcissistically.

Old Chen roared with laughter. He actually agreed with Su Qing. "You might be right! My little one hasn’t met many men, and you’re so handsome. It might really happen just as you say."

"In that case, let’s not speak of it again. Let’s play."

"Mm."

Su Qing nodded.

It wasn’t that Su Qing didn’t want to teach him Go.

Xiangqi was already starting to spread.

If a pastime like Go were to appear...

...he was afraid it would alarm too many people.

Su Qing would never do such a thing.

Attracting attention was already a bad idea.

The chess game lasted the entire day.

Patients didn’t come in constantly.

So it was still a relaxing day.

Because Su Qing was quick to take advice...

...he immediately raised his consultation fee to 10 copper coins.

Almost instantly, the other medical clinics in the city became busier.

There was no helping it.

Su Qing was just someone who wanted to lie flat.

There was no end to the number of patients he could save.

Su Qing just wanted to live a quiet life.

...

’Strange. I’ve clearly been in contact with the Star Sea.’

’With such a vast number of living beings, not a single one with the Devouring Dao Path has appeared.’

’Strange.’

Su Qing was puzzled.

But he didn’t dwell on it.

Forget the Devouring Dao Path, there wasn’t even a single Star Dao Path.

There were only those with the Five Elements Dao Path, or other special Dao Paths.

...

「The next day.」

"This is bad! This is bad! The Jia Mountain Bandits are charging in!"

’But this is the County City...’

’The Jia Mountain Bandits... Isn’t that old news?’

’They said they were rebelling against the Yang Dynasty.’

This country was called the Yang Dynasty.

He never thought they’d actually come.

"Hiss..."

’A bunch of mountain bandits actually made it to the County City. Something isn’t right.’

Su Qing usually didn’t pay much attention to the common people’s affairs.

He just wanted to treat people.

He had no desire to know about anything else.

He knew nothing at all.

’It’s not a famine year, is it?’

Su Qing wondered. ℴ

He started to recall whether it had rained in the last month.

As he thought back,

it hadn’t rained for not just a month, but almost a month and a half.

’Damn, so there is something going on.’

’No wonder there’s a rebel army.’ Su Qing felt like he would have to move again.

They had already reached the outskirts of the County City.

In that case, wouldn’t conquering the County City be a piece of cake?

...