Chapter 157: Two of a Trade Seldom Agree

The sarcastic taunts were more than Zhao Ling'Er could bear, and she couldn't help but look around.

Suddenly, she saw someone approaching from a distance.

He was a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties, with a contemptuous smile on his lips.

Mu Lin disliked the man at first glance. His face was just too unpleasant.

"Who's that?" Mu Lin asked.

Zhao Ling'Er leaned closer to Mu Lin. "Shi Huiguang. He's in the same profession as us and is my grandfather's arch-rival. They've been feuding for a long time."

Mu Lin couldn't help but narrow his eyes. 'If he's an arch-rival, then this isn't going to end well.'

"Oh, so that's how it is," Mu Lin said. Her explanation made him understand what was happening.

'It's always the same old story!'

Zhao Yang clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm. "As a doctor, isn't it perfectly normal for me to come to an auction in search of medicinal herbs? What's it to you?"

"Then I suggest you cover your face and don't show it around. If the Bai Family sees you, they'll be letting you off easy if they just slap you to death."

Shi Huiguang's lips curled into a smug grin.

The onlookers were all puzzled.

'What does that have to do with anything?'

'The Bai Family and Zhao Yang are completely unrelated. How could there be any connection?'

Someone asked:

"Old Shi, why don't you tell us what's going on? Is there a story here?"

Shi Huiguang shook his head smugly. "I could tell you. But what's in it for me?"

The crowd was annoyed. 'Are you kidding? You want something for a petty piece of gossip like this?'

"If you don't want to say it, then forget it!"

Zhao Yang suddenly turned around. "Mu Lin, you and Ling'Er head inside. I'm not feeling well."

'I don't see anything wrong with him,' Mu Lin thought. 'It would be ridiculous for such a famous doctor to actually get sick.'

"Elder Zhao, what's wrong?" Mu Lin started to go after him.

Before he could take more than a few steps, someone shouted at the top of their lungs:

"Zhao Yang, where do you think you're going!"

The onlookers turned toward the voice.

"Isn't that Master Bai? So it's true, there's a feud between the Bai Family and Doctor Zhao?"

Seeing that he couldn't escape, Zhao Yang sighed, stood his ground, and faced the man who had arrived.

The middle-aged man known as Master Bai stopped. The man behind him raised a hand, and upon seeing the signal, the massive entourage instantly halted.

There was no bumping or shoving, only perfect uniformity.

It was an impressive display of a great family's power.

Their every move exuded an intense pressure.

Master Bai, leading the group, stared deathly at Zhao Yang. Extremely uncomfortable, Zhao Yang said:

"Greetings, Master Bai!"

"It seems my old face still carries some weight with the great Divine Doctor Zhao."

Zhao Yang's expression turned even uglier when he heard the title "Divine Doctor" come from Master Bai's lips.

"You're being too harsh, Master Bai. I, Zhao Yang, am unworthy of the title 'Divine Doctor'!"

"Unworthy? Weren't you having a grand time over in Anhua? Holy Medicine Hall, Divine Doctor Zhao... you've built such a reputation that even the Jade Emperor himself would have to call you a Divine Doctor!"

Zhao Yang's expression was utterly wretched. The more Master Bai spoke, the more ashamed he felt.

"The title of Divine Doctor was a gift from the common people. I have never claimed it for myself."

"Oh? So you're claiming to be humble? I don't think so. Weren't you full of pride when you were treating my father? And what was the result? You killed my poor father before I ever had the chance to properly honor him!"

The moment he said this, the crowd erupted. The people qualified to attend this auction were no ordinary folk, and when these words reached their ears, an uproar ensued.

'If he's the kind of doctor who kills his patients, then we can never hire him. No matter how famous he is, we'll never call for him.'

"Zhao Yang, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Fire was practically shooting from Master Bai's eyes.

Zhao Yang lowered his head. "I... have nothing to say. The dead cannot be brought back. Please, Master Bai, accept my condolences."

This made Master Bai's face twist into a pained grimace.

Hearing the commotion, other guests rushed over to see what was happening.

Once they asked around and found out what was going on, the shock was even greater.

"The old Patriarch of the Bai Family was actually killed by Zhao Yang?"

"This is the first I'm hearing of it. That's a close call. I was thinking of hiring him to treat my wife the last time she was ill."

"Luckily, travel was an issue, so I found a local doctor instead. He cured her just fine."

"His reputation is completely undeserved!"

As one comment led to another, Zhao Yang was quickly branded a charlatan who preyed on the world for fame.

Seeing that a large enough crowd had gathered, Shi Huiguang said gleefully, "This whole affair is rather bizarre. When Elder Bai fell ill, Master Bai went straight to Anhua to hire Zhao Yang without a second thought. But not long after Zhao Yang arrived, Elder Bai died."

"What?!" Even though this had happened long ago, and Master Bai had been head of the Bai Family for many years, hearing this rumor was still incredibly shocking.

"Master Bai asked him how his father died, but Zhao Yang couldn't give an answer. He just said it was his fault. Now, do you think Master Bai was going to let him off easy after that?"

"So whose fault was it, then? It does no good to just keep it a secret!"

"Could Zhao Yang tell them? If he could, he would have said something long ago. If he's not the one to blame, then who is?" Shi Huiguang, ever the arch-rival, was doing his utmost to sling mud at Zhao Yang.

"Then how is he still thriving? People from all over the country seek him out for treatment, don't they?"

Shi Huiguang said, "A powerful figure stepped in to protect him. Master Bai was in a bind—with such a large family to care for, he couldn't risk a direct confrontation and had to compromise. He even suppressed all news about it."

Ah... so that's how it was!

Although many people were crowded around Shi Huiguang, he was wary of Master Bai and had lowered his voice.

But Mu Lin's hearing was exceptional, and he heard every word, as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

'I never thought Divine Doctor Zhao had a past like this...' Mu Lin sighed ruefully.

'Still, there were a lot of holes in that story. Unless Divine Doctor Zhao explains it himself, it's hard to believe everything Shi Huiguang said is the truth.'

Many years had passed. The dead could not be revived, and Master Bai had already found some peace in his heart. Life had to go on.

But this sudden encounter had caused all the resentment and indignation from those long years to well up again.

The longer it had been bottled up, the greater the pressure.

Like wine, it had only grown more potent with age.

Zhao Yang's guilt was much the same. "Master Bai, what happened back then... it was a hopeless situation. Please forgive me."

"Tell me why he died!"

Zhao Yang looked to the sky. "If I knew, this wouldn't have tormented me for so many years! Perhaps... perhaps his condition was simply too severe, and his body gave out?"

"Nonsense! Don't think you're the only doctor in the world! I had others investigate. His illness wasn't severe, but after coming into your hands, he was gone! If you're not responsible, then who is?!"

"Someone protected you back then, so I endured it. But you have the audacity to show your face to me again! Today, I want you to die right here in front of me!"

As his voice fell, an expert from behind Master Bai blurred into motion, lunging straight for Zhao Yang.

Mu Lin, of course, couldn't just stand by and watch. He prepared to step in and help.

But before he could make a move, the attacking blur was sent flying, stumbling back several steps.

"Fighting is forbidden within the manor. Violators will be executed!"

Most people here were considered part of the Jianghu, and the Government couldn't be bothered with any disputes that broke out.

Master Bai's face darkened further. "And what about outside the manor?"

"Outside the manor, life and death are your own responsibility."

Master Bai shot Zhao Yang a cold look. "Just you wait. You'd better watch your neck."

Zhao Yang's face was grim, but he said nothing.

Mu Lin asked, "Grandmaster Zhao, do you need my help? These guys talk about killing so easily; they're clearly not good people."

Zhao Yang waved his hand dismissively. "This is my fate. Don't get involved. You can run, but you can't hide forever."

As soon as Zhao Yang spoke, Shi Huiguang burst out laughing. "Well, old man, you seem to see things clearly. You've lived a long life, so it's not a total loss."

Mu Lin's hand shot out, grabbing Shi Huiguang by the throat. "What was that?"

Shi Huiguang wasn't scared. "Didn't you hear? Killing is forbidden within the manor."

Mu Lin pulled back his hand. Shi Huiguang immediately let out a strange cackle. "Do you know who Master Bai is? He's the Patriarch of the Bai Family of Mushan City! Go look them up and see what kind of power they wield. No one Master Bai wants dead has ever lived to tell the tale."

"Is that so? I don't care who he is or what his past is. If he dares to make a move against Grandmaster Zhao, I'll make sure he dies an ugly death."

Master Bai hadn't gone far. Hearing Mu Lin's words, he turned around.

"What an arrogant brat. If you have the guts, then by all means, give it a try. Zhao Yang is a dead man—it's his destiny. A mantis trying to stop a chariot will only end up crushed more miserably."

Mu Lin retorted, "Fine. Then you'd better not leave the manor. Otherwise, we'll see."

Master Bai found this hilarious and burst out laughing.

Zhao Yang grabbed Mu Lin. "Don't be rash... What happened back then was my fault. Whatever happens, I will bear it..."