Chapter 818 - 786: Follow-Up Consultation
Xu Chunliang held a deep disdain for someone like Gordon, who surrendered before any real challenge even started.
Zha Youxin also had results on his side, beating a group of tall, muscular men so thoroughly that they fled in disarray. Despite their impressive physiques, those muscles were mostly for show and didn’t serve much purpose in an actual fight.
Though Zha Youxin was not a match for Xu Chunliang, his combat prowess was already quite formidable among ordinary people, and in this regard, he was comparable to Che Shixiong.
Since Xu Chunliang had collected the dragon bones and obtained the Tianyang Chapter, he reached the realm of Meridian Cleansing and Marrow Regeneration. He is now striving to reach the realm of the Book of Changes to further enhance his innate potential. One day, upon attaining the Great Perfection of the Book of Changes, he will be able to relearn the Heavenly Tome.
Although this day is still somewhat out of reach, Xu Chunliang’s combat power is rapidly recovering, at least half of what it used to be.
Xu Chunliang grabbed Gordon by the ear: "Who sent you?"
Gordon screamed in pain: "No one sent me, I thought you ruined my plans so... Ouch, my ear is going to fall off, please let go."
Zha Youxin approached Gordon and glared at him: "Now you know fear. If you dare to mess with my son again, I’ll dismantle your gym."
Xu Chunliang said: "No need to wait until later, call the police now. These idiots who everyone outside wants to beat up have the audacity to act like bosses here, running rampant. I have no idea where they get their confidence from." He tightened his grip, and Gordon pleaded desperately.
Zha Youxin was concerned about the five thousand yuan he’d given out, so he coerced Gordon into signing a compensation agreement and took ten thousand yuan from him.
Xu Chunliang found this trait similar between Gordon and Pu Jian.
Xu Chunliang didn’t get the answer he wanted from Gordon. According to Gordon, he drank with friends last night, and when he returned to the hotel and saw Bai Lan at the entrance, her beauty stunned him. That’s why he approached her, but when she wasn’t receptive, a conflict ensued.
Actually, Gordon didn’t gain anything last night. He thought Xu Chunliang ruined his plans, so he got Xu Chunliang’s registered vehicle information from the hotel security by paying Zha Tiehan two hundred yuan. Zha Tiehan then punctured the tires of Pu Jian’s car following Gordon’s instructions.
After leaving the gym, Zha Youxin gave Xu Chunliang another two thousand five hundred yuan. He meant that since both of them worked together today, it was only fair to split the money. However, he insisted on getting back the costs he incurred first.
Xu Chunliang chuckled: "What does Mr. Cha mean by this?"
Zha Youxin replied: "We handled today’s incident together. This money is rightfully yours."
Xu Chunliang waved his hand: "I don’t want it, use it to buy food for your son instead."
Zha Youxin sighed: "That rascal won’t behave, I must give him a good lesson when I get back." He then added, "Mr. Xu, I have an unfounded request."
Xu Chunliang nodded for him to continue.
Zha Youxin wanted Xu Chunliang not to report to the police, as it was his son who directly carried out the act, and reporting it would inevitably cause trouble.
Xu Chunliang hadn’t intended to call the police anyway, as it would mean sacrificing more time to cooperate with an investigation.
The two parted ways, and before leaving, Zha Youxin bowed to Xu Chunliang, as he owed him a favor for this incident.
Xu Chunliang did not return to the hotel but went directly to Han Shangyuan BBQ restaurant, as he had promised to revisit Jin Xin Hui today for a follow-up consultation.
The BBQ restaurant hadn’t been open for the past couple of days, claiming internal renovations. When Xu Chunliang arrived, Che Shixiong wasn’t there, and only Jin Xin Hui was waiting inside the restaurant.
Her mental state seemed better than when Xu Chunliang first saw her.
As Xu Chunliang entered, Jin Xin Hui stood up to greet him: "Mr. Xu, you’ve arrived."
Xu Chunliang set his medicine down and first took her pulse.
Jin Xin Hui said: "Since taking the medicine prescribed by you, my cough and asthma have significantly relieved, but I still sweat constantly day and night."
Xu Chunliang nodded: "The biggest crux of your illness is stagnation in the Ying and Wei systems, with cold pathogens, loss of Yang in the Shaoyin channel, and simultaneous excess in the Taiyang exterior."
Jin Xin Hui asked perplexedly: "May I ask, Mr. Xu, what do you mean by stagnation in the Ying and Wei systems?"
Xu Chunliang explained to her that in traditional Chinese medicine, Ying and Wei refer to Ying Qi and Wei Qi. It is usually believed that both derive from the essence of food and water.
Ying flows within the vessels, providing nourishment to the entire body, while Wei circulates outside the vessels, protecting the body. Ying Qi is born from food and water, originates from the spleen and stomach, and exits through the middle burner, playing a role in generating blood and nourishing the entire body. Wei Qi has functions of warming the inner and outer body, strengthening the surface of the skin, resisting external pathogens, nourishing the pores, and opening and closing the sweat pores.
The Ying and Wei systems connect internally with the viscera and bowels and externally with the skin and hair, representing the body’s first line of defense against external pathogens. Following the principle of freeing the external to eliminate the pathogen, any symptoms of deep-seated cold invasion and immovable ice are difficult to resolve without sweating therapy. Hence, inducing sweating is a primary treatment step.
Xu Chunliang previously prescribed Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang for her to assist in supporting Yang, opening the external blockage, and expelling the cold pathogen lying deep inside. It was administered in divided doses to ensure that the sweating did not damage the body’s vital energy.
After taking the medicine yesterday, Jin Xin Hui’s external blockages opened, lung Qi was liberated, cold pathogens came to the surface, and true Yang was distributed. Her previous symptoms of an icy back and a bound feeling all over her body had alleviated. The chill in her upper limbs had faded, and the phlegm wheezing in her throat had completely disappeared. Her lips turned light red, and the cough and asthma stabilized.
Her severe coughing only occurred twice in two days, and her hoarse voice also improved. This improvement resulted from the lungs being the organ of sound production, and the lungs govern the passages of water. After sweating, her voice recovered as if parched earth had welcomed a soothing rain; her urinary frequency increased, and her ankle swelling subsided. Her pulse was calm, decreasing from over a hundred beats per minute to around eighty.
She would sweat with every meal, leaving her body feeling comfortable, and in the past two days, she had expectorated a lot of phlegm, and the feeling of suffocation in her chest significantly eased, indicating that the sweating therapy was appropriate and aided in the return of the body’s vital energy. It also provided an opportunity for the trapped dead blood in the lung network to be expelled.
However, at dawn, noon, and midnight, there is still chest pain penetrating through the back, and a feeling of chest congestion occurring in waves, indicating that although the phlegm’s nest is broken, the dead blood is difficult to eliminate all at once, as the saying goes, "pain results from blockage".
After listening to her recount the illness and taking her pulse, Xu Chunliang revised the prescription for her. It emphasized both attacking and supplementing. The "Peiyuan Guben San" is used to supplement innate kidney energy and rebuild the body’s immunity with blood and flesh.
As Xu Chunliang was writing the prescription, Che Shixiong returned. He had specially bought top-quality beef and seafood, which is the highest courtesy for Koreans.
Che Shixiong is not good at expressing himself verbally, but his gratitude to Xu Chunliang comes from the heart.
Originally, Xu Chunliang didn’t intend to stay for a meal, but Jin Xin Hui cordially invited him.
Che Shixiong went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients.
Jin Xin Hui made a cup of jasmine tea for Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "Do you also drink jasmine tea?"
Jin Xin Hui said, "I’ve been in Capital City for more than a year and I particularly like the refreshing fragrance of jasmine tea."
Xu Chunliang asked, "Where is Boss Jin’s hometown?"
"I am a northerner, born in Nanpu and raised there. My illness was contracted while working in the mines."
Xu Chunliang nodded. From Jin Xin Hui’s melancholic gaze, he could infer that she had a painful past that she couldn’t bear to recall.
Xu Chunliang asked, "Is Mr. Che from the same place as you?"
Jin Xin Hui smiled faintly, "No, he’s from the Xian Clan. We are both outsiders in South Korea. When I first arrived in Seoul, I was bullied a lot. Fortunately, I met him. He may look fierce, but he has a very kind heart."
Xu Chunliang remarked, "The CEO of Mingde Group, Huang Youlong, is Chinese."
Jin Xin Hui said, "Their social class is beyond our reach." She realized she might have said too much and changed the subject with a soft voice, "We hardly know each other, and Che Shixiong had some misunderstandings with Mr. Xu before. I’m not sure why you are helping me?"
Xu Chunliang laughed, "Don’t worry, Boss Jin, I’m helping you not to expect anything in return from you."
Jin Xin Hui said, "I can tell you are a good person."
Xu Chunliang laughed heartily, "Very few people say that about me." Jin Xin Hui’s words made him start to reassess himself. When did he change from the ruthless Five Poison Sect Leader to a youth with a heart for contributing to society?
Actually, in the past, his ruthlessness was directed only at his enemies and those who betrayed him. Towards friends and family, he was always sincere.
Jin Xin Hui said, "Everyone has a good side and a bad side, as long as one maintains the right attitude in the face of major issues, they are a good person."
Xu Chunliang smiled, "Boss Jin is not an ordinary person either, you have a deep understanding of the world."
Jin Xin Hui said, "To use an ancient saying of yours, ’those involved are confused, while onlookers are clear.’ One can see through others’ issues but often not their own."
At this moment, Che Shixiong pushed a small cart over, filled with his prepared ingredients.
Jin Xin Hui said, "I won’t hinder your drinking, I’ll go decoct the medicine first."
Che Shixiong brought over two bottles of Fenjiu Qinghua Thirty.
Xu Chunliang asked, "You drink this too?"
Che Shixiong replied, "I’m Xian Clan!"
Xu Chunliang said, "I always thought you were Korean."
Che Shixiong filled two glass cups, handing one to Xu Chunliang: "People like me are not recognized by either side now, they consider me a foreigner, and you see me as Korean."
Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but laugh heartily, Che Shixiong laughed as well. The two drank while eating barbecue, and there was no longer any hostility between them.
Che Shixiong said, "Xinhui is a pitiful person. I’ve taken her around seeking medical help, and just when we were about to despair we fortunately met you. I’m not very capable, but if you ever need me, I’ll do my best, though I won’t betray the company’s interests."
Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t overthink it. As far as I’m concerned, besides barbecuing, you have no other skills that can help me."
Che Shixiong placed the grilled beef on Xu Chunliang’s plate: "Then I’ll help you with the barbecue, whenever you want to eat just contact me."
Xu Chunliang said, "Boss Jin is originally from the north, your relationship is quite deep."
A unified reply, the recent plot is at a turning point, serving the next phase. Many characters appearing are laying the foundation for future development, including characters like Zha Youxin and Jin Xin Hui. In a long novel, many roles are needed to support the plot.
In late October, Octopus was handling his son’s school affairs and tried his best to ensure updates, and in September the speed will definitely accelerate.