Chapter 75

In the small courtyard, there was a festive atmosphere, with large red "happiness" characters posted everywhere. Six or seven burly men sat on small stools in the yard. Although they were not wearing military uniforms, it was clear at a glance that they were soldiers. Each had a face full of scars, and even when they smiled, they still looked fierce. However, what they held in their hands were not weapons but various musical instruments, and they were energetically playing cheerful tunes.

These men were all from the Death Battalion, which the monk had managed to gather. Speaking of which, this monk was quite meticulous. The Death Battalion had many talented people, so finding a few skilled musicians was not difficult. They changed into civilian clothes, picked up their instruments, and came into the city.

Shuchang and a few of the Death Battalion's leaders were sitting in the main hall, joking with Zhang Xiaomao, who was dressed in a bright red outfit. Xiaomao didn't have many friends, and now only a few from the Death Battalion were left. The rest had all perished in the Luoying Mountains. The only outsider was Guo Jiuling, who had stubbornly followed Shuchang. Although Xiaomao wasn't very happy, she couldn't refuse a smiling face. Since he had come to congratulate her on her wedding, she couldn't just turn him away. Besides, the gift Guo Jiuling brought was extremely valuable.

The men from the Death Battalion were all poor. The richest, Jiandao, gave a red envelope with 68 taels of silver, which was about four months' salary for him. Yegou, on the other hand, wrote an IOU for 88 taels of silver and put it in a red envelope. Jiandao sniffed at this, but he was also capable of such a thing. The monk gave a pair of genuine pearl hairpins, which made Jiandao and Yegou suspect that the monk had stolen them from the women he had been with at Jingjing Pass. When they tried to probe, the monk just looked mysteriously pleased with himself.

Shuchang's gift was the most unique. He took out a few small bottles from his chest. Yegou was not pleased when he saw them. "Doctor, Xiaomao is getting married. What do you mean by giving her a few bottles of medicine? Be careful, or the bride might kick us out. I gave 88 taels of silver, and I won't even get a drink if that happens."

This comment made the monk and Jiandao spit at him in unison.

Shuchang ignored Yegou, picked up a bottle, and held it in front of Xiaomao. "This is for pregnancy. The last time I saw Hong, I knew she was pregnant, so I prepared this medicine."

"Are you serious?" Xiaomao's eyes widened, looking at Shuchang in disbelief.

"Of course, don't you believe me?" Shuchang smiled.

Xiaomao quickly replied, "Of course I believe you, of course I believe you." She was about to run off, but Shuchang caught her. "What's the rush? There's plenty of time. I'm not an expert in this, but I'm better than most doctors. Better safe than sorry."

"Thank you, Doctor." Zhang Xiaomao's face glowed with excitement, and even her freckles seemed to shine.

"You're doing well, Xiaomao. Getting married while pregnant, solving the husband and father issues all at once!" Yegou cheered, then turned to the monk with a look of disdain. "You, a womanizer, spreading your seeds everywhere, but not a single fruit has grown."

The monk was angry and snatched Yegou's cane, throwing it to the side. "Stop being a smartass. I'll get you drunk later."

"Try to get me drunk? You wish!" Yegou laughed. "I'm a god of alcohol, a thousand cups won't faze me."

Shuchang pulled Zhang Xiaomao closer, picked up the second bottle, and said mysteriously, "This one is what every man wants. Remember the snow bat I caught last time? This medicine is made from it. One pill, and a man will be invincible, with unmatched virility!"

The men around him all laughed. The monk's eyes gleamed, and his hand moved to grab the bottle. But Jiandao had anticipated this and punched the monk's hand onto the table with a thud. The monk yelped in pain.

"What are you doing?" the monk glared. "Didn't you hear that Hong is pregnant? If Xiaomao takes it, it would be a waste. Doctor, you're not being nice. This will just make Xiaomao itchy and frustrated."

"Get lost." Xiaomao smiled and put both bottles in her chest. "Every man wants this. Doctor never makes such things, so I'll keep them safe."

The monk watched the bottles disappear, hissing and rubbing his jaw, his eyes darting around as he sized up Shuchang. Everyone knew what he was thinking.

Shuchang picked up the third bottle. "This is a medicine I prepared. We all live on the edge, and any of us could get injured at any time. After Xiaomao's wedding, I'll be leaving, and I don't know when I'll be back. Take this bottle."

He looked around at everyone. "In the cabin, I left a bottle for each of you. It won't bring the dead back to life, but I can guarantee that as long as you have a breath left, it will keep you alive. Old Guo, since we met, I prepared one for you too."

He reached into his chest and pulled out another bottle, tossing it to Guo Jiuling, who was sitting on the side, enviously watching the others.

"I get one too?" Guo Jiuling was both surprised and delighted. In the days at Hat Mountain, he had truly witnessed the doctor's miraculous skills. Getting his personally prepared medicine was like gaining an extra life. "Thank you, Doctor. I won't say more, but if I have the chance, I will do my best to repay you."

Shuchang shook his head. "I'm a wanderer, a free bird. I don't need your repayment, Guo. If there's a chance, take care of these brothers. You're a high official, and they are just people struggling in the mud. When they need help, I hope you can lend them a hand."

"Agreed, Doctor. I'll remember your words." Guo Jiuling nodded solemnly.

"Doctor, are you really leaving? It feels like you're making arrangements for your departure, making me feel sad." Yegou said, his face drooping.

"There's no feast that doesn't end. Qin Feng originally wanted me to leave after Jingjing Pass. I was a bit worried, so I came to Hat Mountain. Don't worry, the world is round. Who knows, I might show up again." Shuchang laughed.

The monk stood up and patted his hands. "Today is Xiaomao's big day. Doctor isn't leaving forever. He'll come back after a trip. In recent years, I've considered Doctor part of our Death Battalion. The Death Battalion is his home. With a home here, he'll definitely come back. Come, everyone, let's go get the bride!"

"Get the bride!" Yegou cheered, hopping a few times, picking up his cane from the corner, and leading the way.

The burly men outside, playing their instruments, wobbled in one by one.

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