Chapter 074: The Mighty Soldiers

“Especially the first to seek Doctor Fang’s help, Wang Daming—he’d been coughing for nearly twenty years, and it seems Doctor Fang cured him with ease. Now he no longer coughs at all.”

“Yes, Wang Daming is especially grateful to Doctor Fang. He even had his son quit his job at the tavern to help out at the clinic. I hear Doctor Fang gives his son ten coins a day as wages.”

“The world’s greatest physician—Doctor Fang truly deserves the title. He’s far more skilled than the former chief imperial doctor, Situ Xun.”

“I heard the palace is searching for a physician for the Crown Prince, but I wonder why they haven’t come to Doctor Fang?”

“They say the Crown Prince’s illness has seeped into his bones. Perhaps even Doctor Fang cannot cure it. If he were to enter the palace, it might turn out badly.”

“That’s true. The palace is as deep as the sea. Master Situ, the former chief imperial doctor, saved countless lives, but now he’s imprisoned. Royal affairs are best avoided.”

After listening for a while, Wu Ji shifted positions to continue eavesdropping. The surrounding crowd all spoke similarly, praising Doctor Fang, which piqued Wu Ji’s curiosity about him.

Just then, his gaze caught several young men pushing through the crowd toward the clinic’s entrance. Though dressed in ordinary civilian clothes, Wu Ji recognized them as trained soldiers.

He could tell from their eyes, posture, and reactions—only those from the military carried themselves this way. He followed them at once, sensing ill intent in their glances.

“Don’t push! We’re in line,” the people they shoved aside protested loudly.

But these soldiers were martial artists—the leader was a second-tier expert, the others third-tier. With a casual gesture, they forced the crowd aside.

“You lot, please queue at the back. Patients who don’t follow the rules are not welcome here,” said Zhou Bold, who was maintaining order at the door. He spoke up, signaling Liu Fool not far away, and alerting others inside the clinic.

“What are you doing? We’re all here to see the doctor. Why aren’t you queuing?” The patients and their families noticed the commotion.

“That’s right! We’ve been waiting ages—what gives you the right to cut?” people shouted from behind.

“They don’t look like patients. Are they here to make trouble?” Someone, seeing how energetic the men were, called out loudly.

“Get out if you’re not here for treatment. Don’t block us!” The crowd began to shout.

“You don’t seem to be patients. Please leave. We welcome only the sick here,” Zhou Bold blocked their way as the men reached the front. Zhao Halfpenny stepped out from the clinic to stand behind him.

“We wish to see Doctor Fang,” the leader said, meeting Zhou Bold’s gaze. Sensing a subtle pressure, his expression grew grave, but he remained composed.

“I’m sorry, Doctor Fang hasn’t rested for three days and nights, busy saving lives. He has no time to see you. Please leave. If someone at your residence is ill, bring them here. Doctor Fang doesn’t make house calls,” Zhou Bold replied, blocking their way.

“Impudent! Do you know who we are?” Before the leader could speak, a young man beside him shouted.

But Zhou Bold seemed not to hear him, instead addressing the crowd: “Everyone, these men are causing trouble and delaying your treatment. Are you willing to let this happen?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it rang clearly in every ear.

Wu Ji was stunned—he hadn’t expected the ordinary-looking servant at the clinic’s door to be a first-tier expert. The soldiers were equally shocked; Zhou Bold’s words carried a powerful oppressive force, locking onto them, sending cold sweat down their backs.

“Get lost! Don’t interfere with our treatment.”

“Whose dogs are these, coming to stir up trouble? Let’s grab our tools and beat them out!”

“That’s right, drive them away! Don’t disturb Doctor Fang!”

Zhou Bold’s pressure targeted only the soldiers; the crowd felt nothing but anger, inflamed by his words. Young men surged forward, some carrying sticks, clubs, even bricks.

Wu Country’s folk were known for their fierce spirit. Many sons of ordinary families in Wu City had trained in martial arts since childhood. Though not experts, a mob attack could be deadly for even skilled fighters.

“Stop! We are from the Mighty Army, here on orders to invite Doctor Fang,” the leader shouted, raising his token. With their identity revealed, the crowd calmed—the laws of Wu were strict; attacking officials or soldiers meant severe punishment.

“When did a mere deputy commander from the Mighty Army dare throw his weight around in Wu City?” Wu Ji stepped forward, coldly sneering as he approached. The crowd parted—they recognized his formidable presence as a newly advanced first-tier expert.

“Who are you? How dare you meddle in Mighty Army affairs? Tired of living?” The leader’s aura targeted only the deputy commander, leaving ordinary soldiers unaffected. One pointed at Wu Ji and barked.

*Slap!*

Wu Ji seemed not to move, yet the Mighty Army soldier was suddenly struck, spitting blood and teeth, stunned.

“Look closely. Threatening me in Wu City—is this rebellion?” Wu Ji snorted, displaying his token, emblazoned with a fiery phoenix soaring, bearing the words ‘Flying Phoenix Army’. His status was that of a Soaring General of the Flying Phoenix Army.

“So it’s the esteemed Soaring General of the Flying Phoenix Army. I failed to recognize you, sir. Please forgive my offense,” the leader said, startled, bowing in apology.

The Mighty Army was a local force, but the Flying Phoenix Army was one of Wu’s three great armies, with some units stationed at the Eastern Zhou border, wielding immense power.

Moreover, the Flying Phoenix Army’s marshal was Princess Wu Qingluan—her unique position and the emperor’s favor placed a garrison outside Wu City alongside the Imperial Guard and Palace Guard.

Wu’s Imperial Guard and Palace Guard, each a force of one hundred thousand, surrounded Wu City, safeguarding the capital and its environs. If the emperor led a campaign, they would accompany him.

Additionally, Wu had four great border armies and over ten local forces. The Flying Phoenix, Golden Guards, Mountain Quake, and Wolfbreaker armies each numbered three hundred thousand; Golden Guards held the west, Flying Phoenix the east, Wolfbreaker the north, Mountain Quake the south. The Flying Phoenix Army alone had an extra hundred thousand stationed outside Wu City.

The Mighty Army, along with the Vigorous, Rising, Resounding, Guardian, and Prosperous Wu armies—over ten forces bearing the ‘Wu’ name—were local units, each five to eight thousand strong, tasked with regional security, including bandit suppression.

The Imperial Guard and Palace Guard were directly under Emperor Wu Qing’s command, their status unrivaled. The four border armies were the main force, often looking down on local troops.

As for ranks, the border armies had marshals, deputy marshals, Soaring Generals, and Raider Generals. A Soaring General commanded fifty thousand troops, equal in rank to a local force’s chief commander.

“What are you doing here, disrupting the people’s medical care?” Wu Ji’s expression darkened as he questioned.

“Please calm yourself, General. This is a misunderstanding. We came to Wu City to report as martial artists, but the chief commander’s wife fell ill with a cold. We were ordered to invite Doctor Fang to treat her,” the leader answered hurriedly.