Divine Level Witch Doctor

Seeing Zhao Yuan’s worried expression, Yu Ke couldn’t help but smile. ”The Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique, right? I’ve noted the name. I’ll ask my colleagues in the Acupuncture research group later and see if any of them know about this technique.”

Yu Ke usually kept a straight face, which was how she’d earned the nickname ”Ice Mountain.” But when she smiled, her cold aura vanished in an instant. She was stunningly beautiful and utterly captivating, like an ice mountain snow lotus in full bloom—a beauty that could mesmerize anyone.

Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but stare, only snapping out of it when Yu Ke’s smile faded. To cover up his gaffe, he quickly said, ”Great. Teacher Yu, you can go ask the teachers in the Acupuncture research group, and I’ll ask some people on my end too.”

The two of them exchanged phone numbers.

Just then, Fang Yi called, asking when he could deliver the Soul-Stabilizing Incense.

”I’m leaving right away. I can be there in half an hour,” Zhao Yuan replied, then quickly added, ”Brother Fang, can I ask you something? Have you ever heard of the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique?”

’Fang Yi was in the medicinal herb business and had a vast network in the medical circles of Rongcheng City, and even the entire Western Shu Province—far beyond what a student like him could compare to. For him, looking for the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique was like searching in the dark, but for Fang Yi, it probably wouldn’t be a difficult task.’

Sure enough, after mumbling the name to himself a few times, Fang Yi said, ”It sounds a little familiar. What’s up?”

Zhao Yuan was overjoyed and said hurriedly, ”Brother Fang, I need to ask you a favor. Please help me find out who knows how to use this acupuncture technique. The sooner, the better.”

”No problem!” Fang Yi agreed readily. As far as he was concerned, he would do his utmost to fulfill any request Zhao Yuan made now, as long as it wasn’t illegal—especially since it was just asking for some information.

After hanging up, Zhao Yuan said his goodbyes to Yu Ke. As it happened, she also had things to attend to.

As they were parting, Zhao Yuan added a word of caution. ”Teacher Yu, it’s best if you avoid contact with cadavers for a while.”

”I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Yu Ke said, shaking her head. ”I teach anatomy. How can I not have contact with cadavers? I’m also a consultant for the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Forensic Science Center. I often go over to help them with forensic examinations. These things are unavoidable.”

Zhao Yuan frowned. ”But in your current condition, further contact with cadavers will only allow more Corpse Qi to invade your heart.”

Yu Ke considered this for a moment, then asked, ”Is there any way to mitigate the invasion of Corpse Qi?”

Zhao Yuan quickly searched on the Information Leaf and answered, ”Mugwort and calamus will work. Crush these two herbs, put them in a sachet, and wear it on your person. It can help dispel the Corpse Qi.”

”Alright, I’ll get a sachet and fill it with those two herbs later,” Yu Ke nodded. Seeing that Zhao Yuan was about to say more, she waved her hand dismissively. ”Don’t try to persuade me further. Since the Corpse Qi has already invaded my heart, it’s too late even if I avoid contact with cadavers. The most urgent task now is to find someone who knows the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique.”

Zhao Yuan thought about it and realized she was right, so he didn’t press the issue. He just said, ”Teacher Yu, I will do everything I can to help you find someone who knows the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique. I’ll notify you the moment I have any news!”

Yu Ke nodded. ”Then I’ll thank you in advance. I’ll contact you if I hear anything on my end, too.” After a moment’s hesitation, she couldn’t help but ask, ”How do you know about Corpse Heart Syndrome and the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique?”

It was no wonder she was curious; she had never heard of either of them.

Although she taught anatomy, working at a medical school meant she had at least some knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Moreover, while Zhao Yuan was on the phone just now, she had used WeChat to ask several teachers specializing in Acupuncture, and they had all replied that they’d never heard of Corpse Heart Syndrome or the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique.

’Even teachers in the relevant field didn’t know, so how did Zhao Yuan? If he came from a Medical Family, you could chalk it up to family learning, but he wasn’t.’

Zhao Yuan answered, ”I read about it in a book.”

”What book?” Yu Ke pressed.

”Medical Forest Miscellaneous Talks, a medical text from the Ming Dynasty.”

Zhao Yuan wasn’t just making this up. Wu Peng had left a commentary on the case file for Corpse Heart Syndrome, the gist of which was that the disease was extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. Many physicians had misdiagnosed it, and only the diagnosis and treatment methods in Medical Forest Miscellaneous Talks were considered somewhat reliable.

”Medical Forest Miscellaneous Talks?” Yu Ke repeated the title to herself in a low voice, planning to find and read the book when she had time.

Leaving the anatomy building, Zhao Yuan went straight to his rented apartment. He put the finished Soul-Stabilizing Incense into a black bag, then went to a nearby toy store and bought a Barbie doll for Fang Ling. Only then did he take a taxi to the coffee shop opposite the traditional medicine market, where he was supposed to meet Fang Yi.

Half an hour later, he arrived as scheduled.

Pushing open the coffee shop door, the light dimmed, and Zhao Yuan squinted, searching for Fang Yi.

”Over here!” Fang Yi stood up from a corner and waved to Zhao Yuan. Perhaps recalling their joke from the previous night, he added, ”Did you bring the goods?”

”Brought ’em.” Zhao Yuan, also feeling playful, played along by lifting the black bag in his hand. ”Where’s the money?”

”Don’t worry, it’s all here, not a cent missing. Get over here,” Fang Yi called.

Quite a few people in the coffee shop overheard their exchange. The staff and regular customers, however, all knew Fang Yi and didn’t think anything of it, assuming ”the goods” he mentioned was just some kind of traditional medicinal herb. But two men sitting near the door suddenly looked serious. At the same time, in another corner, several other people stiffened, their gazes locking onto Fang Yi and Zhao Yuan.

Although Zhao Yuan noticed this, he didn’t think much of it. He walked over to Fang Yi with a grin, tossed him the black bag, and said, ”All the boxes of Soul-Stabilizing Incense are here. The Barbie doll is a gift for Ling’Er. I wasn’t sure what toys she likes, so I just picked one at random.”

”As long as you picked it, she’s sure to love it,” Fang Yi said with a smile, then pulled out his phone. ”What was your bank account number again? I’ll transfer the money for the previous six boxes along with this batch.”

Zhao Yuan took out his bank card and read out the number. Fang Yi immediately transferred the three hundred thousand-odd yuan to Zhao Yuan’s account.

Just then, the coffee shop door was pushed open, and several people walked in. The two men sitting by the door subtly shot them a look.

The newcomers pretended to be looking for a table as they walked quickly toward Zhao Yuan and Fang Yi. The two men who had been sitting by the door also rose quietly and closed in from another direction.

Zhao Yuan and Fang Yi didn’t notice what was happening. They were busy talking about how popular the Soul-Stabilizing Incense had become.

”I had high hopes for this stuff, but I never expected it to get *this* popular! Little Brother Zhao, you really need to ramp up production. Whether or not we strike it rich all depends on this.” Fang Yi patted the black bag, his tone filled with emotion.

Although he only took a ten percent cut from each box of Soul-Stabilizing Incense, which amounted to just six thousand yuan for six boxes, that wasn’t the whole story. Because of the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, his Hundred Herbs Hall had recently gained a great deal of fame, causing business to be much better than before. He hadn’t calculated it precisely, but by a rough estimate, the sales of traditional medicinal herbs at Hundred Herbs Hall in the last few days alone had already surpassed the total from the entire previous month! This was all thanks to the Soul-Stabilizing Incense!

”Don’t worry. I didn’t make more before because I never thought the Soul-Stabilizing Incense would sell this well. Now that I know there’s a demand, I’ll naturally go into full production! I’ve estimated that I should be able to supply you with fifty or sixty boxes a week,” Zhao Yuan said.

’The small size of his rented apartment was a limiting factor; there wasn’t enough space to dry any more. Still, fifty to sixty boxes a week meant an income of five to six hundred thousand yuan! That was more money than Zhao Yuan had ever dared to dream of before!’

Just as the two were engrossed in their conversation, the uninvited guests reached their table. A sharp, commanding female voice suddenly rang out: ”Move in!”