Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2217 Suddenly became afraid of dogs
Amidst the astonished gazes of the two, Bian Mu casually removed both gloves and tossed them into the same trash can. As if no longer worried about being poisoned, Bian Mu, with his bare hands, took the metal key that resembled an old-fashioned lock and walked back towards the small medicine cauldron.

Bian Mu gently placed the metal key on the wooden table, and with both hands, he carefully poured the remaining medicinal liquid into the large medicine cauldron next to him, as if pouring out dishwater. Zhao Xicheng and Mr. Huangfu were both experts, and they couldn't help but guess that the remaining medicinal liquid should now be non-toxic and harmless.

"Just a few herbs mixed together can achieve the purpose of detoxification? Who are you kidding?! When did this kid suddenly produce such a bottle of powder like a magic trick, and what is he going to do with it?!" Mr. Huangfu couldn't help but think to himself.

Having witnessed Bian Mu's superb skills in preparing traditional Chinese medicine at such close range, Zhao Xicheng couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

The two watched as Bian Mu took out a lot of tissues from the tissue box next to him and used them to wipe the remaining liquid at the bottom of the small medicine cauldron clean. He then threw the used tissues into the large medicine cauldron.

With the mouth down and the bottom up, Bian Mu flipped the small medicine cauldron 180 degrees. Zhao Xicheng and Mr. Huangfu walked a few steps closer to the wooden table at the same time. Their thoughts were similar: with the cauldron upside down, there was probably a key hole hidden at the bottom.

Sure enough, Bian Mu changed his gloves again, then reached into the large medicine cauldron and pulled out several half-damp tissues, vigorously wiping the bottom of the cauldron for a long time...

Huh?! Suddenly, Zhao Xicheng noticed a groove faintly visible on the bottom of the small medicine cauldron, slightly to the right of the center.

Unperturbed, Bian Mu increased the force in his hands, continuously taking out semi-dry tissues from the large medicine cauldron and wiping the increasingly noticeable groove on the bottom of the small medicine cauldron...

"That's enough!" Bian Mu finally stopped.

Picking up the brand-new medicine coin, Bian Mu repeatedly gestured at the bottom of the medicine cauldron for a while. Finding a not-so-obvious angle, Bian Mu effortlessly tried out the medicine coin. With a crisp "click," the small medicine cauldron seemed to jump slightly.

After several attempts, Bian Mu finally figured it out. It was almost exactly the same process as playing with the "Magic Gold" toy. Bian Mu finally opened the "Cauldron Lock".

"Crack..." The small medicine cauldron suddenly split in two, but there seemed to be a hinge lock in the middle, preventing the entire cauldron from being completely split in two.

"Huh?! The middle is actually empty? And it's divided into five layers? The first layer even has so many small pavilions?! Good heavens! Could this be a medical CPU used by famous pharmacists in ancient times? Why does the design of this thing look so similar to an enlarged diagram of a desktop computer CPU?! Unbelievable... Old Emperor! Are you sure this thing is an old item?!" For a moment, Zhao Xicheng's mind went blank.

After chuckling twice, Mr. Huangfu couldn't help but clap his hands softly.

"No wonder they all fell to you, amazing! I've only ever heard my elders mention this kind of medicine cauldron mechanism when I was a child, I've never seen the real thing. Today I've truly broadened my horizons, Master! This time... it must be real, right?!" Clearly, Mr. Huangfu was no longer as confident as before. "It should be... I've only read snippets of information in miscellaneous books, just like you, this is the first time I've ever seen the real thing! You two don't need to worry, I don't have any special background, I just happened to have read a few miscellaneous books. The medicine coins are rare! They're almost made of pure gold, please keep them safe, Master Huangfu! Let's stop here for today! There's been a bit of a problem at the clinic, I'm really worried about it, so I'll take my leave now, I'll come back to visit Master Huangfu another day!" With that, Bian Mu tidied himself up and took his leave.

"It's not a big deal, is it? Do you need us to help you out?" Zhao Xicheng casually asked politely.

"It's nothing serious, it's just... a few days ago I had a series of minor disputes with some special figures in the martial arts world. I suspect they're in cahoots, but I don't have any convincing evidence right now, it's just speculation. If things really escalate to this point, I'd appreciate it if you two could mediate." Nowadays, Bian Mu has matured considerably and can say a few polite words. Moreover, he has learned to lay the groundwork beforehand.

"The head of the academy is exceptionally capable, often surprising us with his unconventional methods, far beyond our reach. Saying he's helping is just a favor; let's take it as genuine! If he ever needs our help, we'll be there whenever he calls. By the way, the matter of the medicine cauldrons is truly a sincere offer, not some test. Today was a bit rushed, so I won't say much more. Let's have a proper get-together another day. If all goes well, we'll do our best to acquire those rare medicine cauldrons and present them to you, head of the academy. Not for any other reason than to further advance traditional Chinese medicine. Don't worry, this is also Elder Nie's intention. Unfortunately, something came up at the academy today, so we won't delay your business." Mr. Huangfu suddenly became quite friendly, and for a moment, Bian Mu felt a little uncomfortable.

Without time to think too much, based on intuition, it shouldn't be a bad thing.

More importantly, out of the corner of his eye, Bian Mu repeatedly observed Zhao Xicheng's expression and demeanor. He realized that Zhao Xicheng probably hadn't been involved in this matter beforehand, and most likely, he was also kept in the dark by Mr. Huangfu in front of him. Once he understood this, Bian Mu felt much more at ease.

Having more friends means having more options; having more intermediaries means having fewer rivals. For Bian Mu, it's crucial not to make enemies easily at this stage.

After exchanging a few polite words, Bian Mu slung his small backpack over his shoulder, bid farewell to the two men, and left the clubhouse for the parking lot.

Still young at heart, seeing that there were no strangers around, Bian Mu got into the car, closed the door behind him, and took out his phone to call Dian Shuhua.

"I was just about to report to you! Dr. Teng is being a bit overly cautious. That man doesn't have any connections. I've almost finished dealing with things here, but there are a few details I still need to confirm with you. I'm not entirely sure either, but I'm pretty sure that man didn't come here to cause trouble." Over the phone, Dian Shuhua unexpectedly reassured Bian Mu.

A false alarm!
What exactly does the main symptom look like?

"That man has suddenly become extremely afraid of dogs in the last few months. He can't even handle a small stray dog. The extent of his fear is... well, it's unimaginable for a normal person. The main reason he didn't linger with Dr. Teng was because he felt embarrassed. He was quite awkward in front of a rather pretty female doctor..."

"Holy crap! You scared me!" Bian Mu breathed a sigh of relief.