Chapter Thirty-Two: Utterly Overbearing

The more Boss Wu thought about it, the more uneasy he became, so he decided to find Chu Yun and ask for a remedy for himself. At the same time, he planned to warn Chu Yun not to open a clinic, and certainly not to start buying or selling medicinal herbs.

With this in mind, he made his way to Chu Yun's home.

When Chu Yun saw Boss Wu arrive at his door, he was a little surprised. By his reckoning, Boss Wu’s sores shouldn’t become unbearably painful for another three or four days; only then would he start seeking doctors everywhere. He hadn’t expected Boss Wu to come so soon.

Nonetheless, Chu Yun greeted him with a smile, polite as ever. “Well now, Boss Wu, what brings you here today? Have you started to believe what I said and realized the seriousness of those sores on your hands?”

Boss Wu had originally intended to ask Chu Yun for a diagnosis and prescription first, but hearing this, he worried Chu Yun would seize the opportunity to extort him. He decided instead to put Chu Yun in his place, to make him yield.

Boss Wu’s expression turned cold in an instant. “Chu Yun, are you planning to open a clinic?”

Chu Yun smiled faintly. “Thanks to the appreciation of Lord Jiang and Lord Luo, who believe in my medical skills, they’ve found me a house to open a clinic and are even helping me set it up.”

Boss Wu frowned, inwardly admitting that Chu Yun truly was cunning. He snorted coldly, “Don’t try to use Lord Jiang and Lord Luo to pressure me. I’ll have you know, without permission from the Society of Shaman Physicians, you’re not allowed to open a clinic.”

Chu Yun kept smiling. “I trust the two lords will help me settle these issues.”

Boss Wu’s face grew darker, but he quickly retorted coldly, “Even with all their status, they may not be able to get you the Society’s permission.”

Here, he puffed out his chest with pride. “I may just be a herbal dealer, but when it comes to connections with the Society, I might be more influential than you think. After all, I’m one of their main suppliers.”

Chu Yun had no desire to keep sparring with words. He got straight to the point. “So, Boss Wu, what exactly do you want?”

Boss Wu grinned triumphantly. “Doctor Chu, I do recognize your skills, even if so far you’ve only treated Lord Jiang and Lord Luo. I’m willing to help you get the Society’s license to open a clinic.”

Chu Yun cocked his head. “Such kindness from you?”

Boss Wu chuckled awkwardly. “Talking with a sharp mind is refreshing. It’s no simple task to get a clinic license from the Society; it’ll cost me effort and money. Yet I’m still willing to help you. All you have to do…”

Chu Yun cut him off. “Just say it. What’s your condition?”

Boss Wu replied, “It’s simple. You can open your clinic, but you can only practice medicine—only diagnose and prescribe. You’re forbidden from buying or selling medicinal herbs. Also, you’ll need to give my condition your full attention and prescribe something that cures me.”

Chu Yun was momentarily stunned, not expecting Boss Wu to propose such an outrageous condition. This was far too domineering.

He said, “And if I refuse?”

Boss Wu shook his head. “Then I’m afraid you won’t be opening any clinic.”

Chu Yun asked, “You’re that confident I can’t?”

Boss Wu replied, “That’s right. Don’t think having Lord Jiang and Lord Luo behind you means you have nothing to fear. If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t even get a clinic, and as for trading in herbs—that’s out of the question.”

Chu Yun showed not the slightest fear. “We’ll see about that.”

Boss Wu replied, “Then let’s wait and see!” With that, he turned to leave.

Chu Yun called out after him, “Boss Wu, aren’t you going to get treated? Your condition is only getting worse!”

Boss Wu frowned, hesitated for a moment, but kept walking. Though he was worried about his fingers, he knew that coming to Chu Yun for treatment now would only open him up to exploitation.

However, he had only gone a short distance from Chu Yun's home when he spotted old Ye and several other herb gatherers carrying bundles of medicinal plants on their backs. He stopped, surprised. The gatherers, too, were startled to run into him.

Boss Wu looked at old Ye and demanded coldly, “Where are you all going with those herbs? My shop is over there, isn’t it?”

The gatherers immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak. They were afraid to offend Boss Wu.

Old Ye stepped forward. “Boss Wu, we know where your shop is, but your prices are so low—how could we sell to you?”

Boss Wu shook his head with a laugh. “If you won’t sell to me, who will you sell to?”

Old Ye replied, “No point hiding it—Chu Yun is offering us a better price for our herbs. We’re taking these to sell to him.”

What?

Boss Wu was stunned. He hadn’t expected that, before the clinic had even opened, Chu Yun was already buying herbs. Remembering how Chu Yun had tried to outbid him for the Lysimachia, he now believed every word old Ye said.

“Damnable Chu Yun, daring to oppose me like this!”

Boss Wu’s thoughts turned dark, and he barked out a cold rebuke. Then he looked at the gatherers. “Go ahead, take your herbs to Chu Yun. Let’s see if he dares to buy them!”

The gatherers glanced at old Ye uncertainly.

Old Ye hesitated for a moment, then strode toward Chu Yun’s home. “Follow me if you like—if he said he’ll buy, he will, and his price will be better than Boss Wu’s.”

The others nodded and followed.

Boss Wu burst into laughter. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you—without the Society’s permission, buying large quantities of medicinal herbs is illegal, punishable by death. Even if Chu Yun pays you well for this batch, once he’s arrested, you’ll still have to sell to me, and then my prices will be even lower.”

The gatherers hesitated again. Boss Wu’s prices were already miserably low—they could hardly imagine what “even lower” might mean.

Old Ye, seeing this, frowned too, uncertain what to do.

Just then, Chu Yun approached and, seeing Boss Wu blocking the gatherers, could guess what was happening even without hearing the conversation.

He called out loudly, “Uncle Ye, what are you waiting for? Bring the herbs to my house! Don’t worry, the price I offer will be far fairer than Boss Wu’s!”