Castle of Black Iron

After a few hours of journey, their carriage finally arrived at Tigerback Mountain at about 11 Pm.

Tigerback Mountain was at the seaside. This waters was called Whitedragon Gulf. Being connected to Yaohai Ocean, Whitedragon Gulf was a part of Yaohai Ocean deep into Emperor NvWa’s City. At the foot of Tigerback Mountain, there was a prosperous town called Tigerback Town which lasted dozens of miles along the gulf.

When they arrived at Tigerback Town, it had long stopped raining. Although being very late, it was still brightly lit and boisterous in Tigerback Town as if there was a night fair. Through the windows of the carriage, they could enjoy the scenery of Tigerback Town and the painted pleasure boats berthing at the offshore of Whitedragon Gulf being connected to Tigerback Town. The lamplights on the pleasure-boats made the water surface colorful.

When the carriage arrived at Tigerback Town, Zhang Tie had gotten off the vehicle at a junction of three roads where he bade farewell to Tang Mei and the other two.

Zhang Tie was broad-minded to get a lift and got along well with them on the way. When they arrived at Tigerback Town, of course, they should settle down respectively. If Zhang Tie lived in the same inn or hotel with them, Tang Mei would feel being put on the spot. Additionally, they would think that Zhang Tie had some evil purpose. Therefore, Zhang Tie proposed to get off the vehicle the moment they arrived at Tigerback Town. Before Tang Mei said anything, Aunt Wu instantly heaved a deep sigh as she finally became reassured.

Tang Mei didn’t urge him to stay. As they met by chance, it would be improper for them to be too polite to each other.

“Wish you a happy trip, Master Jin!”

“Hahaha, wish you recover soon!”

After bidding farewell to each other, Uncle Guan turned left as Zhang Tie turned right. No matter what, they had been in the town, they could easily find boites and inns. It was not difficult for them to find a place to settle down respectively.

Both sides of the roads were lit by the lanterns. They didn’t even use roadside lamps. Additionally, Zhang Tie could hear drunkards playing wager games, singing and dancing in the boites. Many people were immersed in the boisterous scenery. Listening to the laughter and talks of males and females, Zhang Tie almost thought that he had entered a red-light district of a propserous metropolis.

Zhang Tie really didn’t understand why it was so boisterous at the foot of Tigerback Mountain.

Instead of strolling over there, Zhang Tie just took a walk on the avenues of the town for a short while before walking towards a tranquil place. When he saw a tranquil inn deep in a lane being paved with blue stones right with two red lanterns at its gate looming in the small bamboo wood, Zhang Tie walked in.

When he entered the lane, he noticed the inn was called Bamboo Book Inn. It was an elegant name. Besides, there was a couplet of wood sculpture at the gate of the inn——With thousands of bamboos outside, we collect tens of thousands of books inside.

With a smile, Zhang Tie entered the inn.

At the sight of Zhang Tie, a waiter in green clothes and hat hurriedly greeted him.

“Do you have any vacancy?”

“Yes, we have. There’re two top-level rooms available. Sir, do you want to live in?”

“Hmm, what’s the price?”

“5 purple crystal coins a day!”

“What?” Zhang Tie was startled by this price. It was not because Zhang Tie didn’t have enough money, but Zhang Tie was aware that this price was pretty, pretty high across Motian Realm. Previously, Zhang Tie thought it would just cost him dozens of white crystal coins a day in such an inn. He had not imagined that its price was so exaggerated per night.

With a passionate smile, the waiter explained, “Sir, it must be your first time to come to Emperor NvWa’s Palace. Everything is expensive here. The items at the foot of Tigerback Mountain were more expensive than that of the same kind in other places. If you don’t believe me, you could ask around the other inns. Although our price is not the lowest; it’s not the highest either. This price is on an intermediate level in Tigerback Town!”

After taking a look at the waiter’s eyes, Zhang Tie knew that he was not lying. Therefore, he didn’t bargain with him anymore, “Well, I want a top-level room!”

“Okay, I will take you to the room. Oh, according to the universal rule widely accepted by all the inns in Tigerback Town, you should pay first. When you leave here, we will give you the change. If you live too long and run out of your deposit, please pay more first…” The waiter started to talk to Zhang Tie as he took him into the inn.

Zhang Tie was shocked again as he asked straightforwardly, “How much should I pay in advance?”

“One blue crystal coin…”

A blue crystal coin was equal to 100 purple crystal coins. A purple crystal coin was equal to 100 white crystal coins. They were basic currency units in Motian Realm. One blue crystal coin was equal to the price of 20 days’ accommodation.

Zhang Tie instantly took a blue crystal coin out of his purse and gave it to the waiter. By the way, he asked, “Why is Tigerback Town so boisterous in the evening?”

“Because Sage Bian is in Tigerback Mountain. Over these years, all the people who would like to seek medical services from Sage Bian or dreamed to be his disciples are gathering in Tigerback Town. Many of them directly stayed here. Additionally, most of those who came here for Sage Bian or wanted to be his disciples were dignitaries. Many of them were famous and rich doctors across Motian Realm. They even brought their entourage and maids here. Therefore, Tigerback Town became boisterous. Gradually, those people started to acquaint with each other. As they’re free, they just gather in boites, drinking and entertaining themselves in the evening…”

After hearing the waiter’s explanation, Zhang Tie finally understood that Tigerback Town became so prosperous and boisterous because of Bian Heng the Yama. This region was like a hot-spot tourist area. As townsmen became rich because of him, they gradually called Bian Heng the “Sage Bian”…

Coincidentally, when the waiter took Zhang Tie into a courtyard, Zhang Tie saw someone sitting at a stone table in the middle of the courtyard and discussing something.

“Brother Li, I don’t agree with you. According to you, the man who died abruptly in your clinic must suffer from disordered heartbeats. Additionally, his Jun fire and Xiang fire were imbalanced. If we have pierced his Shaoyang Meridian, then his Heart Meridian, we could have cured him for sure…”

“I’ve noticed that at that time. Therefore, I pierced the Taiyin point and Shaoyin point on his hand as I expected to weaken his strong internal fire by stimulating his yin points. Why didn’t it work?”

“Brother Li, you only thought that you could weaken his strong internal fire by stimulating his yin points; however, you forgot that Taiyin point carried the attribute of gold while Shaoyin carried the attribute of water. When his Taiyin point was stimulated, his internal fire would surpass his internal gold; when his Shaoyin point was stimulated, his internal water would defeat his internal fire. It’s nothing different than using fire to gulp down gold; then using water to die out the fire. Of course, he would die…”

“Ah…” That person forcefully patted his thigh as he finally understood the reason.

All the others fixated onto the speaker as they started to ask him questions…

“But how do you distinguish Jun fire from Xiang fire…”

“I feel Jun fire and Xiang fire are actually Yin fire and Yang fire respectively…”

“No. As the saying goes, Zhuang fire leads to weak qi; Shao fire leads to strong qi; Zhuang fire eats qi; qi eats Shao fire. Zhuang fire drives away qi; Shao fire generates qi. I feel Jun fire and Xiang fire are essentially Zhuang fire and Shao fire respectively…”

…

Zhang Tie was muddle-headed about the contents of their talk. Even though they were all here to be others’ disciples, some of them were having drinks in boites, the others were discussing principles of medical science. Such a tiny Tigerback Town really became the base of those people who were interested in medical science across Motian Realm. Such people could be seen everywhere across Tigerback Town. Zhang Tie wondered how many people would like to join Bian Heng’s force.

When Zhang Tie passed by the corridor, those arguers noticed Zhang Tie immediately. One of them even invited Zhang Tie to join them as he said, “Friend, are you here to be Sage Bian’s disciple or not? As we’re from different regions, will you join us and discuss medical science with us? We may learn from each other!”

“Ahem, ahem. Thanks, I know nothing about medical science. I’m here for something else…”

“Sigh, he’s not with us!” That person slightly shook his head as he became silent. After hearing that Zhang Tie was not with them, they continued their talk.

…

Zhang Tie came straight to his own room. After taking a look at it, Zhang Tie felt basically satisfied with it. Therefore, he settled down there.

He prepared to take a rest here for one night. After daybreak, he would go to Tigerback Mountain to look for Bian Heng. Hopefully, Bian Heng could cure his problem in his qi sea. Now that that person was worshipped by so many people across Motian Realm, he must be something…