Ten Thousand Sword Masters

As soon as Xu Siming relented, he immediately called over the clinic manager and instructed him to discuss compensation with the deceased's family.

"Lord Jiang, my clinic is going to suffer a huge loss this time," Xu Siming sighed, then looked at Zhang Jianyun and Liu Fei: "You two Nine-Star Guards, you must investigate this thoroughly and clear my name."

"Don't worry, Dr. Xu, our Nine Star Guard has always acted impartially and will not let anyone be wronged," Liu Fei said boldly, as if he had already cleared Xu Siming's name.

As the clinic manager went out to discuss compensation with the three families, the cursing gradually subsided and eventually disappeared, leaving only sporadic sobs. The clinic regained its rare tranquility.

"I wonder if a cold wind will blow again tonight. There's still some time before it gets dark," Zhang Jianyun said leisurely, then glanced around the clinic.

"The cursing outside has stopped, so you can rest assured and wait for nightfall. I'll arrange for someone to prepare food and drinks, so you won't have to suffer from the cold and hunger here," Xu Siming said slowly.

Zhang Jianyun, who was scanning the clinic, turned to Xu Siming and asked, "Are there any patients tonight? Will there be a cold wind blowing?"

Xu Siming's eyebrows twitched upon hearing this: "Oh? What do you mean by that, sir?"

Liu Fei also looked at Zhang Jianyun with some doubt, while Jiang Gulin, the government constable, was focused on calming Xu Siming down and paid no attention to the strange events.

"I suspect that if it really was the work of a supernatural entity, and that the supernatural entity caused the illness and death of these three patients, then the supernatural entity was very likely already present in the clinic before the last patient left," Zhang Jianyun analyzed.

Xu Siming was startled upon hearing this and quickly scanned his surroundings; "What's strange?"

"Dr. Xu, don't panic. At this time, the strange entity shouldn't be here yet," Zhang Jianyun reassured him.

"What kind of strange thing is this? It comes and goes without a trace?" Xu Siming said with some fear.

Zhang Jianyun and Liu Fei exchanged a glance, and then Liu Fei said, "If the strange creature comes and goes without a trace, there is only one possibility: there is a vessel for the strange creature in the clinic that allows it to come and go without a trace."

"Carrier? What carrier?" Xu Siming asked in surprise.

"As for what kind of medium it is, we'll only find out tonight," Liu Fei said slowly.

Hearing their conversation, Jiang Gulin knew that this matter must be related to the strange occurrences. He then said, "Lord Liu, Lord Zhang, we constables really can't get involved in these strange matters. Tonight, I will lead the rest of the constables to guard outside the clinic and ensure its safety."

"I request that Lord Jiang ensure the area around the clinic is cordoned off to prevent the deceased's family from entering," Zhang Jianyun said.

"It's my duty," Jiang Gulin said.

"Rest assured, sir, once the compensation is settled, those family members will leave on their own," Xu Siming said.

Afterwards, Zhang Jianyun and Liu Fei left the clinic, still hoping to find an opportunity to examine the deceased's body.

However, although the clinic agreed to compensation and actively discussed the amount with the deceased's family, the family would become agitated again whenever Zhang Jianyun and Liu Fei approached the coffin, fearing that Zhang and Liu would forcibly open the coffin in the name of the Nine Star Guards.

Seeing the family members' wary expressions, Zhang and Liu had no choice but to abandon their attempt to examine the body and return to the clinic.

Not long after, the clinic manager hurriedly returned to the clinic and whispered a few words in Xu Siming's ear.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Siming nodded somewhat awkwardly.

Seeing this, Zhang and Liu knew that the compensation agreement had been reached.

"Dr. Xu, if the compensation issue is settled, I think you should hurry up and open for business. I see a lot of people waiting to see a doctor outside," Zhang Jianyun said.

"Given what has happened today, I could have closed my clinic, but as a doctor, I must be quick to help those in need. Since my patients don't mind the bad luck in my clinic today and are still willing to come for treatment, how could I refuse them?" Xu Siming said with emotion.

"I just heard the two gentlemen speculate that the last patient to leave the clinic tonight is very likely to have a relapse and die. So as soon as it gets dark, I will definitely close the clinic. I can't let any more patients who leave my clinic die. As for whether the strange thing about the absence of patients will happen again, that's none of my business," Xu Siming continued.

Zhang Jianyun nodded slightly upon hearing this: "Dr. Xu is right to do so. The patient's life is of utmost importance. As for whether the strange creatures will come or not, that is something we Nine Star Guards should be concerned with."

"It's getting late, I'll go arrange for someone to prepare the meal," Xu Siming said, standing up from his seat.

Xu Siming left the clinic lobby, and Jiang Gulin also went outside the clinic to comfort the deceased's family. Only Zhang Jianyun and Liu Fei remained in the lobby.

"Jianyun, what kind of strange thing could cause cold winds to blow and then make people sick and die?" Liu Fei asked.

"Didn't you give me a book after I passed the selection? The book is called 'Illustrated Guide to the Strange,' which describes a kind of strange creature that sneaks into a person's body when they are sick, lights up the person's inner light, causes them to fall ill, and ultimately leads to death," Zhang Jianyun said slowly.

Liu Fei was startled upon hearing this: "Light the lamp? You mean the strange snake master?"

Zhang Jianyun nodded heavily.

"The Serpent Master is not easy to deal with. If he really is the Serpent Master, then it makes sense," Liu Fei pondered.

"Every time the Serpent Master lights the Heart Lamp and causes someone to die, he gains a Heart Crystal, which increases his cultivation by three years. Since three people have already died, the Serpent Master has gained at least nine years of cultivation," Zhang Jianyun analyzed.

"But if we kill the Serpent King, we can obtain its life crystal, and consuming it will increase our cultivation by three years," Liu Fei said greedily.

Seeing Liu Fei's greedy look, Zhang Jianyun smiled and said, "Don't be careless. It's still uncertain whether it's the Snake Master or not. It's also possible that Xu Siming's poor medical skills caused the death."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fei shook his head; "That's true. Xu Siming looks like a saint, but his medical skills are not worth praising. At least when my family members have any serious illnesses, they all go to Liang Family Clinic, not Xu Family Clinic."

Just as the two were talking, Xu Siming returned to the hall.

"Please don't worry, gentlemen. The food will be delivered shortly. It's not cooked by my own chef; I'll send someone to the restaurant up ahead to buy some food. I won't let you down."

"Dr. Xu, you've gone to so much trouble," Liu Fei said.

Before long, the doctor's assistant returned with the wine and dishes.

Xu Siming then invited the group to a side room, where he set out wine and dishes and they began to eat.

After finishing their meal, Xu Siming began treating the patients, while Zhang and Liu wandered around the clinic. Jiang Gulin, along with the other constables, maintained order outside the clinic.

Before long, it got dark.

Xu Siming closed his clinic and stopped seeing patients.

Huhuhu~

As soon as it got dark, a cool breeze began to blow.