"Heavenly relief?! What type of nonsense is that?!"

"Madam Sui Rong is the Medicine Hall Leader’s wife, and the Medicine Hall has been providing all the relief we need, serving us faithfully for years!"

Chang’e raised her chin toward them in open mockery.

"Speak for yourself."

It was then that the few men who had been the most vocal noticed that the women had remained largely silent, whispering quietly among themselves.

They wanted to say something, but the entrance door of the house opened, and someone slowly walked outside.

"Madam Sui Rong? It’s Madam Sui Rong!"

"Hmm? Is she okay?"

"What is going on? Why is she walking like that?"

People speculated, finding her movements quite strange. Madam Sui Rong was so overwhelmed with relief that she did not care about the fact that she was wobbling. She could barely stand straight on her legs after she had released a rushing river of liquid from her narrow, drenched cave.

She also had to be careful, because her body still felt unbearably ticklish. Although she could not react to anything that was not Shi Lan’s hand in the same way, she could still feel her sensitivity increasing, making her desire Shi Lan even more.

The men stared in confusion, while the women stared in amazement.

How could simple acupuncture leave a woman this exhausted? Sui Rong looked utterly drained, yet she also looked strangely happy.

When she reached Chang’e, she turned and looked at her with undisguised envy.

’You get to live with a man like this under your roof, you lucky witch.’

Chang’e stared down at Sui Rong with apparent irritation, which made Sui Rong slightly angered.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chang’e spoke with sharp contempt.

"I don’t have room for one more roommate. Don’t even think about it!"

"I’m not! Your house is too ugly for me to reside in. It could never fit my grace."

Shi Lan walked out just then and folded his arms, standing calmly in front of the house. Murmurs immediately rose the moment people saw him.

"It’s the handsome fraud."

"Brainless prick, what did you do to Madam Sui Rong?"

Madam Sui Rong raised her hand, making the crowd fall silent and focus on her.

Because she had made a promise — and because she never wanted to offend Shi Lan, since she was eagerly looking forward to that special service and their time in her private room — she had to speak the truth.

"Not only is this man not a fraud... he has also managed to heal a pain in my chest. My body now feels brand new, as if I attained enlightenment and ascended to the heavens, gaining a younger body."

She chuckled softly and added,

"It is difficult to walk because the acupuncture was so good that it overwhelmed my mortal body! His skills are truly heavenly! Not only was I willing to go another round, but I even paid him ten silver coins to receive his services again! It is worth that much! I recommend that you try it!"

Sui Rong’s words took the crowd by surprise, and a wave of gasps rolled through them.

"What?"

"Really?"

"He is that good?"

"A younger body, you say? Does that mean I can feel young again?"

Many of them spoke with delighted, curious, and faintly excited voices, and murmurs slowly rose again.

Amidst it all, Sui Rong slowly made her way out of the yard and carefully walked toward her home.

One of the men glanced around furiously and then stepped forward after Sui Rong had left, grabbing the door with force.

"Out of my way! I shall test this healing myself! I have terrible shoulder aches—come and heal me!"

The women immediately protested, quickly grabbing the man. Some even held onto the fence, trying to climb over it in order to go first.

"Don’t you dare! Me first! A demonic pain has nested in my butt! Benevolent Leader, come and heal my butt!"

"No, me! Me! My waist! Heavens!!"

Shi Lan watched with faint amusement as men and women fought to get through the fence in order to taste his service.

’It seems using Sui Rong as a model worked far better than I expected.’

Of course, Shi Lan had not expected Sui Rong herself to fall into the trap, but he was not surprised that she was the one, since she was already operating a similar business.

The outrageous prices had been intentional—to chase people away, but also to provoke a challenge. That was what brought Sui Rong their way.

And once the lady had entered his trap, it was a done deal.

Now that things had turned out like this, Shi Lan had an even better idea.

He stepped forward gracefully, folding his hands. Chang’e and her daughters had been trying to block people from entering, wielding a broomstick to push them away, but Chang’e retreated when she saw Shi Lan step closer.

The discordant crowd also fell silent for a moment.

"Esteemed Healer, heal my head — the pain is unbearable!"

"Benevolent Leader, if you heal my back pain, I’m willing to pay twenty copper coins!"

"You sly woman! Benevolent Leader, give me a younger body — I can pay you in installments!"

Shi Lan sighed before speaking. His voice was not loud, so people had to strain to hear him, causing the crowd to grow eerily silent.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm. But the prices have gone up. To book one session now costs one hundred copper coins. You must also come and make a reservation three days in advance. Only then will you receive your healing."

The crowd immediately gasped.

"What heaven-fart nonsense is this?"

"Who do you think you are? Buddha?"

"Forget this worm. Let’s get out of here."

The men who had been trying to get healed were instantly enraged and stormed out of the crowd. Some of the women also complained, criticizing the unfair and absurd increase in price as they walked away.

Alas, the number quickly streamlined into six people who were still willing to pay that amount of money to book a session with Shi Lan.

Shi Lan glanced down at these people with a satisfied smile. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

’The filtering has been properly done.’

He was not interested in healing a bunch of peasants who had neither the money nor a good constitution capable of offering him strong yin qi. The only people he was willing to serve were those who could provide at least one of those two things.

And most of all, he was looking forward to meeting Sui Rong’s friends.