Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 44 - 42: Exposed?

Chapter 44: Chapter 42: Exposed?

Splash!

In a calmer bend downstream of the Luo River, a drenched Wang Yuan climbed out of the water, his body naked.

But at this moment, he was no longer Prince Zhou Jingyao nor "Thief Cat" Cui Tong.

Instead, he was another one of the three Painting Spirits of the Human Face Painting—a renowned doctor named "First Hand Qin," Qin Yong’an.

To prevent any possible pursuit, he hadn’t taken a single item that once belonged to Zhou Jingyao, regardless of value.

Even the face skin he had peeled off and his original clothing had been burned at a secret spot he had chosen in the previous stretch of the river.

Hum—!

The powerful Qi-Blood in Wang Yuan’s body, on the brink of becoming Non-Human, surged with heat, rapidly drying him off.

Then, he found a package he had hidden in advance in a hollow dry tree and took out a set of green clothes befitting the identity of a doctor to wear.

Holding the banner of "Miracle Healing," he instantly became an indistinguishable Traveling Doctor.

By this point, Wang Yuan had completely severed any ties to the kidnapping case involving the young Prince Zhou Jingyao.

"Having done the deed, I depart without a trace, deeply concealing my accomplishments and name.

Let’s not even mention that the Prince is currently only missing due to presumed drowning. Even if it’s later confirmed he was kidnapped, and the accomplices like Lady Peach Fairy, Wang Yunhu, and Lang Qi are caught,

It’ll all be attributed to the deeds of ’Thief Cat’ Cui Tong. What does that have to do with me, ’Miracle Healing’ Qin Yong’an?

With only twenty days left until the Great Sacrifice, it’s a good time for ’Cui Tong’ to lay low. I shall return to ’Wangren Town’ and focus on breaking through the Daoist Soldier rank—that’s what truly matters."

With a light tap of his toe to the ground, Wang Yuan turned into a fleeting shadow as he dove into the dense reed marsh.

Upon assuming a new identity, his strength in various aspects followed the "Long Board Principle."

If the Body or the Painting Spirit was stronger, he would draw strength from that side.

Although Qin Yong’an was a doctor unable to truss a chicken, Wang Yuan wasn’t worried about his personal safety at all.

Emerging from the reeds, he walked unabashedly upon a bustling road filled with passing people and glittering carriages, swaggering northward. Behind him lay the ancient capital of the thirteen dynasties, Luoyang City.

The ancient books record, "Diverting Luoshui through the capital, to symbolize the Heavenly River (Milky Way), with bridges spanning southward, in imitation of the guiding of the Ox."

This major road led to Luoshui Bridge, Yellow Path Bridge, and Star Bridge that connected the south and north of the Luoshui, bustling with people coming and going.

Thus, Wang Yuan blended in like a single drop of water, attracting no attention at all.

"The fastest way back to ’Wangren Town’ from here would be to find a ferry and continue down the current.

But after so much time, water bandits, government officials, boatmen, gangs, and fishermen must have gotten wind of the situation, causing quite the commotion, right?

Better not to court trouble."

Even if he went by land, with his speed, he could return to "Wangren Town" by nightfall.

However.

Wang Yuan had not gone far along the river when he saw a very rudimentary dock and fish market appear not far ahead.

Several old fishing boats, patched up countless times, were haphazardly docked there.

In those times, fishermen were of low status and considered part of the inferior class.

They were also known as Yacht or White Water Lang, not allowed by the government to settle on land. They had to live off fishing and were forced to deal with all of life’s events—marriage, funerals, marrying off their daughters—entirely on their boats.

Although everyone knew the dangers in the waters this year due to the great flooding of the Luo River, the fishermen’s entire livelihood was tied to their boats, and regardless of the danger, they couldn’t just abandon everything.

They had no choice but to huddle together for warmth and barely barter their catch with the nearby villagers for daily needs.

Now, with smoke curling up from each boat indicating cooking, and given the enticing aroma of fish soup that reached him, Wang Yuan, who had been soaked in water half the day, heard his stomach growling with a thunderous appetite—he was indeed getting hungry.

As he hesitated whether to stop or not,

"Ganzi, what’s wrong? Don’t scare Mama like that!"

A panicked shriek grabbed Wang Yuan’s attention.

A family of fishermen were eating fish when a child, clearly malnourished, had eaten too greedily and accidentally choked on a fish bone.

The child was in agony, clutching at his throat and coughing nonstop.

Even as the weathered-looking woman vigorously slapped his back, she couldn’t dislodge the fish bone from his throat.

As the child coughed more violently, increasingly speckled with blood, it seemed the bone was too long and too hard, having pierced the esophagus.

It’s well-known that the heart, lungs, and major arteries of the neck are located right beside the esophagus; one misstep and a small fish bone could claim a young life.

An elderly-looking fisherman with deep wrinkles on his face, looking almost like an old man, was also frantically circling around in panic.

The other Yacht on the nearby boats, as well as passersby on the road, all turned their attention toward the scene but were helpless to intervene.

"Such a young child, truly pitiable."

"Leaving this ghostly world might be for the best; I hope to be reborn into a better life next time."

"Alas, if it weren’t for my wife and children whom I need to support, I too..."

At that moment.

The boat rocked slightly, and an arm reached out to steady the child.

The anxious parents heard a voice command:

"Quick, if you want to save the child, bring me a bowl of clean water right now."

It really wasn’t worth stopping just for a meal, but for the sake of a life, it was a completely different matter.

The couple, losing their senses in panic, felt much more reassured upon seeing this traveling doctor who had suddenly appeared.

They hurriedly brought over a bowl of clear water.

The Painting Spirit "First Hand Qin," could draw talismans and cast spells, compose green verses to entertain the divine, and was especially proficient in the Divination Department out of the thirteen medical disciplines.

Wang Yuan took the bowl of water and, with a wave of his hand, drew an ephemeral "Well Talisman" on the surface.

He then chanted:

"Dog Bone Pill, Ghost Bone Pill, may the Nine Dragons turn you into the depths, this bowl of water shall become like the vast Eastern Ocean, your throat like the abyssal depths, with the Nine Dragons entering the cave. Hurry, as if by imperial decree!"

After finishing the chant, he poured the bowl of clear water down the child’s throat.

Before long, the child, whose face had been beet-red, gradually caught his breath and began gasping for air.

And the fishbone stuck in his throat, as if it had never existed, was completely dissolved by the bowl of "Nine Dragons Bone-Dissolving Water."

Witnessing this miraculous scene, the entire family of fishermen knelt before Wang Yuan with a thud, incessantly kowtowing.

"Divine doctor! Please leave your name so my Zhang Family can set up an Immortality Tablet and worship it daily."

The thirteenth discipline of medicine is known as the Divination Department, also called the Curse Prohibition Department, a legitimate medical practice in this Divine Deceit World that employs talismanic magic for healing; in essence, it is a Borrowing Technique.

A practitioner skilled in the Curse Prohibition Department is called a "Curse Doctor," who is still just a doctor, not a Magician.

The locals are used to it and find nothing strange about it.

"No need for that, just compensate me with a meal, and that will suffice."

Shortly after, Wang Yuan was back on the main road, patting his belly and belching contentedly.

First Hand Qin, the renowned doctor’s most distinct character trait was: the "greed" of plucking a passing goose and the "stinginess" of not giving away a single feather.

There was no way he would provide free medical service; ultimately, he picked out the best pieces of meat and quickly polished off half a pot of fish soup. The family felt it was not enough, and once more knelt on the ground, thanking and bidding farewell to their savior with endless gratitude.

Although the fish soup they caught and ate fresh on the river was devoid of oil and salt, it was still deliciously fresh.

However.

Wang Yuan followed the flow of carriages and pedestrians, but before he had gone another two li, he saw a group of men and horses charging toward him at full speed.

A soldier, shaking a command flag, shouted:

"By the order of the Yi King Mansion, the Third Prince has been attacked.

To prevent the audacious thieves from escaping, anyone who has been wandering near Luoshui today and seems suspect, must be apprehended and brought back!"

Then there were soldiers and government officials setting up roadblocks along the way, doing the same in the distances covered by their sight.

The whole road seemed to be under lockdown.

Instantly, the cries and shouts of the travelers merged into a chaotic commotion.

Looking back, he saw the Guard Leader of Mystic Armor Guard, Zheng Yong, leading a large troop in pursuit, continuously arresting people as they advanced.

Strangely enough, those dressed in clean, bright clothes were all left untouched, while those clad in ragged garments were ignored like dogs.

Wang Yuan’s body jolted:

"Attacked? How is this possible?"

Everything about the plan up until now had gone very smoothly. Where did they slip up?

How could they possibly know so quickly that someone had taken away Zhou Jingyao?

Could it be that those who took the person away last night had been found out? But they didn’t know who was in the bag.

Amidst his astonishment, Wang Yuan kept his expression unchanged and his pace steady.

At the very least, he was confident that even standing in front of Zheng Yong, he wouldn’t be recognized as the "thief," so the risk was still somewhat controllable.

Glancing at his "minus 5" unlucky Qi Fortune, he was preparing to slip away unnoticed in the confusion when suddenly a group of men arrived by his side.

A soldier with a face full of scars and carrying a saber barked:

"You, the doctor in the green robe, did you hear me? Stop right there!"