Chapter 57: Beat Him Half to Death

"Young Master! Where on earth are we supposed to find a miraculous medicine that can bring flesh back to bones!"

Upon reaching the back kitchen, Lin Gui could not help complaining to Shen Xuan.

Ignoring him, Shen Xuan retrieved a sheet of paper and a brush he had casually picked up from the counter. He quickly scribbled down a string of herb names, handed the list to Lin Gui, and said in a deep, resolute voice.

"Go out through the back door and buy the herbs on this list as quickly as possible! Remember, you must be fast!"

"Understood!"

Though his expression remained uncertain and he was utterly confused as to why, Lin Gui gave a firm nod and replied in a heavy tone.

As soon as Lin Gui slipped out through the back door, Shen Xuan did not waste a moment, swiftly searching the kitchen for items he might soon need.

Nearly an hour passed, and the patrons inside the Coming Monarch Restaurant gradually grew impatient.

The short man looked at the third stick of burning incense in his hand, his brow furrowing involuntarily as he muttered to himself.

"What is wrong with this fellow surnamed Shen? Why isn't he back after being gone for so long? No! I can't keep waiting like this. There are only two incense sticks left out of all the ones I bought from that old codger. If this goes on, it's all going to blow up in my face sooner or later!"

A fierce glint flashed in the short man's eyes, and he abruptly leaped up, shouting at the top of his lungs!

"Hey! Where is that fellow surnamed Shen? An entire hour has passed! What does he mean by leaving us hanging here?"

Hearing the man's words, the underlying dissatisfaction of the crowd was completely stirred up. They rose to their feet one after another, voicing their suspicions.

"That's right! Make him come out right now!"

"If he doesn't show his face, we'll smash this tavern to pieces!"

Seeing the crowd growing increasingly agitated, Gu An felt a rising wave of unease in his heart. Even so, he stepped forward to offer soothing words.

"Everyone, please calm down! Do not be impatient, my master will be right back."

"Wait for my ass! I'm not in the mood to waste my time here. If Shen Xuan doesn't come out right this instant, we're going to wreck this tavern!"

Clearly, Gu An's words had little effect. A burly man with a rugged appearance spat on the ground, pointed straight at Gu An's nose, and cursed.

"That's right, make the Shen fellow come out!"

"Otherwise, we'll demolish this wretched tavern!"

Helpless and enduring a stifled sense of grievance, Gu An was just about to say something more when a stool flew out of nowhere, hurtling straight toward his face.

Gu An's eyes widened, his body instinctively wanting to dodge, but his feet felt as though they had been nailed to the floor, unable to take even a single step backward.

***

Just as Gu An was about to have his head split open and bleed, a large hand abruptly appeared, steadily catching the flying stool.

Drawing a long breath of relief, Gu An hurriedly bowed respectfully to Shen Xuan standing beside him.

"Thank you, Master, for your timely rescue!"

Shen Xuan put the stool down, waved his hand to dismiss the gratitude, and then turned his gaze toward the guests gathered in the hall.

"Why are you all so impatient? Could it be that you were afraid Shen would run away?"

Seeing that Shen Xuan had returned, the atmosphere in the hall eased considerably.

Witnessing this scene, Shen Xuan felt a quiet sense of relief inwardly.

"It seems that while the effects of the incense are quite potent, they aren't enough to make everyone completely lose their minds. The antidote I prepared should be more than enough."

"Hmph! As if you had the guts to flee. Hurry up and bring out that so-called Ten-All-Encompassing Nourishing Porridge! I've long heard tales of its miraculous properties, Proprietor Shen! Don't let me down!"

At that moment, the short man stepped forward, fixing his gaze on the porcelain bowl in Shen Xuan's hands with a playful smirk.

"That's right, let us all have a taste and see if it really has those kinds of effects!"

"Yes! Let us try it!"

Seeing that the crowd had been swayed by his words once again, the short man could not help wearing a cold smile; he wanted to see just how Shen Xuan would make a fool of himself shortly.

Yet Shen Xuan's next words caused the short man's expression to undergo a violent transformation.

Noticing the excited expressions of the crowd, Shen Xuan raised a hand to press downward, speaking calmly and collectedly.

"Do not be impatient. Since everyone claims that my medicinal cuisine can bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bones, none of you present appear to be suffering from such severe illnesses, do you?"

Hearing Shen Xuan's words, everyone wore blank expressions, until someone suddenly realized the truth and spoke up.

"That's right! There's no one among us in that condition, so how are we supposed to know if his medicinal cuisine actually works?"

"What should we do then? We can't just go out and find a dying person right now, can we?"

A scholar scratched his head, speaking with a hint of hesitation.

"There is no need for such trouble; I happen to have an idea."

Shen Xuan smiled, knowing that the minds of these people were already somewhat clouded, and spoke in a clear, resonant voice.

"What idea does Proprietor Shen have? Please share it quickly."

Hearing Shen Xuan's words, a middle-aged man asked with eager anticipation.

***

Seeing the eyes of the crowd converge upon him, Shen Xuan stated directly.

"Actually, this matter is very easy to resolve. Since you all have such deep faith in my medicinal cuisine, why not have one of our guests step up and try it personally? That way, everyone can observe the effects more comprehensively."

Once Shen Xuan finished speaking, everyone in the hall wore looks of utter incomprehension, silently wondering how something like this could possibly be tested.

"It's very simple: we just pick someone to be beaten half to death, and wouldn't we all find out?"

"Shen believes that particular guest is very suitable. From the very beginning, he has been extremely confident in our medicinal cuisine. I presume this brother wouldn't refuse taking a beating for the sake of science."

Noticing the blank expressions of the crowd, Shen Xuan raised a finger, pointed directly at the short man, and said with a smile.

"That's right! We just need to have someone beaten up, and wouldn't we know the truth?"

Hearing Shen Xuan put it that way, a young dandy holding a folding fan wore an expression of sudden enlightenment and said with great excitement.

"If I remember correctly, it was this fellow who told me that the Coming Monarch Restaurant's medicinal cuisine was supernatural. He must have absolute faith in it!"

A rather plump middle-aged man slapped his forehead, pointed straight at the short man, and chimed in.

"No! No! Don't listen to this Shen fellow's nonsense! The medicinal cuisine in his hands definitely doesn't have that kind of effect, otherwise he wouldn't suggest such a thing."

Listening to the discussion echoing around him, the short man's face turned sheet white. His body involuntarily retreated step after step, and his voice trembled as he spoke.

"Hmph! That's not what you were saying earlier. From start to finish, you were the one shouting the loudest. If you aren't going to try it now, are you expecting us to do it instead?"

A burly man let out an angry snort, completely ignoring the short man's excuses, and hauled him forward by the collar with a single yank.

"That's right! You never know if medicinal cuisine works until you try it. Everyone, give it to him!"

Another young man nodded in agreement, and upon finishing his sentence, he threw a punch straight toward the short man's face.

"Ouch! You turtle's grandson, how dare you hit me!"

Having taken the blow, the short man let out an involuntary cry of pain. Clutching his newly bruised and swollen eye, he pointed a frantic, ferocious finger at the youth.

"I have no choice either. To verify the truth of this medicinal cuisine, I must ask this brother to endure it for a moment."

It seemed it was the youth's first time throwing a punch as well. Looking at the short man's slightly purplish eye socket, he spread his hands with a somewhat sheepish expression.