IDWBE -Chapter 425 Unscientific

On the field, tensions were at their peak. Whether it was the soldiers of Daliang, the guards of He’s Mansion, or the attendants of the Tugu Temple Dharma King, everyone was taut with readiness, poised to fight at the slightest provocation.

Yet, upon hearing the Dharma King Ding Lun of Tugu Temple speak, everyone was momentarily stunned.

Since appearing at He’s Mansion, this Dharma King had been audacious, never showing respect to anyone.

Jiang Yi had personally witnessed that even when confronted with the Grandmaster Ye Qiu, Ding Lun spoke with no courtesy.

And when words failed, he directly attacked.

Seeing Ye Qiu injured and spitting blood, Jiang Yi had been ready to lead his men to fight desperately!

Unexpectedly, Ye Qiu had stopped him.

Without any pretense, he admitted that if they had charged, they would have been walking to their deaths.

Hearing this, Jiang Yi was oddly touched.

He was willing to serve Lord He loyally, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of dying!

He still had a family depending on him.

So, he wisely followed Ye Qiu’s advice, surrounding the people from Southern Valley while keeping a watchful eye on the blind man confronting Ding Lun.

He didn’t particularly like the blind man.

But in that moment, he sincerely hoped the blind man would win.

Otherwise, they would all die!

Unexpectedly, when the monk appeared, the arrogant Ding Lun suddenly became polite.

Ding Lun afraid of the monk?

This thought shocked Jiang Yi.

They only knew that the monk had attained Grandmaster level but had no idea how formidable he truly was.

Was the monk stronger than the blind man? Stronger than Ye Qiu?

If told aloud, no one would believe it!

Originally, the monk—a mere third rank—had been the laughingstock of the entire Ankang City. Later, after a trip to Chuanzhou, he inexplicably ascended to Grandmaster level!

People had been skeptical.

Yet, many ninth-rank warriors who saw him were unable to summon any resistance. If he wasn’t a Grandmaster, what could he possibly be?

The Southern Valley followers behind Ding Lun were equally baffled!

Their deities, the Dharma King of Tugu Temple—when had they ever been this polite to anyone?

The monk in front of them clearly wasn’t an ordinary person!

To get their Dharma King to speak seriously was no small feat!

By their guess, the monk’s status in Daliang was roughly equivalent to Ding Lun’s in Southern Valley.

“Lord He, a man of noble rank,” In everyone’s astonished gaze, the monk—usually a believer in equality among all beings—spoke with authority, “is not someone these barbarians can approach at will!”

The words were commanding and imposing, sending shockwaves through the surrounding Daliang men.

Indeed!

Lord He was so prestigious!

These barbarians clearly had no sense of their place!

“Little monk,” Ding Lun smiled and spoke loudly, “I have always convinced with virtue and reason. Do you think I fear you? I am merely entrusted by my king to deliver a royal letter. Little monk, since you cannot make the decision, please inform Lord He that I have a royal letter for the Regent Prince.”

“I would never think otherwise,” The monk said, twirling the purple sandalwood prayer beads in his hands, “but Lord He has decreed that the stability of the capital of Ankang is paramount. A master entering the city without following proper protocol is a breach of etiquette. Lord He is angered, and the consequences are severe. Your skills may be unmatched, but even if your heart cannot be detained, your men must remain.”

“Keep my men?”

Ding Lun’s brow furrowed, and he snorted coldly, “Then let’s see if you have that ability.”

In the stunned eyes of everyone present, two figures collided, dodging the true energy swirling in the air.

When they regained their senses, the two figures had vanished.

Jiang Yi noticed that Ye Qiu and the blind man were gone as well, looking puzzled at Jiao Zhong beside him.

Jiao Zhong snorted, “With the three of them attacking together, no one can escape.”

Jiang Yi pointed at Ding Lun’s Southern Valley followers, “What about them?”

Jiao Zhong smiled, “Lord Jiang, I am but a lowly captain of the guards. These matters are beyond my authority. In my opinion, it is best to consult Lord He.”

Jiang Yi thought for a moment and shouted, “Seize these barbarians and detain them! Lord He will deal with them later!”

This was not something Jiao Zhong could decide on his own.

“How dare you!”

The Southern Valley men shouted, dozens brandishing knives, confronting the Daliang forces without hesitation.

“Scoundrels! Do you think you can act arrogantly in Ankang City?!”

As the Southern Valley experts charged out, Jiang Yi drew his sword first, shouting loudly, “Take them alive!”

“Yes!”

The men immediately obeyed!

They were powerless against the Grandmasters,

But against the suddenly emerging ninth- and eighth-rank Southern Valley men, they felt no fear!

Among the Sanhe army, ninth- and eighth-rank fighters were already as common as dirt!

“This is a total rout.”

Jiao Zhong glanced around, then waved to the guards of He’s Mansion and retreated inside, closing the gates.

Even sitting in the secluded garden, Lin Yi could still hear arrows whistling through the air and the thunderous clash of battle.

Wen Zhaoyi, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them, saying, “Ding Lun has left Ankang City.”

Lin Yi asked curiously, “Who won?”

Wen Zhaoyi shook her head, “I am not clairvoyant. With three against one, they should have the advantage.”

“Good.”

Lin Yi sipped his tea.

At that moment, Mingyue rushed over, “Lord, the Princess is about to give birth.”

Lin Yi jumped to his feet, “Then what are you waiting for? Summon the imperial physicians immediately!”

“Don’t worry, Lord,”

Mingyue hurriedly said, “Divine Doctor Hu and the midwives are already here.”

“Let’s go see.”

Lin Yi headed straight to Hu Miaoyi’s chamber.

Since Hu Miaoyi became pregnant, he had slept in a separate room.

Her chamber was in the third courtyard of He’s Mansion, just one courtyard away from his own residence, so it took only a few steps to reach her.

Outside her chamber, maids were bustling, carrying hot water and towels. Upon seeing Lin Yi, many nearly dropped their bowls in fright and knelt immediately.

“What’s the meaning of this chaos at such a critical moment?”

Before Lin Yi could speak, Mingyue scolded the maids, “Hurry and follow the orders of the physicians and midwives!”

“Yes!”

The girls responded in unison and rushed off.

“Lord.”

Hu Shilu stood with two imperial physicians, a little flustered.

“Why aren’t you inside supervising? Why stand outside?”

Lin Yi asked anxiously.

“Lord,” Hu Shilu glanced at the two physicians beside him, “inside are a dozen of Ankang’s most experienced midwives. Their expertise far exceeds mine. With them present, my presence would be redundant.”

Though he had assisted many women in childbirth, delivering royal women was his first experience!

For high-ranking ladies, he avoided involvement whenever possible.

Otherwise, merely looking at their private parts—what if something went wrong?

He only wished the experienced midwives could ensure the princess a safe delivery without needing him to intervene.

Otherwise, the trouble would be immense!

Even the Minister of Health?

For a prime minister like Qi Yong, if Lord He said cut, it would be done without question!

After all, Lord He was no longer the same as in the past!

Now, he had a group of people behind him—some kind-hearted, some as hungry wolves.

Even if he harbored no intent to kill, if anyone showed the slightest disdain or murderous intent, many would scramble to anticipate Lord He’s wishes, creating difficulties for the Minister of Health.

Like being attacked by tigers and lions—you wouldn’t even know how you died!

For his own life, he needed to be extremely cautious. This was the governing principle Hu Shilu had been taught after becoming Minister of Health.

However, he had also been reassured that Lord He might become a “founding king.” Founding kings rarely harm their meritorious officials.

Unless one day, when Lord He grew old and was about to abdicate.

But who among them was older than Lord He? By that day, if Lord He intended to kill, they would already be gone.

As Lord He said, once they were dead, let the floodwaters come!

“Hmph,” Lin Yi stood at the chamber door, about to enter, but was stopped by Hu Shilu, “You refuse to enter, yet try to block me from going in?”

Hearing Hu Miaoyi’s cries of labor, Lin Yi felt anxious.

Hu Shilu hurriedly said, “Lord, the midwives inside are wearing alcohol-sanitized gloves. You haven’t been sterilized—better not enter yet.”

These were all “hygiene rules” taught by Lord He himself.

Lin Yi shouldn’t break his own rules, right?

“Indeed, Divine Doctor Hu is right,” Mingyue smiled, “Besides, the midwives are already nervous. Seeing you enter would scare them, leaving them flustered. Lord, stay outside and don’t add to the chaos.”

Thinking of the bloodied scene inside, she was determined to prevent Lord He from entering.

“That’s true.”

Lin Yi shuddered at the thought of the midwives bowing to him while assisting Hu Miaoyi—it would be disastrous.

“Lord,” Hu Shilu exhaled, relieved that Lin Yi agreed, “I personally checked the Princess’s pulse—it’s steady. One of my female disciples also listened to the fetal heartbeat—steady as well. Lord, you may rest assured.”

Knowing that two of his female disciples were inside, Hu Shilu was even more confident.

Though their surgical skills weren’t high, in childbirth, they were far superior to him!

After all, he was a man!

Only in life-or-death situations would people allow a man to assist in childbirth.

His two female disciples were different.

A great teacher produces great students; people trusted Hu Shilu, so his disciples were in demand.

From Sanhe to Jiangnan, and now Ankang, his female disciples were sought-after midwives.

In the past month alone, they had delivered more children than he had in his lifetime.

Especially his senior disciple, Chen Xilian, secretly known in Ankang as the “Goddess of Fertility.”

As for his junior disciple, Yan Hong, she had a knack for removing stillborn fetuses—life-saving but with a darker reputation.

People secretly called her “Old Lady Yan,” scaring disobedient children into silence.

Though disliked, when a woman had a pregnancy complication, she was the first choice—to identify and remove a dead fetus, saving the mother.

Even at full term, if complications arose, they secretly sought her help—prioritizing the mother’s life over the child’s.

Women willing to risk their lives for their children were rare.

Yan Hong took payment upfront, fair to all, never consulting the husband’s family, prioritizing the mother.

Fearless of authority, she had a huge reputation among Ankang midwives.

Well-off families would hire both “Goddess of Fertility” and “Old Lady Yan” simultaneously.

“Your disciple—I trust her.”

Lin Yi was impressed by Hu Shilu’s disciple Chen Xilian.

A doctor who could channel martial energy into gynecology was truly a genius!

Using martial energy to protect a pregnancy alone charged twenty taels—a fortune!

Martial energy to kill bacteria charged thirty taels more!

Lin Yi had initially thought she was a con artist, yet in Ankang, stories of the “Goddess of Fertility” were widespread.

It was said that even a severely damaged reproductive system could be restored with Chen Xilian’s martial energy.

Even decrepit old men could regain vitality.

The stories were vivid, and Lin Yi didn’t know whether to believe them.

Believing would defy science.

Yet disbelieving was difficult in this “unscientific” world—people flew across rooftops, leapt heights no Newtonian law could contain!

Moreover, their martial energy had tangible offensive power; a single push could split mountains and cleave stones!

Not the kind of charlatans he knew in his past life.

Most importantly, Lin Yi had personally witnessed Chen Xilian’s “miracles.”

That morning, while going fishing, he had found a beggar lying in the grass.

His eyes rotted, maggots crawling within the sockets, his body emitting a foul stench.

Lin Yi couldn’t bear it and arranged for Chen Xilian to be summoned.

For others, she would have charged high fees.

But for Lord He, she eagerly displayed all her skills.

Using high-proof liquor to clean the rotten areas and maggots, she placed her palm on the beggar’s forehead, and wisps of smoke rose.

Lin Yi witnessed “martial energy sterilization” firsthand.

Amazingly, three days later, the rot around the beggar’s eyes was completely gone.

Lin Yi’s worldview shattered once more!