Volume One, Chapter 18: Confronting Su Ming's Timidity, Delivering a Fierce Beating to His Own Sister with Relentless Strikes!

“Alright, Miss Ye, take this prescription and get the medicine,” Dongfang Shaobai said, handing over a slip of paper. Ye Bing nodded and took it.

“Thank you, Mr. Dongfang.” With that, Ye Bing rose and walked toward the counter with the prescription in hand.

But halfway there, her eyes fixed on the paper, and she suddenly froze, her footsteps halting abruptly.

Her eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face.

At that moment, Dongfang Shaobai noticed her unusual reaction and rose, walking over with a puzzled look.

“Is something wrong with the prescription?” he asked.

“No, the prescription is fine. It’s just… I had a similar one prescribed before,” Ye Bing suddenly realized, lifting her head to look at Mr. Dongfang.

“A similar prescription? That’s unlikely. The ones I create are unique and never shared outside. Besides, prescriptions can’t be taken out of the shop. Some may try to copy them, but since I tailor dosages precisely, not just anyone can handle it,” Dongfang Shaobai said confidently.

Ye Bing took a deep breath, steadying her surprise before speaking, “Mr. Dongfang, look, this is the prescription that someone else gave me.”

She opened her bag and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, unfolding it and handing it to Dongfang Shaobai.

It was the one Su Ming gave her last time, back when she was still in the car. She had intended to discard it but ended up pocketing it to forget the matter.

Dongfang Shaobai examined the list on the prescription, resting his chin on one hand. His expression shifted from indifferent to incredulous.

“Miss Ye, who gave you this prescription?” he asked solemnly.

“Uh, just a labor camp inmate,” she replied.

“Mr. Dongfang, there must be something wrong with that prescription, right? Could it be poisonous?” Ye Bing couldn’t bring herself to trust Su Ming.

How could she trust a prescription given by a labor camp inmate?

But Dongfang Shaobai shook his head.

“No, no, this prescription is even better than mine. It includes specified dosages, probably customized for your condition.”

“Let me tell you, this prescription alone is quite valuable. But I don’t understand—did you say it was made by a labor camp inmate?” Dongfang Shaobai asked, astonished.

This prescription contained several more types of herbs than his own, yet its effects were undoubtedly more sophisticated.

In fact, Dongfang Shaobai found his own thinking enlightened by this prescription; it showed how medicine could be used differently.

Many ingredients that seemed contradictory could, when balanced in precise proportions, produce a far stronger effect.

“What?” Ye Bing exclaimed, trembling with disbelief. “Stronger than your prescription? How is that possible? He’s just a recently released labor camp inmate!”

She thought she must have misheard.

---

The slums, a modest neighborhood.

Smoke curled from the chimneys.

As the sun set, people had already begun cooking.

Su Ming arrived at his doorstep, having just finished a phone call with his sister on the way, ending it near home.

He stepped out of an alley and stopped in his tracks.

At the alley’s entrance, a woman and seven or eight men blocked the way.

It was the same woman who had previously tried to force his sister into marrying her foolish son using an IOU as leverage.

“Back already, you bastard? Today, I’m going to make you regret it,” the woman snarled.

“Second brother, make sure you beat him up real good today.”

“All the money you collect will be yours—I don’t want a cent,” she added.

Seeing Su Ming, her face twisted with hostility.

A man with dyed green hair standing at the alley’s mouth nodded approvingly.

“Alright, sis!”

“With you here, anyone who dares cross you, I’ll break their legs.”

He grinned and patted his chest, looking fierce but kept glancing nervously toward a nearby doorway, as if afraid of something.

Su Ming approached and his gaze settled on the man beside the woman.

He looked familiar.

Apparently, he was one of the troublemakers who had come with Tiger Lord before.

“Su Ming, I told you before—see you again, and I’ll break your legs,” the woman spat angrily.

“Today, let’s see if you still have the guts to bare your teeth at me. Last time isn’t over—you owe me every penny.”

“A labor camp inmate acting tough? My second brother Zhang Jun runs with Tiger Lord. Let’s see if you can still be so arrogant!” The woman felt confident and proudly flaunted her connections.

Su Ming said nothing, merely casting a glance at Zhang Jun.

Their eyes met.

Zhang Jun was struck as if by lightning, his mind blank, hair standing on end.

“I warned you last time—if you cause trouble again, you won’t leave unscathed!” Su Ming’s tone was cold.

“Oh wow, Su Ming, look at you,” the woman scoffed.

“With my second brother here, I want to see how you’ll make me suffer.”

“Second brother, grab him, pin him to the ground! I want to sit on him till he’s dead!” she said, beginning to undo her pants to humiliate Su Ming.

But just then, as Su Ming approached, Zhang Jun collapsed to his knees, trembling with cold sweat.

His lips quivered in fear.

The other thugs were stunned, unsure what had just happened.

Their once imposing leader had suddenly knelt—was it cramps?

“Boss, what’s wrong?” one underling asked.

“Shut the hell up! Kneel and keep your head down!” Zhang Jun barked, grabbing his subordinate’s collar and pulling him down too.

The others, shocked, hastily obeyed, kneeling as ordered.

The woman stopped halfway through pulling down her pants, her face a mix of confusion and disbelief.

She was dumbfounded, not understanding the sudden turn of events.

Su Ming stepped beside Zhang Jun and coughed lightly.

Zhang Jun immediately slammed his head to the ground like an ostrich, too scared to look up.

“Get up!” Su Ming commanded.

Though he could ignore them, he knew some problems had to be settled to avoid greater trouble.

“Sir Su, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you, or else no matter how brave I was, I wouldn’t have dared cause you trouble,” Zhang Jun stammered, trembling as he rose.

“Enough nonsense. You heard what she said—do you know what to do, or do I need to teach you?” Su Ming’s cold glare made Zhang Jun’s scalp tingle.

He shook his head reluctantly, “Master, please instruct me. I’m afraid you won’t be satisfied.”

At that moment, Zhang Jun looked like he’d seen a ghost—cowardly as a child, completely devoid of his usual arrogance.

The woman watched in stunned silence, unable to recover.

Su Ming’s icy gaze swept over her, leaving her nearly lifeless with fright, her face ashen.