Jiang Chen sat still in his chair, eyes calm as he watched Ma Er's retreating back.
Thinking Jiang Chen was too timid to stop him, Ma Er swaggered toward the door, cursing under his breath."An outsider dares to practice medicine on my turf without even paying respects? Did I ever say yes? Listen up, I won't say it twice. From now on, you owe me five hundred yuan a month for protection. Or else, forget about practicing in Taohua Village."
Jiang Chen stood up and blocked his path. His tone remained calm:"Ma Er, pay your bill before you go."
Ma Er frowned in mild surprise and sneered:"What, you're seriously trying to charge me?"
"You came here for treatment. I cured you. Of course, I'm charging."
Hands on hips, Ma Er raised his voice:"Are you deaf or dumb? I said I'm not paying! You say one more word and I'll smash your face!"
Jiang Chen furrowed his brow slightly but kept his voice steady:"You can refuse to pay. But leave the alcohol lamp behind. It's part of my kitchen gear."
Ma Er laughed coldly:"Hah! I take whatever I want at the market — food, tools, anything I fancy — who dares say a word? Be glad I only took a damn lamp today!"
"I said you can't take it." Jiang Chen's voice was quiet but firm.
"Oh? Are you getting bold now? Want me to loosen your skin a bit? Looks like I have to teach you a lesson today — remind you who you really are."
"What are you going to do?" Jiang Chen asked coldly.
"I'm going to cripple you!"
With a roar, Ma Er lunged, throwing a punch straight at Jiang Chen's face.
Jiang Chen didn't dodge but instinctively leaned back — the punch brushed past his nose.
Bang! Ma Er's fist slammed into the doorframe with a dull crack, splintering the wood.
"Still dodging? Try dodging one more time!" Ma Er bellowed and launched a heavy kick.
Jiang Chen took another step back, pressing against the wall.
Suppressing his growing anger, Jiang Chen said quietly:"Ma Er, that's twice now. I've let you go twice."
"Let me go? Your ass!" Ma Er roared and launched a brutal kick toward Jiang Chen's abdomen.
This time, Jiang Chen's expression changed. He no longer retreated.With a swift move, he sidestepped and grabbed Ma Er's ankle with both hands — then pressed down hard!
"Ahhh!"Ma Er lost balance and fell flat on his face. His nose slammed into the floor with a sickening thud, blood spurting out.
As he tried to rise, Jiang Chen drove a vicious knee into his chest, forcing a grunt of pain out of him.
"You really thought I was afraid of you?" Jiang Chen's voice turned cold and menacing.
He then landed a solid kick to Ma Er's thigh, flipping him over. Jiang Chen straddled him, and began punching — hard.
One punch.Two punches.Three...
Blood gushed from Ma Er's nose and mouth. His face became a crimson mess — barely human.
At first, he struggled. But after a dozen punches, Ma Er passed out, lying motionless.
Worried he might kill him, Jiang Chen got up and kicked his side."Get up. Quit faking."
Then he picked up a half cup of cold tea and poured it on Ma Er's face.
Ma Er jolted awake with a shudder.
Now fully aware of the power difference, he understood one thing — this so-called "doctor" was no pushover.In Jiang Chen's hands, he was just a worm.
Time to surrender.
Ma Er sat up and clasped his hands in a pleading gesture."Divine Doctor, I was wrong. Please, let me off just this once..."
Jiang Chen smiled faintly and said nothing. Instead, he picked up the fishbone from the table and said:"You said you wouldn't pay? Fine. Then I won't accept your fishbone either. Here — take it back."
As he spoke, he grabbed Ma Er's jaw.
Realizing what Jiang Chen was about to do, Ma Er panicked and tried to shake his head, but Jiang Chen's hand — strengthened by the system — gripped him like a vise.
With his other hand, Jiang Chen picked up a stick from the floor and shoved it toward Ma Er's throat.
Ma Er screamed and twitched violently.
Then Jiang Chen pushed the fishbone into his mouth and covered it until he swallowed it.
Ma Er gasped for air, his chest heaving.
After a while, he forced a pitiful smile and said in a weak voice:"Divine Doctor, I swear I'll never cross you again. From now on, you're my big brother. Just say the word and I'll fight for you!"
Jiang Chen snorted coldly:"Trash like you? You think I need you? Pay up."
"Fair enough. You cure me, I pay. That's only right."Ma Er forced a smile and struggled to his feet. He took out 35 yuan and handed it over."Thank you, Divine Doctor, for healing me."
Jiang Chen accepted the money with a wave:"Get lost."
Ma Er smiled — though it looked more like he was crying — and backed out step by step, bowing repeatedly:"Divine Doctor, I was wrong, I was wrong..."
Once he was about ten meters away from the clinic, he suddenly roared:
"Jiang, you just wait! In Taohua Village, it's either you or me!"