The next morning, Jin Yi Chuan, his face beaming with radiance, dressed impeccably and went to the Northern Garrison to report for duty.
His pulmonary tuberculosis had been completely cured by Chen Ran with the Spring-Returning Pill. After a night of recuperation, his previously weakened organs, nourished by the medicine's potency, had fully recovered.
His complexion, no longer pale and sickly as it had been, now bore a healthy, vibrant flush.
His colleagues, upon seeing his transformation, were astonished.
"Brother Jin, did something good happen today? You're glowing!"
"Yi Chuan, what's with you today? Are you going to follow Brother Chen's lead and marry a beautiful bride, then rise to fortune and fame?"
Jin Yi Chuan simply smiled, bowed politely in greeting, and made his way to where Shen Lian and the others were.
There was no need to chat with these fellow Jin Yi Wei, only Chen Ran, Shen Lian, and the others were his true brothers!
Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing were equally surprised to see Jin Yi Chuan.
"Yi Chuan, you… you're cured?"
"Yes! You look completely different from before!"
Jin Yi Chuan beamed, saying:
"Brother Chen cured me!"
"Chen Ran?"
"He can heal people?"
Jin Yi Chuan nodded emphatically.
"Yesterday, he gave me this miraculous medicine, a unique one passed down from his family. Just one pill cured my pulmonary tuberculosis!"
Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing gaped in astonishment.
They couldn't believe that Chen Ran had used a family heirloom to cure Jin Yi Chuan's long-standing illness.
Such a miraculous medicine, capable of curing tuberculosis with a single pill, must be worth a fortune, a veritable life-saver!
Yet Chen Ran had simply given it to Jin Yi Chuan to cure him!
Jin Yi Chuan sighed:
"Not only did Chen Ran cure me, he also helped me solve a major problem. He has truly been a savior to me! My life, from now on, belongs to him!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing couldn't help but feel a surge of awe.
Their respect and admiration for Chen Ran soared even higher!
At that moment, Chen Ran, clad in his flying fish uniform, his embroidered spring knife at his waist, walked into the Northern Garrison with an air of quiet confidence.
A group of Jin Yi Wei rushed forward to greet him:
"Captain Chen!"
"Good morning, Captain Chen!"
Although Chen Ran, having been promoted, hadn't bothered to inform them, not a single Jin Yi Wei dared to murmur a word of complaint. Seeing him, they rushed forward to curry favor.
Chen Ran simply smiled faintly, nodded in greeting, and then walked over to Lu Jian Xing and the others.
"Brother Chen!"
"Captain Chen!"
Of the three, Shen Lian and Jin Yi Chuan still called him Brother Chen, only Lu Jian Xing called him Captain Chen.
Lu Jian Xing was somewhat stubborn and traditional, and since Chen Ran was now a captain, he refused to call him Brother Chen.
Although in truth, he, like Shen Lian and Jin Yi Chuan, still regarded Chen Ran as a brother, he was afraid of losing face in front of others!
Chen Ran, understanding his nature, didn't mind. He smiled and patted Jin Yi Chuan's shoulder:
"Yi Chuan, how are you feeling today?"
Jin Yi Chuan, beaming with joy, replied:
"Thanks to your miraculous medicine, Brother Chen, I'm completely cured. I can now run at full speed without even a wheeze!"
Chen Ran smiled and nodded:
"That's good!"
He was overjoyed to discover the astounding efficacy of the Spring-Returning Pill. A single pill had cured Jin Yi Chuan, a truly impressive feat.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the gates of the Northern Garrison.
A man dressed in the ornate garb of a palace eunuch, handsome in appearance, entered the Northern Garrison gates, escorted by several other eunuchs and Jin Yi Wei.
Chen, the Northern Garrison Commander, and the Jin Yi Wei Captain, along with the others, hurried out to greet him with bows.
"Eunuch Zhao, you have arrived at the Northern Garrison without prior notice. We should have gone out to greet you!"
The man was none other than Zhao Jing Zhong, the adopted son of Wei Zhong Xian, now the powerful eunuch in charge of the East Factory and the Northern Garrison.
Zhao Jing Zhong glanced at Chen, the Commander, and the Left Captain, a faint smile gracing his lips. He waved his hand, signaling for the servants to step aside, then turned his gaze to the group of Jin Yi Wei.
"Which one of you is Chen Ran?"
In the crowd, Chen Ran felt a jolt of alarm.
He already knew that after Wei Zhong Xian left the capital, Zhao Jing Zhong would inevitably kill him to silence him.
But he didn't expect Zhao Jing Zhong to come to the Northern Garrison and seek him out first!
Chen Ran stepped forward, bowing politely:
"Eunuch, I am Chen Ran."
Zhao Jing Zhong nodded, then took Chen Ran and the others into the conference room, leaving behind Chen, the Commander, and the Left Captain.
Lu Jian Xing and the others exchanged confused glances, wondering why Zhao Jing Zhong, so powerful in the imperial palace, would summon them alone.
Only Chen Ran understood everything, his expression remaining calm and composed.
Zhao Jing Zhong turned around, sat down, and after looking at Chen Ran and the others, said:
"The traitor Wei has left the capital, but the Emperor does not wish for him to live. You four will go out to slay him and bring back his head to see me!"
Shen Lian couldn't help but ask:
"Eunuch, why us?"
Zhao Jing Zhong smiled faintly, sweeping his gaze over Shen Lian:
"I've long heard that the four of you are skilled in the Northern Garrison. But except for Chen Ran, you've all been passed over for promotions. Such talent, yet you've ended up like this, you can't be eunuch toadies!"
Then, setting down his teacup, he smiled:
"Once you've completed this task, I will report to the Emperor and ensure you receive promotions and honors!"
Hearing his words, Lu Jian Xing and Jin Yi Chuan were both stirred.
Shen Lian, however, seemed to be pondering something else, his expression still somewhat somber.
But Chen Ran already understood Zhao Jing Zhong's motives.
Chongzhen considered Wei Zhong Xian a thorn in his side, eager to kill him and be done with it.
Zhao Jing Zhong, on the other hand, was anxious to kill Wei Zhong Xian, his adoptive father, who knew all his dirty secrets, to silence him.
Right now, in the Northern Garrison, only he, Shen Lian, and Lu Jian Xing were both without influence and not eunuch toadies!
Because Chen Ran had been promoted to captain, Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and the others were his subordinates, their close relationships had formed a small faction within the Northern Garrison!
Moreover, the four of them all possessed real martial skills!
For these very reasons, Zhao Jing Zhong chose Chen Ran as his weapon to eliminate Wei Zhong Xian. Once the job was done, he could be discarded, leaving no risk of complications!
Understanding this, Chen Ran remained calm, bowing and saying:
"Eunuch, when do we leave?"
"The traitor Wei left the city yesterday. He's reached Fu City by now. You'll ride at full speed, you should be able to catch up with him by nightfall."
At this point, Zhao Jing Zhong looked at Chen Ran and said:
"If you need more manpower, just ask."
But Chen Ran shook his head:
"No need. The four of us are enough."