The next morning, before dawn.
Liu Erlong then called the student named Jiangzhu to his office.
Jiangzhu was a few years older than Tang San and the others, around nineteen years old. She was 1.65 meters tall, with distinctive long, flowing crimson hair that cascaded down her back. She had delicate features and a beautiful face, making her a rare beauty.
"Jiangzhu, these are the teachers and students of Shrek Academy. From now on, we're all on the same side," Liu Erlong said with a smile as he introduced them to each other.
"This is Master Yu Xiaogang, and this is Dean Flander..."
Jiangzhu greeted everyone politely.
After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Erlong explained his purpose.
"Jiangzhu, I'll have to trouble you today." Liu Erlong took her hand and said kindly, "Master and your junior brother Ma Hongjun have some old injuries and want to seek treatment at the Jadeite Medical Clinic. You're an apprentice there, so you must be quite close to that senior Biji. Therefore, I'd like to ask you to take them there. Would that be convenient for you?"
"Of course, no problem, Dean." Jiangzhu agreed without thinking too much.
Why wouldn't she be happy to share the burden of the dean she respected?
So, led by Jiangzhu, Shrek and his group set off in a grand procession toward the Emerald Clinic.
Along the way, Ma Hongjun seemed particularly excited, constantly asking Jiangzhu about the Jade Douluo, but his lewd gaze kept lingering on Jiangzhu, the slightly mature girl.
After passing through several bustling streets and turning into a relatively quiet alley, the group finally arrived at their destination.
However, what they saw left everyone speechless with astonishment.
At the entrance of the antique-style clinic, a long queue had already snaked out along the wall, stretching all the way to the alley entrance, with no end in sight.
The group consisted of men, women, young and old, dressed simply, clearly ordinary civilians from both inside and outside Tiandou City.
Their faces showed anxiety and anticipation, yet they all lined up quietly, without making a sound or cutting in line; the order was impeccable.
"Oh my god!" Ma Hongjun wailed. "What time is it? We've been here for ages, how come there are so many people?"
The group looked at the sky; it was just the time for the clinic to open, but it was already packed with people.
"Wouldn't that be a wait time?" The fat man's face instantly fell, turning into a bitter gourd.
His eyes darted around, landing on Jiangzhu, and a fawning smile immediately spread across his face: "Um... Senior Jiangzhu, aren't you an apprentice here? You're so familiar with that Senior Biji, could you... help us get in through the back door?"
Before Jiangzhu could answer, Yu Xiaogang, who was standing to the side, also spoke up expressionlessly.
He cleared his throat and said in an unquestionable tone, "We can't just leave the children here waiting, wasting their precious morning training time. Jiangzhu, what do you think... is this alright?"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang cast an expectant glance at Jiangzhu.
In his view, he was an elder, a master, and also a dear old friend of Dean Liu Erlong.
It's only natural to ask a junior for such a small favor and make an exception.
"no."
Jiangzhu refused without hesitation.
She shook her head, her face showing difficulty: "Teachers, it's really not that I don't want to help. It's just that... Teacher Brigitte hates people who don't follow the rules and cut in line the most. That's the first ironclad rule of the clinic."
"I'm just an apprentice, and my voice carries no weight. I dare not offend my teacher. What if she gets angry and kicks me out of the clinic? I want to stay by her side and learn more."
Jiangzhu's tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Ma Hongjun and Yu Xiaogang were both stunned.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened, and a surge of anger, feeling offended, welled up inside him.
Liu Erlong was also a little embarrassed. They hadn't expected that this Emerald Douluo would be so strict with his rules, not even giving face to his own people.
Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, a plaintive sob drew everyone's attention.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little girl of about seven or eight years old at the very front of the line.
She was dressed in rags, her face was dirty, and she was clutching a tattered rag doll tightly in her arms. She was pouting with a wronged look on her face, and tears were welling up in her eyes.
Just now, the previous patient's treatment was finished, and it was the little girl's turn next.
Before the little girl could even take a step, three burly, middle-aged men with menacing faces suddenly rushed over from the side.
They rudely pushed the little girl aside and rushed in front of her.
"Get out of here, you little brat!" one of the older men glared at her fiercely.
The little girl shuddered in fright, and large tears finally streamed down her cheeks, but she dared not utter a word of anger.
A commotion and accusations erupted from the crowd behind them, but the three men seemed oblivious, instead displaying smug expressions.
Just then, a patient who had just finished seeing a doctor came out of the clinic.
He thanked the clinic staff repeatedly with great emotion, his expression as if he had been given a new lease on life.
Upon seeing this, the three middle-aged men's eyes lit up. Before the people inside could speak, they pushed and shoved their way into the clinic.
"Next!"
"It's us! It's us!"
However, the next moment.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three muffled, loud thuds rang out one after the other.
The three men, who had been so arrogant just moments before, flew out of the clinic like three cannonballs.
With a "thud," it was neatly embedded in the wall of the alley opposite, its head tilted to the side, and it immediately fainted.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene, but they quickly looked away and pretended to be nonchalant.
Immediately afterwards, a gentle female voice drifted out from inside the clinic.
"Come in, child."
The voice was ethereal and melodious, possessing a unique and soothing magic.
Upon hearing this voice, the little girl at the front of the line was startled at first, then wiped her tears haphazardly with her dirty sleeve and forced herself to hold back her sobs.
Before she even stepped into the clinic, she cried out loudly, her voice trembling with tears and filled with filial piety:
"Sister Brigitte!"
Seeing this, Ma Hongjun, who had just been thinking of using the back door, couldn't help but shrink back, feeling a chill run down his spine.
He awkwardly touched his nose and muttered to the crowd, "Well... I think we should just stick to the queue."
The Shrek members were also taken aback.
This clinic truly has ruthless people who don't talk much.
With a sense of awe, everyone walked to the end of the line and stood in queue.
...
Inside the clinic.
The little girl walked in timidly, curiously looking around at the place where the legendary fairy sister lived.
The clinic was simply furnished, with only a few tables and chairs and a medicine cabinet filled with bottles and jars.
A faint, refreshing herbal scent filled the air, instantly invigorating anyone who smelled it.
A stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in a white lab coat and possessing a gentle and graceful demeanor, sat behind the table, smiling at her.
It was Brigitte.
Beside Brigitte, a stunningly beautiful blue-haired woman gently offered her a cup of tea.
She is Ah Yin.
🔥 Read Ahead!
Unlock 40+ advanced chapters on Patreon.
👉 patreon.com/Ficthoria
(End of chapter)