LRAB Chapter 67 Don't be fooled by my good looks, I might be a beast in human clothing!
Chapter 67 Don't be fooled by my good looks, I might be a beast in human clothing!
Chapter 67 Don't be fooled by my good looks, I might be a beast in human clothing!
"Ling Su? What a nice name!"
"What's so good about this name?"
"The *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen* are two great medical classics of China. All those who study medicine begin their studies with these two texts. If you, young lady, adopt these names, even if you don't receive the complete teachings, you'll at least learn seventy or eighty percent of them!"
"Young master, you flatter me. My master's knowledge is vast and profound. I am still young and have only learned two or three tenths of it. Studying medicine is not like practicing martial arts. Martial arts emphasizes that youth is the best teacher, but in medicine, the older you are, the better."
"The girl is right!"
How do you know I'm right?
"Because I respect professionals and like to leave professional matters to professionals. I am a martial artist, and I agree with the principle that youth is the best teacher. You are a doctor, and you say that the older the doctor, the better. Of course I agree."
"Don't mention me! I think your name is also very beautiful. The person who named you must be well-read, enjoys traveling and sightseeing, and is a refined and talented scholar!"
"I was abandoned by my parents when I was young. My master said he found me under a cliff covered with ivy and named me Qingya (Green Cliff). What's so literary about that?"
The phrase "Is the young master testing me? Qingya" comes from the poem "Dreaming of Visiting Tianmu Mountain" by the poet Li Bai.
And let the white deer roam freely among the green cliffs;
One must immediately ride to visit famous mountains;
How can I bow and scrape before the powerful and wealthy?
It makes me unhappy!
Am I right?
Cheng Lingsu looked at Xu Qingya with a smile.
Xu Qingya was speechless for a moment.
It wasn't that Cheng Lingsu had rendered him speechless, but rather that he was speaking from the heart. There was no need for him to "bow his head" (a gesture of deference or humility), but he would probably have to "bow his head" to serve the powerful and wealthy. His family consisted of either rich women or royalty, and he would have to "bow his head" to any of them!
Cheng Lingsu had lived in seclusion in the countryside since childhood, accompanied by the Poison Hand Medicine King, and rarely saw outsiders. When she suddenly saw such a handsome young man as Xu Qingya, she was first so surprised that she could not speak. After she started talking, she became very talkative, as if she wanted to say all the things she had said for more than ten years at once.
The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at Cheng Lingsu's residence. Cheng Lingsu lived in the mountains, partly because she was somewhat reclusive, and partly because she often studied medicinal herbs. Some of these herbs contained potent poisons, and she was worried that people might accidentally pick them, so she simply lived in the valley.
This valley is quite beautiful, with mountains on both sides embracing the fertile land in the center like arms. Cheng Lingsu cultivated more than 30 acres of flower gardens and medicinal fields here, and built three thatched houses. Her life was quite comfortable.
After all, he studied medicine, so when it came to wilderness survival, he had an extra skill compared to the average person: identifying plants!
"My dwelling is simple and unassuming; please excuse my humble appearance, young master!"
"Mountains are not valued for their height, but for the presence of immortals. With a beautiful and intelligent person like you, even a desolate mountain can be transformed into a paradise. Take this flower garden, for example; even the Imperial Garden is not as colorful and diverse as this one."
"Since you like the flower garden so much, I would like to ask you to fetch water and fertilize it. I think you will not refuse."
"What's so difficult about that!"
Xu Qingya rolled up his sleeves, lifted his shirt, casually tied it to his belt, strode to the edge of the field, picked up a bucket and a ladle, and skillfully watered and fertilized the field, while also tamping down the ridges. He removed pests while watering.
Cheng Lingsu was stunned and speechless.
Cheng Lingsu didn't know Xu Qingya, but just by looking at his clothes, appearance, and speech, she knew that he was from a wealthy family. The two bickered along the way, with Xu Qingya gaining the upper hand, which aroused Cheng Lingsu's competitive spirit. She wanted to find something that Xu Qingya couldn't do and embarrass him.
Unexpectedly, Xu Qingya was even more skilled at farm work than she was. She was quick and efficient. Lao Jiu followed behind Xu Qingya, carrying buckets of water and manure. The two worked together seamlessly, and by dinnertime, the outermost flowerbed had been completely finished.
Xu Qingya grew up in Liaodong!
Liaodong is a vast and sparsely populated area, and every family has a large courtyard where they dig vegetable plots. Uncle San grows green beans and cucumbers on the east side, Aunt Er grows eggplants and green onions on the west side, and neighbors pick some vegetables, which makes for a "bumper harvest".
How fresh are the dishes that Master Ximen is making?
To put it another way, an hour ago, your meat was eating your vegetables. If you want some vegetables with dipping sauce, just go to the yard and pick them; they're all pure, natural, and pollution-free.
In his spare time from practicing martial arts, Xu Qingya often helped his neighbors with farm work. This served several purposes: maintaining good neighborly relations, exercising, and being a helpful person.
Just like Master Roshi trained Goku and Krillin, doing farm work is also a form of training. If they ever fall on hard times, they can run to the deep mountains and forests to survive in the wilderness.
Cheng Lingsu was cooking in the kitchen.
Just as she finished making a plate of fried tofu, Xu Qingya walked in carrying a wild rabbit, two roe deer, and a carp. Xu Qingya smiled and said, "Lingsu, let me show you my cooking. You can go and rest."
"A wise man keeps away from the kitchen."
"I'm no gentleman! My master's brother is a cook, and I learned some culinary skills. They might not be very useful elsewhere, but in this desolate wilderness, my cooking skills are incredibly useful!"
"There are such intricacies to cooking?"
"certainly!"
As a chef specializing in Northeastern cuisine, I might not be able to cook for state banquets, but when it comes to cooking delicacies from the mountains and wild game, I would say I'm second to none, and even the young master chef wouldn't dare to claim first place!
"Young master, when did you catch this wild game?"
"I have my bird to thank for this!"
Xu Qingya whistled, and Tangdun'er fell from mid-air, standing majestically on Cheng Lingsu's shoulder. Cheng Lingsu held a piece of dried meat in her hand, which Xu Qingya casually handed to her, telling her to feed the bird!
Zhao Banshan was poisoned by the Heartbreak Grass, and Cheng Kun was unexpectedly rescued. Xu Qingya and the others split up. Xu Qingya took Lao Jiu and Tang Dun'er to find Cheng Lingsu, while Yang Yan and Yin Susu took Doubao'er to track down Cheng Kun.
The sugar tadpole is not a giant bird of prey, but with its sharp beak and claws, it has no problem catching wild rabbits and deer.
If it weren't for the worry of scaring Cheng Lingsu, Xu Qingya would have asked Tang Dun'er to catch a few snakes and make a snake soup.
Cheng Lingsu was stunned and dizzy. Holding a piece of dried meat in one hand and Tangdun'er on her shoulder, she went to the living room to feed the birds. After so many years, she rarely had a moment of peace and quiet, and she felt a little uncomfortable. She always wanted to do something.
I wanted to clean the house, but when I looked closely, it was spotless. Even the corners of the walls and the cracks in the panels had been washed clean without leaving a trace of dust. It was so clean that it was almost excessive, and I couldn't help but complain about my own obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Since she didn't need to cook, tend to the flowers and plants, or fetch water and fertilize, Cheng Lingsu thought it over and decided to go out and feed the horses. Then she discovered an old horse rubbing its head against the window and sticking out its tongue to lick the flowers and plants.
A small white flower was placed by the window.
This flower is called "Tihu Xiang". Its fragrance is not strong, but if you smell it for a while, it will be like drinking strong liquor, causing your blood to churn and you to lose consciousness.
Lao Jiu's favorite thing in his life is strong liquor.
Earlier, Lao Jiu was frolicking on the hillside when he smelled the aroma of ambrosia and mistook it for strong liquor. He then made a long journey and instinctively asked Xu Qingya for his wages, telling him to buy some liquor to reward him properly.
Xu Qingya explained, "Miss Cheng, my mount loves to drink. Do you have any wine at home? Any kind of cheap liquor will do. If this guy doesn't drink for a day, he'll throw a tantrum, and no one can stop him."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Lingsu smiled slightly, picked three or four fragrant flowers, and soaked them in a large water bucket. Once the medicinal properties had seeped into the water, she gestured for Lao Jiu to come and drink.
This barrel of liquor could knock out a dozen strong men. For aged liquor, the taste was comparable to a state banquet. Drink it down to your heart's content, and then go to the fields to frolic.
Cheng Lingsu asked, "Young master, would you like to come out and check? I'm worried that Lao Jiu has run away!"
"Won't!"
"There are wolves in the mountains!"
"A wild wolf can't beat an old man!"
"what?"
"Old wine is like a young horse, wild and untamed. Its mane, tail, and hooves can all be used to deal with wolves. If you're bored, young lady, you can come up with a topic. I can pick up on anything and I'm best at listening to your troubles."
"What troubles could I possibly have? My master has passed away, my uncles, brothers, and sisters were killed for committing evil deeds, and the remaining brothers and sisters are busy causing trouble. I, Ziran, am all alone, with no grudges or enemies. What is there to talk about?"
"Loneliness is a kind of trouble! Even the emperor, who reigns supreme, needs to alleviate loneliness!"
"Why don't you tell me something interesting, young master? For example, who injured you with these wounds?"
"I fought Gu Jianhun, and I kicked him into the river. He hit me with a palm strike. That old bastard has no sportsmanship at all; he ran faster than a rabbit!"
"I've heard my master say that Gu Jianhun is a famous demonic master who is unscrupulous, has killed countless people, and has enemies everywhere. Yet he can become stronger with each battle and grow stronger in each siege. Now he is ranked on the Heavenly Gang List. Young Master, you are truly gifted to defeat him."
"Because I used tactics."
I am skilled in swordsmanship, while Gu Jianhun is skilled in fist and foot techniques. However, he happens to be wielding the Dragon Slayer Saber. If I challenge him to a swordsmanship contest, he cannot put down his saber and will have no choice but to fight me.
In the swordsmanship duel, Gu Jianhun lost and suffered some internal injuries. After that, in the fist and foot fight, he was always injured, and I seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack.
Most importantly, Gu Jianhun has a bad reputation. If he is injured, he will inevitably be targeted and attacked. He will hesitate when making a move and lose three points of initiative.
Use the strength to attack the weakness, and take advantage of the situation to launch a fierce attack.
Use my strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.
Upright and honest, pressing forward relentlessly.
The longer it lasts, the greater the advantage.
Ling Su, do you know martial arts?
Why ask that question?
"The person who knows the most about meridians and acupoints in the world is not a supreme grandmaster, but a doctor who has practiced medicine for many years. Doctors who study martial arts may have a special advantage."
"I have absolutely no interest in martial arts!"
"Ling Su, aren't you afraid of me?"
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid I'll kidnap you and take you back for treatment!"
"If you dare to tie me up and take me back, I'll add a few doses of laxatives to your medicine!"
Cheng Lingsu tried her best to make a fierce expression, but she had never lost her temper with anyone since she was a child. Instead of being fierce, she was rather cute.
While they were talking, Xu Qingya had prepared dinner.
Stewed rabbit, roasted meat, braised fish, and several vegetarian dishes were all wild mushrooms and vegetables that Cheng Lingsu picked in her spare time. There was also a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots and bean sprouts, a plate of stir-fried wood ear mushrooms and eggs, and a large bowl of mushroom soup.
Just by looking at Cheng Lingsu's appearance, you can tell that her eating habits are similar to those of a rabbit. She usually eats vegetarian food, eats very little, suffers from malnutrition, and has stunted development.
Looking at the meat dishes Xu Qingya had prepared, Cheng Lingsu sighed, "Young Master Xu, I'm very curious, is there anything in this world that you can't do?"
Xu Qingya laughed and said, "Of course!"
"What can't you do?"
"I can't cure diseases and save lives, and I hate washing dishes. I don't know why. I can chop vegetables, make noodles, stir-fry vegetables and cook. I also know a little about pickling vegetables and smoking bacon. Slaughtering pigs and sheep is a piece of cake!"
But I just really dislike washing dishes!
So, after we finish eating, I'll trouble you to wash the dishes, Miss Cheng. I've already cleaned up the kitchen!
This is a chef's special habit.
While cooking, I also cleaned up the kitchen.
Xu Qingya placed a piece of meat on Cheng Lingsu's plate: "Eat more meat! You're a doctor, you should understand that a long-term vegetarian diet can lead to malnutrition. Don't even mention monks and nuns eating vegetarian food! Martial monks can eat meat!"
Cheng Lingsu did not abstain from meat, but because the Poison Hand Medicine King was a monk who adhered to the precepts and did not eat meat, Cheng Lingsu ate with her master when she was young. Her master only taught her how to practice medicine and save people, but did not teach her how to hunt.
Looking at the richly oiled and darkly sauced dishes, Cheng Lingsu asked curiously, "Young Master Xu, the only seasonings I have at home are soy sauce and salt. Do you carry seasonings with you?"
Xu Qingya untied his belt and handed it to Cheng Lingsu.
"There was a guy called Poison Hand Owl who tried to poison me, but he was killed by one of my friends. This is his belt, which has many small compartments. It was originally used to store poisons. I had someone clean it and put seasonings in it so I could satisfy my cravings anytime."
"Young Master Xu is truly interesting!"
"That's not funny, that's called health preservation. Do you know what disease people in the martial arts world are most prone to?"
"Damaged swords?"
"That's called an injury, not an illness. The most common illness in the martial arts world is stomach problems. When you're out there eating and sleeping outdoors, drinking cold water and eating dry rations, how can your stomach and spleen handle it if you immediately start eating and drinking excessively once you arrive in town?"
"That makes sense. My master wrote down his life's medical experience in a book called 'The Divine Treatise of the Medicine King,' which records many methods for treating and saving lives. Unfortunately, it only contains symptoms and prescriptions, without studying the reasons behind them. Perhaps I can fill in the gaps."
"I can help you."
"Does Young Master Xu understand pharmacology?"
"I can make tools for you."
"What tool?"
"Tools for studying medicinal formulas," Xu Qingya suddenly asked. "The medical classics of the Poison Hand Medicine King are clearly priceless treasures. Ling Su, aren't you afraid I'll kill you to steal them? You can know a person's face but not their heart. What if I'm a beast in human clothing? Wouldn't you be at a great disadvantage?"
"Young Master Xu, since you know I am the disciple of the Poison Hand Medicine King, why do you trust me so much? You cooked all the dishes, but I cooked the rice."
"Uh... Spirit... You..."
Xu Qingya's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
Outside the thatched hut, the old wine, "Tihu Xiang," was drunk and lying down. Even Tangdun'er, the pure-blooded spirit bird, had fallen into a deep sleep.
Cheng Lingsu helped Xu Qingya to the bed, covered him with a blanket, then put on her clothes and sat quietly by the window, waiting for something.
About half an hour later, suddenly a series of shrill howls of wild beasts came from afar. The area around Dongting Lake is mostly plains, so how could there be a large pack of wolves?
The sounds grew louder and closer, mixed with the faint bleating of goats and the sound of horses' hooves. Clearly, someone was using goats to lure a pack of wolves. Soon, eight men in black rode horses, trampling through the flowerbeds, with goats dragging behind their horses, the goats bleeding, followed by a large pack of wolves.
The carefully cultivated flowerbeds were trampled, but Cheng Lingsu showed no sign of distress. Her expression remained calm, but her tightly clenched fists and the goosebumps on her face revealed a degree of fear. Who the hell wouldn't be afraid of hearing wolves howling in the middle of the night? She's not some martial arts master!
"Snapped!"
A hand gently rested on Cheng Lingsu's shoulder. Feeling the warmth of the palm, Cheng Lingsu breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously explained, "They came for me. This has nothing to do with you. You're still injured!"
Xu Qingya laughed and said, "I personally watered and fertilized the flowerbeds outside; they bear the fruits of my labor. The trouble you mentioned earlier, could it be these people?"
Cheng Lingsu did not speak.
Xu Qingya said, "Alright! Tell me what's wrong, and I'll perform a magic trick for you!"
"What kind of magic trick?"
"A fierce tiger chases a wolf!"
Xu Qingya gently rubbed his throat, his eyes sharp as tiger's, and under the dark night sky, his eyes emitted a faint green light like a feline. Then, Xu Qingya exhaled and roared like a fierce tiger!
When Xu Qingya was practicing the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber, he observed tigers up close in order to comprehend the tiger's fierce energy. From this, he comprehended two unique skills: one was the Tiger Eye, and the other was this sonic attack similar to the "Lion's Roar".
Driven by their biological instincts, the wolves chased the fat sheep into the flowerbed. Upon hearing the tiger's roar, they scattered in terror. The black-clad man's horse was also frightened, its hind legs trembling, and it cried out as it lay prostrate on the ground.
"Squeak squeak squeak~~"
The squeaking of mice could be heard from all around.
A short, dark, and ugly figure appeared outside the thatched hut and shouted, "Cheng Lingsu, hand over the 'Medicine King's Divine Manual' at once, or I'll raze your valley to the ground and tie you up to feed the rats!"
"Feeding rats? It really is Wei the rat!"
Xu Qingya recognized the other person's identity.
The first of the twelve constellations, the Rat, is represented by Wei Wuya!
The twelve constellations are notorious thieves. There are not just twelve of them, but more than twenty in total. Most of them have strange appearances and are very similar to their corresponding zodiac signs.
Strange appearance, twisted mind!
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