CH 2: The Road Ahead is Unpredictable

Although small, Qingshui Town was a very unique territory within the Great Wilderness.

Outside Qingshui Town, there was a continuous chain of mountain ranges from the north to the south, with treacherous terrain that formed a natural barrier. Following the destruction of the Shennong Kingdom, General Gonggong of the Shennong Kingdom, who refused to surrender, occupied the territory east of Qingshui Town with tens of thousands of soldiers in order to antagonize the Yellow Emperor.

Qingshui Town was bordered to the west by Xuanyuan, to the south by Gaoxin, and to the east by Gonggong's righteous army. It fell under the control of neither Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, nor Gaoxin, Emperor Shùn¹. As a result, Qingshui Town gradually became a territory where the three forces coexisted, but none of them could seize control over it.

There was no royal power, no aristocratic families, no distinction between the nobility and the commoner, and even less distinction between divinities and demons in Qingshui Town.

Everyone could swagger in and seek survival here without anyone questioning their past, as long as they possessed a specific skill, whether they were a divinity or a demon, or used to be an official or a bandit. Gradually, all kinds of people gathered here.

Due to hundreds of years of warfare, bloodshed, and corpses, life had nurtured many blacksmiths and physicians, and Qingshui Town had gained a reputation for its weaponry and medical specialty within the Great Wilderness.

If there were blacksmiths and physicians, there would naturally be people who come to forge weapons and seek out physicians; if there were men, there would naturally be próstìtútès; if there were women, there would naturally be clothing shops and rouge and powder shops; if there were men and women, there would naturally be taverns and tea houses...

It was unclear if the chicken or the egg came first. Anyway, Qingshui Town was now so crowded and bustling that it was impossible to feel that this was the frontier of a battle between two opposing armies.

The Rejuvenation Hall was a small medical hall located in the west of Qingshui Town. Qingshui Town was a place where only the strong survived, and running a medical hall was especially hard due to the fierce competition. Mazi and Chuanzi told Ye Shiqi that there had been attempts to throw the shop down the gauntlet as well, but Lao Mu was a Xuanyuan army deserter. Although he was the lowest of the divinity beings, he at least possessed some spiritual power, which was enough to deal with ordinary people. Because Xiaoliu's medical skills were mediocre and the big medical halls didn't bother stealing business from the Rejuvenation Hall, the Rejuvenation Hall's business was neither good nor bad, and it could barely make ends meet for the five people there.

It had been more than two years, and Shiqi still looked skinny and weak as ever, but he was surprisingly strong. He was capable of carrying water, chopping firewood, categorizing and grinding medicines, and he was especially good at memorizing things.

Shiqi was unlike Mazi and Chuanzi, who had followed Xiaoliu for about ten years and were still having trouble remembering many of the herbs. No matter what kind of herb it was, he would be able to memorize it by heart as long as Xiaoliu explained it to him.

Over time, Xiaoliu took him everywhere he went. He was strong, had a sharp memory, spoke little, and did what he was told. Simply put, he was the go-to accomplice for killing, setting fires, and doing other bad deeds.

In the evening, after the meal, the five of them got together. At the behest of Mazi and Chuanzi, Xiaoliu meticulously counted all their money and sighed. "There are more men than women in Qingshui Town. A woman to sleep with once in a while can be bought for a little sum of money at a brothel, but marrying a wife to sleep with every day is difficult. In the short run, visiting a próstìtútè to sleep with may seem cheaper, but in the long run, it's cheaper to marry a wife to sleep with at home."

Both Mazi and Chuanzi had a dull expression on their faces as they stared at Xiaoliu. Lao Mu's face was as wrinkly as a chrysanthemum, and Shiqi lowered his gaze, the corners of his lips slightly curled up. "Do you guys prefer to sleep around once in a while right now, or hold off for a few more years until you've saved up enough money to marry a wife you can sleep with every day?" Xiaoliu asked Mazi and Chuanzi.

"Liu Gē, a wife isn't for sleeping with every day," Mazi said seriously.

"You spend a lot of money to marry a wife, and you don't want to sleep with her?" Xiaoliu was about to smack the table and leap to his feet in rage.

"Of course not. I mean, not only for sleeping with, but also for eating together, talking to, and having company."

Xiaoliu was dismissive. "I eat with you, talk to you, and keep you company. Why do you still want to marry a wife?"

"Because my wife can sleep with me, and you can't."

"Then aren't you marrying a wife just to sleep with?"

Mazi slumped down helplessly. "Very well, let's just say it's for sleeping with." He grabbed Chuanzi's hand and advised, "Don't listen to Liu Gē's nonsense and save up patiently. Our own wives are far better than próstìtútès, and not just for sleeping with." Lao Mu laughed and patted Mazi's shoulder. "Don't fret, Liu Gē and I will save enough money for you guys."

Mazi and Chuanzi went back inside to sleep, and Shiqi was sent back to his room as well.

"Chuanzi can wait," Lao Mu and Xiaoliu discussed, "but Mazi's marriage cannot be put off any longer. You also know that Mazi and the daughter of Butcher Gao like each other. If we don't offer betrothal gifts, Mazi won't be able to marry the wife he's had his sights on. I'm thinking about heading into the mountains and gathering some good medicinal herbs. If by any chance I can find one or two spiritual herbs..."

Xiaoliu waved his hand. "The mountains are the Shennong soldiers' territory. Aren't you—a Xuanyuan army deserter—seeking death by venturing into the mountains? Besides, you know very little about those flowers or plants. I'll go."

Lao Mu pondered before saying, "Gonggong's Army enforces strict military discipline and never indiscriminately kills the innocent. Commoners aren't afraid if they run into a Shennong soldier, but that Military Advisor, Xiangliu, isn't to be trifled with. Rumour has it that he's a nine-headed demon with nine lives at birth who goes by the nickname Nine Lives, and his tactics are very brutal."

Xiaoliu smiled. "It's not like I'm going to pry into military intelligence. I'm just going to gather some spiritual herbs. As brutal as he may be, he still has to abide by military discipline. Besides, there's no way I'll ever run into a big shot like Military Advisor Xiangliu."

Lao Mu thought that this was indeed true. He had fought in wars for half his life and had never encountered any military officer of several ranks lower than Nine Lives, let alone Nine Lives Xiangliu.

He put his mind at ease and instructed Xiaoliu to be cautious, to go only where he could, and not to enter any areas that were off limits. If he couldn't find the spiritual herbs, they'd come up with something when he returned.

Xiaoliu didn't tell Mazi and Chuanzi for fear of being stopped. After getting ready, he set off before dawn.

Humming a little tune and munching on chicken feet, Xiaoliu was walking along when he suddenly felt something off. Glancing back, Shiqi was discreetly trailing him.

Xiaoliu waved his hand. "Why did you follow me out here? I'm heading to the mountains to gather herbs. You should hurry back."

Having said that, he went ahead. Shiqi, unexpectedly, didn't leave but instead continued to follow him. Xiaoliu raised his voice, hands on his hips. "Hey, I told you to go back. Did you not hear me?"

Shiqi stood still, his gaze lowered, and his silence expressed his persistence.

Perhaps because at the start it was all about pity, Xiaoliu was quick to get soft-hearted on him and ask, "Are you a Shennong army deserter?"

Shiqi shook his head.

"Are you a Xuanyuan soldier?"

Shiqi shook his head.

"Are you one of Gaoxin's spies?"

Shiqi shook his head.

"Then you can follow me into the mountains," Xiaoliu said with a smile.

Shiqi took the basket from Xiaoliu's back to his own and carried Xiaoliu's small bamboo basket of snacks in his hand.

Shiqi handed over the small bamboo basket in silence after Xiaoliu finished chewing on chicken feet. Xiaoliu took another duck neck and finished munching on it. Just as he was about to rub his hands on his clothes, a clean handkerchief was handed to him. Xiaoliu heaved a laugh and wiped his hands clean. Shiqi offered him a bottle gourd, and Xiaoliu took a sip of the plum wine, hiccupped, and thought, This little life is so damn pleasant! The two hiked briskly all day and, by evening, had already entered the mountains.

Xiaoliu found a sheltered spot close to the water source to rest, sprinkled a circle using medicinal powder, and said to Shiqi, "The mountains are teeming with strange beasts, so don't come out of this circle at night. I'll fetch water, and you go gather some dry firewood and come back before dusk."

After Xiaoliu finished fetching water, he picked some wild mushrooms and spring onions. When he went back, he noticed that Shiqi hadn't yet returned and was about to go look for him when Shiqi appeared, carrying a stack of firewood on his back and a pheasant in his hand.

Xiaoliu beamingly smiled. "You build the fire, and I'll cook you something delectable."

After cleaning the pheasant, Xiaoliu stuffed its belly with wild mushrooms and spring onions, rubbed it well with salt, sprinkled it with a little plum wine, wrapped the entire thing with some large leaves, encapsulated it in yellow mud, and buried it under the bonfire.

Xiaoliu quickly set up another simple stone stove and simmered wild mushrooms and pheasant offal soup in the pottery container he had brought along.

Shiqi watched in silence as he busied himself, while Xiaoliu chuckled as he stirred the soup with a wooden spoon, saying, "I've been hanging out in the mountains for years, and I've eaten everything that can and cannot be eaten. If you follow me around the mountains, I'll make sure you're well fed!"

Counting that it was time, Xiaoliu pulled out the hardened lump of charred mud and slammed it hard. The mud cracked, releasing a pungent aroma. Xiaoliu divided the pheasant into three halves, wrapped one portion, and placed it in his back basket. Shiqi received the slightly larger portion. "You must finish it. You're too skinny." In between bites of his own portion, Xiaoliu stared at Shiqi. Shiqi was the same as ever. Every move was elegant and noble, as if he were seated in front of the finest dishes on the table, relishing the finest feast. Xiaoliu sighed ruefully. "Shiqi, sooner or later you're going to leave."

Shiqi gazed up at him. "I... won't."

Xiaoliu smiled, finished his mushroom soup, and hurried to the stream to wash his hands and rinse his mouth.

Early in the morning, when Xiaoliu woke up, Shiqi had already built a fire and boiled hot water. Xiaoliu chopped the leftover pheasant from the night before into pieces and added them to the hot water to prepare soup. Taking a large piece of flatbread from the basket, he ate it with Shiqi, half each, with the hot soup. After putting out the bonfire, they continued up the mountains.

Xiaoliu took Shiqi with him, searching for herbs along the way. He didn't pick any common herbs, but only the uncommon ones, which he carefully picked and put in his back basket.

After three days of walking, they'd gotten deep into the mountains.

Xiaoliu squatted down and stared at a small pile of animal feces. His brows furrowed slightly, as if he had something difficult to decide on. Shiqi, who was carrying all of their stuff, glanced at him in silence.

After thinking for a while, Xiaoliu stood up and said, "Wait for me here. I'm going to go find something alone."

Shiqi didn't respond with a nod.

If Xiaoliu was going, so was he.

Xiaoliu shot him a glare. "You said you'd listen to me. If you don't, I don't want you anymore."

Shiqi cast him a silent gaze. The scars on his temples were clearly visible in the sunlight that was filtering through the treetops, and there was a faint hint of sadness in his eyes.

Xiaoliu's heart softened, and he took a couple of steps closer. He wanted to grab Shiqi by the arm, but remembering that he was still averse to physical contact, he merely tugged on his sleeve. "Shiqi is the most well-mannered, obedient, and capable. I'm not going to not want you. I won't allow you to go, not because of the danger, but because that damn creature is too smart. The slightest scent will scare it away, and it will flee by thousands of lǐ. You can only get to it by smearing its feces all over your body. I'll have to go alone because there aren't enough feces. Wait for me here. If I fail to catch it, I'll be right back." With a grin on his face, Xiaoliu tilted his head and stared at Shiqi. Shiqi finally nodded.

Xiaoliu grabbed the feces on the ground and deliberately walked a few paces away. "Isn't this kind of gross?" he said to Shiqi as he carefully applied it to his exposed skin. "I bet you haven't seen anything like this in the environment where you were born and raised! It's not actually that dirty. Quite a few of the good medicinal herbs are actually animal excrement: Wàngyuè Shā is likewise hare feces, Bái Dīngxiāng is sparrow feces, and Wǔlíngzhī is flying squirrel feces..."

As soon as Xiaoliu looked up, Shiqi was standing beside him. Xiaoliu was stunned and lost his train of thought over what to say next. Shiqi adjusted Xiaoliu's sleeve and whispered, "Be careful!"

"I spent many years alone in the mountains," Xiaoliu chuckled. "When I was hungry, I even stole a thousand-year-old snake demon's eggs and ate them. Beasts of prey pose little threat to me. Truth be told, even the fiercest monsters are not as terrifying as humans..." Xiaoliu knotted his sash and waved his hand dashingly. "I'm off."

"I'll... wait for you." Shiqi stood bolt upright beneath the tree.

Nobody in this world can wait for anyone for a lifetime. Xiaoliu smiled nonchalantly, skipping and hopping before vanishing into the thicket.

The creature Xiaoliu wanted to catch was called Fěi Fěi², shaped like a civet cat with a white fluffy tail. Keeping it around could make one forget their sorrows, and it was very popular among the human race's nobles. It was a rare beast that could be sold at a great price. The little creature lacked attack power, but it was vigilant and agile, as well as cunning and timid in nature. It would flee far away at the slightest hint of danger, making it tough to catch. However, Xiaoliu naturally had a way of dealing with it. The singing of maidens delighted Fěi Fěi. Fěi Fěi would be drawn to her voice and be compelled to approach her, attempting to make her forget her woes. Xiaoliu picked the right spot and set up the trap.

He jumped into the spring, washed the feces off his body, climbed onto a stone, and sat down, hugging his knees. The sun warmed the stone, and while stroking his hair and soaking up the rays, Xiaoliu sang softly:

♪If you are the breeze over the water, I am like the lotus in the breeze.

Seeing and missing one another

If you are the clouds in the sky, I am like the moon in the clouds.

Loving and cherishing each other

Loving and cherishing each other

If you are a tree in the mountains, I am like a vine on a tree.

Accompanying and relying on each other

Accompanying and relying on each other

If you are a bird in the sky, I am like a fish in the water.

Forgetting and remembering each other

Forgetting and remembering each other♪

...

The Fěi Fěi was drawn to the song since it was so beautifully and melancholicly sung. It was timid at first, warily blending into the background. When it sensed no threat, it couldn't help but reveal itself, squeaking and chirping, because of its nature of making people forget their woes.

While tying his hair up in a bun, Xiaoliu gazed at it. It was staring with its big, round eyes, and it was so charmingly innocent and cute. It waggled its big white tail while chirping. Occasionally, it would also do a flip, kick its little legs, pat its chest with its little paws, and make all sorts of amusing gestures to make him laugh.

Xiaoliu sighed and waved his hand to disarm the trap. "Go away, you little fool. I'm not going to catch you for money anymore."

The Fěi Fěi looked at Xiaoliu quizzically. Suddenly, an abrupt gust of wind roared down as a golden-crested white vulture clawed at the Fěi Fěi. With nowhere to hide, the Fěi Fěi leapt into Xiaoliu's arms.

The golden-crested white vulture stood arrogantly, glaring at Xiaoliu with a look that was telling him, "Master Vulture wants to eat it! Get lost if you don't want to die!" Although this golden-crested white vulture hadn't been cultivated into a human form yet, Xiaoliu could tell that it could definitely understand human language.

He sighed and bowed in salute. "Master Vulture, it's not that I'm trying to offend you, but you should know that Fěi Fěi is very hard to catch. If I hadn't lured it out beforehand, Master Vulture wouldn't have been able to eat it, even if he wanted to."

The golden-crested white vulture flapped its wing slightly, crushed a boulder to bits, and a murderous aura hit him in the face.

Xiaoliu dared not step back. Fleeing often triggered a deadly attack from the beast, and while this vulture could think, its savage nature definitely remained intact.

The Fěi Fěi's paws gripped Xiaoliu's clothes tightly as it struggled to shrink its body and hide its presence. Hugging it in one hand, Xiaoliu gently flicked out medicinal powder with the other. With sincerity, humility, and innocence in his eyes, he looked at the golden-crested white vulture. "Master Vulture appears heroic, has extraordinary bearing, and has incredible wing strength. At first glance, he appears to be the king of the vultures, the overlord of the skies. I'm truly impressed... but I'm sorry, I can't let you eat it today."

The golden-crested white vulture attempted to slay the stinking scoundrel in front of it, but all it felt was dizziness and weakness in its claws. It felt very much like that time when it sneaked a sip of strong wine, but it clearly hadn't been drinking... Swaying from side to side, the vulture flopped limply on the ground.

As Xiaoliu was about to flee, a voice from the trees called out, "Hairball, I've warned you many times that the human mind is crafty. Have you learned your lesson now?"

A white-robed, white-haired man sat elegantly on a branch sticking out horizontally, gloatingly staring at the golden-crested white vulture.

Here comes the real trouble! Xiaoliu sighed inwardly. With all his might, he tossed the Fěi Fěi into the bushes, and given its dexterity, the Fěi Fěi should be able to escape.

But to his surprise, the Fěi Fěi rolled over, headfirst towards the man, lying on all fours on the ground. Its body kept trembling, but it didn't even have the courage to run. If you don't run, I will!

Xiaoliu hurled a pack of medicinal powder at the man in white and quickly fled, but the man in white blocked his path.

Xiaoliu hurled another pack of medicinal powder. With a frown and a flick of his clothes, the man in white said glumly, "I'll chop your hands off if you keep tossing this useless crap and dirtying my clothes."

Xiaoliu immediately stopped. The other person's cultivation level was so superior that poisons and incapacitating medicines would be useless. The fact that he was unable to defeat the other person was also evident, leaving him with no choice but to fall to his knees and beg for mercy.

With a runny nose and tears in his eyes, Xiaoliu dropped to his knees. "Your lordship, I'm a junior physician from Qingshui Town. The reason I came into the mountains was just to get some spiritual herbs and sell them for some money. My two Xiōngdìs are waiting to get married—" The man stroked the golden-crested white vulture. "The antidote."

The man fed the antidote to the vulture before glancing down at Xiaoliu. "This mount of mine has eaten, if not hundreds of thousands, then over a hundred thousand venomous snakes. It's resistant to all kinds of medicine, including those made by the Xuanyuan Palace's physicians. I really didn't expect a junior physician from Qingshui Town to be this skilled."

A chill ran through Xiaoliu's body, and he cursed to the heavens. "It's just sheer blind luck. I'm not lying at all. I really am a junior physician who specializes in treating women's infertility at the Rejuvenation Hall by the West River in Qingshui Town. If your lordship has a wife or concubine with infertility..." A small troop of soldiers ran up and saluted the man respectfully. "My lord."

The man kicked Xiaoliu over to them. "Tie him up!"

"Yes!" Two soldiers immediately bound Xiaoliu securely with a finger-thick demon ox rope.

Xiaoliu was instead relieved that this was the Shennong righteous army. Although the Yellow Emperor referred to General Gonggong as a rebel, he maintained rigorous military discipline and had never caused any nuisance to the people for over a hundred years.

Xiaoliu knew that everything he claimed was the truth. Once they found out, they would naturally let him go, but this man was dangerous... Xiaoliu stole a glance at the white-clad man, who looked at the vulture with concern.

The antidote was authentic, and the golden-crested white vulture would be back in action in no time. However, that stupid Fěi Fěi was still shivering on the ground, and Xiaoliu smiled apologetically. "My Lord, please let that Fěi Fěi go."

The man didn't seem to hear him but just stroked the vulture's back gently. The golden-crested white vulture shook its feathers and rose to its feet, swooping down on the Fěi Fěi and tearing it apart with its sharp claws.

"Squeak—" The miserable screech quickly died out as soon as it started.

Xiaoliu lowered his gaze, and as the wind blew, the bloodstained white furs landed on his shoes.

The man waited for the vulture to finish eating before leading the troop back to the encampment site.

Xiaoliu's eyes were tightly shut, determined not to look. He could only surmise that it was a small camp, based on the voices of people talking, and that it must be a temporary encampment.

Xiaoliu was hurled to the ground, and the man's cold voice crept into his ears: "A good spy's ears are often better than his eyes."

Xiaoliu opened his eyes. All he could see from his vantage point was the man's waist. "I've lived in Qingshui Town for over twenty years. If you check, you'll find out whether it's true or not."

Ignoring him, the man changed into a different robe and sat down in front of the table to handle official documents. It was only at this point that Xiaoliu was able to get a good look at him.

Cloud-white hair, not worn in a bun, was held back in place with an emerald-jade forehead band, not a single strand out of place and draping naturally over his shoulders. His features were bewitchingly handsome, and the entire person was freakishly neat and tidy, too.

Right now, he was holding an official document, and his furrowed brow was filled with contempt, exuding a sinister and hostile aura. Noticing Xiaoliu's gaze on him, he looked at Xiaoliu with a smirk on his face. Xiaoliu shuddered and immediately shut his eyes. Such a gaze, which he had seen in the eyes of a demon well-known in the Great Wilderness when he was a child, could only be honed by trampling on the skulls of innumerable corpses.

Xiaoliu figured out who he was. The legendary bloodthirsty demon of unparalleled handsomeness—the Nine-Headed Demon with nine lives—Xiangliu.

Xiaoliu's hands and feet were bound, and he couldn't move at all. After a while, his entire body ached, and he stayed up till the evening. A soldier brought in food, and Xiangliu leisurely savored his meal.

Xiaoliu was thirsty and hungry. It was clear from Xiangliu's expression that he wouldn't be given any food. Xiaoliu could only strive to divert as much of his attention as possible.

He reckoned that Shiqi must be looking for him by now. However, finding this place would be impossible, and he was presumably on his way back to town. After eating and drinking, Xiangliu washed his face, rinsed his mouth, and lay lazily on the couch, desultorily flipping through a silk manuscript.

When a soldier came reporting outside, the personal guard entered and presented Xiangliu with a jade slip, then quickly retreated.

Xiangliu examined it and stared at Xiaoliu, contemplating in silence.

Xiaoliu guessed that the jade slip just now must be news about himself, and he tried to smile honestly and naively. "My lord, all that I have said is true, and there are still loved ones at home who are looking forward to my return."

"I only trust my own judgment," Xiangliu said coldly. "Who exactly are you?"

Xiaoliu was on the verge of rolling his eyes. "I am Wen Xiaoliu, the physician at the Rejuvenation Hall."

Xiangliu fixed his gaze on him, his fingers lightly tapping on the couch's edge. Xiaoliu couldn't help but shiver—the instinctive fear of death in all living things.

Xiaoliu knew very well that Xiangliu had no patience to look into his suspicions. Xiangliu only wanted to solve the matter in the simplest and most effective way possible, and he would end up just like that Fěi Fěi.

The moment the murderous aura swooped on him, Xiaoliu rolled, dodged, and hastily said, "My lord, I truly am Wen Xiaoliu. I might not only be Wen Xiaoliu, but I've never harbored any ill will towards General Gonggong's righteous army. I don't belong to Xuanyuan; I'm no match for Gaoxin, nor do I belong to Shennong. I'm just a—"

Xiaoliu fell silent, and he, too, wondered, Who am I really?

He struggled to raise his head so that every expression on his face was visible to Xiangliu. "I'm just a castaway. I'm powerless to protect myself, have no one to rely on, and nowhere to go, so I chose to be Wen Xiaoliu in Qingshui Town. If your lordship lets me, I'd like to spend the rest of my life as Wen Xiaoliu." Xiangliu looked at him indifferently, and Xiaoliu dared not move. His eyes were misty as cold sweat rolled down his brow. The shell that hadn't been ripped apart for decades was forced to be ripped apart.

"If you want to live, be of use to me!" Xiangliu responded indifferently after a while.

Xiaoliu said nothing.

Xiangliu extinguished the light. "You have one night to think about it."

Xiaoliu's eyes stayed open and were staring blankly.

Early in the morning, while getting dressed, Xiangliu asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"Still thinking about it," Xiaoliu replied lazily. "I'm so thirsty. I need to drink some water first."

Coldly smiling, Xiangliu left the room. "Bring him out."

Two soldiers dragged Xiaoliu out.

"Twenty lashes!" said Xiangliu indifferently.

One can only imagine the level of pain of the army's whipping punishment, which could strike fear into even the most deceitful of demon soldiers. The executioner's arm under Nine Lives Xiangliu's command was so strong that he once killed a thousand-year-old demon soldier with only a hundred and twenty lashes. Xiaoliu screamed at the top of his lungs as he was lashed with the whip as thick as an ox tail, "I've thought it through, I've thought it through..."

After the twenty lashes, Xiangliu looked at Xiaoliu and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through," replied Xiaoliu, gasping. "I'm willing, but on three conditions."

"Twenty lashes!"

The whip swung down again, and Xiaoliu hissed, "Two conditions, two conditions, one condition..."

After receiving another twenty lashes, Xiaoliu's back was completely covered in blood, and his entire body was spasming with pain.

"Any other conditions?" Xiangliu asked, looking at Xiaoliu indifferently.

Xiaoliu's face was covered in sweat, his mouth was bloody, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence. "Even if you... whip me to death, I still... still... have one condition." Xiangliu's lips curled on one side, and he smiled coldly. "Say it!"

"I... I... won't leave Qingshui Town." Xiaoliu understood very well that Xiangliu was interested in his ability to use poison. As long as he remained in Qingshui Town, Xiangliu couldn't command him to poison Xuanyuan's generals, nor could he threaten the Gaoxin's nobility. Xiangliu clearly understood Xiaoliu's intention as well and stared at him expressionlessly.

Xiaoliu, who had been acting like a coward and fearful of death, didn't flinch this time. Staring back at Xiangliu, he made it clear: If you don't agree to this condition, then just beat me to death! "Very well!" Xiangliu said after a while.

Xiaoliu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately slumped.

Two soldiers carried Xiaoliu into the room. The military physician skillfully ripped off his clothes and applied medicine to his back, while Xiangliu stood at the entrance of the tent and watched coldly. Xiaoliu lay on his stomach on the wooden board, meekly at the mercy of the physician. Everyone withdrew once the medicine was applied. "Help me concoct the medicine I want," Xiangliu said to Xiaoliu. "At ordinary times, you may stay in Qingshui Town and get on with your work as a junior physician, but when I summon you, you must obey."

"Fine, but it's not like I can whip up whatever your lordship wants."

"If you can't, then give me your body in exchange."

"Eh?" Xiaoliu didn't expect that Xiangliu was into men, so he said cautiously, "My lord is a man of exceeding handsomeness. It's not that I'm unwilling to serve you, my lord. It's just..."

Xiangliu's lips curled into a smirk. He stuck out the tip of his foot and slowly stomped hard on the worst wound on Xiaoliu's back. Blood gushed out, and Xiaoliu convulsed in pain.

"If you can't concoct it one-off, you can exchange it with a part of your body. How about your useless ears, for starters? The next time around, how about your nose? A chopped-off nose is just ugly..."

Xiangliu stomped harder. "Don't worry. I'm not going to chop off your hands. They're for concocting medicine." The pain was so excruciating that Xiaoliu's upper and lower teeth were grinding against each other. "I... I... get it."

"You're a mudfish, a slippery one," Xiangliu said indifferently as he retracted his foot and wiped the bloodstain on Xiaoliu's clothes. "You'll wind up getting stuck in the mud if you're not careful. But you should ask around carefully to learn about my temperament."

Xiaoliu sneered. "Asking around isn't necessary. It's all clear."

There was the sound of weapons clashing. "My lord, someone has broken into the military camp."

Xiangliu quickly went out, and the noise was gone in an instant. Xiaoliu heard a sergeant ask, "Who are you? What's your purpose for breaking into the Shennong army camp?"

"Ye Shiqi," replied a raspy voice. "Xiaoliu."

It's Shiqi! He actually came looking for me?! Xiaoliu staggered out, calling out urgently, "Lord Xiangliu, don't hurt him. He's my servant, and he came to find me."

Shiqi dashed towards Xiaoliu, and his spiritual power surprisingly broke through all the soldiers standing in his way.

But these were well-trained elite soldiers. Two down, four to go. "Shiqi, don't do anything," Xiaoliu yelled. "Do as you're told!"

Shiqi came to a halt, and the soldiers gathered around, glaring in annoyance at him. Shiqi, on the other hand, didn't look at them and instead only stared at Xiangliu. "I'm... taking Xiaoliu with me."

With a fawning expression on his face, Xiaoliu pleaded, "My lord! I'm already yours!" This was uttered in such a way that... it sent a shiver down the spines of all the soldiers present.

Xiangliu frowned and finally raised his hand. The soldiers stepped aside, and Shiqi darted to Xiaoliu, half-hugging and half-supporting him, his palm gently stroking over his back.

Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but Xiaoliu actually felt less pain. Shiqi squatted down. "Go home."

Xiaoliu climbed onto his back and said to Xiangliu with a flattering smile, "My lord, I'm going home now."

Xiangliu fixed his gaze on Shiqi. In a moment of anxiousness, Xiaoliu actually covered Shiqi's face with his hands in a childish manner. "Don't get any wild ideas about him. He's mine."

It stunned Xiangliu. His lips curled and were immediately pursed tight. He gave a slight cough. "It has been verified that you are a Qingshui Town civilian with no ill will toward our Shennong righteous army. You are hereby free to go."

Xiaoliu, too, could only put on a show and say, "This commoner thanks your lordship. I shall undoubtedly spread your lordship's benevolence after I return."

The soldiers dispersed, and Shiqi, carrying Xiaoliu, hurried up and left.

It was only when he could no longer hear any more noise behind him that Xiaoliu mumbled weakly, "Shiqi, I'm thirsty."

Shiqi gently put him down and handed him the water-filled bottle gourd. Xiaoliu took a couple of big gulps and exhaled a deep breath. "Let's leave here quickly. That Xiangliu is strange-minded. It'll be disastrous if he goes back on his word."

Shiqi squatted down, and Xiaoliu remembered his repulsion and aversion to physical contact, but now there could be no other alternative. Xiaoliu gingerly climbed onto his back. "I'm sorry. I know you're unwilling to carry anyone. Just imagine that I'm a rock, but... rocks don't speak. Imagine that I'm a pig—a pig that speaks human language. Oh, do you hate pigs, by the way? How about you imagine I'm a..."

Shiqi spoke in a hushed tone, "I'll just imagine it's you. I'm willing to... carry you."

After being momentarily stunned, Xiaoliu murmured, "That's fine, too. Just imagine that I'm just me." It was only after saying this that he realized what he had said and chuckled heartily, stopping midway through his laughter and grunting, "Shiqi, my back hurts like hell. Will you talk to me for a bit?"

"Mm."

"Shiqi, how did you find me?"

"There are signs... that can be traced."

"Oh, you're very good at tracking. Is it something you learned before?" It occurred to Xiaoliu that he certainly didn't want to recall the past. "Sorry, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Shiqi, that Xiangliu is very insidious. Be careful if you see him again. He'll undoubtedly take advantage of you if he discovers something in you that he can exploit."

"Mm."

"Woohoohoo... I've suffered a big loss this time. Instead of making any money, I've gotten myself involved in trouble. How come that damn demon, Xiangliu, targeted me? How am I going to live from this point forward..." Shiqi came to a halt and turned his head to look at Xiaoliu. His lips touched Xiaoliu's brow, and his warm breath caressed his face. Shiqi immediately inched away stiffly. "Don't be... scared."

Perhaps because he had just been tormented by Xiangliu, or perhaps because the cracks in his hard shell that had been broken apart hadn't yet been closed, Xiaoliu craved this reliance he had at his fingertips. Closing his eyes, he leaned on Shiqi's shoulder, his cheek pressed against his neck, giving it a kittenish nuzzle. "I'm not scared of him. I believe there must be a poison in this world that can kill him. The day I concoct the poison, I will..."

Xiaoliu made a fierce rubbing-everything-to-shreds motion with his hands. "Shiqi, don't say anything when you get back. Don't let Lao Mu and the others know. Lao Mu has spent half of his lifetime fighting a war against Shennong and is quite terrified of the demon Xiangliu. Well, I guess my warning is pointless, huh? Mazi and Chuanzi have been trying to get you to open up, but I see that in the past year or so, they've even told you how many moles they have on their bodies, but they know nothing about you..."

Shiqi's pace slowed, and Xiaoliu patted his chest reassuringly. "I know you are Shiqi. I wish you could be Shiqi your entire life, but I know that's impossible. But as long as you haven't left, you are Shiqi, and you must listen to me..."

"Mm."

"I'm the only one you must listen to!"

"Mm."

Xiaoliu was as pleased as an oil-stealing mouse. Feeling that his back pain had subsided, he leaned on Shiqi's back and drifted off to sleep.

Due to the wounds on his back, Xiaoliu didn't want to go back right away and instructed Shiqi to find a cave to rest and recuperate.

Shiqi made a straw bed for Xiaoliu as cozy as he could and turned the cave into a makeshift dwelling. The two seemed to be living the life of hunters in the mountains.

Every day, Shiqi would go hunting for some small prey, then return. When Shiqi came back, Xiaoliu would talk and cook at the same time. Shiqi had obviously never done this kind of work before and was so clumsy that he kept making mistakes, and Xiaoliu burst into loud laughter. But Shiqi was so smart that after only a few attempts, he had already done such a good job that it took a lot of fun out of it for Xiaoliu.

Days of one's life spent in the mountains were lonely, and even more so for those who were immobile. Xiaoliu grabbed Shiqi and talked to him. He spoke of everything under the sun—from the mountains to the sea, from a delicious dish to a sunset he once saw in a certain valley... Shiqi listened in silence.

Xiaoliu had an unease of conscience now and then. "Am I talking too much? I lived on my own for over twenty years. At that time, I suffered from a peculiar disease that made me afraid of meeting people, so I kept wandering around. I didn't want to talk at first. But as the days grew longer, I discovered one day while I was in the mountains that I had forgotten the name of a fruit. I became scared all of a sudden. In fact, I had no idea what I was scared of, but I began forcing myself to talk from that point on. The best thing I've ever done was catch a monkey and spend the entire day talking to it. That monkey couldn't stand it and actually tried to kill itself by bashing its head against a rock..."

Shiqi stared at Xiaoliu as he laughed heartily.

Every other day, when the medicine was to be applied, Xiaoliu confidently removed his clothes and turned his bare back to Shiqi.

Xiaoliu, unable to see the expression on Shiqi's face, teasingly said, "I've seen your entire body, but you can only see my back. Is that a loss?" Shiqi said nothing, and Xiaoliu giggled from ear to ear.

The injuries Xiaoliu sustained were severe. Shiqi had thought they'd have to stay in the mountains for a couple of months, but to his surprise, in less than ten days, Xiaoliu was able to walk on crutches. After another two days of recuperation, Xiaoliu decided to return home.

While packing up the herbs, Xiaoliu was surprised to find two clusters of Zhíchǔ³ herb. "You picked these?"

Shiqi nodded. "I saw it while hunting. You mentioned it." He was able to speak a lot more fluently than he used to after spending time with Xiaoliu these last several days, thanks to Xiaoliu's exhortation. Xiaoliu was so ecstatic that he wanted to hug and kiss Shiqi. "This is awesome! Mazi and Chuanzi can finally get married."

Shiqi squatted down, offering Xiaoliu a piggyback ride.

Xiaoliu stepped back. "No need. I'll walk on my own." He had no choice before, but how could he take his polite offer seriously now that he could walk by himself? Shiqi quietly got to his feet and followed Xiaoliu.

When the two arrived back in Qingshui Town, Lao Mu brandished his wooden spoon and questioned, "Why have you been gone so long? Didn't I warn you not to venture where you shouldn't?"

With a big grin, Xiaoliu showed him the medicinal herbs he had picked. "Of course I didn't! Shiqi was unfamiliar with the terrain of the mountains and got lost, so we were delayed for several days. Didn't I make it back safe and sound?"

Overjoyed at the sight of the Zhíchǔ, Lao Mu hurriedly grabbed the herbs and carefully stored them away.

Xiaoliu gave Shiqi a wink and hummed a little tune before returning to his own room.

A month later, with Lao Mu's help, Mazi arranged a marriage with Chuntao, Butcher Gao's daughter.

Everything had returned to normal. Everyday life remained just as it had been as the last: quiet to dull, dull to uninteresting, uninteresting to peaceful, peaceful to blissful.

Aside from that, once in a while, a white-feathered eaglet would come flying to look for Xiaoliu, bringing something with it and taking something away.

Xiaoliu consistently left odds when producing medicine for Xiangliu. For instance, the toxicants were highly poisonous and definitely met his tricky demands, but they may come in specific colors or with special scents. In short, none of them were even capable of killing those big shots who were encircled by protection.

Xiaoliu expected Xiangliu to cause him problems as time went on, but Xiangliu actually had no requirements on "color, smell, and taste"—as long as the toxicity met his requirements, he would accept all of them.

Based on his fragmentary medical and poison skills, Xiaoliu surmised that Xiangliu had a specific gōng method due to his unique physique, which led him to use poison to cultivate himself. He must have ingested every single poison made by Xiaoliu.

Having realized this, Xiaoliu was temporarily relieved and began using every trick in the book to make the poison taste even worse.

A year later, Lao Mu held a simple and lively wedding ceremony for Mazi and Chuntao.

Mazi was an orphan, a product of the war. When he was begging, he believed that his fate would be the same as that of most orphans: one winter day when the sun shone on the roadside, his corpse would be gnawed on by wild dogs that would howl with joy as they ate.

However, Xiaoliu and Lao Mu changed his fate.

Neither Xiaoliu nor Lao Mu were humans. When Mazi was seven or eight, he was picked up by Xiaoliu and brought home. More than ten years later, Mazi had grown into a big fellow, standing at eight feet tall. Even though Xiaoliu now looked even younger than Mazi, Mazi considered Xiaoliu and Lao Mu to be his elders.

In front of all the guests, he led Chuntao to kneel down and solidly kowtow to Xiaoliu and Lao Mu three times. Lao Mu was overjoyed and secretly wiped his tears, while Xiaoliu told Mazi, with a rare serious expression on his face, "Sleep more with Chuntao and have a child soon."

Mazi was originally going to add a few more heartfelt words, but he dared not do so once he heard Xiaoliu's. If Chuntao found out that he married her just so he could sleep with her every day, which would be less expensive than sleeping with a próstìtútè, this wife was going to run away for sure.

He grabbed Chuntao and fled in a hurry.

Xiaoliu chuckled evilly, and Shiqi gazed at Xiaoliu in amusement. While Lao Mu was busy entertaining guests, Xiaoliu had nothing to do. Sitting in a corner of the yard, he concentrated on nibbling on a chicken leg.

Chuanzi suddenly rushed over, stuttering, "There's... there's a guest of honor."

He dragged him outside. Xiangliu, clad in white, stood at the Rejuvenation Hall's entrance. His astonishingly tall and elegant figure was spotless, just like a white lotus blossom washed by the rain for three days and three nights, so clean that everyone wanted to go home and take a bath.

Lao Mu was too embarrassed to accept his congratulatory gift, so he vigorously wiped his hands on his clothes, fearing that the least amount of sweat might stain him.

Xiaoliu walked over to him with a hefty smile and nonchalantly tossed the finished, gnawed chicken leg to the ground. His greasy hands took the congratulatory gift from Xiangliu without fear that they would rub against his.

Xiangliu's smile remained unaltered, except for a short glance behind Xiaoliu towards Chuanzi, and Xiaoliu immediately restrained himself. Xiaoliu handed Chuanzi the congratulatory gift and bowed to Xiangliu, saying fawningly, "Please have a seat inside."

It was unclear whether it was out of respect or fear, but after he sat down, nobody dared to approach Xiangliu within three zhàng.

Shiqi sat down silently beside Xiaoliu, who glanced at him and couldn't help but curve the corners of his lips up into the shape of a crescent moon, while his eyes also formed two smaller crescent moons. "I've prepared all the medicines you asked for, so there shouldn't be any mistakes, right?" Xiaoliu asked Xiangliu.

Xiangliu smiled. "You're doing a great job, so I'm here to send you a congratulatory gift."

Xiaoliu was rendered speechless. You came to remind me that not only are there three hostages now, but there's one more.

In the courtyard, a bunch of young people were teasing Mazi and Chuntao, occasionally breaking out into laughter.

Little children ran out and in, munching on fruits, while Lao Mu, Butcher Gao, and several old men talked and shared jokes as they ate.

"By the time they're all dead, you'll probably remain the same as you are now, so is it worthwhile?" Xiangliu asked with disdain and bafflement, observing the mundane hustle and bustle.

"I'm afraid of being lonely," Xiaoliu replied. "Even if I can't find a long-lasting attachment, a short-lived companionship is fine."

Xiangliu gazed at Xiaoliu, who enthusiastically poured him some wine. "Since you're here, have a cup of wedding wine. I brewed it myself."

After taking a sip, Xiangliu commented glumly, "There isn't a single redeeming quality except for the poison in the wine."

"Are you poisoned?" Xiaoliu asked with concern.

Xiangliu scornfully glared at the disheartened Xiaoliu.

"Are you keen on poisoning me to death?" Xiangliu asked.

"It's not like I'm a Xuanyuan soldier, and there's no life-and-death enmity between you and me right now," Xiaoliu answered honestly. "I'd just like to whip you a hundred and eighty times."

"Keep on dreaming in this lifetime." Xiangliu drank another cup before leaving with a swagger.

Xiaoliu said to Shiqi in a sulky voice, "Sooner or later, I'll be able to find his lethal point. I'll walk backwards if I can't poison him to death."

There was a faint smile in Shiqi's eyes. Seeing how detached from all things of creation he appeared to be, Xiaoliu wished he could give him a firm squeeze with both hands and couldn't help pouring him a cup of poisoned wine. "Drink up!" Shiqi took it, tilted his head back, and gulped it down.

Xiaoliu was stunned. "It's poisoned."

The smile in Shiqi's eyes hadn't faded, but his body slumped limply.

Xiaoliu's frantically detoxified him, cursing, "You blockhead!" However, he felt a tiny, indescribable ripple in his heart.

After Mazi’s wedding banquet, Nine Lives Xiangliu occasionally returned to the Rejuvenation Hall's small courtyard, drank a few cups of wine that Xiaoliu poured for him, and ate a few slices of pastries made by Xiaoliu.

He always left with a straight face. Xiaoliu was infuriated by Xiangliu's habit of not taking him seriously.

When Xiaoliu first entered the medical field, he set out on an erroneous path, intending to end lives rather than save them.

Xiangliu consumed his poison as if it were candy beans, so upon reflection, he decided to focus on learning how to cause harm and to keep moving further down the erroneous path, with the goal of eventually poisoning that devil!

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¹Jùndì: The character Jùn is pronounced Shùn, which means "Bird in the Sun". In the Classic of Mountains and Rivers, there are three major deity lineages. Emperor Shùn's clan of the East's account has gone into obscurity as a result of being a defeated tribe. There is no record of it in the Classic of Mountains and Rivers, and only some fragments of it have survived in Guo Pu's Annotations to the Classic of Mountains and Rivers, vaguely indicating the prominence of this deity lineage back in the day.

²Crescent Moon (Fěi Fěi): "There is a beast that resembles a civet with a white tail and a mane known as Fěi Fěi, which can be kept for the purpose of curing one's sorrows." (The Classic of Mountains and Rivers—Zhongshan Classic)

³Zhíchǔ (chǔ): "There is a plant that resembles a sunflower leaf and has a reddish hue, with pods as solid as seed pods, known as Zhíchǔ. It can treat ailments brought on by worry and can be consumed without squinting."

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