Chapter 173: Mugwort Smoke in the Cave Repels Mosquitoes

What Ying didn't expect was that Nan Qinghuan actually cared so much about him, which delighted him. In the Cave, when Qinghuan took off his Hemp Robe, the red rashes on his back made her gasp sharply.

In an instant, she felt deep compassion.

She reached out to gently stroke his broad back; the moment she touched Ying it hurt him, it was so itchy that he wanted to scratch, but his strong will made him endure, knowing the more he scratched the itch worsened, so he simply held back.

Nan Qinghuan's voice was a bit hoarse, "You fool, why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

Why is he staying silent? "You wait for me, I'll go fetch the medicine."

She hurried to get up to fetch the medicine, but Ying instead scooped her into his arms; seeing her worried expression he felt a bit of compassion, "Alright Qinghuan, it's fine, this itch is nothing to me, I can take the medicine later."

"Exactly, with so many rashes you can't skip the medicine. Wait for me, I'll disinfect you first then you can take the medicine."

Ying wanted to say he was fine, but suddenly he saw… "Qinghuan, don't move."

Bang! Ying's palm struck her arm; Nan Qinghuan was about to ask why he hit her, when a blood‑sated mosquito suddenly appeared in Ying's palm.

"It's a vampire, don't worry, I've already killed it."

"So it's a mosquito; you call mosquitoes vampires?"

She was about to ask why Ying hit her, only to realize he was swatting a mosquito, which startled her.

Ying felt a bit of compassion as he held her; the weather grew hot, and the Cave filled with mosquitoes and insects. Though they lit candles and a Bonfire, those mosquitoes and insects still flew in to bite Qinghuan.

"Wait while I burn some herbs; these vampires hate smoke."

"Burn herbs?"

Ying gently released her, stood up and left; he was shirtless, no clothes on. Nan Qinghuan surveyed the dire state of the Cave, thinking this haunted place was uninhabitable, with so many mosquitoes—how did Ying and his companions survive each year? Though the ancient summer lacked modern heat and was rather cool, the insects were still numerous; how did they repel them? Soon Ying returned, holding a kind of herb, ready to light it beside the Bonfire. Upon seeing the herb, Nan Qinghuan instantly rejoiced.

"It's Mugwort; did you know Mugwort repels mosquitoes?"

One must admit the Ancient People were indeed clever; their ancestors had lived on this land for several hundred, even a thousand years, gaining valuable survival experience.

After lighting it, Ying looked up at her, "Mugwort? Qinghuan, that's not called Mugwort, it's called Green Tree Twig; our clan uses it for burning to repel insects."

"Green Tree Twig?"

That name is really hard to remember.

There were many mosquitoes, but once Mugwort burned they flew away. If only they could get modern Flower Dew Water here, each person could have a bottle, add a few drops while bathing, and stay free of these insects; however, without space upgrades they can't obtain the technology.

Fine, think of another way.

When the mosquito bites stopped, she hurried up to fetch someone to bring the Herbal Medicine, then gave it to Ying to drink; this time Ying gulped it all down in one go. After drinking, the Cave was filled with smoke and flames.

It was very stinging to the nose.

Nan Qinghuan, irritated by the smoke, covered her mouth and nose, "This method still needs improvement; if we could make a kind of Flower Dew Water, it would repel mosquitoes and larvae, and no one would have to fear insect harassment."

"Flower Dew Water?"

Ying sat by the stone table, his mind clouded, barely understanding what Qinghuan said. "What is Flower Dew Water?" Nan Qinghuan realized he didn't get it and didn't elaborate further. She recalled something else, hurried to his side, lowered her voice, "Ying, how do you plan to deal with that old thing?"

"Old thing?"

Night fell low, a new moon hung high in the sky.

A terrified woman's voice came from the Cave where Shiva lived, "Shiva, what's wrong with you? Why are you vomiting?"

Shiva spat out all the medicine she had taken; Shiva kept patting her back, "What's happening to you? You brewed the medicine yourself, why are you vomiting? If you keep vomiting, my Herbal Medicine will be gone."

Shiva was angry; this woman was wasting his stuff.

"So uncomfortable."

Shiva plopped onto the ground, clutching her stomach, "I just drank two bowls of medicine, why does it feel so awful? A Hong, what's really going on, wasn't this Herbal Medicine brewed by you?"

The clan member called A Hong replied fearfully, "I brewed it, Shiva, but it shouldn't have been vomited, it's clearly medicine."

"Have those clan members vomited yet?"

Shiva stood up, moved to a side seat, puzzled, "Could the prescription be faulty? Impossible—how could my own formula be wrong?" She said, "Shiva, the clan members have stopped vomiting; after drinking the second batch of medicine many no longer itch, the red rashes are receding. Shiva, why is your medicine ineffective?"

"Shut up, you said they were getting better?"

A Hong hurriedly knelt, "They're getting better; just now Azi came to me and said they're much improved. Shiva, you should go find Ou Mu, you'll die if you keep going like this."

"Shut up, you want me to beg that female, I won't do it, I…"

Shiva's words were cut off; she felt an even worse itch, constantly reaching to scratch, her skin bleeding profusely, even her neck was about to be torn open by scratching.

"Ah, it's so itchy, so itchy, old man, think of a solution quickly, I'm dying."

The old man, seeing his female in such agony, grew furious, "You even told me you were ready. Look at the situation now; those clan members are fine, yet the medicine you brewed made you vomit, you…"

Suddenly Shiva seemed to realize something, "Could it be that the medicine is…"

"Ah, old man, please help me, help me! Quickly go find Nan Qinghuan, find her, I can't stand it any longer."

Shiva also developed the same on his body; he too was scratching until he bled, but he held back, not as loudly as Shiva's cries.

"Stop scratching, your neck is bleeding."

These rashes itch more when it's hot; Shiva stays by the fire every day, her rash flares up quickly, covering her whole body, making A Hong's scalp tingle.

"A Hong, hold her down. Forget it, old man, this time lose some face and go beg that female to help us."

After saying that, Shiva was about to leave, but suddenly Shiva let out a loud shout, "I—"

Shiva was half‑furious; she never expected Nan Qinghuan to pull this move. She had slipped medicine into the Herbal Medicine for the clan, causing trouble, but it was discovered, and Nan Qinghuan gave her the very medicine she had prepared.

She got what she deserved.

"Ah…"

Thinking of this, Shiva's remorse twisted her insides in pain.

The more anxious she grew, the more she itched all over. "Go, go get Nan Qinghuan. Tell her I want to take my medicine—I want to take my medicine!"

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