Chapter 7: Shan Man Lou

*Hiss~* Qin Jiang took a deep breath, closed his eyes slightly, and visualized his limbs and internal organs in his mind.

This was a trick in the Five Animal Frolics, which had the effect of settling the mind.

*Hoo~* A moment later, he exhaled and slowly opened his eyes, his pupils becoming clear again.

He casually plucked a few foxtail grasses, tied them into a bundle, and then walked gently toward the tombstone, placing his hand on it.

After a while, he withdrew his hand, somewhat disappointed.

No potential points.

He looked around, backed away slowly, and then bent down to clear the traces with the foxtail grass.

Retreating back into the grass, he headed toward the corner he had come from.

Noon, Baiyun Medical Hall.

"Not bad, these herbs are all very good."

The old physician stroked his beard with his left hand and examined a herb with his right. It was light in color with heavy veins—a sign of full medicinal properties.

He put down the herb and looked at Qin Jiang, his eyes warm. "Did you venture deep into Daheishan?"

Qin Jiang raised an eyebrow. "Just ventured slightly into the inner circle."

The old physician smiled upon hearing this, then shook his head. "Daheishan is mysterious and abnormal. Rumors say not only do spirits roam within, but legendary strange things also lie dormant. The world today is different from the past; no one can keep them in check. It's better to go less often."

As he spoke, he took a piece of broken silver from his bosom and used a small knife to cut off a piece, about eight qian. "I'll count it as eight hundred coins."

Qin Jiang put away the broken silver, the corners of his mouth curling up. In that case, he only needed two more trips to save enough silver.

However, he recalled the broken tombstone.

Although he couldn't be sure the other party would hunt him down, he couldn't gamble.

Recalling that stab before he died, even the current him didn't have much confidence in being able to dodge it.

If the other party really found him, he would likely be in mortal danger.

He was still too weak.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back." He stood up and shouldered the herb basket.

"Wait." The old physician stood up.

Qin Jiang looked at the old physician. "What is it?"

The old physician waved his hand. "Follow me to the backyard; I'll get you something."

After saying that, he walked toward a small door at the back.

Qin Jiang followed behind. Giving me something? The two arrived at the backyard. The courtyard wasn't large; the courtyard walls were covered in vines, and there were traces of green moss everywhere.

In the center of the courtyard were herbs being dried, and several stone tools used for processing herbs were piled up casually.

"Wait here for a moment."

The old physician walked toward a room and came out a few minutes later, holding a book and a wooden box.

"Take these. This book is my cultivation experience of the Five Animal Frolics, and inside the wooden box is a Five Animal Pill, refined from the blood of the five animals. Taking it can advance your realm."

Qin Jiang took it subconsciously; the book was already somewhat yellowed, and the wooden box also had some oily sheen.

He looked at the old physician. "This is too valuable; I can't accept it."

He had heard the name "Five Animal Pill" more than once; it was famous for prolonging life. Even for someone on the verge of death, it could forcibly sustain their life for five hours.

The old physician shook his head. "I see you've already mastered the second layer of the Five Animal Frolics; this pill might help you reach the third layer. I am now over two sixty-year cycles; I have no use for this thing, and keeping it is just a waste."

Two sixty-year cycles? One hundred and twenty years old!

Qin Jiang's heart trembled slightly. The old physician looked to be only seventy or eighty; he had always thought that even if the old physician was older, he definitely wouldn't exceed a hundred. He didn't expect him to be over one hundred and twenty! If this were in the ancient times of his previous life, he would be an old immortal-like figure!

Before he could say anything, the old physician continued: "Don't refuse this old man. This Five Animal Pill needs to be combined with the internal Qi of the Five Animal Frolics to exert its maximum effect; there is no one more suitable than you. Besides, it's not some rare treasure. If you feel bad about it, sell it to yourself for a hundred coins, deducted from your next batch of herbs. How about that?"

Qin Jiang was silent. This Five Animal Pill was naturally not some common item.

Although it couldn't be considered a treasure, if sold to those old masters in the Inner City, several dozen taels of silver would be inevitable. Its value was comparable to a three-hundred-year-old ginseng! He didn't understand why the old physician treated him so well.

Just because he mastered the Five Animal Frolics?

After a moment of silence, he put away the book and the wooden box and bowed deeply to the old physician. "If there is any need in the future, this junior will definitely do his utmost!"

The old physician stroked his beard and gently helped Qin Jiang up. "No need for that. I don't seek any return; I only need you to pass down this Five Animal Frolics."

He had drifted from place to place his whole life and only returned here in his old age. Although his two apprentices were diligent, they had never mastered the Five Animal Frolics.

That was why he had spread this method widely, but despite that, no one had ever mastered it until Qin Jiang appeared.

In this way, he could be considered to have given his master an account.

"If there's nothing else, go back." He said.

Qin Jiang nodded heavily. "This junior takes his leave."

Turning to walk to the courtyard gate, the old physician suddenly called him back.

"Wait." The old physician raised his hand, somewhat hesitant.

Qin Jiang tilted his head slightly, his eyes confused. "Physician?"

The old physician raised his eyelids, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "Take six taels of *ke na*, boil it with ten catties of warm water, add four taels of *ye ming sha*, two taels of *chan su*, and ten *zhu* of *chan yi*, and burn it until three catties of liquid remain. That is Corpse Dissolving Water."

As the words fell, Qin Jiang stood in place, staring blankly at the old physician.

The old physician nodded slightly. "This world is chaotic; one should have some means of self-protection. In your actions, just have a clear conscience."

Qin Jiang nodded slightly, bowed in salute, didn't speak, and turned to leave.

That night, the bright moon hung high.

After leaving Baiyun Medical Hall, Qin Jiang first went to a restaurant near the Inner City in City North to rent a room, with a monthly rent of one hundred coins.

Afterward, he went home to take the copper coins and exchange them for silver. He bought the materials to prepare the Corpse Dissolving Water and disposed of Liu Dahang's corpse.

Before leaving, a cool breeze blew. Qin Jiang looked at this room; although he had only lived here for one night, influenced by the memories, he always felt it was very intimate.

He tightened his bundle, walked to the wooden table, smashed it, and then messed up other places, making it look like it had been ransacked.

He walked out the door, locked it, took out a thin white thread, and arranged it around the house.

If it were a neighbor, they wouldn't come in after seeing the lock, and after Liu Dahang died, no thugs would come to this alley.

Therefore, as long as these white threads were moved, it meant those two grave robbers had come.

He looked around, and after confirming no one was paying attention, he walked away quickly under the cover of night.

After continuously passing through several hidden paths, he arrived at the back door of a small restaurant.

A wooden building named Shan Man Lou, famous for its mountain delicacies and wild game; it was considered a luxurious place in the Outer City.

Usually, it was young masters of landlords and wealthy families who came here to drink and boast, or some wandering knights and gang members.

Passing through the back door, there was a large courtyard. He looked at the light in the front courtyard; it was just dark, and it wasn't closing time yet.

Moreover, no one cared about the curfew at this time, and the restaurant owner naturally wanted to earn as much as possible so he could move into the Inner City sooner.

In the Outer City, there was never any guarantee, and the protection money collected by the gangs was high. Compared to the Inner City, the income was much worse.

He took out his key, walked to a guest room in the corner, opened it, and entered.

He put down the bundle, lit a candle on the table, and took out an envelope from the drawer.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 8 =====