Chapter 24 Rove Beetle [6 Updates] Using the ammonia water that was once disliked on myself...

As the clan leader, Cangfeng presided over the exchange with Moye and the others.

Xin Yu then took on the responsibility of organizing the dinner party and assigned tasks to everyone.

"Lanxiu, Wenlie, Qinghui... you orcs are fast runners, go back and bring back food and firewood."

"The wind returns, the sound is clear, summer is in full swing... Go fetch water, start a fire, and put the pot on the stove."

"Shuoxing, don't go crazy! You take the cubs and gather firewood nearby!"

"I understand, Father!"

...

Yu Yan waited for a while, but still didn't hear her name called, so she asked, "Xin Yu, what about me?"

Xin Yu immediately laughed and said, "You're such a good cook, of course you should lead everyone in cooking!"

Yu Yan smiled modestly, thinking to herself that with so few seasonings available now, the deliciousness of cooking depends entirely on the rich flavor of the food.

I'll find more seasonings later so you can have a good taste.

"You flatter me, I will definitely do my best."

Everyone was very excited when they heard that Yu Yan was in charge of cooking, and told her to let them know if she needed any help.

To celebrate, the tribe decided to share some sweet potatoes and honey today.

After a moment's thought, Yu Yan decided on two dishes.

"Could you help me move that basket of sweet potatoes over here? I also need some oil and honey."

"Coming right now!"

Yu Yan led the people to the stream to wash the sweet potatoes they would be using.

When they returned, the person who had retrieved the items had already come back, and a fire had been lit, with water boiling in pottery vessels.

Adults and children alike joined in, making the altar square a lively and bustling place.

Yu Yan: "First, peel these sweet potatoes, wash them clean, and then cut them into small pieces."

The beastmen gathered around him responded and quickly got to work.

There were many people, and everyone was chatting. Before we knew it, the food was ready.

Afterwards, Yu Yan had most of the sweet potato chunks steamed. Qiu Ze passed by and, seeing this, licked his lips and asked, "Brother Yu Yan, can we eat them as soon as they're steamed?"

Yu Yan smiled and said, "We'll be cooking a dish after steaming it, but you can try a few pieces."

Akizawa said happily, "That's great!"

Xin Yu and the others looked at each other, all very curious about the dish Yu Yan was going to make.

Yu Yan ruffled Qiu Ze's hair, walked to the fire pit next to him, and poured oil into the clean earthenware pot.

After waiting a moment, he tested the temperature with his hand and, feeling it was about right, put a sweet potato chunk into the pot.

The orange-yellow sweet potato chunks were coated in oil, and small bubbles immediately appeared on the surface, making a sizzling sound as they were fried.

He seized the opportunity and poured the first batch of sweet potato chunks into the oil pan, frying them once.

Once the sweet potato chunks were fried until golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Yu Yan took them out and placed them in a ceramic container to drain the oil.

Seeing that Feng Gui and Xin Yu had freed up their hands, Yu Yan naturally instructed, "Use this pot of oil, just like I did, and fry the remaining sweet potato chunks until they're this tender."

The job was too easy for them, and they agreed immediately.

Yu Yan then went to another fire pit, started another pot, and poured in oil and honey.

Honey was a rare commodity, so he dared not be careless. He asked Yinqing to help him stoke the fire while he constantly stirred the sugar in the oil to melt it.

If a modern person were here, they would immediately recognize that Yu Yan was making "candied sweet potatoes".

Cooking the sugar is the most important step in this dish. If it's not cooked thoroughly enough, it will affect the later process of making the sugar strands; if it's cooked too much, it will become burnt and bitter.

Yu Yan had never been so nervous while cooking before; she was staring at the pot almost without blinking.

Seeing the syrup rise to layers of tiny bubbles and turn amber in color, he immediately poured in the fried sweet potato chunks and quickly stir-fried them!

Amber-colored syrup was thinly and evenly coated on the surface of the sweet potato chunks, making them look crystal clear and flowing with a honey-like luster.

The surrounding sub-beastmen couldn't help but exclaim, "What beautiful colors..."

After hanging the sugar, Yu Yan used a shovel to scoop the sweet potatoes into the large ceramic plate that Feng Gui handed over.

Without standing on ceremony with everyone, he took a clean pair of chopsticks and picked up a piece of sweet potato.

Several thin, transparent sugar threads stretched longer and longer as the sweet potato was pulled up, until they finally broke at a certain point.

The pulled sugar strands swayed gently in the evening breeze.

The dish was piping hot from the pot. Yu Yan blew on it, breathed on it, and took a small bite.

"Crack!" The crisp sound of the solidified sugar shell being broken rang out.

Immediately afterwards, the sweet aroma of sweet potatoes filled my mouth.

"Mmm! It's so hot! But it tastes so good!" After confirming that everything was alright, Yu Yan called out to everyone, "Come on, everyone, have a taste."

Since it's just a get-together, we'll eat whatever's prepared.

Seeing how much Yu Yan was enjoying her meal, everyone who had been very curious about the dish grabbed their chopsticks and rushed over.

Each person received a piece of candied sweet potato, and the plate was quickly finished.

Around the hearth, the sounds of blowing air and crunching chewing rose and fell.

The piece of candied sweet potato that Xin Yu picked up was shared between her and Shuo Xing.

The father and son both had their mouths open, chewing and exhaling air as they did so.

Sweet potatoes coated in honey after being deep-fried become even crispier, more fragrant, and sweeter.

Shuoxing's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed excitedly, "So sweet and delicious! It smells amazing!"

Xin Yu nodded: "I've never eaten such delicious stems before. Mo Ye and the others really got a great deal."

Yin Qing covered her cheek, squinting her eyes in ecstasy, looking completely captivated by the delicious food.

"Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the combination of the two textures is wonderful. Especially the sugar strands, the sound of chewing them is so pleasant."

While everyone was scrambling to grab some food, Yu Yan was quick and managed to snatch two pieces. He gave one to Feng Gui and called the other to Lan Xiu, who was standing not far away.

When the two of them tasted the new dish, their eyes lit up, and they looked at Yu Yan with amazement.

Feng Gui: "This method is so novel. It's not only delicious, but it's also quick to make. It's really great."

Lan Xiu swallowed the food in his mouth and asked very honestly, "Is there any more?"

Yu Yan laughed heartily: "Yes! These pots over there are all to be fried like this! Father, Xin Yu, are they all fried?"

"Hmm, take a look, does it work?"

"Sure! That'll do. I'll cook the sugar and make candied sweet potatoes!"

"Candied sweet potato...that's a very fitting name!"

Although we made several more batches of candied sweet potatoes, there are over three hundred people in the tribe, so each person only gets two or three pieces.

Except for those who particularly dislike sweets, the entire tribe was captivated by this new dish.

They exclaimed excitedly, "These sweet potatoes are so delicious! I'm going to find Mo Ye and the others and ask them to get me some more!"

"I want to change too!"

"Don't run so fast, leave some for me!"

Yu Yan watched them run off with a smile, then led Feng Gui and the others to the steamer to get busy.

I poked it with chopsticks, and the sweet potato was already thoroughly steamed.

They took out the sweet potatoes, mashed them into a paste with a wooden shovel, then poured in the honey and stirred until it was completely melted.

Then, Yu Yan directed everyone to knead the sweet potato puree, roll it into small balls, and fry them in oil until golden brown.

Feng Gui and the others were worried that they had overcooked the food, so they kept a close eye on the pot.

Yu Yan smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. This dish is not like candied sweet potatoes. It's fine if you fry it a little lighter or a little heavier."

They relaxed after hearing him say that.

Before long, pots of sweet potato balls were fried and served in large earthenware bowls.

Other dishes, such as stir-fried meat, stewed meat, roasted meat, as well as stir-fried vegetables and stir-fried mushrooms, were also prepared one after another.

There were also sub-orcs who steamed seashells, fried fish, and stewed fish soup in more than a dozen earthenware pots.

There weren't many sweet potatoes and honey cubes, but there was plenty of wild vegetables and fish soup.

The vast altar square was filled with the rich aroma of food, making one's mouth water.

Many people enjoyed their meal, and since there weren't enough seats, they stood or squatted.

As for why we don't sit directly on the ground like before?

People are wearing new pants, they're treasuring them.

Enjoying the fragrant and comforting food, chatting with their companions, bursts of joyful laughter occasionally erupted in the square.

Xin Yu put food in Shuoxing's bowl, then turned to Cang Feng and called out, "Are you done yet? Come and eat!"

Shuoxing shouted, "Father, Yu Yan's sweet potato balls are super, super delicious! Come and eat some!"

Cang Feng was conducting a final check: "Immediately!"

Like candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato balls also received unanimous praise from the entire tribe.

The fried meatballs are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. When you bite into them, they are soft, chewy, and full of a sweet and savory flavor.

The only slight drawback is that some of the meatballs didn't hold their shape and broke during the explosion.

Yu Yan chewed on the meatballs, thinking to herself that if only there were glutinous rice, she could grind some powder and put it in, and the meatballs would become softer and more bouncy, and that would be really delicious.

In any case, the sweet potatoes were much better than the tubers he had eaten before. With sugar added and deep-fried, the deliciousness level skyrocketed, and he was quite satisfied with the meal.

The merchants divided up what needed to be divided and collected what needed to be collected, and then joined in the feast.

There are few new things in the tribe, so everyone was very curious about their trip and kept asking them about what they had seen and heard.

They recounted the people and events they encountered along the way, and were amazed by the changes in the tribe, constantly asking questions.

Yu Yan's name frequently came up in everyone's conversations.

He used the roots of his hands to remove fishy smells, he saved a drowning baby, he used clover to stop diarrhea, he taught everyone to spin thread, weave cloth, and make clothes, and his soap was incredibly popular…

Senbo and the others listened with a mixture of shock, fear, admiration, and gratitude.

After drinking the milky white, rich, and fragrant fish soup, they couldn't help but exclaim, "Even the dishes Yu Yan makes with sweet potatoes taste much better than ours. It's so great... Maybe one day, we won't have to rely on trading to earn enough supplies to live a good life."

As everyone imagined that beautiful scene, smiles appeared on their faces.

"That day will come."

With family and friends gathering and delicious food added to the festive atmosphere, the gathering became even more lively.

As dusk fell, everyone piled the remaining firewood in the center of the altar square and lit a bonfire.

A group of handsome men with great physiques gathered around the campfire, singing and dancing.

Every movement, every smile, is brimming with the power of life and a beautiful longing.

After Yu Yan finished eating, she sat on a rock, feeling the gentle evening breeze and swaying slowly to the accompaniment of a beautiful song.

He hadn't been drinking, but he was already slightly tipsy.

Immersed in the harmonious and joyful atmosphere, when he recalled the days he spent working non-stop in the emergency department in his previous life, he felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

Although the living conditions are tough now, with poor clothes and accommodations, and he has to do a lot of work every day, he sincerely feels that he is very free and comfortable here.

As he squinted, almost falling asleep, someone softly called his name: "Yu Yan".

He opened one eye and saw that Xuefei had brought Moye over.

Mo Ye must have taken a shower. He was wearing a straw vest on his upper body and indigo trousers that Xue Fei had made for him.

Against his bronze skin and muscular build, Xue Fei looked even more delicate and fair-skinned.

"What brings you here?" There happened to be an empty stone nearby, so Yu Yan patted it and said, "Sit down."

Xuefei and Moye sat down, and the former nudged the latter, signaling him to speak.

Mo Ye smiled and placed the things they brought in front of Yu Yan.

Yu Yan looked at it and saw five sweet dishes, neatly arranged.

"I was too busy just now. Actually, I should have come earlier." Mo Ye looked at Yu Yan and said solemnly, "Yu Yan, thank you for saving Qiu Ze's life."

Yu Yan was slightly taken aback. So that's what it was about?

"No need, Xuefei has already thanked me."

"Yes, I did." Mo Ye held Xue Fei's hand, his deep eyes filled with lingering fear. "If Qiu Ze were gone, our family would be finished. Thank you so much."

"Like Xuefei, I'm not very good at talking, but we both want to do something for you. We noticed that you really like beets, so we discussed it and decided to give you all five of these beets."

Yu Yan was even more surprised: "How can this be? You went through all that trouble to carry it back for Xuefei."

Xue Fei exchanged a glance with Mo Ye and said with a smile, "Why not? Here, they're just a few tubers. It's not like we don't have good tubers in our peninsula tribe's territory. I don't have to eat them."

Moye chimed in, "But in your hands, they might be of greater use."

Xuefei: "That's right. Whether it's for this reason or out of gratitude, we all feel that we should give you the beets."

Seeing Yu Yan remain silent, Xue Fei's voice even carried a hint of pleading.

"Yu Yan, please accept it, otherwise we'll really feel bad."

Yu Yan sighed and told them the truth: "I want to try growing sugar beets. If we can grow them successfully, we won't have to spend a lot of money to exchange them with other tribes."

Xuefei pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up slightly: "That's great! We can all eat it!"

Yu Yan smiled and shook her head: "But what if it doesn't work?"

Xuefei and Moye understood what Yu Yan was struggling with.

They spoke in unison, as if on telepathy: "It's alright!"

Xue Fei laughed and said, "If I can't grow it, I can't grow it. Like I said, I'll eat other tubers just the same."

Moye said, "I heard from Cangfeng that you want to collect seeds. We'll be going on trade trips again in the future, and I'll bring back beets and other seeds for you then."

Xuefei noticed Yu Yan's wavering and grabbed his arm, shaking it: "Yu Yan, please say yes! We won't be able to sleep tonight if you don't!"

Yu Yan chuckled: "Okay, I promise you."

Xuefei and Moye both showed joy.

"But are you sure you want to give them all to me, without keeping one or two for yourself to try?"

Xue Fei waved her hand: "No way! Why bother with that fresh taste? Once you've grown it, I can eat as much as I want."

Yu Yan knew that he felt there were too few seeds and wanted to keep some for himself as a precaution.

This trust put him under pressure, but also warmed his heart.

"I will try my best to plant them," he promised.

Xuefei and Moye breathed a sigh of relief after successfully delivering the items.

Yu Yan grew up by the sea. Although his family had a vegetable garden when he was a child, he only helped with some trivial chores and had a rather shallow understanding of planting.

In addition, he was always in school and working afterward, so he had no chance to learn farming skills.

However, most Chinese people have some farming genes.

He was aware of basic knowledge such as turning over the soil before planting, watering the seeds after planting, and how fermenting manure can produce fertilizer.

Moreover, he has a strong learning ability.

Now he asked Moye in detail about the climate and environment of the tribe where he exchanged beets.

Moye had a good memory and recounted everything he had observed.

Xuefei asked curiously, "Do we have to consider these things when growing things?"

Yu Yan replied, "Yes. Temperature, sunlight, soil, and many other factors can affect plant growth."

Mo Ye suddenly realized and said, "Indeed, when you're far away, the types of plants and wild animals are very different."

Yu Yan had heard the saying "Oranges grown in the south are sweet oranges, while those grown in the north are bitter oranges" when she was young. Understanding this might help her avoid some detours.

From Moye, he learned that the temperature in that northern tribe was lower than here all year round, and the winter was even more snowy and frozen, but the difference between spring, summer and autumn here was not ridiculously large.

There is still hope that beets can be grown!

This realization filled Yu Yan with enthusiasm.

After talking with Moye, it was already quite late, and many of the cubs were leaning against the adults, dozing off.

Some of the older orcs, who were running out of energy, had already gone back to rest.

The young people were having a great time; it was a rare opportunity for the tribe to have a get-together, and no one wanted to leave.

Yu Yan was thinking about the sweet potatoes and beets, so she called Feng Gui over and then said goodbye to the others.

"We're heading back now. Don't stay out too late, okay?"

Yin Qing was dancing happily by the campfire when she heard this and called out to persuade her to stay: "Are you leaving already? Play a little longer!"

Yu Yan waved her hand: "No, I have things to do back home, I'm leaving."

He and Feng Gui sprouted wings, and Cang Feng hurriedly brought Xin Yu over.

"Yu Yan, I saw you were busy just now. We'll come to your place tomorrow to talk to you about the fabric transaction."

"Okay." With that, he and Feng Gui spread their wings and flew towards home.

Upon arriving at the destination, Yu Yan didn't rush to wash up; instead, she soaked the sweet potatoes and beets in water first.

There were only five beets in total, and he didn't keep any; he exchanged more sweet potatoes, so he picked the ones in good condition and soaked half of them.

After finishing his work, he washed up and went to bed.

The next morning, while he was still half asleep, he heard anxious cries coming from below the bird's nest:

"Yu Yan! Help!!"

"Yu Yan, come quick and see what's wrong with Yin Qing!"

He was instantly jolted awake, sat up abruptly, quickly straightened his clothes, and flew down from the tree.

Feng Gui had gotten up earlier than him and was standing in front of Yin Qing, asking her something with concern.

Behind Yin Qing stood several anxious sub-orcs.

"Yu Yan is here!" someone shouted when they saw him.

"Yu Yan!" Yin Qing quickly bypassed Feng Gui and rushed towards him.

The handsome, delicate orc covered his face, his eyes brimming with tears, his lips bloodless, a mixture of shock and panic evident in his expression. His usually meticulously combed hair was now a mess.

Yu Yan's heart sank, and she asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

Yin Qing helplessly lowered her hand and showed him her face.

A large patch of small red spots had spread from his face to his neck! It was terrifying!

"What should I do, Yu Yan! My face has turned into this!" Yin Qing said, her voice trembling with tears.

Yu Yan looked closely and saw that the red patches on Yin Qing's face were still worsening, with small raised blisters appearing in some places, which was shocking.

Having spent this time together, he knew all too well how much Yin Qing cherished his handsome face; no wonder she was so flustered.

Yu Yan gently comforted her, "Don't worry, let's sit down and talk."

He led Yin Qing to the ginkgo tree, had him sit on a rock, looked into his eyes, and asked earnestly, "What happened?"

Yin Qing resisted the urge to cover her face and answered with a red nose, "It was yesterday when we had a get-together. After you left, we played for half a day. When we got tired, I leaned against a tree and dozed off."

"When I was half asleep, I felt an ant fly onto my face. I quickly brushed it away with my hand, but I probably pressed too hard and broke the ant."

"I was too tired at the time and didn't notice anything unusual on my face, so I didn't take it seriously. I went back to my room, lay down and fell asleep."

"As I was sleeping, my face started to feel increasingly uncomfortable. When I touched it, I found it was bumpy and uneven! I was terrified. I immediately jumped off the straw mat and flew to the stream to take a look, only to find that my face had become like this!"

As Yin Qing spoke, she began to cry again.

"Yu Yan, what should I do? Will my face be ruined and I never be able to show my face to anyone again?"

Yu Yan quickly assured him, "No, it won't. How does your face feel right now? Is it burning?"

Yin Qing nodded emphatically: "Yes! It stings, like it's on fire, it hurts and itches, it's so uncomfortable. What kind of ants are these that bit my face like this!"

Yu Yan pondered for a moment and said, "It might not be ants."

The sub-beastman Jin Xia, who accompanied him, asked, "If it's not ants, then what could it be?"

Yu Yan: "The place where the ant bit you won't turn red. Judging from his face, it's highly likely that the rove beetle was crushed and the venom got on it. Spring and summer are the peak season for rove beetles."

He described the appearance and habits of rove beetles to everyone.

"Rove beetle..." Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some people said they had indeed seen this kind of insect before, but they didn't expect it to be so poisonous.

Since Yu Yan is familiar with rove beetles, does she have a way to deal with them? Everyone, including Yin Qing, felt a glimmer of hope.

Jin Xia said, "This morning we heard Yin Qing shouting. When we went over to see what was happening, we were terrified. Yin Qing was even more panicked and didn't know what to do."

"We asked a few older sub-beastmen, but they had never seen anything like this before. They didn't dare to apply the herbs to Yin Qing and just told him to wash it with water. But it didn't work, and his face hurt even more."

"Later, Yinqing remembered that you had saved Qiuze from drowning and treated Shuoxing's diarrhea with three-leaf flowers, so you might have a way to treat it. We rushed over."

"Yu Yan, can you help Yin Qing detoxify?"

Everyone looked at Yu Yan expectantly, and Yin Qing felt as if she had grasped a lifeline.

If Yu Yan said she couldn't help, he was afraid he would collapse instantly.

Fortunately, Yu Yan had treated patients bitten by rove beetles when she worked in the emergency department in her previous life, so she knew some ways to deal with it.

However, medicine was scarce in the beast world, and he wasn't entirely confident.

In front of everyone, Yu Yan solemnly said, "I'll give it a try."

Yin Qing's eyes suddenly lit up. Trying is better than doing nothing! He knew coming to find Yu Yan was the right thing to do!

"Wait here for me a moment." After instructing Yin Qing, Yu Yan turned to Feng Gui, who was not far away. "Father, could you fetch me some clean water and a bar of unused soap, please?"

Feng Gui was also worried about Yin Qing, and without saying a word, said, "I'll go right now."

Yu Yan quickly returned to the bird's nest and took down a small, sealed jar.

After Feng Gui brought back the water, he told Yin Qing to wash her face carefully several times with soap.

Yin Qing dared not delay and, enduring the pain, cleaned herself.

After washing it several times, he let out a soft "Huh?".

Everyone quickly asked, "How are you feeling, Yinqing? Are you feeling any better?"

Yinqing said happily, "It seems to hurt less! Look, is it any better?"

"I can't really tell..."

Yin Qing was afraid it was just her imagination, so she dared not laugh again.

Yu Yan leaned forward and said, "Soapy water isn't medicine; it just neutralizes...washes away the surface poison. If you feel less pain, it means it's working."

Yin Qing looked over with bright eyes and said, "Mmm."

After Yu Yan finished speaking, she lowered her head and opened the small jar beside her.

Instantly, a pungent smell, like rotten bird eggs, wafted out from inside.

Jinxia, ​​who was nearby, quickly pinched her nose and asked, "What is this thing?"

Yu Yan: "The ammonia water I collected in the wild."

Yin Qing seemed to remember something and asked, "Is it the thing you collected in the pit the day you picked the small red berries?"

Yu Yan: "Yes."

Yin Qing asked incredulously, "You're not... going to put this on my face, are you?"

Yu Yan smiled and said, "You guessed right."

Yin Qing's vision went black, and she froze on the spot.

The first time he smelled ammonia, he was disgusted. Yu Yan said ammonia could cure colds, and he even swore he'd rather drink water boiled with the roots of his hands than use this stinky ammonia!

Rove beetles are poisonous, but is ammonia water definitely not poisonous? Won't using it on my face make the situation worse?

Yu Yan saw through his thoughts, but didn't explain. She just carefully adjusted the proportions of the ammonia solution.

To clean the wounds on your face, you need to use 10% ammonia water.

He wasn't sure what the concentration of the ammonia he had collected was, but it certainly wasn't pure, so he added less water than usual.

After adjusting it, he resealed the jar before carrying the ammonia solution over.

Yin Qing's hands rested awkwardly on her knees, her expression shifting as she looked left and right, with an urge to run away.

The other sub-orcs were also skeptical of the ammonia, covering their noses and muttering, "Will it really work...?"

Yu Yan said, "No matter what, it can't be worse than the current situation."

He walked up to Yin Qing, backlit, his clear black eyes lowered, making Yin Qing tense up immediately.

Even though she had described herself as several years older than Yan, she couldn't help but feel weak when he stared at her.

"Yinqing, do you believe me?" Yu Yan asked him.

Yin Qing swallowed hard, steeled her resolve, and closed her eyes: "Come on!"

He'd rather be disfigured than smell bad!

Yu Yan personally scooped up the ammonia water and washed Yin's face.

It was clear that he strongly disliked the taste; he clenched his jaw tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he desperately suppressed the urge to vomit.

Yu Yan used this basin of ammonia water to clean Yin Qing for a long time.

After washing for a while, Yinqing actually got used to the smell...

As the burning pain on his face subsided, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yu Yan in shock.

Finally, when Yu Yan said "It's all done," Yin Qing quickly said, "Yu Yan, my face hardly hurts anymore!"

He stood up and looked at his reflection in the basin of water.

"Not as popular anymore, is it?"

The sub-beastmen gathered around, exclaiming in surprise, "Yes! The little bubbles that appeared before have subsided quite a bit!"

"The colors look much better now!"

"Great! This ammonia stuff really works!"

Yin Qing burst into tears of joy: "Yes, yes, this is wonderful!"

Who would have thought that something so smelly could actually cure the poison of rove beetles!

When they encounter ammonia in the wild, they are so fumes-smelling that they run as far away as possible.

It was Yu Yan who dared to collect these things and use them as medicine!

No more disfigurement! Yin Qing even found the smell of ammonia to be pleasant.

Of course, he was most grateful to Yu Yan.

"Yu Yan, thank you so much, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I would have wanted to die."

Yu Yan said helplessly, "Don't talk about dying or anything. If you're injured, let's figure out a way to solve it, haha."

That last "ha" sounded like it was being used to coax a child.

But Yin Qing was quite pleased and obediently nodded, listening to his lecture.

Yu Yan added, "But you really have to thank the ammonia this time. Without it, your injury would have been quite troublesome."

Yin Qing: "Mmm. Ammonia is a good thing! I'll never complain about it again."

Although the horrific scars on his face have faded considerably, there are still some noticeable marks.

Feng Gui walked over and asked with concern, "Yu Yan, is this enough? Will it completely subside if we let it rest?"

Yu Yan: "I'm afraid that won't work."

Yin Qing's heart leaped into his throat. He didn't want a scar on his face!

"What should I do? Yu Yan, please help me."

He no longer has any doubts about Yu Yan.

"Let's find some anti-inflammatory herbs to apply to it," Yu Yan said, picking up a small stick from the ground and drawing the shapes of the herbs that could be used on Yin Qing's face from memory, hoping everyone could help her find them.

But he wasn't a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; he only knew a few common herbs. If that didn't work... he could only pin his hopes on the orc's robust physique.

For An Yinqing's sake, he didn't say these things for the time being.

When the explanation came to "purslane," the sub-beastmen immediately said, "I've seen this herb before!"

"They're everywhere in our tribe!"

"If needed, I'll go and gather them now!"

Yu Yan nodded: "Thank you everyone for picking the leaves of this grass, washing them clean, and bringing them over."

"Okay! I'll go right now!"

Two sub-orcs left, and Yu Yan continued drawing.

After that, he drew two kinds of herbs that everyone said they had never seen before.

When he got to the catnip, a magnetic and pleasant male voice came from behind him: "I know where to find this grass."

Yu Yan turned her head and met Lan Xiu's icy blue eyes.

Standing beside him were Cang Feng, Xin Yu, and others.

"I didn't even notice when you arrived."

Lan Xiu smiled faintly: "I've been here for a while, but I saw you were busy, so I didn't want to bother you."

With sympathetic looks from everyone, Yin Qing lowered her head and covered her face with her hand.

Yu Yan gestured to Xin Yu and the others, "We'll talk about it later."

Picking up where they left off, he asked Lanxiu, "You said you've seen this thing before?"

His tone was somewhat excited. This is because, compared to its medicinal uses, the edible value of catnip is more widely known in modern times.

Catnip has a unique flavor, combining the freshness of mint, the slight bitterness of vanilla, and a hint of perilla.

Yu Yan really likes soup made with catnip; she can drink two big bowls of it every time.

If you can find catnip, you'll have one more seasoning to add to your household!

Lan Xiu did not disappoint him and nodded, saying, "I've seen it. If you need it, I'll take you there now."

Yu Yan: "Is it far?"

Lan Xiu: "Not far, just at the foot of the Nine Beasts Mountain to the south, next to a thicket of bushes."

It's not far at all; a round trip by plane takes only half an hour.

"Then take me there!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Qing quickly asked, "Should we come along?"

Xin Yu and the others also said, "Yes, how much do you need to collect? We'll go with you."

"No need, Lanxiu and I will go and come back quickly. Yinqing, you wait here for Jinxia and the others to return, crush the herbs and apply them to your face."

Yin Qing: "Okay, I understand."

Feng Gui instructed, "If we encounter any trouble, have Lan Xiu transform into his beast form and use his roar to send us a message."

"Okay." Yu Yan agreed with a smile, picked up her basket, and said, "Lanxiu, let's go."

Lan Xiu responded, ran a few steps forward, transformed into a huge, furry tiger, and ran south towards Nine Beasts Mountain.

Yu Yan then conjured wings and followed closely behind.

The two, one in the sky and one on the ground, faced the sunrise together, crossing lush green hills, rivers, and jungles.

The tiger's powerful beastly form startled all the birds and beasts along the way; the mere sound of its footsteps was enough to frighten them into scattering and fleeing.

Yu Yan, perched high above, admired his glossy fur and fluffy animal ears swaying in the wind, her palms itching with desire.

I wish I could pet his big head and big ears someday.

Soon, the two arrived at the patch of brambles that Lan Xiu had mentioned.

The climate here is warm and sunny.

Large patches of catnip are lush and green, growing towards the sun. Amidst the layers of leaves, clusters of tiny purple, fuzzy flowers sway in the breeze.

As they approached, they smelled the fresh and spicy aroma of catnip.

Yu Yan perked up, took off a basket from her back and handed it to Lan Xiu: "Pick the tender leaves from the middle."

Lan Xiu: "Okay."

The two of them picked the catnip leaves together, and before long, they each had picked half a basket.

Seeing Lanxiu working with a relaxed expression, Yu Yan asked curiously:

"There's not much to gather here, so we don't usually come here. How did you find the catnip?"

Lan Xiu glanced at him and replied, "I sometimes come here to sleep."

Um?

Yu Yan blinked, wondering how she could have forgotten something so important.

Catnip is the raw material for catnip!

No wonder Lanxiu was the first among so many people to say he had seen Jingjie.

His animal form is a big cat. Coming here to sunbathe and take a nap, how pleasant and comfortable! He really knows how to enjoy life.

Seeing Yu Yan's teasing smile, Lan Xiu cleared his throat and asked, "What's wrong?"

"No, it's fine." Yu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, that's enough for this time. Let's go back."

Lan Xiu took the items and transformed into his beast form, carrying them on his back.

He was a large man with a broad back, and the basket of brambles sat steadily on his back.

Yu Yan thought enviously, "Even Jing Jie can ride in a tiger car with a free ride, while I still have to fly in the sky."

It took the two of them another ten minutes to get back to the tribe.

Yin Qing and the others were still waiting anxiously under the ginkgo tree, while Feng Gui had already prepared breakfast.

"Yu Yan is back!"

Yin Qing had mashed purslane applied from her cheeks to her neck, creating a vibrant green patch.

He eagerly came over and asked, "Did you get any?"

Yu Yan nodded: "You've picked quite a lot. I'll brew some medicine for you now. How's your face feeling?"

Yin Qing said happily, "It's so much better than this morning, especially this herb. It feels cool and refreshing after I applied it, and it doesn't hurt at all."

After asking when the medicine had been applied, Yu Yan had him wash his face and then examined him.

The human bodies of the beastmen are truly strong. The scars that looked shocking in the morning have almost faded away, leaving only faint marks.

In modern times, it would take at least ten days to half a month to restore things to this extent.

"I estimate that after applying the compress for another two or three days, along with taking internal herbal medicine, it should be completely gone," Yu Yan concluded.

Yin Qing was overjoyed, and looked at him with eyes full of admiration.

"Great! Shall I reapply the medicine now?" Yin Qing asked thoughtfully.

"No need. Just apply the purslane poultice three times a day, morning, noon and night. I'll go and decoct some schizonepeta for you to take internally. Wait for me a moment."

Yin Qing couldn't sit still: "I'll help you!"

Seeing him bustling around, everyone laughed heartily, genuinely happy for him.

"Yinqing loves beauty so much, it's wonderful that she can be cured."

"Yes, it's all thanks to Yu Yan. If it weren't for the soap he made, the ammonia he collected, and the herbs he found, I don't know what would have happened to Yin Qing."

"Luckily, I listened to Yin Qing's suggestion and came to find Yu Yan. This injury can't be delayed."

If the first two times Yu Yan saved Qiu Ze and helped Shuo Xing could be explained by "accidents," this time, everyone can see that Yu Yan really knows how to cure diseases.

While Xin Yu was helping wash the catnip, he asked, "Yu Yan, did you learn all these methods of treating illnesses from others?"

Yu Yan: "Yes." I've been studying for over twenty years.

Xin Yu's eyes lit up: "Then can you treat other illnesses?"

Yu Yan gave an affirmative answer: "Yes, but I can't cure every disease. Some diseases can't be cured without the right medicine. What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Xin Yu shook her head: "I'm not feeling unwell, I just think it would be great if you could cure illnesses."

Hearing their words, the others chimed in, "Yes! We orcs either don't get sick, or when we do, it's very difficult to cure. Now that the tribe has someone who knows medicine, it couldn't be better!"

"Yu Yan, if we get injured or sick in the future, can we ask you to take a look?"

Yu Yan replied solemnly, "Of course, please come over. But there's one thing to make clear: I may not be able to cure you."

"Yes, we understand that."

"Please tell the rest of the tribe that anyone who is feeling unwell can come to me for treatment. I will accept some supplies for my medical consultations and treatments, but I will not accept anything if it is an illness that I cannot cure from the beginning."

Cang Feng sighed, "It's better to encounter a disease while collecting supplies."

Xin Yu sighed helplessly, "...It's best not to get sick!"

Cang Feng was taken aback, then laughed along with everyone else.

While they were chatting and laughing, the tender leaves of catnip had already been washed.

Yu Yan lit another fire pit and used a clean earthenware pot to decoct medicine for Yin Qing.

On the stone stove, he scrambled some meat slices, tore up some catnip and threw it in, then added water to make a soup.

Catnip itself has a spicy aroma and can be used as a substitute for pepper to some extent, so Yu Yan didn't add any other seasonings besides salt.

While the soup was cooking, everyone could smell its refreshing, slightly spicy aroma, which was incredibly tempting.

Cangfeng rubbed his stomach and said, "We ate something this morning before coming here, and now, smelling this, I'm actually a little hungry again."

Xuefei sniffed it again and again, her eyes shining: "When I first smelled it, I thought it was strange, but the more I smelled it, the more fragrant it became. Catnip is really amazing."

Moye: "It looks like it should taste pretty good. I'll take you to pick some later."

Xuefei: "Okay! Then I'll learn how to do it properly from Yu Yan."

Yu Yan was once again charmed by the couple's display of affection, and said with a smile, "I cooked a lot, I'll serve you all some to try later."

Everyone laughed and agreed, "That's great! We won't be polite then, haha!"

Yu Yan looked at Cang Feng: "What brings you here to see me?"

Cangfeng: "It's about the trade in fabrics and the firing of pottery."

Yu Yan guessed the former but not the latter, which immediately piqued her interest.

He also happened to want to make some pottery.