Chapter 492 Traditional Chinese Medicine

It turns out that this was a very organized group of mountain bandits. Over the years, they had cleared land and cultivated the fields on the mountain, making the terraced fields very fertile. They rarely came down the mountain to rob the local people.

They would rob the rich of their money, and during famines they would also rob the rich to help the poor. Because the stronghold was so large, with at least 10,000 men, and their stronghold was easy to defend and difficult to attack, they had kept to themselves with the government for years and no one had made a move against them.

At first, Song Chunxue couldn't hear them clearly, but after a while, after climbing up the mountain with them, she was able to make out the general idea.

Although it was dark and she couldn't see very well, on her way up the mountain, she heard the sound of flowing water and smelled the scent of soil and decaying leaves. This land with its forests was sure to be blessed with good weather.

What surprised him even more was that this group of people were very familiar with the Taoist priest and treated her very politely. They didn't ask any unnecessary questions and even prepared a clean and warm room for her, along with hot water and simple food.

She drank hot water, washed her face with hot water, and then put her cold feet into the foot bath.

Hearing the voices outside, she felt at ease and had no time to care about anything else. She washed her feet while drinking thick noodle soup and eating hot roasted potatoes.

This bandit's den is actually quite nice.

Just as she was taking a bite of soup and a bite of potato, the Taoist priest came in from outside.

He lowered the thick curtain and couldn't help but laugh, "I was worried you wouldn't be used to it, so I came all the way here to see you. I didn't expect you to be so unceremonious."

"Don't mention it. Your friends are my friends too. They won't make things difficult for me. They're only benefiting because of you. Why not take advantage of it?"

The Taoist priest saw that her feet were already in the hot water, and her calves were white to the point of being bluish.

She looked away and said, "Okay, you eat and go to bed early. I'll chat with them for a while; it's been seven or eight years since I've seen them."

He pointed to the heavy wooden door, "Lock the door securely, and call me if you need anything."

"Don't worry, senior brother, I'm being careful." She urged him as she heard the approaching footsteps outside, "Hurry up, don't keep them waiting."

The Taoist priest stepped across the threshold and closed the door for her.

"The outhouse is in the alley behind on the right. If you're afraid of the dark, I'll go with you."

"I'll take the oil lamp with me, it's alright, you go about your business," Song Chunxue said with a smile. "It's warmer inside."

The Taoist priest smiled and closed the door, thinking to himself that she was really carefree and didn't treat this place like a bandit's den at all.

Although they were quite loyal to him, bandits treated everyone differently depending on who they were. Apart from the chieftain's wife, most of the women on the mountain lived miserable lives.

He wanted to give her a proper reminder, but he was afraid she would be too frightened.

He was still keeping an eye on things from outside.

After soaking her feet, Song Chunxue tidied up the dishes and chopsticks on the table, washed her hands, and then took the oil lamp and went out.

It's getting late, I'll go to the outhouse and then go to sleep.

Actually, she figured out where the toilet was as soon as she came up the mountain.

It's all because her nose is too sensitive; standing outside the door, the smell of alcohol from the room on the left is wafting into her nostrils.

Hmm, it seems they also enjoy drinking sorghum liquor.

She quickly walked down the deep alley on the right, and when she reached the corner, she saw a simple outhouse.

Just as she was about to relieve herself, she thought she heard footsteps.

It was very light and handled very carefully.

She leaned against the corner of the wall, waiting for the person to approach.

The next moment, she saw a man timidly peek out.

"Bang!"

Using the magic her senior brother had taught her, she flicked a clod of dirt she had pried off the wall at his forehead and said in a deep voice, "Get out!"

If she had thrown a pebble, his forehead would have turned blue and bruised.

The man immediately turned and ran away.

Song Chunxue hurriedly went to relieve herself, holding a fist-sized clod of dirt in her hand.

When she walked out of the alley with the oil lamp, she saw her senior brother standing at the corner.

"Did someone just come by?" The Taoist priest asked, half-hidden in the darkness. "This is a bandit's den. I'm still worried about you sleeping alone. Do you mind if we share a room tonight?"

When traveling, one should always be wary of others.

Song Chunxue nodded. "Okay, what's there to mind? Didn't we come in the same carriage? Shall we go to my room or yours?"

"Go to your room. The brazier they've set up for you is quite large. It's possible that the people below have ill intentions."

Song Chunxue had no objections and went inside to start making the bed.

"Wait, let's go to my room instead," the Taoist priest said, standing at the door and covering his nose with his hand. "Hurry up and bring your things out."

Although she didn't know why her senior brother had changed his mind, she quickened her pace, carrying her bundle as she walked out, faintly catching a pleasant fragrance.

Clutching a pillow, I arrived at my senior's room. Someone laughed and said, "Oh ho, you brothers are going to squeeze into the same room? Looks like we won't need two chamber pots anymore."

The Taoist priest replied in a steady voice, "Thank you. My kidneys are healthy, so I don't need to get up at night."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door, then quickly bolted it shut, and, still not entirely at ease, placed a long sword against the back of the door.

He said in a deep voice, "I knew I shouldn't have come. Women are always in more danger when they're out and about."

Song Chunxue chimed in, "Someone follows you even when you go to the outhouse; they're not a good person."

The Taoist priest stirred the charcoal brazier in the room and poked two small holes in the window paper.

"Go to sleep, but don't sleep too soundly."

Song Chunxue crawled into the large bed, took off only her padded long gown, and fell asleep immediately.

The room was warm and cozy, and I felt very sleepy.

But as she slept, she felt even more uncomfortable than sleeping on a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed).

She kicked off the blanket, got up, and touched the bed.

There's no heated kang bed downstairs, so why is it hotter than the time when Lao Si burned sheep dung balls and almost burned her?

She unbuttoned the top button, feeling unbearably hot.

Seeing her senior brother sitting cross-legged on a chair not far away, Song Chunxue, who was lying on the headboard, mumbled sleepily, "Senior brother, are you hot? Should we move the brazier a little further away?"

The Taoist priest remained seated, his eyes closed, and said in a deep voice, "You've been drugged with aphrodisiacs. There was incense burning in your room just now, or perhaps it was in your food. Sit down, concentrate, and regulate your breathing to expel the effects of the drug."

What?

Aphrodisiac?

Song Chunxue suddenly woke up with a start, her forehead covered in a fine sweat.

No wonder, not only was it hot, but I also felt like ants were crawling all over my body, and there was another strange sensation.

She quickly sat cross-legged to meditate, but her whole body felt weak and the heat rushed straight to her head.

The more satisfied she was with her meal, the more uncomfortable she would feel now.

She couldn't help but draw her longsword, "I must kill that bastard! How dare he covet my mother! I'll make sure he has no descendants!"

The Taoist priest opened his eyes and calmly said, "How about I get you some cold water to soak in?"

"No, it's the dead of winter. I've always had rheumatism, and I've only just recovered in the last few years." Her voice was hoarse. "Why don't you go out first? It'll be warmer. I'll give myself a couple of acupuncture treatments."

The Taoist priest stood up. "Alright, I'll go outside and keep watch. Just wait it out, and I'll avenge you tomorrow."

Song Chunxue laughed and asked, "Did Yao Man drug you back then? How long did it take to prepare the medicine?"

"More than two hours."

"..." Two hours is enough to drive someone crazy.

She bit her lip hard, her mind a jumble of thoughts, including ideas she hadn't had in years.

If this happened on the street, would she pay to hire a male prostitute?