Chapter 7
After several days of hard work, he finally caught the female scorpion. Shen Ahheng was so excited that he wanted to worship the porcelain jar. He carefully put the jar at the head of his bed in his room that night and fell asleep peacefully.
The next morning, after breakfast and changing Ashina Yu's medicine, Shen Aheng returned to his room and took out the "Poison Sutra", a secret treasure of his sect, from under the wooden box. He sat cross-legged in front of the kang table and carefully spread the Poison Sutra on the table. Next to it were writing materials and herbal atlases. He buried his head and began to search through the pages, trying to find a recipe for preparing the white-tailed scorpion's poison as medicine.
After changing the medicine, Ashina Yu sat by the bed, his thin back leaning against the wall, his eyes quietly fixed on the small house hidden behind the locust tree behind the curtain.
He didn't say anything, just lowered his eyelashes slightly, and rubbed his cold white fingertips lightly on his knees, as if he wanted to get up, but was afraid of disturbing her. In the end, he just sat quietly, his thin figure revealing a well-behaved and contented attitude.
Shen Ahheng was fascinated as soon as he saw it. Sometimes he frowned in thought, sometimes he raised his hands to gesture on the diagram, and occasionally he stood up to look for some earthenware jars and grinding tools on the wooden shelf. He didn't even have time to pay attention to the messy hair hanging down in front of his forehead.
This research lasted until the evening.
The setting sun outside the window gradually sank, and the entire mountain temple became dark.
Only when he felt a pain in his shoulders and spine did Shen Ah Heng put down the book and stretch.
But just when I raised my arm halfway, my stomach suddenly growled a few times.
Only then did I realize that from morning till now, I had not had time to eat or even drink a sip of water.
Shen Aheng suddenly remembered that he hadn't heard anything from Ashina Yu all day, and he had forgotten to get him food.
Shen Ahheng was afraid that the little Hu man would get sick from hunger again, so she quickly closed the book. When she stood up, her knees felt numb. She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and ran to the front hall in her slippers.
After lifting the curtain, Shen Aheng was apprehensive and saw Ashina Yu leaning against the head of the bed with his back to her, his figure thin and his breathing steady, obviously asleep.
Shen Aheng's hanging heart was put down. The little Hu man's injuries had improved a lot in the past few days. He always liked to sit on the doorstep and refused to lie in bed obediently like before. Now he was willing to have a good rest, which was more important than anything else.
Shen Aheng didn't go in anymore, but quietly retreated, turned around and walked towards the back kitchen, his steps unconsciously becoming lighter.
Let’s prepare the meal first, so that when he wakes up, he can have something hot to eat.
When I arrived at the kitchen, I saw that there was still half a basket left in the bamboo basket on the shelf, which contained the wild mushrooms, dried wild vegetables, bamboo shoots, etc. that I had picked last time.
I have been busy catching scorpions these days and have not had time to go up the mountain again.
Shen Aheng thought about it and decided to use the remaining ingredients to make a stew.
He quickly lit the fire, washed the vegetables, and then threw all the ingredients in. He added water and sprinkled salt. After a while, he stewed a pot of steaming vegetable soup.
Shen Ah Heng filled two bowls and walked to the hall with the bowls and chopsticks, shouting: "Hurry up and eat, I stewed another chowder today, and it's even more delicious than last time!"
But after shouting twice, there was no response.
Shen Aheng lifted the curtain and walked into the hall, and saw Ashina Yu still leaning against the head of the bed with his back to her.
Why is he so sleepy today? Usually he refuses to lie down and rest for a while.
Shen Ah Heng was grumbling in his heart, put down his bowl and chopsticks, walked over and was about to pat him on the shoulder, but his expression suddenly stopped.
Ashina Yu's cold, pale face drooped, with a trace of dark red blood on the corner of his lips. His breathing was as light as a feather, almost imperceptible. He had obviously fainted from the pain.
But he didn't make any sound before he passed out, for fear of disturbing her from reading.
"Hello!"
Shen Ah Heng quickly squatted down, reached out and gently touched his cheek, only to feel a chill.
Thinking back to when I applied medicine to him during the day, he sat quietly without even frowning, and my heart felt panicked and painful.
When did the poison in his body break out?
Just as she was at a loss, she suddenly felt someone gently grasping her wrist, and Ashina Yu actually opened her eyes.
His eyelashes were wet, stained with tiny drops of water, and his eyes still carried the daze of just waking up, as if he couldn't help crying because of the pain, but he forced himself to hold it back. Only the corners of his eyes were flushed, and his cold white skin was stained with blood from the corners of his lips, as bright as a red plum blossom in the snow, fragile and beautiful.
He had clearly fainted from the pain, but after waking up he just looked at her quietly without a sound, like a wounded little white fox, with unconscious dependence revealed deep in his eyes, looking obedient and pitiful.
"You nearly scared me to death!"
Shen Ah Heng's voice trembled a little. He clenched his hand tightly, his palm pressed against his pale fingertips that were piercing through with coldness, and asked hurriedly: "Is the poison in your body acting up? Where does it hurt the most? Why didn't you call me? Would you rather faint from the pain yourself?"
Ashina Yu opened her mouth, but no sound came out, only her Adam's apple rolled slightly. The other hand that was not held by her slowly raised up, with a little trembling in her fingertips, and reached out to gently stroke her frown, as if trying to smooth it out.
When her eyelashes drooped, the tears hidden in her eyes finally couldn't be contained, slid down her cold white cheeks, and dripped onto the back of her hand, warm.
Shen Ah Heng's heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, painful and soft. He quickly pulled back his hand and wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve. His voice was very gentle: "Don't cry, don't cry, I'm not mean to you. It's all my fault. I was so busy flipping through the book that I forgot about you. I'll go make medicine for you now. Please wait a little longer."
Ashina Yu looked at her without saying a word, just nodded slightly. He loosened his fingers that were clutching her sleeves, and lay down obediently. He didn't even dare to blink, and just watched her back quietly as she turned around. His gentleness was heartbreaking.
Shen Ah Heng quickly ran back to his room, his hands shaking as he turned the pages of the book. He hurriedly turned to the place where he had just stopped, and his fingertips ran over the words "The white-tailed scorpion needs to use 'Soul-breaking Grass' to remove its dryness, and a mortar made of cold stone grown in the ice stream in the bitter cold land of Changbai Mountain to suppress its strong poison." Although he still had not figured out the subsequent ratio, he did not have the time to think it over in detail. He decided to give it a try and use the detoxification method of his own sect.
Shen Ahheng was extremely anxious. He dug out the porcelain jar containing the male and female scorpions, and then dragged out a dusty black iron mortar from the corner. This mortar was made by his great-grandmaster when he was traveling around practicing medicine. He found that a local pharmacy in the Western Regions used this black iron mortar to make medicine, and the medicine was very effective. Therefore, he spent a lot of money to ask a local blacksmith to make it. The great-grandmaster treasured this mortar very much and took it with him wherever he went. It was not until he passed it on to his master before his death.
The medicine mortar is extremely cold and can suppress the toxicity of many poisons. It is a precious medicine-making tool passed down from generation to generation in our sect. Although this black iron mortar may not be comparable to the cold stone mortar, its medicinal properties should be not much worse.
Then he rummaged through the wooden shelves and medicine boxes filled with medicinal herbs, and finally found the dried soul-breaking grass from a pile of old bags.
Everything was ready. Shen Ah Heng cleaned the Soul-Breaking Grass and carefully spread it on the bottom of the medicine mortar. Then he carefully took the male and female scorpions out of the porcelain jar and placed them in the mortar.
As soon as the two scorpions came into contact with the Soul-Breaking Grass, they stopped being restless and instead connected head to tail, not moving at all. A layer of white frost gradually formed on their crimson shells, except for the tail sting. Suddenly, a dark red liquid oozed out of the tail sting, staining the Soul-Breaking Grass at the bottom red.
When the two were mixed together, the smell did not have the unbearable fishy odor of ordinary poisons, but instead had a bitter medicinal fragrance.
Shen Ahheng was overjoyed and stared at it intently until the stingers of the two scorpions could no longer ooze out the liquid. Then he carefully took out the two dead poisonous scorpions from inside, and then picked up the pestle to pound the soul-breaking grass soaked with the liquid.
He kept pounding until the liquid inside had merged with the Soul-Breaking Grass and became viscous, then he stopped and used a small spoon to scrape out the medicinal mud inside and roll it into several pills the size of a fingernail.
Although the steps described in the Poison Sutra of wrapping the pill with ice silk from Guixu Island in the East China Sea and then slowly roasting it for seven days and seven nights under the Yinhuai wood in the ancient Luanzang Village in southern Xinjiang were still missing, at least a medicine that could temporarily suppress the poison in his body had been produced.
Shen Ah Heng carefully wrapped the pill in a handkerchief, went to pour a cup of warm water, and then ran to the hall anxiously.
Ashina Yu fell drowsily on the bed. Only when he heard familiar footsteps did he reluctantly open his eyes.
Shen Aheng put the cup down, came over and carefully helped him sit up, holding his waist with one hand and supporting his shoulders with the other.
Ashina Yu's internal organs were in pain and he felt weak all over, so he followed her strength and leaned quietly on her shoulder, his cold white cheek pressed against her warm neck. He was like a duckweed that found support, revealing a natural dependence, and even his breathing became lighter.
Shen Ah Heng freed her hands and opened the handkerchief. Inside lay several fingernail-sized pills, mixed with a bitter smell. She gestured with her hands and said softly, "The medicine is ready, but it can only temporarily suppress the poison in your body. However, there are still a few rare materials missing. I will have to look for them slowly in the future."
As she spoke, her brows knitted unconsciously, and her tone revealed a hint of hesitation: "This is my first time treating this kind of poison, so I'm not sure. The medicine I usually use is quite strong, and I'm afraid this medicine will backfire on you. You're already weak, and what if..."
This poison book has been passed down for several generations. I wonder if the recipes in it are still effective. What if the recipes are not refined purely, and the two poisons cannot be completely neutralized, and will clash with his qi and blood...
Shen Ah Heng stared at the pill in his hand, unable to decide whether to give one or take the risk of using two.
Ashina Yu leaned on her shoulder, not saying a word, only her long and thick eyelashes drooped gently, like two beautiful butterfly wings, listening quietly.
Just as Shen Ah Heng lowered her head to ponder, he suddenly raised his hand, and his cold white fingertips gently took the pills from her palm. He actually took three pills at once, and before Shen Ah Heng could react, he raised his head and swallowed them.
His movements were so quick and decisive, without even a hint of hesitation, as if what he took away was not medicine of unknown efficacy, but ordinary food.
Shen Ah Heng was stunned for a moment, and it was too late to press his hand. He watched helplessly as his cold white Adam's apple slid up and down, and he had already swallowed it. He couldn't help but said angrily: "How dare you take three pills at once? Don't you want to die? I said I'm not sure. What if the medicine is too strong and hurts your body? Do you know how difficult it is to take care of your body? If something really happens..."
Ashina Yu said nothing, only slightly drooping his eyelashes. A faint blush appeared on his cold, pale face after the poison took effect. His lips were still wet from having just swallowed the medicine, like butterfly wings wet by the rain. He obediently let her scold him, looking weak and docile, as if the person who had "audaciously" swallowed the medicine just now was not him.
The anger that was on the tip of Shen Ahheng's tongue got stuck in his throat and he couldn't say it out.
Looking at his quiet and completely dependent appearance, after a long while, she sighed helplessly and said, "Forget it, forget it, I've already eaten. Don't do this again in the future. You have to listen to me."
As soon as the words fell, Ashina Yu's eyes, which had just been misty, brightened slightly, reflecting her vivid appearance of feigning anger. Without waiting for Shen Aheng to say anything else, she nodded gently, her movements obedient and gentle.
His cold white cheek rubbed her shoulder gently, like a little animal that had found a safe place.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
