Chapter 137 The Tip of the Knot (Part 3) My mouth went dry from reading it.
"This really needs to be reported to the authorities!"
Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Yu Qi put down his chopsticks and was about to get up. "Gu Si has injured his brain and has developed epilepsy. Let me get a rope and tie him up."
He paused slightly, then turned to look at Song Qiling, "I've only ever heard that the Tianji Sect practices demon-catching techniques, but I've never heard of them practicing immortality techniques."
“Bigu, actually it’s bigu.” Song Qiling racked her brains and finally had a flash of inspiration. “His magic has improved recently, he’s almost surpassed me, so he’s secretly thinking of cutting off rice and only…only drinking water.”
"You know what, his body is indeed getting stronger and stronger, and his magic is also improving rapidly. He really does look like a cultivator. If I weren't so attached to worldly pleasures, I would also want to abstain from grains."
As she spoke, she stood up and pressed Yu Qi back to his seat, then picked up a plate of braised lamb leg and placed it in front of him with a "clatter," promptly diverting his attention. "That's why he can't eat any of this greasy, meaty, and heavily seasoned food. Brother Yu, you can't waste this good food and wine. Eat and drink as you please."
These past few days, Yu Qi has been going up the mountain and traveling. Today, he accompanied Liu Dai to look at houses during the day. He hasn't even had a sip of water. His mouth is practically tasteless now.
He felt the rich, vibrant red oil forcefully enter his field of vision, and the salty, savory aroma of meat wafted over him. The lamb leg seemed to have sprouted hooks, crawling into his stomach and making his mouth water.
He swallowed hard, deciding to accept the explanation. He rolled up his sleeves, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of meat into his bowl. "Song San, could you please stop panting when you talk, um..."
The tender, boneless lamb leg melted in his mouth, and the aroma made him almost speechless. "What enlightenment... what immortality? I thought, um, you guys had joined some weird gang and were trying to recruit us..."
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
"Look at you, so pathetic. I told you it's too hot to drink, but you didn't even blow on it."
Liu Dai shook his head in exasperation, picked up the porcelain bottle on the table, and poured him a glass of water. "The sorcerer Song has explained it clearly enough. Fasting is part of cultivation. If you master it, you can prolong your life and live to be a hundred years old. What's wrong with that? You're just making a big fuss over nothing."
"If you put it that way, I understand. Who comes out saying they want to become an immortal?" Yu Qi took the water cup and drank it all in one gulp. As he finished, he frowned, realizing something was wrong, and smacked his lips, saying, "What's this taste like? Isn't it tea?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Dai quickly took the cup, brought it closer to smell it, and frowned as well: "This is wine."
But they didn't order any drinks.
The waiter, who seemed to have been observing and waiting for his chance for a long time, slung a towel over his shoulder and walked over to the table. "Guests, you've come at the right time. Today is the owner's daughter's homecoming banquet, and all drinks are on the house."
Hearing this string of words, a look of confusion flashed in Yu Qi's eyes, and he could only stammer as he repeated, "Completely...completely free?"
"Exactly." The waiter smiled, revealing two rows of bright white teeth, and pointed to the porcelain bottle next to Liu Dai. "This fine 'Golden Dew Agarwood' is a gift from the manager for you all to try. Please enjoy yourselves."
After saying that, the man ran happily to the next table.
"Hey, we're really lucky. We just got back to Nancheng today, and this Drunken Immortal Pavilion is already celebrating. Thinking about it, we're lucky stars." Yu Qi accepted it well, picked up his empty cup and asked Liu Dai for some wine. "Free things are always good. They taste especially rich and sweet, like sugar water."
As soon as he finished speaking, he was met with a glare.
"Drink less, or you'll get drunk." Despite saying this, Liu Dai couldn't dissuade him and poured himself a glass.
Gu and Song, staring blankly at the wine bottle, were speechless.
Since his drunken outburst last time, Song Qiling has abstained from alcohol, fearing that he might misbehave and do something to his junior brother again.
Therefore, no matter how much Yu Qi tried to persuade her, she just smiled and waved her hand repeatedly: "You drink more, there's no need to save for us."
"It wouldn't be right not to drink at a welcoming banquet, would it?" Song Qiling's forehead throbbed with pain, not knowing when Yu Qi had learned to drink or where he had picked up his drinking toasts.
"Even a lamb leg can't shut you up. I think you want to eat my fried bird eggs. So, I'll offer you and Brother Liu tea instead of wine today." With that, she raised her teacup, lightly touched her junior brother's arm, and gestured for him to stand up with her.
Seeing this, Liu Dai hurriedly poured himself a glass of wine and stood up as well, saying, "Why are you being so polite? We're all family, there's no need for toasts."
Even so, the four of them stood up together.
"Today, the South City welcomes your return, and... it also happens to be the store's anniversary, and," Song Qiling looked up at the bright moonlight outside the window, raised her glass and said loudly, "I toast to you, to the bright moon, and to our long and lasting reunion."
The wine glasses, arranged at different heights, clinked together, spilling wine that flowed down the sides of the glasses and splashed into the food.
The group finished their drinks in one gulp and sat down again.
The full moon hangs high outside, and a gentle breeze blows through the house, as if it too is imbued with the warmth of human life.
-
The shop that Liu Dai chose was not far from Hushi Lane, right at the corner of the East Street market. The shop was not spacious, but it was decent, with three bays wide and two bays deep, and open to the outside from the inside out.
Several windows face south, letting in plenty of sunlight and filling the room with brightness—a perfect spot for drying medicinal herbs and practicing medicine.
Once the contract was signed, the fingerprints were affixed, and the rent was paid, all the trivial matters were settled, and he began to tidy up.
Yu Qi was not idle either. He helped out by arranging the courtyard, cleaning, and asking the doctor to determine an auspicious day. Finally, the eighth day of the eighth lunar month was chosen for the opening of the medical clinic.
This medical retreat has an elegant name – Xingchuan Caotang (行川草堂).
“I’ve already said this name is too elegant. It’s fine to write inside, but if it’s made into a signboard and hung at the entrance, who would know this is a clinic?” Yu Qi muttered, holding a handful of melon seeds and looking at the signboard. “I think ‘Xuanhu Medical Clinic’ sounds much better. Song San, Gu Si, what do you think?”
Upon hearing this, Song Qiling looked up from in front of the wheelbarrow and said impatiently, "Why are you still standing here eating sunflower seeds? Come over and lend a hand!"
Gu Lianzhou, who was standing to the side, had already unloaded several heavy bags of dried medicinal herbs. He stood up straight and gently patted Song Qiling's shoulder, saying in a gentle voice, "Senior brother, you go inside and rest for a while. You can leave this to me and Brother Yu."
Seeing this, Yu Qi hurriedly stepped forward, disregarding the other party's wishes, and handed the melon seeds to Song Qiling. Then he clapped his hands, took a sack, slung it over his shoulder, and grumbled as he went into the house: "Liu Xingchuan, you stingy bastard! You don't even know how to hire porters when you buy goods, why do you always take advantage of us..."
Even so, once they got the hang of it, they worked exceptionally well.
Liu Dai stood in front of the medicine cabinet, busy counting and registering the medicinal materials. Hearing this, he said without looking up, "I'll trouble you all. Once the business opens, I'll treat you all to a good meal."
"Come on, Gu Si has already achieved immortality through fasting, how could he possibly eat the meal you're treating him to?" Yu Qi glanced at Gu Lianzhou, and seeing that he worked without even breaking a sweat, she felt even more envious.
If a person isn't eating, where does their strength come from?
Liu Dai put down the ledger, stepped out from behind the counter, and helped them move the items. "We're all friends, there's no need to be so formal. Besides, Brother Gu and Master Song didn't say anything, so why are you so critical?"
Yu Qi: "..."
It turns out he was the only one speaking out against it; the other two were like gourds with their mouths sawed off, unable to utter a single fart for ages.
After getting ready, Gu and Song politely declined Xingchuan Caotang's "enthusiastic" invitation and hurried back before it got dark.
"It's so hot and humid today. I feel weak all over after just a little movement." Song Qiling took out a handkerchief and wiped the fine sweat from her neck. As she spoke, she felt a coolness on her forehead.
The strong wind came suddenly, sweeping up large raindrops that pelted down on our heads with a "pitter-patter" sound.
The two "cheap" laborers had just finished their work and hadn't even had a sip of water when they were soaked by the torrential rain.
Gu Lianzhou: "..."
Song Qiling: "..."
“Liu Dai was lucky.” She pulled her junior brother and ran forward. “If we hadn’t lent a hand, the newly arrived medicinal herbs would probably have been soaked in water.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Lianzhou laughed and said, "That's true. It's just a pity for us that we couldn't take an umbrella with us before we left."
As the rain intensified, Song Qiling was about to speak, but after opening her mouth, she quickly closed it again.
It looks like this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon.
They need to hurry and get back as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, she didn't care about anything else. She lifted her skirt with one hand, covered her forehead with the other, and started walking quickly through the puddles.
The rain curtain enveloped everything, shrouding the world in a dim light.
Although he was soaked to the bone and looked quite disheveled, fortunately... no one saw him in the midst of the torrential rain.
By the time the two returned to Lake Stone Lane, it was already completely dark.
The door creaked shut behind me, shutting out the wind and rain. The world suddenly fell silent, with only the patter of rain hitting the roof and windowpanes.
Inside the room, Song Qiling trembled as she lit the oil lamp on the corner of the table.
A tiny flame leaped up, dispelling the darkness and illuminating the two disheveled figures.
The silk fabric becomes especially clingy when wet, almost blending into the skin, clearly outlining the full curves of the front and the distinct shape of the spine on the back.
Gu Lianzhou's gaze froze for a moment, then he turned around as if he had been scalded and hurriedly walked towards the door, saying, "I'll go boil some water."
"Come back!" Song Qiling said anxiously. "Why are you running? Quickly change out of your wet clothes so you don't catch a cold."
As she spoke, she turned and walked to the wardrobe, took out a clean set of clothes, and then unfolded a screen to separate the room. "You can change here. Don't worry, I won't peek."
Her voice was trembling; she must have been freezing.
Thinking of this, Gu Lianzhou silently agreed and turned to look for a change of clothes.
The room was unusually quiet.
The sound of clothing being peeled off the body was unusually clear.
The rustling sounds, mixed with the suppressed breaths that escaped from the uncontrollable shivering due to the cold, gently irritated his taut nerves, one after another.
With a soft "click," Gu Lianzhou finally couldn't help but turn his head to look.
The dim light shone through the screen, casting her hazy figure onto the silk.
The slight shrug of the shoulders, the smooth spine of the back, and even the sudden inward curve of the waist, all resemble a freehand ink painting, indistinct and breathtaking.
The water-soaked outer garment, heavy with moisture, was casually hung on the edge of the screen, water droplets dripping from its hem and forming a small dark circle on the ground.
The thin inner garment was also removed, and carefully draped over the outer garment by a fair and slender arm.
Finally, there was a light purple heart-shaped garment.
Small and thin, it slipped off the top of the pile of clothes as soon as it was released, striking the eye like a spark.
On the garment, a red plum blossom was embroidered with delicate red thread...
Gu Lianzhou's eyes darkened slightly, and he felt a dry mouth for a moment.
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