Chapter 24: A Poisonous Plot
On the auxiliary street of Yilong Town, Li Wudao, supported by Qi Meng, walked towards Qige Medicinal Materials Shop while listening to the discussions behind him.
"It's not a good thing for you to be like this. You get injured every day. Do you know how worried I am about you? And you won't let me help you." Qi Meng looked at the blood oozing from the corner of Li Wudao's mouth, her beautiful eyes full of heartache.
Qi Meng has a high level of cultivation and now, after learning martial arts from Li Wudao, she is already capable of fighting. However, Li Wudao refuses to let her take action and deliberately hides her strength.
"Cough!" Li Wudao tried to speak but coughed up a mouthful of blood. After a few light coughs, he said weakly with a pale face, "Leave the fighting and killing to men. Old man Ling entrusted me with your care before he died. I must take good care of you!"
Qi Meng looked at Geren's sincere eyes and knew that Li Wudao was worried about her, but didn't she care about Li Wudao too?
Thinking about how she almost lost Li Wudao just now, Qi Meng vowed to practice hard and become strong enough to protect Li Wudao.
With Qi Meng's support, the two finally returned to Qige Medicinal Herb Shop.
It was already evening, and the sun was slowly moving towards the mountains, with its red afterglow illuminating the entire earth.
It's autumn now, and the leaves are no longer bright green, preparing to leave their roots.
Qi Meng caringly helped Li Wudao wipe the blood and apply medicine to the wound on his back. Li Wudao's eyes were wandering, lost in thought.
The biggest enemy at the moment is Qi Meng's father's revenge, the three major families of Yilong Town. The next biggest enemy is the Lan family and the Butian Gang.
Now Li Wudao’s cultivation is not high enough, and he needs more powerful combat power to face many enemies.
"Do you know about the recent election of the top beauties in Yurun Palace?" Li Wudao looked at Qi Meng who was close to him and suddenly asked thoughtfully.
The bronze bell on the jade feet swayed. Qi Meng looked at Li Wudao in some surprise, not understanding why he suddenly brought up this matter.
Yurun Palace is the only brothel in Yilong Town and is also one of the three major families with complicated relationships.
All the women who married into the Yurun Palace were married into the family, forming a powerful family with a different surname. This method allowed them to recruit talented people and become extremely powerful.
Recently, many warriors have been rampant in Yilong Mountain, making it seem like a prosperous era. At this time, Yurun Palace is holding a courtesan election, open to all unmarried women, hoping to attract the attention of the heroes and gain benefits.
This is a major event, and almost everyone in Yilong Town knows about it.
Qi Meng nodded, with doubt in her beautiful eyes.
"Hehe, my girl is so beautiful, doesn't she want to be the most beautiful girl?" Although Li Wudao was seriously injured, he still said with a playful smile.
"Do you really want me to go?" Qi Meng was confused. Becoming an oiran was too complicated, and she would even be controlled by the Yurun Palace. She couldn't understand why Li Wudao would say that.
Li Wudao nodded seriously, without a hint of joking.
If you want to understand why Old Man Ling stayed in Yilong Town despite being seriously injured, and why the three major families did not wipe out the roots.
They had to get involved in this muddy water, take the initiative to contact them, and penetrate deep into the enemy's interior. At present, the three major families still believed that Qi Meng was kept in the dark, so they would definitely let down their guard and reveal their true intentions. This was Li Wudao's advantage!
"Hmph! You actually want me to be an oiran? What are you thinking?" Qi Meng pushed Li Wudao away and said angrily.
Although a brothel is not a whorehouse, it is a place where men and women talk about love, and ordinary girls from decent families would never go there.
Li Wudao asked Qi Meng to compete for the top courtesan. In Qi Meng's view, this was just pushing her into the fire pit!
"Silly boy, how could I, Li Wudao, ever betray you? Besides, didn't we practice the Tianyuan physical technique together?" Li Wudao's internal injuries flared up, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, but he still spoke sincerely, "Are you scared? Go and compete for the top courtesan and sweep away all those vulgar women!"
Hearing what Li Wudao said, Qi Meng muttered to herself, but finally agreed.
Seeing Qi Mengyu's gloomy face and unhappy expression, Li Wudao sighed inwardly. If this girl hadn't been unable to hide things, he would have told her long ago. Everything Li Wudao did was for her own good.
Time flies, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.
During these ten days, Li Wudao was recuperating from his injuries while managing the business of the herbal medicine shop. Qi Meng successfully registered for the top courtesan election and finally learned the intermediate-grade martial art Yu Ling Palm.
It is early autumn now. The weather is no longer hot and the autumn breeze brings a hint of coolness, making people want to put on more autumn clothes.
On the auxiliary streets of Yilong Town, people were still coming and going, warriors were walking around, and all kinds of hawking sounds could be heard.
Li Wudao's injuries have recovered, and he opened his shop early to welcome customers.
"Shopkeeper Li, there's something wrong with your medicine!" A discordant voice appeared among the many guests.
A man dressed in coarse linen, holding an old woman in his arms, let out a shrill cry.
With tears on his face, it was obvious that the situation was extremely serious.
When such a big incident happened in Qige Medicinal Materials Shop, more than ten customers in the store immediately pointed and talked, which had a great impact on Geren's business.
"Don't worry, let me take a look." Li Wudao walked out of the counter and asked what happened.
"There's something wrong with your medicine. My mother had a cold and died instantly after taking your medicine!" The man was at least forty years old. He hugged his dead mother and burst into tears, crying like a child.
He stroked his old mother's wrinkled face, his eyes full of pain.
Dying from taking medicine, how can this be tolerated!
The customers in the store were immediately in an uproar when they heard this, all demanding an explanation for the man. Passersby also joined in the fun and gathered around him.
"Tsk tsk! This kind of unconventional herbal medicine store is no good. Medicine can save lives but it can also kill people. Doctors should be careful about this!" Shopkeeper Tong opposite said proudly while taking a sip of the purple clay teapot in his hand.
There was a sharp glint in his eyes, as if he was not surprised by this matter, as if it was all part of his plan. He just belittled Li Wudao and pretended to be kind and benevolent.
It's this guy who's causing trouble! Li Wudao looked at the wealthy Tong, cursing in his heart. He didn't have time to care about him. He had to stabilize the situation first.
"Are you sure you only took my medicine?" Li Wudao squatted down and asked the man while checking the old woman's eyeballs, tongue, ear holes and other parts of her body.
"She only took Qufeng Sanhan Pills and Baicao Shui, the guiding medicine. Shopkeeper Ge, my old mother has wasted her life. Now it is time for her to enjoy her life. You must give me an explanation!" The man was in his forties, but he was in tears. He knelt on the ground holding the old woman, feeling guilty.
"Don't worry, let Manager Li verify it clearly." Qi Meng spoke calmly to comfort everyone, but her brows were tightly furrowed, and she felt that the situation was very tricky.
Shopkeeper Tong's sudden attack caught Li Wudao off guard and he found it difficult to resist.
After carefully examining the old woman's body, Li Wudao's face was troubled and thoughtful. He could guarantee that there was nothing wrong with the Qufeng Sanhan Pills, but he had no idea where the problem lay.
"Everyone, we run a herbal medicine store and are supposed to treat illnesses and save lives, but we never expected something like this to happen." Shopkeeper Tong sipped his tea and said, looking like a peacemaker, "We're willing to offer a 30% discount on herbs today. Just to calm you down!"
When the guests heard that there was a bargain to be had, they all started to try to please him. Li Wudao was furious when he saw the shopkeeper Tong's smug look.
Is this what I'm going to do today? Li Wudao doesn't want to be so cowardly and be plotted against by others.
The memories of his past life were of no help, so was he going to suffer in silence? He didn't want to rely on his past life for everything; he had to make it through on his own.
"Don't worry, there will definitely be a way." Qi Meng comforted Li Wudao softly and encouraged him.
Shopkeeper Tong stared at the man with a sneer on his face as he hugged the old woman and cried, his true feelings revealed.
The bright sun shone on the auxiliary street of Yilong Town, and many pedestrians were talking about it. They didn't expect that such a major safety accident had occurred in Qige Medicinal Materials Shop, which had been doing a booming business recently.
"There must be no problem with my medicinal herbs. I am fully confident about this. Besides, are you sure you only gave the Hundred Herb Water to your mother?" Qi Meng's comfort calmed Li Wudao down, and he asked the man.
He couldn't capsize. Without financial support, how could he purchase medicinal herbs and improve his strength? Without strength, how could he avenge Qi Meng and face so many enemies?
Li Wudao cannot lose, and cannot afford to lose!
Seeing the man nod, Li Wudao raised his eyebrows and said, "It's very likely that there's something wrong with the herbal water. We never sell herbal water. Did you mix it yourself?"
Herb water is a mixture of herb ash and rootless water. Herb ash is the ashes left after burning grass and wood, and rootless water is naturally falling rainwater.
This thing is easy to make. Most medicines require herbal water as a guide, so most homes have it.
"Hundred Herb Water?" The man looked up in confusion, and said awkwardly, "This was a gift from Shopkeeper Tong!"
It is indeed not authentic to use Li Wudao's medicinal materials but take Tong Zhanggui's herbal water.
"How could there be something wrong with Baicao Shui? Even I, an apprentice, know that this is just an ordinary thing." The clerk behind Shopkeeper Tong made a sarcastic remark, making Li Wudao feel hot on his face.
After the herbs were burned to ashes, the medicinal properties were completely gone, so there really couldn't be a problem. But if it wasn't the herbal water, then what was going on?
After eliminating all the reasons, the problem will appear at the point that is most easily overlooked.
"Who has Shopkeeper Tong's Baicao Shui?" Li Wudao asked loudly in the face of everyone's doubts and Shopkeeper Tong's disdainful eyes.
Someone brought a bottle of herbal water. Li Wudao, under tremendous pressure, took a drop with his hand, put it in his mouth to examine it, and finally a confident smile returned to his face.
"Don't worry, everyone. I already understand this matter." Li Wudao gave Qi Meng a reassuring look and said in front of everyone.
"What! Really?" The man stood up and said excitedly.
"That's right, the problem lies with the Baicao Water." Li Wudao sneered at Shopkeeper Tong, which made him feel a little uneasy.
"How ridiculous!" Shopkeeper Tong said with a ferocious look on his face, playing with the purple clay teapot in his hand.
Everyone was also discussing the matter, thinking that all the knowledge of Pharmacist Li Wudao had been wasted, and that there was no way that there could be any problems with the Hundred Herb Water, which was basic common sense.
"Ordinary herbs are indeed fine, but Shopkeeper Tong should never use the yellow rattan ash that is roasted to make medicinal herbs!" Li Wudao found out that the herb water contained yellow rattan ash after just one try.
When using yellow vine as fuel, the food roasted is fragrant and the flame temperature is moderate, making it most suitable for roasting medicinal materials.
Not only Shopkeeper Tong, but even Li Wudao used it to dry medicinal materials for easier preservation.
"Yellow vine?" the man asked doubtfully. At this moment, Shopkeeper Tong was a little panicked.
"That's right, it's the yellow vine. Even if it's burned to ashes, it's still a scorching Yang substance, and its medicinal properties are extremely fierce. It can't be used as herbal ash." Li Wudao said to the man, "When you said your family was poor, I increased the dosage for free, guaranteeing that your mother's illness would be cured in one dose, and I told you not to use other medicines. But combined with the Yang Herbal Water, your mother couldn't withstand the medicinal power and died directly!"
"What...what!" The man didn't expect that the problem would arise here.
Everyone present was shocked. They didn't expect that the problem really occurred with Baicao Water.
Li Wudao was kindhearted and knew the man had no money, so he gave him a strong medicine for free, promising to cure his mother. Unexpectedly, the herbal water also had medicinal properties, but the medicine was too strong and the man died from the poison!
"Shopkeeper Tong!" The man had wrongly accused Geren and was so ashamed that he turned into anger and glared at Shopkeeper Tong.
"What's wrong? I mean well!" Shopkeeper Tong patted his butt and turned away, looking as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Ah! Mother, I have hurt you!" The man knelt in front of the old woman's body, crying with regret on his face.
He wanted to support his mother, but because of his mistake, his parents were no longer around!
"This Shopkeeper Tong is really not a human being!"
"Damn it! You're so blind and yet you're pretending to be a good guy."
"Shopkeeper Li is still kind and righteous!"
Everyone present blamed Manager Tong and praised Li Wudao.
"Hmph! He escaped danger again." Hearing everyone's praise for Li Wudao, Shopkeeper Tong was furious and smashed his beloved purple clay teapot in anger.
He tried his best to suppress Li Wudao, but unfortunately, things went against his wishes and he failed. He even shot himself in the foot and ended up being despised by others.
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