Number 4 hasn't arrived yet, but after hearing Wang Qing's explanation, I suddenly developed a strong interest in traditional Chinese medicine.
Since I met this brother and sister, I have fallen victim to their tricks multiple times. If I could learn a thing or two of their skills, it would be a way to save my life. So I said to Wang Qing, "Brother, can you teach me the methods of making and detoxifying poisons in traditional Chinese medicine?"
Wang Qing glanced at me and said, "You're from the antique industry, shouldn't you be studying antique appraisal and feng shui? Why are you interested in traditional Chinese medicine?"
"When you're in the world of martial arts, you're not always in control of your own destiny! Being in the antique business is just my job. The profits in this industry are so high that I inevitably encounter dangers. As for martial arts, it takes many years of practice to achieve a certain level of proficiency. In comparison, traditional Chinese medicine is actually easier to learn."
I spoke my true thoughts: "If I learn traditional Chinese medicine, as long as I can identify the herbs and remember the prescriptions, I can prepare the medicine. It's like getting ahead in self-defense."
"Who told you that Traditional Chinese Medicine is that simple?"
Wang Qing looked at me with displeasure: "Western medicine practitioners in our country all require academic qualifications, but traditional Chinese medicine is different. The country recognizes the apprenticeship and family tradition of traditional Chinese medicine. Do you know why? Because this is something left by our ancestors for thousands of years. Pharmacology, medicinal properties, the four natures and five flavors, meridian tropism, ascending and descending, toxicity, innate qi, and acquired qi are things that people may not be able to fully understand even after a lifetime of research! How come it's become a shortcut for you?"
I know that many people misunderstand Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) today, thinking it's just a process of combining herbs, and even some Westerners ridicule it! In reality, TCM is one of the earliest treatment methods in the world! It's just that the ancients didn't have modern equipment like microscopes and analyzers, which is why Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, and Zhang Zhongjing traveled all over the country to compile the "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases." Moreover, as early as the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo was already performing surgical procedures!
With the rapid development of science and technology, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is no longer the backward system you imagine. In fact, its disciplines and systems have become much more complex. Take our Five Poisons Sect, for example: we possess a medical laboratory that ranks among the top ten globally! And dozens of world-class doctors! Is this what you call simple?
I never expected Wang Qing, who seemed so carefree, to get so excited about traditional Chinese medicine. I looked at him with disbelief and asked, "Isn't your Five Poisons Sect a martial arts sect? How come you've set up a laboratory?"
"Otherwise what? It's the 21st century already. Are we supposed to live in the mountains like in those period dramas?"
Wang Qing looked at me with disdain: "Wake up! Our sect headquarters is in an office building, our sect leader is chauffeured around in luxury cars, and he lives in a villa. It's not the old and backward place you're imagining! High-speed rail is faster now. If we don't keep up with the times, we'll probably be left behind by now!"
This was my first time gaining a deep understanding of the Five Poisons Cult, and Wang Qing's words truly overturned my perception.
Realizing I had misspoke, I quickly explained, "You misunderstood me. I have always respected traditional culture and never meant to belittle traditional Chinese medicine! The reason I want to learn traditional Chinese medicine from you is precisely because of its convenience. In critical situations, medicine can be made from anything, unlike Western medicine which requires various purification processes."
"I roughly understand what you mean, but you're underestimating traditional Chinese medicine. Let's take your last sentence as an example! You want to learn traditional Chinese medicine so that you can make poisons or antidotes under harsh conditions. The most basic pharmacology in this requires you to memorize it for three years, and that's only if you're smart!"
Furthermore, there's the identification of medicinal herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) requires handling a vast amount of herbs, many of which become almost identical after drying! Whether you misidentify a herb or are simply careless, misreading even a single character in a prescription can lead to death. Western medicine graduates can go directly to hospitals to work, but TCM practitioners, without a reliable mentor to guide them for several years, are essentially committing murder for profit!
Wang Qing thought for a moment: "You want to learn traditional Chinese medicine, but you definitely can't learn it in a short time. Since you want to protect yourself, I can give you a few prescriptions. You just need to go to get the medicine regularly and mix it according to the method I teach you. This should be considered a shortcut. Of course, the prescriptions I give you are not the secret recipes of the Five Poisons Sect, but some of them have long been lost. They are enough to deal with ordinary people."
Thank you!
After listening to Wang Qing's words, I did not feel discouraged; on the contrary, I became even more interested in traditional Chinese medicine.
However, this kind of hobby cannot be mastered overnight. If he could give me some ready-made prescriptions, that would be the best.
As we were chatting, Jiang Man suddenly rushed out of the room, stood in front of my stall, pretended to squat down to look at the items, and whispered, "Duan Tao, something's happened. We underestimated Number Four's abilities."
I was jolted awake: "What do you mean by that? What happened?"
Jiang Man placed an envelope on my stall: "The letter for number four has been delivered. We were talking inside when we suddenly found this envelope on the ground."
"How is this possible?"
A look of surprise flashed in my eyes: "Wang Qing and I were guarding outside the door, keeping an eye on the situation across the street. No one entered the courtyard at all. How did those people manage to deliver the letter?"
"Someone on the other side is a master of concealed weapons."
Wang Qing pointed to a crumpled corner on the envelope and said, "He threw the envelope into the room from outside the yard in a manner similar to launching a dart, while we were watching the gate of the yard the whole time. All he had to do was walk past it to throw the envelope!"
"It seems we really underestimated these people! Jiang Man, go back and tell everyone to get ready. They'll follow behind me and Wang Qing from a distance!"
I pretended to make a deal and handed a porcelain bowl to Jiang Man. After she left, I opened the envelope when no one was around.
The letter inside contained only one sentence: "Place the Yama's tumor on the banyan tree at 7 PM tonight. No exceptions."
They only said they wanted something, but didn't say whether they would release the monkey after receiving it, nor did they specify the location of the transaction.
Their arrogant behavior enraged me: "That bastard is seriously underestimating us!"
Wang Qing pointed to the Tianya Tiger Armor on the ground: "The direction of the Gu worms has changed from due south to due east, which means that Number Four has likely left the area that we cannot reach."
I took out the knife from under the blanket and poured the sleeping potion Wang Qing had given me onto the blade: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's arrest him right away. I want to deal with him myself!"
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