Treasure Fish Golden Winged Red Carp! Proficiency Soars! Please Vote!

Hundred Herbs Hall.

Qin Wang and Bai Fenghuan sorted and categorized medicinal herbs together, while Doctor Bai treated the patients who came in every few days.

Yu Hai was responsible for preparing the medicine.

Qin Wang could sense the faint hostility in Yu Hai's eyes, but he ignored it.

Five in the afternoon.

Since there were hardly any patients, Bai Fenghuan had prepared dinner early.

"Grandpa Bai, I'd like to borrow a medical book to read tonight. Would that be all right?"

After dinner, Qin Wang looked at Bai Mingliang, his eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

"There are medical books on the shelves in the back hall. They're all rare copies. Have Fenghuan take you to choose one. Just don't lose it."

At those words, Bai Mingliang looked at Qin Wang with approval in his eyes.

Little Qin was a studious child, after all.

"Thank you, Grandpa Bai!"

Qin Wang clasped his fists in thanks to Bai Mingliang. Bai Fenghuan said, "Big Brother Qin, come with me."

Watching Qin Wang and his granddaughter head into the back hall, Bai Mingliang stroked his beard and nodded.

Qin Wang followed Bai Fenghuan into the back hall.

The bookshelves stood against the wall of the back hall. Bai Fenghuan took out a medicine spoon and opened the tiny lock. Qin Wang counted them over—there were likely no fewer than several hundred books.

He gave them a rough glance. There were the "Medical Scripture," "Acupuncture Scripture," "Pulse Diagnosis Method," "Tianhui Medical Slips," "Pulse Book: Upper Chapter," "Pulse Book: Lower Chapter," "Heqi Decoction Method," and more.

"This is a foundational medical book. It was the first one I read too, so start with this one!"

Bai Fenghuan took out the "Medical Scripture" and handed it to Qin Wang.

"Mm."

Qin Wang nodded. The Medical Scripture was about an inch thick, its cover yellowed and the corners of its pages slightly curled, clearly having been read often.

After Qin Wang returned home from Hundred Herbs Hall, before he even entered his house, he saw Li Yunhai emerge from his home carrying a fish basket. "Little Qin, your uncle got lucky today and caught a Treasure Carp. Do you think Doctor Bai would like it?"

"Treasure Carp? All right. How much is it? I'll take it to Doctor Bai right away."

Qin Wang walked over to Li Yunhai and looked into the fish basket. Inside was a carp about a foot long, covered in red scales, with faint golden streaks on its dorsal fin. The basket contained a waterproof pouch filled with water to keep the fish from dying.

The fish opened and closed its mouth slightly as it swam within.

"This is called a Brocade Red Carp, a Treasure Fish. A fisherman I knew once had the good fortune to catch one, and it was bought by a Martial Arts practitioner from the county town for more than two taels of silver. If Doctor Bai wants it, two taels will do."

Li Yunhai handed the fish basket to Qin Wang and scratched the back of his head, in high spirits as well.

This kind of fish was exceedingly rare. Many fishermen went their entire lives without catching such a Treasure Fish.

Catching a Treasure Fish this time meant he had struck it rich.

He had sold all his other catch to the fish market, keeping only this one.

He remembered Qin Wang saying that Doctor Bai wanted fish like this. Everyone ate the five grains and suffered from the aches and ailments of mortal life. Since Doctor Bai had said he wanted it, Li Yunhai naturally did not dare neglect the matter.

"Brocade Red Carp, two taels of silver. All right, I'll take it to Hundred Herbs Hall now and bring the money back to you afterward."

Qin Wang took the fish and nodded.

He remembered that the intelligence had identified this fish as a Golden Winged Red Carp, not a Brocade Red Carp. Qin Wang did not point it out. He was taking advantage of Uncle Yunhai, and he could find a chance to repay him later.

Qin Wang went home, packed the fish into a cloth sack, returned the fish basket, and headed for Hundred Herbs Hall.

He was actually buying the fish for himself, merely using Doctor Bai's name. So he took a turn around Qingniu Town and came back, left the fish at home, then carried two taels of silver to Li Yunhai's door and knocked.

"Little Qin, was Doctor Bai satisfied?"

Li Yunhai opened the door and looked at Qin Wang, expectation and unease in his eyes.

"Uncle Yunhai, Doctor Bai was very satisfied. Here are two taels and six mace of silver."

"He said to pay the market price. He couldn't take advantage of you."

Qin Wang nodded and took out the two taels and six mace of broken silver he had prepared beforehand, handing it to Li Yunhai.

"Two taels is enough. The last time my eldest had a cough and fever, Doctor Bai saw that I didn't have enough money and only charged half for the medicine."

Li Yunhai took only the two taels from Qin Wang's hand, refusing the other six mace.

He remembered Doctor Bai's kindness.

Otherwise—

he would not have cared so much after hearing that Doctor Bai wanted a special kind of fish and brought it back. If he had taken this fish to the fish market, people would certainly have fought to buy it.

"All right, then."

Qin Wang had no choice but to take back the six mace. For now, he would accept this favor on Doctor Bai's behalf and repay Uncle Yunhai in the future.

After exchanging a few more polite words, the two returned to their homes.

"Wife, we have our children's tuition!"

Li Yunhai closed the door, looked at his wife Xiao Yan standing in the main room, and placed the two taels of silver in her hands.

His wife was right. They still had to learn to read. Otherwise, would they grow up to fish like him? What prospects would they have?

Look at Little Qin. Because he had learned a few characters from his father, Doctor Bai had taken him on as a medicine boy.

"Today is a good day. We should celebrate. No porridge tonight—we're cooking unpolished rice! One bowl each!"

Xiao Yan was equally excited. She looked over the silver again and again, then went into the room to fetch the money pouch, carefully put it away, and headed for the kitchen.

Li Yunhai led the two children into the kitchen as well.

Laughter and cheerful voices drifted from the kitchen.

Qin Wang returned home.

He shut the door and propped the bolt with the Iron Wedge.

Only then did he take out the Golden Winged Red Carp. He scraped off its scales, removed its gills, split it open, and threw away the gallbladder. He could not bear to discard the other organs; he would save them for soup. This was a great tonic, and the organs were rich in nutrients that could replenish qi and blood.

His body was so frail now. He needed the nourishment.

Qin Wang lit the fire and heated the wok. He tossed the Golden Winged Red Carp into it, added coarse salt and a slice of ginger to remove the fishy odor, fried both sides until lightly browned, then poured in some well water and began to simmer it.

For such a "Treasure Fish," soup was the best way to draw out its nourishment.

Before long.

A rich fragrance filled the kitchen.

The fish soup was milky white and slightly thick.

"This fish... tastes incredibly fresh!"

Qin Wang picked up a spoon, ladled out a mouthful of soup, blew on it, and drank. It felt as though his taste buds had burst open at once. The texture was superb, with an unexpectedly silky, slick sensation!

He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks.

The flesh was pale red, with only a single bone, and incredibly tender and smooth. Though seasoned with nothing but coarse salt, it carried a natural, fragrant flavor that made Qin Wang unable to resist taking another piece, then a second, then a third.

Before long.

Qin Wang had eaten half the fish and drunk half the soup. Yet a wave of fullness rose within him, and he could not eat another bite.

"This fish truly deserves to be called a Treasure Fish. Half of it filled me up!"

Qin Wang looked at the remaining half of the fish and rubbed his stomach. These past few days at Hundred Herbs Hall, he had eaten three bowls of rice at every meal, yet half a Treasure Fish had filled him up.

"Hm? So hot!"

Qin Wang suddenly felt heat surge through his entire body. His energy was abundant, his spirits high. He muttered, "Is this the effect of a Treasure Fish? I'll practice Ancestor's Long Fist and work off some heat!"

With that thought.

Qin Wang began with the thirty-two forms, including "Double Scoop Seal Heaven" and "Charging Step Twin Palms."

After reaching the entry level, Qin Wang no longer needed to consult the manual. The thirty-two forms were already engraved in his mind.

As Qin Wang practiced Ancestor's Long Fist, he kept an eye on the book page panel in his mind.

Qin Wang

Lifespan: 17/67

Skill: Culinary Arts (Entry)

Progress: (799/800)

Effect: Steaming, boiling, frying, pan-frying, grilling, braising, mixing. Diligence makes up for clumsiness; proficiency can be reached in two or three months.

Martial Arts: Ancestor's Long Fist (Entry)

Progress: (9/800)

Effect: Agile footwork, long-range strikes and close-in leverage, powerful explosiveness, skilled at close-quarters brawling. Minor accomplishment can be reached in two years.

"Hmm?"

"As expected of a Treasure Fish! After one round of Ancestor's Long Fist, it feels like my strength has increased quite a bit!"

"Again!"

Qin Wang suddenly discovered that after eating the Golden Winged Red Carp, practicing one round of Ancestor's Long Fist made the strength throughout his body increase enormously!