Village

Two days had passed since Li Qi accepted the old horse.

After Li Qi gifted the old horse a wisp of Azure Dragon Spirit Qi, the old horse became quite fatigued. For the past two days, it had been following Li Qi and the others at a slow pace, appearing drowsy.

Li Qi worried if it couldn't handle the Azure Dragon Spirit Qi, or if it was simply too old and its body couldn't keep up.

Could it die like this?

Shen Shuibi, after examining it, told Li Qi, "Don't worry, he's just expelling the killing aura."

Then, she began reciting: "The upper jiao circulates qi to warm the muscles and nourish the bones and joints, opening the pores."

"When yin and yang are established, qi travels with respiration, moving with a purpose, following its principles, in harmony with heaven, without ceasing."

She continued, "The middle jiao circulates qi like dew, flowing upwards to fill the valleys, and seeping into the smaller vessels. When the bodily fluids are harmonized and transformed into blood, and the blood is harmonious, the smaller vessels fill first, then flow into the collateral vessels. Once they are all full, they flow into the main channels."

Li Qi didn't understand a single word, but he forced himself to remember it, intending to study it word by word later and ask Shen Shuibi for clarification. Eventually, he managed to grasp the meaning.

The various types of qi generated within the human body circulated throughout the body along different channels.

The qi from the upper jiao could warm the muscles and skin of the entire body, nourish the tendons, bones, and joints, and open the pores.

The qi from the middle jiao, like dew naturally sprinkled across the land, flowed into the small gaps between the muscles of the human body. It also seeped into the vessels. With the harmonization of bodily fluids and the transformation by the qi of the heart and lungs, it turned into blood, circulating within the body's channels.

The circulation of blood was smooth and orderly, first filling the smaller vessels, then flowing into the collateral vessels. Once the collateral vessels were full, they flowed into the main channels. Thus, the blood and qi in the yin and yang channels became abundant, circulating throughout the body with each breath.

Within the body, the circulation of qi followed these patterns and cycles, just like the movement of celestial bodies, repeating endlessly.

Therefore, the human body, a small universe, shared a similar principle with the vast universe outside.

Currently, the old horse was using its own strength to control the Azure Dragon Spirit Qi, gradually circulating it according to the established patterns to expel the killing aura within its body.

This was because when the killing aura invaded the blood vessels, it caused stagnation of blood flow. If blood flow was stagnant and blocked, the protective qi in that part of the body would also become congested and unable to disperse.

When qi and blood could no longer circulate back and forth but were forced to gather in a specific area, it would form an abscess. If this swelling and pain festered and turned to heat, and the heat toxin accumulated and steamed, it would cause the muscles to rot. When the muscles rotted, they would turn into pus. If the pus could not be discharged, it would cause the fascia to rot, and then spread into the "gao huang" (a vital area in traditional Chinese medicine, often referring to the space between the heart and diaphragm).

Once it reached the "gao huang," it would damage the bones. The killing aura could no longer be expelled outwards, scorching the bones and causing the bone marrow to stagnate, which would lead to blood depletion.

With stagnant blood, the tendons, bones, muscles, and internal organs would all be deprived of nutritive qi and protective qi, ultimately leading to the decay and breakdown of the physical body, resulting in death.

Although the wound had been cleaned before, the old horse's body was still filled with killing aura. That was why he had asked Li Qi for a wisp of the Great Forest Wood Qi from the Azure Dragon Spirit Qi.

At that time, Shen Shuibi had said, "The book mentions that if this condition manifests in the thigh and lower leg, it is called 'gu jin ju' (thigh and leg abscess). Its appearance may not change much, but the pus from the abscess presses against the bone. If not treated promptly, death will occur within thirty days. That's why the old horse was so anxious."

Li Qi listened to her explanation and learned that it referred to the "gu jin ju" in the thigh and lower leg. Although there were no significant external changes, the pus formed by the abscess was close to the bone. If not treated quickly, death could occur within thirty days.

This was why the old horse was so anxious.

Great Forest Wood Qi is formed by the ascending wood qi during spring, drawing from the star constellations of the East, and the spirit qi of the Azure Dragon among the Four Symbols. At this time, things are timely, branches and leaves are lush, forming dense forests, capturing the prosperity of wood. It uses the vitality of wood to promote one's own vitality. Wood is born in the Hai hour (9-11 PM), its branches shake the wind, its twigs support the moon. This way, the killing aura can be dispelled.

Shen Shuibi spoke eloquently, leaving Li Qi stunned.

Truly a cultured rabbit.

Then, Li Qi went back and pondered it for a long time.

Damn it, translating this, isn't it just about stimulating one's own immunity to make the abscess recede on its own! Relying on the body's immunity to fight off the infection!

Once he understood this, Li Qi no longer worried.

Fighting infection with immunity would definitely cause fever, weakness, dizziness, and so on. It should get better in a couple of days.

Therefore, he simply went up the mountain to survey the area, laboriously found traces of a village, and then spent half a day heading towards it.

He would go to the village first, trade his pot lid, farming tools, and the like for supplies, and then let the old horse recover properly.

After all, the old horse couldn't walk now, let alone carry anyone. It could barely walk itself.

Besides, Li Qi didn't have anything good to feed it. He himself could only pick wild fruits, drink spring water, and eat rice cakes. So, the old horse could only nibble on grass and eat some green leaves.

Shen Shuibi said this wouldn't do and that recovery would be slow if it continued like this.

Li Qi also felt that if this went on, the old horse might die before it could fight off the infection. He needed to get some bird eggs, soybeans, or something to supplement its nutrition.

There weren't many eggs in this world because the chickens here could fly... and were very fierce.

Can they even be considered chickens?

Never mind, don't think about that.

The old horse seemed to understand its condition. Shen Shuibi translated for it several times on the way, and it kept thanking both of them.

Li Qi didn't know what to say. After all, it was an eight-foot Dragon Steed. If it weren't for its old age and misfortune, with his status as a boat-puller, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to ride it in his life without some extraordinary encounter.

Therefore, Li Qi only told it that they were helping each other. Then, he transferred another wisp of Great Forest Wood Qi that he had cultivated the previous day.

With this, they finally reached the village on the second day.

The village was very secluded, with even a rudimentary wooden wall made of thick logs driven into the ground.

To build a village in the wilderness, Li Qi knew with his toes that these villagers were not to be trifled with. Ordinary bandits probably wouldn't dare to provoke them.

Worlds with cultivation techniques are truly messed up.

"Villagers!" Li Qi stood outside the village, leading the old horse. "We're just passing through, traveling merchants! Do you want to see some goods!?"

"We have salt, hoes, and rake heads! And cloth too!" Li Qi put down his carrying basket, displaying the farming tools and cloth inside.

A middle-aged farmer, holding a pitchfork, asked with full vigor, "Other traveling merchants always go in groups, how dare you travel alone?!"

"They don't have horses! I do! They run for four days, I only run for one! I'm not afraid on the road!" Li Qi shouted again, "My horse got injured! I wanted to rest here for a day and buy some food!"

His words were reasonable and well-supported, and his backpack indeed contained salt and iron farm tools that the villagers needed.

Furthermore, he had brought a woman with him.

A man traveling with a woman was definitely not a threat, especially since he had a horse.

That was a horse, after all. Traveling merchants had horses, and they probably wouldn't think much of the goods from a village like theirs.

With the simple wisdom of the villagers, they made their judgment and opened the village gate: "Then come on in!"