Yellow Medicine Enters the Body, Drawing Clouds to Wander; Silver Needles Fix the Soul, Displaying a Unique Skill

"You're in luck." Wu Sheng smiled.

"This man is called Shi Jie. He's my fellow disciple and junior martial brother. Like me, he enjoys wandering the world, and he happened to be traveling through Qingzhou these past few days.

"However, my junior martial brother has a somewhat eccentric temperament. Brother Chen, if he offends you in any way, I hope you'll be magnanimous."

"I'm the one seeking his guidance. Naturally, that won't be a problem. Brother Wu, just take me to see him!"

Chen Duan became intrigued.

Wu Sheng's fellow disciple was actually a medical practitioner.

Although it was somewhat unexpected, on closer thought, it was perfectly reasonable.

Wu Sheng's Dragon Patrol Hand was divided into four steps—"observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking"—which had quite a lot to do with medicine.

Wu Sheng did not delay. After eating and drinking his fill, he led Chen Duan to the temporary residence of his junior martial brother, Shi Jie.

The two arrived before a quiet little courtyard.

Thump Thump Thump!

Wu Sheng knocked on the door ring.

"Junior martial brother!"

Only after several successive knocks did a flurry of hurried footsteps come from inside the courtyard.

With a creak, the door opened a crack.

The head of a boy of around fifteen or sixteen poked out.

"Where's your master? I have an important matter to see him about..."

Wu Sheng had only spoken halfway when the boy before him suddenly vanished.

"Hm?"

After freezing for a moment, Wu Sheng realized what had happened and looked behind him.

The boy had already appeared behind Chen Duan. He wrapped both arms around Chen Duan's waist and abdomen, groping wildly as his eyes gleamed and he exclaimed repeatedly in wonder.

"What a fine body."

"What an exceptionally fine body!"

Wu Sheng slapped his forehead.

"Damn it, fooled again!"

Just then, another boy ran out of the courtyard.

"Coming, coming..."

This later boy's appearance was exactly the same as that of the "boy" embracing Chen Duan.

When he saw the scene at the gate—especially that "version of himself" clinging to Chen Duan—his face immediately fell. He said speechlessly, "Master! Why have you turned into my appearance again?"

The "boy" embracing Chen Duan chuckled, released his hands, and took a step back.

Chen Duan's fist slowly relaxed. If Wu Sheng had not warned him beforehand, he would almost have thrown a punch just now.

The "boy" flipped his wrist, and three silver needles appeared between his fingers. He stabbed them toward his own neck.

The skin on his body wrinkled and writhed, twisting and transforming as his figure grew several inches taller.

His features changed as well. In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a tender young boy into a handsome young man.

Shi Jie rolled his neck, a fascinated smile on his face, his gaze glued to Chen Duan.

"A body this perfect is truly rare~"

Wu Sheng helplessly stepped forward and introduced them.

"Brother Chen, this is my junior martial brother, Shi Jie. The boy beside him is my nephew-disciple, Zhang Zhen."

He then turned to Shi Jie. "Junior martial brother, this is Chen Duan, my good friend. He came this time because he wants to ask you about some difficult problems concerning medicinal theory."

"Oh? Ask me about medicinal theory?"

Shi Jie grew interested, but before he could say much, Zhang Zhen burst out laughing beside him.

With Chen Duan's burly appearance, saying he was studying medicine was indeed somewhat amusing.

But in the next moment—

Zhang Zhen's laughter abruptly stopped. He touched his neck, where a fine needle was already quivering. He instantly lost his voice and could no longer make a sound.

"Do not be rude to our guest." Shi Jie slowly withdrew his hand.

Zhang Zhen covered his neck, his face full of grievance and speechlessness.

Master! You started by touching the guest's body. That was the real rudeness, wasn't it?

Chen Duan did not take it to heart. He cupped his hands and came straight to the point.

"Senior Shi, I do indeed have some doubts concerning medicinal theory. However, they can hardly be called medical skills. I hope you won't begrudge me your instruction."

"Of course, of course."

Shi Jie stepped aside to clear the way.

"Medicinal theory is precisely one of the fields I'm best versed in. Come in quickly. We can discuss it in detail inside. Disciple, what are you still standing there for? Go brew some tea!"

His words were polite, but his gaze continued to linger over Chen Duan's body.

He did not care much about the request for guidance in medicinal theory.

After all, Chen Duan did not possess that "medicinal scent" of someone who had studied medicinal theory for many years. He was likely not a professional physician or apothecary.

Chen Duan then followed Shi Jie into a quiet room.

The air was filled with the mixed scent of medicinal herbs, yet it was not bitter. Instead, it carried a hint of freshness.

Wu Sheng stood outside the quiet room and cupped his hands.

"You two discuss medicinal theory. I, Wu, am an outsider, so I won't go in and disturb you..."

"Brother Wu, there's no need to stand on ceremony. What I'm discussing isn't entirely medicinal theory. Much of it requires practical verification. Brother Wu, you're rich in experience. If you gain any insight while listening, you can join the discussion at any time. Wouldn't that be even better?"

Wu Sheng hesitated briefly before smiling. "Since that's the case, then I'll impose on you."

The three sat around a round sandalwood table.

Zhang Zhen was quick and nimble. He soon prepared a pot of clear tea, poured cups for the three of them, then retreated behind Shi Jie and stood at attention.

But in the next moment—

His legs suddenly went limp, and he collapsed to the floor with a "plop," his eyes tightly shut. He had fallen straight asleep.

Shi Jie lifted his teacup and took a light sip before explaining, "My worthless disciple is young and not yet steady of mind. It's unavoidable that he can't control his tongue, so I've let him sleep for a while."

Looking at the boy sprawled on the floor, a trace of lament flickered through Wu Sheng's eyes. Studying under this junior martial brother of his was truly unfortunate; every so often, he would receive a needle like this.

Chen Duan nodded slightly, his expression calm.

Shi Jie appeared frivolous on the surface, but he was still a cautious man.

Of course, Chen Duan did not care about that.

If he were truly afraid of his secrets being exposed, he would not have come here. After all, he was meeting Shi Jie for the first time as well. Whether Shi Jie could be trusted depended entirely on Wu Sheng's guarantee.

He took out an oil-paper packet and pushed it before Shi Jie.

"I've temporarily named this substance 'Yellow Medicine.' It can seep into the body through mere skin contact, causing slight hallucinations and rendering a person unconscious."

"Seep through the skin?"

Wu Sheng was surprised when he heard this.

Shi Jie did not ask any further questions. He directly extended his index finger and dipped it into a small amount of the powder.

Within a few breaths, he became dazed. His head swayed slightly as he sank into a hazy state.

But he quickly reacted. Pinching a silver needle between his fingers, he drove it straight into his own forehead.

As the silver needle entered his body, his form trembled slightly. The confusion in his eyes faded, and clarity returned.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful~" Shi Jie exclaimed repeatedly. His attention had already been drawn to the "Yellow Medicine," shifting away from Chen Duan himself.

Wu Sheng's curiosity was also piqued. "May I try it?"

"Of course. However, this medicine is quite potent. I'm afraid you may fall into a deep sleep and be difficult to wake." Chen Duan warned him.

"No matter. With me here, Senior Martial Brother can give it a try. The sensation this substance produces is extraordinarily strange."

With Shi Jie's guarantee, Wu Sheng confidently gave it a try.

The medicinal powder touched his skin and rapidly dissolved and absorbed.

Wu Sheng felt a slightly numb sensation spread along his arm. Then his vision began to spin, his body slowly softened, and a drifting sensation swept over him, as though he were lying atop a cloud.

It made him want to sink into it and never emerge...

Shi Jie flicked a finger, sending another needle into Wu Sheng's forehead.

Wu Sheng shuddered and abruptly woke up.