Ever since Meng Qingshan raised his Herb Identification skill to level 4, he had become extremely sensitive to the scents of medicinal herbs.
Although he had only studied the forms and effects of various medicines in Wuwei Herbal and had never experienced these herbs firsthand, that was precisely the power of the system panel.
Once a skill level increased, all the related knowledge and experience would be deeply imprinted in his memory as if he had lived through them himself.
This scent was exactly like the fragrance of Ephedra!
Ephedra was a herb that dispelled wind and cold. If taken in excessive amounts, it could cause agitation and heart palpitations, leaving the user unable to calm down.
Looking at things now, the Black Horse's madness at the city gate had seemed like a simple case of the animal being spooked, but in reality, someone had deliberately caused it.
Just then, Meng Qingshan heard a familiar voice from the inn's front courtyard: "It's said that only a hundred jars of White Jade Fat are sold each year, and every year it's so sought after that not a single jar is left unsold.
"Brother Wang, if you hadn't generously given up this jar, Ning'er would never have been able to buy it, no matter how much silver she offered!"
"Haha, I've tasted this wine many times already. You, on the other hand, traveled a thousand li to buy it for your father. If I didn't do you this favor, wouldn't that spoil everything?
"What's more, you already bought it from me for twice the market price. There's no need to thank me again."
The voices clearly belonged to the Red Clad Girl and Wang Ruozhi, whom he had just seen.
Just then, the waiter said, "Customer, you still have some change left from your payment. Why not enjoy a meal at the inn? Afterward, I can take you to your accommodations. What do you think?"
Meng Qingshan shook his head. "I'd better not. I have important matters to attend to over the next few days. I only wanted to find somewhere to leave this horse for a while.
"If I'm away during those days, please look after it for me. Of course, when I return, I'll give you a little extra for your trouble."
In the runner's eyes, Meng Qingshan was clearly generous with his money. Hearing him say this only made the runner more delighted.
He replied enthusiastically, "Rest assured, customer. I'll take excellent care of your horse. I'll make sure it's well-fed, strong, and swift as the wind."
Meng Qingshan's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Then I'll leave it in your capable hands."
With that, he took the travel bag off the horse's back, tucked the Brocade Cloud Saber behind his waist, and left the side courtyard.
The moment Meng Qingshan stepped outside, he nearly collided with a young woman in red.
She was graceful and lovely, holding a wine jar in her arms, a mischievous, charming smile on her face as she swept lightly past him.
Walking alongside the Red Clad Girl was Wang Ruozhi.
Wang Ruozhi held a jade-boned white fan in one hand, gently waving it as he walked, his dashing elegance on full display.
As the two passed, Meng Qingshan's nostrils twitched. Amid the girl's fresh, delicate scent, he detected a faint, bitter fragrance, almost too subtle to notice.
His gaze turned involuntarily toward the source of the Ephedra scent—Wang Ruozhi.
The scent came from Wang Ruozhi.
His suspicions had now been confirmed.
There was no doubt Wang Ruozhi was the one behind the Black Horse's fright. Then he had made his dashing entrance and played the hero to save the beauty. How could an inexperienced young woman not be moved by that?
Should I stop the main storyline from triggering in this situation?
A thought suddenly surfaced in Meng Qingshan's mind, but he soon shook his head and cast it aside.
Regardless of anything else, with his current strength, if he rashly confronted Wang Ruozhi, he would have no chance of winning. He might even end up in mortal danger.
Although he had some connection with Sheng Wubing, that connection was limited to Sheng Wubing himself. It was nowhere near enough to make him risk his own safety for someone who happened to be connected to Sheng Wubing.
In the original main storyline of Wulin Qixia Zhuan, Emperor Shengwu's death had swept across the Nine Provinces like a storm. Heroes and warriors alike had thrown themselves into the struggle for power, and the Divine Land had been plunged into endless warfare and turmoil.
Yet amid this chaotic age, Yunzhou stood apart.
Years earlier, King Yun Chu had established the Seven Mysteries Sect in Yunzhou to govern the martial world.
The four renowned constables under the sect had made names for themselves far and wide. At their mention, everyone in the martial world turned pale.
With King Yun Chu commanding Yunzhou's powerful army as well, none of the region's sects and clans dared to raise their heads and invite their own destruction.
Under King Yun Chu's rule, Yunzhou had managed to preserve a rare degree of peace and stability compared with the other provinces.
But the fickleness of fate was always cause for regret.
After An Ning'er stole the Black Dragon Red Sun Pearl, King Yun Chu fell ill and died.
His son, King Yun Xiang, succeeded him and became wildly ambitious, seeking to rule all Nine Provinces and conquer the world. He therefore sent a large army to invade neighboring Qingzhou.
Qingzhou was within the Jianghe Gang's sphere of influence.
It was worth noting that the Jianghe Gang's leader, Fang Bingshu, known as Quan Zhenjianghe, was a Chosen One in version 2.0. The tens of thousands of troops sent by King Yun Xiang were driven back again and again by the Jianghe Gang's attacks, routed and badly weakened.
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