A Century-Old Chicken Blood Vine

"Cough cough cough..."

Mr. Mengfei was laughing so hard that Xuhui threw a peanut into Mr. Mengfei mouth, causing Mr. Mengfei to cough repeatedly.

"Uncle-Master, why are you leaving? I'm pouring you some tea." Su Ziyang continued to pour Xuhui's tea with an innocent expression, then stopped Xuhui from leaving.

"You brat, stop your nonsense." Xuhui sat back down and continued drinking his tea, glancing at Su Ziyang. "So you won't pour me tea unless I tell you the secret recipe?"

"How could that be? You're my senior apprentice! It's only right that I pour you tea!" Su Ziyang, in his obsequious manner, refilled Xuhui's empty teacup.

"I've read the Bian Clan Bonesetting you compiled. I even put the one you gave to Lao Pang in his coffin. Just for that book you compiled for Lao Pang, kid, I actually admire you quite a bit!"

Xuhui watched Su Ziyang pour tea and said something after a moment's thought.

After leaving Lao Pang's house, the three of them all refrained from mentioning Lao Pang again.

In particular, Su Ziyang was deliberately avoiding his sadness and not recalling the moments he had spent with Lao Pang.

Now that Xuhui said that, Su Ziyang felt a little sad again. He put down the teapot and sat to the side without saying a word.

"Hey, look at this kid. I've already told you about birth, aging, sickness, and death, the natural course of life, why are you still acting so upset!" Mr. Mengfei had a very high level of understanding, so he took it all in stride and put down his teacup to persuade Su Ziyang.

Su Ziyang remained silent, sitting on a chair to the side, fiddling with his fingers.

"Your master is right. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of life. Don't be sad. I've been friends with Lao Pang for many years, and I'm not too upset either. On the contrary, it's a blessing that he gained a disciple like you during his final days! I'm truly happy for him."

Xuhui and Mr. Mengfei are very good friends, and their intellectual level is exceptionally high.

Hearing the two say the same thing, Su Ziyang felt much less uncomfortable and lowered his head to eat some snacks. After thinking about it, he thought, perhaps it really is true.

The three chatted for a while, and the atmosphere once again broke the silence.

"Uncle-Master, you just said that the chicken blood vine bracelet I'm wearing is a hundred years old. Is that true?"

Su Ziyang really liked the bracelet that Xuhui had given him, because it was very comfortable to wear, and a warm feeling kept emanating from it.

"Yes, that's true."

Xuhui took a sip of tea and spoke in a deliberately profound tone.

"Back in the day, I was traveling all over the country! I entered a wild mountain, and suddenly one day, I saw a red cloud drifting from west to east in the distance... I calculated with my fingers and knew that a demon must be about to be born!"

Xuhui suddenly switched to a storytelling style, which startled Su Ziyang.

Mr. Mengfei simply grabbed a towel and covered his face, pretending not to recognize Xuhui.

Xuhui spoke these two sentences loudly, attracting the attention of many people in the hall.

Okay, tell me a story!

A burly man with a shaved head and a body full of fat was actually cheering and clapping his hands on the side.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow, we'll talk about it tomorrow! Please stay tuned for the next episode!" Xuhui, without blushing or skipping a beat, even clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute to the crowd.

Everyone chuckled when they realized it was a joke and went back to their own conversations.

"Xuhui, after all these years, can't you get rid of this bragging habit?!"

Mr. Mengfei pulled the towel off his face and looked helplessly at Xuhui was still smiling.

"I was just telling your apprentice a story, and I got a little emotional."

Xuhui grinned, showing his teeth.

"Uncle-Master, please continue!"

Su Ziyang, a sycophant, continued to flatter and cheer for Xuhui.

Seeing that Su Ziyang was quite enthusiastic, Xuhui also perked up. "So, that day, after I saw that red cloud, I immediately used all my speed and ran towards it..."

Mr. Mengfei, seeing Xuhui talking so much he was practically drooling, couldn't take it anymore and kicked Xuhui in the butt. "No way, you're really getting carried away. What the hell are you doing talking nonsense with a kid like this? Can't you speak like a human being?!"

Upon hearing Mr. Mengfei's words, Su Ziyang became displeased. "Master, I think what my uncle said is quite good, you're interrupting!"

"Look at that kid, he's more sensible than you. Go ahead and drink your tea..." Xuhui rolled his eyes at Mr. Mengfei, then turned back to continue his banter with Su Ziyang.

"Just tell me how you got lost!"

Mr. Mengfei ate a pistachio while looking at Xuhui with a mischievous grin.

"Damn it! I'm not talking anymore."

Seeing that Mr. Mengfei was always undermining him, Xuhui threw down the sunflower seed shells in his hand, lay down on the recliner, and started staring at the ceiling.

"Uncle-Master, Uncle-Master, please continue! Oh dear, Master, please don't interrupt! I'm listening to the story!" Su Ziyang poured tea for Mr. Mengfei and began to feign complaint.

"I'm not going to talk anymore! Mengfei is such a lunatic, he keeps interrupting!" Xuhui said, then closed his eyes to rest.

"It's nothing, I know. It's just that your martial uncle went out to gather herbs that day... and then, by accident!"

Mr. Mengfei was slowly preparing to begin his speech when he was interrupted by Xuhui, who sprang up from his recliner. "Do I need you to tell me! Can't I just say it myself?!"

"Then tell me!" Mr. Mengfei suppressed a laugh, looking down as he cracked sunflower seeds.

"Back then, it was like this!"

Xuhui seemed a little embarrassed, stammering and hesitant.

"Oh dear, it's just that he fell into a pit... and then got lost after waking up." Mr. Mengfei directly exposed this to Xuhui.

"..."

Xuhui's eyes were practically spitting fire as he looked at Mr. Mengfei. If it weren't for the crowd in the lounge, Xuhui would have gone up and bitten Mr. Mengfei right then and there.

For Xuhui, who had learned various herbal medicine skills in the mountains since childhood, getting lost was a disgrace. Since today was the first day he met Su Ziyang, he naturally couldn't talk about his embarrassing moments. However, Mr. Mengfei didn't give Xuhui a chance to show off and directly exposed him.

"What's the big deal! It's nothing! Your martial uncle will teach you a lesson today, explaining what it means that 'misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and blessing may be a misfortune in disguise.'"

Xuhui's first plan failed, he immediately changed to another way of showing off.

"I won't argue with you saying that." Mr. Mengfei didn't forget to add insult to injury after he had already exposed the situation.

"Get lost..." Xuhui cursed at Mr. Mengfei.

"One year, I went to Hunan, to collect medicinal herbs in the mountains on the border of Western Hunan."

Xuhui finally got to the point. "Actually, there are many things to consider when gathering herbs. We usually prepare before going into the mountains. At the time, I thought I was quite capable, so I didn't bring anything and just went into the mountains. Herb gatherers are afraid of encountering wild animals in the mountains, especially wild boars, bears, and snakes."

"Wild boars in the mountains weigh hundreds of pounds, covered in tree sap, sand, and mud; even a gun can't penetrate them, let alone a bear. Snakes are most afraid of venomous snakes, which are the most dangerous."

"When I first arrived there, I thought I was quite capable, so I only brought a knife, some first-aid medicine, and some dry food. Then I went into the mountains. Wild mountains like this often have some valuable medicinal herbs."

"I used the terrain to determine my direction and slowly made my way into the mountains. Around noon, I heard a bear roar... I panicked a bit and pulled out my knife, clearing a path as I went. Somehow, I heard the bear's roar getting closer and closer, and in my panic, I lost my way and fell into a bear trap dug by the locals. Luckily, the trap didn't have any spikes or anything! I just slipped and fell, and wasn't injured!"

"The trap was extremely high, and I couldn't get up it no matter what I did. By the time I slowly dug a place I could climb over, it was already dark... The forest was so dense that I couldn't see the stars at all. My vision was limited at night, and I was afraid of being chased by a bear, so I didn't remember the way and got lost..."

"After having a quick bite to eat and finding a place to rest for the night, I dared to set off again the next day. I used the terrain to determine my direction once more and then started heading back. Since I felt that my initial attempt had been unsuccessful, I would have to wait until another day to explore this forest."

"But I realized I seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the woods, and it didn't look like I could get out of there at all. That's when I really started to panic."

"When I thought it was around noon, I suddenly saw a red light emanating from a very distant place. The light was surrounded by layers of mist, and I knew it must be something good. I quickly ran towards that place."

"When I got closer, I discovered it was actually a very dense chicken blood vine. This red mist was emitted by that chicken blood vine! The thickest part of the vine was as thick as my thigh, and the thinnest part was as thick as my arm. So I picked a few thick branches, and some thinner ones, like the one you're carrying, which is the one I picked last time."

Seeing Su Ziyang's incredulous expression upon hearing about the chicken blood vine as thick as a thigh, Xuhui immediately took out his phone and showed Su Ziyang a picture.

Sure enough, it really was a chicken blood vine as thick as a thigh. This thing is particularly easy to identify because there are very obvious congealed blood-like substances at the broken ends.

"Wow, it's really that thick! It's really good stuff!"

Su Ziyang praised it repeatedly, saying it was indeed a good product.

"Luckily, I have photos now, otherwise people would think I'm bragging!" Xuhui grinned and put his phone down with great pride.

"Ah, then, Uncle-Master, how did you come out of the forest!"

Su Ziyang always brings up topics that are best left unsaid.

"I finally ran into that group of bear hunters, and I gave them several hundred yuan to get me out."

Xuhui said with extreme displeasure.

"I've noticed, you two, master and apprentice, are always so inquisitive."

"Let's investigate..." Su Ziyang chuckled.

"Investigate my ass..." Xuhui took a sip of tea, squinting as he recalled the events of that year.

"Yes, let's explore it." Mr. Mengfei chimed in from the side, "Su Ziyang, you should learn more from your martial uncle. Learn things like processing powder, making medicine, and gathering herbs. Whatever you learn will be a skill."

"That's for sure! Hehe! My martial uncle will definitely tell me everything he knows." Su Ziyang chuckled, shifted his body, and continued pouring tea for Xuhui.

"Are you trying to subtly criticize me?" Xuhui looked at Su Ziyang. "If I like you, I'll teach you a thing or two; if I don't, then forget it!"

"Uncle-Master, I wouldn't dare," Su Ziyang quickly apologized.

"Hmm. Know some manners. How should you speak to your martial uncle? Do you think your martial uncle would hold back anything for you? He'd definitely tell you everything he knows." Mr. Mengfei chuckled and pointed at Su Ziyang.

Actually, Su Ziyang knew what it meant when Mr. Mengfei invited Xuhui over for a get-together.

That means he should learn from Xuhui again, since one person's strength is limited. Mr. Mengfei really treats him like a treasure, taking him around to learn how to make gold-edged rims.

Judging from Mr. Mengfei's teaching method, even a simpleton could be enlightened.

"I'm leaving. You two, master and apprentice, really, you'll swindle me out of my underwear in no time."

Xuhui covered his face, feeling utterly helpless watching the master and apprentice's back-and-forth banter. He wasn't afraid of their abilities, but rather of them being capable yet shameless.

The three of them laughed and joked for a while longer.

Xuhui had something to do, so he left first. Su Ziyang's leave had also expired, so the two of them drove back to the clinic.

After a long and tiring journey, Su Ziyang felt dizzy and went to sleep as soon as he got back.

Su Ziyang was fast asleep when the phone rang.

"Xiao Su, Xiao Su. Come out for dinner tonight. I have a friend with me."

The person making the call was Fairy Li.

"I've been driving for so long, I'm a bit tired, so I guess I won't go," Su Ziyang said Yangyang on the phone.

"I'm right downstairs from your house. You'd better come down in ten minutes!" Fairy Li hung up the phone immediately.

"..."

Su Ziyang looked at the phone that had been hung up, then flipped off the bed and onto the floor with a quick movement. He hurriedly washed his hair and tidied himself up.

A figure dressed in Hanfu downstairs is looking down at their phone.

"Fairy Li, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? I don't even know your friend. It'll be quite awkward." Su Ziyang said, looking at Fairy Li.

"Stop your babbling! Is it so hard for me, this fairy, to let you out for a meal? Don't think you're all that just because you've learned a few skills and cured a few ailments. Try coming down here today, or I'll beat you to death!"

Fairy Li stretched out her little fist at Su Ziyang. Su Ziyang looked at Fairy Li's fist and chuckled, "Not hard. Not hard. Who am I going to be hard on? I can't be hard on Fairy Li! Hehe..."

"That's more like it. Seeing how sincerely you've admitted your mistake, I'll give you a chance to atone. Drive for me, you'll be in charge!"

Fairy Li tossed the car keys directly to Su Ziyang. Su Ziyang held the keys in both hands and cheekily opened the car door for Fairy Li.

"Let's go to a restaurant Little Jiangnan. I've never been there before. You can use the navigation!" Fairy Li instructed, then continued looking down at her phone.

"Alright!"

Su Ziyang started the car and headed towards Little Jiangnan Restaurant following the navigation.

"Fairy, may I ask? Do you have a gold mine on your phone? You're always looking down at your phone!"

Su Ziyang noticed that Fairy Li acting very strangely today, because Fairy Li usually hardly ever looked at her phone, but today she kept staring at it without saying a word.

"It's a secret!" Fairy Li chuckled, ignoring Su Ziyang and continuing to stare at her phone.

Seeing that Fairy Li remained silent, Su Ziyang decided not to make a fool of himself and focused on driving.