Chapter 51. Pesticide of Freshness (7)

"…So, the village was occupied by bandits, then."

The next morning, my senior and I reported the information we had gathered from the interrogation. Bai Linghua, who had been directing the cleanup at the scene all night, only heard our report when it was light.

"Yes. They said the bandits came in about two months ago."

According to the fake innkeeper, they were originally a bandit gang wandering around this area.

However, as their notoriety grew, the government troops began to pursue them. To avoid the pursuit, they gradually found it harder to find ways to survive.

In the end, the bandits decided to raid a village, plunder it, and pretend to be villagers until things calmed down. That's how they ended up in Luoye Village.

'What a tragic event.'

But in the vast Central Plains, such incidents were not uncommon.

"Then, what happened to the original villagers?"

"Most of them were killed or fled."

"That's what happened…"

When the bandits raided, the people of Luoye Village couldn't resist and most were either killed or fled. I silently prayed for the souls of the villagers.

"What a tragic event."

Bai Linghua also had a sorrowful expression, closed her eyes for a moment, and prayed for the souls of the villagers. Then she asked us,

"By the way, where did that Menghun Potion come from? Was it something they had from the beginning?"

"That's the thing…"

It was absurd, but after occupying the village, a Southern Barbarian merchant visited. They got him drunk, tricked, and killed him, then took his belongings, which included this Menghun Potion.

"That's the potion."

I handed the vial containing the Menghun Potion to Bai Linghua. It was about the size of a small tumbler. She picked it up, smelled it, and said,

"…It's highly pure. I feel dizzy just from a slight whiff."

"Yes, it doesn't seem like an ordinary item."

Senior Zuo Junping said solemnly. According to Guo Dushan, who had extensive experience in the martial world, this Menghun Potion was qualitatively different from the cheap ones commonly used by villains.

At least, it wasn't something a simple peddler would carry. Moreover, it was a Southern Barbarian, which was rare in the Central Plains, indicating something suspicious.

"An item of this quality is both expensive and hard to come by."

"Indeed… that seems to be the case."

I thought for a moment and said,

"Perhaps the Menghun Potion was too strong, and the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison couldn't counteract it?"

"That's possible."

"Or there might have been another factor. In any case, it's not an ordinary Menghun Potion. This time, we were just unlucky."

There are things in the world that can't be prevented no matter how well you prepare. That's what we call bad luck. So, don't blame yourself too much.

However, Bai Linghua, who didn't seem consoled, said with a regretful look,

"Thank you, Cheng Biao. But if we had taken turns eating, this wouldn't have happened. It was a preventable incident."

"……"

Her words weren't wrong. It was indeed mentioned in the manual. Of course, it's rare to be that thorough during a mission.

Bai Linghua said with a determined look,

"It was my oversight. I won't be complacent again."

After reflecting on herself, Bai Linghua instructed us to keep the Menghun Potion separately and returned to the cleanup. We also went back to help with the cleanup.

After briefly dealing with the bandits' bodies and finishing the departure preparations, it was almost midday.

"Ugh!"

While packing to leave, I stumbled without realizing it. I hadn't slept all day, and my injured shoulder was a bit painful. Seeing me stumble, Bai Linghua approached and asked,

"Cheng Biao, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I can manage."

"You didn't sleep at all last night, did you?"

"Well, that's part of it."

In fact, I had taken breaks to practice Qigong, which allowed me to endure for about a day, thanks to the Heavenly King Heart Sutra.

However, Bai Linghua, looking worried, said,

"You can't be left like this after saving everyone. You should ride in the carriage today."

"Really? Is that okay?"

Riding in a carriage during a journey was something I had never experienced since leaving the martial world. I didn't refuse.

"Thank you, Chief."

I bowed deeply in gratitude and was about to get into the carriage when Guo Dushan came running over.

"Why are you riding in the carriage?"

"Yes. Chief said I could because of my efforts last night."

"Really! I also contributed…"

Guo Dushan immediately looked dejected. After all, he had worked harder than I did. Seeing the disheartened Guo Dushan, Bai Linghua smiled bitterly and said,

"Then, Guo Biao, who also made significant contributions, should ride in the carriage too."

"Really?"

Guo Dushan immediately grinned like a child. However, he couldn't ride in the carriage. His size alone would take up two seats.

"Damn it."

In the end, Guo Dushan had to ride in the baggage cart, but he seemed quite comfortable, which was a relief.

***

The biggest topic in the carriage was the battle from the previous night. I, who valued humility as the greatest virtue, downplayed the bandit leader's martial arts skills as much as possible.

"That guy wielded the Azure Dragon Crescent Moon Saber, wow. It was really unbelievable. The Gang Qi (Hard Qi) was just overwhelming…"

Bai Linghua, rubbing her forehead as if it hurt, said,

"…Please don't exaggerate."

"You didn't see it because you were resting."

Bai Linghua then closed her mouth like a honey-eating bear. No one in the carriage could fact-check her. I continued my story.

"And when that Gang Qi hit my shoulder, I gracefully dodged. If it had gone a bit deeper, my shoulder would have been severed."

"Did you injure your shoulder?"

Wei Zhiyan asked with a worried look. I showed her the wound by pulling down my clothes.

"Yes, this is the wound. It's a wound of honor, you could say."

In the bright daylight, the wound didn't look too severe. Thanks to the Iron Body Heart Sutra, I wasn't badly cut, but the impact had left a deep bruise around my shoulder.

'Now that I look at it, I did get quite hurt.'

It would probably hurt a lot if I touched it. Seeing my wound, Bai Linghua rummaged through her belongings and took out a healing ointment.

"Since I have the medicine…"

"I'm closer, let me apply it."

Wei Zhiyan reached out to stop Bai Linghua and took out her own healing ointment.

Logically, it made more sense for Wei Zhiyan, who was right in front of me, to apply it rather than Bai Linghua, who was diagonally across. I nodded and extended my shoulder.

Wei Zhiyan's soft fingers gently massaged my shoulder, and soon the pain began to subside. A floral scent lingered in the air.

Sniff, sniff.

"……"

While Wei Zhiyan was applying the medicine to my shoulder, Bai Linghua glanced at her, then at me, and silently put the ointment back. She then stared at me intently.

"……"

For some reason, an awkward silence filled the carriage. The atmosphere seemed to drop a bit. After she finished applying the medicine, I pulled up my clothes and resumed the story.

"Thank you. And in that precarious moment, I grabbed the bandit's spear shaft…"

"……"

I continued recounting the heroic tale of the previous night. It was indeed a magnificent battle.

"……"

However, during my story, Pang Gui, who was sitting next to me, kept giving me a look that seemed to say, "Shut up."

I didn't understand why.

***

After the incident in Luoye Village, Senior Zuo Junping and Bai Linghua were on high alert throughout the mission, as if they had vowed never to be complacent again.

They not only took turns eating but also set up night watches to maintain strict vigilance. Thanks to this, nothing unusual happened as we passed through three villages.

It was a bit troublesome, but safety was the top priority. Thinking this, I was bringing food to Wei Zhiyan and Pang Gui when I heard them discussing something inside the room.

"…We can't figure out its nature."

"Indeed, it's the Tang Family…"

They seemed to be having an important conversation, so I hesitated to interrupt, but the food would get cold if I waited longer, so I knocked and entered.

"I've brought the food."

Hearing that, they looked at me and sighed deeply.

"Why are you sighing when you see someone?"

When I complained a bit, Wei Zhiyan quickly denied it.

"It's not that."

"We can't figure out the nature of this medicine."

As she said this, Pang Gui held up the vial. It was the Menghun Potion from the previous Black Spot incident. I put down the food and recognized it.

"Oh, that medicine. Is there a problem with it?"

Pang Gui then picked up other medicines she had laid out on the floor and started explaining.

"We checked every pharmacy in the villages we passed through, but none of them had anything similar. I've never seen a Menghun Potion like this."

"Hmm…"

"Moreover, its effects are quite peculiar… I have no idea what kind of medicine it is."

Indeed, Bai Linghua had said this was her first time encountering such a case. At that moment, I had a question.

'But does Pang Gui know much about medicine?'

It might be a bias, but she was from the Pang Family. If it were someone from the Zhuge Family, I would have understood, but I found it hard to trust her.

It felt like a literature major trying to figure out why a computer won't boot.

As if reading my thoughts, Pang Gui raised an eyebrow and said,

"What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing."

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I was always the top student in the Medicine King's class."

Indeed, such biases were not good. I nodded and replied,

"I see."

"Anyway… you, a bodyguard, are too arrogant, you know?"

"That's my charm."

"You're really annoying."

Pang Gui, unbecoming of a noble lady, grumbled. I ignored her complaint and asked another question.

"What about the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison?"

Previously, Bai Linghua had said she would try to find out why the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison didn't react to the Menghun Potion. I was asking if there had been any progress.

Pang Gui nodded.

"I don't have a definite answer, but I have a theory."

"What is it?"

I leaned in to listen. Pang Gui took out the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison from her pocket and showed it to me.

"Poisons usually have a cold and yin nature. Occasionally, there are poisons with a hot and yang nature, but most are like this."

After saying this, she fiddled with the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison for a moment and continued,

"However, the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison has an extremely yang nature. This yang energy protects the user from poisons."

I thought for a moment. Honestly, it felt like reading a sales page for a face mask. It sounded like it was creating an AT field to block radiation.

Anyway, I understood that this Menghun Potion was different from others. I decided to confirm if my understanding was correct.

"So, the Bear's Gall Bladder Poison didn't counteract the Menghun Potion because this medicine has a different nature, right?"

"Yes, that's my guess."

To be honest, it was hard for me to understand, as it sounded like something a doctor would say on a health show.

After Pang Gui finished explaining, Wei Zhiyan added,

"However, I've never heard of a Menghun Potion with a hot and yang nature. It might be better to consult the Tang Family of Sichuan."

"That's why I'm taking it to Xia to ask."

"Indeed, the Tang Family of Sichuan might know something."

The Tang Family of Sichuan, known as the experts in poisons, might have a good answer.

I decided to understand it to this extent and shrugged. I wasn't planning to open a clinic, so it was better for my brain health to stop there.

Nodding, I said,

"Then, I'll take my leave. Enjoy your meal."

"The smell will probably ruin the taste…"

Ignoring Pang Gui's grumble, I left the room. While heading to the stables to check on the horses, I calculated the remaining schedule in my head.

'About four more days, I guess?'

The remaining journey to the Tang Family of Sichuan wasn't very far.

It was almost over.