A smile can topple a city

Chapter 39

"Tonic medicine?" Xiao Xun was slightly surprised. "You have a deficiency syndrome?"

Mo Yinxue was so angry she almost couldn't catch her breath. She rolled her eyes at him, but after hearing Xiao Xun's next words, she finally jumped up, tears streaming down her face.

"I only used a little bit of a drug that can make a person's appearance age and become ugly. If you don't take my antidote every day, you will become uglier and uglier..." After saying this, Xiao Xun walked out the door guiltily. Her mother had said that women care a lot about their appearance, and the more beautiful a woman is, the more she cares. She wondered if it was true. Her trick was not very clever, and she didn't know if she could fool this girl.

A notice was posted at the entrance: "The Farmer's Sect, teeming with experts, is recruiting male and female disciples to strengthen their bodies and uphold justice." Xiao Xun touched the notice, wondering if this would reach the boss's ears and if it would attract her here.

A venomous voice came from behind: "What do you mean by 'a gathering of experts'? I don't see any! What 'farmers' sect? Such a rustic name!"

Xiao Xun steeled himself and turned his head, bravely looking directly at Mo Yinxue: "Starting today, I will change my name... to... Ruyun. I am a master like Ruyun, is that not allowed? I just want to stand up for the farmers... to uphold justice for them, is that not allowed? If you don't like walking, that's fine. Anyway, I have already released your pressure points, and your legs are now attached to your body."

Mo Yinxue cursed inwardly! Cursing Xiao Xun's mother! But on her face, she put on a fake smile: "Miss, can't I stay? I just want to watch you make a fool of yourself, watch you not be able to recruit a single disciple... By the way, where's today's antidote?"

Xiao Xun gave an "oh," scratched his head, and said, "Antidote? Oh no! The so-called 'antidote' isn't ready yet..."

Suddenly, a timid voice asked, "Excuse me... is this place recruiting new disciples?" Xiao Xun turned around and saw a middle-aged woman with a pale face leading a thin boy...

Although the several bowls of dark, glossy medicine each day were extremely unpalatable, bitter medicine is a good medicine, and Luo Qingcheng's swelling subsided quickly, rapidly revealing the outline of his stunningly handsome features. Ye Xiao observed this and kept it in mind.

Luo Qingcheng woke up after a good night's sleep at midday, his stomach growling loudly. He lay in bed, intending to enjoy the sweet taste of food from his personal feeding machine, but after waiting for a long time without seeing Ye Xiao, he pretended to call out weakly a few more times, but still no one came. He was so hungry that he had no choice but to get up and find food himself.

He reached the kitchen and saw the leftovers on the stove, including fish and shrimp. He quickly wolfed them down to fill his stomach, but his mood suddenly turned sour. He slunk back to his room, and on the corridor, he suddenly heard Ye Xiao's voice from inside. He immediately stopped and pricked up his ears.

"...Sir, I wonder if Qingcheng has had enough of those medications? I'd like to take some too..."

"You want to eat too?! You're poisoned too?!"

“No… He became more and more beautiful after taking this medicine, and I want to become beautiful too… I… am willing to pay another eight thousand taels of silver… Although I don’t have that much money on hand right now, I can pay you on credit… I will definitely pay you back…”

Bang! The sound of something rolling over, crack! The sound of something shattering. Luo Qingcheng turned around painfully, suppressing a laugh, and slammed his hand on a pillar in the corridor. Crack! The pillar broke in two...

Ye Xiao looked strangely at the trembling, rolling child on the ground, then at the table shattered by the pharmacist, somewhat bewildered. Even if there was no medicine left, there was no need for such regret; there were plenty of opportunities to make money!

After Ye Xiao left in disappointment, Xiao Tong finally burst out laughing: "Truly exceptionally intelligent. Definitely a family tradition of learning!" The pharmacist's face darkened, and after a long pause, he said: "Your family tradition is far from being strong! It took you more than two months to concoct a potent antidote! Any later and the person would be dead!" Xiao Tong's face quickly fell, clearly very unhappy.

Recovery from illness is like pulling silk from a cocoon.

Ye Xiao entered the room dejectedly, and Luo Qingcheng immediately closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Ye Xiao gently patted his cheek, but Luo Qingcheng didn't move. Ye Xiao secretly raised her hand to trace his eyebrows, muttering softly, "What's going on? He's getting more and more handsome every day. Is he a caterpillar?" She touched his rosy, beautifully shaped lips, and thinking of the pig-headed man she fed mouth-to-mouth every day, her heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she felt a surge of tenderness and couldn't help but press her face against his, but then she heard him chuckle and quickly blushed and remained still.

Luo Qingcheng had been holding back his laughter for so long that he almost suffered internal injuries, but he finally broke down and opened his eyes, smiling gently, "Caterpillar?"

Ye Xiao stood up, trying to cover up her embarrassment: "It's one of those insects that can turn into a butterfly in an instant..."

Luo Qingcheng's smile widened: "Silly Xiaoxiao! This is how I've always looked, not because of that awful-tasting medicine... Xiaoxiao, you're still silly enough to go and buy medicine from someone..."

Ye Xiao's face darkened, and he said angrily, "You were eavesdropping! You can get out of bed now?"

Luo Qingcheng immediately regretted it, thinking that the special feeding machine might break down, and stammered, unable to speak.

Ye Xiao stormed back into the living room, where the pharmacist and the young boy were already there. Seeing Ye Xiao, the boy was clearly in a good mood, grinning as he asked, "Does the young lady still want the beauty potion?"

"I would like to ask you, sir... to add more Coptis chinensis to the medicine..." Ye Xiao whispered.

"Coptis chinensis? Why?"

Ye Xiao didn't speak. Why? It was all because of that jerk! He was always so vain, and his mouth was foul too. He was always calling her stupid and dumb... It was unbearable! But Ye Xiao suddenly felt a little confused. He used to be like that too, and she didn't feel angry then. Why did she find it unbearable now?

Luo Qingcheng stared blankly at the food in front of him, seemingly without any appetite as no one fed him. Countless thoughts raced through his mind, trying to rekindle that warm, loving feeling they once shared. The thick curtains moved slightly, and he quickly lay down on the bed. Ye Xiao entered, carrying a large bowl of medicine.

"Qingcheng... get up and take your medicine..." Ye Xiao said softly.

Luo Qingcheng gave a muffled "hmm" but didn't open his eyes.

Ye Xiao paused slightly, put down the medicine bowl, and sat down on the bed: "It's time to take your medicine... The doctor said that the poison in your body hasn't been completely removed yet, and you need to take a few more doses..."

Luo Qingcheng, his face contorted in pain, struggled to open his eyes and weakly said, "Xiaoxiao... put it here for now, I'll drink it when I have some strength left..."

Ye Xiao touched his forehead worriedly: "Hmm? What's wrong? Didn't you just get up?"

Luo Qingcheng groaned a few times: "I just got up, and now I'm drenched in sweat even when I move..." As he spoke, he used his internal energy to force out a cold sweat.

_____________________

Ye Xiao withdrew her hand, looking in surprise at the damp sweat on it. Really! Had her illness relapsed? Ye Xiao hurriedly picked up the medicine bowl: "It must be because you got up too late today and didn't take your medicine on time... We can't delay any longer, you have to drink it quickly." As she spoke, she scooped a small spoonful of medicine and put it into Luo Qingcheng's mouth.

Luo Qingcheng was overjoyed. He groaned again, feigning strength, opened his mouth, and poured in the black medicine, which spilled out from the corners of his mouth, staining his clothes. Ye Xiao panicked even more: "No... I'll feed you with my mouth!" She lowered her head and took a big gulp, then vomited up all the medicine with a "whoosh," still feeling nauseous. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

Luo Qingcheng hadn't yet recovered from the joy of her successful scheme and was somewhat surprised: "What's wrong? Xiaoxiao?" Could it be that her acting was too over-the-top and frightened her?

Ye Xiao didn't speak, only shook her head sadly, slowly put down the medicine bowl in her hand, and silently left the room. Luo Qingcheng leaped out of bed, intending to chase after her, but suddenly remembered that she had just claimed to be unable to move, so she pitifully lay back down on the bed.

Ye Xiao approached the pharmacist for the third time, her face still streaked with tears. "Sir... could you please brew another bowl of medicine?"

The herbalist slowly raised his head from the table, paused for a moment, then suddenly became furious. He angrily flung his sleeve and was about to rush out when the quick-witted child asked, "What's wrong?"

Ye Xiao hesitated for a moment before saying, "Um... I just spilled the medicine."

The herbalist's gaze grew even colder, and he quickly made several hand gestures. The boy's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Did you have a fight with Young Master Luo?"

Ye Xiao shook his head anxiously: "Could you quickly brew another bowl? Don't add Coptis chinensis! His poisoning has worsened! I'm afraid he'll die soon if we wait any longer!"

The herbalist quickly looked at the child, who suddenly blushed: "Uh? Really? Let's go see..."

Looking at the group of people who seemed to have ill intentions, Luo Qingcheng felt a little regretful, but he was already in a bind, so he could only lie there listlessly, panting heavily with his mouth open.

The child immediately noticed the medicine on the table: "Huh? Didn't this bowl of medicine spill?"

Ye Xiao's lie was exposed, and he was caught red-handed. His face slowly turned red, and he stammered, "It's too bitter! I can't bring myself to eat it!"

The pharmacist was clearly furious, waving his hands rapidly at Luo Qingcheng: "You think it's bitter? A grown man like you thinks medicine is bitter? These are all precious herbs, we can't brew another dose! Take it or leave it! Don't be reckless!"

Ye Xiao's face turned even redder: "Yes... I find it too bitter..."

The herbalist turned around in surprise, staring at Ye Xiao in astonishment. The young boy, feigning cleverness, chuckled, "Miss Ye, did you really think this medicine could make someone beautiful? So you tried it yourself first?"

Ye Xiao shook her head seriously: "No... he didn't have the strength and couldn't swallow the medicine. I always had to feed him with my mouth. Actually, it's because I found it bitter. You can't blame him..."

The young boy couldn't help but burst into laughter, while the pharmacist's expression darkened like a rain cloud. Suddenly, with a wave of his hand, a soft sound rang out, and the bowl of medicine on the table, along with the medicine, turned into a fine powder and black mist. Ye Xiao cried out in surprise, worried that she had angered him, and whispered, "I'm sorry, sir, I really didn't mean to waste your medicine..."

The pharmacist scoffed repeatedly, "The antidote was the pill I fed him on the first day; he's already taken it and won't die! These medicinal liquids are fine as well!"

Ye Xiao was still somewhat incredulous: "Sir... but he has no strength at all..."

"Oh?" The pharmacist's gaze shifted, a golden light flashing in his hand as he thrust it straight at Luo Qingcheng's head! Luo Qingcheng, with his sharp eyes, clearly saw the long golden needle in the doctor's hand. No longer daring to feign illness, he quickly shifted a foot to the side and rolled off the bed. "Uh, I feel much better now! Just now my whole body felt weak..."

Ye Xiao was stunned for a moment, then looked at the doctor with admiration: "Sir, you are truly a reincarnation of Hua Tuo! You really have miraculous healing skills! You cured him with just one look!"

The herbalist snorted coldly, nearly fainting from anger, and stormed off with a stern face.

Ye Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and happily grabbed Luo Qingcheng's hand: "Is it really all better?"

Luo Qingcheng looked at the shattered medicine bowl on the ground with great regret. After thinking for a long time, she finally came up with another reason to act coquettishly: "It's just that the knife wound on my leg still hurts terribly..."

Regardless of Luo Qingcheng's self-destructive behavior and attempts to act coquettishly, his rapid recovery was an undeniable fact. So undeniable that even Ye Xiao was no longer deceived by him. This was something Luo Qingcheng greatly regretted; he had originally intended to take advantage of this opportunity to be alone with Ye Xiao and help her understand his burning and obvious feelings. Unfortunately, aside from occasionally marveling at his stunningly beautiful appearance, the big papaya completely ignored his explicit and implicit advances.

This made Luo Qingcheng somewhat anxious. He saw that Ye Xiao had already started making arrangements to go back and meet up with Lao San. Apart from limping like a duck in front of Ye Xiao every day to imply that her leg injury was still very serious and she could not endure the hardships of a long journey, he had no other choice.

After several days of continuous hints, Ye Xiao finally began to worry about his leg injury.

That day, Ye Xiao brought Luo Qingcheng to see the reincarnated Hua Tuo again. "Sir... I injured his thigh... Could you please take a look and see if it's serious, and if he can..." For some reason, he choked on his saliva and coughed so hard he couldn't speak, so he could only gesture. He extended his index and middle fingers, spread them apart, and made a shaking motion that seemed to be a straddling motion.

The medicine man understood immediately, and he wanted nothing more than to tear Luo Qingcheng to pieces. He said coldly, "Well... of course, it's possible that it won't work in the future. But I need to see it to be sure."

No... Watching Ye Xiao's actions, Luo Qingcheng's mind went blank, as if struck by lightning. All his confidence and expectations were shattered, and even his heart almost stopped beating.

Ye Xiao finally stopped coughing after a while, and said with some worry, "Then could you please take a look at him, sir?" As he spoke, he went out the door, surprisingly knowing to avoid the situation.

The herbalist, looking at Luo Qingcheng's anxious and indignant face, said with a deliberately malicious glint in his eye, "Actually, it's alright. Some people can't have sex right now, but they can once their injuries heal. However, you must abstain from sex..."

Luo Qingcheng hadn't recovered from the blow he'd just received, and was once again stunned by the pharmacist's terrifying logic. After a long while, he pitifully said, "If it doesn't work now, it might work later... So, if it works now, does that mean it won't work later?"

The herbalist looked surprised: "You can do it now? Then there won't be any problem in the future... but..."

Luo Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief. His heart, which had been scared to death, started beating again in his chest. He wished he could immediately unleash a few angry bolts of lightning, fly out the door with a whoosh, and blast the anxious little man at the door to smithereens!

"But..." The doctor suddenly became angry and no longer concealed his voice, saying in a gloomy tone, "Are you capable now? Who are you capable of now?" A golden needle flashed in his hand and stabbed towards him.

Luo Qingcheng dodged: "Is it wrong for me to exercise and walk my bird every morning? Who exactly are you? Why are you hiding your face and pretending to be mute when you can speak?"

The doctor laughed angrily: "Heh! Fine, of course! You better keep an eye on your little bird and don't let it go where it shouldn't, or I'll crush its head!" He stretched out his long arm and pounced on it.

Ye Xiao waited anxiously at the door, and after a long time, she saw Luo Qingcheng come out disheveled.

"The doctor said I'm fine, so I can do it now, and naturally I can do it later too." Luo Qingcheng raised his eyelids and said impatiently, his face slightly flushed.

Ye Xiao smiled happily: "Really? Now? Let's give it a try. I'll go prepare." He turned and left.

A bolt of lightning struck the clear sky again, leaving Luo Qingcheng dizzy and bewildered. "Smile...so proactive? Shall we try it now?"

Feeling dizzy, I returned to my room, completely disoriented for a while. Finally, I remembered I should take a shower first, so I hurriedly scooped a full tub of hot water. Just as I was about to undress, I heard Ye Xiao's voice, so I had to throw down the bath ladle and sniff my own body odor. Reluctantly, I opened the door.

Ye Xiao, leading a white horse, waited at the door with a grin: "You can ride a horse now? That's great! Riding a horse is faster than taking a carriage... I'm worried about Lao San and want to find him as soon as possible!"

"Riding a horse? You mean... riding a horse?" Luo Qingcheng was greatly disappointed.

"Riding a horse?" The herbalist had appeared out of nowhere with a young boy, who had a large bruise on his forehead.

"Sir, what happened to your forehead?"

The herbalist nonchalantly gestured, "He fell down." He glared fiercely at Luo Qingcheng.

"Sir, is he really ready to ride a horse right now?" Ye Xiao asked again to confirm.

"Of course!" The doctor's expression immediately brightened, and a hint of teasing amusement appeared in his eyes.

Luo Qingcheng said coldly, "I don't think that will work!"

"Okay...I promise I can..."

"If it doesn't work, I'll smash your signboard!"

"Do whatever you want! But you can definitely do it!"

Luo Qingcheng finally took a deep breath and said loudly, "Definitely not, because I can't ride a horse..." Before he finished speaking, a gust of wind swept past the pharmacist's head, and the glaringly obvious plaque fell to the ground, shattering into dust...

Changes in the martial arts world

"Why isn't that big oaf back yet?" It was completely dark when Mo Yinxue finished tidying everything up and even cooked a big pot of porridge.