"Speak human!"
Zhao Guo'an stepped forward and grabbed Sun Shijie's collar. This reaction was quite normal, after all, when faced with a death threat, no reaction is considered too extre.
However, when Xiao Feng heard these words, he beca reflective.
"Seeing isn't necessarily believing, and feeling isn't always the truth... these words fit perfectly with my experience under the Illusion Technique."
Still, Xiao Feng didn't imdiately assu Sun Shijie was intentionally hinting at him with a double entendre, as these words, when laid bare, are just those universal and undeniably truthful but useless statents.
Take, for example, the most versatile catchphrase: This is fate...
At this mont, Sun Shijie spoke up, "My expertise lies in using dicine, and dicine itself doesn't have a distinction between good and bad. It depends on whether the user can apply it correctly.
Used correctly, even poison can serve as a redy, but if misused, even a great supplent can harm people just like poison."
"What exactly are you trying to say!" Zhao Guo'an asked impatiently.
"You'll figure it all out if you check your own pulse," Sun Shijie calmly replied.
Zhao Guo'an hesitantly released his grip, checked his pulse, and couldn't help but widen his eyes and exclaim, "How is this possible? Clearly, there were signs of poisoning, so why are they gone now?"
After a while, Zhao Guo'an's eyes lit up in realization, "Using poison to counteract poison?"
"You can be taught, you can be taught indeed!" Sun Shijie nodded with satisfaction, "If only I had t you earlier, but alas, such a promising talent, I lack the fortune."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng and others turned dark-faced; was it necessary to praise so much over just a sentence about "using poison to counteract poison"?
"Earlier, when I checked your pulse, I found your pulse was unusual, as if many residual toxins were left in your ridians, and you yourself are a practitioner of Chinese dicine, so naturally, it's impossible to let the poison stay within your body."
Sun Shijie smiled slightly, "So, there's only one possibility, which is that what remains in your body isn't poison, but toxins from long-term dication lingering in the ridians. Judging by the depth, they should be from childhood, and I happen to have a solution, so I casually helped you out."
"Why didn't you tell earlier, letting believe I was poisoned, and even threatening to harm my friends? What are your intentions with such actions?" Zhao Guo'an asked, puzzled.
"Didn't I just say?" Xiao Feng interjected, "It was a test set for you."
"Yes, precisely a test I deliberately left for you!" Sun Shijie admitted with a nod.
Zhao Guo'an was dumbfounded, "Could it be that the senior wants to..."
At this point, anyone with any insight could guess roughly what this ant; Sun Shijie was likely wanting to pass on his teachings to Zhao Guo'an. However, outwardly, Zhao Guo'an neither seed overjoyed nor pleased, instead he looked rather conflicted.
In Xiao Feng's eyes, this posture was clearly just a pretense, planning to accept after refusal.
Essentially, saying no, but the body is honest.
Yet before Sun Shijie could speak, Zhao Guo'an said, "The senior's dical skills are outstanding, far beyond my own abilities, and more than sufficient as my master.
But, unfortunately, with my limited knowledge and abilities, I can't take over your mantle. Moreover, we have certain rules in this line of work, I won't say my master is still alive, even if he were to pass away, I wouldn't change doors and apprentice under you."
Sun Shijie shook his head with a smile, "I have no intention of taking you as my disciple, and anyway, I don't have ti to find another successor to properly train. I fear this regret of not fulfilling the duties of teaching the ancestral knowledge might remain unfulfilled in this lifeti."
"Then why are you testing ?" Zhao Guo'an was even more confused.
"Naturally, I wanted to see your character." Sun Shijie smiled, "In truth, I helped resolve your physical issue because I have a request."
"Please, say it. As long as I can do it, I won't refuse!" Zhao Guo'an replied with a respectful bow.
Sun Shijie sighed, walked to the corner, took out a worn ancient manuscript, and handed it over cherishly, "This is the sum of my life's study. If you have the opportunity, help seek out a suitable successor; it will atone for my sins.
The test I just gave you was to ensure you wouldn't use it for evil, or I would truly be guilty."
Zhao Guo'an received it with both hands solemnly, "Rest assured, I, Zhao Guo'an, swear to the heavens, I won't even open this book. I will follow your request, but do you have any specific requirents for the successor of your knowledge?"
Sun Shijie thought for a mont and said, "Gender doesn't matter, background doesn't matter, what's needed is talent, willingness to work hard, and most importantly, good character. I trust your judgnt."
Zhao Guo'an nodded, bowed deeply, and carefully placed the ancient manuscript in his backpack.
"This is real external injury dicine, you all can use it." Sun Shijie pulled out a jar from under the bed, opened it, revealing a heap of white powder, which looked a lot like kitchen salt.
Xiao Feng joked, "Is the old gentleman thinking of poisoning us and then trying to put salt on our wounds?"
"If you're worried, you can let him test it." Sun Shijie, clearly not one for jokes, imdiately handed the jar to Zhao Guo'an.
"Old Xiao, when will you learn to control your mouth!" Zhao Guo'an said irritably.
Xiao Feng wasn't pleased at that mont, and sneered, "There's still a question I haven't understood, what was the poison you had before? Could it have been one that made your butt hurt?"
"I have told you many tis, it was because I accidentally fell!" Zhao Guo'an said anxiously.
"Haha... Yes, that's right, very correct, accidentally fell." Xiao Feng's tone was strange, with a smile on his face that said "I understand."
Zhao Guo'an suddenly felt a surge of frustration triggered by this remark, initially it seed harmless, but the more he thought, the more it felt off.
But being anxious couldn't help.
In terms of verbal battles, he couldn't beat this guy, and in a fight...he certainly couldn't win either; all he could do was repeatedly lant his poor choice in friends.
Actually, throughout this journey, Zhao Guo'an had fantasized countless tis about how much better it would have been if he hadn't impulsively stepped through Xiao Feng's courtyard door, but reality didn't allow for "if."
This might just be the epito of a single misstep leading to a lifeti of regret...
...
Once the dicine was applied, everyone began eating.
During this ti, Xiao Feng found Sun Shijie, "Mr. Sun, there's a deal I'd like to discuss with you."
"Speak," Sun Shijie replied bluntly.
Xiao Feng didn't speak imdiately but glanced at Su Yuzhuo not far away.
"Is it about her?" Sun Shijie preemptively asked.
"Yes."
"Then don't say another word." Sun Shijie directly blocked the conversation.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but be taken aback, but upon consideration, he found it understandable.
The better the friends, the deeper the hatred becos once the relationship breaks. Sotis, it's even more penetrating than animosity.
User Comments
0 comments from readers