Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

The middle-aged man nodded and smiled, "I see. Seeing how engrossed you are in reading the 'Poison Classic,' young man, you must really enjoy studying poisons?"

Xie Xiaoyi naturally liked it a million times over.

He had already felt that life was meaningless after being transported to this unfamiliar ancient world. The injury he suffered from Xiao Lingyun's sword energy a few days ago made him realize the gap between himself and those martial arts masters.

If one can master poisons, it might even make up for one's shortcomings in martial arts.

But he would never tell the truth.

He claims he studied drugs so he could better harm others in the future?

He's not that stupid.

In modern times, he's a Pisces, lying is second nature to him, he doesn't need to think before he lies, and he's never even blushing.

"Sir, you misunderstand. I don't like learning about poisons at all."

I was just thinking that there were poisonous plants everywhere in these mountains and forests.

What if one day a passing traveling merchant or a nearby villager accidentally gets contaminated with the poison?

If I could recognize these poisons and know how to neutralize them, I could help save lives.

He spoke eloquently, displaying his impressive knowledge, and the middle-aged man listened with an approving expression.

Xie Xiaoyi thought to himself, if you're going to put on an act, you have to do it properly, so he scratched his head and added:

"Medicine and poison are inseparable. Understanding poison is essential for better antidote treatment. I learned all this so that I could help others."

As the autumn wind blew, the bamboo blinds of the medicine shed rustled, and the herbs drying in the corner of the courtyard swayed wildly in the wind.

The middle-aged scholar pulled a plant from his backpack, its leaves resembling small halberds and its stem tinged with purple, and held it directly in front of Xie Xiaoyi, asking bluntly:

"Do you recognize it? This is called 'Ghost's Bane,' what kind of poison is it?"

"This herb is extremely poisonous. If it touches a wound, it will fester. If you eat it, the poison will spread through your intestines. If you don't have an antidote within three hours, you will die."

"Then how do we solve it?"

Xie Xiaoyi thought to himself, "Is he testing me?"

Who is he?

Um......

Perhaps he is a friend of Hua Lingshu!

Since you want to test me, then let me show you that I, Xie Xiaoyi, am not without my abilities.

"Take the inner white bark of an old locust tree, crush it, mix it with raw sesame oil to form a paste, and apply it externally to treat skin ulcers."

If accidentally ingested, a concentrated decoction of the whole Andrographis paniculata plant must be prepared.

Then, mix in children's urine and force-feed it, repeating this three times to suppress the poison.

Xie Xiaoyi explained it clearly, and the middle-aged scholar's expression of approval deepened.

Then he pulled out a vine with small white flowers from his backpack.

"And look at this, the 'Entangling Vine'. How about eating it?"

"My whole body was cramping, my hands and feet were curled up together, like a puppet on a string, and I couldn't straighten my body until I died."

"Where's the antidote?"

"Mix the roots of clematis with aged glutinous rice wine, simmer for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, drink it, and then use silver needles to prick the Yongquan and Quchi acupoints to force out the remaining toxins."

The middle-aged scholar stroked his short beard and stared at Xie Xiaoyi for a long time.

"This child is teachable; no wonder he enjoys reading medical books. It seems he has a photographic memory!"

"Master!"

"Master, you're back!"

The bamboo curtain was flung open with a "whoosh," and Hua Lingshu, carrying a bowl of medicine, and Hua Suwen, clutching half a herb, rushed out.

The two men were taken aback when they saw the scene in the courtyard, and then quickly ran to the middle-aged scholar's side.

Xie Xiaoyi's face turned pale instantly, and his heart jumped into his throat.

He never dreamed that the middle-aged scholar who tested him with poisonous herbs was actually the master of Hua Lingshu and Hua Suwen!

The middle-aged scholar smiled at his two apprentices, patted Hua Suwen on the head, and then turned to look at Xie Xiaoyi:

"You said your name was Xie Mo before, right?"

You answered those questions better than my two disciples when I first learned the "Poison Classic".

"You seem to have a knack for medicine. Would you be willing to become my apprentice?"

Hua Suwen walked up to Xie Xiaoyi with a smile and gently patted his shoulder.

"Hey, let me tell you, my master is the legendary physician Hua Tianyi, known in the martial arts world as the 'Double Immortal Physician.' It's an opportunity you've cultivated for three lifetimes to take you as his disciple."

Xie Xiaoyi felt a buzzing in his head, as if he had been struck by lightning, and he almost dropped the "Poison Scripture" in his hand.

Good heavens, I was just guessing that this person was Hua Lingshu's friend, but who would have thought that he was actually the master?

Hua Tianyi, known in the martial arts world as the "Double Immortal Physician"!

That person was a master in both medicine and poison!

They want me to become their apprentice?

This is like a pie falling from the sky and landing right on my head!

My goodness, this is too fantastical...

Hua Lingshu didn't mind Xie Xiaoyi's stunned expression. After all, his master's title of "Double-Awarded Immortal Physician" was very well-known in the martial arts world, so his surprise was understandable.

"Brother Xie... Brother Xie, my master is asking you a question."

Xie Xiaoyi was startled awake by Hua Lingshu's call. He quickly composed himself, bowed respectfully, and spoke with just the right amount of flattery:

"You flatter me, senior. I merely memorized some words from the 'Poison Classic'."

How could I possibly be worthy of your personal instruction?

Besides... besides, my martial arts skills are too weak, I'm afraid I'd embarrass you, sir.

This statement was half true and half false, both showing humility and subtly pointing out one's own shortcomings, waiting for the other party to respond.

Upon hearing this, Hua Tianyi stroked his short beard and laughed heartily.

"What's there to be afraid of if your martial arts skills are weak?"

My apprentice relies on healing and saving lives, not on physical strength!

You're a quick-witted lad, with a good memory, and you know how to hide your flaws—you're a promising talent.

Hua Lingshu, who was standing nearby, quickly chimed in, "Brother Xie Mo, Master has a very sharp eye. It's your good fortune to be noticed by him."

Hua Suwen's eyes were filled with excitement: "If you become my disciple, even if you are a year or two older than me, you will still have to call me senior sister!"

These words were like a wake-up call; Xie Xiaoyi suddenly felt a jolt of realization.

She became my senior sister?

Does that mean we'll have more time to spend together?

Not bad.

This is called "being near the water tower, one gets the moon first".

Thinking of this, Xie Xiaoyi straightened his back, respectfully kowtowed three times, and said in a clear voice, "Disciple Xie Mo greets Master!"

Hua Tianyi watched him kowtow three times before his smile faded and his gaze fell on Xie Xiaoyi's face.

"Get up. Now that you've become my apprentice, take off that rooted human skin mask from your face."

The courtyard fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Hua Lingshu and Hua Suwen were both taken aback and turned to look at Xie Xiaoyi, their faces full of astonishment.

Having spent so much time together, they couldn't tell at all that Xie Xiaoyi's face was fake.

Xie Xiaoyi's body, which had just been raised, suddenly stiffened.

He always wore a human skin mask when he committed crimes, but last time he was injured by Murong Wei's senior brother before he could take it off.

After being rescued, I spent time with my fellow disciples Hua Lingshu and his sister, so I had even less chance to remove the fruit.