Martial Arts Crossover: My master tricked Huang Rong into becoming my wife!

Chen Yanzhou smelled a medicinal odor and fanned himself with a look of disgust.

The bucket of dark bathwater hadn't been poured out yet, and it emitted a strange medicinal smell.

Seeing this, Hong Qigong pointed to the bucket of water, picked his teeth, and said, "Kid, this medicinal bath is a good thing. Don't be fooled by how black the water is, it's full of essence. What you did just now was an emergency. If you soaked in it after practicing your kung fu, it would relax your meridians and strengthen your body."

"Got it, it's pickled vegetables, the longer it soaks, the more flavorful it becomes." Chen Yanzhou let out a burp, his mouth full of the taste of braised meat.

"Screw your pickled vegetables!" Hong Qigong laughed and cursed, casually flicking the bamboo toothpick into the fire pit. "Remember this, the meat can't be broken from now on."

Lu Youjiao listened attentively and nodded repeatedly. Seeing that the moon was high in the sky, he couldn't stay any longer and got up to take his leave: "Chief, Yanzhou, you should get some rest. We still need to arrange for the brothers from the branch to go to the dock to pick up the goods early tomorrow morning."

"Go on, go on." Hong Qigong waved his hand.

Lu Youjiao closed the door and left.

The room fell silent, leaving only the master and apprentice.

Although the bed wasn't small, it was still a bit cramped for the master and his apprentice. Chen Yanzhou shrank back a bit, making room for his master.

Hong Qigong didn't stand on ceremony. He kicked off his shoes, lay down fully clothed, put his hands behind his head, and patted his belly with his oily hand, making a series of dull "thump-thump" sounds that made people feel at ease.

Chen Yanzhou, however, couldn't sleep.

The warm current within my body was still slowly circulating; though faint, it was real.

He turned over, facing sideways to Hong Qigong: "Master, are you asleep?"

"Spit it out if you have something to say." Hong Qigong closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"I don't understand." Chen Yanzhou frowned, tracing circles on the blanket with his finger. "What exactly is this internal force? It's called qi, but you can't touch it. It's called jin, but it can leave the body and hurt people."

Hong Qigong opened one eye and glanced at his disciple in the dim light.

"You've got some ideas, kid."

The old beggar rolled over, shifting to a more comfortable position, and slowly said, "This internal energy, to put it simply, is the transformation of the body's own essence into internal energy, which is then stored in the dantian meridians."

"The so-called refining of essence into qi, and refining of qi into spirit, means that the cultivation of internal strength must be done step by step and steadily. As the saying goes, one part cultivation equals one part internal strength."

Chen Yanzhou listened thoughtfully.

"Then this 'Hundredfold Return to Origin Technique'..."

"Alright, alright!" Hong Qigong yanked the blanket over Chen Yanzhou's head. "Enough with the nonsense! Go to sleep! You can have anything in your dreams, and practicing martial arts in your dreams won't break your body!"

Chen Yanzhou pulled the blanket off and chuckled.

Yes, after all that commotion today, I'm completely exhausted. The drowsiness that comes after a full stomach is overwhelming me, and my eyelids are getting heavier and heavier.

"Master... I want to eat roast duck tomorrow..."

After muttering this sentence, his breathing gradually became even.

As Hong Qigong listened to the soft snoring beside him, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He gently sat up, tucked the blanket around the boy, and lingered for a moment on the boy's youthful yet shrewd face.

"You little rascal, you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve."

The old beggar lay down again, listening to the wind outside the window, and soon he too started snoring.

……

I slept very soundly.

By the time Chen Yanzhou opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.

The charcoal fire in the room had long since gone out, leaving only a basin of white ash, and the bed beside him was empty.

"That old man runs fast."

Chen Yanzhou stretched, and the soreness from last night had completely disappeared, replaced by a feeling of lightness and energy.

It seems that drinking that fifty-year-old wild ginseng was indeed worthwhile.

He rolled out of bed, got dressed, and then his stomach started growling again.

Pushing open the door, the courtyard was quiet. Lu Youjiao was probably busy with the affairs of the "Yiyun Division" in the main hall, while a few little beggars were playing nearby.

Chen Yanzhou went to the kitchen, lifted the pot lid and saw that there was only half a pot of cold mixed grain porridge inside, with a few rotten vegetable leaves floating on top.

"This is no human food." Chen Yanzhou curled his lip and decisively put the lid on the pot.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. He ate braised pork hock yesterday, and it's absolutely unacceptable to make him drink this pig swill today.

Feeling the pocket money Lu Youjiao had given him, Chen Yanzhou didn't say a word and started walking out.

Leaving the Beggars' Sect stronghold and turning two streets away, you'll find yourself at Xiangyang City's busiest morning market.

Although it was nearly noon, the sounds of vendors calling out their wares still echoed through the streets. There were steaming bun stalls, golden and crispy fried dough stick stalls, and the aroma of mutton soup that wafted for miles.

Chen Yanzhou didn't hesitate either. He first ordered a bowl of mutton offal soup sprinkled with scallions from a roadside stall, and then bought two freshly baked sesame seed cakes.

A sip of hot soup brings complete comfort. Then, a bite of the crispy, crumbly sesame flatbread—the taste is so exquisite, even a god wouldn't trade it for this.

"I guess this counts as 'nutritional supplement'?" Chen Yanzhou comforted himself, quickly finished his breakfast, packed up a beggar's chicken, and headed west of the city.

After passing through several dilapidated alleys, we arrived at Grandpa Xu's house.

Old Xu had moved a tattered rattan chair and was lounging in the middle of the yard, basking in the sun. He was holding a worn-out book in his hands, his head nodding as if he were half asleep.

"Grandpa Xu, you're living a life more carefree than a god." Chen Yanzhou placed the beggar's chicken on the small stone table next to him, the oil paper wrapping unwrapped, and the aroma instantly filled the courtyard.

Old Xu didn't even lift his eyelids, but his nose twitched first.

"Beggar's chicken? Or from Xicheng Wangji?"

He slowly opened his eyes, looked at Chen Yanzhou, and smiled.

"Good boy, I thought you weren't coming today."

Chen Yanzhou chuckled, tore the beggar's chicken apart, and handed over a plump, juicy chicken leg.

"No way, I had a little mishap during practice yesterday afternoon and accidentally overslept this morning."

Old Xu took the chicken leg, took a bite, and asked indistinctly, "Something went wrong while practicing martial arts? Isn't your master Hong Qigong? Would he really let you cause problems while practicing?"

Chen Yanzhou sighed and briefly explained the situation.

Old Xu shook his head as he listened.

"You're a classic example of biting off more than you can chew."

Chen Yanzhou nodded in deep agreement.

"By the way, Grandpa Xu, you're very knowledgeable, do you know anything about medicine?"

Chen Yanzhou suddenly asked a question.

Old Xu was gnawing on a cartilage when he heard this, and he was taken aback, glancing at him sideways.

"What? Scared out of your wits? Planning to abandon martial arts and become a healer?"

"No, that's not it."

Chen Yanzhou sat cross-legged on the stone bench next to him, his eyes becoming more serious.

"I've been thinking about this these past few days. There are so many of us in the Beggars' Clan. Fighting, brawling, and catching colds are common occurrences. If we knew a little about medicine, even just some prescriptions for regulating qi and blood or treating injuries, that would be a life-saving skill."

Old Xu tossed the chicken bones aside and wiped his mouth.

"I've studied the classics and passed the imperial examinations. I know a little about medicine, divination, and astrology, but it's all superficial. When it comes to healing and saving lives, I'm far from qualified."

Chen Yanzhou was somewhat disappointed.

Seeing his appearance, Old Xu suddenly smiled.

"However, I have an old friend who lives in the 'Hundred Herbs Hall' in the south of the city. That old fellow's surname is Liao. He has a rather eccentric personality, but his skills in acupuncture and medicine preparation are among the best in the entire Xiangyang Prefecture."

Chen Yanzhou's eyes lit up.

"Liao Langzhong?"

"That's right. He's not interested in gold or silver, nor in power and wealth; he just loves to study rare and unusual herbs. If you're really interested, I'll take you to meet him tomorrow. But whether it works out or not depends on your luck."

Chen Yanzhou was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you so much, Grandpa Xu!"

……

Before we knew it, it was the next morning.

Before the thin mist in Xiangyang City had completely dissipated, Chen Yanzhou carried two jars of fine wine and followed Old Man Xu out the door.

The alleys in the south of the city are much deeper and quieter than those in the west.

Although the name "Bai Cao Tang" is well-known, the shop is surprisingly small, consisting of only two low rooms with a precariously hanging medicine gourd in front of the door.

Before even entering, a strong, almost pungent, medicinal smell wafted towards me.

"Old Liao, you're not dead yet, are you?"

As soon as Old Xu entered the courtyard, he started shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Get lost! You old pedant, you're still alive and well, while I'm thriving!"

A loud, angry curse came from the inner room.

Immediately afterwards, an old man wearing a gray cloth long gown and with hair as messy as a bird's nest came out. He was holding a handful of unknown grass roots in his hand and sniffing them intensely. When he saw Old Man Xu, he rolled his eyes.

"Here to borrow books again? I don't have your sacred texts here, only life-saving prescriptions."

Old Xu chuckled and pointed to Chen Yanzhou behind him.

"I won't lend you books. I've taken on an apprentice for you."

Only then did Physician Liao give Chen Yanzhou a proper look.

Chen Yanzhou didn't hesitate either, stepping forward and respectfully bowing.

"Junior Chen Yanzhou greets Elder Mr. Liao."

Liao Langzhong ignored him and stared at Chen Yanzhou's face for a long time. Seeing that his complexion was rosy but his lips were a little pale, he raised his hand and gestured for Chen Yanzhou to extend his wrist.

Chen Yanzhou was stunned for a moment, but reacted very quickly, extending one hand. Liao Langzhong's hand naturally landed on his wrist.

"what?"

Liao Langzhong frowned.

"Deficiency of Qi and blood? No, wait, kid...did you just drink something very nourishing a couple of days ago?"

Chen Yanzhou was startled.

This old man can tell so much just by touching his hand?

"Yes, I drank a bowl of wild ginseng soup."

Liao Langzhong chuckled lightly and began to speak.

"At such a young age, with your bones and muscles not even fully developed, you dare to use such potent medicine to prolong your life. If it weren't for the inner energy protecting you, you would have already died bleeding from all seven orifices."

He turned to look at Old Man Xu, his tone unfriendly.

"This kid's a martial artist. What would a martial artist want from me? If he's injured, he goes to get a plaster; if he messes up his training, he goes to his master for help. This is a clinic, not a martial arts school."

Old Xu said slowly, "This lad wants to study medicine."

"Studying medicine?"

Liao Langzhong seemed to have heard a joke.

"Studying medicine requires memorizing the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica), remembering the properties of 3,600 medicinal herbs, and identifying meridians and acupoints. Martial arts emphasizes speed, while medicine emphasizes stillness. This kid is so impetuous, what good will he do!"

Chen Yanzhou wasn't annoyed; he just smiled.

"Mr. Liao, I don't aspire to be a miracle doctor. I simply believe that everything in this world has its counterpart. Martial arts can injure, while medicine can heal. Understanding how to heal might also help one understand how to injure."

This was a bit off-topic, but it startled Doctor Liao.

He put down the grass root in his hand and circled Chen Yanzhou twice.

"Interesting. You don't talk like one of those hypocrites who spout platitudes about morality."

He pointed to a pile of messy medicinal herbs in the corner.

"Want to learn from me? Fine. Separate those medicinal herbs. Put the angelica in one pile, the astragalus in another, and there's three qian of Gelsemium elegans mixed in. If you sort them incorrectly, you'll have to eat them yourself later, and I absolutely won't save you."

Old Xu tried to speak, but was silenced by a glare from Doctor Liao.

Chen Yanzhou looked at the pile of medicinal herbs that resembled a tangled mess.