Chaotic Times and Disasters: I Hunt Down Martial Arts Masters and Become a God

Fu Qing looked at Su Wen and remained silent for a long time until a noise came from the side room next door.

Fu Qing closed the door and went to the side room, where an old woman with white hair was sitting on a chair, pounding medicine.

The pestle fell into the copper mortar, making a "thump-thump" sound.

She wore a white robe stained with various medicines, her fingers withered like the branches of an old tree, but her eyes shone like two medicine lamps.

Hearing footsteps, she stopped pounding the medicine and looked up at Fu Qing. Her eyes lingered on him for several moments, as if she were examining a medicinal herb she had never seen before.

"You're Fu Qing?"

Her voice was old and hoarse.

"Every time Suwen comes back from outside, all she talks about is you and your blood. She says you have a natural fighting body, your blood and qi are different from ordinary people, and you have the Five Internal Organs Temple, the overlord of Gu poison, in your body. You are an excellent research sample. I have lived for hundreds of years and this is the first time I have seen her care about people so much."

She placed the pestle on the table, stood up, walked to Fu Qing, and looked up at his face. She was only up to his chest, but her presence was in no way inferior.

"I'm asking you, what did you do to her?"

Fu Qing did not avoid her gaze.

"She saved my life, more than once. In the southern borderlands, she used secret methods to prolong my life; in the secret realm, she used medicinal energy to detoxify me; in the ancestral land of Yue, she used a copper plate to block the snake demon for me. She is my healer, and also my..."

"And what is it to you?"

The old woman stared into his eyes, her eyes slightly narrowed.

"She's someone I want to protect for the rest of my life."

After saying this, Fu Qing remained silent for a moment, then knelt down in front of the old woman.

"Senior, I know she is a disciple of the Medicine Palace, and the Medicine Palace has its rules, but she is lying here now. Please tell me, senior, what can be done to save her!"

The old woman looked at his hunched back and remained silent for a long time.

The flame of the medicine lamp flickered in her cloudy pupils for a long time. Suddenly, she reached out, her withered fingers pinching Fu Qing's chin and lifting his face.

"She's such an honest girl. Do you know how many times Suwen has caused me trouble for you? Last time she went to the Southern Frontier, she stood at my door for a whole day. She wouldn't leave until I gave in."

"She has been learning medicine from me since she was a child. She has extremely high talent, but she is cold-hearted and never asks for help. She made an exception for you. This time she is trying to break through to the sixth rank of medicine. I advised her to wait a few more years and make her foundation more stable before trying to break through, but she did not listen and said that you need a better helper..."

"Then she said something about wanting to...marry you!"

Fu Qing clenched his fists.

The old woman released his jaw.

"Suwen is my most prized disciple. I cherish her more than anyone else. If you want to marry her, I won't stop you. But remember this: this girl has never asked anyone for anything since she was a child. She broke too many rules for you. If you betray her, I will be the first to not forgive you."

"I've got it."

The old woman nodded, picked up the pestle, and continued grinding the medicine.

"Most of the herbs used to treat the Suwen disease are available in the medicine palace, except for three herbs that are not available there... Duanlongcao, Xueliqing, and Bingjinghua."

"These three herbs are all specialties of the Northern Territory. Snow Green only grows on the Xuanbing Cliffs deep within the Northern Territory, Dragon-Slaying Grass is hidden in an ancient secret realm in the Northern Territory, and Ice Crystal Flower..."

"The Ice Crystal Flower grows in the territory of the demon race, deep within the icy plains of the Northern Region, beside the Demon Emperor's Palace, near the Demon Blood Pool!"

"Each of these three herbs is almost impossible to obtain. I haven't seen these herbs for many years. You don't know how much time it will take you."

Fu Qing's expression remained calm.

"No matter how difficult it is, I will bring these three medicines back! As long as the remains can hang there, that's how long I will have time. As long as she is alive, I will not give up!"

The old woman didn't say anything more, but simply poured the ground medicine powder into a pot, added water, and put it on the stove to boil.

Fu Qing stood up, turned around, pushed open the door to the side room, and strode out.

He didn't notice a slender figure leaning against the wall in the shadows at the end of the corridor.

Suwen had actually woken up after Fu Qing left.

Her master used two remains to keep her alive. Although her foundation was damaged and she could not circulate medicinal energy, her consciousness had recovered somewhat.

Hearing footsteps and Fu Qing's voice coming from the corridor, she struggled to get out of bed and, holding onto the wall, slowly moved to the corner of the corridor.

She stood there, separated by the thin door panel, and heard Fu Qing say to her master, "She is the person I want to protect for the rest of my life," and heard him say, "No matter how difficult it is, I will bring back the three medicines."

Two very faint blushes rose on her pale face, and she spat lightly.

When Fu Qing left, she had already turned around and silently retreated to the next room.

She leaned against the door, gently pressed the back of her hand against her burning cheek, closed her eyes, and a very faint smile curved her lips.

The old woman in the side room shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"This girl, she doesn't even know to stay far away when she's eavesdropping..."

Fu Qing returned home to find everyone packing their things.

Seeing him return alone, Song Yawei was slightly taken aback. "Where's Miss Su? Didn't you go to pick her up?"

"she..."

"I am coming."

Before Fu Qing could explain, a voice came from behind her. Fu Qing was startled and turned around to see two people walking in through the door.

Su Xue supported Su Wen, who was wearing a plain white robe with a light blue cloak over it. Her face was still as pale as paper, and her lips were almost bloodless.

Fu Qing was stunned for a moment, then strode forward, reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently pulling her into his embrace.

"Why are you here? You should be resting in the Medicine Palace until I bring back the three herbs from the Northern Border..."

"I'm much better now."

For the first time ever, Suwen leaned against him, clutching his clothes.

"My foundation has several cracks, and my master stitched them up with medicinal energy. However, the internal injuries will continue to linger, and I'll have to use the remains of my body to keep me alive from time to time. My master said that the three medicinal ingredients are in the Northern Territory, and you won't be able to find them on your own..."

"I've only ever seen those places in the pharmacopoeia. You don't know what they look like or how to harvest them, so of course I'll go with you."

She took a small cloth bag from her sleeve and stuffed it into Fu Qing's hand. Inside the bag was a dark golden pill.

"The life-extending pill that Master extracted from the remains's life force should last for a while."

Fu Qing looked down at the pill in his hand, then looked up at her pale face, and suddenly smiled.

"Now you're just like me, relying on your remains to stay alive."

Suwen glared at him, and two very faint blushes rose on her pale face, but she did not prick him with silver needles as usual. She simply turned her face away and refused to look at him again.

Su Xue was secretly smiling to herself, but a glance from Su Wen made her immediately composed herself.

"Well then, Junior Sister, you should go with General Fu. Don't worry too much about us!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Song Yawei finally found a chance to interject, "Miss Su, are you injured?"

Suwen shook her head, "It's nothing serious, just a minor injury."

Just then, Song Nini emerged from behind the carriage carrying Fu Mingxuan. She paused for a moment upon seeing Su Wen, then shoved Fu Mingxuan into Fu Qing's arms, cupping Su Wen's blushing face in her hands.

"Sister Suwen! Your face is so pale. Did you stay up all night making medicine again? Brother-in-law, look at her, her face is as white as paper!"

"I got a minor injury, but it's nothing serious."

Suwen repeated herself, her voice still calm, "I'll take care of myself on the way."

Song Yawei turned around, rummaged through her luggage, pulled out a thick blanket, stuffed it into the carriage, and arranged Suwen's seat in the innermost, most sheltered spot of the carriage.

Song Nini took Fu Mingxuan from Fu Qing's arms and put her in the carriage. The little girl leaned out of the carriage window and waved to Su Wen.

"Aunt Suwen! Are you coming to the Northern Territory with us? There's snow there! Mother said she'd build me a snowman! Can you build one for Leo too?"

"it is good."

Su Wen's lips curved slightly, then she bent down and took out a porcelain bottle from her medicine pouch, handing it to Song Yawei.

"These are pills to prevent colds. Take one every two days on the road. The wind and snow in the North are different from those in Jingjing. The cold can seep into your bones. The children have weak spleens and stomachs, so reduce the dosage by half."

Song Yawei took the porcelain bottle, nodded, and carefully put the pills away.

...