Chapter 6: Bloodletting and Bone Cleansing

The black dog is currently bouncing around joyfully!" the little brat pouted.

Although the spirit of the ghost doctor is unproblematic, his temperament is peculiar. If one provokes him, he will retaliate ruthlessly, revealing a devilish side to his character. This may also be one of the reasons why he is referred to as the ghost doctor. The words "ghost" and "doctor" originally represent two different attributes, yet he has skillfully integrated them into one, embodying both the healer and the demon.

The burly man in the robe, upon hearing the chilling voice from behind, immediately changed his expression, and the anger within him inexplicably subsided somewhat. He turned around with a reluctant smile and said, "Ghost Doctor, I was just joking. The Great King only eats the food you provide, how could I possibly poison it."

Grandma Snake said that the king was in heat, barking all night long, and everyone was kept awake by the noise! The little brat laughed happily, not at all bothered by being kept from sleep; after all, he had a strong constitution, and staying up all night was no big deal. As for why he was happy, he actually didn't understand what being in heat meant, he just found the whole situation quite amusing

Ancient medicine has a saying that when people consume grains and cereals, it is inevitable that impurities will accumulate in the body, a point that contemporary medicine also confirms. It is further stated that if one can take a miraculous elixir, the impurities within the body can be eliminated, achieving the effect of cleansing dust and grime, and undergoing a transformation, which is referred to as "washing the marrow and cleansing the bones".

Li Mang was naturally unaware of the king's unusual behavior. That night, he slept particularly soundly, gradually waking up only early the next morning

"Little rascal, do you need something from me?" Li Mang asked as he patted his head

After taking a refreshing shower, Li Mang finally felt at ease, as if every pore in his body was breathing, and his spirit was better than ever before

However, he was still very anxious about the situation with the king. Although the scheming one was using the king to test the wild chicken, he did not truly wish for the king to encounter any trouble. Li Mang was merely scheming, but his heart was not entirely dark. He then hurriedly asked, "Is the king alright?"

I certainly did not consume the miraculous elixir; the problem lies with that wild chicken from yesterday. Could it be that the wild chicken is considered a spiritual entity?" Li Mang boldly speculated

Those who are completely insane or unable to control their emotions, as members of Yanhuang, are actually confined in independent houses within the deep courtyard. Those who are able to move freely in the Yanhuang courtyard possess a certain level of rationality; they are merely not entirely mentally sound, and it is inevitable that they may exhibit irritable tempers.

"What dog is barking?" Li Mang's expression turned strange upon hearing this. In the Yanhuang Courtyard, only the ghost doctor raises dogs, right? Yesterday, the king also ate quite a few wild chickens; could something have happened? A sudden jolt ran through his heart, but on the surface, he merely asked curiously, "What dog is barking?"

Only Li Mang wore a face of astonishment and hidden resentment, truly wanting to slap this black dog into unconsciousness; wasn't it just a reward of a chicken's backside? How could it display such a servile expression? This was clearly a setup to trick him! Did he not see that the ghost doctor had already cast a strange glance in his direction?

Yesterday, he was captivated by the deliciousness of the stewed chicken. Although he did not feel deeply at the time, he still remembers the warm sensation in his body after drinking the broth, which was very comforting. This experience is surprisingly similar to the effects of consuming a miraculous elixir as described in legends. Therefore, Li Mang's speculation was not reckless.

The scene from yesterday was truly abnormal! After a hearty meal, I was surprisingly tipsy, and Li Mang had not even touched any alcohol. The only explanation that makes sense is that the wild chicken was problematic

"If that black dog acts like this again, I will poison it to death!" A burly man in a bathrobe stormed into the cafeteria, his eyes bloodshot, nearly reaching a state of mental breakdown

"It's nothing, nothing at all, just looking for you to have breakfast!" the little brat said cheerfully

There are injuries on the body; the previous burn from the fire has not fully healed, and yesterday I was scratched and pecked by a wild chicken. Li Mang originally planned to be more cautious, avoiding letting water flow onto the wounds to prevent a flare-up

Although the Ghost Doctor is not particularly strong in martial arts, his medical skills are the most exquisite in Yanhuang. He has also made significant contributions to the treatment of mental disorders caused by supernatural abilities. It can be said that he is the physician for all members of Yanhuang, holding a status that is quite extraordinary. Anyone with a functioning mind would not easily provoke or offend him

However, what left the burly man in a bathrobe dumbfounded was that as soon as he finished speaking, the king behind the ghostly doctor happily ran to Li Mang at the dining table, prancing about with its tail wagging joyfully, displaying a servile demeanor full of flattery.

Although he was born with intellectual disabilities, through the years of treatment in Yanhuang, he has regained the intelligence of a four to five-year-old child. After learning that Li Mang was severely injured because of him and nearly lost his life, the little boy was actually quite anxious.

This is certainly due to the miraculous effects of the ghostly medicinal powder, but until yesterday, the burn still left faint scars, and now, astonishingly, they have completely faded overnight. It is truly incredible. However, it is not difficult to imagine that this is a manifestation of his undergoing the process of refining his essence and marrow.

Feeling uncomfortable due to the stickiness of his body, Li Mang, while distracted by these thoughts, had already arrived at the bathroom, adjusted the warm water, and began to take a shower

Pfft... You are almost fifty, and you still have acne? Moreover, the King has been cooped up in the Yanhuang Courtyard for several years; you should understand the physical suffering of the King

Li Mang was speechless, but the heart he had been holding onto and the books could finally be set down; as long as the king was safe, everything would be well.

However, when Li Mang saw his bald head in the mirror, he could only respond with a bitter smile. This hair was highly flammable; the moment it fell into the sea of fire, it was completely burned away. Coupled with a slight burn on his scalp, it has now been seven days, and not a single hair has grown back yet

"Here it comes!" Li Mang responded and walked out, seeing the little kid waiting eagerly at the door.

Just now, I sprang out of bed like a carp leaping from the water, a rather elegant memory... Li Mang, in a daze, recalled the scene from just moments ago, his expression was nothing short of bizarre.

The old black dog of the ghost doctor howled all night long, keeping me awake and causing me to break out with acne

Is this really a process of refining one's essence and spirit?

Although what he did yesterday was done discreetly, there are surveillance cameras everywhere in the Yanhuang Courtyard. If the Ghost Doctor retrieves the footage afterward, this matter is likely impossible to conceal any longer. Now, Li Mang can only pray that the King remains unharmed; feeling guilty is secondary, as the Ghost Doctor might even take his life!

As they walked, the little child naturally could not stop talking. Without needing a response from Li Mang, he babbled on about the amusing events that had occurred in the Yanhuang Courtyard over the past few days, his face full of innocence. Although Li Mang felt helpless, he did not interrupt.

Is it the physical pain you are experiencing? Repressed desire

However, Li Mang quickly calmed down, for aside from being covered in a layer of black mud, his body had no other discomforts. In fact, he felt more energetic than ever, and he also sensed that he had an unusually great amount of strength today

The sound of a little child can be heard just outside the yard

Hehe... there is, there is

Is that so..." Li Mang's expression stiffened; his wild chicken was not spring medicine, how could the king possibly be in heat? This is unreasonable! However, he naturally did not dare to voice this thought, otherwise, with this little brat's big mouth, the matter would soon stir up a storm in the courtyard.

This scene not only left the man in the bathrobe dumbfounded, but everyone in the cafeteria, including the ghost doctor, was also left speechless.

"Don't mention it, I am indeed a bit hungry..." Li Mang closed the gate of his courtyard and then walked towards the cafeteria on the right side with the little kid.

In the midst of conversation, the two individuals have arrived at the cafeteria. The wooden cabin, wooden tables, and wooden chairs exhibit a retro style; they are not luxurious, yet they are clean and tranquil. It does not resemble a typical cafeteria, but rather resembles a private club, undoubtedly exuding an air of sophistication and elegance.

After all, having been in Yanhuang for more than half a year and possessing knowledge beyond that of ordinary people, Li Mang quickly deduced the reason for the black mud on his body, and the panic on his face gradually transformed into joy

Li Mang, you are indeed better! Upon seeing Li Mang, the little boy's face instantly blossomed with a smile, yet there was a hint of guilt in his eyes

Instinctively yawning, as he became more awake, Li Mang gradually recalled the scene before he fell asleep. Suddenly, he sat up in bed, and beads of cold sweat even broke out on his forehead

Although the temperament of the ghost doctor is peculiar, he is usually not so irritable. It was just that he was tense all night last night, particularly sensitive to words related to poisoning. Now, upon hearing the robust man in a nightgown threatening to poison the king, combined with the king's 'poisoning' incident from last night, the ghost doctor is filled with rage, and his eyes are faintly reddened.

He was soon astonished to find that the wound from yesterday had completely healed, and the burn from a week ago left no trace of a scar

Dressed neatly, with a sun hat perched on his head to shield his baldness, Li Mang nodded in satisfaction as he looked at himself in the mirror

What on earth is going on! Li Mang's expression was extremely grim, as he was faced with an unforeseen event, inevitably feeling a sense of panic

Yet, out of misfortune comes fortune; he obtained the extraordinary "Classic of Mountains and Seas" amidst the sea of fire. Moreover, the little brat is merely an eight-year-old child, who has been somewhat slow-witted since childhood. Li Mang feels sympathy for him and now finds it hard to harbor any resentment.

Li Mang Li Mang

Who do you want to kill with your medicine! Just then, an old man dressed in tattered clothes happened to be following closely behind him, completely overhearing the harsh words of the man in the bathrobe, his bloodshot eyes filled with questioning.

Li Mang furrowed his brow slightly. Although the child did not intend to harm him this time, it was indeed the child who set the fire. When he was attacked by Old Man Cao, it was this brat who hid behind him, which led to Li Mang suffering an undeserved disaster

"Li Mang, did you hear the dog barking last night?" the little brat suddenly asked with excitement, a beaming smile on his face

It is certainly impossible to say that Li Mang is not angry at all

This person is indeed the Ghost Doctor. Regarding the origin of his title, some say it stems from his medical skills, while others claim it is due to his appearance, which is always in a tattered state. There are also those who say it is because of his visage, with skin that is dry and seemingly devoid of flesh, resembling a ghost

This morning, although it was still early for breakfast, there were quite a number of people present, around one hundred, yet they all appeared rather listless. Moreover, they were unanimously criticizing the king. It was evident that everyone had been thoroughly exhausted by the king's antics the previous night, leaving Li Mang feeling completely guilty.

Without paying attention to anything else, Li Mang sprang directly from the bed, performing a nimble carp jump, something he usually could not do. However, he was not in the mood to notice this and immediately began to check his body. As a result, he quickly discovered that his arms were covered in a layer of dark, muddy substance. It was not just his arms; his entire body was similarly affected, sticky and very uncomfortable.