Chapter Six: The Secret Visitor in the Valley

Fei Yan blocked the four hands of the man in ochre with his fists, still managing to remain composed. He said, "Hey, your companion is in trouble. If you don't hurry and take him to see a doctor, I'm afraid he won't make it through tonight."

The wild fruits brought back for the second time had, in an instant, turned into nothing but a pile of peels and seeds. Although the two were still somewhat reluctant, they felt a bit nauseous from the sourness and had to take a short break. Zuo Yuanmin said, "I just discovered a cave down in the valley; it looks quite good and is also relatively close to a water source. Since it is still early, let me help you down there first." Lu Yuting replied excitedly, "Excellent! I can finally lie down and have a good sleep today." Zuo Yuanmin then reiterated, "I just discovered a cave down in the valley; it looks quite good and is also relatively close to a water source. Since it is still early, let me help you down there first." Lu Yuting responded with enthusiasm, "Excellent! I can finally lie down and have a good sleep today."

Lu Yuting observed the mysterious man for a while, noticing that he was drenched in sweat and his chest was heaving violently. He said, "If I am not mistaken, he must have just been so enraged that he lost his breath. Did he not mention that he had fallen into a trance while practicing? He is hiding here to channel his energy to unblock the meridians in his feet. Given the current situation, it seems that this time he has indeed gone too far, far more than he has casually claimed, and now he is struggling to catch his breath..." He looked down, found a large stone, lifted it with great effort, and said, "Now is the perfect time to take his life!"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuanmin felt that this mysterious person was insatiable in their demands, and he was uncertain what else they wanted him to do. Although he secretly worried, he maintained a facade of calmness and said lightly: "In fact, there is no need for you to go to such lengths to restrain my friend. When one is out in the world, who does not encounter unexpected difficulties? We accidentally fell into the valley, and thanks to your provision of food in the cabin on the mountain, we were saved. Now that you are in trouble, it is only right for us to repay your kindness and do our utmost for you. Moreover, aiding those in distress and supporting the weak is..."

Then the doctor was about to get angry, and Zuo Yuanmin quickly said: "Old man, a good man does not suffer immediate losses." He handed him one or two silver coins and continued, "You have taken the money, so you can leave now!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Beichen's face showed even more respect as he said, "Then may I ask how Senior Feng Junjie and the young lady address each other?" Feng Feiyan, unable to contain her joy, replied, "He is indeed my father." Qin Beichen was overjoyed and said, "So that is the case. Qin has been blind to the greatness before me, and I truly apologize. I have long admired the renowned name of Feng Junjie, one of the Southern Three Masters. May I inquire where your esteemed father is currently, and could you possibly introduce me to him?"

The young gentleman could no longer contain himself; he thrust the hilt of his sword forward, striking the bridge of the tea doctor's nose. A sharp cry of "Ouch!" escaped the tea doctor as he stumbled backward, blood gushing from his nostrils. The pain was so intense that tears streamed from his eyes, rendering him unable to open them for a moment. In his ears, he could only hear the young gentleman say, "You brought this upon yourself by refusing a toast and opting for punishment instead!" Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his waist, as the young gentleman, still unsatisfied, kicked him again in the side.

The person in the valley advised: "If you cannot find the medicinal herbs at the pharmacy in town, you can go to Weicheng downstream. There is a pharmacy there called Tongjitang, and the owner is also a practitioner. They have some ointments for internal and external knife wounds, so you can inquire there. Moreover, the medicinal herbs must not be damp. If it is difficult to procure them, you can ask the owner of Tongjitang for advice." Zuo Yuanmin agreed, clarified the direction, took up the torch, and then took his leave.

Zuo Yuanmin thought that since he was hiding in this deserted valley to practice his skills secretly, living in seclusion, he must have some unspeakable difficulties. Therefore, it was only natural for him to conceal his identity. Without asking too many questions, he immediately returned to the thatched cottage to find the silver hidden by the people of the valley. He took several dozen taels and tucked them into his clothes before turning back. Upon returning near the cave, he saw Lu Yuting preparing the evening meal nearby, realizing that he had basically accepted the people of the valley. After greeting him, he headed towards the cave.

Qin Beichen felt the antidote enter his stomach, and soon a warm sensation gradually rose within him, as if his vitality was slowly recovering bit by bit. Feng Feiyan asked with concern, "What’s wrong?" Qin Beichen felt as if he had been reborn, and he sighed in relief, saying, "It’s definitely the antidote." Upon hearing this, the three of them were also delighted for him.

Zuo Yuanmin felt his anger rising and said: "I respect you as a senior in the martial arts world. If you are in trouble, I will certainly do my utmost to help you out of danger. However, if you insist on using my friend's life as leverage, then I must respectfully decline to comply."

The mysterious person ate for a while and suddenly said, "Aren't you hungry too? Have some food." Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I am not hungry, senior. I have completed all the tasks you asked me to do, so please release my friend first!" The mysterious person sneered and said, "Completed everything? There are still many things I need you to do. As the saying goes, an emperor does not starve his soldiers; you should eat a little, lest you blame me later."

After a while, the thin voice came out again, saying: "Kid, why aren't you running? Your friend has vanished into thin air, aren't you afraid?"

As Zuo Yuanmin turned back and took a few steps, Lu Yuting suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, I remember!" Zuo Yuanmin was startled by his sudden shout and asked, "What is it?" Lu Yuting replied, "Those ropes... I... I remember now, they are used for practicing the 'Five Elements Fist'"

The two men in ochre robes, seeing that she spoke so eloquently and that they had already injured one of their own, realized that there was no way to salvage the situation. They exchanged a glance, awkwardly helped the injured man up, and then quickly disappeared into the woods

Left Yuemin was still pondering how the two of them could have gotten so drunk, but shortly after Lu Yuting went down, he too gradually began to feel dizzy and disoriented. In his entire life, he had never been drunk, and he thought to himself: "Is this what being drunk feels like?" He then said to Qin Beichen: "Young Master Qin, I truly cannot handle any more alcohol; if I drink any further, I fear I will lose my composure. I think..."

Lu Yuting's expression darkened as he said, "Brother Zuo, you are acting like this again, not straightforward at all... Well, fine, it doesn't really matter; after all, this isn't a serious flaw. In any case, if you have any criticisms of me, feel free to express them. Don't keep everything bottled up; I find it quite awkward."

The mysterious man let out a bitter laugh, revealing a hint of his once imperious demeanor, and said: "I was just about to unleash my powers to teach you a lesson, but unexpectedly, my condition has worsened compared to when I first went astray. Now, even my hands have gone numb from the effort. Hehe... you may leave now; there is no one left to stop you..."

The young gentleman was greatly angered: "Are you saying that there is no exchange?" The tea doctor replied: "No exchange." The young gentleman asked: "Really no exchange?" The tea doctor simply closed his eyes and said: "Definitely no exchange"

Lu Yuting stood upright and asked, "Brother Zuo, how did you know that you could provoke him to the point of breathlessness? However, your tactic is indeed too risky; I might end up being harmed by you..." Zuo Yuanmin replied, "Am I not also wagering my life? You just mentioned him... what happened to him?"

Feng Feiyan said: "You should find a large water tank and fill it with water, allowing him to sit inside and practice his breathing techniques. The water level must be above his shoulders. He should continue this practice for at least two hours without interruption. After that, find a good doctor to carefully adjust the medication based on the level of heat and toxins in his body. After seven days, he will definitely be completely healed, as if he had never been injured."

Lu Yuting felt as if he had been scolded and said somewhat displeased, "What does Brother Zuo plan to do?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I want to prove that what he said is wrong." He turned around, crouched down, and spoke to the mysterious person, "Senior, what do you think?" Lu Yuting slowly approached, still holding the large stone in his hands, remaining on guard at all times

Feng Feiyan was still somewhat hesitant. However, Lu Yuting was even more playful and immediately urged, "Let's go take a look. Don't you also wish for an opportunity to wander the world on your own without your biological father following you? Isn't this a great opportunity right in front of us?" After thinking it over, Feng Feiyan felt quite tempted and asked, "Where is Young Master Qin's home?"

Although the tea doctor noticed the sword on the table, seeing that he was young, he thought it was just youthful playfulness, relying on his family's wealth to buy swords and flaunt them everywhere. With no one else around, he felt no fear and said: "This pot of tea was paid for by the young master; whether you drink it or not is up to you. If you find it unsatisfactory, do you expect the small shop to exchange it for another? How can the shop continue to do business then?"

Zuo Yuanmin used rainwater to slightly clean the dirt on his face and hands, confirming that this was not a dream. He gradually recalled that he was originally a guest at Qin Beichen's home, yet now he inexplicably found himself in this strange place, utterly bewildered. Unable to explain the reason, he decided to look around before making any plans. As he moved his legs, he realized that every bone in his body ached faintly, with abrasions all over his limbs and face. Aside from silently cursing, he had no other recourse.

Then Zuo Yuanmin calmed himself and thought, "This is a person, not a ghost. He just tricked us into turning around, intending to capture us with a scheme." He said, "If you are a demon or a ghost, then it is useless for me to be afraid at this moment. But if you are a person, then there is nothing to fear. Senior, you are a senior of the martial world, right? We are just two nameless youngsters, with no grievances or enmities with you. I do not understand why you want to deal with us. If we have inadvertently trespassed into a forbidden area and disturbed your quiet cultivation, then I bow my head in apology here. You are magnanimous, and the ignorant are not guilty." Saying this, he truly knelt down, his forehead touching the ground, making a sound as it struck.

Rather than saying that this exit is a cave, it is more accurate to describe it as a natural rock crevice. As Zuo Yuanmin advanced, he felt a gentle breeze brushing against his face from time to time, and occasionally he could hear the chirping of insects and the calls of birds, as well as see sunlight filtering through the gaps in the rock walls. This winding path stretched for an unknown number of miles. As Zuo Yuanmin walked, he suddenly found himself in a wide-open space, emerging from the other end of the cave, and upon looking around, he realized he had arrived in a river valley. Following the directions given by the people in the valley, he continued downstream for about another five or six miles, noticing that the terrain gradually became flatter and the river's flow began to slow. On the opposite bank, he could already see figures and boats. Zuo Yuanmin shouted loudly, attracting a fishing boat, and hired it to cross the river.

Qin Beichen said, "Isn't Brother Zuo also unable to do it?" Zuo Yuanmin, suppressing his discomfort, replied, "I truly apologize..." In a daze, it seemed as if he saw Qin Beichen give a signal, and then two more servants stepped forward, each from the left and right, reaching under Feng Feiyan's armpits to lift her up.

Feng Feiyan watched their departing figures, hands on her hips, looking proud and self-satisfied. If she didn't still remember that she was a girl, she would have truly wanted to throw her head back and howl at the sky. Qin Beichen circled around her from behind and cupped his fists in greeting, asking, "Miss, is your surname Feng?" Feng Feiyan replied cheerfully, "That's right, my name is Feng Feiyan."

The mysterious person did not respond immediately; after a while, he weakly said, "You... your companion is right, you... you might as well... kill me..." Lu Yuting was quite surprised that he could speak so soon, and he raised the stone in his hand even higher.

The tea doctor came over to wipe the table and said, "Young brother, would you like some tea?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "What kind of tea do you have?" The tea doctor responded, "There are only two types, Oolong and scented tea, both are coarse teas"

Xia Ruyi, filled with joy, once again raised the teacup in his hand and said, "Brother Zuo, I shall drink first as a sign of respect!" With that, he tilted his neck back and drank the tea in the cup completely.

Lu Yuting smiled and said, "Don't you know? That person with the surname Qin invited us to his home and offered us drinks, clearly with ill intentions. I suspect he must have spiked the drinks with some kind of drug..." Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback and replied, "Why? We don't even know him. Moreover... moreover, we can be considered to have saved his life..."

Lu Yuting was seated with Zuo Yuanmin in between them. Seeing her in such a state, he quickly stood up, intending to go around and support her. However, as soon as he stood up, he knocked over the stool behind him, causing him to fall backward. The two servants from the Qin family were quick to react and caught him just in time. Qin Beichen said, "Help Young Master Lu down to rest!" The two servants complied, while Lu Yuting, still reluctant, protested, "Wait a moment, I'm not drunk yet..." The two servants ignored him and proceeded to assist him down.

Feng Feiyan blushed, her pretty face turning red, and despite murmuring several times, she was unable to express her opinion. Instead, Lu Yuting continued, "I have tasted this Chen Shao; it is indeed extraordinary compared to the few jars at Young Master Qin's house in the *Tu* *Shu*. It seems... it seems to be specially brewed..." As he spoke, the wine cup slipped from his hand, spilling all over himself. Seeing this, Feng Feiyan laughed heartily and pointed at him, saying, "You... you..." With a sudden thud, he leaned forward, collapsing onto the table, causing cups, bowls, and dishes to clatter and topple all over the table. Lu Yuting continued, "I have tasted this Chen Shao; it is indeed extraordinary compared to the few jars at Young Master Qin's house in the *Tu* *Shu*. It seems... it seems to be specially brewed..." As he spoke, the wine cup slipped from his hand, spilling all over himself. Seeing this, Feng Feiyan laughed heartily and pointed at him, saying, "You... you..." With a sudden thud, he leaned forward, collapsing onto the table, causing cups, bowls, and dishes to clatter and topple all over the table.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Is the content of this prescription extensive? I would be willing to memorize it, but please do not break the sect's rules." The mysterious person replied: "If one is not a medical practitioner, it would take a considerable amount of time to memorize it. The contents of this prescription include: Huangqi, Niuhuang, Tianma, Dilong, Wugong, Shudi..." He continued to list two or three dozen types of medicinal materials. As Zuo Yuanmin listened, he furrowed his brow. The contents of this prescription include: Huangqi, Niuhuang, Tianma, Dilong, Wugong, Shudi..." He continued to list two or three dozen types of medicinal materials. As Zuo Yuanmin listened, he furrowed his brow.

Zuo Yuanmin thought to herself that her current situation was indeed quite difficult, yet she still had the mood to think of others, which made her smile in a daze. Then she suddenly thought: "Since Qin Beichen went to such great lengths to drug the wine, and afterwards did not simply kill me and Lu Yuting, it seems that Feiyan should also be safe for the time being."

The young gentleman clearly did not exert his full strength. Although the tea doctor was screaming loudly, with blood streaming from his nose, he was not seriously injured. At this moment, seeing the young gentleman stop, he unexpectedly shouted: "Help! Help! The bandits are killing people! The bandits are killing people!"

Zuo Yuanmin also shared this thought, saying: "This house has provisions, clean water, and even a clay bed! I see that it is getting late; it would be better to rest early today, replenish our energy, and set out in one go from the valley tomorrow"

The voice said: "You young man are quite interesting. Hey, didn't you just say you were going out to bring in some torches? My fire has gone out here, go to my room and bring back some kerosene." Zuo Yuanmin replied: "Senior..." The voice continued: "Just do as I say, don't you want to see how your companions are doing? Also, do you even know who I am?" The voice repeated: "Just do as I say, don't you want to see how your companions are doing? Also, do you even know who I am?"

During their casual conversation, Qin Beichen led them to a large estate. Luo Yuanmin looked around and saw tall buildings with wide doors, green tiles, and red walls, presenting a scene of great wealth. He thought to himself: "Looking at this Young Master Qin's attire, it is clear that he is a dandy. However, most young masters are generally idle and cynical. If it weren't for witnessing it with my own eyes, who would have thought that he actually possesses martial skills"

Zuo Yuanmin left the small town and continued southward, not knowing how long he had been walking. Suddenly, he noticed his shadow on the ground growing smaller. It was midday, and he was sweating profusely. Glancing ahead, he saw a tea shed and quickened his pace, slipping into the shade beneath the tea shed.

Since Lu Yuting insisted that he was able to walk, Zuo Yuanmin found it inappropriate to deliberately expose his shortcomings. He gathered the daily necessities and some simple food that the two had made over the past few days, then lit a torch and extinguished the smoldering ashes buried in a dry place with water, officially marking the conclusion of their life in this cave.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Starting from here, I have not yet walked the path ahead. You rest here for a moment, and I will go down to scout the way and return shortly." Without waiting for Lu Yuting to respond, he directly supported himself against the rock wall and descended. Lu Yuting could not help but say, "Be extremely careful."

Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback, instinctively lowering his head to look at the wine glass. He felt his vision gradually darkening, his feet felt light, and then a sharp pain struck his forehead, causing him to lose consciousness.

Then Zuo Yuanmin also felt delighted for him and said: "That matter cannot be delayed, so please guide me on the way out of the valley, and I will return quickly." The mysterious person replied: "Do you have any silver on you?" Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback. The mysterious person continued: "Under the kang in my thatched cottage, there is an iron box buried, containing several hundred taels of silver. You may take as much as you need; I have lived in this valley for over ten years, and this silver is of no use to me at all." Zuo Yuanmin thought that the source of this silver might not be entirely legitimate, but at this moment, he had no time to inquire further, and simply asked: "Then where should I go after taking the silver?" The mysterious person replied: "Under the kang in my thatched cottage, there is an iron box buried, containing several hundred taels of silver. You may take as much as you need; I have lived in this valley for over ten years, and this silver is of no use to me at all." Zuo Yuanmin thought that the source of this silver might not be entirely legitimate, but at this moment, he had no time to inquire further, and simply asked: "Then where should I go after taking the silver?"

The mysterious figure said: "You are merely putting on an act; who do you think you can deceive?" As he raised his right hand, there was a sharp sound, and Luo Yuanmin felt a sudden pain in his right arm, instantly overwhelmed by a sense of numbness and weakness. It was the mysterious figure who had struck him with a flying stone, demonstrating both precision and strength. At the same time, he remarked: "If I had aimed just a little more to your left, hitting your solar plexus, you would have been beyond saving."

Zuo Yuanmin steeled himself, closed his eyes, and suddenly heard a "thud". He quickly opened his eyes to see what was happening. To his surprise, the mysterious person had collapsed to one side, while Lu Yuting was crawling towards him on the ground. Zuo Yuanmin was confused about what had occurred and hurriedly helped Lu Yuting up.

The young gentleman slammed the table and shouted, when the tea doctor came out from the back and said: "What is the matter, young master? If you keep banging like that, you will damage my table!" He approached the table and took out a cloth to wipe it. The young gentleman pointed at the teapot on the table and said: "What kind of tea is this? It has no flavor at all, it's terribly undrinkable! Take it back and change it!" As he spoke, he lifted the teapot from the table and slammed it down heavily, causing tea to splash all over the table.

The mysterious person said, "In principle, that is correct, but..." and shook his head. Zuo Yuanmin asked, "But what?" The mysterious person replied, "However, the internal energy I practice is not ordinary. After going astray, my internal force does not flow uncontrollably through the meridians like that of an average person. On the contrary, it accumulates in certain meridians. If not properly guided, it will eventually lead to death due to excessive internal force accumulation, causing the meridians to rupture. This manner of death is a hundred times more tragic than the typical bleeding from the seven orifices."

Upon seeing this, Zuo Yuanmin asked, "Is there something strange about this wooden stake?" Lu Yuting replied, "Strange, this wooden stake seems to be used for practicing martial arts, but its shape is somewhat different from what I have seen before." Hearing this, Zuo Yuanmin stepped forward to examine it for a moment and said, "It doesn't seem so, does it? There are some shallow knife marks on it." Lu Yuting responded, "Then what do you think it looks like?" Zuo Yuanmin said, "Perhaps it was used for hanging clothes indoors when it rained."

Lu Yuting stubbornly said: "What I have is just a minor issue; even if I am a bit lame, it doesn't really matter." The mysterious person replied: "I would rather starve to death here than end up with two disabled legs. If you have the chance to fully recover and return to your former self, why would you settle for any possible inconvenience?" Lu Yuting had actually begun to believe this, yet still said: "Do you really have a way?" If you have the chance to fully recover and return to your former self, why would you settle for any possible inconvenience?" Lu Yuting had actually begun to believe this, yet still said: "Do you really have a way?"

On the second day, Zuo and Lu began to discuss their division of labor. Zuo Yuanmin would take charge of food and water, while Lu Yuting would focus on making a fire. Although making a fire may seem simple, on the day after the heavy rain, everything was still wet except for some stones basking in the sunlight. Neither of them had matches or flint, making it quite difficult to start a fire. Lu Yuting struck stones and tried to create fire by friction, exhausting all methods, but for two consecutive days, he achieved nothing. It was not until the afternoon of the third day, with the help of three consecutive days of sunshine from the heavens, that they managed to dry the combustible firewood, and only then did he finally succeed.

Lu Yuting understood the situation, wrapping the rope around his right arm. Suddenly feeling insecure, he wrapped it around a few more times. At that moment, Zuo Yuanmin led the way, with Lu Yuting following closely behind. The rope was quite long, and with this assistance, they soon reached the bottom of the waterfall together. As Lu Yuting's feet touched solid ground, he felt a sense of relief and quickly surveyed his surroundings. Although they were still in the valley, there was a flat and spacious terrace by the stream, covered in lush green grass, filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers, creating a very pleasant scene. Looking further ahead, he noticed several trees that were so large that it would take two or three strong men to embrace them. Their trunks jutted out horizontally into the stream, as if they were about to leap into the water, presenting a very vivid sight. On one of the branches, there was a dark mass that, at first glance, resembled a large snake. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that it was a long rope, identical to the one Zuo Yuanmin had brought. One end of the long rope dangled into the stream, swaying gently with the wind.

At that time, I could only watch helplessly as they stripped me of all my belongings, and I could only say, "What do you want to do?" However, they completely ignored me. Once they finished searching, they left me there and walked away. Before they returned again, I fainted. Looking back now, they might have gone back to drag you.

Zuo Yuanmin, both angry and amused, helped the tea doctor’s degree up from the ground and said, "Old man, there is no one around at the moment, so you might as well stop shouting; otherwise, you will be the one to suffer later." Although the tea doctor’s degree was frightened and felt very scared, he stubbornly replied, "He broke my table and made me bleed from my nose; I have already suffered enough. Is it still not permissible to shout? Is there any justice in this?"

However, Lu Yuting was quite optimistic, constantly moving back and forth to prove that he had fully recovered, even jumping a few times. Nevertheless, Zuo Yuanmin still noticed that Lu Yuting was using only one foot.

The two men in ochre robes, seeing that she was so young and merely a maid, found it hard to believe that she possessed such abilities. However, the fact remained that the two strong men could not subdue her, and the companion lying on the ground was unable to contain his pain, continuously moaning and wailing, which was also true. As a result, the two grew increasingly fearful, and one of them turned back to ask, "Old Zhao, how are you feeling?" The man lying on the ground, clutching his chest, cried out, "It's so hot, so hot... it feels like... it feels like my chest is about to catch fire..." His face was flushed, and he was drenched in sweat. One of them turned back again to ask, "Old Zhao, how are you feeling?" The man lying on the ground, clutching his chest, cried out, "It's so hot, so hot... it feels like... it feels like my chest is about to catch fire..." His face was flushed, and he was drenched in sweat.

Zuo Yuanmin approached Lu Yuting and said, "Guess what I found down there?" Lu Yuting replied, "I can't guess, just tell me quickly!" Zuo Yuanmin took out a bundle of items from behind and said, "Look!"

Just as Zuo Yuanmin had not yet reacted, a faint voice suddenly reached the ears of the two: "Oh, look at your young age, yet your knowledge is quite extensive..." Zuo Lu and the other were taken aback, instinctively stepping back and asking, "Who is it? Who is inside?" The faint voice once again penetrated their ears, saying, "Who said I am inside? I am behind you!" Both were startled and simultaneously turned around, stepping back in an attempt to see who had spoken, but the light at the cave entrance was too bright, making it difficult to discern what figure stood there.

Zuo Yuanmin felt a strong sense of resonance upon hearing this. Just as he was about to agree, Lu Yuting suddenly said: "That day, I was so drunk that I could barely stand. I thought it was just the effects of the alcohol. Two servants from the Qin family helped me out, and you would think they were taking me to rest, right? Wrong. They dragged me to the back hall and actually threw me onto a cart. Although I found it strange, I still believed they meant no harm; perhaps it was some special hospitality of the Qin family. Little did I know, as soon as I lay down, one of them reached into my bosom. I was taken aback and shouted, 'Hey, what are you doing? I am a guest of your young master!' One of them was startled and stepped back, showing some fear. The other one then said, 'What are you afraid of? I am a guest of your young master!' One of them was startled and stepped back, showing some fear. The other one then said, 'What are you afraid of? He can't move anyway. We're going to throw him out regardless, and the silver on him is of no use to us. If we don't take it, it's a waste... You won't take it, will you? If you don't take it, I will. Just don't come asking for your share later!'" Hearing them say this, I realized they were openly trying to rob me. At that moment, I didn't care who they were or which family they belonged to. When it comes to dealing with dogs, one must consider their masters. I moved my upper body, intending to sit up, and simultaneously raised my right arm, wanting to knock them to the ground. But the result? I really felt as if I couldn't move as they said; even lifting a finger was a struggle. It was then that I realized something was terribly wrong.

The mysterious person was greatly pleased and said, "Your memory is quite good, so there will be no problem." He then proceeded to supplement the remaining unmentioned medicinal ingredients, clearly specifying the quantity of each ingredient. Zuo Yuanmin recited them once more, and after the mysterious person corrected one mistake, Zuo Yuanmin recited them again, and this time it was entirely accurate.

Lu Yuting's heart sank back to the depths, and he said, "Is there no one below?" Looking up to the sky, he continued, "Then this rope might have been thrown down from the mountain by someone." Zuo Yuanmin replied, "That's not right; this rope was tied to a tree branch. I spent a great deal of effort to untie it."

Feng Feiyan took the opportunity to leap towards https://m.hetushu.com, saying: "This young lady has no grievances or enmities with you. As long as you know when to retreat, I will teach you how to save his life." The two men in ochre robes exchanged glances and gradually ceased their actions.

The young master shouted, "Rest assured, I won't forget you. I left in a hurry today, and I have less than a string of copper coins left. Here is a gold ingot weighing five taels; please help me exchange it!" As he spoke, he tossed a yellowish object into the hands of the tea doctor.

The tea doctor fell to the ground in response, while the young master showed no mercy, continuously delivering kicks to him.

The young gentleman originally thought that by revealing this skill, he could dampen his opponent's spirit and make it known that he was not to be trifled with. To his surprise, this tea doctor, who held a doctorate, was not intimidated at all; instead, he demanded compensation for the table and teapot. For a moment, he felt frustrated and did not know how to respond

Zuo Yuanmin agreed and immediately disappeared behind a pile of rubble. After a long while, Zuo Yuanmin could be heard joyfully calling out Lu Yuting's name while climbing back up. Lu Yuting was also shouting from above: "Come up quickly, what is making you so happy?"

The four of them agreed, and Qin Beichen did not forget to take the antidote first. Then Feng Yanshu suddenly said: "That Liu Huilie is so fickle; he only agreed to let Miss Liu go after much hesitation, yet now he has sent someone back to kill you. With someone like that, I wonder if the antidote he provides is trustworthy"

This scene inevitably reminded Zuo Yuanmin of the days when Huo Butong served as a ferry operator by the Yishui River in Fujiajiji. On the right side of the map, there hung a piece of cursive calligraphy by Yang Ningshi. Zuo Yuanmin did not comprehend the subtleties of calligraphy, but he felt that the strokes were vigorous, flowing like clouds and water, evoking a sense of tranquility and delight in the observer's heart

This price is still considered reasonable, but that young master does not know how much a table is truly worth, and thus he said: "Hmph, for such a shabby table, is it really worth one guan?" He then sheathed his sword, reached into his bosom, and continued: "Even if you give me one guan, the rest is for you to buy medicine!" The implication was that he still intended to beat him up.

After finally helping Lu Yuting to the entrance of their destination and settling him down properly, it goes without saying that both of them were so exhausted that they just wanted to collapse and sleep, especially since the sun had already begun to set. By the time Zuo Yuanmin returned with food, the day had come to an end.

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Zuo Yuanmin did not utter a word, but acted according to the instructions. The mysterious person continued: "You have seen my appearance. Indeed, I have been sitting here for more than half a month due to a mishap in my training, and I have not moved an inch from this stone. Now I am hungry, so you go prepare some food and bring it in."

Lu Yuting watched every move of Zuo Yuanmin with great pain. Suddenly, he felt compelled to speak, saying: "Brother Zuo, you saved my life in my family's secret chamber, and I have yet to express my gratitude. Now that you are helping me again, I truly do not know what to say."

Zuo Yuanmin slowly crawled out of the pit, only to find that the surroundings were either lush greenery or towering boulders, as he found himself in a valley. At this moment, the sound of rain was gentle, and mist curled at the valley's mouth, resembling a celestial realm. Being in such a realm indicated that it was rarely visited by humans, causing Zuo Yuanmin's heart to chill. He hurriedly climbed up a nearby rocky cliff, hoping to see further. To his surprise, as soon as he climbed onto the rock, he noticed a person leaning against the roots of a large tree, lying still. Wasn't it Lu Yuting?

Since both Feng Lu and the other person have left, and Zuo Yuanmin has just lost contact with Yunmeng, there is nowhere else to go at the moment. It is quite appropriate to travel while searching for Yunmeng's whereabouts, and naturally, there is no objection to this.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "In recent days, I have looked around everywhere. To leave this valley, one must either sprout wings and fly out or follow the stream downstream." Pointing ahead, he continued: "I once ventured as far as the base of that large tree. Although I did not proceed further, there is undoubtedly a path ahead."

Lu Yuting was once a young master of a large estate. Seeing the doorman working diligently, he couldn't help but express his admiration. Qin Beichen laughed heartily, offered no further explanation, and led the three of them through the hall, turning several corners until they arrived at a certain hall. The lights in the hall had already been lit, and several maids were busy arranging the tables and chairs, thoroughly engrossed in their work.

Lu Yuting noticed that the fruit he brought back looked quite unfamiliar, so he asked, "What is this?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I don't know either, but I saw the roe deer and wild deer in the mountains picking and eating this fruit from the ground. I thought... it should be edible, right?"

The young gentleman made a playful face at his back, then turned around to see that Zuo Yuanmin had sat down again to drink tea. He found another cup in the tea pavilion, sat at the same table with him, and said: "Thank you very much, big brother!" He picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and raised his cup, saying: "I offer you this cup as a toast in place of wine."

Zuo Yuanmin asked, "What about the second method?" The mysterious person replied, "I can also assist in unblocking the meridians using medicinal power. This is a unique formula passed down from my master. As long as you can help me procure the medicinal materials and follow the prescribed method to brew it, it will greatly aid me... Alas, because this is indeed a unique formula, the rules state that it can only be memorized with care and cannot be recorded in writing. However, at this moment, please go and fetch some paper and a pen."

Lu Yuting felt that this journey was full of surprises. The way Zuo Yuanmin shouted must be a good omen, so he hurried over. As he rounded the bend in the mountain, the first thing that caught his eye was a thatched cottage nestled beside a large tree. Approaching it, he noticed a nursery garden in front of the house and a melon shed with a chicken coop behind it. It seemed that there were still people living in this house.

After a while, Lu Yuting苦笑着 said, "So you are also here; I thought I was the only one left behind." Zuo Yuanmin noticed that his expression was not good and asked with concern, "How are you? It has started to rain heavily; should we find a place to take shelter?" Lu Yuting replied, "You go ahead; my left foot is broken."

Although he pondered endlessly without finding a solution, he did not dare to pause for even a moment. He entered the room, rummaged through the boxes and cabinets, and quickly found the bamboo tube containing kerosene before returning. He was back in the cave in no more than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. The mysterious person in the cave, seeing him return so quickly, laughed and said: "Why didn't you light the torch first? How can you come over to help me light the fire?"

Lu Yuting thought that since Zuo Yuanmin had said so, and he could not propose a better method, he could only follow his lead. Zuo Yuanmin had long prepared a wooden staff for Lu Yuting, about the thickness of a child's arm, which could serve as a cane, and they could also use it to help each other. Soon, the two arrived at the base of the large tree that Zuo Yuanmin had mentioned. It turned out that this valley was marked by this tree, and beyond it was a waterfall with a drop of about ten zhang. Below the waterfall, the stream accumulated into a pool, which appeared emerald green from above, its depth unknown.

The rain continued until midnight, and although the two men were somewhat reluctant, they could not help but huddle close together, shivering. After enduring through the night, the first rays of sunlight broke through in the early morning. Zuo Yuanmin let out a soft exclamation and immediately rushed out from the crevice. Once in the sunlight, he hurriedly began to strip off his clothes, quickly shedding them all, and opened his arms to revel in the gentle warmth of the sun. After a while, he remembered Lu Yuting, who was still in the cave, and turned back to help him. Upon reaching the sunlight, he hurriedly began to strip off his clothes, quickly shedding them all, and opened his arms to revel in the gentle warmth of the sun. After a while, he remembered Lu Yuting, who was still in the cave, and turned back to help him. Lu Yuting, filled with gratitude, said: "Seeing you enjoy yourself so much, I really feel embarrassed to call you."

Qin Beichen said: "The place where I live is picturesque, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and the scenery is delightful. It is approximately eighty miles to the south from here. If Miss Feng finds it too far, there are official roads along the way. We can hire a carriage to go there."

Zuo Yuanmin hurriedly intervened, saying: "Brother Lu, look at him in such pain, completely unable to resist. He is merely an old man. To kill someone like this would be the act of a petty person"

Zuo Yuanmin could no longer hold back, especially since the items were brought back by him; how could he let others take the risk? He opened his mouth and took a bite, the juice from the fruit flowing along his teeth and cheeks, swallowed into his stomach. Wow, my goodness, that was not just sour, but also a bit bitter. However, just like Lu Yuting, his growling stomach incessantly urged him to bite into whatever he saw, and once he bit into it, he would swallow it. Before long, all the wild fruits that Zuo Yuanmin had brought back had been consumed by the two of them.

The mountain stream ahead took a wide turn, and the ridges on both sides followed suit. Suddenly, Yuanmin Zuo popped his head out from a nearby mountain hollow and shouted, "Brother Lu, come quickly and take a look!" He then disappeared from sight.

Once the two individuals had fire, they thought of wanting to eat cooked food. Unfortunately, Zuo Yuanmin's hunting skills were lacking; relying on setting traps, he could at most catch some small animals like wild pheasants and mountain chickens, which he then handed over to Lu Yuting for slaughtering and cleaning. Although Lu Yuting had never done such things before, hunger made one learn quickly. Before long, his skill with a self-made stone knife had become quite proficient, not much different from using a household kitchen knife.

Unbeknownst to them, the two had been living in this valley for over half a month. During this time, just to secure three meals a day, Zuo Yuanmin had been exceedingly busy. In his spare moments, he was also searching for a way out of the valley. Unfortunately, although the valley was not deep and the steep slopes and cliffs were not particularly high, given his current abilities, he could not climb out no matter what. The only possible way out seemed to be to follow the small stream at the bottom of the valley and head downstream.

He was thinking to himself when he noticed a guest sitting in the tea pavilion ahead, who was already shouting loudly: "Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper!" while vigorously banging on the table. At that moment, Zuo Yuanmin could see clearly that this guest was a slender young man, with well-defined features and dressed smartly. However, what stood out even more was the long sword placed on the table, suggesting that this young gentleman was indeed skilled in martial arts

Qin Beichen smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare." He turned to the two on the left and inquired their names. Zuo Yuanmin and Lu Yuting then introduced themselves to him. Qin Beichen responded with a few polite remarks and continued, "If Miss Feng does not mind, I would like to invite you and your two friends to stay at my place for a few days while we wait for Senior Feng to arrive. Would that be agreeable?"

Feng Feiyan said: "My father is not nearby, but if you truly wish to see him, I can arrange it." Qin Beichen was overjoyed and asked, "Is that true?" Feng Feiyan thought to herself: "I am his daughter; how difficult can this be?" She replied, "Are you doubting that I am his daughter? Would you like to experience a punch from me to test the taste?" As she spoke, she feigned a punch and demonstrated a few moves. She said again, "Is that true?" Feng Feiyan thought to herself: "I am his daughter; how difficult can this be?" She replied, "Are you doubting that I am his daughter? Would you like to experience a punch from me to test the taste?" As she spoke, she feigned a punch and demonstrated a few moves.

The mysterious person said: "What? Are you surprised by my appearance? Don't rush to ask any questions; first, let's light the kerosene lamp here."

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Since Heaven has destined us to be trapped together in this valley, it signifies that this is all fate, what people refer to as 'yuanfen'. At this moment, we share both fortune and misfortune, and we must support each other in order to safely exit. Therefore, if you have any needs, feel free to express them; if you continue to be as polite as just now, it would be tantamount to looking down on me"

Lu Yuting said: "His goal is to pursue the young lady. Did you not see that it is just the two of us here?" Zuo Yuanmin remained skeptical. Lu Yuting continued: "First, let's find a place to take shelter from the rain, and then I will explain it to you slowly."

Qin Beichen said, "Nothing happened while I was away, right?" The doorman replied, "Nothing much, just that the master went out the day before yesterday." Qin Beichen asked, "Did he go alone?" The doorman said, "I am not quite sure about that." Qin Beichen responded with a sound of acknowledgment, "Hmm," and continued, "Notify everyone, set up a banquet in the flower hall; I want to host these friends." The doorman said, "I will go right away." After the guests entered, he closed the door again and hurriedly ran off.

After crossing the river, he traveled south for more than ten miles and indeed arrived at the small town mentioned by the locals. Zuo Yuanmin found the largest pharmacy in the town and directly stated his purpose. The shop assistant listened to Zuo Yuanmin's request while bringing the medicinal materials to the counter. In the end, it was counted that there were a total of six or seven types of minerals and animal-based medicinal stones missing. To save time, Zuo Yuanmin decided to purchase the available medicinal materials first, and then he found an inn to place the purchased materials in his room. The next day, when he went out, he paid the innkeeper in advance for three days' lodging and instructed the waiter not to enter his room without permission. To save time, Zuo Yuanmin decided to purchase the available medicinal materials first, and then he found an inn to place the purchased materials in his room. The next day, when he went out, he paid the innkeeper in advance for three days' lodging and instructed the waiter not to enter his room without permission. The waiter, having received a tip, readily agreed and respectfully escorted Zuo Yuanmin out.

Such behavior is both unusual and extremely impolite. Zuo Yuanmin sensed that something was amiss, and in a moment of urgency, he suddenly stood up and pointed at the two servants, shouting, "He Tu Shu Wei, men and women should not engage in close contact, what are you doing?" He saw Qin Beichen wearing a half-smile, and he opened his mouth to say a few words to him. Zuo Yuanmin heard nothing and hurriedly asked, "What did you say?" However, although his mouth was open, like Qin Beichen, no sound came out.

Suddenly, Zuo Yuanmin felt as if he had been thrown into water, with his mouth, nose, ears, and eyes instantly submerged. He let out a loud cry and struggled to rise, only to realize that he was kneeling in a pit of dirt. The sky was pouring rain, and the sound of raindrops hitting the leaves surrounded him. The water in the pit was about two to three inches deep. Zuo Yuanmin looked down at his clothes, which were covered in mud, and realized that he had just been lying in this pit, nearly drowning in the accumulated water. As for why he found himself here, that was a complete mystery to him.

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself, if this young gentleman is indeed a local bully, then this action of the tea doctor’s degree would undoubtedly lead him to escalate the situation, causing a great uproar in the tea house, turning everything upside down, and perhaps in the end, the tea doctor’s degree would have to spend money to appease the situation. However, the young gentleman before him clearly did not seem to be a vicious person. In a moment of anger, he broke the table, and after venting his emotions, he seemed to realize that he had gone a bit too far. He then said, "I will compensate you, but how much can this broken table be worth? Looking at the kind of poor tea you are selling, it’s clear it’s not worth much at all!"

The tea doctor received the payment for the tea and immediately hid behind the shed to cool off. Zuo Yuanmin poured a cup of tea, took a sip, but found the tea to be weak and tasteless. He lifted the lid of the teapot to see what kind of tea it was, only to find it stuffed full of swollen tea leaves. He thought to himself, "If this tea had not already been brewed into a pot of tea, it must have been mixed with something else." However, he did not mind much; after all, the tea was still hot, and perhaps if it steeped a little longer, the flavor would become stronger.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew by, passing from Xia Ruyi's side towards Zuo Yuanmin. Zuo Yuanmin was about to finish the tea in his cup in one go, but suddenly he caught a faint fragrance in the wind. ... A thought crossed his mind, and his gaze happened to fall upon the raised neck of Xia Ruyi, and he couldn't help but feel that the skin on this person's neck was remarkably fair.

Zuo Yuanmin followed the crowd and entered the hall last, feeling the warm glow of the fire illuminating the room. Above the main hall hung a large plaque inscribed with the four characters: "Sword Goes with the Meteor." To the left beneath the plaque was a painting by Guan Tong titled "Waiting for the Ferry." The painting depicted beautiful mountains and waters, with deep forests and distant houses. In the lower right corner, several tourists were chatting by the shore, waiting for the ferry to the opposite bank.

The mysterious person chuckled, "I have both my hands and feet paralyzed, yet I can still recover from it. You merely have a slight misalignment of your meridians; isn't that just a small test of skill?" Lu Yuting's heart stirred, and he nodded.

Lu Yuting encountered this object several times, and always felt as if something was weighing on his mind, yet he could not recall what it was. He then called for Zuo Yuanmin. Upon seeing that there was also a rope entangled here, Zuo Yuanmin found it quite interesting and suddenly said, "Why don't we use this rope to tie together a raft and paddle across the lake? What do you think?"

However, Lu Yuting was unwilling to fall too far behind and said, "Be careful." He immediately quickened his pace. He walked leisurely as if he were in a carriage, enjoying the scenery along the way, and the fatigue and gloom of the past few days were instantly swept away

The mysterious man laughed heartily, interrupting him, and coldly said: "The thatched cottage was found by you yourselves, and the food was also discovered and consumed by you. I was here at that time; how could I have any grace towards you? You speak of gratitude and repayment? Hmph, do not say that I have no grace towards you at all; even if I did, I have seen many ungrateful people in this world. Their methods of dealing with their benefactors will make you regret having been kind to them... Haha, you little brat actually dare to mention 'aiding the needy and supporting the weak'; are you trying to take advantage of the situation? Hmph, do not say that I have no grace towards you at all; even if I did, I have seen many ungrateful people in this world. Their methods of dealing with their benefactors will make you regret having been kind to them... Haha, you little brat actually dare to mention 'aiding the needy and supporting the weak'; are you trying to take advantage of the situation? What kind of person do you think I am, needing to rely on you two little rascals to 'aid the needy and support the weak'? Haha, this is truly laughable..."

After a while, Lu Yuting felt no abdominal pain or discomfort; instead, he felt his appetite returning and remarked, "It seems we have been in a stupor for at least three days, and we are this hungry." Zuo Yuanmin stood up and said, "These fruits are not bad; I will go find some more." He turned and left. For the two of them, as long as the food was not poisonous, it was considered delicious. Zuo Yuanmin went further down to the bottom of the valley and, after a considerable time, returned with some of the wild fruits they had found earlier. As before, Zuo Yuanmin brought them back first before they ate together, and Lu Yuting was also unwilling to take advantage of his discomfort to eat more. At this point, their friendship deepened with a greater understanding.

The mysterious person cleared his throat and continued: "Your companion is not wrong; I have indeed fallen into a state of obsession this time, and the situation is not optimistic. My legs are paralyzed, and for the past half month, I have been trying to circulate my energy to unblock my meridians, but the vital energy I have infused has all vanished without a trace, with no response whatsoever. Originally, I could have ignored my legs and continued to cultivate my skills, but what is the point of mastering unparalleled martial arts if one becomes a cripple? Therefore, I am unwilling to give up. To preserve my legs, I must continuously circulate my energy to aid the flow of blood and qi in my lower limbs, which is why I find myself trapped here, unable to move."

Zuo Yuanmin involuntarily took a step back and said, "If the senior truly does not need assistance, then why hold my friend captive and threaten me with his life to do this or that?" The mysterious figure replied, "I do not require your help. Everything you are doing now is to save your companion's life. This is a transaction; you can choose to escape or opt for an exchange."

The tea doctor, having earned a few taels of silver, could have taken the day off. Moreover, at this moment, he was seeing stars and had lost quite a bit of blood, so he needed to rest. He glared fiercely at the young gentleman, then snorted and turned to leave. The young gentleman quickly stepped forward to block his path, saying, "Hey, are you trying to make money from both sides? Return my gold to me!" Having reached this point, the tea doctor found it unwise to create further complications, so he threw the gold back to him and said, "Carrying around such a heavy piece of fake gold to swindle others is not as practical as preparing a couple of taels of silver!" With that, he walked away without looking back.

Nevertheless, neither of them was certain whether this fruit was poisonous or not. Lu Yuting shouted, "Whatever, I would rather die from eating than starve to death." He opened his mouth and took a bite, consuming it whole, skin and all.

The tea doctor said: "Not much, not much, including the table, teapot, and teacups, I will charge you one or two taels of silver." The young gentleman's eyes widened in surprise, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and he said: "What?" Zuo Yuanmin, watching from the side, thought that the tea doctor did not know the severity of the situation and was pushing his luck; he must be getting impatient with life, and he couldn't help but feel worried for him. Indeed, the tea doctor also sensed that the other party was getting angry, and was slightly taken aback, so he said: "This... when it was brand new, it was worth this much; anyway, it has been used for these years, so... let's just say it's worth your usual money." He thought that the tea doctor did not know the severity of the situation and was pushing his luck; he must be getting impatient with life, and he couldn't help but feel worried for him. Indeed, the tea doctor also sensed that the other party was getting angry, and was slightly taken aback, so he said: "This... when it was brand new, it was worth this much; anyway, it has been used for these years, so... let's just say it's worth your usual money."

Zuo Yuanmin stood up and said, "Yes." He turned to leave when the voice said, "Wait a moment." Zuo Yuanmin asked, "Is there anything else you wish to instruct, senior?" The voice replied, "If you do not return within half an hour, the lives of your companions will be in jeopardy." As soon as the words were spoken, a sudden "Ah" was heard, which was the voice of Lu Yuting. However, the mysterious person seemed to have used some method to silence Lu Yuting after just that one exclamation.

Lu Yuting said, "So Brother Qin lives in Zhuxian Town." Feng Feiyan asked, "Is Zhuxian Town very special?" Lu Yuting replied, "Zhuxian Town is an ancient town, said to be the hometown of Zhu Hai from the Warring States period, which is why it is called Zhuxian Town. Zhu Hai was highly skilled in martial arts, wielding a pair of large iron cones as weapons. He defeated Jin Bi and dealt a heavy blow to the Qin army, truly a great hero. Now, Zhuxian Town is gradually developing and has become an important distribution center for goods in the Jingji region, ranked alongside Jingde, Hankou, and Foshan as one of the four great towns of the world."

Zuo Yuanmin was unwilling to listen to his sarcastic and demoralizing words, so she did not respond, quietly helping Lu Yuting to shift her body as far back as possible. Then, Lu Yuting spoke first: "I don't know how many days I've been out; I am really hungry."

The old man, seeing that the doctor was willing to pay, grew bolder and said, "Hehe, although I am not young, I am quite healthy and do not need to buy medicine." After a while, noticing that the young gentleman had been searching in his pocket for a long time without finding a single coin, a look of disdain appeared on his face as he remarked, "You have been searching for quite a while; could it be that you forgot to bring money when you went out..."

The two were cold and hungry, and after chatting aimlessly for a few moments, Zuo Yuanmin remarked that it was truly a stroke of luck that Qin Beichen had not killed them to silence them, which was indeed a great fortune amidst their misfortunes. Lu Yuting countered, saying that it was because Qin Beichen looked down on them, treating them like worthless trash and throwing them into the deep mountains, which was the epitome of humiliation. The two found no common ground in their conversation, exchanged a few more words, and then fell silent.

Lu Yuting was overjoyed and said, "So it turns out there were indeed people down there before." Zuo Yuanmin untied the rope, securely fastening one end to a nearby tree trunk, and said, "Since that person was able to come in and go out, we will surely be able to get out as well." He handed the other end of the rope to Lu Yuting

Lu Yuting said: "Brother Zuo, you are right; someone has indeed been here." Zuo Yuanmin, more anxious than him, replied: "I will take a look around first; you can catch up slowly." Before he finished speaking, the person had already walked far away.

Although the cliffs on all sides of this valley are not particularly steep, assisting a person with a broken leg down the slope is a thousand times more difficult than going alone. Zuo Yuanmin had already considered this when he first ascended, so he specifically sought out the flattest path, winding and meandering as he descended step by step

Lu Yuting said: "But this still looks quite unripe." Zuo Yuanmin replied: "It rained heavily all day yesterday; those that were ripe either fell to the ground or were eaten by wild animals. The ones I picked are already the most edible among all that are available."

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Just brew a pot casually." His only purpose was to rest his legs and quench his thirst; any tea would suffice. The tea vendor responded with a nod, casually handed over a teapot and a cup, poured hot water from the other hand into the pot, deftly covered it with the lid, and then extended his hand to ask for six wen. This price was double that of the previous small town, but here it was in the wilderness, with no village in front and no shop behind. Operating a tea stall in such a place was indeed not easy. Without a second thought, Zuo Yuanmin immediately paid the bill.

On the second day, the two of them got up early and continued their search for a way out of the valley. At this moment, having eaten well and rested, they were in high spirits, chatting and laughing along the way, filled with confidence about their ability to leave the valley. Before long, they turned a bend in the stream and were taken aback by the sight before them. It turned out that the stream flowed into a pool here, which was wide and deep, stretching for twenty to thirty miles. As they looked out, they saw the reflections of green mountains and white clouds swaying with the waves, and a few birds flying over the pool, with no signs of human presence. The towering cliffs on both sides were steep and perilous, even monkeys could not ascend them. After looking around for a while, Zuo Yuanmin suddenly burst into laughter, self-mockingly saying, "It turns out... it turns out this guy... he... he actually comes in and out by boat... ha..." There was no smile on his face.

Lu Yuting shouted in approval and then walked into the room with Zuo Yuanmin. Upon entering, they found the furnishings to be simple and lacking in any significant items, suggesting it was likely a temporary dwelling of a nearby farmer or hunter, suitable for a night’s stay without much concern. As they entered the inner room, they suddenly noticed a wooden stake inserted into the ground at the other end of the earthen bed, from which several branches extended, varying in length and thickness. Lu Yuting couldn't help but be captivated by the sight.

Thus, the four set off towards their destination. To avoid the endless pursuit of Liu Hui and unnecessary complications, they decided not to take a vehicle. Instead, they chose to walk along a secluded forest path. After traveling about thirty to forty miles, they finally returned to the main road. Without any further delay, they arrived at a small town by dusk. At the roadside marking the entrance to the town stood a stone tablet inscribed with the three characters: "Zhu Xian Town"

Zuo Yuanmin bent down to catch his breath for a moment, then took out a fire knife and flint to start a fire. As the flame of the torch in his hand grew brighter, the scene in the cave gradually became clearer. He moved the torch further ahead, and in the light, he saw not far in front of him a middle-aged man, around forty to fifty years old, sitting upright on a rock facing the cave entrance. His hair was unkempt, long hair draped over his shoulders, and his face was covered with a beard, making it difficult to discern his features. The person he was holding by the collar with his left hand was suspended in the air, unable to move; it was Lu Yuting. Zuo Yuanmin moved the torch further ahead, and in the light, he saw not far in front of him a middle-aged man, around forty to fifty years old, sitting upright on a rock facing the cave entrance. His hair was unkempt, long hair draped over his shoulders, and his face was covered with a beard, making it difficult to discern his features. The person he was holding by the collar with his left hand was suspended in the air, unable to move; it was Lu Yuting. Seeing the man's calm expression, Zuo Yuanmin thought he must not have suffered much.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "So that's why the senior suddenly collapsed in this cave, having not eaten a grain of rice for over ten days, almost starving to death, isn't it?" The mysterious person became furious and shouted: "What did you say?"

Qin Beichen no longer pressed for answers and shifted the topic, discussing various tales of the martial world and intriguing stories from the rivers and lakes with Feng Feiyan. Soon, the food and drinks were served. After Qin Beichen ensured that all three had eaten something to fill their stomachs, he began to raise his glass to toast them. Feng Feiyan enjoyed being regarded as a martial arts hero, thinking that such heroes would drink heartily, so she downed three cups in quick succession without changing her expression. Lu Yuting, not wanting to fall behind, also kept his cup in hand. As for Zuo Yuanmin, seizing the rare opportunity to make a new friend, he also drank a few more cups.

The mysterious person was overjoyed and said, "This will do. In fact, you are not without your benefits; this prescription is a gift for you. However, you must promise not to mention it to outsiders, nor can you transcribe it in any other form." Lu Yuting laughed heartily and replied, "My brother has such a good memory that he will remember it after hearing it just once. This prescription is already in his mind. If you say it is a gift for him, isn't that just offering flowers to the Buddha? Empty words without real benefit?"

Lu Yuting thought to himself: "Is this what I have been thinking about? Why is it so difficult to express such a simple idea?" Lian Dao replied: "Exactly, exactly, it's much better than just sitting here in silence."

Zuo Yuanmin followed closely behind and, as he stepped into the cave, he immediately felt a chilling wind blowing towards him, making him quite uncomfortable. Lu Yuting said, "This wind coming from nowhere must have its reasons. Could it be that this cave has another exit?" Zuo Yuanmin looked around and saw that it was pitch dark inside, with no bottom in sight. He did not rule out this possibility and said, "I will go get a torch." Since the two of them discovered the thatched cottage yesterday, they had extinguished the torches they were carrying. At this moment, both of them had concealed fire knives and flint taken from the cottage, and a spark would ignite them. Since they were about to explore, they needed to turn back to find something combustible.

Lu Yuting recalled the embarrassing scene from that time and couldn't help but laugh. For the past few dozen days, due to their poor cooking skills, they had been in a state of constant semi-hunger. At this moment, upon seeing anything edible in the room, there was no need for any politeness. Before long, the two of them had consumed more than half of the food supplies in the room and then went to bed early

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "Of course I don't care, which is why I didn't say anything." He said aloud: "I understand." He helped Lu Yuting take off her wet clothes, hung them on a branch to dry, and then went off in search of food. After searching for a long time, he finally found a few wild fruits, washed them with the dew on the leaves, and brought them back to share with Lu Yuting.

Zuo Yuanmin shook his head and said, "That is not good." The mysterious person asked, "What?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "The dosage of each herb is different. First, I have no certainty in my mind, making it difficult to proceed. Second, the herbs I purchase may only allow for one prescription due to the particularly large dosage of one ingredient. Isn't that quite troublesome?"

Zuo Yuanmin approached Lu Yuting, crouched down, and Lu Yuting asked, "Can you do it?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I cannot." Lu Yuting then asked, "Then what are you going to do?" Zuo Yuanmin said, "This place is remote; if I do not help you, who will?" As he spoke, he tore open Lu Yuting's pant leg and saw a large swelling on his left calf. However, the leg did not appear to be misaligned. Although the bone was broken, the situation did not seem serious. He remarked, "It looks like the leg bone is cracked, but it is not completely broken yet." He found a relatively straight wooden stick, tore off the pant leg, and tightly bound the broken leg.

Zuo Yuanmin said, "Don't say that, I won't kill you. Tell me, what can I do to help you?" The mysterious person hesitated for a moment and replied, "First, help me sit up properly." Zuo Yuanmin moved behind him, slipped his arms under the mysterious person's armpits, and lifted him up. However, the mysterious person's lower body was unresponsive and he could not cross his legs by himself. After struggling for a while and breaking into a sweat, Zuo Yuanmin finally called out, "Brother Lu! Please help and cross his legs for him." Lu Yuting, seeing his determined attitude, said, "First, help me sit up properly." Zuo Yuanmin moved behind him again, slipped his arms under his armpits, and lifted him up. However, the mysterious person's lower body was still unresponsive and he could not cross his legs by himself. After struggling for a while and breaking into a sweat, Zuo Yuanmin finally called out, "Brother Lu! Please help and cross his legs for him." Lu Yuting, seeing his determined attitude, sighed, threw away the stone, and said, "Consider it a debt I owe you." He helped to cross the mysterious person's legs and immediately stepped back.

The mysterious person said: "Return to this cave and walk behind me; it is the only shortcut to the outside of the valley." After Luo Yuanmin learned that the owner of the thatched cottage in the valley was still present and that there were no traces of boats by the lakeside, he deduced that the exit of the valley must be within this cave, especially upon realizing that the mysterious person intended to stay in this cave to recuperate. Noticing that there was no expression of surprise on his face, the mysterious person asked: "Do you know that this cave is the exit of the valley?"

The two individuals were still in a state of uncertainty when Lu Yuting suddenly felt a tightness around his waist. A powerful pulling force abruptly yanked him backward, so strong that his feet left the ground. Lu Yuting let out a loud cry, but felt the wind rush past his ears, unaware of his surroundings. Then, he felt a tight grip at the back of his collar, as if someone had seized him from behind

Zuo Yuanmin was somewhat surprised and quickly stepped forward to investigate. Upon hearing the noise, Lu Yuting turned around and made eye contact with Zuo Yuanmin, both of them momentarily taken aback.

Qin Beichen approached the red lacquered door, grasped the large copper door knocker, and knocked several times. A child's voice responded from behind the door: "Who is it?" Qin Beichen replied: "It is I." There was a rustling sound from behind the door, and with a creak, a small gap opened, revealing a head. Upon seeing Qin Beichen, the young doorkeeper, who appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old, shook his head in excitement and exclaimed: "So it is truly Young Master returning!" With both hands, he pulled with all his might to open the large door.

Upon hearing that he was finally willing to explain the ins and outs of the matter, Zuo Yuanmin felt that the other party at least no longer regarded him as an enemy. This realization brought him a sense of encouragement, and he continued: "However, you were originally here alone, isolated and without support. Now that there are two of us to assist you, the situation is quite different."

Lu Yuting could not help but become passionate as he listened, saying: "Alright, although your temperament is peculiar and not quite to my liking, your integrity and sense of loyalty are precisely what people of our kind value. It is indeed my fortune to be able to befriend someone like you. Brother Zuo, if I ever bother you again in the future, you may simply wave your sleeve and leave, without needing to pay me any mind." Zuo Yuanmin smiled and replied: "There is no need for that..."

Zuo Yuanmin smiled awkwardly and said, "I am not doing well either. I know I am not talkative, and my personality is somewhat reclusive, often causing those around me to feel troubled." After finishing the bandaging of his broken leg, he stood up, looked around for a moment, and said, "I really don't know how we ended up here. I wonder how Miss Zuo and Young Master Qin are doing now"

The mysterious person noticed his frown and immediately stopped, saying: "I apologize for putting you in a difficult position. I originally thought that those who do not understand herbs would find it twice as hard to remember things." Zuo Yuanmin replied: "No, I just find it strange that this prescription only lists the names of the herbs but does not include the quantities." The mysterious person was taken aback and said: "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to remember, so I thought you could first buy the herbs, and then I would tell you the quantities one by one."

The doctor held the degree in his hand, glanced at it a few times, and said with a smile: "You say it is gold, so it is gold? You say it weighs five taels, so it weighs five taels? It wouldn't be that it is copper disguised as gold, filled with lead inside, would it?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Senior, rest assured, it won't take half an hour." As he hurriedly rushed out of the cave, he pondered: "This mysterious person must undoubtedly be the owner of that thatched cottage, but his martial arts are formidable. I wonder why he would toy with us two young juniors? Has the fire in the cave gone out? Could he not just return and add some kerosene himself? Is he hiding over there just to wait for someone to light the lamp for him?"

It is unclear how much time has passed, but Zuo Yuanmin felt as if he was gradually regaining consciousness. Although he still felt groggy, he could occasionally hear voices nearby. Next, he could not discern whether it was a dream or a real sensation; Zuo Yuanmin felt his body rising and falling, as if he were riding on clouds, which was exceedingly uncomfortable. After a while, he could not help but fall into a deep sleep again. In his dreams, he seemed to return to Yunmeng's side, and then he saw his deceased mother and Uncle Huo. However, these people seemed not to see him, each one passing by like a stranger. Again, he could not tell whether it was a dream or reality; Zuo Yuanmin felt his body rising and falling, as if riding on clouds, which was exceedingly uncomfortable. After a while, he could not help but fall into a deep sleep again. In his dreams, he seemed to return to Yunmeng's side, and then he saw his deceased mother and Uncle Huo. However, these people seemed not to see him, each one passing by like a stranger. Zuo Yuanmin shouted loudly, but no one turned back. When he tried to chase after them, he realized he was as immobile as a wooden statue or a clay figure, completely unable to move.

Lu Yuting immediately interjected, "Senior, it's not that we are unwilling to help you, but our skills are insufficient. In matters of going astray in martial arts, we truly cannot assist... Since that is the case, we shall take our leave first..." However, upon hearing the mysterious person's words, Zuo Yuanmin felt even more reluctant. She shook off Lu Yuting's hand and reached out to grasp his, saying, "Senior, I know nothing about internal martial arts. Is the situation really as my friend described it?"

Qin Beichen smiled and said, "It is merely thirteen years of privet, nothing to speak of. Can Miss Feng still drink? I will toast another cup to you, Miss!"

Qin Beichen smiled and said, "Indeed, my views align with Brother Zuo's. Also, Brother Zuo, please refrain from calling me 'Master' again." He opened the oiled paper bag and found inside it wrapped a red and a black pill, each about the size of a pinky finger. Following the procedure as described by Liu Hui Lie, he swallowed the red pill.

The mysterious figure was enraged and exclaimed: "You ... ... " His right hand was raised high, trembling slightly in the air. Left Yuanmin said: "A gentleman may be killed, but not humiliated. If you insist on treating me like a servant, then I ask you to grant me this request." With that, he closed his eyes.

The young gentleman was greatly pleased and asked, "What is your surname, elder brother?" Zuo Yuanmin stated his name. The young gentleman replied, "So you are Elder Brother Zuo. My surname is Xia, and my given name is Ruyi." Zuo Yuanmin said, "I see that we are about the same age; why do you call me elder brother?" The young gentleman Xia Ruyi then revealed his birth year to Zuo Yuanmin, and upon comparison, it turned out that he was indeed one year younger than Zuo Yuanmin.

Zuo Yuanmin thought this way, but the first step was to wait for Lu Yuting to be able to move freely. Seeing that the bruise on Lu Yuting's calf was gradually fading, it seemed that the day of leaving this valley was not far off. However, during this period, Lu Yuting relied solely on her natural healing ability, without any assistance from medication, which would likely leave future repercussions.

The mysterious person, adept at reading others, understood that Zuo Yuanmin had a compassionate heart and was benevolent, even more so than Lu Yuting. Therefore, he targeted Zuo Yuanmin, adopting a strategy of retreating to advance. He first explained his own situation to gain trust, then exaggerated the tragic circumstances he faced. Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuanmin indeed felt a pang of conscience, which further solidified his resolve to stay and assist the mysterious person, saying: "Since that is the case, you must have a solution, right?"

Lu Yuting explained: "You are unaware of this; this old scoundrel has gone through a second crisis, and the suffering he endures is ten times worse than the first. If he cannot endure it, it would be better for me to lessen his pain. However, if he manages to pull through, his martial arts will be terrifying, and if he recovers, we might all be doomed!" The implication is still a desire to eliminate future troubles.

The mysterious person was not angry; instead, he turned to Lu Yuting and said, "What if I could heal your foot? Would that count as both verbal and practical benefits?" Lu Yuting's mind stirred, and he replied, "What do you mean?" The mysterious person continued, "Your foot has been broken for a while now, and it hasn't been properly treated. The meridians and blood vessels have healed chaotically on their own. By the time your wound is completely healed, you will have to limp for the rest of your life, do you understand?"

Upon hearing Feng Feiyan's acquiescence, Lu Yuting immediately exclaimed, "Go, go, go!" Following the cue, Feng Feiyan added, "Then it will trouble Young Master Qin." Qin Beichen joyfully replied, "It is my utmost honor."

After three rounds of drinks, Zuo Yuanmin and the other two were quite tipsy, while Qin Beichen kept calling for more wine with Tu and Shu. Feng Feiyan drank quickly and fiercely, but unexpectedly, the aftereffects of the wine were quite strong, and among the three, she got drunk the fastest. In a daze, Zuo Yuanmin only heard her swaying as she said: "Young Master Qin, what... what kind of wine is this? Why is it... so potent?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "This young gentleman did not mean any harm. How about this: since you do not trust this young gentleman's gold, I have one or two silver coins here, which can be considered as compensation for your table. As for the rest..." He originally intended to say: "Go see a doctor." However, he suddenly recalled that this young gentleman had just mentioned: "The rest is for you to buy medicine!" At that moment, he found it somewhat amusing, but he suppressed his laughter; otherwise, he would not be able to mediate this situation. He had originally intended to say: "Go see a doctor," but suddenly remembered what the young gentleman had just said: "The rest is for you to buy medicine!" He found it somewhat funny, but he held back his laughter; otherwise, he would not be able to fulfill his role as a mediator, so he changed his words to: "The rest... can be considered a reward for you!" Unexpectedly, the young gentleman interjected from the side: "Yes, a reward for you to buy medicine!" After saying this, he found it amusing and chuckled.

Before Qin Beichen could speak, Zuo Yuanmin said: "That is not necessarily the case. If he had given fake medicine, there would be no need to send someone back to deal with Master Qin."

Zuo Yuanmin understood this as well, so he first went to look for a crevice in the rock wall, feeling that it could barely shield them from the rain, before helping Lu Yuting over. Upon seeing that the crevice was too narrow to accommodate two people side by side, Lu Yuting smiled wryly and said, "Hehe, my name is 'Yuting', yet I never expected to end up in a place that offers no shelter from the wind and rain."

Zuo Yuanmin pondered for a moment and said, "So, it seems that Miss Feng is in a perilous situation right now." Lu Yuting replied, "Our situation isn't much better; if this rain continues for a few more days, even if we don't freeze to death here, we will starve to death here."

Zuo Yuanmin observed him eating while displaying a pained expression and inquired, "How is it?" Lu Yuting, with a grimace, replied, "It’s... it’s so sour... so sour..." Although he described it as sour, after a few bites, his long-empty stomach seemed to start urging him: "Eat, eat, hurry and eat!" It rumbled continuously, prompting Lu Yuting to keep eating one after another.

Lu Yuting saw that his arm was wrapped with a bunch of things, but they were not hemp ropes. He said, "Is it a rope..." Suddenly, he smiled broadly and exclaimed, "Is there someone below?" Zuo Yuanmin shook his head and replied, "There is no one below; I found it."

With Lu Yuting's mention, Zuo Yuanmin gradually recalled some circumstances from that time. At that moment, both he and Lu Yuting claimed to be unknown individuals, revealing nothing about their backgrounds. In contrast, Feng Feiyan, being the daughter of a renowned martial arts master, immediately stated her identity upon their first meeting. If there were any past grievances between Qin Beichen and the three of them, it would only be possible with Feng Feiyan. The fact that both he and Lu Yuting are present now, while this rather mature young lady is conspicuously absent, somewhat substantiates this fact. If there were any past grievances between Qin Beichen and the three of them, it would only be possible with Feng Feiyan. The fact that both he and Lu Yuting are present now, while this rather mature young lady is conspicuously absent, somewhat substantiates this fact

Zuo Yuanmin humbly declined, saying: "I dare not. Young Master possesses martial skills, yet does not entirely rely on strength to bully others, which can be considered cultured. I have merely spent a couple of silver coins, so there is no need for thanks."

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Senior..." The mysterious person's expression changed dramatically, and he said sternly: "Although I am not in good condition, my strength remains intact. Would you like your companion to have a taste first?" Lu Yuting suddenly let out a painful sound, his face showing considerable distress. Zuo Yuanmin quickly replied: "I dare not..." He swallowed the words he wanted to say and turned to leave. In a hurry, he returned to the thatched cottage and moved all the remaining food inside to the cave.

The tea doctor said: "Did I not just say it was coarse tea? Your family is wealthy, so naturally you are not accustomed to this kind of tea. Your inability to adapt is a personal matter; how can it be changed?" The young gentleman replied: "Coarse tea still has a coarse flavor! What kind of tea is this that has no color at all? I won't drink it, I won't drink it, change it, change it!"

Zuo Yuanmin straightened his body and continued, "Is this acceptable? What comes next?" The mysterious person seemed to understand that Zuo Yuanmin had no ill intentions and said, "Are you really foolish or just too naive? Do you think that good intentions always yield good returns?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I do not expect you to repay me; I only need you to tell me how I can assist you now."

The mysterious person glanced at him and suddenly asked, "What is your name?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "My name is Zuo Yuanmin, you can call me Little Zuo, Senior. This is my friend, who has the surname Lu." Lu Yuting said, "My name is Lu Yuting, may I ask for your esteemed name, Senior?" The mysterious person replied, "I do not have a name. Since you have encountered me in this valley, I shall take the surname Gu, and you may call me Gu Zhongren! You can refer to me as Senior Gu."

The mysterious person felt that he had a point, and said: "But have you memorized all the medicinal herbs I just mentioned?" Zuo Yuanmin smiled slightly and replied: "What you just mentioned were Huangqi, Niuhuang, Tianma, Dilong, Wugong, Shudi..." and continued to recite them fluently, without missing a word

Xia Ruyi finished the tea and looked at the suddenly dazed Zuo Yuanmin, saying: "Brother Zuo, I have already finished..." Zuo Yuanmin came to his senses and, noticing the glimmer in her eyes as she spoke, suddenly realized: "This person is a woman!" This thought flashed through his mind, but his hand did not stop; he poured too forcefully, and the tea flowed too quickly, causing him to choke suddenly. Zuo Yuanmin couldn't help but cough, turning his head and spraying out all the tea.

Unexpectedly, Zuo Yuanmin instead became enlightened by this, saying: "Senior, your extraordinary skills are unparalleled, truly eye-opening. Please demonstrate another move and kill this junior, to showcase your remarkable prowess."

Lu Yuting suddenly vanished from beside him, and the level of shock experienced by Zuo Yuanmin was indeed no less than that of the captured Lu Yuting. In a moment of urgency, he completely forgot that he was also in a perilous situation, not even thinking of running away; he merely turned back and shouted, "Brother Lu! Brother Lu!" He neither dared to advance nor was he prepared to flee. Yet, Lu Yuting disappeared into the darkness ahead, showing no response to his calls.

Zuo Yuanmin stood in front and said, "We have lived in his house and eaten the food he left behind; by all accounts, he has shown us kindness. Did you not hear him say that in this world, there are only ungrateful and shameless people? If we were to kill him, would that not confirm his statement?"

The mysterious person said: "Generally, external assistance can be provided, meaning that if there is a person with strong internal energy, he can use his own power to help clear the meridians of someone who has fallen into a state of demonic deviation..." Lu Yuting chuckled softly. Before he could respond, the mysterious person continued: "However, the rescuer's power must exceed that of the person being rescued to ensure absolute safety. If the rescuer's power is lower, the risks increase significantly. Therefore, not only do you two lack any internal energy cultivation, but even if you had it, attempting to correct my energy flow would be an act of suicide." Saying this, he glanced at Lu Yuting.

Lu Yuting could not help but feel disheartened, saying, "Are we really going to wait for him to return here?" Leaving Zuo Yuanmin, who was standing on the shore staring blankly at the pond, he began to walk around and inspect the area. He touched and searched everywhere, and suddenly noticed something hanging from a large tree ahead. As he approached to take a closer look, he discovered it was yet another long rope.

Qin Beichen greeted the three individuals and first served them tea. After all three had taken their tea, Qin Beichen inquired about the backgrounds of Lu Yuting and Zuo Yuanmin regarding their masters. Lu Yuting, having recently experienced a significant upheaval at home, was reluctant to discuss the matter with outsiders, hesitating in his words and ultimately refusing to speak plainly. As for Zuo Yuanmin, since no one at the scene knew his background, he was even less willing to disclose it, merely stating that he came from an ordinary family. He had no martial arts skills, which served as a strong proof of his claim. Zuo Yuanmin's background was unknown to anyone present, and he was even less inclined to reveal it, only saying that he was from a common family. His complete lack of martial arts skills was a strong testament to this.

Feng Feiyan, lost in thought, said: "As practitioners of martial arts, to achieve success and fame like him, to have our hometown named after us, would truly be a life without regrets"

The two individuals followed the stream downriver based on Zuo Yuanmin's earlier observations. Zuo Yuanmin was aware that Lu Yuting could not walk for long, so he deliberately slowed his pace. They walked and stopped for most of the day, finally arriving at a confluence of mountain streams. Lu Yuting saw that the small stream beside him flowed into a river with abundant water and considerable turbulence. The mountains on both sides were steep and towering, competing to point skyward. Aside from the stones and bare riverbed along the stream, there was no place to stand. He turned back to Zuo Yuanmin and said, "Are you sure this is the only way?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "No matter how strong the martial arts of my senior are, he is still a mortal, not a deity. Is it really possible to live in this world without relying on anyone, living independently and in solitude?" The mysterious person replied: "The small house in this valley and all the food planted here have been accomplished solely by me. I have lived here for fifteen or sixteen years, always alone, and have never relied on anyone!"

Zuo Yuanmin noticed the young gentleman's displeased expression and thought to himself that this tea doctor's degree might be in jeopardy. Sure enough, he heard a loud "crack" as the young man slammed his fist on the table, instantly splitting the four-foot square table in half. The teapot and water cups on the table fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. Seizing the opportunity, the young man leaped back, having drawn his sword at some point.

Zuo Yuanmin thought that the doctor's degree was merely a matter of cutting corners in tea production and inflating prices, which was not a capital offense. Furthermore, the young gentleman from last year was certainly not an unreasonable person, so he stepped forward to intervene, saying: "This brother, please stop fighting. If this continues, someone might get killed." The young gentleman glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then ceased his attack.

The two agreed and immediately took action. Zuo Yuanmin climbed up the tree trunk and untied the rope that was tangled in the branches, while Lu Yuting organized things below the tree. From his elevated position, Zuo Yuanmin suddenly noticed a cave not far behind the tree. They had just passed by the other side, and the cave was conveniently hidden by the trees, so they had not discovered it. Having lived in seclusion for several dozen days, their sensitivity to the surrounding environment had increased significantly, as even seemingly insignificant things could, under certain circumstances, make their lives a little easier or even save their lives in emergencies. Therefore, upon discovering the cave, he immediately informed Lu Yuting below the tree. Lu Yuting found it quite interesting and walked towards the cave he pointed out.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "If I were to become possessed while practicing in this desolate place, unable to move and in need of assistance, the best course of action would be to remain at a critical juncture, the essential path for entering and exiting the valley, and this place would naturally be the exit"

The mysterious person let out a cold laugh and said, "You think that because I have difficulty with my legs, I cannot deal with you, right?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "If the senior does not believe me, then feel free to kill both of us; it would be better for us to perish together!" Upon hearing this, Lu Yuting struggled repeatedly, but was unable to speak a word due to the pressure on his acupoints.

Just as he was deep in thought, Zuo Yuanmin suddenly came out of the room and, upon seeing Lu Yuting, immediately said: "I searched all around and didn't see a single person. The tables and chairs in this room have gathered some dust; the owner must have gone far away, right?" Lu Yuting replied: "From the looks of it, he is very likely to have left the valley. Although I don't know when he will return, as long as he has managed to leave, we will certainly be able to find a way out."

The young gentleman said, "Elder brother, why do you say that? Although he was the one who acted unjustly first, if I were to remain unable to save face, I might end up causing an even greater disturbance. Now that I think about it, it was merely a trivial matter, yet I struck someone who is unskilled in martial arts. If it weren't for your timely intervention, I truly wouldn't know how it would have ended. " Zuo Yuanmin repeatedly declined, still unwilling to accept. The young gentleman continued, "Elder brother, my hand holding the cup is getting a bit sore. Since you insist on not accepting my gratitude, how about we become friends and share a cup of tea?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "That sounds much more reasonable."

At the moment when the young gentleman struck the table, the tea doctor happened to close his eyes. Upon hearing the sound, he opened his eyes to find the table already destroyed. Although he knew that the damage to the table was related to this young gentleman, he was unaware that it was caused by the young man striking it with his bare hands. Seeing the table shattered and the teapot broken, how could he not feel heartbroken? He immediately shouted, "Hey, you little brat, why did you break my table? You even smashed the teapot! This pot of tea doesn't cost much, but you destroy my means of making a living just because you're unhappy. Isn't that the behavior of a thug? Pay up, pay up!" He extended his hand in a gesture demanding compensation.