Chapter Nine: Visitors from the Sky

Do not be anxious. Qin Xiaoguan smiled and said, "As for the method to eliminate the foul odor, it is detailed in the book. You just need to prepare the solution according to the prescription and rinse with it, and naturally, the smell will be removed. Moreover, if I hadn't already wiped your body with the solution earlier, you would still be quite smelly. However, as long as you can take a bath with the solution, I guarantee that the odor will be completely eliminated. As for finding this substance, that is quite simple; you only need to bring back a bit of the spores of the flesh-growing bacteria and place them in a pile of meat. You can cultivate as much as you want; this flesh-growing bacteria grows by consuming meat."

Is there really such a miraculous thing as a skin-repairing bacterium in this world

Qin Xiaoguan spoke earnestly, saying: "Yang Gang, since you are so afraid of beastly nature, then tell me, what is beastly nature?"

Qin Xiaoguan noticed Yang Jiang displaying such a curious gaze, and he felt secretly pleased. He used Yang Jiang himself as a medium to spark his interest in medicine, which was precisely Qin Xiaoguan's intention. Thus, Qin Xiaoguan began to speak at length: "The Qing Nang Book records that mycelium grows on the decaying bodies of animals, resembling white steamed buns, growing in clusters, pure white in color, yet emitting a foul odor. Later, Hua Tuo accidentally discovered this peculiar plant, which was like finding a treasure, because this substance could actually replace human or animal flesh for surgical purposes, making it extremely useful!"

In this case, it seems that Qin Xiaoguan does not oppose.

Yang was horrified and said, "Then, does this thing mean to eat the flesh off my body?"

Nine ladies entered in succession, each presenting a variety of exquisite dishes on the table

In fact, Yang Jiang had no ulterior motives regarding this Qing Nang medical book; he was merely concerned that the medical techniques within it were too profound for him to comprehend. However, now that Qin Xiaoguan had brought it up, he naturally could not hold back any longer and simply said: "Master, please allow your disciple to pay my respects."

The circumstances of life are indeed difficult to predict

Yang Jiang pondered for a moment and finally understood the reasoning behind it. He sincerely said, "I have learned from you, sir. Your words are indeed full of wisdom."

For Yang Jiang, Qin Xiaoguan is not only his lifesaver but also his esteemed mentor and friend. Therefore, if Qin Xiaoguan were to ask him to abandon the path of warfare, he would comply without hesitation

However, allowing hundreds or even thousands of lives to be so recklessly discarded at the hands of incompetent leaders, I fear that those wrongfully deceased will find it difficult to rest in peace beneath the nine springs

Yang Jiang did not rush to inquire about the many doubts in his heart, but sighed: "It is said that in ten years of war, how many return? Yet here we are, in our first battle, suffering such a painful outcome. If it were not for your rescue, I fear that I, Yang Jiang, would have nothing but lofty ambitions, ultimately ending up as fish food." Remembering the tragic fate of Zhang Gui being devoured by sharks, Yang Jiang felt a deep discomfort in his heart, and continued: "I have always wanted to fight on the battlefield, but who would have thought that the battlefield would present such a hellish scene? How ridiculous it is that I once harbored fantasies, thinking I could become a hero on the battlefield; it is truly laughable!"

Qin Xiaoguan, realizing that Yang Jiang had come to understand this point, no longer continued to dwell on the issue. He smiled and said, "War is something that happens outside the island. Here, there is neither the martial world nor the court, and naturally, there is no war. It is a pity that you, Yang Jiang, are not someone who can endure solitude and seek quietude. Otherwise, you could choose a secluded place with your beloved woman and grow old together."

Qin Xiaoguan sensed the admiration in Yang Jiang's words, knowing that what he said was not empty flattery. He smiled slightly and said: "A true man stands firm in his principles; if one cannot act according to one's nature, what joy can there be in life? In dealing with the world and with others, it is essential to adapt to the circumstances. As long as one can remain true to heaven and earth, that is sufficient. As for how you will walk your path in the future, you are the one who knows best."

Qin Xiaoguan laughed heartily, "You underestimate the medical skills of this Qing Nang book too much. Everything must be used correctly. Just by slightly processing its edges to restrict the growth of its peripheral parts, it will never harm its owner. Moreover, the greatest advantage of this thing lies in its strong self-recovery ability; when it is injured, it can heal itself! Hey, what do you think? Now you can no longer look down on my Qing Nang medical skills, right? And the greatest advantage of this thing lies in its strong self-recovery ability; when it is injured, it can heal itself! Hey, what do you think? Now you can no longer look down on my Qing Nang medical skills, right? If you still want to get rid of the odor on your body, then hurry up and find a master to apprentice under."

Yang Jiang asked in great astonishment, such a thing was simply unheard of, and before he knew it, he had developed an interest in the bizarre medical techniques recorded in this Qing Nang book

Where there is life, there is death; this is the natural law.

Yang Jiang felt a surge of emotion and was about to express some grand sentiments when he suddenly recalled the beastly instincts lurking within his body. He anxiously asked, "Sir, please tell me, if I return to the battlefield, amidst the bloodshed and slaughter, will I be unable to suppress the beast within me? Sir, please tell me what to do. If you think I should remain uninvolved in worldly affairs and live a secluded life in the mountains, Yang Jiang... will certainly comply!"

Although this thing is quite marvelous, what about the foul smell? One cannot possibly end up smelling terrible all over, can one? Moreover, this thing is probably hard to find as well. Yang Jiang, while he believes that this flesh-eating bacteria can replace his own flesh, indeed finds it to be a good thing, but he ultimately struggles to come to terms with its odor

Having animalistic traits does not necessarily mean one will become a beast

A general who has won battles year after year is often prone to develop a sense of pride, and an arrogant army is destined to be defeated

Qin Xiaoguan, seeing that his concerns about practicing medicine had been resolved, felt greatly pleased and said: "Yang Gang, do you have any more questions? Since you have not yet left this place, feel free to ask."

There are numerous styles of dishes, but Yang Qiang admits that he is completely unaware of their names, having truly neither seen nor heard of them.

Yang Jiang finally felt relieved and sincerely said: "Thank you for your guidance, sir"

Yang Jiang leaned over the window, where the clouds were white and the wind was gentle outside. The sky was high and the sea was vast. If one could hide away here with a beloved person, it would be akin to a carefree existence like that of an immortal. However, being just in my early twenties, with family responsibilities and ambitions in my heart, I truly feel unwilling to settle for a mundane life amidst the mountains and waters.

"Barbaric, cruel, isn't it?" Qin Xiaoguan said softly, "Beasts kill merely by tearing and biting, and a person dies in an instant; yet when a person kills another or deals with other animals, there are countless torturous methods and means to make life worse than death. Do you really think those people are more civilized than beasts? Moreover, when beasts eat humans, they still leave behind bones, but when humans eat humans, they don't even need to spit out the bones. Humans originally stem from the animal kingdom, so almost everyone harbors a beastly nature within them. However, whether to be human or beast is ultimately a decision made by oneself, isn't it?"

Qin Xiaoguan smiled and said: "Yang Gang, you need not be surprised. In fact, the flesh on your body is no longer the same as your previous flesh and blood. When I first encountered you, your entire body had already been soaked by seawater to the point of being unrecognizable. Therefore, I used a type of fungus called 'regenerative mycelium' to replace the decayed flesh on your body"

Yang Jiang naturally understood the reasoning behind this. Moreover, the events of the past are irretrievable, so he said: "Sir, please do not take offense. I was moved to speak because I recalled the tragic deaths of my comrades who fought alongside me."

Could it be that the flesh on one's own body has begun to rot? Fortunately, the smell is not very strong; otherwise, Yang Gang would surely be startled.

Qin Xiaoguan, knowing that Yang had resolved his inner conflict, smiled and said: "It is good that you understand this principle. I had intended for you to meet someone today; with his cultivation, he would surely help you unlock a new realm in martial arts training. However, it seems he will not be coming today. Well, let us discuss this matter later; let us prepare for the meal now"

Qin Xiaoguan has possessed wisdom for over a hundred years, and naturally, his insights are extraordinary. He calmly stated: "War has never been about honor or disgrace; it is merely about victory and defeat, life and death. Humans are not the only beings that understand war, yet only humans would foolishly regard war as a source of glory, not realizing how many innocent lives are lost in the name of this so-called honor"

Ha! Ha!

The flesh on the body

Meat is meat; how could it be anything else? Yang Qiang couldn't help but feel puzzled, and he couldn't resist carefully examining his palm. Finally, still feeling uneasy, he sniffed it. Upon doing so, he was taken aback and exclaimed, "How can there be a rotten smell?"

As he spoke, Yang Jiang was about to kneel to perform the ritual of apprenticeship, but Qin Xiaoguan acted swiftly, immediately supporting Yang Jiang's hand. He smiled and said, "There's no need for formalities; after all, I am not a competent master. I know you won't stay here for too long, so most of the medical skills will have to be explored by yourself. By the way, you can just call me 'Sir'; it sounds more refined than 'Master'"

Qin Xiaoguan saw Yang Jiang silent and knew that he had no intention of "escaping the world" at this moment. He smiled and said, "Yang Jiang, you are now in the prime of your life and should strive to achieve great things. My teacher once told me that being overly cautious would prevent me from accomplishing anything significant. However, I believe that you, Yang Jiang, will surely carry the strength of a hundred beasts and fully realize your ambitions!"

Yang Jiang finally solemnly placed the "Qing Nang Shou Zha" into his bosom. Now that the two of them have established their master-disciple relationship, their bond is naturally extraordinary

As the dishes were being served, everyone sat down casually, just about to start the meal, when suddenly a loud shout was heard from a distance outside the window: "Wait! ... ..."

barbaric and cruel temperament

Qin Xiaoguan understood that Yang Jiang must have returned from a defeat, feeling the sorrow and helplessness of Yang Jiang. He said solemnly: "Experiencing defeat for the first time is often better than experiencing victory for the first time. A person who has faced defeat will never forget the shame and pain of that defeat, and thus, in future battles, they will not easily make mistakes. Yang Jiang, you are a defeated soldier, so when you become a general in the future, you will know how to treat your soldiers, won't you?" He said solemnly: "Experiencing defeat for the first time is often better than experiencing victory for the first time. A person who has faced defeat will never forget the shame and pain of that defeat, and thus, in future battles, they will not easily make mistakes. Yang Jiang, you are a defeated soldier, so when you become a general in the future, you will know how to treat your soldiers, won't you?"

However, Yang Qiang still could not let go

Eating meat leads to growth