Xiao Cai accompanied me back to the room, where a bowl rested on the table in the center.
A dagger lay across the bowl, and Physician Luo sat beside it, his expression unchanged.
He said,
"Since you are so insistent, I will not stop you.
The dagger and the bowl are before you. As long as you persist for three days, filling three bowls with blood.
If you manage to revive my bloodthirsty grass, I will save your friend."
"Alright, I understand."
He raised his hand and called Xiao Cai over. Xiao Cai obediently walked to his side.
He pointed to the backyard and said, "Xiao Cai, go play in the backyard for a while."
Xiao Cai shook his head, indicating he did not want to go.
Physician Luo patted his head and instructed,
"Go, prepare dinner for me."
Xiao Cai hesitated, reluctant to leave. He knew something terrible was about to happen.
"Xiao Cai, hurry and go."
Under Physician Luo's urging, he had no choice but to walk towards the backyard.
Seeing Xiao Cai leave, my worries vanished.
I slowly walked to the table and picked up the dagger lying across the bowl.
I rolled up my sleeve and with a swift movement, sliced my wrist.
Blood immediately gushed out, falling into the bowl.
I endured the sharp pain and looked at Physician Luo with a smile, saying,
"Physician Luo, you must keep your word."
A hint of surprise flickered across his usually indifferent face.
Perhaps he hadn't expected me to go this far.
He then gave a faint smile and calmly replied,
"Let's fill three bowls with blood first."
"Alright, you must keep your word."
Although I had been promised many times, I still worried if he might go back on his word.
Now, all I could do was gamble, betting on him and on myself.
Hearing our voices, Xiao Cai couldn't help but curiously run in from the backyard.
The moment he entered, he saw the bloody scene.
"Ah!" he shrieked.
Physician Luo scooped him up and carried him into the room.
Xiao Cai asked with a hint of fear,
"Master, that sister is bleeding so much, bright red blood."
Physician Luo gently told him,
"Children don't understand. That's not blood, it's red tomatoes."
"Red tomatoes? Master, you're lying to me again. That's blood."
"It is blood, blood like tomatoes."
I stood by the table, watching the blood drip into the bowl until it was full.
Then, I shakily stood up, lifted the bowl, and walked outside.
Carefully, I poured the blood around the roots of the bloodthirsty grass.
Instantly, the roots of the grass bulged, rapidly absorbing all the blood from the soil.
It immediately regained its vitality, its leaves gradually unfurling and turning a light red.
Holding the bowl, I felt dizzy and returned to the room.
Sitting at the table, I tore a corner from my clothes to wrap my wound, finally catching my breath.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Cai entered with a bowl of white porridge, placing it on the table.
He suddenly spotted the bloody dagger, and I quickly snatched it away.
Xiao Cai, however, was not afraid and comforted me,
"I've seen blood before, I'm not scared. Besides, I'm a big boy now."
I ruffled his hair and smiled with relief,
"I didn't expect Xiao Cai to be so capable, to have seen everything."
He looked at my wound, seeing the blood-stained bandages.
His eyes filled with heartache as he carefully cupped my left hand and asked,
"Does it hurt?"
I smiled and shook my head, softly replying, "It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt."
"Master must have forced you, right?"
I explained, "No, I chose to do this myself."
He lowered his head and suddenly shed tears, complaining,
"He's always like this. Everyone who comes to him for treatment, he makes things difficult for them.
I told him long ago not to hurt people like this, but he just won't listen."
Seeing him cry, I felt a pang of sympathy but was powerless.
All I could do was reach out and gently wipe away his tears.
He suddenly remembered something and said,
"I cooked some porridge for you. You need to get better quickly."
"Xiao Cai is so kind, thank you."
He carefully brought the white porridge over.
Seeing that my hands were incapacitated, he offered to feed me.
I ate with great happiness, tears welling up involuntarily.
Seeing me cry, he cried too.
Then, without warning, we both embraced and wept.
Physician Luo, hearing this from outside, called out to Xiao Cai with annoyance,
"Xiao Cai, weren't you supposed to accompany me tonight?"
Xiao Cai tearfully rebuked him,
"Who wants to accompany you? Look at you, you've hurt someone again."
Seeing Xiao Cai angry, Physician Luo quickly defended himself,
"It wasn't me who told her to do it, she wanted to do it herself.
How can you blame Master? Come out quickly."
"No! You bad person."
"Ah, Master is not a bad person. My good disciple, you misunderstand Master.
Come out quickly, Master wants to talk to you properly."
Xiao Cai remained steadfast, unwilling to come out.
I gently stroked Xiao Cai's head and comforted him,
"You go, I'm fine."
Xiao Cai shook his head. Although he looked only three years old,
his pure heart and compassion taught him how to love others.
Seeing Xiao Cai refuse to come out, Physician Luo also lingered stubbornly at the door.
I knew Physician Luo loved Xiao Cai.
In this light, he wasn't entirely heartless.
I sighed softly and raised my uninjured hand.
Gently caressing Xiao Cai's face, I persuaded him,
"Everyone is tired today. You refuse to go back, and
your Master doesn't want to leave either. He loves you, so go and be with him."
"What about you?"
He looked up, his small face streaked with tears.
I smiled faintly,
"Look at me, I'm still full of energy. I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Alright then, you should rest well tonight. I'll come see you tomorrow."
"Okay."
With these words, Xiao Cai felt reassured.
He jumped off the stool and ran out the door.
Physician Luo had been waiting for a long time outside the door. The moment Xiao Cai emerged, he opened his arms and embraced him.
With great joy, he rubbed his long, thick beard against Xiao Cai's face.
Xiao Cai pouted, looking wronged. Physician Luo reached out and patted his head, saying,
"Xiao Cai is so good. Alright, let's go back to sleep."
Xiao Cai, though a little upset, nodded slightly and allowed himself to be led away.
I listened to the sound of the door closing outside, knowing they too had gone to sleep.
I lowered my head slightly, looking at my blood-stained wound.
Thankfully, it had been covered with cloth in time, so it didn't look too frightening.
Outside tonight, it was pitch black.
It was as if there had never been moonlight here, only the cool mountain breeze that made one feel a bit weary.
I got up and went to the bedside, looking at A Li, who remained as silent and calm as before.
I wondered what he would be like when he woke up, would he be happy, or excited.
I couldn't guess, perhaps only he knew.
The night wind howled, and the shadows danced like specters.
The entire mountainside, except for the light emanating from that small room,
had no other brightness to be seen.
Under the shroud of night, Thousand Grass Peak seemed enveloped in a vast shadow,
swaying and disappearing.
The dawn's first light was like a holy light approaching from afar,
shining into this modest thatched hut.
Physician Luo stood by the window, watching the rising sun.
He then looked at Xiao Cai, still sleeping soundly in bed.
As if remembering something, he slowly walked out of the room.
He went into the courtyard and feigned a loud voice,
"What's wrong with my bloodthirsty grass? It looks a bit wilted. Why isn't anyone taking care of it?"
I woke up from the bedside and heard him shouting outside.
I could tell he was urging me, and slowly got up, ready to cut blood again.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Cai woke up first, holding large scissors and running out.
With narrowed, angry eyes, he declared, "Master, if I cut it, it will be fine."
Saying this, he rushed towards the bloodthirsty grass.
Physician Luo hurriedly stopped him, snatching the scissors and anxiously telling him,
"This bloodthirsty grass is a treasure that Master painstakingly found. You mustn't cut it."
"But it harms people. Get rid of it."
I was surprised that such a young child could understand so much reason.
"Master will handle these matters himself. It's early in the morning.
Master is hungry. Go and make breakfast for Master."
Xiao Cai knew he was trying to send him away again. Both angry and acting spoiled, he pleaded,
"Master, can you stop making things difficult for that sister?
Her friend is sick, and you're still making it so hard for her.
Just save her friend."
Physician Luo stroked his little head and told him,
"Master isn't making things difficult for her. She chose to do this herself.
Master didn't say anything."
Xiao Cai knew he was lying to him again. In anger, he pushed him away.
He ran off angrily, shouting with resentment as he fled, httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"You lied to me again, I'm never talking to you again."
"Xiao Cai, Xiao Cai, wait for Master, Master didn't lie to you."
Seeing Xiao Cai angry again, Physician Luo hurried to coax him.
I sighed and walked out of the room.
I brought out yesterday's bowl and dagger together.
Placing the bowl down, I bit my lip, steeled myself,
and made a cut on my left wrist. Blood immediately gushed out, and I quickly caught it with the bowl.
Before long, the bowl was filled with a full bowl of fresh blood.
I was already weak and powerless. Gritting my teeth, I poured the blood into the pot of the bloodthirsty grass.
Continuous bleeding made me even weaker.
The wound from yesterday had not healed, and today I had new wounds.
I could only stagger back to the room, supporting my bleeding hand.
This human body could not withstand such a large amount of blood loss.
As soon as I entered the room, I felt dizzy and my vision blurred.
Looking at A Li, I felt groggy, and several figures seemed to appear.
But now was not the time to collapse.
If I fell, who would save A Li?
So I forced myself to bandage the wound and sat down to rest.
Just then, A Li coughed and woke up, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
His complexion turned dark purple, and he collapsed.
I was startled, covering my mouth to stifle a cry.
I knew A Li's poison had broken through its restraints.
If this continued, it could very well cost him his life.
I hurried to my feet and stumbled to find Physician Luo.
Fortunately, he was in the backyard, fiddling with his herbs.
I rushed up, grabbed him, and said in a panic,
"Physician Luo, Physician Luo.
Please save A Li quickly. He just vomited blood, please save him."
He impatiently pushed me away and said heartlessly,
"I made a deal with you. You cut three bowls of blood, and I'll save him.
You've only cut two bowls and you want me to save him? Where is such a cheap thing in this world."
Looking at this heartless old immortal.
I knew this heartless, damned Myriad Poison Ancestor would not save A Li easily.
It's just one bowl of blood short, I'll cut it.
I looked at him and said firmly,
"I've already cut two bowls, you must keep your word.
There's one bowl left, I'll go cut it now."
He said coldly,
"I told you, my bloodthirsty grass needs three days of blood.
If you cut another bowl now, it's useless."
"A Li's poison has spread. I only beg you to help him suppress the poison."
He, however, waved his hand heartlessly,
"I only save people, I don't suppress poison.
If you want me to suppress his poison, then I cannot save him.
So, do you want me to save him, or not save him."
He was truly as eccentric and stubborn as the rumors said.
I had no choice, nor could I force him to do anything.
I could only say, "I want you to save him. Tomorrow is the third bowl of blood.
After cutting three bowls of blood, you will save him."
"I don't need you to remind me, I will do it."
"Alright."
With that, I supported my weak body and returned to the room.
Xiao Cai, full of worry, wanted to follow, but Physician Luo stopped him.
Xiao Cai complained to him,
"Master, just go and see what's happening. Are you that heartless?"
Physician Luo said indifferently,
"You also know Master's habits. If he comes to beg me to save someone,
then I will only save him. If he comes to beg me to suppress poison,
then I can only suppress poison. In any case, I will only do one of these two things."
Xiao Cai sighed helplessly, thinking how he ended up with such a Master.
To refuse to save someone in danger, was he even a physician?
In my helplessness, some of my resolve wavered.
After Xiao Cai finished cooking, he brought some to my room.
He saw the two wounds wrapped in cloth,
as if raw flesh and blood were exposed.
Seeing him approach, I instinctively pulled at my sleeve.
I didn't want to leave a bad impression on his young heart.
His future was still long, and he shouldn't have bloody memories at this time.
Xiao Cai sighed softly, as if he had seen through my thoughts, and said,
"No need to hide it. I'm not afraid of blood. I've seen plenty of bleeding.
Master said I'll be his successor in the future, so I need to get used to these things early."
Hearing him say this, my heart felt a little relieved.
I stopped my hand from making any further moves.
Xiao Cai placed the food on the table and took the initiative to pick up the bowls and chopsticks to feed me.
I never expected that I, a grown person, would end up being cared for by a three-year-old child.
Not long after eating, Physician Luo started shouting from outside the door again,
"Xiao Cai, Xiao Cai, why are you taking so long? Come back."
Xiao Cai pouted with dissatisfaction and grumbled,
"Master is really something. I only just got here, and he's already calling me back."
"Your Master probably wants you to spend more time with him.
You go, I've already eaten."
Xiao Cai didn't leave immediately. Instead, he slowly walked to the bedside.
He looked at A Li lying on the bed, seeing his dark purple complexion and lack of any other color.
He muttered to himself, "His poison has spread. He needs to be treated quickly."
"Yes, as long as we wait until tomorrow, Physician Luo will be able to save him."
"Master, although he's annoying, he's also a man of his word.
Tomorrow, he will definitely treat this brother."
I nodded, also full of confidence.
Seeing Xiao Cai not coming out for a long time, Physician Luo anxiously shouted from inside the room,
"Xiao Cai, come out and keep Master company. Don't stay in that room all the time."
Xiao Cai was very helpless.
I advised him, "You go. Physician Luo also needs company.
I'm fine here."
He sighed softly and comforted me,
"You don't need to worry about anything else. I will help you."
"Okay, thank you, Xiao Cai."
Xiao Cai chuckled sheepishly,
"It's what I should do."
"Xiao Cai, why aren't you coming yet?"
Physician Luo called out again, impatiently.
Xiao Cai lost his patience and replied,
"Coming, coming."
Then he said to me,
"Alright, I'm going out now."
"Yes, go."
With that, he turned and walked out.
Physician Luo, just like yesterday, embraced Xiao Cai and nuzzled him like a treasure.
Xiao Cai, with his angry heart, was tickled by the nuzzling and let out a giggle.