Qiongqi then told the little fox, "The divine artifact Shen Nong Ding is here. Although it has never recognized a master, it does not mean that no one can take this opportunity to borrow the power of the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding."
"Those who take advantage of opportunities, although they cannot subdue the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding, as long as they have some ability, it is not a problem to use it."
"Just like that person from before, he has such an ability."
"He has been staying here, borrowing the power of the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding for his own use for many years. I saw him a long time ago. This person, who knows how long he has lived, old but not dead is a thief. It's hard to say if he is still human now."
The little fox thought for a moment and said, "Is his ability to live so long related to the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding?"
Qiongqi rolled his eyes.
"Of course, otherwise, what else could it be related to? Why else would he keep coming here?"
The little fox nodded thoughtfully.
He thought that if this were the case, then Old Wu had really borrowed the power of the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding to establish himself in this area, gain his current status, and live for so long.
However, why did Old Wu suddenly come today?
The little fox's heart stirred.
Could it be related to Aya being demanded?
Otherwise, Old Wu wouldn't have suddenly appeared here, right?
After all, at this time yesterday, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox had gotten lost and spent a lot of time finding their way here, and they hadn't seen Old Wu come by at all.
Therefore, Old Wu definitely wouldn't come without reason, and certainly wouldn't come every day.
Thinking of this, the little fox couldn't help but think of another problem.
If these things could be connected, and Aya and that Old Wu seemed to have a good relationship, then would the drug Aya used to brainwash them be refined using the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding?
If that were the case, then if Ye Tiancheng could really get the divine artifact Shen Nong Ding, perhaps their situation could truly improve.
Thinking this, the little fox couldn't help but have more expectations for Ye Tiancheng.
As for Ye Tiancheng's side.
Ye Tiancheng was also not very clear about what had happened. Anyway, by the time he reacted, he had already arrived at a village. He was a little hazy and confused about how he had come to this place.
He seemed to have lost some memory.
Ye Tiancheng didn't know why he had come to this village, what his purpose was, or who he was. He only remembered his name and still retained some common sense.
He didn't know where to go, and he felt tired and hungry.
Therefore, he could only try to find a way to stay here to rest and replenish his food, and then think about what to do next. Even so, he surprisingly felt no unease, only a feeling that things would work out when the time came.
Ye Tiancheng entered the village and found a villager's house, then knocked on the door.
Soon, a villager came out and opened the door for Ye Tiancheng. The villager looked at Ye Tiancheng's attire and appearance, and his expression softened. Then he asked Ye Tiancheng, "Young brother, what can I do for you?"
Ye Tiancheng said, "I was passing by this area when I encountered bandits. I barely managed to save my life, but at this moment, I am too tired and hungry to do anything else. I can only shamelessly come to your door, hoping you can kindly provide a place to rest and a cup of water."
The villager understood immediately after hearing Ye Tiancheng's words.
He said, "It is indeed not peaceful around here. Young brother, why are you traveling alone? No wonder... Since that's the case, then come in and rest. I'll get you some food and water."
Ye Tiancheng immediately showed a grateful expression.
"Thank you, elder brother. My surname is Ye, and my given name is Tiancheng. May I know how you are called, elder brother?"
The villager replied to Ye Tiancheng, "My name is Li Dazhuang. You can call me whatever you like, no need to be too polite."
Ye Tiancheng followed his lead and called him, "Yes, Brother Li."
Li Dazhuang had no objections to this address and then took Ye Tiancheng into his home.
After letting Ye Tiancheng sit in the house, he left for a while and then brought out a pot of water, a bowl, and a stack of coarse grain biscuits, placing them on the table in front of Ye Tiancheng. Li Dazhuang said to Ye Tiancheng, "My family doesn't have anything good, young brother. Please make do with it."
Ye Tiancheng said, "Thank you for your care, Brother Li. You are providing food and drink, so how can I be picky? This is already very good. Thank you."
Li Dazhuang said nothing more and let Ye Tiancheng eat and drink by himself.
He went out into the yard, picked up some tools and materials, and started working. It turned out that Li Dazhuang was a carpenter.
He was nimble with his hands and feet, clearly a skilled old carpenter.
Ye Tiancheng watched for a while, chewing on the coarse grain biscuits and drinking water. These biscuits were very dry, and it was difficult to swallow them without water.
However, Ye Tiancheng really had nothing to complain about.
After all, he was a guest, eating and drinking for free. It was good enough to have food and drink, so what was there to be picky about? The host himself probably ate the same kind of food.
Li Dazhuang worked for a while, then suddenly stared at a patch of empty space in front of him, lost in thought. He lowered his head and sighed long and deeply.
Ye Tiancheng had almost finished eating by this time. He walked over and sat down next to Li Dazhuang, then asked Li Dazhuang, "Brother Li, what's wrong? Are you facing any difficulties? If you don't mind, why not tell me? Perhaps I can help?"
Li Dazhuang looked at Ye Tiancheng. He was probably very helpless and had no one to confide in, so he said to Ye Tiancheng, "I have a wife who fell ill a few days ago. I called a doctor to see her, but she never got better. I don't fear spending money on her, but I fear she won't be cured. I still have a few children at home. If their mother dies, I don't know how this family will manage."
As he spoke, Li Dazhuang sighed several times.
After listening to Li Dazhuang's account, Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but touch the bag on his back.
He knew what was in his bag.
There was a medicine cauldron for mixing medicines, some miscellaneous medicinal herbs, but not many, as well as paper, pens, books, which contained many prescriptions and medical records.
He also recalled that he seemed to have some impression of this content.
Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but guess that he was a doctor. Now that he heard Li Dazhuang's request, and Li Dazhuang had taken him in and helped him, it was only natural and moral for him to try to help Li Dazhuang.
He hesitated, also worried that his amnesiac state might not be reliable.
However, Ye Tiancheng genuinely wanted to repay Li Dazhuang.
Therefore, after thinking it over, Ye Tiancheng still spoke and said to Li Dazhuang, "This is quite a coincidence. I am indeed a... a traveling physician and understand some medical principles. If Brother Li is willing, why not let me examine sister-in-law? Perhaps I can help in some way?"
Li Dazhuang's face lit up with surprise when he heard Ye Tiancheng's words.
He asked Ye Tiancheng, "Really?! Young brother Ye, are you really a doctor?"
Ye Tiancheng nodded.
Li Dazhuang said happily, "That's great. I will shamelessly accept. I am truly worried that my wife will not be able to hold on if the medicine is ineffective!"
Ye Tiancheng smiled and said, "Brother Li is kind and has shown me favor first, so there is no need to be too polite. Let me examine sister-in-law first and see what is going on?"
Li Dazhuang agreed and was about to take Ye Tiancheng to see his wife.
Ye Tiancheng took his bag with him, just in case it was needed.
Halfway there, Li Dazhuang seemed to remember something and turned to Ye Tiancheng and said, "My wife's illness, other doctors who have seen her say it is somewhat strange. It's not that they have never seen it before, but some symptoms just don't match, so they can only try to treat it tentatively, but there have never been any good results."
"If you don't have any good methods either, young brother, don't blame yourself."
"...This might be her fate, alas."
After hearing Li Dazhuang's words, Ye Tiancheng said, "Brother Li, please don't say that. Perhaps my medical skills are not good enough, and maybe there are better doctors who can..."
Li Dazhuang shook his head and interrupted, "For families like ours, if this is a troublesome illness, we can't afford very good doctors. Even if we can only watch... there's nothing we can do. No matter who falls ill, this will be the outcome."
Ye Tiancheng sighed inwardly.
Looking at the village, it was not very prosperous and somewhat dilapidated. He thought that the villagers in this village were not well-off, and if that were the case, there really wouldn't be much they could do.
Ye Tiancheng could only say to Li Dazhuang, "I will do my best to cure sister-in-law."
Li Dazhuang took Ye Tiancheng to the main house. Li Dazhuang and his wife lived here, and their children slept in the outer room of the main house. When Ye Tiancheng entered the room, he saw a middle-aged woman lying on the bed, pale and very weak.
Li Dazhuang said to Ye Tiancheng, "This is my wife."
Ye Tiancheng nodded and sat down by the bed, saying, "Let me examine sister-in-law first."
After a thorough examination, Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but frown.
As Li Dazhuang had said, the symptoms of Li Dazhuang's wife were indeed not unfamiliar, but as Ye Tiancheng observed the illness, he couldn't help but wonder if this was not an illness he had seen in his memory.
He hesitated for a long time, then discussed Li Dazhuang's wife's condition with him, and then said, "This illness is indeed unprecedented. I can only see some symptoms. I will try using medicine first."
Li Dazhuang did not have much hope, so after hearing Ye Tiancheng's words, he was not too disappointed, but he still thanked Ye Tiancheng.
Because Li Dazhuang also said that there was a place where they could buy medicine, Ye Tiancheng did not use the medicine in his bag for the time being.
His accompanying herbs were indeed not many.
It was better to save these for emergencies.
Ye Tiancheng took out paper and pen and wrote a prescription for Li Dazhuang, carefully avoiding the use of overly precious medicinal materials, so as not to make it difficult for Li Dazhuang's family to afford the medicine.
Li Dazhuang thanked him profusely, put the prescription in his pocket, and prepared to go to the pharmacy in the nearby town early the next morning to get the medicine. Then, he took Ye Tiancheng and settled him in a side room of his house, which was the only spare room he could offer.
Ye Tiancheng thus temporarily settled down at Li Dazhuang's house.