"Why use a cold ice box to hold the spotted fire ants? Wouldn't that neutralize their medicinal properties?" Shui Lu was quite puzzled by Xiao Man's actions. Having been ill for a long time and always by Elder Yao's side, he naturally recognized many spiritual herbs and had some understanding of their properties.
"On the contrary, this box of mine is a Xuan Bing box. It can quickly lock the medicinal properties within the spotted fire ants. That way, when they're needed, they can be used directly," Xiao Man explained.
"You're truly amazing."
"I only saw it in books."
"Then you must be very knowledgeable and have read many books," Shui Lu said earnestly, his eyes full of sincerity, showing no hint of flattery.
Xiao Man smiled and shook her head, "Not that many. I just like to read what interests me. On the other hand, a friend I know once said he loved reading the most. Ever since he learned to read, he would spend his time in the family's ancestral library."
"Then he must have been very lonely," Shui Lu's expression dimmed for a moment. He too was lonely, lonely since childhood. When no one was around to keep him company, he would read and cultivate to pass the time.
"Perhaps," Xiao Man's tone lowered. Was Ze Fang really the same person? She meticulously recalled their acquaintance, from the very beginning to his disappearance. She had thought about it countless times and still found it unbelievable. They were too familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time, and she felt no sense of wariness towards him at all!
"You care about him a lot," Shui Lu keenly sensed the change in Xiao Man's emotions. "He must be a very important person to you, right?"
Xiao Man thought carefully, "Perhaps."
"Perhaps?" Shui Lu was confused. "Don't you know for sure?"
"No, because I don't know if he is the person I'm looking for."
"You don't know who you're looking for?" Shui Lu was somewhat surprised. Xiao Man didn't seem like someone who couldn't discern the situation.
"I don't know if he is him." Xiao Man's eyes were a little lost. They looked too alike, those two. Even their small habits were identical, yet she still couldn't be certain.
When the old man returned, he saw that his usually aloof grandson was cooking in the kitchen!
"Master, you're back," Xin Chou rushed forward to greet the old man. "Master, since you've been away, I've almost not recognized the young master!"
The old man rubbed his eyes. "Don't talk about you, I almost don't recognize him. When did he learn to cook?"
"She taught him!" Xin Chou immediately pointed to Xiao Man, who was sleeping under the eaves. Perhaps because she was sleeping so soundly, the book covering her face to block the light had fallen to the ground.
The old man gritted his teeth. This little rascal, she came to help with the treatment, but instead, she turned the young master, who couldn't even cook, into a chef!
The old man strode forward, reaching out to wake Xiao Man. Shui Lu poked his head out from the kitchen, "Grandfather, you're back. Perfect, you can wash your hands and get ready to eat."
The old man's face immediately beamed. "Good, good, good. My grandson personally made this meal, I will definitely eat two more bowls."
Xiao Man opened her eyes and looked at the old man. His expression changed so quickly. Just a moment ago, he seemed ready to kill her, but upon hearing Shui Lu's voice, his face changed instantly.
Seeing Shui Lu return to the kitchen, the old man finally turned to Xiao Man. "Little rascal, what have you done?"
Xiao Man sat up. "Senior, I haven't done anything. I just taught him to cook a meal."
"You made my grandson cook? Don't you know that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen?"
"Can a gentleman not eat?"
"His cultivation is not enough, he still needs to eat," the old man hesitated. "However, once he is treated, he can begin to cultivate. With his family's cultivation methods, his cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds."
"Oh, provided he is treated first." Xiao Man feigned sudden understanding. "So, Senior, have you retrieved the Yellow Springs Flower?"
The old man took out a box from his storage bag and handed it to Xiao Man. "The Yellow Springs Flower has been retrieved. It took me quite a bit of effort. When will the treatment begin?"
"The treatment began long ago," Xiao Man looked in the direction of the kitchen. "It started the first day I arrived here."
"Little rascal, don't mess around!"
"Since it's a dead end anyway, why not try to save a dying horse as if it were alive? Senior invited me here precisely for me to treat him, didn't you?"
"You little rascal, what is the treatment plan?"
"There isn't one."
The old man's expression contorted for a moment. This was truly a rascal through and through. How could he have thought she was any good?
"If there's no treatment plan, you can at least tell me how you're going to treat him?"
"Whatever method comes to mind, that's the method I'll use. There isn't a specific treatment plan," Xiao Man said with a smile. "Moreover, do you think ordinary treatment plans would be effective, Senior?"
"There must be a sequence to the treatment, right?"
"No."
The old man took several deep breaths, suppressing his anger. With a thirty percent chance of success, as long as she could cure him, even if she treated him haphazardly, it would be fine.
"Lan Lan, please help set the bowls and chopsticks. It's time to eat."
Xiao Man remained seated. The old man looked confused. "Who is Lan Lan?"
Xin Chou looked at Xiao Man. Xiao Man then realized. Right, her current alias was Lan Xiao, and the old man was calling her.
"No way, let Xin Chou do it."
Shui Lu smiled helplessly. "Xin Chou, set the bowls and chopsticks. And you, Grandfather, quickly wash your hands and get ready to eat."
Seeing Xiao Man not move, the old man quickly pushed her. "Little rascal, don't push your luck. My good grandson is cooking for you, you should be content!"
Xiao Man lazily allowed herself to be pushed by the old man to wash her hands and prepare to eat. "Little rascal, you won't tell me the treatment plan, and I won't ask. As an alchemist, I understand the need to keep some secrets. As long as you can cure him, that's all that matters."
"Senior, there's nothing to keep secret. Didn't I tell you?" Xiao Man looked at the old man. "I'm not trying to detoxify him, but to turn him into a complete poison person. Therefore, from the first day I arrived here, my treatment has already begun. I am gradually provoking the poison within him, and then allowing the toxins to completely integrate with his body."
"How is this different from my previous treatments?" the old man asked, confused.
"It's different. You were trying to suppress the poison in his body, while I am trying to provoke it," Xiao Man said slowly. "When these poisons are no longer deadly within his body, he will naturally be out of danger. However, he will also have to pay a price, dealing with poison his entire life."
"If a certain poison flares up and you can't control it, will Lü Er..."
"Die."
The old man's hands trembled, and his eyes showed a flicker of panic, but he quickly regained his composure. "Little rascal, you will save him, right?"