Chapter 22: The Ultimate Delicacy, The Hundred Herbs Scripture (Double Chapter)

"Just outside the village, by the river," Lu Qing replied, "Xiao Yan and I went fishing yesterday, and managed to catch it by sheer luck."

"Such an old Green Armor Fish in that small stream?" Chen Laodaifu was genuinely surprised. The river outside the village wasn’t large, and for a Green Armor Fish to grow to such a size was truly rare.

But then he paused, thinking. The surrounding villages weren’t known for fishing—none of them relied on it for survival. Perhaps that was precisely why the fish had grown so large, undisturbed and undetected.

"No wonder you mentioned earlier that you had a natural talent for fishing," Chen Laodaifu said, eyeing Lu Qing’s slender frame with newfound respect. "To produce a Fish Stone of such quality—this Green Armor Fish wasn’t small at all. How did you manage to reel it in?"

"It was thanks to the Thread you gave me, Chen Ye Ye," Lu Qing said humbly. "That Thread is incredibly strong. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to pull up such a big fish."

"Useful as long as it’s useful," Chen Laodaifu waved dismissively. "I’ve no use for it myself."

But his gaze drifted to the Wooden Bucket Lu Qing still held—its weight clearly substantial.

"What’s inside your bucket? It feels heavy," he asked.

Lu Qing had stuffed some twigs into the bucket earlier, to keep the fish calm during transport. So Chen Laodaifu couldn’t see clearly what was inside.

"Something I wanted to give you, Chen Ye Ye," Lu Qing said, beginning to remove the branches. "Xiao Yan and I caught two big fish yesterday. We ate the larger Green Armor Fish, but this smaller one—I thought you’d enjoy it."

"That’s thoughtful of you, Chen Ye Ye," Xiao Yan chimed in. "This fish is so beautiful! Zhang Ye Ye and the others don’t even know what it is."

"Oh? Now I’m even more curious," Chen Laodaifu said, his interest piqued.

"Here it is," Lu Qing said, clearing out the last of the twigs and handing the bucket to the elder.

Chen Laodaifu peered inside—and his expression froze. Then, slowly, a look of awe spread across his face.

"Is… is this a Red Moon Carp?"

He knew the fish.

Lu Qing’s heart skipped a beat. He kept his expression blank, feigning confusion.

"Chen Ye Ye, do you know what this fish is?"

Chen Laodaifu set Xiao Yan down, stepped closer, and reached into the bucket, gently prodding the fish with his fingers. After a careful inspection, he confirmed:

"No mistake. This is definitely a Red Moon Carp!"

His eyes locked onto Lu Qing with genuine astonishment. "You actually caught a Red Moon Carp?"

"Chen Ye Ye, what’s a Red Moon Carp?" Xiao Yan asked, wide-eyed and innocent.

"It’s… quite extraordinary," Chen Laodaifu said, seeing Lu Qing’s blank expression. He decided to explain. "Red Moon Carp is one of the rarest fish in existence. All so-called ‘odd fish’ possess unique traits. This one is famed for its unparalleled freshness."

"Legend says its taste is so exquisite, once you’ve eaten it, you’ll never forget it. That’s why some have even called it one of the 'Ten Greatest Delicacies Under Heaven.'"

"Ten Greatest Delicacies?" Lu Qing was stunned. He hadn’t expected such fame.

No wonder the Ability had rated it as the ultimate delicacy.

"Wow, Red Moon Carp is that amazing?" Xiao Yan gasped. "Did you ever eat one, Chen Ye Ye?"

"I once had the fortune to taste one at a nobleman’s banquet," Chen Laodaifu said, trailing off—but even Xiao Yan could see the blissful expression on his face.

"This fish is the perfect gift for you, Chen Ye Ye," Lu Qing said. "It’s the least I can do."

"You really shouldn’t give it to me," Chen Laodaifu said, regaining his composure. "Do you know how much a Red Moon Carp could fetch in the city?"

Lu Qing shook his head.

"One hundred taels of silver," Chen Laodaifu said, holding up one finger. When he saw Lu Qing’s stunned face, he added, "And the finest specimens? They can go for at least a hundred taels of pure silver."

"A hundred taels… for a single fish?" Lu Qing sucked in a breath.

He knew the value of silver in this world—it was incredibly strong. One tael could feed a three-person family comfortably for a month. In his memory, the wealthiest days of the Lu family had never seen more than ten taels in cash.

Now, a single fish was worth a hundred? It was beyond imagination.

And this was just a fish glowing faintly with red light—what would a true Red Light-tier spirit fish be worth?

"This world is far bigger than you think, Lu Qing," Chen Laodaifu sighed. "The spending habits of the elite… they defy ordinary understanding. Do you know how much a single banquet can cost?"

Lu Qing shook his head again.

"At least a thousand taels," Chen Laodaifu said. "And if it’s a high-ranking guest, the cost becomes unimaginable."

"A Red Moon Carp is a rare delicacy. For the rich, a hundred taels is nothing to spend for a taste of such perfection."

Lu Qing’s mouth hung open—half feigned, half genuinely shocked.

No matter the world, the wealthy always lived extravagantly.

"Well then," Chen Laodaifu grinned, watching Lu Qing’s stunned expression, "are you still sure you want to give this to an old man like me?"

Lu Qing snapped back to reality, hesitated for a moment—then nodded firmly.

"Of course. Compared to your life-saving kindness, a hundred taels mean nothing. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be standing here. I certainly wouldn’t have caught this fish."

"Hahaha!" Chen Laodaifu burst into laughter, then finally calmed down, his eyes warm with satisfaction. "You have a good heart. That’s enough for me. But this fish… I can’t accept it. It’s too precious. I’d be wasting it on my own plate."

"But Chen Ye Ye—" Lu Qing started to protest.

Chen Laodaifu raised a hand, cutting him off. "It’s settled. You leave the fish with me. In a few days, I’ll take it to the city and sell it. The silver will be yours for your household."

Lu Qing opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t press further. "Fine. But, Chen Ye Ye, the money from the sale—please pay off my previous medical fees first."

"Done!" Chen Laodaifu agreed.

He didn’t tell Lu Qing, though, that the herbs in that very prescription alone were worth just as much as the fish.

Because the elder could see clearly: Lu Qing was proud. If he knew how much the medicine had cost, he’d never accept a single coin from the fish’s sale.

Chen Laodaifu studied the Red Moon Carp once more, then frowned slightly.

"Still… it’s a pity. The fish is beautiful, but it’s a bit too large. It won’t fetch a full hundred taels. Its value will be slightly lower."

"Why, Chen Ye Ye? Isn’t bigger always better?" Xiao Yan asked, confused.

"Usually, yes," Chen Laodaifu explained. "But not with Red Moon Carp. The peak of its flavor comes when it’s around two jin—about one kilogram. That’s when the flesh is most tender and fresh. Beyond that, even if the taste remains strong, the meat becomes slightly tough. So its value drops."

Lu Qing understood. It was like certain seafood in his past life—sometimes, smaller wasn’t cheaper. In fact, the smaller ones often commanded higher prices.

"Regardless of its worth," Lu Qing said, "thank you for your help, Chen Ye Ye."

No matter how valuable the fish, Lu Qing couldn’t sell it himself. He knew if he tried to bring such a rare fish into the city, he’d be stopped—maybe even arrested. Only someone like Chen Laodaifu, a cultivator with connections, could safely handle such a transaction.

"By the way," Chen Laodaifu asked curiously, "Red Moon Carp are incredibly rare. They’re solitary, hard to track, and their habits are unpredictable. How did you manage to catch one?"

"Maybe it was just luck," Lu Qing said. "After I caught the Green Armor Fish, I kept fishing for a while—and then I just happened to catch this one."

But inside, he stirred. So the fish’s habits are unknown… does that mean even the elder doesn’t know they eat Blood Apricot?

"Then you’re truly fortunate," Chen Laodaifu murmured, almost reverently. "Perhaps heaven saw how hard you and your sister have lived… and sent you this blessing."

He thought again of Lu Qing’s sudden recovery. Was it possible his illness had cleared up because of this… fate?

After a quiet moment, Chen Laodaifu placed the Red Moon Carp into a large water jar inside the house, then began preparing to needle Lu Qing.

This time, the sleep after the treatment was shorter than before.

When Lu Qing woke, Chen Laodaifu and Xiao Yan were still chatting in the courtyard, and the stone table still held a plate of Dioscorea Cake.

"Awake already? Come, eat something first," Chen Laodaifu said, pushing the plate toward him.

This time, Lu Qing didn’t refuse. He took a piece and slowly chewed.

Chen Laodaifu studied his face. "Good. You’ve clearly been following my advice—eating properly, no neglect."

"Chen Ye Ye, we’ve been eating delicious food every day!" Xiao Yan proudly declared. "Brother’s cooking is amazing!"

"Mm-hmm," Chen Laodaifu said, gently ruffling her hair. He could see it plainly—their complexion had improved greatly over the past few days.

After Lu Qing had eaten a few pieces, Chen Laodaifu spoke slowly: "Earlier, I said that after this treatment, I’d allow you to learn half an hour of herbal knowledge. Do you remember?"

Lu Qing sat up straight, solemn. "Lu Qing remembers perfectly."

"Then… do you still have the desire to learn about herbs?"

"Of course," Lu Qing said earnestly. "My interest in medicinal plants hasn’t waned. I’m not just studying for survival—I’m truly curious. I want to understand how these plants heal."

"Then come with me," Chen Laodaifu said, rising.

Lu Qing followed closely into the house.

There, Chen Laodaifu pulled out a book and placed it into Lu Qing’s hands.

"Here is The Hundred Herbs Scripture. It contains the names, illustrations, and growing habits of countless herbs. Study it carefully. Compare it with the herbs drying outside. If you have questions, come to me."

Lu Qing stared at the book, stunned.

"Chen Ye Ye… you said I’d help you dry herbs while learning from you. Why are you giving me a book directly?"

He knew how rare books were in this world. Paper was expensive, ink and brushes even more so. The original Lu family’s grandfather had fled during hard times, and though he’d carried nothing else, he’d taken several books with him. But later, during the escape, he’d lost them. The old man had often sighed—grieving the loss of his ancestral texts.

And since poverty had plagued the family, they’d never been able to afford new paper or ink. So the old man never managed to rewrite the lost books.

That’s why Lu Qing, despite having memories from another life, could only recognize a few characters. His handwriting was barely passable.

"Are you… reluctant?" Chen Laodaifu asked.

"Of course not!" Lu Qing said quickly. "I’m honored."

He knew the value of knowledge here. It wasn’t just information—it was power.

"Then begin," Chen Laodaifu said.

With no choice, Lu Qing returned to the courtyard, gave Xiao Yan a few instructions, then found a quiet spot and opened the book.

But after skimming just a few pages, his brow furrowed.

The names of many herbs were strange, the characters obscure and unfamiliar. The original Lu family had never learned much, and even with his own memories, the two worlds’ scripts differed. Some characters were completely unknown to him.

Reading became frustratingly difficult.

He knew himself well—he wasn’t a genius. He didn’t have the gift of reading at a glance or instant mastery. In his past life, he’d been just an average student, barely scraping into a modest university through hard work.

To learn this book, he’d have to put in the same relentless effort he’d once used for the college entrance exam.

He gave himself a mental pep talk and kept reading.

Then, as he stared at the page, the scripture suddenly shimmered with a faint, ethereal white glow.

> [Hundred Herbs Scripture: A book recording the knowledge of countless medicinal herbs.]

> [Mastering this text may grant a basic understanding of all plants in the world.]

> [Download?]

The first two lines were understandable. But when the third appeared—Download?—Lu Qing froze.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end