https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-27-The-Village-s-Simple-Folk-and-Bedtime-Stories/12618743/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-29-The-Crimson-Light-Spirit-Beast/12618747/
Chapter 28: Strange Noises
Chapter 28: Strange Noises
The sudden noise startled Lu Qing, but he quickly became alert.
What was that sound?
Was it a person, a beast, or even a rat?
He thought of the mysterious little creature that had stolen two large chunks of fish meat the night before.
Could it be that little thief again?
But he had already brought the fish inside the house; surely the creature wouldn't dare to intrude. As he recalled the information he had gleaned about the creature through his ability that morning, it seemed to possess sharp claws, and Lu Qing unconsciously tightened his grip on the stick he kept by his bed.
At that moment, he missed the electricity of his past life more than ever.
If he were in his previous home, he could simply turn on the lights and probably scare the little beast away.
Unfortunately, he could barely afford to light an oil lamp now, let alone use bright lights to scare away wild beasts.
The noise outside continued, sounding like something was scratching at the door.
Even Lu Qing, usually fearless, felt his heart skip a beat.
He gripped the stick tightly and quietly stepped out of his room into the hall.
Suddenly, he banged the stick hard against the door, creating a loud noise.
The sounds outside immediately stopped.
Lu Qing stood in the hall, clutching the stick and forcing himself to remain calm.
A long while passed without the noise resuming.
However, he didn't dare to open the door and check.
After another lengthy silence, when he was certain there was no further disturbance, Lu Qing returned to his room.
He had to admit that the calming effect of the Qingjia Fish Stone was quite remarkable.
Even with such a loud noise, Xiao Yan hadn't woken up.
Otherwise, Lu Qing would have had to spend a long time soothing her back to sleep.
That night, Lu Qing didn't sleep well.
Fearing that the creature might return, he barely slept a wink, only dozing off as dawn approached.
As a result, when he arrived at Old Doctor Chen's place the next day, Lu Qing had dark circles under his eyes and looked utterly exhausted.
The old doctor frowned when he saw his appearance.
"Lu Qing, I know you're eager to finish reading the Hundred Herb Scripture as soon as possible, but you must also remember to balance your studies with rest. Sometimes, too much relentless studying can be counterproductive."
"Moreover, if you wish to become a healer in the future, you must take care of your own health first. How can you expect to have a clear mind to heal others if you can't even take care of your own body?"
He assumed that Lu Qing's tired appearance was due to staying up late reading.
"Grandpa Chen, it's not what you think," Lu Qing said with a bitter smile. "I didn't sleep well last night because of something else."
He then proceeded to tell the old doctor about the events of the previous night.
"Are you saying that a wild beast tried to enter your house last night, and that's why you couldn't sleep well?" The old doctor was surprised.
"Yes," Lu Qing said, rubbing his eyes. "I was worried it might sneak in and harm Xiao Yan, so I stayed awake all night."
"Brother, why didn't I know about this?" Xiao Yan, completely unaware of the previous night's events, widened her eyes in surprise.
"You slept like a little pig, so of course, you didn't know," Lu Qing said, poking her little nose affectionately.
"But this isn't a long-term solution. You can't stay awake guarding the house every night."
The old doctor thought for a moment, then turned and went back into the house. Soon, he returned with a packet of something, which he handed to Lu Qing.
"Take this powder."
"Grandpa Chen, what is it?" Lu Qing asked, holding the packet.
"It's a powder I mixed myself. It contains various medicinal ingredients that repel insects and beasts. When I'm out in the mountains, I often use it for protection."
"From what you've told me, the beast doesn't seem to be very large."
"Take this powder and sprinkle it around your house. I'm sure the beast will be wary of it and won't bother you again.
Chapter 28: Strange Noises
Lu Qing was overjoyed at Chen's offer. "Thank you, Grandpa Chen!"
The old doctor's powder had indeed come at the right time. Otherwise, Lu Qing would have had to consider setting a trap to catch the mysterious little creature.
However, some of the information he had gleaned through his ability made him hesitant to act rashly. After all, even the footprints of the mysterious little beast had emitted a bright white light. Who knew how powerful the creature itself might be?
Putting away the powder, Lu Qing took out the Hundred Herb Scripture and continued his lesson with the old doctor.
This time, the old doctor was even more delighted. He found that Lu Qing was learning the scripture extremely quickly. Not only had he completely memorized what he had been taught the day before, but he had also reviewed the remaining content and applied the principles to new situations.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he finished the entire book.
"Excellent! It's clear that you've been diligent in your studies since yesterday," the old doctor said, stroking his beard with a nod of satisfaction.
"I wouldn't dare forget your instructions, Grandpa Chen," Lu Qing replied respectfully.
"Alright, let's end the lesson here for today," the old doctor said. "You've become quite familiar with the Hundred Herb Scripture, but mere familiarity with a book is not enough. Whether you aspire to be a healer or a herb collector, you must also learn to identify and select the actual medicinal ingredients themselves."
"I recall that there are some common medicinal herbs growing near the village. In your free time, observe them and compare them to the descriptions in the Hundred Herb Scripture to see if they match the real thing." The old doctor offered his guidance.
"Yes, Lu Qing will keep that in mind," Lu Qing replied.
"By the way, you and Xiao Yan don't need to come tomorrow. I'm going into town, and I'll help you sell that Red Moon Carp while I'm there. You can just review what you've learned at home," the old doctor added.
"You're going into town, Grandpa Chen?" Lu Qing asked, a little excited.
"Yes, the apothecaries in town have placed orders for some medicinal herbs, and I need to deliver them," the old doctor explained. "Is there anything you need me to buy for you? You'll have a decent sum of money after selling the Red Moon Carp."
"Yes, there is!" Lu Qing replied immediately.
There was indeed something he wanted the old doctor to help him purchase.
"Oh? What do you want to buy?"
"I want to buy an iron pot!" Lu Qing said. "As you know, Grandpa Chen, my family encountered some difficulties, and I had to sell many of our belongings. Our only iron pot was also sold, so I want to buy a new one."
"An iron pot... hmm, that can be arranged," the old doctor said after a moment's thought. "Anything else?"
"Also, we're running low on salt. I'd like to buy some more," Lu Qing added.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"No, that's all for now," Lu Qing shook his head.
In truth, there were many other things he wanted to buy: oil, grain, clothes, shoes, and more. But he knew the importance of moderation. Grandpa Chen was already kind enough to help him with these purchases; it would be unreasonable to take advantage and ask for more.
If it weren't for the fact that iron pots and salt could only be bought in town, he wouldn't have bothered the old doctor with these requests. He could always buy the other items at the village market.
As soon as Lu Qing returned home, he sprinkled the powder around the house, hoping that would put an end to his troubles and allow him a good night's rest.
However, later that evening, after Xiao Yan had fallen asleep, he heard that strange noise again.
(End of Chapter)
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