From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 66 Pill
Meng Yuan had just returned from the back mountain when he saw Nie Yannian and Wang Xiucai talking in low voices outside the princess' residence.

It seems like they are blending again.

"Teacher Meng, the prince has recognized you and wants to hear your story about destroying the Buddhist demon." When Mr. Wang saw Meng Yuan coming, he spoke with a smile.

"The prince likes to hear strange things, so go and tell them." Nie Yannian became much more serious, and it was obvious that he had received the money.

"This..." Meng Yuan sighed helplessly, not very willingly, "Sir, you are not an outsider. I shouldn't refuse you if you ask me. But I have been on duty all night and I haven't had a rest yet. It will be my turn to guard the door soon, I..."

"Please bear with me, Teacher Meng." Mr. Wang stuffed a piece of silver into Meng Yuan's hand.

Meng Yuan originally wanted to remain reserved, but seeing Nie Yannian's expression that said "that's enough", he nodded.

"Your Highness is an elegant man, I have long admired you, so I would like to ask you for advice on the art of composing poetry and lyrics." Meng Yuan was an honest man. Since the princess asked him to learn poetry from Dugu Kang, he decided to ask for advice.

Mr. Wang said a few polite words and then led the way.

Starting from the princess's residence and going all the way out, you can see the road going down the mountain, and then you will reach Dugu Kang's residence.

This residence is right next to the main gate of Chongxu Temple, far away from the princess's residence, the kitchen, the main hall, and the back mountain.

The house was not very spacious and smelled musty. It was obvious that no one had lived there for a long time.

This is clearly where the receptionist lives. However, Chongxu Temple is shabby and there is no receptionist.

There were only a few stools and a broken table in the room.

Seeing Wang Xiucai was about to pour tea, Meng Yuan said, "Mr. Wang, the story of me killing the Buddha demon was not to be spread to outsiders."

"I'm going outside to collect some folk songs. You guys chat first." Wang Xiucai was too happy to listen. He closed the door with a smile.

There was no one else in the room. Dugu Kang laughed and poured tea for her. He said, "Guard Meng is so brave!"

"I don't deserve it." Meng Yuan took the teacup with a smile and asked curiously, "Why does the prince live here?"

"It's quiet here. I can see the Canglang River as soon as I go out. It's very nice." Dugu Kang took out a folding fan and waved it.

This is a very reasonable thing. Although this is a guest room, there are no pilgrims coming to Chongxu Temple. Even if there are roe deer, they come from the back mountain. It is indeed quiet.

However, when he went out yesterday, Dugu Kang looked listless and seemed reluctant to go out. He felt even more uncomfortable after meeting Xuanjizi.

Now that he lives here, I'm afraid he's deliberately avoiding Xuanjizi and the princess, right?
But Dugu Kang usually didn't do anything bad. He didn't play with dogs or hawks, didn't hang around brothels, and didn't bully the weak. He could occasionally write a few doggerel poems to make people laugh. He was a well-behaved person.

If you have a little secret, you have it. Who doesn't have a little secret? As long as it doesn't harm others, it's not a big deal.

Meng Yuan felt that Dugu Kang had some problems. But since the intelligent princess didn't care, and Xuanjizi, who had lived for who knows how many years, didn't care, he would not interfere.

"Is your Highness in the mood for poetry?" Meng Yuan asked with a smile.

"No." Dugu Kang refused directly. He moved forward and asked curiously: "Guard Meng, please tell us about the Buddha demon."

"I almost forgot." Meng Yuan sighed, and then talked about the matter of Venerable Dawei.

Dugu Kang listened carefully and nodded from time to time.

After he finished talking, Dugu Kang nodded and criticized, "It really is a Buddhist demon!"

"My Lord, do you also know stories about Buddhism?" Meng Yuan asked casually.

"How should I know?" Dugu Kang answered casually.

Meng Yuan didn't see any flaws in Dugu Kang, and he didn't want to find out, but he didn't want to leave. Instead, he asked him about the art of poetry writing, "Your Majesty is an unparalleled poet, and your poems about Guan Jiang are even better. Can you teach me the art of poetry writing?"

Dugu Kang was obviously stunned for a moment. He looked at Meng Yuan and nodded, which was considered as an agreement. After dawdling for more than an hour and drinking up all the herbal tea in the teapot, Meng Yuan said goodbye.

When they returned to the princess's residence, Nie Yannian waved from afar, "What did you talk about with our prince? Why did it take so long?"

"I asked about the art of poetry writing," Meng Yuan replied.

"..." Nie Yannian laughed when he heard this. He looked Meng Yuan up and down and said, "Master Meng is an expert in both poetry and swordplay?"

"I don't deserve it." Meng Yuan smiled.

"Doggerel is also poetry! You are so brave!" Nie Yannian laughed, and took out another pill bottle and threw it out, "This is given to you by Lao Zhang!"

This was the credit for Luo's mother's work. Meng Yuan quickly took it and asked curiously, "What is this?"

"Baicao Dan." Nie Yannian nodded with a smile.

Meng Yuan had asked Nie Yannian before, and found out that most of the spiritual fruits and herbs in this world are in places far away from the hustle and bustle of the world. So if you want to find them, you should go to places with high mountains, dense forests, and dense rivers.

Magical herbs and precious medicines are hard to come by. Some lose their potency very quickly, but others can last for a long time. For example, some only show their heads when it snows, and they are naturally inappropriate if they see the sun. Some grow in the Gobi Desert and cannot withstand rain.

These things can be eaten directly, but some are poisonous and may cause harm to the body if eaten by people who are not familiar with their medicinal properties.

Generally speaking, it is necessary to refine the pills according to the five elements of the medicine and add the main and auxiliary medicines to remove the dross and retain the essence so that it can be preserved for a long time.

Of course, even so, it can only be preserved for half a year at most. If it takes longer, the medicinal properties will slowly dissipate.

Some elixirs are quite helpful for low-level warriors to improve their physique and open their minds. But if they take too much, the effect will gradually decrease.

Some of them are for conserving energy and nourishing spirit, so as to quickly restore strength and energy.

For warriors, the most precious ones are those that help open the acupoints.

There are three levels, upper, middle and lower, each step is more difficult than the previous one. Some people may stay in a certain acupoint for their entire lives. If they can have the help of elixirs, it will increase their chances.

Meng Yuan had heard from Master Nie that this Hundred Herb Pill was a specialty of the Demon Suppression Division and was always prepared for warriors who had made great contributions. It was made mainly of Qingming grass and mixed with hundreds of other herbs.

Because it takes a lot of time and energy for an eighth-grade warrior to open the acupoints, the Hundred Herbs Pill can stimulate the Dantian's true energy and restore strength, and it has a mild medicinal property, so it is very suitable for swallowing before breaking through.

Moreover, this pill can also be taken before a battle.

The main ingredient, Qingming Grass, is a common spiritual herb. This Hundred Herb Pill is not very precious, but for an eighth-grade warrior, it is a very good pill.

"One stalk of Qingming grass produces about thirty seeds. Here are twenty seeds, which is pretty good. Don't rush to eat them. Wait until we get back." Nie Yannian instructed seriously.

Meng Yuan naturally obeyed.

For several days thereafter, Meng Yuan stood guard outside the princess's door with a knife in hand. When he took a break from his shift, he would go to Dugu Kang to ask for advice on poetry. His life was pretty good.

Ten days passed, and it was already mid-March, but the princess still hadn't made any movement, and it seemed she had no intention of going back.

That day and night, Meng Yuan still stood guard at the door.

At midnight, when the moon was bright, the gate of the courtyard suddenly opened and a woman in a robe walked out. It was the princess.

The princess glanced at Meng Yuan, who stood straight and meticulous, and asked, "How is your poetry study going?"

"I can barely sing in harmony with the prince's poems." Meng Yuan still remembered Xiangling's advice to study every day, so he studied hard every day, but remained humble.

The princess laughed out loud when she heard this. "Looking at the river facing the bright moon, one should go swimming with a wise man. Go and tell Nie Yannian that it's time to go back."

(End of this chapter)