The fatty examined the porcelain bottle for a moment, then sniffed it. With a puzzled look, he asked, "Master Xiang, this is Chinese medicine, right?"
I nodded.
"Drinking this will bring back my soul?"
"I'll tell you first, you have to drink this medicine while it's hot, otherwise its efficacy will be gone soon."
As soon as I finished speaking, the fatty, without a word, picked up the bottle and drank it.
Honestly, thinking about it made me feel bitter, after all, I had added so much Coptis chinensis to it…
"Why is it so bitter?" The fatty's eyebrows were furrowed, and he couldn't help but shiver.
I chuckled, "Bitter medicine cures illness. If it's not bitter, can it cure your sickness?"
"Master Xiang, didn't you say you were looking for some herbs? We've been climbing mountains for days and haven't found any. Where did you get this medicine from?"
"I asked someone to buy it for me. It cost quite a bit."
The fatty looked grateful. "Master Xiang, you are my second parents!"
"Stop the nonsense, drink it quickly, and then go look in the mirror," I said.
The fatty nodded and drank all the Chinese medicine from the porcelain bottle.
"It's so damn bitter!" The fatty cursed with tears in his eyes, burped a few times, and a medicinal smell spewed from his mouth.
I quickly backed away. Even smelling it made me feel bitter.
"Can I go look in the mirror now?" the fatty asked.
I nodded. "Go ahead."
The fatty took a deep breath, as if resigned to fate, and walked towards the bathroom.
After he went in, I felt uncertain myself.
Less than a few seconds after the fatty entered, a wail of ghost-like crying came from the bathroom.
I crept over and glanced inside. The fatty was plastered against the mirror, looking as if he wanted to crawl into it.
"What's wrong?" I asked from the doorway.
The fatty turned his head to look at me, tears still on his face. "Master Xiang… I can see myself! I can see myself in the mirror!"
As I breathed a sigh of relief, I felt even more perplexed.
Did Old Man Kong's method really work?
What was the principle behind it?
In the afternoon, I went to Old Man Kong's house again. When I arrived, he was sitting on the rocking chair by the door, resting with his eyes closed.
The fatty was carrying quite a few things: fruits, cigarettes, and two bottles of Erguotou Baijiu.
These were things he bought himself, saying he wanted to specifically thank Old Man Kong.
"Little fatty, has your soul been found?" Kong Feng asked as he opened his eyes and saw us.
The fatty grinned. "Grandpa Kong, you truly are a living Huatuo!"
As he spoke, he handed over the things he was carrying. Kong Feng didn't stand on ceremony and took them all. Then he looked at me and said, "What have you decided?"
I smiled and replied, "I am grateful for your regard, Old Master Kong, but unfortunately, I have already taken a master, so…"
Kong Feng looked a little disappointed but quickly shifted his gaze to the fatty. "Little fatty, you haven't taken a master, have you?"
The fatty was a bit stunned and shook his head.
"Then are you willing to take me as your master?"
The fatty froze for a moment and glanced at me. I gave him a look, implying that he shouldn't look at me but decide for himself.
"Master Kong, what are the benefits of being your disciple?" the fatty asked with a smile.
"Benefits? I am willing to take you as my disciple, that is your good fortune. You still ask me for benefits?" Kong Feng said gruffly.
The fatty replied, "Master Kong, what you say is true, but you see, you are a renowned figure, and taking a disciple is a major event. Shouldn't there be some token of appreciation?"
This damned fatty was truly a talent, a perfect match for this Kong Feng.
The two of them argued like children for quite some time before Kong Feng finally said, "As long as you are willing to become my disciple, this little courtyard will be yours when I pass on to the next life."
The fatty looked disdainful. "If your courtyard were on Qianhai West Street, I might consider it, but your place is almost outside the Fourth Ring Road…"
Kong Feng seemed somewhat annoyed. "As long as you are willing to become my disciple, I will teach you the soul-calling technique."
"Soul-calling technique? What's that?" the fatty asked.
"Do you want to learn? If you want to learn, I'll teach you," Kong Feng said, raising his eyebrows.
The fatty hesitated for a moment, then suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "Master, I bow to you, your disciple!"
I hadn't expected this fatty to be so unstable in his stance, becoming a disciple so quickly.
Old Man Kong looked at me triumphantly, as if saying: If you don't want to be my disciple, there are plenty of others who do.
I found it amusing and exasperating.
The reason I came to see Old Man Kong today was to clarify what had happened to the fatty.
I felt that if I could understand this, then Qin Jing's matter could also be resolved, and I could report back to Bi Zhengxiang.
Old Man Kong seemed to know my intentions. After going into the house, he sent the fatty away to clean the courtyard.
With only the two of us in the room, he took a sip of tea before speaking. "Ask whatever you want to ask."
"Old Master Kong, the fatty's illness…"
Kong Feng raised an eyebrow. "You want to know the reason?"
I nodded.
"For Hu Lan's sake, I can tell you, but you must keep it a secret for me," Kong Feng pursed his lips. "It took me a lot of effort to get a disciple, don't you mess it up for me."
I was amused and exasperated. I nodded and said, "Don't worry, I promise not to tell the fatty anything."
Kong Feng sighed. "The older a person gets, the more they fear death… People like me, who live alone and have no dependents, will have no one to collect their bodies when they die. I can only fool that little fatty…"
"I think you're in good condition, and you should be fine for another ten to twenty years," I said.
Kong Feng glared at me unceremoniously. "Do you know how old I am this year?"
I shook my head.
"Seventy-eight…" Kong Feng said helplessly. "In two years, I'll be eighty. I never expected to live this long. Lately, I feel like I'm getting weaker every day, and I'm a bit panicked. Years ago, I even thought about adopting a child, but I was afraid I wouldn't know how to raise one, and time just slipped away."
Listening to him, I could understand his feelings.
For a moment, I thought of my grandfather. If it weren't for my father, he might have lived a few more years. It was a shame…
However, as a junior, it wasn't for me to judge the affairs of the previous generation.
"It's really not easy to find someone to care for you in your old age," Kong Feng said.
"Old Master Kong, don't worry, I'll make sure the fatty takes good care of you from now on," I said.
Old Man Kong looked unconvinced. "Then why didn't you take me as your master?"
"I…"
He waved his hand. "Forget it. I heard from Hu Lan that your treasure appraisal skills are very impressive, and I don't want to mislead a talented person… My knowledge isn't suitable for you to learn."