Not only Xu Fu was pondering the clues in the poem. At this moment, Madam Zhou was also calculating in her heart. She always had a strange feeling. This girl was like the person destined for the young master by fate.
Jade stored in green mountains, wood breaks through the earth to emerge.
Returning, it startles the four seats, the arrivals possess many extraordinary abilities.
Qing Mu, Mu Qing! The two words reversed, didn't they just form this girl's name? Was it the same pronunciation or the same character? She would have to ask for clarification tomorrow.
But what did the latter two lines mean? Returning meant coming back. Could it be that this girl had left before? And only recently returned?
Did she gain supernatural abilities after returning? What were those abilities? The young master was afflicted with a strange poison. Could this ability be some kind of immortal technique? Was this girl an immortal? Or... a demon?
Madam Zhou let her imagination run wild in her heart. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case. It seemed she would have to go to the villagers there to inquire more, to see if she could dig up any other news about this girl.
"Hmm—"
Just as the two were engrossed in analyzing the poem, a faint sound echoed.
Huo Qiyuan had finally woken up after being unconscious for nearly two days!
"The young master is awake..."
"Young master, you're awake?"
Everyone quickly gathered around Huo Qiyuan. Physician Yang took his pulse and administered acupuncture, while Madam Zhou rushed to get a bowl of beef porridge. He needed to be fed something as soon as he woke up, lest he fall unconscious again!
"Young master, you..." Xu Fu wanted to ask how he was feeling. But suddenly he felt that asking such a question was inappropriate. Everyone could see his condition; it was deteriorating day by day. How could he ask if he was alright?
"Uncle Fu." The man's voice was very dry, and hearing it suddenly was a little jarring. It was hard to imagine that such a beautiful person would speak with this voice!
What's more, as he spoke, a chill emanated from his mouth, as if he were speaking in a world of ice and snow.
"Yes, your old servant is here! Young master, please have something warm to eat first. Can we talk after you've eaten?" Xu Fu turned, wiped the corners of his eyes, and then took the meat porridge from Madam Zhou's hand.
The beef porridge was very hot. Eating in Huo Qiyuan's current state was actually a painful ordeal. He could only eat food at this temperature now. Otherwise, once the temperature dropped as it entered the esophagus, the food would freeze, posing a risk of getting stuck in the esophagus. Not to mention flowing into the stomach for digestion.
If one looked closely, they would see that his mouth and throat were covered in scalded blisters. Every meal was like a torture for him. No wonder his voice sounded so unpleasant!
If it were an ordinary person, they would have probably given up long ago. But Huo Qiyuan's inherent resilience and his determination to avenge his parents had kept him going this far.
Therefore, even though eating was painful, as long as it allowed him to live, he gritted his teeth and finished the hot porridge. After drinking the hot porridge, faint traces of blood could be seen on his lips, likely from broken blisters in his mouth. He endured it every time to avoid worrying those around him.
Not long after finishing the porridge, he had to take the Blazing Flame Fruit. Drinking porridge was nothing compared to taking this; it was like comparing a drop of water to a vast ocean. Moreover, the pain of taking the Blazing Flame Fruit while awake was even more intense, but correspondingly, the effect was also slightly better.
In essence, the so-called Blazing Flame Fruit was similar to the Indian ghost peppers of later generations. The fruit was round and entirely dark red. In the Great Yu Dynasty of this era, it was also considered a type of poison.
Once accidentally touched, the affected area would turn red and swell, causing a burning pain that would take several days to recover. If it accidentally got into the eyes or was eaten, it would cause unbearable suffering! Those with weaker willpower might even wish to die!
The deeper the color of the fruit, the greater its toxicity. Like the fruit Huo Qiyuan was taking now, which was so red it was almost black, it was likely the most potent Blazing Flame Fruit on the market.
As Physician Yang mashed the Blazing Flame Fruit, the strong aroma that filled the air made people's noses itch, making them want to sneeze uncontrollably!
Physician Yang even felt his hands itching slightly. After thoroughly mashing the fruit, he quickly scooped a full spoonful and fed it into Huo Qiyuan's mouth.
Seeing Huo Qiyuan swallow it with a pained expression, everyone felt as if they were experiencing it themselves. Madam Zhou and Xu Fu both turned away, unable to watch.
Huo Qiyuan truly felt immense pain at that moment. Many of the blisters in his mouth had already broken. Now, with his wounds coming into contact with the Blazing Flame Fruit, the sensation was…
He endured the pain and swallowed. Just as he was about to finish, the toxicity of the Ice Reed Grass in his body suddenly flared up. With the surging of his blood and Qi, he couldn't hold back and violently spat out the Blazing Flame Fruit. Along with the mashed fruit, a mouthful of fresh blood was expelled!
Within a few breaths, a large pool of blood had stained the ground! Huo Qiyuan grabbed his throat, scratching it incessantly, tearing the flesh on his neck until it bled!
He must have been in extreme pain. Otherwise, a person who could no longer stand would not be in so much agony that he was trembling and rolling on the ground. Not to mention that Huo Qiyuan, as a general, would never want anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state.
But he truly couldn't help it! He truly couldn't bear it anymore! It was simply too painful!
"Quick, restrain his hands." Xu Fu and the others hadn't even reacted when Huo Qiyuan had already injured himself.
"Young master... *sob sob sob*!" Madam Zhou, seeing the disheveled Huo Qiyuan, couldn't help but whimper and burst into tears.
Back then, how glorious and graceful he was, the gentle and refined eldest son of nobility! Even on the battlefield, he was an invincible and heroic general. Who would have thought that he would now be here, enduring such inhuman torment!
How could Madam Zhou, who had watched him grow up since childhood and regarded him as her own son, not feel heartbroken?
Su Muqing, upon reaching the door of Madam Zhou and the others' room, heard a cacophony of sounds: guttural roars of suppressed pain, heart-wrenching cries of alarm, and the sobbing of a woman.
Su Muqing thought that there was only one woman among this group, and that was Madam Zhou. Had something happened to them?
Actually, she wasn't drawn by the sounds. She had already decided to bring Madam Zhou two pieces of chocolate to try later. This was her way of expressing goodwill now.
Later, she was attracted by the smell of chili in the air and quickly walked over.
She recalled from the original owner's memories that there seemed to be no chili in this dynasty. She thought it was something only the nobles could afford and planned to exchange some with Madam Zhou later to enjoy in hot pot!
Su Muqing didn't know if it was appropriate to enter now. Perhaps it was better not to! What if they had some secret or unspeakable difficulty? Madam Zhou was very friendly and had chatted happily with her. But after all, there were other people in the room.
Having considered this, she prepared to turn and leave! Just as she lifted her foot to turn, the door to the room suddenly opened.
Madam Zhou, with red-rimmed eyes, ran out. She looked up and saw Su Muqing standing somewhat dazed at the doorway.