「Three days later, at noon.」
A familiar voice called out from outside the woodshed, "Xiaozou, are you feeling any better?"
Before the words had even faded, the door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with a weathered face walked in.
The visitor was one of the Yang Mansion's chefs, Luo Yong.
Because Zou Feng was quick and observant in his work, he was highly regarded by Luo Yong.
Not only did he often look out for Zou Feng, but he had even considered taking him on as a disciple.
In this day and age, learning a chef's trade meant you were a top-tier servant, even if you couldn't escape your Lowly Status. The treatment would be much better.
"Uncle Luo, I'm much better..." Zou Feng pretended to get out of bed with great difficulty.
Normally, three days of rest would definitely not be enough to recover from the injuries Zou Feng had sustained.
Fortunately, Zou Feng had been diligently practicing the Five Poison Palm these past few days, and his physical condition had improved by leaps and bounds.
This wasn't just due to the Cultivating movements of the Five Poison Palm; even the specially prepared poison liquid itself could strengthen the body.
After all, many poisonous substances could be used in medicine.
However, this method of strengthening the body was far too dangerous. The absolute minimum side effect was Chronic Poisoning.
'So I have to thank Li Rui again...'
Looking at the increasingly dim name in his mind, Zou Feng sincerely hoped Brother Li would hang in there a little longer.
Luo Yong didn't know Zou Feng had actually recovered. Seeing him stumble out of bed, he couldn't help but sigh to himself.
"Xiaozou, I should let you rest a few more days, but the mansion is preparing for a running banquet, and we can't afford any mistakes..."
'They must be really short-staffed. Otherwise, Luo Yong would never have come to push me.'
However, Zou Feng had no intention of continuing to feign serious injury. After all, the Yang Mansion didn't support idlers.
"Uncle Luo, I can work now, it's alright!" Zou Feng told the truth, but he naturally had to maintain a pained expression.
Luo Yong nodded, then couldn't help but complain, "It's all that brat Li Rui's fault! He could have gotten sick any other time, but no, he had to cause trouble at this critical moment!"
Li Rui and Zou Feng were originally both responsible for helping out in the back kitchen. Now, with one sick and one injured, it was no wonder they were short-staffed.
"Ah, Brother Li is sick?"
Hearing this "terrible news," Zou Feng, the culprit, was quite "surprised."
He then asked with concern, "Brother Li's illness isn't serious, is it? Has he seen a doctor?"
He was genuinely concerned for Li Rui's well-being, no acting required.
Luo Yong glanced at Zou Feng with a hint of suspicion and said casually, "All the silver he saved up went to the brothel girls. What money does he have to see a doctor?"
"He's paralyzed in bed now. Heaven knows if he'll pull through..."
"What!?" Zou Feng was genuinely panicked.
His Five Poison Palm had yet to break through the "Initial Glimpse" stage, and no other suitable successor had appeared.
'Brother Li absolutely cannot die!'
After a moment of contemplation, Zou Feng immediately turned and rummaged through a wooden cabinet, taking out a paper packet that smelled of medicine.
"Uncle Luo, I have some medicinal herbs here that I don't need. Could you help me give them to Brother Li?" Zou Feng asked with a sincere expression.
Of course, he couldn't deliver them himself. Li Rui wouldn't dare to take them from him.
Glancing at Zou Feng again, Luo Yong said nothing, but took the packet and opened it on the spot.
'He's probably trying to get revenge,' he thought. 'There must be something else mixed in with these herbs.'
But after careful observation, and even sniffing the contents, Luo Yong was suddenly baffled.
As a chef who often cooked medicinal meals for the Yang Mansion, Luo Yong was very knowledgeable about common herbs and the effects of their combinations.
So he could confirm that there was nothing wrong with Zou Feng's prescription. Its effects were to clear heat, detoxify, enrich the blood, and improve circulation...
And that was the truth. How could the Detoxification Soup that complemented the Cultivation of the Five Poison Palm possibly be harmful?
After being stunned for a good while, Luo Yong finally spoke with a strange expression, "Xiaozou, you know that it was Li Rui who reported you to the Third Young Master, getting you beaten to within an inch of your life, right?"
Zou Feng nodded without hesitation.
"Then what's this...?" Luo Yong gestured to the packet in his hand.
'It's not easy to save up these herbs. They could be used for minor illnesses.'
There was really no need to give them to his enemy, especially since even Luo Yong couldn't stand that brat Li Rui.
Zou Feng gave a simple-minded smile. "I remember when I first joined the mansion, Brother Li looked out for me. Besides, getting beaten last time was my own fault for being greedy and stealing food."
At that moment, Luo Yong's eyes widened. He felt as if the young man was faintly radiating a brilliant light.
But the more he admired Zou Feng, the more Luo Yong felt he should quickly make him understand how treacherous the world was.
"Xiaozou, Li Rui didn't report you to uphold the Yang Mansion's rules."
"To be honest, I intend to take you as my disciple to succeed me as the Yang Mansion's chef. Li Rui clearly saw this and started scheming."
"After all, he thought I was going to take him as my disciple..."
One shouldn't underestimate the chefs of such a large household. They were skilled in cooking various medicinal meals and could even help brew medicinal soups with existing formulas to aid in martial arts practice.
The variety of herbs was vast, and the final medicine required different levels of heat and timing. If you weren't a doctor, few people would bother to remember all these details.
Therefore, a chef in a large household was often equivalent to a half-apothecary, and their treatment was naturally vastly different from that of an ordinary servant.
Zou Feng had already guessed why Li Rui wanted to harm him; now, Luo Yong had merely confirmed it.
"Uncle Luo, I believe Brother Li isn't a bad person at heart. He was just confused this time..."
"This serious illness can be considered his punishment. It's enough. Please, give these herbs to him!" Zou Feng's eyes were firm.
His desire to save Brother Li was not an act.
Luo Yong believed that after living for so long, he had at least some ability to judge character. So, after being stunned for a while, he finally came to a conclusion.
'What a good kid!'
His intention to take him as a disciple was now completely solidified.
'With such a pure and kind disciple, I won't have to worry about having no one to care for me in my old age.'
As for whether Li Rui would cause trouble again in the future...
'I'll just give him a stern warning. I doubt the brat will dare to act up again.'
Next, Luo Yong accepted him as a disciple on the spot, even bringing in the Yang Family's Steward as a witness.
Unfortunately, a servant was still a servant. After the simple apprenticeship ceremony was over, Zou Feng had to go to the kitchen to work immediately.
As for the detoxifying herbs, Luo Yong also sent them to Li Rui right away.
Seeing as the Yang Mansion's running banquet was the very next day, the moment Li Rui showed any improvement, he'd have to get his ass up and help.
「The next day, before dawn.」
Zou Feng opened his eyes and immediately brought up the panel.
On it, Li Rui's name appeared slightly brighter.
'The Detoxification Soup really works.'
'I can continue reaping from Brother Li.'
So he quickly got up, pulled the chamber pot filled with the special poison liquid out from under his bed, and immediately resumed his Cultivation of the Five Poison Palm.
This Cultivation session lasted a full hour, and he went at it with maximum intensity.
"Five Poison Palm (Initial Glimpse): 52%"
Zou Feng was very satisfied with this progress.
'As long as Brother Li can hold on for about five more days, I should be able to break through to the next stage of the Five Poison Palm.'
Thinking of this, Zou Feng raised his hand and executed a light, floating palm strike.
A fly that was passing by, though still some distance from Zou Feng's palm, immediately began to spin and fell from the air.
At the same time, a faint fragrance filled the surrounding area.
Zou Feng stared blankly at his faintly fragrant palm. 'Incredible,' he thought.
Flies were terrifying creatures that could move freely in a pile of shit, yet one couldn't even withstand the wind from his palm strike...
This showed that the poison in this palm strike was something no ordinary person could endure.
However, Zou Feng knew he couldn't get carried away.
The Five Poison Palm had no refined techniques, and its striking power was mediocre. It relied entirely on Poison Attachment to harm people.
It was decent for sneak attacks and ambushes, but it would fall short in a direct confrontation.
For example, if the Yang Mansion's Nursing Home noticed the strange smell and held their breath in time, they could beat him senseless.
'So it's far from enough. I have to lie low and continue my "hard training".'
To escape his Lowly Status, he had to at least cultivate Inner Qi and achieve Martial Arts Entry...
Speaking of which, the reason the Yang Mansion was holding a grand running banquet was precisely because the Patriarch's youngest daughter had achieved Martial Arts Entry.
Her name was Yang Qianqian. She had been practicing at a martial arts hall in the county town since she was a child and was said to have great Talent.
And to achieve Entering Grade at such a young age, with a bit of maneuvering, she would likely join a Sect in the future. Her prospects were bright.
After tidying up a bit, Zou Feng hurried out of the woodshed to get to work.
Arriving at the back kitchen, he greeted his master, Luo Yong, then sat down to wash various ingredients.
Not long after, Li Rui walked in, trembling.
His face was full of frustration and he was listless, but he had no choice but to come to work.
"Brother Li, I heard you were sick. Are you feeling better?" Zou Feng acted as if he had no idea it was Li Rui who had reported him.
Li Rui gave an awkward smile. "Uh, a little better..."
He was telling the truth. After drinking the medicine Luo Yong had brought last night, he did feel much better.
When he woke up this morning, he even felt like he was mostly recovered.
But for some reason, just as he was about to get out of bed, he suddenly felt dizzy again.
'How strange...'
'Looks like I can't stop taking the medicine!'