It was noon three days later.
A familiar voice came from outside the woodshed: "Xiao Zou, are you feeling better?"
Before the words finished, the door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with a weathered face walked in.
The newcomer was Luo Yong, one of the cooks in the Yang Manor.
Because Zou Feng was quick and sharp, he was highly regarded by Luo Yong.
Not only did he often look after Zou Feng, but he even thought about taking Zou Feng as his apprentice.
In those days, being able to learn a cook's craft, even if one's status still couldn't escape being a low-born, was considered a high-class good servant, and the treatment would be much better.
"Uncle Luo, I'm much better…" Zou Feng pretended to get up from the bed with great difficulty.
Normally, the injuries Zou Feng sustained would certainly not be enough to recover from in just three days.
Fortunately, Zou Feng had been diligently Cultivating the Five Poison Palm these days, and his physical quality had made rapid Breakthroughs accordingly.
Not only because of the Five Poison Palm's Qi circulation movements, but even the special antidote itself could strengthen the body.
After all, many poisonous substances can be used as medicine.
However, this method of strengthening the body was too dangerous, at the very least, it would lead to chronic poisoning.
So, I have to thank Li Rui again…
Looking at the increasingly dim name in his mind, Zou Feng sincerely hoped that Brother Li would hold on a little longer.
Luo Yong didn't know that Zou Feng was actually well, and seeing him stumble out of bed, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Xiao Zou, you should rest for a few more days, but the manor recently needs to prepare a flowing feast, and there can be no mistakes…"
This must indeed be a shortage of hands, otherwise Luo Yong would never have come to bother him.
However, Zou Feng didn't plan to continue faking his injury, as the Yang Manor didn't keep idlers.
"Uncle Luo, I can already work, it's fine!" Zou Feng spoke the truth, but naturally, he still had to put on a pained expression.
Luo Yong nodded, then couldn't help but complain: "It's all that brat Li Rui's fault, getting sick neither early nor late, but precisely at this critical moment!"
Li Rui and Zou Feng were originally both mainly responsible for helping out in the back kitchen; now one is sick and one is injured, no wonder there's a shortage of hands.
"Ah, Brother Li is sick?"
Upon hearing this bad news, Zou Feng, as the culprit, was quite "surprised."
Then he also asked with concern: "Is Brother Li's illness not serious? Has he seen a doctor?"
He was genuinely concerned about Li Rui's safety, he didn't even need to act.
Luo Yong glanced at Zou Feng with a slight doubt, and casually said: "All the silver he saved went to the prostitutes, what money does he have left to see a doctor?"
"Now he's bedridden, heaven knows if he'll make it through…"
"Ah!?" Zou Feng was truly a bit panicked.
Currently, the Five Poison Palm hasn't yet had a Breakthrough to "Initial Comprehension," and there hasn't been a second inheritor available for selection.
So, Brother Li absolutely cannot have anything happen to him!
After a moment of thought, Zou Feng immediately turned around and rummaged through the wooden cabinet for a while, taking out a paper package that smelled of medicine.
"Uncle Luo, I still have some unused medicinal herbs here, could you help me send them to Brother Li?" Zou Feng's face was full of earnestness.
Of course, he couldn't deliver them himself, and Li Rui wouldn't dare to eat them.
Glancing at Zou Feng again, Luo Yong said nothing, but simply took the paper package and opened it on the spot.
As he thought, Zou Feng was trying to take revenge, and there must be something else mixed in the herbs.
However, after careful observation and even sniffing the smell, Luo Yong was suddenly a bit confused.
As a cook who often prepared medicinal meals for the Yang Manor, Luo Yong was very familiar with common medicinal herbs and the effects of combining them.
So he was sure that Zou Feng's prescription was fine, its efficacy was to clear heat and detoxify, replenish blood and regulate Qi…
Indeed, it was so; how could the detoxifying medicinal soup, used in conjunction with Cultivating the Five Poison Palm, have any harmful effects?
After a long pause, Luo Yong said with a strange expression: "Xiao Zou, you should know that it was Li Rui who reported you to the Third Young Master, causing you to get beaten with the plank and lose half your life, right?"
Zou Feng nodded without hesitation.
"Then this is…" Luo Yong pointed to the paper package in his hand.
Collecting these medicinal herbs was not easy, and they could be used for minor illnesses in daily life.
There was no need to benefit his enemy, especially since even Luo Yong disliked that brat Li Rui.
Zou Feng chuckled foolishly: "I remember when I first entered the manor, Brother Li took good care of me, and besides, the last time I got beaten, it was because I was greedy and stole food, which was wrong."
At that moment, Luo Yong's eyes widened, feeling as if a dazzling light was faintly emanating from the young man.
But the more he admired Zou Feng, the more Luo Yong felt that he should quickly make him realize how treacherous this world was.
"Xiao Zou, Li Rui reported you not to uphold the Yang Family's rules."
"To be honest, I intend to take you as my apprentice, to eventually replace me as the cook of the Yang Manor, and Li Rui obviously noticed the signs, which is why he had ill intentions."
"After all, he originally thought I would take him as my apprentice…"
Don't underestimate the cooks of such large households; because they are skilled in preparing various medicinal meals, they can even help brew some medicinal soups with existing prescriptions that aid in martial arts Cultivation.
There are many types of medicinal herbs, and the final medicine requires different heat and different times; if you're not a doctor, not many people would specifically remember these things.
Therefore, cooks in large households are often equivalent to half a pharmacist, and their treatment naturally differs greatly from ordinary servants.
Thus, Zou Feng had already guessed why Li Rui wanted to harm him, and now it was just confirmed by Luo Yong.
"Uncle Luo, I believe Brother Li's nature isn't bad, this time he was just momentarily confused…"
"His severe illness this time can be considered a punishment, and it's enough, please still pass these medicines to him!" Zou Feng's eyes were firm.
His desire to save Brother Li was not an act.
Luo Yong, having lived so long, considered himself to have some discernment of people, so after being stunned for a while, he finally came to a conclusion.
What a good child!
His intention to take an apprentice was completely firm.
With such a pure and kind apprentice, he wouldn't have to worry about not having someone to care for him in his old age and bury him.
As for whether Li Rui would cause trouble again in the future…
A stern warning from him would be enough; he figured that brat wouldn't dare to cause mischief again.
Next, Luo Yong immediately took Zou Feng as his apprentice, even inviting the Yang Family's steward to witness it.
Unfortunately, servants were still servants; after the simple apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Zou Feng immediately had to go to the kitchen to work.
As for the detoxifying medicinal herbs, Luo Yong also immediately sent them to Li Rui.
Seeing that the day the Yang Manor was to hold its flowing feast was tomorrow, as long as Li Rui showed any improvement, he would have to get up and help.
The next day, before dawn, Zou Feng opened his eyes and immediately opened his panel.
On it, Li Rui's name appeared slightly brighter.
The detoxifying medicinal soup was indeed effective.
He could continue to exploit Brother Li.
So he quickly got up and took out the urine pot containing the special antidote from under the bed, immediately continuing to Cultivate the Five Poison Palm.
This Cultivation session lasted for a full half an hour again, with maximum intensity.
"Five Poison Palm (Initial Comprehension): 52%"
Zou Feng was very satisfied with this progress.
As long as Brother Li could hold on for about five more days, he should be able to Breakthrough to the next stage of the Five Poison Palm.
Thinking of this, Zou Feng raised his hand and lightly swung it, delivering a gentle palm Move.
A flying fly, though still some distance from Zou Feng's palm, immediately spun and fell down.
At the same time, a faint fragrance permeated the surroundings.
Zou Feng stared blankly at his faintly fragrant palm, thinking how formidable it was.
Flies were terrifying beings that could Move freely in piles of dung, yet they couldn't even withstand the palm wind he generated…
It was clear that the toxicity of this palm Move was beyond what ordinary people could endure.
However, Zou Feng knew he couldn't get carried away by this.
The Five Poison Palm had no exquisite Moves, and its striking power wasn't great; it relied entirely on poisoning to harm others.
It was good for sneak attacks and ambushes, but it would fall short in a direct confrontation.
For example, those guards in the Yang Manor, once they sensed something was wrong with the smell, if they held their breath in time, they could beat him senseless.
So it was far from enough; he still had to lie low and continue his "hard Cultivation."
And to escape being a low-born, one would at least need to Cultivate internal Qi, and enter the ranks of the Dao…
Speaking of which, the reason the Yang Manor was holding such a grand flowing feast this time was precisely because the family head's youngest daughter had entered the ranks of the Dao.
This girl, Yang Qianqian, had been Cultivating martial arts at a martial arts academy in the county town since she was young, and it was said that her talent was quite good.
And entering the ranks at such a young age, with further effort, she was very likely to join a School in the future, with promising prospects.
After tidying up a bit, Zou Feng hurried out of the woodshed 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 shakily.
He looked sullen and weak, 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 didn't know that Li Rui had reported him.
Li Rui smiled awkwardly: "Uh, a little better…"
He was telling the truth; after drinking the medicine Luo Yong sent last night, he was indeed much better.
When he woke up in the morning, he even felt that he had recovered by more than half.
However, for some unknown reason, just as he was about to get up, he suddenly started feeling dizzy again.
It was strange…
It seemed the medicine couldn't be stopped yet!