"There's no monster. It's just a ferocious beast." Shen Wanquan's face darkened as he replied with a "Who are you?"
Xie Zhen smiled warmly. "Uncle, don't misunderstand. I'm not the kind of person to pry into other people's secrets."
He introduced himself.
Then, he said, "I'm curious because I've seen someone with a similar injury. It was also a scratch. The wound turned black and kept spreading throughout the body. That person's condition was much more critical than Brother Shen's.
The one who injured him was also a monster. It had a human face and an ape's body. It had long arms and one leg. It had green skin and hard hair. It was good at transformation and liked to eat people.
Dare I ask, was the one who injured Brother Shen this monster? If it was, then I can cure the poison in Brother Shen's body! "
Hearing this, everyone turned around in shock. They all felt that it was ridiculous and unbelievable.
What was ridiculous was that the person who could cure the poison that they had searched for all over the world was actually living right next door. It could be said that he was so far away but right in front of them.
What was unbelievable was that Shen Lian had met this person the moment he woke up. How could there be such a coincidence in the world? Could this be the legendary saying that one who survives a great disaster is bound to have good fortune afterward?!
Even Shen Lian himself was stunned for a few seconds before coming back to his senses. He couldn't help but stare deeply at Xie Zhen with a strange expression on his face.
"So that monster is called Xiao..."
Shen Wanquan was extremely excited. His eyes were shining as he said ecstatically, "Is this true? You can really cure the poison? "
Xie Zhen smiled. "Brother Shen treated me to good wine. In return, I'll cure Brother Shen's injury. Give me the brush and ink!"
Shen Wanquan quickly prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xie Zhen picked up the brush and wrote something on the paper. After writing, he handed it to Shen Wanquan.
"Please prepare the herbs on the paper."
Shen Wanquan glanced at it and immediately handed it to Fan Li. "Go quickly!"
"Yes!"
Fan Li, who was a little weary, suddenly felt motivated and hurried off.
There was always a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.
In less than an hour, Fan Li had gathered the 23 herbs on the paper.
Xie Zhen rolled up his sleeves, processed the various herbs, and threw them into boiling water to boil them. After working for nearly three hours, all the herbs turned into a sticky black ointment. After cooling down, he applied it on the four scratches.
"Eh …"
As soon as the black ointment was applied to the wound, Shen Lian felt waves of coolness. After the coolness, there was a slight burning sensation, pain, and itchiness.
"This medicine is a folk prescription that I came across by chance. It can be applied externally, three times a day. There will be burning pain and itching. Brother Shen, please bear with it and don't scratch it. I believe that after a few days, you will see the effects. "
As expected, Xie Zhen knew the ropes and hit the nail on the head.
Shen Lian wasn't even afraid of monsters, so how could he resist the burning pain and itchiness? He smiled and patted the wine jug, saying, "Brother Xie, we feel like old friends at first sight. How about we continue drinking?"
Xie Zhen couldn't ask for more. She pulled a stool to the edge of the bed and sat down.
The two of them clinked jars and drank heartily.
When one drank too much, they talked too much. Xie Zhen's background was quickly clarified.
This person was also born into a wealthy family. He was literate and had a good upbringing. When he was 14 years old, his family arranged a marriage for him. The girl was virtuous, decent, and beautiful. It could be said that he didn't have to worry about his career, his family business was in sight, and his life was smooth sailing.
Who would have thought that something unexpected would happen, and a sudden calamity would destroy his family.
"That year, I was hiking in the mountains when I suddenly met an injured white fox. I couldn't bear to see it, so I brought it home for treatment.
After the white fox recovered, it didn't leave anymore. It often accompanied me to read books until dawn, and we were very close.
After another year and a half, strange things suddenly happened in the city.
The well water suddenly became murky and bloody, the domestic animals could speak human language, the fish in the river died in groups, and the crows perched on top of their heads like ghosts.
It was the same outside the city. All the crops withered overnight, and there was no harvest.
After that, a plague broke out.
The city was in imminent danger, and people died every day. Everyone was panicking, and there was nothing they could do.
At this time, an old man with a white beard suddenly appeared. He claimed to be an otherworldly expert with supernatural abilities that could heal the wounded and heal the dying, and eliminate the plague.
He began to sell a mysterious medicine. It was amazing, but anyone who took the medicine would be cured of all diseases and no longer suffer from the plague.
For a time, the whole city was in an uproar. Everyone worshipped the old man as a god, and built a luxurious mansion for him, allowing him to do whatever he wanted.
The strange thing was, the old man didn't ask for money, power, or sex. He only asked for children under seven years old. He said that in order to refine the mysterious medicine, he needed the help of eighty-one virgin boys and girls.
Therefore, those who had children gave them to the old man in exchange for the life-saving mysterious medicine.
He used a child to save the lives of his entire family.
I had a younger brother who was only five years old. He was also given to the old man by his father. I couldn't bear to be separated from my own flesh and blood, and cut off all familial ties. So, I sneaked into the old man's mansion in the middle of the night, wanting to steal my brother.
But I didn't expect that after I entered the luxurious mansion, I would smell a strong stench of blood. Then, I … I saw the old man open his mouth and eat a child. "
"Eat a child?!" Shen Lian was stunned.
"The old man's mouth opened wide, and the corners of his mouth extended to the back of his ears. He opened his mouth, revealing two rows of saw-like fangs. With a few mouthfuls, he ate the child into his stomach, not even spitting out the bones."
Xie Zhen's face was filled with deep fear. Those scenes had been deeply imprinted in his mind, and were the source of nightmares every night. He would never forget it.
"What happened after that?"
"I was scared to death. My mind went blank, and when I came back to my senses, I was already running. But … I didn't expect that just as I ran home, the old man caught up with me, and began to kill without saying a word.
My grandfather, grandmother, and parents were all killed by him one by one. Then, he stepped on me, and as he ate my mother, he said to me, 'You animals are too old, and your meat isn't fresh anymore. Children taste better.' "
Shen Lian's breathing stagnated as he listened.
"How did you survive?"
"I thought I was dead for sure, but just as the white-bearded monster was about to kill me, the white fox suddenly ran out and transformed into a beautiful young woman. She fought with the white-bearded monster, and it was earth-shattering. Walls collapsed, houses collapsed, and fire rose everywhere. In the end, both of them disappeared."
"The white fox … saved you?!" Shen Lian touched his chin. He had heard many legends of the white fox saving people, but most of them were made up by storytellers. It was the first time that Xie Zhen had a personal experience like this.
Xie Zhen sighed, "After that calamity, I lost all my family members, and my family's fortune fell. My engagement was also canceled by the other party.
I was disheartened, and I didn't know what I should live for. I was muddle-headed for a period of time.
Later, I talked about this with a friend, but he didn't believe that there were monsters in the world. He even refuted me by quoting the classics, and told me not to talk about the supernatural.
It was only then that I noticed that the people around me knew little about monsters, and they didn't guard against them at all. Even those who knew about monsters deliberately avoided it, unwilling to talk about it. They even numbed themselves, making themselves believe that there were no monsters in the world.
This incident made me realize how foolish the people of this world are! How weak people are!
In front of terrifying monsters, people are no different from livestock! "
Shen Lian was shocked. He had really underestimated Xie Zhen. He didn't expect there to be such a sober person in the world. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Everyone is drunk, and I'm the only one sober. This is the deepest loneliness."
Xie Zhen was deeply moved, "The white-bearded monster killed my entire family, but my life was saved by the white fox. My family was destroyed by a demon, and I owe another demon a debt of gratitude for saving my life. Many times, I felt lost and confused, and my heart was full of contradictions. I didn't know if I should hate monsters or be grateful to them.
I wanted to understand monsters, and find out their secrets.
Thus, I sold my family's property and wandered the world. Gradually, I became more knowledgeable.
For example, I once met the Mandrill that hurt Brother Shen in a mountain village. It was really terrifying, and no human could resist it.
Fortunately, that mountain village understood the Mandrill very well, and knew that it was good at transformation. They set up a password, and strictly investigated, not giving the Mandrill a chance to hide.
Moreover, they had a lot of people, and they had strong bows and arrows. They set traps, and used fuel to set fires. Only then were they able to repel the Mandrill's attacks.
This antidote was also something I learned from them. "
Shen Lian immediately became spirited. He asked Xie Zhen about the monsters he had met, what were their characteristics, and what were their weaknesses.
Xie Zhen answered everything.
The two of them chatted for a long time, drinking wine and singing.
Unknowingly, two days passed. Xie Zhen left the inn and continued his journey.
The black color on the wound on Shen Lian's left chest had completely disappeared, and a new layer of pink flesh had grown. His body had basically recovered, and was faintly stronger than before.
"This time, my body has developed a certain immunity to the poison. The next time I meet a Mandrill, its poison should not be so fierce." Shen Lian pinched the muscles across his abdomen and revealed a smile.
Then, he went to visit Uncle Sun.
Sun Yuanxiang was lying on the bed. He had just been out of danger for a few days. His breathing was weak, and his face was pale. His broken wrist was wrapped in thick bandages, and occasionally, blood would seep out. It was a shocking sight.
"I was too careless. I didn't expect that monster to be so tyrannical. I was defeated so easily! Thinking back, I was really lucky to be able to keep my old life. " Even now, Sun Yuanxiang still felt a lingering fear. This time, he finally understood how terrifying a demon could be.
"Uncle, don't think too much. Rest well." Shen Lian comforted him for a while. He didn't want to disturb his rest, so he didn't talk too much and left.
After that, Shen Lian went to see Shen Wanquan.
"Father, what's the news from Snow Ridge City?" Shen Lian was most concerned about this.
Shen Wanquan handed over a few pieces of paper and sighed heavily. "Before the evacuation, I arranged some spies in the city. This is the news they sent. Take a look."
Shen Lian took the paper and read it carefully. His face gradually changed, and his expression became solemn.
"The Wang family, the Zheng family, and the Bao family. Including our Shen family, the four families are all in trouble.
The Zheng family is destroyed!
The Bao family is destroyed!
The Wang family listened to you and evacuated a part of their core family members in advance to protect these people. Those who didn't evacuate are all dead.
In addition, dozens of families have also suffered.
In just a few days, more than a thousand people have been killed or injured in Snow Ridge City. "
Shen Wanquan's eyes flashed with deep fear. His voice was extremely heavy, and his hands were faintly trembling. Thinking back, if it weren't for Yu Manqiu's warning letter, if it weren't for Shen Lian's great power, the Shen family would be in a miserable state. It was simply unimaginable.