Secret Recipe | Chapter 22 | The Omen of Blood | Novela.app

Projecting his voice across the void, hidden yet potent, controlled with effortless ease—it was clear the speaker possessed unfathomable internal power. It turned out the grand play at Baoshen Pavilion had not yet ended. The man in the room seemed entirely unsurprised by his uninvited guest; instead, he had maintained the posture of one inviting a tiger into a pit, likely intending to use Li Qiao as the sacrificial offering for this final act. Li Qiao’s thoughts raced. In the blink of an eye, he had already retreated from the opening of the hidden ladder, but he was one step too late. He felt the ground vanish beneath him as the floorboards of the wooden corridor suddenly swung open. Simultaneously, four figures armed with grappling hooks and iron chains lunged from the dark corners of the room below. The whistle of chains tearing through the air came from all sides. Suspended in mid-air with nowhere to find purchase, the youth looked set to become a trapped kite in a lethal hunt. Just as his falling figure was about to drop into the net, a long, narrow shadow lunged from his waist. Like a tiger entering a forest, it met the multi-directional assault head-on. Four iron chains instantly coiled around the dark shadow, but before they could tighten, a piercing screech of metal echoed. Sparks erupted in the darkness as the four chains snapped simultaneously. The youth landed steadily on the ground, and without pausing to catch his breath, he immediately raised his blade and struck toward one of the corners. Only then did the four hidden ambushers see it clearly: it was a rusted blade, its edge chipped and notched, yet the killing intent it carried was not diminished in the slightest. This was a killer’s blade. Even the most elite master would be foolish to underestimate it. "Fine skill." The man in the center of the room clapped his hands, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Strength tempered with grace, killing to stop killing, decisive judgment—a superlative style of swordsmanship." His tone was casual, but his voice was like a fine silk thread boring into one’s ears. Anyone with a weaker will would have felt their head thrumming. The youth remained unmoved. He swung his blade in three consecutive strikes, determined to tear a hole in the encirclement. Few people fought with such life-risking ferocity from the very start of an engagement. Consequently, his opponents were caught off guard and seemed on the verge of defeat. It was at this moment that Old Chen, who had been standing in the corner holding a lantern, finally moved. His arms bulged with sudden power, his fingers curling into claws as he lunged straight for the youth’s back. "This man, like yourself, is worthy of being called a 'Master.' If you do not show your true ability, I fear you will not fare well." Li Qiao’s left shoulder dipped slightly, narrowly evading the claw. He then snapped his wrist back, forcing his weapon to arc through the air at a bizarre, narrow angle. However, Old Chen was clearly a veteran of the martial world. He had prepared a countermeasure, using the momentum to leap onto the side wall and circling around to land on the youth’s right side. Li Qiao’s heart sank. He realized this man would be difficult to handle. Li Qiao was a left-handed swordsman, which usually gave him the upper hand in combat, yet this man had realized it within a single exchange and adjusted his tactics to target Li Qiao’s weak side. In the martial world, those who survived were often not those with the greatest skills, but those with the fewest weaknesses. Li Qiao was not one to sit and wait for death; he immediately prepared to use the back of his blade to defend himself. But the expected strike never came. Instead, Old Chen reached into the hemp sack at his waist. When his hand emerged, a cloud of white smoke billowed from his palm. Li Qiao had seen plenty of such underhanded tricks during his years of fleeing through the martial world and should have been prepared. However, the opponent’s timing was far more seasoned—he struck at the exact moment Li Qiao was gathering his strength and drawing breath, making it impossible for him to hold his breath in time. Furthermore, the room was cramped and windowless. Though he quickly retreated a few steps while covering his face with his sleeve, he still felt a stinging pain in his eyes, and his vision began to blur. The whistle of iron chains rose again from the four corners. The enemies in the darkness were seeking the opportunity to deliver the final blow. *Despicable.* Standing with his blade raised, he gritted his teeth, listening to the movements within the white smoke. As if reading his thoughts, the familiar voice spoke again, as calm as ever. "When you hid within the convoy on Qingping Road to ambush Yuan Shuqing, you were even more despicable. Now, I am merely giving you a taste of your own medicine. How does it feel?" Li Qiao remained silent. He knew he had been careless; he thought he had seen through the mystery and was eager to break the deadlock, only to fall into another's trap. The next moment, the sound of iron chains piercing the air erupted from the corners. He swung his blade to parry several times, but eventually, the enemy found an opening. His left shoulder went numb as a cold iron hook instantly pierced through his scapula. The agonizing pain slowed his movements for a fraction of a second, and the other three chains, waiting like scorpion stingers, lunged at him. They pierced through his legs and right arm in succession, pinning him firmly to the floor. In a martial world struggle, life and death were decided in an instant. Li Qiao closed his eyes, but the expected fatal blow never came. The surroundings fell into an eerie silence, as if the chain-wielding assassins and the old man in the fox mask were nothing more than a dream or a hallucination. In his daze, he could only hear his own heavy, ragged breathing. After an unknown amount of time, the creak of wooden wheels rolling across the floorboards sounded, stopping a pace away from him. "I have witnessed your capabilities. To prevent a repeat of what happened before, they had to use certain measures against you. I hope you can be understanding." The iron chains, which had gone quiet, suddenly screeched as they were tightened. The steel needles embedded in his legs and arms instantly hooked into his flesh, their barbs locking tight until the chains were pulled taut. Li Qiao gritted his teeth and propped himself up on the floor, refusing to make a single sound. The room was silent for a moment, save for a faint *drip, drip, drip*. It was the sound of his blood hitting the wooden floor. "The information about Baoshen Pavilion... you were the one who leaked it. The contents of that box are now in your hands as well." Despite the physical torment, his voice remained low and steady, as if the four iron chains were not nailed into his body. "But there is one thing I do not understand. Aside from Yuan Shuqing himself, few people know what was actually in that box. Even if you had put something else inside to fill the space, no one would have dared to claim you had tampered with it. Why go through the trouble of presenting an empty box?" The air was still for a moment. When the man’s voice spoke again, it was closer. "You are very clever. I did not misjudge you." Li Qiao struggled to open his eyes. He could vaguely see a wooden wheelchair stopped before him. On the wheelchair was a pair of legs, excessively thin and hidden beneath the hem of a robe. It turned out the man was not only blind but also a cripple. Yet such a person possessed unfathomable power, capable of taking a life in a single move. Li Qiao lifted his head to look at the man in the wheelchair. On that rainy night, he hadn't been able to see the man's face clearly. Now, with the medicinal powder burning his eyes, the man's features seemed to be engulfed in a raging fire against the surrounding red light. The man appeared to be in his thirties, yet there were silver threads in his hair. Combined with the cloth strip covering his eyes, he exuded an indescribable eeriness. While he was observing the man, the man was also "looking" at him. Yes, even though the man’s eyes were covered, Li Qiao felt two cold, snake-like gazes falling upon his face from beneath the cloth. The next moment, a cool hand tilted his chin up and gently brushed away the stray hairs from his forehead. "Now, I shall answer your question. That empty box was a warning. If they could understand my intentions and turn back from their path, that would have been for the best. If they could not—and even delivered themselves to my door—then I shall accept their 'gift' and ensure they pay the appropriate price." A faint, ethereal fragrance drifted past his nose, seemingly emanating from the man’s sleeves. Li Qiao held his breath, but it was too late. "What are you... doing..." His consciousness gradually faded. In the final moment before he sank into darkness, he felt someone pry his teeth apart. "What can one see by watching the fire from across the river? Some things must be experienced personally to be truly understood." ****** ****** ****** Long after walking out of that lightless room, Qin Jiuye felt as though the turbid air in her lungs could not be fully expelled. There was an indescribable heaviness in her chest. Never mind a patient; even a healthy person would likely fall ill if they stayed in that room for too long. The sky, which had been sunny just a moment ago, had turned somewhat overcast. The sharp outlines of the tree shadows on the ground had vanished, replaced by gray blurs swaying quietly in the wind. Xinyu stood under the corridor, patiently waiting for her conclusion. Not far away, Kang Renshou remained in his original spot, gazing into the distance with that same unfathomable expression. Qin Jiuye withdrew her gaze and spoke her diagnosis in a low voice. "The summer heat has not yet fully arrived, and the temperature is still fluctuating. Therefore, the Miss’s irregular sleep and appetite are not life-threatening issues. I am willing to do my best and am confident I can eradicate these symptoms. However, as for her photophobia, I have no lead yet. That said, I traveled through the countryside in my early years and saw patients with strange afflictions—for instance, those bitten by venomous insects, or those who accidentally ate poisonous mushrooms..." As she spoke, Xinyu did not interrupt, but a discernible cold sneer flickered in her eyes. She had likely heard similar explanations countless times, and this one was no different. Qin Jiuye knew the other woman was looking down on her. She lost the desire to share her unsubstantiated theories, thinking that if her medicine worked, there would be no need for words. She cut her explanation short, hesitated, and then spoke again. "Miss Xinyu, there is one more thing I wish to advise. Is the Second Miss’s room sealed a bit too tightly..." However, this time, before she could finish her sentence, the purple-clad maid interrupted her. "Does Shopkeeper Qin wish to write a prescription?" Looking at the woman’s "skin-deep" smile, Qin Jiuye forced her words back down. She suddenly remembered the rumors she had overheard in front of the Su manor and felt a chill in her heart. She was thinking like a physician, focused on curing the patient and leaving with the money. But did the Su family think the same way? What if someone didn't want Su Muhe to recover? Or what if this inexplicable illness was itself suspicious... She dared not think further and quickly lowered her head to hide her emotions, changing the subject. "Did the gentlemen before me leave any prescriptions?" Xinyu glanced at her and said slowly after a long pause, "Those gentlemen felt they lacked the confidence and did not wish to ruin their reputations. They have all left the manor. So, if Shopkeeper Qin has no ideas, there is no need to be embarrassed or beat around the bush with me. Just say so." *As expected, the bigger the display, the more useless they are.* Whether they were truly incompetent or simply afraid of ruining their names with the wrong medicine, it was laughable that five grown men couldn't produce a single prescription. Not wanting the other woman to misunderstand her meaning, Qin Jiuye quickly explained in a low voice. "That is not what I meant. Using medicine is a serious matter; mixing them is the greatest taboo. If a prescription has already been given, I cannot write another, or else neither will be effective, and it might even cause harm." "Shopkeeper Qin need not worry about that. You only need to leave your prescription. There are physicians in this manor. If the following Master Kang also leaves a prescription, someone will evaluate them to see whose medicine the Miss should try first. If there is no improvement, we will try the next." *Physicians in the manor? If the manor's own physicians couldn't diagnose anything, why call for outsiders? How could they have the ability to evaluate the prescriptions?* *Furthermore, all medicine is part poison.* Su Muhe was a daughter of a wealthy family; would they really be willing to toss her around like this with trial-and-error medicine? Qin Jiuye found the logic absurd, but knowing from her previous interactions that further talk was useless, she simply nodded. She suspected Kang Renshou wouldn't be able to produce anything much more brilliant anyway. Before going to write the prescription, she boldly pulled the maid aside. "There is one last thing I must trouble you with." The purple-clad maid glanced at her, seemingly gauging whether she was about to make an impudent request. "What is it?" "My apprentice is still waiting outside the manor gates. Could you please pass a message to him? Tell him I will be staying in the manor for a consultation today and that he should go back and close the pharmacy for a day of rest until I return." Qin Jiuye reached into her sleeve and pulled out a folded slip of paper. "These are the herbs that need to be prepared in advance at the pharmacy today. Please hand this over as well." The woman paused before taking the paper. "Very well." Taking one last look toward the manor gates, Qin Jiuye gave a slight nod. "Then I shall trouble you." ****** ****** ****** By the time the Su manor gates finally opened again, Situ Jinbao had already napped several times against the stone lion by the entrance. He was woken up in a daze and saw the purple-clad maid from before looking at him expressionlessly. Before he could even offer a greeting, she poured out a "dismissal" speech, shoved a crumpled piece of paper into his hand, and warned him not to loiter in front of the manor. Then, without another look, she turned back and slammed the gates shut with a heavy *thud*. The sun was nearly setting, and Jinbao’s stomach was growling. He sighed, turned the corner out of the alley, and pulled out the paper to take a look. On the yellowed slip was Qin Jiuye’s familiar, frantic handwriting. It listed only four herbs: Union Grass, Cowherb, Cat’s Thorn, and Pigweed. There was a small 'X' drawn next to the Union Grass, while the other three were written further down. Jinbao’s usually carefree face clouded with worry. This was the secret code he and Qin Jiuye had developed over years of tacit cooperation. Union Grass was locally known as "Noon-Union," referring to the time they had previously agreed upon. Cowherb was also called "King-Stay-Not," meaning he should not linger and must leave immediately. Cat’s Thorn was known as "Bird-Roost-Not," telling him not to go home but to find another place to wait for her contact. And as for the last one... Jinbao let out a long sigh. Pigweed had blood-stanching properties and was also known as "Blood-Worry." He disliked the name of this herb, as it felt like an ill omen of bloodshed. Qin Jiuye had decided to use it as a signal for when they had to act separately—it was only used when things were strange or dangerous, and it had rarely been mentioned before. *The Su family’s silver is indeed not easy to earn.* He wondered what the situation inside the manor was like and when this consultation for the Second Miss would end. The four herbs were written hurriedly in charcoal, the strokes even messier than usual, looking unsettling no matter how he viewed them. He crumpled the paper into a ball and looked up at the sky. Noon had long passed. If he headed back to Dingweng Village now, no matter how much he dawdled, he would arrive before dark. But Qin Jiuye clearly didn't want him to go home. If he didn't go back to the Guoran Pharmacy, there was only one place he could go. He wondered if Qin Jiuye had sent word ahead, and how long Old Tang would nag him about staying over. And whether leaving that annoying Li Qiao alone in the village would cause any trouble... *If that kid causes trouble, what does it have to do with a little apprentice like me?* *Anyway, Jiuye didn't tell me to go find Li Qiao, so why should I go through the effort and invite annoyance?* Thinking of this, Jinbao felt enlightened. He hoisted his small chest onto his back and headed toward Tingfeng Hall in the south of the city. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 隔空传音 | Voice Transmission | A high-level internal energy technique to project one's voice directly to someone. 弋射 | Yi-shooting | An ancient form of hunting birds using arrows with strings attached. 囚鸢 | Trapped Kite | A metaphor for someone caught in a snare or trap. 元漱清 | Yuan Shuqing | A character mentioned as a target of Li Qiao's previous ambush. 而立之年 | Thirty years of age | Literally "the year of standing," referring to age thirty. 眠食失常 | Irregular sleep and appetite | A general medical symptom. 畏光 | Photophobia | Sensitivity to light. 和合草 | Union Grass | Herb name; code for "Noon Meeting" (午时合). 麦蓝菜 | Cowherb | Herb name; code for "Do not stay" (王不留). 猫儿刺 | Cat’s Thorn | Herb name; code for "Do not go home/roost" (鸟不宿). 大叶藜 | Pigweed / Lamb's Quarters | Herb name; code for "Blood-Worry/Danger" (血见愁). 血见愁 | Blood-Worry / Blood-Sorrow | The common name for the herb *Daye Li*, used here as a code for danger. 丁翁村 | Dingweng Village | The village where the protagonists live. 果然居 | Guoran Pharmacy | Qin Jiuye's pharmacy/residence. 听风堂 | Tingfeng Hall | A location in the city, likely an ally's place.