Chapter 156 - 150: Send It to My Teacher

Chapter 156: Chapter 150: Send It to My Teacher

’The Valley Rat will take another four or five years to raise. My medical skills have reached a point where improvement will only come through slow, painstaking effort. However, I can delve deeper into refining medicinal herbs, which also means I can spend more time on my Poison Technique.’

Feeling a sense of relief, Jiang Zuo thought to himself.

He never liked leaving things unfinished. Four or five years was but the blink of an eye, so it was best to strive for perfection.

However, a few nights later, while Jiang Zuo was asleep, Yi Yang quietly left the wooden cabin.

After bowing deeply in Jiang Zuo’s direction from a distance, he vanished into the night.

Jiang Zuo watched him leave with his Divine Sense, merely shaking his head without trying to stop him.

Even if Yi Yang hadn’t left, Jiang Zuo would have departed in four or five years anyway.

It was better that he left on his own. It saved Jiang Zuo the trouble of dealing with it later.

「In the blink of an eye, nearly four more years passed.」

Jiang Zuo had already started packing his belongings. He planned to head to the Imperial Palace in another year or so to see the so-called Venus Fish, then travel to the Mysterious Island overseas to prepare to Promote to Innate.

But, unexpectedly, half a year later, a group of soldiers on tall steeds surrounded a golden palanquin, approaching his residence amidst the clamor of gongs and drums.

The palanquin was set down, and a young man with a majestic air, dressed in imperial robes, stepped out.

It was Yi Yang, who had been gone for over four years!

"Teacher, I, Huangfu Xi, will never forget your kindness in saving and nurturing me! Your medical skills are unparalleled, and you have saved the masses from their suffering. I hope you will accept the position of Imperial Physician of the Venus Kingdom!"

Huangfu Xi stepped forward and spoke respectfully to Jiang Zuo.

’So Yi Yang’s former identity was the Crown Prince of the Venus Kingdom?’

Jiang Zuo hadn’t paid much attention to the affairs of the Venus Kingdom’s royal court over the years.

However, he was aware that after more than a decade of turmoil, the situation in the Venus Kingdom had stabilized in the last two years.

"Fine."

Jiang Zuo thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Huangfu Xi had arrived with great fanfare. If Jiang Zuo refused, the news would only spread further, and his name would attract even more attention.

By accepting, the news would still spread, but it would mostly be confined within the Venus Kingdom.

And before long, the matter would die down.

Jiang Zuo had already planned to sneak into the Imperial Palace to see the Venus Fish. Now, he could go openly and legitimately.

Besides, he was leaving in half a year anyway. It didn’t matter where he went until then.

「Three days later.」

Jiang Zuo moved into a large residence within the Venus Kingdom’s Imperial Palace.

He was appointed as an Imperial Physician by Huangfu Xi, but Jiang Zuo had no interest in the actual work. He made a brief appearance at the Imperial Hospital, handed off all duties to the other Imperial Physicians, and went to Wangyue Lake on his own.

The Venus Fish lived in Wangyue Lake, which was located within the Imperial Palace.

Even during the Venus Kingdom’s most turbulent times, Wangyue Lake was guarded year-round.

The royal family of the Venus Kingdom considered Wangyue Lake more important than anything else. It was a Forbidden Land within the Imperial Palace, and ordinary people could not get close.

But Jiang Zuo was an exception.

Huangfu Xi had assigned a Sword-carrying Guard to Jiang Zuo. With this guard present, Jiang Zuo could enter any place, as long as the guard didn’t say it was off-limits.

When Jiang Zuo arrived, a few Venus Fish happened to be blowing bubbles at the water’s surface.

Jiang Zuo’s eyes narrowed as he saw the fish.

The Venus Fish were golden all over, giving them an exceptionally opulent appearance.

But what was most striking were their eyes.

Their eyes were as deep as a starry sky, and while submerged, they would emanate faint points of starlight.

Looking into their eyes was like gazing at the stars in the night sky.

No wonder they were called Venus Fish.

However, what truly caught Jiang Zuo’s attention was the unusual feeling they faintly gave him.

’They aren’t ordinary Mortal Beasts!’

Jiang Zuo already possessed an attribute that made it easy to gain favor with Pet Beasts. He took some materials from his Pet Beast Spirit Garden to make bait, and within just two or three days, he was on very good terms with the Venus Fish.

After adding a Venus Fish to his Cultivation Beast Cage, Jiang Zuo immediately learned their secret.

The Venus Fish possessed the innate ability to transfer their special powers to humans.

This Moon Lake was no ordinary lake either; the Venus Fish species could only thrive within it.

Some lucky Venus Fish would develop special abilities as they grew.

When these Venus Fish with special abilities grew old and were near death, they would transfer their powers to disciples of the royal family.

This was the real reason why the royal family of the Venus Kingdom had valued the Venus Fish so highly for generations.

And whenever the royal family faced turmoil, the disciples who knew this secret would place their hopes in the Venus Fish, seeking to obtain abilities from them to change their circumstances.

But the Venus Fish themselves didn’t have the power to alter the fate of the royalty, so they would simply hide and avoid being seen.

This was the origin of the legends.

’The talent to transfer abilities!’

Jiang Zuo’s eyes gleamed with great interest.

He immediately stopped caring about the Valley Rat, which was close to developing its talent, and started cultivating a Venus Fish instead.

As for the ability transfer, whether he could use it himself was a secondary concern.

Even if he couldn’t use it himself, he could have his Pet Beasts acquire it through Learning via an advanced Beast Cage.

If this talent was powerful enough, the Pet Beasts Jiang Zuo raised in the future could be significantly strengthened.

The Venus Fish claimed they could only survive in Wangyue Lake. At first, Jiang Zuo thought some kind of treasure might be hidden within it.

But he secretly investigated it once with his Blood Qi Avatar and found nothing special in Wangyue Lake.

’It seems I can only cultivate their talent while here in the Imperial Palace.’

Jiang Zuo couldn’t find the reason, but he didn’t dwell on it for too long.

There were countless unsolved mysteries within the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array; this was just one more.

Wangyue Lake certainly had something special about it, but he just couldn’t find it yet.

From then on, in addition to being the Venus Kingdom’s Imperial Physician, Jiang Zuo began secretly raising Venus Fish by the shore of Wangyue Lake.

「Some time passed.」

「Imperial Study.」

"Vice Minister Yang, how is my teacher doing now?"

Vice Minister Yang was the Sword-carrying Guard who followed Jiang Zuo.

"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zhou has recently begun to take on some of the work at the Imperial Hospital. However, he spends most of his time either reading medical texts in the Imperial Hospital or going to Moon Lake to watch the Venus Fish."

Vice Minister Yang replied respectfully.

’He likes going to Wangyue Lake to see the Venus Fish?’

’Could it be that Teacher has already seen that there is something unusual about the Venus Fish?’

Huangfu Xi mused.

’It would be unlikely for anyone else, but for his teacher, it wouldn’t be strange at all.’

"Your Majesty, the Baihua Building in the Capital City has sent over a beauty they have been secretly cultivating for a long time. It is said she was specially trained long ago as an offering for you, Your Majesty."

At that moment, a eunuch came in and reported.

"Oh? Specially trained for me? I’ve only been back for three or four years. They bet on me that early?"

"Let her in. I’d like to see what kind of beauty these people managed to cultivate."

Huangfu Xi sneered.

’These people betting on both sides... what a fine scheme.’

"This humble servant, Liu Hongshang, greets Your Majesty!"

A woman dressed in red followed the eunuch in and bowed respectfully.

"Raise your head."

Huangfu Xi said lightly.

Liu Hongshang looked up, revealing a beautiful face that was exquisitely-featured like carved jade, but not overly young.

Huangfu Xi could see that Liu Hongshang was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old.

Generally, women presented to the royal family were younger, around fifteen or sixteen.

But Huangfu Xi knew that these people had truly put thought into it; otherwise, they wouldn’t have dared to do this.

In Huangfu Xi’s eyes, Liu Hongshang’s age was perfect—neither too old nor too young.

Liu Hongshang had a tall, slender figure and a high-bridged nose, which added a touch of heroic spirit to her beautiful face.

Looking further down, her chest was ample, her waist slender, and her skin like jade.

She was indeed a rare beauty, perfectly suited to Huangfu Xi’s tastes.

"Not bad!"

Huangfu Xi nodded in satisfaction.

Hearing this, Liu Hongshang’s face lit up with joy.

"Send her to my teacher. He has been alone for so many years; he deserves a companion."

"Liu Hongshang, is it? If you can’t make my teacher keep you, then you will kill yourself!"

But before Liu Hongshang’s happiness could settle in, Huangfu Xi’s next words made her face turn pale.

...

Jiang Zuo returned to his residence as usual. Before he even entered, he sensed an anxious woman inside.

Jiang Zuo went inside, about to ask what was going on.

When Liu Hongshang saw him, she hurried forward, bowed, and pleaded, "This humble girl greets Imperial Physician Zhou. I beg you, Imperial Physician Zhou, please let this humble girl stay!"

Jiang Zuo’s brow furrowed at her words.

’A woman sent by Huangfu Xi? What does he mean by this?’

Seeing that Jiang Zuo didn’t immediately agree and seemed to be considering it...

Liu Hongshang gritted her teeth and cast aside all sense of shame.

With a flick of her hand, her red clothes slid off completely, revealing a figure that was impossible to look away from.

’That Huangfu Xi... so this is how he tests an old man like me!’

Jiang Zuo knew that Huangfu Xi must have had other motives for making him an Imperial Physician; it wasn’t just to repay a debt of gratitude.

However, Jiang Zuo wasn’t afraid. ’Bring on the honeyed poison,’ he thought.

Jiang Zuo reached out a large hand and grabbed Liu Hongshang.

「Early the next morning.」

Liu Hongshang woke up to find herself alone in bed. Imperial Physician Zhou was gone.

Her body was still a little sore, but this also brought her a sense of relief.

If Imperial Physician Zhou had truly disliked women, she would have lost her life last night.

The new emperor, Huangfu Xi, meant what he said. If she hadn’t been allowed to stay last night, she would certainly be dead.

’This Imperial Physician Zhou... he doesn’t feel like a man in his fifties or sixties.’

Liu Hongshang’s face couldn’t help but blush as she remembered the events of last night.

It was rumored that the new emperor held Imperial Physician Zhou, his benefactor, in high regard. Before entering the palace, Liu Hongshang had naturally done some research on him.

The official documents said he was in his late fifties, almost sixty.

But Liu Hongshang believed this information was definitely wrong.

In order to maintain her figure and cultivate that touch of heroic spirit, she had also practiced a little martial arts.

But even so, she had found last night to be overwhelming.

A few more days passed, and Liu Hongshang became completely convinced of this.

The only way to describe this Imperial Physician Zhou was "old but vigorous."

"Starting today, you will practice martial arts."

But what Liu Hongshang found even more unbelievable was that a few days later, this Imperial Physician Zhou actually wanted her to start practicing martial arts.

Liu Hongshang found it utterly absurd, but she didn’t dare disobey Jiang Zuo’s words. She could only follow his arrangements and begin her martial arts training.