72: Chapter 72 A Love of Beauty, A Change of Plan

"From what just happened, Young Master Meng's attainments in the Dao of poisons are not weak. I wonder where you studied?"

Hearing Su Ying's words, Meng Li smiled slightly. "I have no formal Master in the use of poisons; I'm self-taught. My learning is broad and disorganized, and cannot compare to Miss Su's specialized expertise."

"Is that so? Then Young Master Meng is truly gifted," Su Ying praised with a smile, then added, "I still need to settle my mother in. Let's talk again when we have time."

Meng Li nodded with a smile.

After Su Ying left, Jiang Yu Feng also suggested going to put away her luggage.

Once the two had left, Meng Li looked at Xiao Yuer. "Brother Fish, how is the investigation into your background going?"

Xiao Yuer understood his meaning and laughed. "You're pressing me for my debt!"

As he spoke, he pulled a book from his robe and tossed it to Meng Li. "The investigation is finished. This is what I promised you; take a look."

Meng Li had already mastered the Qiao Duo Tian Gong Secret Manual through his Golden Finger. At this moment, he opened the book and gave it a cursory glance, seeing that the content was more or less the same. He then put the book away and said to Xiao Yuer, "Brother Fish is a man of his word. Our deal is now settled."

Xiao Yuer nodded, then as if remembering something, he asked, "Brother Meng, that Miss Su just now has quite impressive methods with poison. I wonder how her medical skills are?"

Meng Li said, "Since ancient times, medicine and poison have come from the same source. Those who are great with poison are naturally not much worse at healing people."

"Then in your opinion, how does she compare to the Ghost Doctor, Chang Bai Cao?" Xiao Yuer asked again.

Meng Li thought for a moment and replied, "It's hard to say."

"As far as I know, Miss Su's poison skills were passed down from her mother, Su Rushi. Su Rushi's title as the Poison Queen was on par with Chang Bai Cao's title as the Ghost Doctor back then. Logically, the two should be similar. Following this logic, Miss Su is still young and might be slightly weaker compared to Chang Bai Cao."

"However, the Poison Queen specializes in poisons and is good at using unconventional remedies for illnesses, which often have surprising effects."

"If they were to truly compare, it's hard to say who is superior."

Xiao Yuer said speechlessly, "Brother Meng, your words are truly a lot of talk to say nothing at all."

Meng Li glanced sideways at him. "Anything else? If not, we're going to order some food and head back to our room to eat."

Xiao Yuer sighed immediately. "Understood, I won't disturb your family of four while you eat. Disciple, let's go check out our room."

"Okay, Master."

...

A short while later, in Meng Li's room.

Meng Li, Tie Xinlan, and the other two sat around a table for a meal.

Just as they finished eating, Tie Xinlan looked at Meng Li and said pointedly, "Husband, you seem to be particularly attentive to that Miss Su, Su Ying."

Yu Yan and Xiao Xiao didn't speak, but their gazes involuntarily shifted toward him.

Meng Li looked at the three of them and said with a grin, "Why do I smell something sour?"

"Did you two smell it?" He was asking Yu Yan and Xiao Xiao.

Tie Xinlan understood his meaning and instantly turned her head away, saying pridefully, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm not jealous at all."

Meng Li walked over with a smile and took her into his arms, then followed her lead. "Then perhaps I smelled wrong."

Then, he changed the subject. "However, you're not wrong. I am indeed a bit attentive to Miss Su, but it's not what you think. The reason I'm interested is because of her identity and abilities."

"The daughter of the Poison Queen?" Tie Xinlan seemed to realize.

Yu Yan followed up, "From the way Xiao Yuer was poisoned, that Miss Su's methods are indeed powerful."

Xiao Xiao speculated, "Could it be that you want Miss Su to teach you about poisons, Young Master?"

Meng Li nodded. "I wouldn't say 'teach,' because whether it's medicine or poison, I know a thing or two. I just hope for an opportunity to exchange knowledge and improve my level."

"Furthermore, the Jianghu is treacherous. Making friends with a Master of medicine and poison is never a bad thing; it might even save a life at a critical moment."

Speaking to this point, he paused and said with a hint of temptation, "And as far as I know, this Miss Su not only uses poison to heal people, but she also has many unique secret formulas for helping women improve their appearance."

"For example, weight loss and slimming, or removing acne and wrinkles, and even beauty and skin nourishment."

Tie Xinlan, Yu Yan, and Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up instantly.

Everyone has a love for beauty, and women even more so.

Although the three were in the prime of their youth, and Tie Xinlan and Yu Yan were confident in their looks, it didn't stop them from wanting to become even more beautiful.

Even if they didn't need medical aesthetics now, what about the future?

Tie Xinlan coughed twice and said solemnly, "Husband, I think it's very necessary to build a good relationship with Miss Su."

Yu Yan followed, "I think so too."

Xiao Xiao echoed, "Plus one."

Meng Li pointed at the three of them and laughed. "You girls, your faces change as quickly as the weather in June."

Tie Xinlan hummed softly, "Isn't it because you deliberately enticed us?"

Yu Yan said, "A woman dolls herself up for the one who pleases her. We want to become beautiful for your sake, Husband."

Xiao Xiao: "Exactly."

"Alright, alright, you're all right." Meng Li smiled and brushed the topic aside, then asked Yu Yan, "Yu Yan, based on the information we gathered before, this place is only a day or two's journey from where Jiang Biehe's manor is located."

"I reckon Jiang Yu Feng came here to go home."

"The plan you mentioned before, have you thought it through?"

Yu Yan said hesitantly, "Husband, I want to bring my mother here so she can witness it with her own eyes."

Meng Li thought for a moment and said after some consideration, "That would work. After all, Meng Family Village isn't too far from where Jiang Biehe's manor is."

This point was indirectly described in the original story.

In the original story, Tie Xinlan saw that Yu Yan's situation in Jiang Biehe's manor was poor and felt sympathy for her. She gave her a token and told her that if she really couldn't survive in the Jiang Manor, she could take the token to Tie Family Village, where someone would arrange for her to stay.

This showed that Tie Family Village was not too far from Jiang Biehe's home; otherwise, Tie Xinlan wouldn't have just given her a token.

Meng Family Village and Tie Family Village were adjacent, so naturally, they weren't very far from the Jiang Manor.

In other words, Meng Li and the others were currently not far from home.

But according to the original plan of traveling and sightseeing, they were supposed to go in another direction, taking a detour to travel before returning home.

That was why when Meng Li made an appointment with Xiao Yuer earlier, he said he would be home in two months.

Hearing this, Tie Xinlan spoke up, "Then let's just head back home. We've been out for so long, and I miss my father too. I can go back and see him. Then, Husband, you can take Yu Yan and Auntie Xiao to the Jiang Manor."

Seeing her Young Miss speak, Xiao Xiao naturally had no objections.

Yu Yan was somewhat moved.

They had actually already set a plan before. Tie Xinlan's "changing orders overnight" was clearly for her sake.

Seeing this, Meng Li made the decision directly. "Alright, then we'll rest for one night and go home tomorrow."

Having said that, he glanced at the sky through the window. Seeing it was still early, he said, "There's still some time today. Why don't we go for a stroll nearby before it gets dark?"

This statement received unanimous agreement from Tie Xinlan and the others.

So, the four of them packed up a bit and headed out. Just as they left the room, they saw Su Ying holding a food box, preparing to return to her room.

The four of them greeted her.

Then, Meng Li asked casually, "Miss Su, have you found a solution for your mother's symptoms?"

Su Ying shook her head. "No."

"Then what do you plan to do next?"

Su Ying was a bit surprised by his question, but she still answered truthfully, "I plan to go take a look at the Poison King Heroes Gathering."

"Poison King Heroes Gathering?"

...