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Chapter 37 - Chapter 37

Dirty mice, germ-free mice, clean mice...

The breeding room for the lab mice has expanded to eight, rigorously following the instruction manual and producing thousands of mice. Now, they can proceed to breed disease-specific strains. In the lab, they've also manufactured several types of equipment that were previously mentioned but not funded. With a fully stocked supply of medicinal herbs, many paused research projects can now resume.

Happiness arrived so quickly and unexpectedly; it was like going to sleep and waking up with everything one could desire.

Song Qing Shi looked at the mouse cages, feeling his heart race. He tugged at Yue Wu Huan's sleeve, trying to express his excitement, but found himself speechless. After a long struggle, he finally managed to say, "You did a great job, thank you."

He must be incredibly lucky to have met such an angel!

Intelligent, beautiful, kind, adorable, considerate, and gentle...

He decided he would jot down all of these traits in a notebook and remind himself three times a day of his fortune.

Yue Wu Huan explained, "The breeding speed of lab mice is extremely fast. I've had to control their rate of reproduction. Some mice were used for pharmacological experiments. Of course, my understanding of these experimental methods is limited, so I've only attempted simple toxicity tests. The mice used for the experiments were euthanized afterward."

He found using lab mice for preliminary poison tests to be highly effective and cost-efficient, as only 1/500th of the dose was required, saving many valuable ingredients.

Over the years, he had thoroughly studied all the toxicology books, including "Nie's Compendium of Poisons," and had taken samples of various poisons from Song Qing Shi's collection for research. This led to more potent poisons and a variety of undetectable poisoning techniques.

Now, with just a single needle on the Death Stage, nobody dared to belittle him anymore.

Yue Wu Huan glanced at Song Qing Shi, who was furiously taking notes on the table, recognizing that the man was utterly engrossed in his research once he entered the lab.

Nine flaming-red tendrils quietly extended behind him: two for cleaning the mouse cages, two for feeding the mice, two for fetching cakes and spiritual tea, two for reading books, and the last one quietly wrapped around Song Qing Shi's ankle as he sat nearby attending to other tasks in the Medicine King Valley.

After completing his observation journal and writing guidelines for breeding disease-specific mice, Song Qing Shi finally noticed the tendrils working all around the room. He stared at his ankle for a moment and couldn't help but ask Yue Wu Huan, "Are they sentient?"

"No," Yue Wu Huan paused, smiling, "Their actions are extensions of my will, similar to limb extensions. I can perceive my surroundings through them via my spiritual sense. It's quite convenient. I've gotten used to handling things this way over the years."

Song Qing Shi glanced at the tendrils reading two books and the account book in Yue Wu Huan's hand, puzzled, "So, you're multitasking? Like one person doing the work of several?"

"Yes, due to the lack of manpower and the multitude of tasks, it's faster for me to multitask on less critical matters," Yue Wu Huan explained briefly, suddenly realizing that it might not sound good. He quickly had the tendrils fetch both books, "The only book I'm genuinely focusing on is this 'Ling Dan Zi Suan Jing.' The other is just experimental data from apprentices; I'm merely skimming to check for errors."

He found multitasking to be as easy as breathing or drinking water, and wasn't sure how to put it into words...

For the first time in two lifetimes, the scholarly Song Qing Shi felt intellectually overwhelmed, filled with mixed emotions.

It was as if he were trying to explain elementary applied math problems. Even though they were simple enough to understand at a glance, his younger cousin was still kicking and screaming in refusal, even after he tried multiple teaching approaches, from calculus to algebraic geometry.

He shouldn't be too critical of his younger cousin's lack of understanding...

Just like now, Yue Wu Huan was earnestly trying to explain to him the methods and insights of multitasking.

Song Qing Shi felt deeply frustrated; he genuinely couldn't understand or execute multitasking. When his hands were busy with one task, he couldn't handle another; when his eyes focused on something, nothing else could occupy his vision. While other cultivators at his level could multi-task with ease, he would become distracted by anything new or interesting. The only reason he had survived until now was his special cultivation practice and his tendency to stay indoors.

Yue Wu Huan comforted him with a smile, "You're fine the way you are."

He loved the way Song Qing Shi looked at people—so focused, as if the person in front of him were the only one in the world.

Eager to salvage his image as a smart person, Song Qing Shi picked up the "Ling Dan Zi Suan Jing" and skimmed through it. He remembered that the mathematics in the celestial realm were not advanced, only up to the level of high school. This book discussed solving three-variable linear equations and the application of trigonometric functions.

Most cultivators undervalued the importance of mathematics, which he thought was a mistake.

Many of his magical formations were calculated mathematically. After studying in another world, he better understood that formations were like electrical circuit boards, where every line had to be placed just right. Spiritual energy acted as the electrical power, and combining different circuit boards could enable long-distance communication, security, surveillance, and even weaponry.

Of course, the celestial realm lacked mechanization, so all formations were handmade, making calculations all the more crucial.

That Yue Wu Huan understood this was quite remarkable.

Song Qing Shi was excellent at mathematics. He happily began explaining various mathematical formulas and application methods. Later, he planned to write down everything about calculus, number theory, and analytics—these were essential skills for anyone in the sciences!

Yue Wu Huan listened intently, halting all other activities of his tendrils to immerse himself in the joy of solving problems.

The two of them spent the afternoon engrossed in problem-solving in the lab. Suddenly, the defensive formations of the Medicine King Valley subtly shifted. Yue Wu Huan sensed the disturbance and looked up from the sea of problems, casting a displeased glance at the door while closing his books.

Song Qing Shi was not familiar with the new defensive formations and reacted a half-beat late, asking, "Is someone intruding?"

Yue Wu Huan smiled slightly, "Not quite. Just someone sneaking in to make a mess."

Before Song Qing Shi could make sense of his words, the lab door was burst open, and the poison puppets guarding the door were being consumed by countless bugs.

An Long, emanating a deadly aura, stormed in. His hair had grown longer and was tied into a few braids at the back of his head. Covered in muddy filth, his lips were cracked and bleeding. His eyes were bloodshot as they fixated on Yue Wu Huan. Beside him was a similarly filthy dragon named Hao Long, wildly hissing and eager to swallow Yue Wu Huan whole.

"What happened?" Song Qing Shi asked, bewildered, "Did you both roll around in the mud?"

Yue Wu Huan calmly explained, "My lord, the poison fog formation in the swamp has been broken."

Song Qing Shi immediately understood, feeling guilty and shrinking back timidly.

An Long gritted his teeth as he looked at the man he worried about day and night. Glancing at the tea and snacks on the table and then thinking about the message he received after breaking through the formation, he felt like tearing this clueless man apart.

Seeing An Long's expression and chapped lips, Song Qing Shi instinctively understood his intent. He immediately picked up the spiritual tea he hadn't yet sipped from the table and offered it with both hands, "Would you like some?"

An Long, incensed to the point of irony, took the tea and drained it in one gulp. Then, with a grip like a vise, he hoisted up the clueless Song Qing Shi over his shoulder and strode out of the lab, fully intending to give him a piece of his mind.

Medicine servitors along the way cast sidelong glances, and Song Qing Shi felt deeply embarrassed by the scene. Knowing he was at fault, he couldn't quite bring himself to lash out. His gathered flame of alchemy flickered hesitantly, dispersing and gathering again, until he was carried too far away to act.

The swarm of insects at the lab's doorway ebbed like the tide, then flowed back, effectively trapping Yue Wu Huan inside.

Arriving at Fuling Palace, An Long discovered that the centuries-old landscape of Medicine King Valley had been entirely transformed. Familiar landmarks were eradicated, replaced everywhere by ostentatious extravagance, shadows of that captivating individual imprinted all around.

Territories once marked by his presence had been violated, tainted with an air that shouldn't belong. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, ultimately hurling the man on his shoulder to the ground.

Even without body cultivation, any regular cultivator could easily withstand such a simple assault.

Yet, unable to use strength on half his body, Song Qing Shi lost his balance and tumbled to the ground, taking quite a while to get up.

Seeing his pathetic state, An Long's emotions were a blend of surprise, doubt, and regret, quelling a portion of his rage.

Hao Long, less concerned with complexities, felt deeply sorry to see Song Qing Shi fall and scurried over to offer itself as a cane.

"You're such a good boy, Xiao Bai," said Song Qing Shi, leaning on Hao Long as he slowly stood up. Hobbling over to An Long, he complained, "Let's talk this out; I'm not in the mood for a fight right now."

"What, you haven't recovered yet?" An Long roughly pulled him away from Hao Long, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Finally, he lifted Song Qing Shi's sleeve, gripping his left arm as he asked, "Is this the side that's incapacitated?"

Answering honestly, Song Qing Shi said, "Lightning burned half my body. Both the meridians and skin have had to regrow, so I can't move it for now."

"It does look softer than your original skin," An Long observed, squinting as he carefully felt Song Qing Shi's arm several times, licking his lips and grinding his teeth.

Suddenly sensing danger, Song Qing Shi hurriedly attempted to pull his hand back.

An Long's grip, however, was far too strong; Song Qing Shi couldn't budge it an inch.

Song Qing Shi conceded in desperation, "One bite is permitted; anything more and I'll set you on fire."

Raising an eyebrow, An Long asked with a semi-smile, "Why not just burn me directly?"

"It's not your fault," said Song Qing Shi, never one to make excuses for his errors, owning up to his responsibilities. "Though the incident was unexpected, the fact remains that I made you worry for me. I was in the wrong, so it's only fair that you get to vent your frustration with a bite." Besides, he shouldn't have drawn a dog's face on the envelope; it was disrespectful.

The corner of An Long's mouth lifted into a slight smile, his murderous intent dwindling. His grip loosened ever so slightly, and the itch in his teeth seemed to fade away.

Seizing the moment, Song Qing Shi urged, "I'm the one at fault; take out your anger on me. Don't blame Wu Huan—"

Before he could finish, a forceful bite was planted on his fair arm, so hard it felt like flesh might be torn away.

The pain elicited a cry from Song Qing Shi; he was on the verge of tears.

Ah, the bite of an Alaskan really hurts.

A note from the author:

Yue Wu Huan's Story of Vying for Affection (Future Episode):

Today, Qing Shi gave an extra glance to the small creature in cage number three, praising its glossy fur as particularly healthy.

Huh, I'll pull it out for a toxicology experiment tomorrow.

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