Master Zhang hesitated for a moment. "Don't be afraid. It's the perfect opportunity. When the time comes, you can develop a method to detoxify it."
Duoduo shook her head.
"That won't do either. We can choose another way!"
"I am your master, what I say goes!"
"Go and bring the things over for the Princess!"
Master Zhang instructed Lüdou without hesitation.
He had spent his entire life studying either medicine or poisons; he had long since become invulnerable to all toxins.
Lüdou looked at Duoduo, and Duoduo thought for a moment.
"Go ahead and bring the things over."
"Yes."
Lüdou hurried back to the room, took a portion of the plants from the bundle, and returned to the study once more.
Master Zhang examined the plant with great curiosity.
"This is the method you found?" he wanted to confirm.
"Sort of. After the thorns on this prick someone, it makes them lose sensation for a period of time."
"I want to try putting a silver needle in it for a while, and then prick someone with it, to see if it has the same effect."
Duoduo said as she pierced the silver needle into it.
She then had Lüdou carefully crush some of the plant, mash it into a paste, squeeze out the juice, and place the silver needle inside.
Master Zhang touched the mashed plant with his hand, feeling a slight numbness on his skin.
Master Zhang rubbed his fingers together, feeling the changes at his fingertips.
"Take my pulse and see." Master Zhang extended his hand toward Duoduo.
Duoduo felt it for a while.
"Well, Master, your pulse shows signs of poisoning."
"But, Master, how can your fingers still move?"
Lüdou's hand had accidentally touched a tiny bit, and she already couldn't move it.
"Because I have studied poisons all my life and encountered many toxic substances."
"The poisons already in my body are definitely more toxic than this one!"
Master Zhang stroked his beard, looking very proud of himself.
Duoduo suddenly understood.
No wonder he wasn't afraid when she said it was poisonous.
Master Zhang then explained the poisons he had encountered to Duoduo one by one.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Duoduo felt the silver needle had soaked long enough.
"Master, do I really have to prick you with the needle?" Duoduo was uncertain.
"Go ahead and prick me. Only by pricking it into one's own body can you feel the extent and sensation of the poison."
Master Zhang nonchalantly stretched out his hand.
Duoduo wrapped one end of the silver needle with a handkerchief. "Then I will apply the needle."
After Duoduo finished speaking, she swiftly pricked the silver needle into Master Zhang's left hand.
"That one, prick it into my right hand." Master Zhang gestured to Duoduo.
"No, what if I can't cure this poison later? What will you do?"
"If I only prick your left hand, at least you'll still have one hand that can move."
Duoduo put both hands behind her back to show her refusal.
Master Zhang could already feel the poison in his left hand taking effect.
He tried to move his left hand; the meridians that had been pricked could no longer move.
He took his own pulse.
"Oh, this poison is quite interesting!"
Duoduo looked at Master Zhang curiously. "Master, what's wrong?"
Master Zhang shook his head. He raised his left hand and examined it himself.
Then, he pulled the silver needle out.
The silver needle had not turned black.
Duoduo also looked at the silver needle curiously. "Master, why hasn't the silver needle turned black?"
"Could it be that this isn't a silver needle?" Master Zhang also found it strange.
He took out his own silver needles from his robe.
He pulled out a needle and inserted it into the stem of the plant.
A moment later, he pulled it out, and the silver needle still showed no change.
Master Zhang nodded.
"If the silver needle doesn't turn black, it means this is not a poison."
Duoduo tilted her little head.
"If it's not a poison, why does it make people lose sensation?"
Master Zhang shook his head. "This, your master doesn't understand for the time being either."
"Since it's not a poison, prick that other one into my hand as well so we can see."
Duoduo hesitated for a moment, but still chose to trust Master Zhang.
She carefully pinched the section of the silver needle soaking in the plant juice that hadn't been stained by the liquid, and took it out.
Then, Duoduo pricked the silver needle into the back of Master Zhang's hand.
After a while, Duoduo removed the silver needle.
"Master, try to move." Duoduo stared nervously at Master Zhang's right hand.
"I can't move it." Master Zhang looked excited.
"Did you remember the time it was pricked in?" Master Zhang did not forget about the timing.
"Yes, I checked." Duoduo reached out to take his pulse.
"Master, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Master Zhang felt it for a moment. "No, except for the two places that were pricked being unable to move, everything else is fine."
"Judging from the pulse, there are no changes either," Duoduo said while taking his pulse.
Just now, while applying the needle, Duoduo had quietly released some golden light into the master's body.
Speaking of the golden light, Duoduo found it a bit strange.
Because the golden light hadn't moved for a long time.
However, the golden light had always been there and hadn't disappeared.
This made Duoduo feel at ease.
Maybe one day, it would start rolling again!
But every time it rolled, something bad happened.
If it wasn't moving, that meant it was a good thing!
This was the reasoning Duoduo had figured out.
She only pulled a tiny bit each time, afraid she would use up all the golden light.
"Master, tell me, how can we extend the anesthesia time of this?"
Duoduo asked as soon as she thought of the question.
"Generally, to extend the time, you either increase the dosage or switch to a more potent anesthetic prescription."
"I was once bitten by a venomous snake, and I was in a coma for three days and three nights before I woke up."
"That long? What kind of venomous snake was it?" Duoduo's eyes were full of curiosity.
"I'm not sure either, I just saw that it was very thin, about the length of a chopstick."
"It bit me once and then quickly fled."
"I only had time to take a detoxifying pill before I fell into a coma."
"I guess I was lucky. Three days later, I woke up on my own."
"Then Master, weren't you afraid?" Duoduo blinked.
"Of course I was afraid! How could I not be?" Master Zhang wanted to reach up and stroke his beard, only to realize his hand couldn't move.
He helplessly put his hand down. "It's just that this was only one of many dangers. After experiencing so much, my state of mind has become much more peaceful."
"However, I also gained something!" A proud light flashed in Master Zhang's eyes.
"In the place where that snake slithered past, I found a rare detoxifying herb."
Master Zhang's face then fell, changing expressions in an instant.
"It's just that herb. I don't know what's going on with it. No matter how carefully I tend to it, it just remains half-dead."
"I had been hoping that it would bloom and bear fruit to improve my prescriptions!"
Duoduo's eyes flickered.
"Master, can I see that herb?"
Master Zhang looked at Duoduo suspiciously. "You want it?"
Duoduo blinked her big, watery eyes.
"Yes! I want it!"
Master Zhang clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected Duoduo to answer so bluntly.
"But, I only have one plant, and it's almost dead."
Master Zhang sighed as he said this.
"Maybe, I can save that herb!"
