Hearing the word “tonic”, Yan Xiaohan’s ears immediately flushed a suspicious red. Wearing only a light garment, his chest and neck skin were exposed, making the blush particularly obvious. Fu Shen was almost dazzled, stealing glances while finding his somewhat embarrassed appearance pitiful and adorable.
Fu Shen: “Just what?” Old Doctor: “Just that you’ll need to work a bit harder.” Fu Shen: “How so?”
“From what this old man has observed, after taking the medicine last night, this young gentleman was extremely agitated and unable to control himself,” the old doctor said. “The efficacy of Qiu Ye Bai lies precisely in this: first, it makes one feel spiritually invigorated, as if descending into an immortal realm, and secondly, it causes one’s blood and qi to surge, stirring up desire. So I thought that since you two are partners, when he experiences a drug craving, you might try this method to slightly alleviate it.”
Fu Shen was speechless: “…Will it work?”
“The effect of Qiu Ye Bai is essentially to create a sense of satisfaction and pleasure,” he explained to Fu Shen.
The first is the pleasure of food, where satiety is achieved when hunger is satisfied; the second is the pleasure of the bedchamber, where mutual affection and intimate union bring joy; the third is the effect of medicine, which, when taken, makes one’s spirit completely intoxicated, bringing ultimate pleasure.”
“The pleasure brought by Qiu Ye Bai far surpasses food or intimacy, but it may partially compensate. For instance, if someone is fond of sweets and wants to quit sugar, immediately cutting it off would be unbearable. One needs to gradually reduce intake, and only over time can one become like an ordinary person.”
“I understand,” Fu Shen nodded. “When he experiences a drug craving, giving him a taste of sweetness will make it less difficult, right?”
“Exactly,” the old doctor stroked his beard. “But there’s one thing you must remember: never let him take Qiu Ye Bai again when he’s suffering. Being soft-hearted is a grave mistake.”
This time, Fu Shen didn’t respond immediately but turned to look at Yan Xiaohan.
Yan Xiaohan gave him a reassuring smile. “What are you looking at? Afraid you can’t be ruthless?”
“Yes,” Fu Shen held his hand and stood up, sighing, “Is this treating you, or treating me?”
