chsdbacks Chapter 63 Experiment with Muscle-Softening Powder
Chapter 63 Experiment with Muscle-Softening Powder
Since we're already here, let's get this bison!
However, Zhou Ye was also helpless. After several days of hunting, he had only managed to capture one wild buffalo alive. In the end, he had killed a total of seven.
So such hunting also depends on luck.
The bison couldn't be too big, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to capture them alive. But it also couldn't be a calf, otherwise there would be no point in the experiment.
Therefore, a bison of the right size is needed. Its size must be just right.
The adult bison was found to weigh 8 to 900 pounds, so it was clear that they couldn't carry the whole thing away.
Zhou Ye swiftly removed the internal organs, cut off the two ox horns, and then peeled off the intact cowhide.
They noticed that quite a few wild animals had been attracted to the area. Among them was a leopard. This leopard, which was about the size of a mother leopard, had probably just been chased away.
Zhou Ye said irritably, "Hua Hua, wait a minute."
The leopard obediently stayed a few dozen steps away, sitting and waiting patiently.
Not every wild animal was obedient during these days. But in the end, they all became pelts. Flower, being relatively obedient, managed to eat quite a bit of the leftovers.
Zhou Ye increasingly felt that there were no wild animals around who could threaten him anymore. If he encountered that herd of wild boars now, he could easily turn the tables and kill them head-on.
After finishing his work, Zhou Ye chopped off two more hind legs, as well as a considerable amount of ribs and fat. Finding that the weight was about right, he tied them all to the carrying pole.
Seeing that Zhou Ye was about to leave, the wild beasts around him rushed forward.
Hua Hua was the most obedient. It ran to Zhou Ye and rubbed against him. Zhou Ye then patted its head and said, "Go eat! If you encounter anything stronger than you, run away quickly."
The leopard shook its head and ran happily toward the remains of the bison.
Before long, the carcass of the bison was surrounded by wild animals of all sizes...
First, take these things home. Cur them all into corned beef. Because of the lingering blood, the buffalo herd won't cross the river nearby. So we must wait until the afternoon to let the wild animals finish eating the remains.
At noon, Zhou Ye ate two large pieces of steak and drank a cup of rice wine he bought in the county town.
Perhaps luck had finally turned. By the afternoon, Zhou Ye had miraculously succeeded in capturing a wild buffalo weighing over 300 pounds on his first attempt…
For the next three days, Zhou Ye conducted various experiments.
Two bison were used as a control group. How much muscle-relaxing powder is needed to induce incapacitation? What dosage is needed for incapacitation via the mouth and nose? What dosage is needed for oral administration? Can it induce incapacitation through the blood? Zhou Ye even used thin bamboo as a material to make several very simple syringes.
How long does it take to regain consciousness after anesthesia? What dosage of the antidote is needed? How effective is it...?
Finally, all the experiments were completed. When Zhou Ye brought the two bison back to the riverbank and released them, the two animals were already thoroughly exhausted. Upon seeing a passing herd of bison, they immediately tucked their tails between their legs and fled as fast as they could…
It was almost time to return to the county town. With the successful production of the muscle-softening powder and antidote, his intermediate-level poison skill was nearing completion.
However, just as he was about to leave, he saw Hua Hua running over, looking at him expectantly and gazing at the distant herd of bison.
"Alright, alright!" Zhou Ye chuckled. He patted Hua Hua's head again. "Then let's hunt another one. We'll bring some fresh wild boar meat back to the county town..."
A day later, when Zhou Ye arrived at the martial arts school carrying a huge, fresh hind leg of beef, Du Juan's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter: "Senior Brother Ye, how did you know I like beef?"
"You like it? That's easy. I'll help you find some more next time we go into the mountains."
"Uh-huh."
To be honest, beef in the county town wasn't very expensive. However, the government limited the supply of beef to ensure the availability of draft cattle.
However, the bison migration season still has more than a month left. It should be relatively easy to hunt a few more.
After leaving the martial arts school, Zhou Ye carried his belongings to Wang's Pharmacy. The introductory medical book didn't contain much information, but Zhou Ye had already thoroughly memorized it.
The only problem was that we didn't have many herbs this time. Most of them were yellow bellflowers that we picked on the way back. The only valuable medicinal material was the eight pairs of cow horns.
After calculating the price, the pharmacy owner asked with a smile, "Brother Tian, didn't you find any bezoar this time?"
Zhou Ye laughed loudly: "Uncle Jian, it really happens in my dreams."
Amidst laughter, Zhou Ye returned the three medical books to Wang Zhengyu: "Young master, please keep the books safe. Thank you!"
Wang Zhengyu was a little surprised: "Have you finished reading? Actually, it's okay if you take it."
"It's good to borrow and return. I have indeed finished reading these books." Zhou Ye's words carried a hint of hope that Wang Zhengyu could borrow a few more advanced medical books.
Unexpectedly, Wang Zhengyu shifted the focus and changed the subject: "Brother Xiaotian, let me remind you, all the doctors in the county town must have a proper background. Even if you are self-taught, you still need the approval and recommendation of those senior doctors. Otherwise, you will not be able to practice medicine."
Zhou Ye nodded; he understood Wang Zhengyu's meaning. It was simply a matter of industry monopoly. Medical skills were passed down from father to son or master to apprentice. Outsiders had no way to compete. No matter how skilled they were, the older generation of doctors would never recommend them. They could only work as itinerant doctors in the countryside, never able to practice medicine in the county town.
The same applies to martial arts schools. It's not enough to simply be a highly skilled martial artist to open a school and accept students. You must gain the approval of all the other martial arts schools in the county. And what if they don't approve? Well, you'll just have to challenge them one by one.
That's why Du Keyuan cherishes the "Fenglei Martial Arts School" sign so much, second only to his granddaughter Du Juan. And he wants to pass the martial arts school on to his beloved granddaughter.
It's worth noting that Du Keyuan went through a lot of hardship to open his martial arts school back then, so he must be taking it very seriously now.
But then again, Zhou Ye really never thought about practicing medicine, did he?
He smiled but didn't say anything in response to Wang Zhengyu's well-intentioned reminder.
Such advanced medical books are closely guarded secrets passed down through generations. Some are even rare, unique copies that money can't buy. This kind of relationship can't be built through a few business dealings.
Seeing that Wang Zhengyu had no intention of continuing to borrow books, Zhou Ye chatted with him for a few minutes before taking his leave.
The next day, he remembered he should deliver the charcoal. He still needed to make an appearance at the woodcutters' guild.
Carrying over 100 jin of charcoal, Zhou Ye returned to the woodcutter's charcoal shop. He successfully completed the transaction, earning several hundred coins, and even exchanged a few jokes with the shop assistant.
However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard the shopkeeper call out to him: "Ah Ye, don't rush off, Brother Shi Tou is looking for you."