Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen Choice

Lisa squatted in the garden, picking the herbs of the day.For some herbs, she pulls up the roots and stems together; for some varieties, she just picks off a few leaves or flower buds. She really likes the garden behind Bruna's house.The old woman was too old to take care of the herbs, and Daxi didn't know how to irrigate the hard soil. Only Lisa could successfully grow the herbs.Many herbs that she and Bruna had to spend hours in the field to find before had been planted outside the house, guarded by the sigil posts. Bruna said when the first sprouts appeared in the garden, "You are not only delicate but also very talented in gardening. Before long you will be a better herbalist than I am."

The pride these words brought to Lisa is a brand new feeling, she may never be as good as Bruna.But this old woman is not a person who likes to be obedient or flattering, because she sees a quality in Lisa that others can't see—Lisa is very motivated and doesn't want to let her down. When the basket was full, Li Sha patted on her clothes, stood up, and walked towards the hut—in fact, it wasn't really a hut anymore.Ernie didn't want to see his daughter living in a humble place, so he hired a carpenter to repair the crumbling walls and rebuild the dilapidated roof.Before long, most of the things in the hut were refurbished, and the new parts almost doubled the size of the hut.

Although Bruna complained about the noise the craftsmen made, the house is now dry and warm, and her asthma has improved.Under Lisa's care, the old woman seemed to grow stronger, rather than weaker, over the years. Riza was glad the remodeling was finally over, because by then the men had started staring at her strangely. She had always wanted to have that figure, but now it didn't seem like it was an advantage.As she grew older, Lisa had her mother's plump figure.The men of the town eyed her hungrily.And the rumors of her flirting with Gard, despite the lapse of many years, are still buried in many people's memories.They fantasized about taking advantage of her.Most of those who thought this way, Lisa, could get rid of it with a frown, and only a few people needed a few more slaps.And in order to remind Alvin that there is a pregnant bride in his family, she also rewarded him with a handful of pepper and stinky grass.Blinding Powder has become one of the weapons that Riza keeps in the many secret pockets of her aprons and skirts at all times.

Of course, if she expressed interest in any man in town, Gard would make sure that no one but Ernie could approach her.The burly lumberjack would sternly remind any man who talked to Lisa about anything unrelated to herbalism—she was still his.Even the deacon Jonah would break out in a cold sweat when Lisa greeted him. When Bruna said seven years and one day, it sounded like an eternity.But time flies, and seven years have come to an end in a blink of an eye.Her apprenticeship is coming to an end.Risa now goes to town every day to ask who needs the help of an herbalist, and only in times of crisis does she seek Bruna's advice; Bruna needs to rest.

"The duke evaluates the medical skills of the local herbalists based on the annual birth rate and death rate," Bruna said on the first day, "but as long as you focus on the people between birth and death, then the people in the logging depression in one year I will never be able to leave you again." Afterwards, her words proved to be true.From that moment on, Bruna took her with her wherever she went, regardless of any demands for privacy.After she took good care of the unborn babies for most of the pregnant women and made rum tea for half of the other women, the women of the town respected her and would not hide their ailments, big or small, from her.

Still, she is an outsider.A woman would talk as if she didn't exist at all, open up about all the secrets of the town, as if she were nothing more than a pillow to sleep at night. "That's the way it should be," Bruna said when Lisa complained about it. "Your job is not to comment on their lives and their morals, but on their health. When you put on that medicine bag apron, you You must swear not to go out and say whatever you hear. The herbalist must earn the trust of his patients to do his job well. You must not reveal any secrets, unless keeping them will prevent you from healing others."

Risa always kept a secret, and the women gradually began to trust her.Once the woman takes her side, the men immediately follow, usually dragged by their women.But the herb apron also keeps them consciously at a distance.Lisa has seen almost all the men in the town naked, but she has never been in close contact with any man; although women will praise her and give her gifts, she can't confide in any woman.Still, the past seven years have been much happier than the previous thirteen.Bruna's world is much wider than it was in her mother's shadow.There was sadness in the interim, when she had to close someone's eyes, and joy, when she pulled the baby out of its mother, flapping its first cry of life.

In a short time, her apprenticeship would be over, and Bruna would retire entirely.From the way she spoke of it, it was clear that she would die shortly after retirement; the thought terrified Risa. Bruna is her shield as well as her spear, forming an indestructible spell field between her and the town folk.Without this magic seal, what should she do?Lisa's nature is not as arrogant and powerful as Bruna's, so she can't yell and beat the foolish people loudly.Without Bruna, who else could she talk to as an ordinary person instead of an herbalist?Who can wipe her tears and explain the doubts in her heart?Hesitation destroys trust, and people need confident herbalists.

Deep in her heart, there are even more unknown thoughts.The logging lowlands had become very small in her eyes.The door Bruna had opened for her could never be closed—a constant reminder of how much she had yet to learn.Without Bruna, her journey might end here. She stepped inside and saw Bruna sitting at the table. "Good morning," she said, "I didn't think you would get up so early, or I'd make tea before I went to the garden." She put down the medicine basket and looked towards the stove, where the kettle was smoking and almost boiling. "I'm old," grumbled Bruna, "but I'm not blind or lame, and I can make my own tea."

"Of course." Liza said, kissing the old woman's cheek, "You're in good health and can chop trees with an ax with the lumberjack." She laughed when Bruna frowned, and walked over to serve the porridge. The years of living together did not change Bruna's acrimonious tone, but Lisa had already learned not to listen to her tone, but only listened to the caring after the old woman complained, and responded with gratitude. "It's still early to go out to collect herbs today." Bruna said at breakfast, "the smell of demons still lingers in the air."

"Only you complain about the smell of demons in the pile of flowers." Lisa responded.Indeed, there are flowers everywhere in the hut, and the fragrance of flowers is overflowing. "Don't change the subject," Bruna said. "A messenger came to town last night," Lisa said, "I heard the horn." "Luckily it was before dark," Bruna muttered. "What a reckless fellow." She spat on the floor. "Bruna!" Liza scolded, "what did I tell you about spitting in the house?" The old woman looked at her, opening her narrowed eyes. "This is my home, I can throw up as much as I want," she said. Lisa frowned. "I'm sure I didn't say that," she replied gravely. "Unless you're smarter than your breasts give the impression." Bruna teased over tea. Lisa was speechless with anger, but she was used to the old woman's sarcasm.Bruna can say whatever she wants, and do whatever she wants, no one can control her. "It was the messenger who got you up early, actually," Bruna said. "The nice one? What's his name? The one looking at you with innocent puppy eyes?" Li Sha smiled wryly and said, "It's more like a wild wolf." "That's a good thing!" The old woman snickered and patted Li Sha's knee.Li Sha shook her head, got up and tidied up the table. "What's your name?" Bruna continued to ask. "It's not what you think." Lisa said. "I'm too old to hang out with you, girl," Bruna said. "His name." "Malick." Lisa said, rolling her eyes. "Should I help you make a pot of rum tea when young Malick comes to visit?" Bruna asked. "Do you think that's all that's on everyone's mind?" Lisa asked, "I just like chatting with him, that's all." "I'm not blind enough to see that the boy doesn't just want to talk," Bruna said. "Oh?" Lisa asked, crossing her arms around her chest, "How many fingers should I raise now?" Bruna snorted. "Not one." Not even turning to Lisa. "I know that trick of yours as well as I know that Messenger Maverick never looks you in the eye when he talks to you." "His name is Malick." Lisa said again, "and he looked at me." "Only if he can't see your neckline," said the old woman. "I really can't stand you." Li Sha said softly. "There's no need to be shy," Bruna said. "If I had breasts like yours, I'd show them off." "I didn't show it off!" Liza yelled, but Bruna just snickered. The horn sounded not far from their home. "It's young Master Malick," Bruna said. "You'd better dress up quickly." "That's not the case!" Lisa said again, but Bruna just waved her hand. "I'm going to make rum tea." Bruna muttered to herself.Lisa took a rag and threw it on the old woman, then stuck out her tongue and walked towards the door. When she came to the front hall, she couldn't help laughing while waiting for the messenger to arrive.Bruna liked to push her out to find men almost as much as her mother did, but the old woman did it only out of love.All she wanted was for Lisa to be happy, and Lisa was grateful for it.But no matter how the old woman teased her, Lisa was more interested in the mail Malick brought than his wolf eyes. From an early age, she loved the days when the messengers came to visit.The Logging Hollow is a small place, but it is on the main road between three large cities and a dozen remote villages, and it plays an important role in the economy of the adjacent area by producing firewood and Ernie's paper. Logging Hollow was visited by a courier at least twice a month, and most of the mail was left with Schmitt, but Ernie and Bruna's mail was delivered by the courier himself, and usually stayed in town to wait for their reply.Bruna exchanged letters with herbalists in Lexenberg and Angels, Renekton, and several remote villages.Since the old woman's eyesight was failing day by day, the responsibility for reading and answering the letter fell naturally to Lisa. In fact, most of the herbalists in the surrounding area are Bruna's students.When encountering intractable diseases that cannot be solved, herbalists from all over the world often write to her to consult her, and often request to send apprentices to learn from her.No one wants to see her knowledge die with her. "I'm too old to have the strength to take any more students!" Bruna would complain loudly, waving her hands contemptuously, and then Lisa would write a tactful refusal, which she was already familiar with. This all gives Risa plenty of opportunities to talk to the messenger.In fact most of the couriers bit her lewdly, or tried to seduce her with stories of the Free Cities, and Malick was one of those people. The messenger's story really moved Risa.Their intention may have been to captivate Lisa and lift up her skirt, but the picture outlined by their story is deeply imprinted in Lisa's mind.She wants to walk on Renekton's docks, see the magnificent rune fields of Lyxonburg, or see the legendary forest fortress of Angels; she wants to read their books and communicate with the herbalists there.There are many other guardians of ancient knowledge, if she dares to go out and find them. She smiled as Malick stepped into view.Despite the distance, she recognized the way he walked, his feet slightly bent from a life spent on horses.The courier, from the Angels, was about the same height as the five-foot-seven Liza, but there was something about him about him, and Lisa didn't exaggerate his wolf eyes at all—they looked at them with the stern gaze of a predator. Looking around, searching for potential power and prey. "Ah, Lisa!" he cried, pointing his spear at her. Lisa raised her hand in greeting. "Is it necessary to bring that thing in broad daylight?" She asked, pointing to the spear. "What if I meet a wolf?" Malick replied with a smile, "How can I protect you?" "Wolves are rarely seen in logging hollows," Lisa said as he approached.He has long brown hair and dark blue eyes.She couldn't deny that he was a handsome man. "Then let's say there's a bear," Malick said when he arrived at the hut, "or a lion, there are many beasts in the world." He said as he moved his eyes to her cleavage. "I know this very well." Lisa said as she adjusted the shawl to cover her chest. Malick laughed and put the messenger bag on the front porch. "The shawl is out of date," he suggested. "There are no more shawls for women in Angels or Lyonburg." "Then I'm sure they must be wearing high-necked dresses, or the men there won't look where they shouldn't." Lisa replied. "High collar." Malick nodded with a smile and bowed deeply. "I can give you an Angels turtleneck dress." He whispered, getting closer. "When will I get a chance to wear something like that?" Lisa asked, slipping away before she was cornered. "Go to Angels," suggested the messenger, "and wear it there." Lisa sighed. "I'd love to go," she said plaintively. "Maybe you will have a chance." The messenger said slyly, nodding and raising his hand, signaling Lisa to go into the house first.Lisa smiled and walked in, but while doing so, she could feel his gaze fixed on her back. Bruna was back in her chair when they entered.Malick walked up to her and bowed deeply. "Young Master Malick!" Bruna said happily, "How unexpected!" "Ms. Gisele of Angels sends you hello," Malick said. "She has a difficult case and begs you to help." He reached into the bag and pulled out the scroll bound with string. Bruna instructed Lisa to accept the letter, then leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes and listened to her apprentice read the letter. "Honorable Bruna, Greetings from Fort Angels in the year 326 after the return." "Giselle was always chattering like a puppy when she was an apprentice to me. I didn't expect her to write letters like this after so many years." Bruna interrupted her, "I don't have so much time to listen to nonsense, just talk about the case .” Li Sha browsed the content, then turned to the back and continued reading, until the second letter paper to find the important part. "A boy," said Lisa, "ten years old. Brought to the clinic by his mother, complaining of nausea and weakness. No other symptoms or medical history. He took root, water, and bed rest. Symptoms got worse during the three days. Got a rash on my chest. Over the course of a few days the dose of the root increased to three ounces." "Symptoms worsen, fever begins. White abscesses appear on the rash. Ointments have no effect. The next symptom is vomiting. Take heart leaves and poppies to relieve pain, evaporated milk to protect the stomach. No appetite, does not seem to be contagious." Bruna was silent for a while, thinking about the case.She turned to Malick. "Have you seen that child?" The messenger nodded. "Are you sweating?" Bruna asked. "Yes." Malick confirmed, "and trembling, as if he was suffering from heat and cold at the same time." Bruna grunted. "What color are his nails?" she asked. "It's the color of the nails." Malick replied with a smile. "Be smart, you'll regret it if you talk to me," Bruna warned. Malick nodded sharply, his face pale.The old woman questioned him for a few more minutes, occasionally grunting after his answers.The courier has extraordinary memory and observation skills, and Bruna seems to have no doubts about his answer.Finally, she waves him to be quiet. "Is there anything else worth mentioning in the letter?" Bruna asked. "She wants to send an apprentice to learn from you," Lisa said.Bruna's face darkened. "I have an apprentice, Wika, who is about to finish training." Lisa read, "According to your letter, you are the same. If you are not willing to accept newcomers, please consider exchanging familiar ones with me." Lisa was very surprised , Malick smiled knowingly. "I didn't tell you to stop," Bruna said harshly. Lisa sighed softly. "Vika has great potential," she read, "with enough medical skills to meet the needs of the logging depression, and the ability to be taught by the wise Bruna. Of course, Lisa can also learn a lot from the patients in my clinic. Please, I beg you, before the wise Bruna dies, one more person will pass on her knowledge." Bruna was silent for a while. "I'll have to think about it before I can answer this," she said finally. "Go round town, girl. We'll talk about it when you get back." She said to Malick, "I'll get back to you tomorrow, and Lisa will help You are ready to pay." The messenger bowed and exited the house as Bruna leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.Riza felt her heart racing, but she knew it was wrong to disturb the old woman's recollection of decades of memories, to find a cure for the little boy.She took the medicine basket and went to visit the town. After Lisa went out, Malick was waiting for her outside the door. "You already knew what was written in that letter." Lisa accused. "Of course," Malick admitted, "I was there when she wrote." "You didn't tell me." Li Sha said. Malik smiled. "I said I'd give you a high-necked dress," he said. "That offer still stands." "Look." Li Sha smiled and took out a bag of coins. "Your reward," she said. "I'd rather you pay me a kiss," he said. "It's an honor that you think my kisses are worth more than coins." Lisa replied, "I'm afraid I must disappoint you." Malik laughed. "My dear, if I bravely come here from Angels without fear of the demons in the night, even though I bring back only your kisses, I will make all the messengers passing through the logging depression envious to death." "Well, since that's the case," Lisa said with a smile, "I think I'll keep my kiss and pay the bill when the price is higher." "You broke my heart," Malick said, putting his hand on his chest.Li Sha threw the money bag to him, and he raised his hand to take it. "At least, am I lucky enough to escort the herbalist to town?" he asked with a smile.He bent one knee and stretched out his arm, waiting for her to grab her; Lisa couldn't help smiling. "We don't move that fast in the logging swale," she said, looking at his arm. "But you can carry the medicine basket for me." She hung the medicine basket on his outstretched arm and walked towards the town, letting him stare at her back. When they arrived in town, Schmidt's market was already full of people.Lisa likes to come to the market early to pick vegetables, so as not to be picked out of the best dishes, and order meat from the butcher Doug first, and then go to the town to check the patients. "Morning, Lisa," said Young Gray, one of the oldest elders in the Logging Hollow.His proud gray beard was longer than most women's hair.Yang used to be a strong and strong lumberjack, but in his later years he became thinner and had to walk around with a cane. "Good morning, Yang," she responded. "How are your joints?" "It still hurts." Yang replied, "Especially the palm, sometimes I can barely hold the crutch." "Even so, you still have a way to mess with me every time you meet." Li Sha pointed out. Yang snickered. "For an old man like me, little girl, no pain is worth it." She reached into the medicine basket and took out a small vial. "I made some dressings for you," she said. "You saved me the way to send them." Yang smiled. "I welcome you to come to my house anytime to help me apply the medicine." He blinked as he said. Lisa pursed her lips, but still laughed out loud.Yang was a womanizer, but she liked him quite a bit.Living with Bruna has taught her that quirks are minor flaws in the richness of life experience. "I'm afraid you'll have to figure it out for yourself," she said. "Ha!" Yang waved his crutch mockingly. "Well, you think about it," he said.Before leaving, he glanced at Malick and nodded in respect. "messenger." Malick nodded in response, and the old man left immediately. Everyone in the market greets Lisa warmly, she stops to ask everyone about their health, and she is always at work, even when grocery shopping. Although she and Bruna made a lot of money selling flame rods and other items, no one would charge her for anything she bought.Bruna never charged money for her medical treatment, so no one else would charge her either. Malick trails behind her as she deftly picks out vegetables and fruit.He attracted a lot of attention, but Liza thought it was because he was walking with her, not because there were strangers in the market place; the logging hollow was often visited by messengers. She looked at Kit, Stephanie's son, but not Smit's.The boy was nearly eleven years old, and as he grew older he looked more and more like Reverend Michel.All these years Stephanie has kept her promise, and no rumors about Lisa have spread since she was an apprentice.From Bruna's point of view, her secret will not be revealed, but from Stephanie's point of view, Lisa really can't imagine how it is possible for Schmidt not to find out from this face that she sees on the dining table every day. the truth. She gestured, and Kit came running. "Send this bag to Bruna when you have time." She said and handed him the selected dishes.She smiled at him and secretly put a cara in his hand. Kit beamed at his present.Adults would never take money from a herbalist, but Lisa would always give a little favor to a child who helped.The main currency in the Logging Hollow was Angiers bright wooden coins, and when the next messenger came, Kit and his brother would have money to buy sugar. As she was leaving, she saw Miley and walked over to say hello.Her friend has been very busy these years, and has three children behind her.A young glazier named Bane leaves the Angels in an attempt to pursue his fortune in Renekton or Lyxonburg.He settled down in a logging hollow, intending to recruit customers, make some capital, and continue his journey, but then he met Miley and those fortune plans melted away like sugar in hot tea. Now Ben runs a successful business in Miley's father's barn.He bought sacks of sand from couriers returning from Fort Crasia, and fashioned them into useful and beautiful items.Logging Hollow has never had a glassmaker, and everyone wants to get some glass home. Lisa was also happy with this development, and soon asked Bane to make a complex distillation apparatus, allowing her to easily filter out the juice from the herbs and make powerful potions. Not long after, Bane and Miley were married, and not long after that, Lisa delivered their first child for Miley.The other two children followed, and Lisa treated them as if they were her own.When they named their youngest child Lisa, Lisa shed tears of honor. "Morning, little rascals," Liza said, crouching down to wait for Miley's kids to rush into her arms.She hugged and kissed them, and before getting up she gave each child some candy wrapped in paper.These candies are all made by herself—another craft she learned from Bruna. "Morning, Lisa," Miley said, curtseying slightly.Lisa resisted the urge to frown.She and Miley have remained close over the years, but since wearing the apron, Miley has looked at her differently, and nothing she says can change that.This curtsy seems to have become a habit. Despite this, Lisa still cherishes their friendship.Sara sneaks into Bruna's cabin and begs her for Rumcha, cutting off their friendship.From what the women in the town had said, Sera had a very comfortable life.Half the men in town had knocked on her door at one time or another, and she always made more money than her mother made mending. In some ways, Brianna is worse off than she is.In the past seven years, she hasn't spoken half a word to Li Sha, but she just likes to make bad things about Li Sha to everyone.She started to ask Daxi for help, continued to mess with Ivan, and soon got a big belly.When Pastor Michele confronts her, she refuses to face the town alone and declares Alvin to be the father. Alvin married Brianna under the threat of Brianna's father with a pitchfork, and at the same time was held hostage by her brother, followed by the beginning of the suffering of Brianna and their son Galen. Brianna was a competent mother and wife, but she hadn't lost the weight she had gained during pregnancy, and Lisa knew all too well where Alvin's eyes and hands were going.According to rumors, he would often knock on Sira's door. "Morning, Miley," she said. "Have you seen Malick the messenger?" Lisa turned to introduce him, only to find that he was no longer behind her. "Oh, no," she said, watching him stand across from the bazaar, facing Gard. At fifteen Gard was already taller than all the men in the town and only slightly shorter than his father.Now twenty-two, he had grown into a muscular giant nearly seven feet tall, hardened by years of logging.Everyone said he was of Milne blood, because no Angels grew so tall. The story of his lying became known throughout the town, and after that all the girls kept a distance from him, afraid to be alone with him.Maybe that's why he still pesters Lisa to this day, maybe he will pester Lisa no matter what.But Galder hasn't learned from past experience.His ego has swelled like a muscle, and he has become the bully everyone expected.The boys who had teased him shuddered as soon as he opened his mouth, and if his treatment of them could be called brutal, he treated anyone foolish enough to look at Liza more than once. Gard was still waiting for her, as if Risa would suddenly wake up sooner or later and realize that she still belonged to him after all.He was as stubborn as a log and would not listen to anyone's advice at all. "You're not from here," she heard Gard say, poking Malick's shoulder hard, "so maybe you didn't know that Riza was engaged." He towered over the messenger as a grown man stands before a child. But Malick was unafraid, nor was Gard poked back.He stood there motionless, his wolf eyes never leaving Gard's gaze; Lisa hoped that he would remain rational and not act rashly. "She never said that," Malick responded, and Lisa's hopes were dashed.She started to move closer to them, but a circle of people surrounded them, blocking her path.She wished she had brought Bruna's cane to drive people away. "Did she say she would marry you, Messenger?" Gard called out. "She said she would marry me." "I know," Malick replied, "I also heard you're the only idiot in Logging Hollow who thinks the engagement will work after you betray her." Gard yelled, reaching for the courier, but Malick moved quickly, dodging to the side, drew his spear, and thrust the butt of the lumberjack between the eyes.He swung the spear in one fluid motion, striking Gard behind the knee as he backed away, knocking him down hard. Malick planted the spear on the ground and stepped on Gard, his wolf-like gaze was stern and full of confidence. "The spearhead was not meant to be stuck in the ground." He reminded, "You'd better remember this, Lisa decides for herself." The onlookers were stunned, but Risa pushed on, because she knew Gard well enough that it wasn't over yet. "Stop this folly!" she cried.Malick turned to look at her, and Gard took the opportunity to grab him.The messenger immediately turned around, clutching the handle of the spear with both hands, trying to snatch it back. It was the last thing he should have done.Gard possesses the power of a wooden demon, even if he is paralyzed on the ground, his strength is still unmatched.With a jerk of his muscular arm, Malick was thrown into the air. Galder got to his feet and snapped the six-foot spear in half like a branch. "See how you fight without a spear to hide from," he said, throwing the broken spear to the ground. "Garde, don't!" Lisa screamed, pushing away a few spectators who were in front of her, and grabbing his arm.He pushed her away without taking his eyes off Malick.The simple movement threw her back into the crowd, crashing into Doug and Nicholas, who crashed into a heap. "Stop!" she yelled helplessly, struggling to get up. "No one can have you!" Gard said, "You have to accept me, or you will die alone like Bruna!" He strode towards Malick, and the messenger just got up from the ground. Galder swung a massive fist at the messenger, but again, Malick was faster than him.He easily dodged the punch, and then quickly rewarded Gard with two punches before he turned sharply to attack. If Gard felt the power of those two punches, he didn't show it at all.They struck again, and this time Malick hit Gard straight on the nose.Gard's nose was bleeding, and he laughed loudly, blowing the blood from his nostrils vigorously. "That's all you have the patience for?" With a low growl, Malick rushed forward, hitting several punches in a row.Gard couldn't keep up with his speed, so he didn't bother to dodge at all, he just gritted his teeth to protect his vitals, his face flushed red. After a while, Malick stepped back, stood in a cat-ready pose, raised his fists, ready to strike.A layer of skin peeled off his knuckles, and he let out a heavy panting sound.Galder appears to have suffered only minor trauma.For the first time fear appeared in Malick's wolf eyes. "That's all you have?" Gard asked, stepping forward again. The messenger rushed forward again, but this time, his movements were not as vigorous as before.He threw a punch, and Gard's thick fingers gripped his shoulders, pressing down hard, and the courier tried to back away, but Gard held tight. Gard punched the messenger's stomach, and the air in the stomach escaped on the spot.He punched again, this time to the head, and Malick fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. "Don't feel complacent now, do you!" Gard yelled.Malick struggled to his feet on his hands and feet, and Gard kicked him hard in the stomach, causing him to roll over and collapse. At this moment, Lisa had already rushed forward, while Gard knelt on Malick, beating him hard. "Risa is mine!" he roared. "Anyone who dares to object will...!" He was only halfway through when Lisa had already sprinkled a handful of Bruna's blinding powder on his face.His mouth was already open, and he reflexively inhaled a large amount of powder, screaming as the powder burned his eyes and throat, his veins constricted, and his skin felt like it was scalded by boiling water.He falls off Malick and rolls to the side, struggling to breathe and scratching his face. Lisa knew she had sprinkled too much powder.As long as you pinch a little bit with your fingers, you can knock down most men, and a whole handful may kill you, causing the other party to choke to death on your own phlegm. Her face sank, she pushed away the onlookers, and carried a bucket of water that Stephanie used to wash the potatoes.She poured the bucket of water on Gard, and he stopped convulsing immediately.He would be blind for hours, but she would never see him die by her hands. "Our engagement is broken," she said to him, "forever. I will never be your wife, and it doesn't matter if it means I'll die alone. I'd rather marry an inner-earth monster than you!" Gard groaned in pain, seemingly not hearing what she said at all. She walked over to Malick, knelt down and helped him sit up.She took out a clean cloth and wiped the blood on his face.He was beginning to swell and bruise. "I guess we'll let him know we're good, huh?" the Messenger asked with a snicker, before frowning at the pain from laughing. Lisa poured some spirits that Schmidt brewed in his cellar on the cloth. "Ah-ah-ah!" Malick gasped as Bu Cai touched him. "You deserve it," Lisa said. "You could have avoided this fight, whether you won it or not. I don't need your protection, and I can't possibly like a man who thinks fighting can win the heart of a herbalist. Like I wouldn't like a town bully." "He shot first!" Malick protested. "I'm very disappointed in you, Master Malick." Lisa said, "I thought the messenger wouldn't be so reckless." Malick lowered his head in shame. "Take him back to his room at the Schmitt's Hotel," she said to the men nearby, who obeyed immediately.Most of the men in the Logging Hollow do her bidding these days. "If you get out of bed before tomorrow morning," Lisa said to the messenger, "I will know, and I will be very angry." 马力克虚弱地微笑，众人随即扶着他离开。 “实在太了不起了！”麦莉在黎莎回去拿草药篮时激动说道。 “没什么了不起，只是一些必须制止的愚行。”黎莎说道。 “没什么了不起？”麦莉问，“两个男人像公牛一样打成一团，而你只撒一把药粉就能分开他们！” “用药物伤人是件容易的事，”黎莎说，很惊讶地发现自己的口气竟然与布鲁娜一般无二，“难在治病救人。” 当黎莎巡完全镇，回到布鲁娜的小屋时已是午后。 “孩子们怎么样？”布鲁娜在黎莎放下药篮时问道。黎莎微笑。在布鲁娜眼中，所有伐木洼地的居民都是她的孩子。 “很好。”她说着，走过去坐在布鲁娜椅子旁的矮凳上，让年迈的草药师可以清楚地看到自己。“杨·葛雷的关节依然疼痛，但他的心态还是和从前一样年轻；我拿了点软膏给他。史密特还是卧病在床，不过咳嗽减轻了。我想很快就会康复。”她继续描述镇民的病情，老太婆则不住点头。如果布鲁娜有意见的话，会打断她；现在她很少这么做了。 “只有这些？”布鲁娜问道，“小基特向我提到今天早上在市集发生了精彩的打斗事件？” “那就是愚蠢的闹剧。”黎莎说。 布鲁娜挥手打断她。“男孩就是男孩。”她说，“即使变成男人也一样，听起来你应付得不错。” “布鲁娜，他们差点闹出人命！”黎莎说。 “喔，去！”布鲁娜说，“你可不是第一个让男人大打出手的美女。你或许不信，在我年轻的时候，一样有不少男人为了我而打断了骨头。” “你从来没有像我这样年轻过。”黎莎揶揄道，“杨·葛雷说他在学走路的时候，镇民就已经叫你'丑老太婆'了。” 布鲁娜窃笑。“确实如此，确实如此。”她说，“但在那之前我的胸部和你一样丰满圆润，男人为了抢着吸一口，会像地心魔物一样大打出手。” 黎莎仔细打量着布鲁娜，试图抹去岁月的痕迹，找寻年轻时美丽的身影，但这是不可能的事。布鲁娜至少也一百多岁了。她从来不会提起自己确切的年纪，被逼问时只会说：“我一百岁后就没去算年头了。” “总之，”黎莎说，“马力克脸上可能多了点瘀青，但是明天仍可继续上路。” “那很好。”布鲁娜说。 “所以你想到医治吉赛儿女士年轻病患的药方了吗？”黎莎问。 “你会怎么对她说？”布鲁娜反问。 “我很肯定我不知道。”黎莎说。 “真的很肯定吗？”布鲁娜问，“我不这么认为。来吧，如果你是我，你会怎么告诉吉赛儿？别假装你没想过这个问题。” 黎莎深深吸了口气。“凄根看来没有和男孩的身体产生良好互动。”她说，“他需要停止服用凄根，至于脓肿必须切开抽脓。当然，接下来还得处理最初的病症。发烧和反胃可能只是普通感冒，但是瞳孔放大和呕吐表示病情并不单纯。我会用僧叶搭配仕女胸针和艾德树皮，少量服用，至少一星期。” 布鲁娜凝视着她慢慢点头，一刹那，也是永远的送别了。 “整理行李，和大家道别。”她说，“你要亲口将你的建议告诉吉赛儿。”