Blood River

Everyone was stunned.

Xin Baicao, the Medicine King who appeared so refined and immortal-like, had just blurted out vulgarities and mused about love without hesitation.

But Xin Baicao seemed completely unaware. Instead, he looked up and scrutinized the two men before him. First, he dismissed Su Changhe: "Definitely not you, kid. You don't look like a good sort. What's your name? Which one are you from Dark River?"

"I'm Su Changhe," Su Changhe replied, stroking his small beard before turning to Su Muyu. "Should I shave this off to look more like a good guy?"

Xin Baicao gasped. "Su Changhe, the Undertaker!"

Su Changhe chuckled. "That was my old title. Now I'm the Head of Dark River."

Xin Baicao stood up. "Uncle, you look rosy-cheeked and move freely—clearly, you're fine. There's no such thing as the Art of the Medicine Man. It's all nonsense. I have other patients to see, so I'll be going. No need to keep me for dinner."

Su Muyu stepped forward and lightly placed a hand on Xin Baicao's shoulder. "I witnessed the Miracle Healer being poisoned that day. Please, Medicine King, examine him carefully."

Xin Baicao looked at Su Muyu and suddenly understood. "Ah, so Uncle, you like this kind of cold, aloof young master?"

Bai Hehuai sighed helplessly. "Nephew, stop talking nonsense."

"Is this really the Medicine King?" Su Changhe muttered in disbelief. "Not at all what I expected from the legends."

Xin Baicao cleared his throat. "And how should I look, according to the legends?"

"Like an old immortal from a painting," Su Muyu answered. "But you, Senior Medicine King, are not only younger but also far more interesting."

Xin Baicao stroked his beard smugly. "Quite the silver tongue. Seems Dark River isn't what I imagined either. Come, let me check Uncle's pulse." He waved at Bai Hehuai, who approached and extended his arm. Xin Baicao placed his fingers on Bai Hehuai's wrist and closed his eyes.

The examination lasted a full half-stick of incense.

The room was utterly silent. Bai Hehuai said nothing, and Su Muyu and Su Changhe waited quietly.

Finally, Xin Baicao opened his eyes. "That kid Ye Ya has mastered seventy to eighty percent of the Art of the Medicine Man. He's no longer the same as when he left the valley."

Su Changhe asked curiously, "Bai Hehuai, between you and your Medicine King nephew, who's the better healer?"

Bai Hehuai shot him a glare. "Am I the Medicine King, or is he? If I were better and older in seniority, would the title even go to him?"

Xin Baicao clasped his hands respectfully. "You flatter me, Uncle. Your talent far surpasses mine. If not for your obsession with wealth and reluctance to study miscellaneous ailments, the title of Medicine King would undoubtedly be yours."

Bai Hehuai scoffed. "Are you mocking me? Just tell me—can the Poison of the Medicine Man in my body be removed?"

Xin Baicao sighed softly. "The Art of the Medicine Man is, at its core, the Gu Poison Art. The Gu Poison in your body hasn't been eliminated, but the Gu Worm should already be dead."

Su Muyu immediately added, "That day, I did destroy a Gu Worm—the one Ye Ya gave me."Xin Baicao nodded, "That makes sense. Although my junior brother is full of schemes, after all... after all, he and I watched our martial uncle grow up together. There's still affection in his heart, so he wouldn't truly strike a fatal blow. However..."

Su Muyu asked, "However what? Could there still be an issue with the Gu Poison in his body?"

Bai Hehuai sighed helplessly, "That's precisely why we asked you to come all this way."

"This Gu Poison isn't a problem, yet it is still somewhat problematic." Xin Baicao's words were cryptic, and seeing the confused expressions on Su Changhe and Su Muyu's faces, he cleared his throat and continued, "According to the records in that book, those who still have Gu Poison in their bodies will turn into uncontrollable Medicine Puppets after death..."

Su Muyu exclaimed in shock, "What? Turn into a Medicine Puppet? And you say that's not a problem?"

"But by then, our martial uncle would already be dead..." Xin Baicao spread his hands, "Realistically speaking, it wouldn't concern him anymore. But the thought of not finding peace even after death is indeed unsettling."

"Can the Medicine King remove it?" Su Muyu lowered his head, "If not, I'll go find Ye Ya and make him return to completely neutralize this Gu Poison."

"Of course it can be removed, but we'll need some assistance." Xin Baicao suddenly looked somewhat awkward and glanced at Bai Hehuai.

Bai Hehuai took a sip of tea and didn't respond.

Su Muyu asked, "What kind of assistance? If we can help, we'll do whatever it takes!"

Xin Baicao hesitated but continued, "I just need to perform acupuncture to guide the Gu Poison Art to our martial uncle's Hundred Convergences Acupoint. Then, someone with profound internal energy can use their palm to transform the Gu Poison Art into toxic gas, which can then be expelled directly from the Hundred Convergences Acupoint."

Su Changhe laughed, "That simple? Then why worry about whether it's a problem or not? Just remove it."

Xin Baicao smiled wryly, "It's not that simple. This Gu Poison isn't ordinary—the slightest mistake could cause it to fully merge with the flesh and blood."

"That's why I called you here," Bai Hehuai said helplessly. "With my own acupuncture techniques, I don't feel entirely confident in achieving this. How confident are you?"

Xin Baicao spread his hands and smiled, "I'm still the Medicine King, and I'm not old yet. Naturally, I'm fully confident. Martial uncle, rest assured—once I hold the Silver Needles, your poison will already be neutralized."

Su Muyu stepped forward, "I may not be particularly skilled, but my internal energy is decent. I can lend a hand."

Xin Baicao glanced at Bai Hehuai again, but she still ignored him. He had no choice but to continue on his own, "This isn't ordinary acupuncture. I'll need to insert ninety-nine Silver Needles into our martial uncle's body. At that time, his qi and blood will surge violently, as if he's fallen into a volcano. During this process, nothing must obstruct the dispersal of his True Qi."

Su Muyu thought for a moment and shook his head, "I'm not well-versed in medical arts. I don't understand."

"Idiot," Su Changhe muttered under his breath. "He means Bai Hehuai can't wear clothes during the acupuncture!"

Su Muyu froze, his face turning slightly red as he fell silent.

Bai Hehuai's face also flushed slightly as she quietly scolded Su Changhe, "Vulgar.""A physician does not shy away from impropriety. Though I am Bai Hehuai's junior, my only concern is saving lives, with no impure thoughts in my heart," Xin Baicao said slowly. "However, Young Master Su, you..."

Su Changhe patted his chest: "No problem! If he can't do it, I'll step in! I also have no impure thoughts, I swear!"