A light rain refreshes all flowers, as the first thunder heralds the awakening of insects.
...
Nine Heavens City.
"Cutting away all injustice, ascending the nine heavens with you. So this is the Nine Heavens City where the Sword Immortal of Poetry made his name with a single sword?" Bai Hehuai lifted the carriage curtain, gazing curiously at the city.
Even though centuries had passed since the era when the Sword Immortal of Poetry roamed the world, the city still retained its nostalgia for that bygone age of poetic wine and swordplay. Sword shops lined the streets, and flower-selling girls carried exquisite wooden miniature swords at their waists, each inscribed with exquisite short poems.
"In Northern Li, we practice the sword; in Southern Jue, they wield the saber. This tradition traces back to the Sword Immortal of Poetry during the founding era. Back then, ninety percent of martial artists dreamed of becoming like him, while the remaining ten percent dreamed of marrying him," said The Head inside the carriage, his tone gentle like a grandfather telling stories to his granddaughter.
"I've heard this tale before. My master also said that all young swordsmen yearn to visit Nine Heavens City, hoping to feel the poetic Rain Sword Intent that once split the heavens centuries ago." Bai Hehuai looked up at the sky. "What kind of sword could truly cleave through the nine heavens?"
"The legend of splitting the nine heavens is just that—a legend. Historical records say that when the Sword Immortal of Poetry delivered his final strike to slay the Sword Demon, the force of his blade scattered all the clouds in the sky. After the Sword Demon fell, the Sword Immortal departed the city on his sword, and Nine Heavens City was drenched in rain for ten straight days. For a northern city, ten days of heavy rain was unheard of, so some say that the Sword Immortal's sword tore open the heavens—hence the legend of 'one sword splitting the nine heavens,'" The Head explained.
Bai Hehuai nodded, then glanced at the Sleeping Dragon Sword beside The Head. "You also wield a sword, Head. Did you ever dream of visiting Nine Heavens City in your youth?"
The Head paused, then shook his head. "For ordinary people, a sword is just a sword. But for those of Dark River, a sword is merely a weapon. Besides, I didn't use a sword in my youth—I learned swordsmanship much later."
"Oh, what about Su Muyu?" Bai Hehuai pressed. "Would he be interested in this legend?"
"His sword is also a weapon," The Head said solemnly.
"Stop looking around!" A low growl came from outside as the driver yanked the curtain shut, blocking the view. Bai Hehuai pouted and sat back in her seat. "That Chou Niu—just because I once called him ugly, he's held a grudge ever since."
"Little Divine Physician, you mentioned earlier that you'd found a way to cure me completely. Might you share it with me now?" The Head's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Of course, of course. Right now, I can only temporarily suppress the Snow Falling on a Plum Branch in your system by using drugs to counteract poison with poison. While this can stave off fatal poisoning for a time, it's not a long-term solution." Bai Hehuai drew a silver needle from her sleeve and gently inserted it into The Head's wrist.
"Snow Falling on a Plum Branch is called The Second Most Potent Poison Under Heaven because only Second Master Tang knows the antidote," The Head said calmly."I have seen the Mirror Flower Moon created by the Wen Family Head—it is the most extraordinary poison in the world, so potent that even the Wen Family Head himself cannot cure it. Compared to Mirror Flower Moon, what is Snow Falling on a Plum Branch worth?" Bai Hehuai pulled out the silver needle, and a faint plum blossom fragrance filled the carriage.
The Head frowned slightly, suddenly realizing something. "Your surname is Bai..."
"I'm surnamed Bai because my master is surnamed Bai." Bai Hehuai raised the silver needle, on which the blood was not red but milky white. "But you guessed wrong, Head. I'm not surnamed Wen either. My mother was surnamed Wen—she was the younger sister of the current Wen Family heir, Wen Hujiu."
"I see." The Head nodded. "So the Little Divine Physician is the granddaughter of the Wen Family Head."
"What? Suddenly finding things complicated, realizing it won't be so easy to silence me later?" Bai Hehuai raised an eyebrow.
"You jest." The Head lifted the teacup beside him and took a sip of hot tea.
"Indeed, I jest. Let’s return to the poison. The Wen Family excels at poisoning and also at detoxifying. They have a Head Chopping Hall, filled with eccentrics who study antidotes. These people are even crazier than the poisoners—when they encounter an incurable poison, they test it on themselves. If they can cure it, they do; if not, they die." Bai Hehuai continued examining the silver needle. "There’s a saying in the Head Chopping Hall: Only by truly suffering the poison can you understand it, and only by understanding it can you defeat it."
"Testing poison on oneself—first poisoning, then detoxifying—sounds like a path of madness or death." The Head set down his teacup. "But I don’t understand—why would the Little Divine Physician be willing to test poison for me, just for a few silver notes?"
"Of course I wouldn’t. I’m not stupid." Bai Hehuai shrugged.
The Head was speechless, then laughed. "Little Divine Physician, did you say all this just to tease me?"
"You’ve forgotten, Head. I’m only half a Wen, but a full disciple of Medicine King Valley. Have you ever heard of Medicine King Valley’s Soul Transference Technique?" Bai Hehuai smiled smugly.
"Soul Transference Technique?" The Sleeping Dragon Sword beside the Head suddenly vibrated with a hum. "Even Xin Baicao couldn’t master the Soul Transference Technique—you learned it?"
"That boy’s medical talent surpasses even our master’s, but his mind is too simple—he couldn’t learn the Soul Transference Technique." A flash of golden light flickered in Bai Hehuai’s eyes, vanishing instantly. "I’ve been cunning since childhood. Master said I was born to practice this art. In all of Medicine King Valley, I’m the only one who has inherited this technique."
"The Soul Transference Technique—once used on someone, it allows you to share their five senses, even completely take over their consciousness. Their past, their thoughts in the moment—all can be utterly invaded by the other." The Head murmured, "When I first heard of this skill, I thought to myself—this isn’t medicine, it’s dark sorcery."
"True. We physicians treat ailments of the body, but the Soul Transference Technique can treat ailments of the mind." Bai Hehuai tucked away the silver needle. "But this time, I’m using the Soul Transference Technique to cure a bodily poison. The matters in your heart, Head—I can try not to look."
The Head pondered for a long time before speaking slowly. "If the Soul Transference Technique is used... then my life..."Bai Hehuai smiled, tilting his head to meet The Head's gaze. "Then it will all be within my control. Whenever I wish, I can kill The Head at any moment!"
"Good! Hahahaha!" The Head laughed heartily, while Bai Hehuai remained expressionless, letting The Head's laughter shake the entire carriage. Finally, The Head stopped laughing, and in that instant, a chilling murderous aura emanated from him.
"I'd like to test that."
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