Immortalis

Tong Xue Ten

The next day, when Shen Qingshi saw Yang Wujian and Zhou Huai again, both of them had rather peculiar expressions.

"You two..."

Shen Qingshi didn't know what had happened between them, but his years of experience in the Zhaoming Division and the imperial harem had sharpened his perception enough to sense that perhaps he shouldn't pry.

"Just didn't sleep well."

Yang Wujian looked helplessly at the flustered Young Master Zhou beside her.

She had thought this peacock, with his spoiled and arrogant nature, must have grown up surrounded by women. Who would have guessed he'd be so innocent that her few teasing words would make him pledge himself to her?

Having roamed the martial world for so long, this was the first time Yang Wujian regretted her habit of frivolous banter.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have teased him.

After all, the young master of White Rainbow Tower had both wealth and connections. Directly rejecting him would likely wound the peacock's pride, making it difficult to seek his help in the future.

Left with no choice, Yang Wujian resorted to what she did best... speaking utter nonsense with a straight face.

"However, I promised my poor cousin that I must help her find Longevity Palace. Young Master, you might think that at my age and as a woman, I should cherish meeting someone like you. But I have my own missions in the martial world. I made a vow that if I cannot avenge her, I will never marry."

To be honest, Yang Wujian wasn't confident in her own fabricated story.

Almost none of her words were true, but Yang Wujian's bottom line was never to deceive people's feelings. Those who had fallen for her in the past were all lecherous men... she truly didn't understand why Zhou Huai would take a liking to this.

Fortunately, the young master was quite gullible. At her words, Zhou Huai's expression changed dramatically. Yang Wujian initially thought she had hurt his pride, but instead, he murmured: "You're right. I already knew you weren't an ordinary woman. I was too forward today."

"..."

A bad premonition rose in Yang Wujian's heart. Sure enough, Young Master Zhou's next words nearly choked her to death.

"I, Zhou Huai, swear that I will definitely help you fulfill this promise. I mean what I say. And when the time comes, I hope you'll reconsider this matter, Miss Yang."

In the speechless silence, Shen Qingshi's gaze shifted back and forth between the two. Yang Wujian had no doubt that with the Zhaoming Guard's keen observation skills, he had probably guessed about seventy to eighty percent of what happened last night.

"Let's go, we should head to the Medicine Furnace first."

Yang Wujian had a terrible headache, hoping that Zhou Huai's infatuation was just a temporary fever-induced madness, and that he would soon come to his senses and transfer his affections to some random person or animal.

Following the mountain path downward, they reached a low building at the end where wisps of smoke rose, carrying the scent of medicine - this was the sword manor's Medicine Furnace.

The three entered the building, where several medical practitioners were busy brewing medicine. For some reason, there were Sword-Wielding Disciples standing guard nearby.

After Yang Wujian explained their purpose, a young medical practitioner apologized: "Please wait a moment, honored warriors. This particular formula is at a critical stage."

After waiting for about half an incense stick's time, the medical practitioners finally handed the finished medicine to the Sword-Wielding Disciples, who then carried it toward the back mountain.

Could the old manor master be ill?

Yang Wujian frowned. Judging by how the back mountain disciples had been on high alert that day, it was probably true that Zhuang Tianyou was unwell...

But why would he choose this moment to reassemble the Four Seas Alliance and seek to resolve the Longevity Palace matter? Unless... his illness was quite serious?

Before she could ponder further, the medical practitioner from earlier approached the three: "Honored warriors, I am a disciple of Elder Shen Mian of the Fangqiong Sword. What would you like to ask?"Shen Qingshi got straight to the point: "Do you know of any poison that causes persistent high fever, rigid limbs and hardened skin upon death, with the corpse remaining uncorrupted for seven days after death?"

"This..." The medical practitioner was taken aback. "This doesn't sound like poison, more like the insect plague described in books."

The three exchanged glances and almost spoke in unison: "What book?"

"It's a geographical record left from the Northern Xiang period in the library's collection. It mentions that a century ago, when Crimson Gold was nearing collapse, strange phenomena occurred—the earth's veins were disrupted, Mingteng swarmed forth, and an insect plague caused corpses to remain uncorrupted."

The medical practitioner added, "The library has many such peculiar books. They were reportedly collected by Uncle Dong Zhu in his youth. Back then, he was deeply interested in these miscellaneous tales and anecdotes, traveling extensively to seek out the extraordinary figures and events mentioned in ancient texts. That's how he built such wide connections, with friends throughout the Four Seas Alliance."

As he spoke, another person entered through the doorway—a man in blue robes with gentle features, also wearing a plain headscarf, though not in the style of the mountain's medical practitioners.

Upon entering, the newcomer first glanced at Shen Qingshi, then promptly clasped his hands in salute.

"My apologies for intruding. I'm a disciple of Medicine King Mountain, here for the Four Seas Alliance gathering these past two days. I was planning to descend today but had a sudden impulse to visit the Medicine Furnace. I didn't mean to interrupt your important discussion... truly sorry."

He turned to leave, but Yang Wujian said "Perfect timing" and swiftly blocked his path.

"I know Medicine King Mountain has searched throughout the world for all manner of herbs. Surely its disciples must be widely knowledgeable. May I trouble you to clarify something?"

Yang Wujian described the insect plague symptoms and asked, "Has Medicine King Mountain heard of any later-era poisonous substances that could cause similar symptoms?"

The blue-robed disciple pondered briefly. "I haven't witnessed it personally, but I've read in texts that after the original insect plague, an extremely rare poison emerged in the epidemic area called Stone Cicada. This substance has stone outside and insects inside, both toxic—the stone causes mental confusion, while the insects lead to qi deficiency and blood depletion... As the saying goes, 'When qi is deficient, all evils invade,' resulting in persistent high fever. However, Medicine King Mountain has never found this substance in recent years, so its authenticity remains unknown."

"Mental confusion and qi deficiency with blood depletion? Different parts of the same poison having two effects?"

Zhou Huai, having grown up in White Rainbow Tower, was quite experienced. He had heard of many deadly poisons, but never encountered such a bizarre one.

The blue-robed disciple smiled wryly. "There are countless ancient texts, many describing things no longer traceable in the present world. Medicine King Mountain has been tirelessly researching this, yet we've only glimpsed the surface of the world's wonders... But I did hear our sect leader mention that Senior Green Rain Sword of the Immeasurable Seven Swords did similar work in his youth, amassing many private collections. That's why he's acquainted with many of our mountain's elders. I actually came hoping to catch a glimpse of his esteemed presence."

"Private collections?"

Shen Qingshi immediately detected something amiss. "Having ties with Medicine King Mountain means Dong Zhu's private collections aren't just books? They include medicines too?"

"Of course."The young medical practitioner on the mountain immediately chimed in: "Uncle Dong is not like my master Fangqiong Sword, who only practices medicine besides swordsmanship. Uncle Dong has diverse interests and collects all sorts of things. While books all went into the library, Qingyu Pavilion still houses many rare herbs, antique artifacts, and ancient swords from previous dynasties... They say in his earlier years, Uncle Dong would even research medicines in his spare time and authored a thin medical book. Some of the formulas are still in use today."

"Really? Could I take a look at it too?"

The blue-robed disciple's eyes lit up, as if this was precisely what he had come for.

Since medical knowledge is universal, the young practitioner didn't overthink it and promptly retrieved a thin booklet. It indeed contained twelve formulas, mostly for strengthening foundations, stopping bleeding, and regenerating flesh, all using rather uncommon medicinal ingredients.

"Colorless Powder?"

When turning to the last page, Yang Wujian suddenly pressed his hand over the blue-robed disciple's.

"For treating unbearable pain in patients, administer this medicine to induce painless sleep. Take Fire Hemp Leaf and Gray Stone Powder, dried in shade, two qian per dose. Mix with warm wine and consume. One dose induces deep sleep. Maximum one dose per day. Must not exceed dosage."

The blue-robed disciple looked puzzled: "I know what Fire Hemp Leaf is, but what is Gray Stone Powder?"

The medical practitioner shook his head: "I've never seen it either. Uncle Dong always provided the ingredients directly. But I have heard my master mention this Colorless Powder. During the wartime chaos, many wounded couldn't endure the suffering, moaning incessantly in their beds daily. Uncle Dong couldn't bear to see this and specially prepared medicine using his private stock. The injured would sleep peacefully for several days after drinking it, and some who were already at death's door would pass away painlessly after taking the medicine."

"The specific warning against overdosing suggests this medicine might be toxic?"

Zhou Huai, being an experienced medicine user, immediately recognized the implication in the formula.

Exchanging glances with Yang Wujian and Shen Qingshi, he asked: "What would happen if someone took too much?"

The practitioner shook his head: "We haven't prepared this medicine since I arrived at the Medicine Furnace. But my master did say this medicine is poisonous - overdose is fatal. That's why the remaining stock is stored in my master's medicine cabinet and Uncle Dong's Qingyu Pavilion. With peace prevailing now, it probably hasn't been used for a long time."

"So don't you think Lu Wenxiu's illness is somewhat suspicious?"

After leaving the Medicine Furnace, Yang Wujian watched the elegant Medicine King Mountain disciple walk away while thinking: This person kept staring at Shen Qingshi earlier - could it be because Shen Qingshi stole the show in that martial arts competition a few days ago?

Zhou Huai frowned deeply: "That poison called Stone Cicada partially affects people's mental faculties... Come to think of it, even if Lu Wenxiu is timid, he shouldn't have been so terrified by losing four people that he remains uncured after four years. That seems far too strange."

Being someone who had become knowledgeable about medicine through long illness, he pondered the formula he'd just seen and found it increasingly unsettling.

"Although we don't know what Gray Stone Powder is, Fire Hemp Leaf only has ordinary numbing effects. It definitely couldn't make someone sleep for several days continuously. Even strong anesthetics like Datura Flower couldn't achieve that, let alone cause some to die in their sleep... After much thought, I can only conclude one possibility - this medicine drains their vital energy, forcing them into sleep. Those lightly injured might wake up, but the severely wounded would simply burn out like spent oil lamps."

By the end of his speech, Zhou Huai felt chills running down his spine.Though it was meant to grant liberation, this method was undeniably a prescription for killing.

And if Gray Stone Powder was the culprit behind draining one's vitality and blood, it was highly likely connected to the Stone Cicada that appeared after the insect plague. Perhaps consuming it would cause symptoms similar to those of the insect plague.

"In other words, fifteen years ago, to treat the wounded soldiers, Dong Zhu concocted this formula. And Colorless Powder was originally a formula that drains vitality and blood—if taken in excess at once, it could be fatal. Lu Wenxiu was on the mountain, and the only undetectable poison he could likely obtain was this. A single excessive dose would weaken the body, allowing the plague to take hold, eventually leading to fever and sudden death."

Shen Qingshi carefully recalled Dong Zhu's demeanor when speaking to them earlier.

Just like dealing with those troublesome civil officials, even torture couldn't force them to tell the truth... Shen Qingshi had long grown accustomed to discerning truth from falsehood in the subtlest tones of their voices, inferring their meanings.

"When mentioning Lu Wenxiu, he suddenly brought up Dong Lu's lack of discipline and arrogant nature... He didn't know we hadn't uncovered this yet, but he instinctively defended Dong Lu. This is because he knew Lu Wenxiu and Dong Lu were on bad terms."

Shen Qingshi narrowed his eyes.

"Why? According to Yu Xiahe's letter, the information he obtained from Lu Wenxiu was that Dong Lu and the other three were Lu Wenxiu's accomplices. If they were on bad terms, why would they become accomplices?"

"Unless..."

Yang Wujian pondered but suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

Before coming to Longevity Palace, she had mingled among the children of street beggars. For a bite to eat, those children would do anything.

"The poison was administered by Lu Wenxiu, but not by his own will."

Yang Wujian sneered, "The true mastermind behind this was likely not the weak-willed Lu Wenxiu, but those four 'accomplices'."