Immortalis

White Dog II

At Medicine King Mountain, disciples had two essential training routines: providing free medical services and undertaking distant journeys to seek medicinal herbs.

Six years ago, Yin Quer had already been practicing medicine on the mountain for nearly ten years and was long qualified to descend alone for herb gathering. The place she went to at that time was a remote village called White Dog.

According to recollections from mountain disciples, Yin Quer descended for ten days. When she returned, evening classes had already concluded on the mountain. As disciples emerged after dinner, they saw Yin Quer standing alone in the clearing before the Pharmaceutical King Hall, gripping a sword, her body filthy, staring wide-eyed at the sky while muttering incomprehensible words.

Having spent ten years on the mountain, most fellow disciples recognized her. Witnessing this bizarre state, everyone grew puzzled. Two female disciples who shared her dormitory approached to snap her out of it, but before they could speak, Yin Quer’s longsword had already pierced through their chests.

What followed was predictable: chaos erupted before the Pharmaceutical King Hall. In the confusion, Yin Quer killed four more people. By the time several elders arrived and executed her, Yin Quer kept repeating just two words:

"White Dog."

Danyuan Bai sighed softly at this point.

"I practically watched Yin Quer grow up. Her mother was a renowned martial artist, exceptionally skilled with paired mandarin duck swords, but unable to raise her, so she entrusted Yin Quer to Medicine King Mountain. Who could have imagined it would end like this?"

Yang Wujian raised an eyebrow, thinking this story was pointless—these events were already publicly known. The crucial part was what happened afterward.

He asked, "What exactly happened to Yin Quer? Did Medicine King Mountain conduct an autopsy?"

Danyuan Bai shook his head. "After Yin Quer was executed, her body was placed in the Medicine Furnace. But that very night, a great fire broke out, reducing her corpse to ashes."

"What?"

All three were shocked, with Zhou Huai widening his eyes. "Who burned it? Who would dare burn such an important corpse?"

Danyuan Bai looked coldly at him. "Young Master Zhou, you may not know—not only were six disciples killed that day, but several others were injured. Some panicked, suspecting Yin Quer was controlled by evil arts and that even her corpse might harbor poison endangering everyone. So they set it ablaze. Though I don’t know who did it, given the circumstances, it was somewhat understandable."

Old fool, making it sound so reasonable.

Yang Wujian’s face turned livid with anger.

Just like with Yu Dongxue back then—once the body was burned, crucial evidence vanished, and afterward, any narrative could be spun.

Suppressing his rage, he asked, "What about White Dog? Since Yin Quer kept repeating ‘White Dog’ before dying, that place must be peculiar. Did Medicine King Mountain send anyone to investigate?"

"Naturally, we investigated. That’s precisely why we believe Longevity Palace must be behind this."

Danyuan Bai said coldly, "That day, mountain elders took ten disciples to White Dog Village, only to find all twenty-nine residents from six households dead. Moreover, their death appearances were gruesome—bodies torn apart and devoured by wild beasts. The village scene was utterly horrifying."

Zhou Huai’s face paled, his prayer beads clattering loudly in his hands. "The corpses were eaten?"Danyuan Bai said, "In the village, we discovered some white fur, seemingly belonging to a white beast. The Longevity Palace has always been known for their unpredictable and mysterious methods. To master the Longevity Heart Sutra, they'd even commit such unforgivable acts as refining elixirs using living humans. Since ancient times, white beasts have been considered auspicious symbols of longevity. Who else in this world would unleash such a creature to devour people and slaughter villages?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Wujian barely restrained himself from cursing aloud.

Having grown up in the Longevity Palace, he had never witnessed any worship of white auspicious beasts there. This was entirely Medicine King Mountain's baseless assumption, yet they dared to present it as evidence so brazenly.

Yang Wujian took a deep breath, realizing that continuing this line of questioning might make him die of anger on the spot. So he offered some perfunctory responses, then requested permission from Danyuan Bai to move freely around the mountain before leading the two out of the Pharmaceutical King Hall.

"Complete nonsense."

Almost as soon as they stepped outside, Shen Qingshi remarked calmly.

With the precedent of the Yin House Case, even Zhou Huai couldn't be fooled by Danyuan Bai's explanation. The mere fact that the bodies were burned that very night was enough to prove that Medicine King Mountain itself was deeply problematic.

Yang Wujian sighed. "Let's ask around randomly on the mountain. Perhaps we'll uncover more useful information than what Sect Leader Dan provided."

The three wandered casually around the mountain. Along the way, numerous disciples continued to cast peculiar glances at Shen Qingshi. At one point, Yang Wujian considered approaching them to inquire, but unfortunately, those disciples were unwilling to engage in conversation.

After several attempts, Zhou Huai suggested, "I seem to be more well-received on this mountain. Why don't I go ask alone? Miss Yang, would you like to come with me?"

Seeing the young master's enthusiastic expression, Yang Wujian said helplessly, "Didn't you hear what Sect Leader Dan said earlier? He told me not to cause trouble. Do you think my reputation is good now? If you stand with me, they'll only say you've been bewitched by a demon woman. So, Young Master, you'd better go alone. Both Young Master Shen and I would only hold you back."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huai muttered quietly, "But then, wouldn't you two be off alone together again..."

"Young Master, please be reasonable. I'm doing this for your own good."

Yang Wujian spoke truthfully.

Fortunately, although Zhou Huai had a childish temper, he wasn't foolish. After some internal struggle, he eventually left, though he kept looking back every few steps.

"Next time, why don't you just claim you're cut-sleeve? That would save the young master from being so jealous and throwing tantrums every day. I can't even coax him properly anymore."

Since no disciples were willing to speak with them anyway, Yang Wujian simply left this troublesome task to Zhou Huai and headed with Shen Qingshi toward the uninhabited back mountain.

"When Yonglezi established his sect on this mountain back in the day, it was precisely because the mountain itself is a natural wonder. There are rumors in the martial world that there are hot springs here - soaking in them can rejuvenate one by ten years. I wonder if that's true?"

The deeper they went, the fewer people they encountered, and the air grew increasingly humid and warm.

Yang Wujian continued, "Back then, when the Emperor Beixiang was mining, they discovered many hot springs. However, those Northern Desert people showed no interest in them and never built any winter palaces to bring their concubines for leisurely soaking... I really don't understand what they were after."

Finally, they reached the end of the path.

The area was enveloped in mist - this was precisely where the hot spring's source emerged. Nearby, a jade platform had been carved out for people to rest upon.Yang Wujian let out a scoff at the sight and was about to remark how the physicians on the mountain seemed to enjoy more luxury than the Emperor of Northern Xiang. Unexpectedly, Shen Qingshi, who was standing beside him, suddenly collapsed without a word, startling Yang Wujian.

"What's wrong with you?"

Yang Wujian swiftly caught and supported Shen Qingshi, only to realize that Shen Qingshi's body was limp, as if devoid of any strength. Shen Qingshi groaned in pain, "It's too hot here."

"Too hot?"

Yang Wujian then remembered that Shen Qingshi was extremely intolerant of heat. He immediately channeled a portion of his inner energy and carried Shen Qingshi about a li away. Just as he was about to loosen Shen Qingshi's clothes to cool them down, someone hurried over from a small path: "Let me take a look."

Before Yang Wujian could stop them, the person had already taken Shen Qingshi's pulse.

"You..."

Yang Wujian stared at the green-robed medical cultivator before him, finding them very familiar. After a moment of recollection, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, aren't you the one from the Medicine Furnace at Boundless Sword Manor that day..."

"Indeed, it is I. I was so flustered that day, rushing to descend the mountain, that I even forgot to introduce myself."

The medical cultivator smiled. "My name is Song Lan, the hall master of the Ninth Hall of the Eleventh Medicine Hall on Medicine King Mountain. I met the two young heroes that day at the Medicine Furnace in Boundless Sword Manor."

"Eleventh Medicine Hall? Then shouldn't I address you as Elder Song Lan?"

Having traveled the martial world in search of medicine, Yang Wujian had long heard of the renowned Eleventh Medicine Hall of Medicine King Mountain.

It was said that although the hall masters of the Eleventh Medicine Hall were not the most top-notch physicians, they were all highly proficient in pharmacology. Only when the rare treasures gathered by Medicine King Mountain disciples passed through their hands could they be transformed into miraculous medicines to heal and save lives.

"Really, there's no need for such formality. Just call me Song Lan."

After finishing the pulse diagnosis, Song Lan thought for a moment and asked, "Miss Yang, has Young Hero Shen been poisoned recently?"

Yang Wujian smiled wryly. "Truly, nothing escapes a physician's notice. Yes, they were previously injured and poisoned. They had just recovered before ascending the mountain, and I never expected they would suddenly collapse."

Song Lan took out a bottle of medicinal pills from their robe and fed one to Shen Qingshi. In less than half an incense stick's time, Shen Qingshi slowly regained consciousness and weakly asked, "What is this..."

"Forgive my bluntness, but Young Hero Shen is not actually male, correct?"

Song Lan spoke straightforwardly, causing Yang Wujian to sigh on the spot. "Elder Song Lan, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but your hands are too quick. I hadn't even had time to stop you before you took their pulse."

Song Lan smiled bitterly. "I know Young Hero Shen must have their reasons for concealing their identity, and I had no intention of exposing it. However, Young Hero Shen's condition is special. If I don't explain clearly, I fear Young Hero Shen may continue to faint like this in the future."Special condition?""

Shen Qingshi had never intended to hide their true identity in the first place, so being exposed didn't bother them too much. They simply asked, "Are you referring to the fact that I am a Stone Core?"

Song Lan nodded. "Precisely. Ordinary women are born with Yin nature, but because they can achieve Yin-Yang harmony with men, they do not possess such a Pure Yin Body. Young Hero Shen's constitution is special, which is likely why, despite being afflicted with a rare poison, they have managed to remain unharmed."

"What Pure Yin? Rare poison?"

Yang Wujian grew more and more confused. "What does this mean?"Song Lan explained, "Although Young Hero Shen is female, she was born unable to conceive or bear children due to her Pure Yin Body. I have observed an extremely cold and peculiar poison within her that I have never encountered before. Given her constitution, she should be able to coexist peacefully with it. However, this substance becomes active upon exposure to heat, which is why Young Hero Shen suddenly fainted."

Yang Wujian recalled the poisonous substances Shen Qingshi had consumed in the Longevity Palace and frowned. "Elder Song Lan, do you not know what poison she has been afflicted with?"

Song Lan shook his head. "In all my years of practicing medicine, I have never seen anything like this. It resembles poison, yet it seems like a living entity. While I cannot eradicate it completely, the ice pill I formulated and just gave Young Hero Shen appears to be effective. This medicine is commonly used to reduce fever and is not difficult to prepare. Later, I will write down the prescription for you, Miss Yang. If she experiences discomfort due to heat in the future, taking this pill will surely provide relief."

After speaking, he reached out to help Shen Qingshi up from the ground and added, "Young Hero Shen is physically weak and should rest here for a while. Miss Yang, I know you came up the mountain to investigate matters related to the Longevity Palace. I have been on this mountain for many years, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask me."