My Journey to You

Chарtеr 17 (8/18)

"Тhis is thе асrostic роеm Yоung Мaster Yue рlаyed with us."

Yun Wеishan murmured, "Асrоstiс роem... Wu... Xu... Jiе... No need to resolvе?!"

Gоng Ziyu nоdded, "Yеs, thе роison оf Неаrt-Сorrоding Moon dоеsn't neеd to be resоlved at аll." Yun Weishan lеаnеd in, listеning intеntlу, still hаlf-believing аnd hаlf-doubting. Аftеr аll, she knеw all tоо well the immеnsе suffering Wufеng had inflicted uрon her with it—that bоundlеss dеspаir.

Young Mastеr Yuе sаid, "Bасk thеn, оn thе vеry first dау, the Вladе Mastеr blurted оut thаt Нeаrt-Соrrоding Moon wаs an incurable pоison. I was quite stаrtled at thе time, thinking thе Вladе Master was simply too exceptionally gifted." Only then did Yun Weishan recall that day when Gong Ziyu had inadvertently said, "With so many types of medicinal herbs, vast as the sea, tearing out this page would render Heart-Corroding Moon incurable."

It was precisely this statement that had truly startled Young Master Yue.

Gong Ziyu smiled, "Now I finally understand. When Elder Yue said 'incurable,' he didn't mean it couldn't be resolved, but that it didn't need to be resolved."

Yun Weishan said, "So what I took wasn't poison at all..."

Gong Ziyu explained, "Right, not only is it not poison, it's actually a very precious tonic. That's why the Hundred Herbs Extract was ineffective against Heart-Corroding Moon."

Young Master Yue nodded, "Exactly. Although Heart-Corroding Moon causes physical suffering after ingestion, as long as one endures it, all poisoning symptoms will disappear on their own."

After speaking, Young Master Yue took out the torn page from the ancient text and handed it to Gong Ziyu. "This is the torn page. Actually, the Blade Master guessed quite correctly—it does contain Bitter Heart Grass..."

Gong Ziyu took the page and read softly, "...Heart-Corroding Moon is a potent tonic. After ingestion, it can greatly increase Inner Force, strengthen the body, and prolong life. Initial consumption may cause adverse effects: depending on the consumer's internal energy cultivation method, it may induce sensations of intense heat or extreme cold, accompanied by a hidden weakening of Inner Force. Bruising appears at the wrist blood vessels, and the heart and lungs feel scorched, immediately causing bodily pain, followed by coughing up blood and vomiting blood. Subsequently, the hands and feet become stiff, with bruising spreading in black lines up the arms, accompanied by severe spasmodic pain in the internal organs, leading to paralysis of the limbs..."

Young Master Yue's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table as he listened with great interest.

After finishing, Gong Ziyu sighed, "A good medicine that harms the user as much as the enemy..."

Young Master Yue looked at Gong Ziyu, "Although the Blade Master has passed the trial, I still want to test you. Seven Snake Flower, Corpse Worm Brain, and Stiff Silkworm are all toxic substances. Why do they become tonics? With so many Medical Texts in the Archive Pavilion, can the Blade Master, who never forgets what he sees, answer this question?"

Gong Ziyu smiled and said, "Seven Snake Flower causes severe pain in the heart and abdomen and reverses meridian flow. Stiff Silkworm is also highly toxic, causing energy blockage and stiffened movement. However... consuming Seven Snake Flower and Stiff Silkworm together leads to paralysis of the hands and feet. Using poison to attack poison creates a miraculous effect." Gong Ziyu seemed to have grasped the key, speaking more fluently as he went on, "Because it precisely seals the meridians of the limbs, Inner Force circulation is confined between the heart and lungs, actually accelerating the cycle. The Inner Force circulation shifts from the grand heavenly cycle to the lesser heavenly cycle, making it easier to break through the extraordinary meridians. That's why it allows Inner Force to increase rapidly."Young Master Yue listened, nodding with satisfaction, then continued, "But the Corpse Worm Brain primarily affects the meridians and is highly toxic. The black lines appearing on the wrist indicate that the poison has indeed begun to spread throughout the body... Has the Blade Master also figured this out?"

Gong Ziyu hesitated slightly.

Young Master Yue reminded him, "The Corpse Worm Brain is usually consumed raw or directly crushed into a highly toxic poison..."

Gong Ziyu pondered for a moment, and a flash of insight struck him. "Could it be... the boiling method?"

Young Master Yue nodded. "Exactly. The Corpse Worm Brain is affected by temperature. After boiling, its toxicity is greatly reduced, and it instead gains the miraculous effect of enhancing one's strength and breaking through limits. However, because the Corpse Worm Brain has always been known as a deadly poison that kills upon contact, people have overlooked its medicinal properties. Even with its reduced toxicity, the user will temporarily lose their inner force during the consumption process."

"As for the final ingredient, Bitter Heart Grass... I originally detected its scent, but I dismissed the idea. Since Bitter Heart Grass is an antidote, I never imagined it would be included in a poison. Now, thinking back, adding Bitter Heart Grass from the start was meant to allow the user to gradually detoxify. However, when mixed with three or more potent poisons, the Bitter Heart Grass also requires time—about half a month—to take effect and fully cleanse the poison. That’s why Moon Corrosion is set for a half-month period."

"Precisely. Once the poison is fully cleansed, your strength will naturally recover."

Gong Ziyu gritted his teeth. "So, while I was experimenting with various formulas and boiling methods, you were just watching me make a fool of myself, weren’t you?"

Young Master Yue smiled. "I wouldn’t dare. It was all part of the Blade Master’s trial. Moreover, during this process, you read a vast number of medical texts and greatly advanced your knowledge of pharmacology. A trial-taker must not only possess expertise in pharmacology but also the determination and resilience to test the medicine on themselves. The moment you were willing to consume Moon Corrosion and test it on yourself, you had already passed this trial."

"I know. Elder Yue was probably on the verge of announcing my success in the trial," Gong Ziyu said, turning to look at Yun Weishan. "But an unexpected situation arose at the time."