Detoxifying Her, Gu He's Excitement

"How is it? Are you confident you can cure the poison?"

Gu He said anxiously.

Lu Yu stared at the black Qi writhing between Yun Yun's brows, and a low voice came from beneath his mask. "I can try. However, I require absolute quiet while I detoxify her. There can be no disturbance whatsoever."

Gu He's gaze lingered on Yun Yun's pale face, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I'll clear the area at once."

He turned toward the door, his voice suddenly stern. "Everyone, leave the inner hall. Without my order, no one is allowed to come near!"

Once the footsteps had faded away, Gu He cupped his fists solemnly. "If Master needs any medicinal ingredients, please say so. I, Gu, will certainly..."

"No need."

Lu Yu raised a hand to cut him off and said gravely, "This poison is dangerous. I'll test it first. If I prove unable..."

He gave Gu He a meaningful look. "It won't be too late to ask the Pill King to act then."

Gu He hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. In the end, he bowed deeply and said, "Then I'll leave it to you."

After that, he slowly withdrew outside the door and gently closed it behind him.

The room instantly quieted, leaving only the faint sound of lamp oil burning.

Lu Yu turned and gazed at the peerless beauty on the jade couch.

"Forgive the offense."

He murmured to himself, a wisp of blue-red flame igniting at his fingertip before he touched it to Yun Yun's brow.

Immediately after, Soul power surged out like a tide, wrapping the Earth Core Flame in layer after layer and turning it into a Fire Thread as fine as a strand of hair, which slowly probed into the five intertwined wisps of serpentine black Qi.

"Mm..."

Yun Yun suddenly let out a soft moan, her slender jade neck tilting back slightly. Her skin, originally pale as snow, now flushed with an unusual redness, and fine beads of sweat slid down her delicate collarbones, dampening the front of her clothes.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched the brocade beneath her, her knuckles whitening from the force.

Lu Yu's gaze sharpened, and the flame in his hand abruptly brightened. The five wisps of serpentine black Qi suddenly churned violently, actually winding downward from between her brows and spreading rapidly along Yun Yun's refined nose bridge, her pale cheeks, and toward her snow-white neck.

"The poison Qi is retaliating..."

Lu Yu's brows locked tightly. His left hand swiftly formed a seal, while his right gently pressed against Yun Yun's flat lower abdomen. Blue-red flame poured inside, forcing the fleeing poison back toward the space between her brows.

"Ah!"

Yun Yun suddenly opened her eyes wide, her autumn-water-like gaze filled with pain and haze. Her body trembled violently, and she actually sat up abruptly, throwing herself into Lu Yu's arms.

With warm, fragrant softness in his embrace, Lu Yu only felt an orchid-like body scent rush at him, mixed with a faint tang of blood.

"Endure it a little..."

Lu Yu forced himself to remain calm. One hand wrapped around Yun Yun's slender waist, while the other held two fingers together like a sword and pressed them to the center of her back. Blue-red flame surged through her meridians, clashing fiercely with the black Poison Mist.

Yun Yun's breathing grew more and more rapid, her scorching breaths spilling against Lu Yu's neck. Her nails dug deeply into Lu Yu's shoulder, and a trace of blood seeped from her red lips. "Save me..."

"It'll be over soon."

Lu Yu's low voice carried a reassuring strength, and the blue-red flame in his palm suddenly swelled, pouring into Yun Yun's body like a tide.

"Mm..."

Yun Yun unconsciously let out a soft moan, her slender waist tensing as she buried herself deeper in Lu Yu's arms.

Although her mind was unclear, she could distinctly feel that the black Poison Mist wreaking havoc through her meridians was being forcefully driven by a certain power, moving upward along the Conception Vessel until it finally gathered once more between her brows as five savage serpentine marks.

Now!

A sharp gleam flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. His hands formed seals, and the Earth Core Flame instantly surged, transforming into a blue-red fire python that opened its huge maw and swallowed all five wisps of serpentine black Qi.

"Hiss—"

The blue-red flame and black poison Qi clashed fiercely, releasing an ear-piercing burning sound. With a shrill hiss, the thinnest of the five intertwined serpentine marks suddenly trembled violently, spiderweb-like cracks appearing across its surface.

"Crack—"

Accompanied by a crisp shattering sound, that serpentine mark collapsed with a boom, turning into wisps of black mist that escaped from Yun Yun's seven orifices.

Just as the black mist was about to scatter in all directions, Lu Yu flicked his finger, and a wisp of blue-red flame burned the Poison Mist to nothing.

"Mm..."

Yun Yun's long lashes trembled lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. A trace of confusion flashed through those autumn-water-like eyes before a hint of clarity returned.

Although there were still four poison marks left unresolved, after one had been broken, the Dou Qi inside her body could already barely circulate.

"Sect Master Yun..."

Lu Yu released her from his embrace and calmly took half a step back. Only then did Yun Yun realize how ambiguous her posture just now had been, and a blush quietly climbed onto her cheeks.

"Thank you... Young Master, for saving me."

Her voice was gentle, yet her gaze unconsciously avoided Lu Yu's eyes. "May I ask your honored name, Young Master?"

"Yu Lu."

Lu Yu pondered for a moment, then answered.

"My name is Yun Yun."

A faint blush rose on Yun Yun's pale cheeks. She instinctively gathered her disheveled black hair, and an unusual glimmer flashed through her autumn-water eyes.

This was the first time in her life she had been in such intimate contact with a man. Even while unconscious, the feeling of being wrapped in a warm embrace was still clear and distinct.

In the midst of this subtle atmosphere, Master Gu He's anxious call suddenly came from outside the door. "Sect Master Yun! Are you all right? Do you need me to come in?"

Yun Yun's expression sharpened, and she swiftly regained her usual cool composure. "No need. I'm fine."

She turned to Lu Yu, a few more complicated emotions in her eyes. "Young Master Yu, Yun Yun will remember the life-saving grace you showed me today."

Lu Yu was just about to reply when he saw Yun Yun suddenly knit her brows, her jade-like hand unconsciously pressing against her chest—the remaining four poison seals were still aching faintly.

Seeing this, Lu Yu instructed her gently, "Sect Master Yun, although one part of the Five Snake Poison Brake Seal has been undone, the remaining four still require caution. Based on what I know of the Snake-human Race's seals..."

A wisp of Dou Qi gathered at his fingertip, sketching five intertwined snake shapes in the air. "The most troublesome part of this seal is not the sealing itself, but the deadly poison. If two more seals can be undone, then with your cultivation, Sect Master, you should be able to break through the remaining seals on your own."

With that, Lu Yu took out a small green jade bottle from his Storage Ring and said warmly, "These are Qi Recovery Pills I refined. They can help you recover some Dou Qi."

When Yun Yun took the jade bottle, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against Lu Yu's palm, and both of them froze.

"Master Gu He."

Lu Yu suddenly turned toward the door and said in a clear voice, "Please prepare a few Fifth-grade Restoration Pills. They will be needed for the detoxification later."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Before his words had even faded, Master Gu He's excited response immediately came from outside the door.

"Rest assured, sir. I, Gu, will do everything I can to assist you and meet your needs!"

Lu Yu turned back around and looked at Yun Yun with a gentle gaze. "Sect Master Yun, shall we continue?"

Yun Yun lightly bit her lower lip, two red clouds flying onto her cheeks as she said softly, "I'll trouble you... Young Master Yu."

Her lowered lashes cast fine shadows beneath the candlelight, quietly concealing the complicated feelings in her eyes.

Time was like sand, slipping silently through their fingers.

Until noon the next day—

"Boom!"

A majestic wave of Dou Qi suddenly erupted from the inner hall of Qing Nang Zhai, the blast shaking the doors and windows until they hummed. Master Gu He, who had been waiting outside, abruptly stood up, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a crack.

"That's the aura of a Dou Huang!"

The refined-looking middle-aged man could barely conceal his excitement, his usually steady voice trembling slightly. "Wonderful. Yun'er has finally recovered!"