Dark Currents Stir as a Message Reaches the Capital City, Skillful Grafting Takes In Water Qi

"Oh?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Chen Duan's eyes as he took the booklet.

This was an unexpected delight.

Though he did not specialize in medicine, having reached his level in martial arts, he needed knowledge from every field to forge his own path. Such advanced pharmacological knowledge was undoubtedly icing on the cake for him.

"Ah Huang! Get cooking!"

In high spirits, Chen Duan called out to Ah Huang, then warmly invited Shi Jie:

"Brother Shi, have lunch at my place today. Let's have a good drink!"

Shi Jie raised a hand in refusal. "To be honest, Brother Chen, I came this time not only to deliver medicine, but also to bid farewell."

"Hm? Why leave in such a hurry? Staying a few more days should do no harm."

"Haha, I appreciate Brother Chen's generosity."

Shi Jie smiled and explained, "I am but a wandering physician by trade, and I have always enjoyed traveling the four corners.

I also set a rule for myself: no matter where I go, I may stay no longer than five days before setting out for the next place.

Today is already my sixth day in this prefectural city. I have already made an exception, so I cannot remain any longer."

Chen Duan's gaze shifted slightly, and sure enough, he saw Zhang Zhen beside him with a large bundle on his back and a medicine chest in hand, fully prepared to depart.

Seeing Shi Jie's determined expression, Chen Duan knew his mind was made up and did not press him further.

He escorted them out of the alley.

"Then Chen wishes Brother Shi a smooth journey."

"Brother Chen, mountains are high and rivers run long. If fate binds us in the Jianghu, we will meet again."

"Until we meet again!"

The two smiled at each other; everything needed had been said without words.

Watching Shi Jie and Zhang Zhen disappear into the distance, Chen Duan felt a flicker of sentiment, but quickly regained his calm.

Gatherings and partings in the Jianghu were ever-changing. Meeting and farewell were nothing more than ordinary affairs.

Outside the prefectural city.

"Junior Brother! You were leaving without even telling your senior brother?"

Wu Sheng hurried over and blocked Shi Jie and Zhang Zhen's path.

Shi Jie showed no surprise at the sight of his senior brother.

"If I had told you beforehand, wouldn't you have dragged me off to drink ourselves into a stupor again?"

"Don't try to fool me. You and I are both Martial Masters, with internal force to support us. How could we get drunk so easily?"

"Haha, Senior Brother sees clearly." Shi Jie laughed it off, then his expression turned solemn.

"But drunk or not, Junior Brother must leave."

"So urgently?"

"Medicine Valley sent an urgent letter, ordering me to make a trip to the Capital City."

"The Capital City?" Wu Sheng's expression grew more serious at once.

"Why summon you to the Capital City so suddenly?"

The Capital City was a place of trouble, where dragons and snakes mingled. It was no good place.

"The letter did not explain the exact reason. It only said that I was to go assist and lend a hand. I fear I will not learn the details until I arrive."

Shi Jie shook his head, then stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"But one thing is certain: that old emperor in the palace who cultivates the Dao is nearing his end."

Wu Sheng's face became even graver at those words.

This news carried no small weight. If it was true, entering the Capital City now would be no different from stepping into the heart of a whirlpool.

"Sending you to the Capital City at a time like this... the danger must be immense!"

"Rest easy, Senior Brother." Shi Jie appeared calm.

"I am not going as the one in charge, merely to assist. My status is inconspicuous, and I naturally have many ways out. There should be no trouble."

Shi Jie then changed the subject and asked, "Enough about me. If I remember correctly, Senior Brother is headed to Chuzhou next?"

"Yes." Wu Sheng nodded. "That thing has appeared in Chuzhou. Medicine Valley sent word two months ago.

But something seems to have gone wrong over there lately, and the situation is unclear. Otherwise, I would have left Qingzhou long ago."

"Chuzhou..." Shi Jie pondered for a moment, then cautioned, "It lies on the frontier of the Southern Border, and it is no peaceful land either. Senior Brother, take great care on this journey as well."

As he spoke, he gestured for Zhang Zhen to set down the medicine chest.

He pressed a spot on its side. With a click, a hidden compartment sprang open, revealing several small bottles inside.

Shi Jie took out one of the deep-purple jade bottles and handed it to Wu Sheng.

"Poisons are used viciously in the south, and they are impossible to guard against. Take these, Senior Brother. They may save you in a critical moment."

"Hey, you brat!" Wu Sheng accepted the jade bottle, both touched and amused.

"Why wait until you were leaving to take it out?"

"I meant to give it to Senior Brother yesterday, but I got carried away and forgot."

"If I had not caught up to you, would you not have taken it away with you?"

"Didn't I calculate that Senior Brother would certainly come to see me off? That is why I deliberately stopped at the city gate to wait for you."

"You rascal!" Wu Sheng cursed with a smile, tucked the jade bottle into his robes, then dropped the joking and spoke seriously.

"Enough, enough. I will not delay you any longer. Once this business is over, both of us will return to Medicine Valley. Then I will use Master's medicinal wine to drink you brat under the table!"

"Hahaha! It's a deal! When the time comes, I'll certainly drink to my heart's content with Senior Brother!" Shi Jie laughed loudly.

"No more words. Take care on the road!"

"Senior Brother, take care as well!"

Then Shi Jie and Zhang Zhen set foot on the Official Road leading to the Capital City, their figures vanishing amid the dust.

Wu Sheng remained where he was, watching them for a long while before sighing and turning back toward the city.

Cellar.

Chen Duan looked at the drained Bai Bing before him and reached out to seize one of Bai Bing's arms.

Riiip!

The entire arm was torn off.

"Urgh!"

The excruciating pain jolted Bai Bing's numb nerves awake, making his eyes bulge. Though he was in agony, he could not make a sound.

Chen Duan paid it no heed.

With a thought, an Alien Limb grew beneath his armpit—a blank limb that had not yet been altered by internal force.

With a wet tear.

The Alien Limb was ripped away, leaving behind an interface.

Chen Duan then aligned Bai Bing's severed arm with the interface.

At the same time, he swiftly scattered Yellow Medicine over the point of connection.

As the medicinal effect spread, Chen Duan entered a drifting state. Yet he quickly reined in his scattered mind and held fast to his conscious will.

He sensed the changes within his body. Under the medicine's effects, Hongyuan Internal Qi was temporarily "lulled to sleep," becoming docile and completely concentrated upon Chen Duan's single thought.

The moment had come.

He then controlled Hongyuan Internal Qi and began Flower Transfer Grafting.

Before long, Chen Duan began to sense the Water Element Art internal force within the severed arm.

But no "rejection" appeared.

During Flower Transfer Grafting, the main source of "rejection" was the Wood Element Art. As long as the Master of the House was soothed and prevented from stirring up trouble, inviting the "guest" inside became far easier.

Chen Duan focused with all his might, making constant minute adjustments and repeatedly administering medicine to maintain his suppression of Hongyuan Internal Qi.

Under his control, flesh and blood at the severed point intertwined and healed, while nerves and meridians connected.

Bai Bing's arm was perfectly grafted onto Chen Duan's body.

Then, the Wood Element Art internal force, which had been suppressed by the medicine, woke up.

Chen Duan concentrated, ready to deal with the Wood Element Art's agitation.

Though the rice had already been cooked, he still needed to give the Master of the House a way to save face before this grafting could be fully completed and future troubles avoided.

Sure enough, the Wood Element Art expressed its displeasure, but with Chen Duan's preparations, the agitation was quickly soothed.

Flower Transfer Grafting had become an accomplished fact.

Success!