Elder Li nodded and slowly began recounting the past. "Twenty years ago, Su Mingyuan was still an apprentice. He was quick-witted and learned everything exceptionally fast. Whether it was identifying herbs, preparing medicine, or acupuncture, he grasped it as soon as he was taught and could draw inferences from it."
"The old hall master valued him greatly. He taught him all his most closely guarded medical skills and even said he would make him the Healing Immortal Medical Hall's successor."
"Then why did he leave?" Lin Taichu pressed.
"He went down the wrong path." Hall Master Zhou's tone was heavy.
"About fifteen years ago, a strange illness suddenly spread through several nearby towns. The patients were weak all over, without even the strength to raise a hand. They could only lie in bed, unable to move. At the time, no one knew what the illness was, and no one could treat it. Quite a few people slowly wasted away and died."
"Then Su Mingyuan suddenly stepped forward and claimed he could cure it. The prescription he gave actually worked."
"In just half a month, he cured over a hundred patients. His name spread overnight, and even the local authorities invited him to treat people. Back then, he was basking in glory. Wherever he went, people fawned over him."
Elder Wang continued, "But the old hall master felt something was wrong. That illness had appeared too suddenly, and it only spread within the area Su Mingyuan could reach."
"After secretly investigating for half a year, the old hall master finally uncovered the truth—the illness was not a natural disaster at all. Su Mingyuan had caused it himself."
"He refined a medicinal powder called Weak Force Powder and secretly scattered it into wells and grain supplies. The powder was colorless and tasteless.