Dark Treatment

After successfully "imprinting" a trace of Vajra Palm Intent, Xu Qian became even more determined to claim the Mute Martial Monk, this "Humanoid Treasure Vault." But he also knew that secretly "mooching" bits of intent was too inefficient and unreliable. If he wanted to obtain more, or even learn the core Hardening Technique or Qi and Blood Circulation Technique, he had to build a deeper connection with him.

And now, there was a perfect opportunity: the old meridian injuries on the Martial Monk's body.

Those injuries were like shackles. They not only limited the Martial Monk's strength but were also the source of his suffering. If Xu Qian could ease or even heal them, he would earn an immense debt of gratitude, enough to break through the shell around him, stiff as a clay statue.

Xu Qian immediately took action.

First, under the pretext of "academic discussion" with Xue Muhua, he tactfully asked about ways to treat meridian damage, especially old hidden injuries tainted with Yin Evil Aura.

Xue Muhua was puzzled that his benefactor had suddenly taken an interest in this, but still shared everything he knew, explaining several approaches and prescriptions in detail. One formula, called "Warm Meridian Powder," caught Xu Qian's attention. Its properties were mild, and it was meant to warm and nourish while clearing blockages—perfect for the Martial Monk's meridian injuries, caused by stagnant evil aura and obstructed qi and blood.

Of course, Xu Qian had never even heard of several of the formula's main ingredients, such as "Crimson Sun Grass" and "Vessel-Opening Flower," much less had any way to get his hands on them.

But that wouldn't stop him.

He had Longevity True Qi!

Longevity True Qi was balanced and gentle, brimming with vitality, and naturally had powerful nourishing and restorative effects. When he'd treated Xue Muhua's "Bone Rot Miasma" before, he'd used his true qi to guide the medicine's effects, with excellent results.

This time, Xu Qian decided to use Longevity True Qi directly, mimicking the medicinal effects of "Warm Meridian Powder"!

Based on Xue Muhua's description of the powder's properties and his own understanding of Longevity True Qi, he began putting together a kind of... "Medicinal Cuisine."

Calling it Medicinal Cuisine was a bit of a stretch. He was really just mixing a few bits of mild, slightly nourishing plants he could find in the Heavenly Prison into the Martial Monk's usual vegetable gruel—things like dried Plantain Root and powder made from some nontoxic fungus. These additions had such a faint taste that they were impossible to notice in the gruel, which was already notoriously awful.

The true key was the wisp of pure Longevity True Qi he secretly infused into the gruel when delivering the meal!

He deliberately kept the qi extremely gentle and subtle, like spring rain, quietly nourishing all things. He adjusted its properties to imitate Warm Meridian Powder as closely as possible: gently seeping in to nourish the damaged meridians and gradually dissolve the stagnant evil aura.

On the first day, Xu Qian carried the bowl of gruel with its added "ingredients" to Cell No. C6, his heart uneasy.

The Martial Monk remained like a stone Buddha, showing no reaction to the food placed before him.

Xu Qian set the bowl down and "accidentally" brushed its rim with his finger. A wisp of Longevity True Qi silently seeped into it, so faint it was almost imperceptible.

He nervously watched the Martial Monk for a reaction.

The Martial Monk continued sitting motionless. Only after a long while, perhaps driven by his body's basic needs, did he slowly reach out, pick up the bowl, and drink the gruel.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Xu Qian breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little anticipation, too.

The second day, the third day... Xu Qian kept at it every day.

The gruel he brought tasted just as "consistent" as ever, but the wisp of Longevity True Qi it contained diligently nourished the Martial Monk's injured meridians, day after day.

At first, the Martial Monk noticed nothing. All his attention was focused on suppressing his injuries and enduring the pain, leaving him exceptionally insensitive to changes around him.

But gradually, subtle changes began to occur.

He noticed that when he went through his daily routine of suppressing his injuries, the stinging pain and blockage in several of his main meridians seemed to have eased ever so slightly. The change was extremely faint, but for someone who had endured constant agony for years, it was as clear as a ray of light in the darkness.

Moreover, the scorching qi and blood within him, usually as unruly as a wild horse breaking free of its reins and liable to batter his injured meridians at any moment, seemed to have become just a little more docile.

What... was going on?

For the first time, the Martial Monk's still, unruffled mind rippled. His eyes remained closed as he sat motionless, but he began paying attention to the changes in his body.

He thought back carefully. Had anything unusual happened recently? If he had to name a difference, it was that lately, after eating the meals they brought him, he felt a faint warmth in his stomach, which made suppressing his injuries a little more comfortable.

Naturally, he credited it to... the food seeming a little better lately. Maybe it had been cooked more thoroughly?

It never occurred to him that the ordinary-looking young jailer who delivered his meals every day with his head bowed was secretly healing him with incredibly precious true qi.

Through his Qi Gazing Technique, Xu Qian clearly saw the changes within the Martial Monk's body. The gray-black evil aura that had wound around and blocked several meridians seemed to have faded ever so slightly, and the flow of qi and blood had become almost imperceptibly smoother.