"Eh?" The little girl glanced at Song Qingshu in surprise. "People only know of the Poison Hand Medicine King; few know of Master Wuchen. You're so young, yet you have such knowledge. Not bad, not bad..."
Seeing her put on such an old-fashioned air, Song Qingshu suppressed a laugh. "My knowledge surely cannot compare to yours, miss. That is why I need to seek your guidance."
The little girl's eyes curved into slits as she smiled sweetly. "Even though I know you're flattering me, I'm still happy. Fine. If you want to go to Medicine King Manor, follow me."
Song Qingshu was overjoyed and quickly took Madam Hu's hand as he followed her. Madam Hu hurriedly tried to pull her fingers free, but could not. Both angry and anxious, she thought, I wonder if my brother-in-law is doing this on purpose...
"I am Song Qingshu, and this is my sister-in-law, Madam Hu. May I ask your name, miss?" Song Qingshu asked, though he already knew.
"I don't understand all your flowery talk. My surname is Cheng, and my name is Lingsu," the little girl replied quickly.
"'Lingshu,' 'Suwen'... Could you be the Medicine King's outstanding disciple?" Song Qingshu asked with feigned surprise.
"You're dishonest. You clearly guessed it long ago, yet you insist on pretending to be surprised." Cheng Lingsu snorted coldly.
Song Qingshu smiled awkwardly. He had not expected Cheng Lingsu to be so young and yet so sharp-minded.
"Catch." Cheng Lingsu tossed them two blue flowers. "Blood dwarf chestnuts are planted all around Medicine King Manor. They're extremely poisonous, and these blue flowers are their natural bane."
As the two hurriedly pinned the blue flowers to their chests, Cheng Lingsu spoke again. "In a moment, my master will be dealing with a formidable enemy. Once you enter Medicine King Manor, no matter what you see, don't speak or ask questions."
"Of course," Madam Hu said gently.
Cheng Lingsu looked at her in surprise, then lowered her head to look at her own flat chest. Her lips puckered, and she suddenly felt inexplicably irritated. Song Qingshu found it rather amusing. Cheng Lingsu was actually jealous of her future mother-in-law.
"Master, I'm back!" Cheng Lingsu set down her medicine basket and skipped inside, pushing open the door.
"Fei'er!" Madam Hu suddenly stared into the hall in agitation. Hu Fei sat motionless in the very center, his large eyes wide as he looked at them. The scholar sat on one side of him, while a white-haired, white-bearded monk sat on the other.
"Hehe, you actually managed to find this place without a scratch." The scholar gave the two an unexpected look. Seeing Madam Hu ready to make a move, he said, "I advise you not to act. Your son has already been poisoned. Even if you rescue him, it will be useless."
Madam Hu felt as though thunder had struck her. Her body swayed as she prepared to rush forward and fight him to the death, but Cheng Lingsu quickly grabbed her. "Auntie, they're competing with poison. This little brother won't be in danger for the time being."
Having spent years in the martial world, Madam Hu knew that the usual way two poison experts competed was for one to administer poison and the other to cure it, then switch roles, continuing until a victor was decided.
Thinking of the pain Hu Fei would have to endure, Madam Hu was heartbroken. Yet she did not dare act rashly. If she charged in and the poison in Hu Fei's body went untreated, he would truly be doomed.
"Don't worry. With my master here, nothing will happen to little brother," Cheng Lingsu hurriedly comforted her.
"Master, this is the disciple you took in at the end of your life... She really is ugly." After dragging out his pause for a long while, the scholar's words infuriated Cheng Lingsu.
"I think you should hand the Medicine King Divine Tome over to me, old man." Growing impatient, the scholar threatened, "Your martial arts are no longer a match for mine. Since we were once master and disciple, why make things end in bloodshed?"
The white-haired old monk smiled faintly. "Since when did the Poison Hand Medicine King rely on martial arts to protect himself?"
The scholar's expression changed slightly. Clearly, he was deeply wary as well. With a cold snort, he said, "Don't be so pleased with yourself. For the past few years, I have come to Medicine King Manor once every year. Though you were always able to cure the poisons I used before, I doubt you can cure this one."
As the Medicine King carefully examined Hu Fei's body, the scholar chuckled. "Master, see how good I am to you. I had originally planned to poison your beloved disciple, but I was worried you would be unable to cure her and little junior sister would lose her life. Then, in your anger and humiliation, you might refuse to give it to me. So I specially found an unrelated child instead."
Madam Hu's heart turned icy. Once Fei'er is safe, I will hunt him to the ends of the earth.
"What deep scheming. The poison you used on this child was actually Seven Insects Seven Flowers Paste." The Poison Hand Medicine King's brows furrowed tightly, making Madam Hu and Song Qingshu's hearts tremble.
"In the past, I always used rare poisons, yet none ever troubled you. This time, I changed my strategy. Seven Insects Seven Flowers Paste is not difficult to cure; the key is knowing which seven insects and which seven flowers were used. Hehe, if I don't tell you, by the time you test them one by one, this child will already have died from the poison. I think you should hand over the Medicine King Divine Tome sooner. Then you might still save this child's life." The scholar looked exceedingly pleased with himself. With tens of millions of possible combinations, how could he possibly solve it in such a short time?
After hesitating for a moment, the Poison Hand Medicine King took out two items and fed them to Hu Fei. The scholar's pupils contracted as he cried out, "Crane's Top Red and Peacock Gall!"
Madam Hu was also greatly alarmed. Both were deadly poisons that killed at the sight of blood. Just as she was about to rush forward, Song Qingshu seized her hand. He merely shook his head. "I trust the Medicine King."
The Poison Hand Medicine King swiftly inserted dozens of needles into Hu Fei's body, finally letting out a breath. The scholar's face darkened. "Using poison to counter poison—I never expected you to abandon conventional methods. Fine, I concede. But I don't understand why one poison would not suffice. Why use two such deadly poisons instead?"
The Poison Hand Medicine King smiled faintly. "To make the two poisons in this child's body reach a balance might be possible in theory, but in practice it would be far too risky. The slightest error would kill him. With three poisons restraining one another, I can control them more easily instead."
The scholar suddenly understood. With a cold snort, he leaped away and vanished into the distance. His voice drifted back from afar. "I'll come seek your instruction again next year."
Overjoyed, Madam Hu burst into tears. She hurried over and tightly embraced Hu Fei, repeatedly thanking the Poison Hand Medicine King.
"Don't thank me too soon." The Poison Hand Medicine King frowned. "Though I have temporarily suppressed the poison of Seven Insects Seven Flowers Paste in his body with two other deadly poisons, the balance within him is destined to break over time. Without treatment, I fear he will not live beyond three years."
"Master, please save him." Song Qingshu also stepped forward to plead.
"You two usually look so clever, so why are you being so foolish now? Since my master said that, he will definitely save him." Cheng Lingsu popped out from behind the Medicine King, revealing a pair of bright black eyes.
The Poison Hand Medicine King looked at her affectionately and smiled faintly. "To cure the deadly poison in his body will likely take three to five years. If I am to spend such effort, you must agree to one condition."
Before you continue