Good Karma

Inner Mansion, side chamber.

This was the small courtyard belonging exclusively to Wang Yue.

At this moment, many figures were gathered before the courtyard gate. When Qin Jiu hurried over and saw the crowd, his heart sank involuntarily.

"What are you all doing gathered here?"

"Greetings, Family Head."

A group of men heard his voice and immediately bowed in unison.

Among them, Huang Jing finished his salute, then spoke with a grave expression: "Family Head, Steward Wang, he... he may not make it."

"Nonsense, what are you babbling about?"

Qin Jiu frowned in displeasure and scolded: "The city is in chaos, Demons are running rampant, and instead of patrolling properly, you all gather here—what kind of conduct is this? Furthermore, the fact that Steward Wang returned to Qin Mansion tonight must not be spread. If anyone dares to leak this, see if I don't peel the skin off your backs."

After saying this, he pushed through the crowd and walked into the main hall.

Inside the room, only Qin Xuanzhou was present, pacing back and forth with an uneasy expression.

"Xuanzhou, what is going on?"

"Family Head, you've arrived."

Upon hearing this, Qin Xuanzhou first let out a sigh of relief, then frowned: "At the end of the You hour tonight, Steward Wang appeared in the reception hall for some reason. He was wounded, his weapon was snapped in two, and he was holding on by a single breath. By the time I arrived, he had already passed out."

"What is his condition now?"

Although Qin Jiu was asking, his footsteps did not stop as he walked quickly toward the bedroom.

Qin Xuanzhou followed behind, his tone heavy.

"It is not optimistic."

"I previously examined his wounds. There is a pitch-black palm print on his shoulder, his chest is torn open by a claw mark carrying fire poison, and the internal energy within his body has spiraled out of control due to that poison. It has also triggered the old injuries accumulated in his internal organs over the years."

"If not for a surge of immense medicinal power still within him..."

"I fear he would have died on the spot before ever making it back."

"I have already sent someone to fetch a pharmacist..."

"In this situation, can a pharmacist save him?"

Qin Jiu frowned: "You must go to Four Seasons Pharmacy immediately. Invite Deputy Hall Master Li Yuan over, explain the situation, and have him bring medicinal pills. If he can save Elder Wang's life, Qin Mansion can give him the secret formula for raising Spirit Beasts."

"Also, seal off news of tonight's events."

"Do not let anyone leak this information."

"Yes."

Qin Xuanzhou's expression tightened.

He turned and left immediately.

Qin Jiu entered Wang Yue's bedroom and saw the withered, thin figure lying on the bed; his brows furrowed even tighter.

At this moment, Wang Yue's hair had turned completely white.

It was as if he had lost several years of his lifespan out of thin air.

His face was black and tinged with blue.

Qin Jiu sat on the edge of the bed, reached out to place his hand on Wang Yue's wrist, and then circulated his internal energy to probe into his body.

However, the moment his internal energy spread inside, it was swallowed up by a fierce, scorching aura.

"This is... fire poison?"

"How can it be so overbearing? It even devoured such pure Cold Sha internal energy..."

Qin Jiu's expression changed slightly.

He immediately channeled more internal energy, only then managing to force it along Wang Yue's meridians to circulate through his body.

He closed his eyes to investigate the situation inside the other man, but his heart grew increasingly alarmed. Within Wang Yue's body, three different internal energies were currently locked in a struggle. One of them felt like a scorching sun—clearly the fire poison Qin Xuanzhou had mentioned.

As for the other two.

One was Wang Yue's own internal energy, and the other carried a sinister, icy chill.

It seemed to be of the same origin as his own Cold Sha.

But in terms of quality, it was far inferior to his own refined Cold Sha.

"It is fortunate that these three internal energies are locked in a stalemate, combined with the power of healing pills, which keeps a certain balance within his body. Otherwise, Uncle Wang would likely have perished in an instant."

Qin Jiu opened his eyes and couldn't help but let out a breath.

Internal Strengthening martial artist.

Although internal energy can nourish the five viscera and six bowels, it cannot yet make them as resilient as skin and membrane; once hostile internal energy invades the body, if not cleared in time, death is the only outcome.

"I have no way to resolve those three strands of internal energy for the time being."

"But the damage to his organs..."

He pondered for a moment.

He immediately activated Withered Wood Meets Spring.

He attempted to use his internal energy to repair the injuries to Wang Yue's five viscera and six bowels.

In just an instant.

A trace of joy appeared in Qin Jiu's eyes.

"It really works."

"Although the effect is diminished, the repair of his organ injuries is still very obvious."

As Withered Wood Meets Spring circulated.

Wang Yue's dark, greenish complexion gradually began to improve.

After about the time it takes to burn three incense sticks.

Qin Jiu finally withdrew his hand, his head covered in sweat.

At the same time.

Two sets of footsteps sounded in the main hall, and soon, two figures walked into the bedroom together.

"Master Qin, I trust you have been well."

"Hall Master Li."

Qin Jiu looked at the newcomer and gave a slight nod.

This deputy hall master of Four Seasons Pharmacy was not of the same mind as the hall master. Qin Jiu had long ago used Ghost Illumination to probe him and found that he held no malice toward the Qin Family or himself, which was why he had Qin Xuanzhou invite him over.

"Xuanzhou, go stand guard outside the door and don't let anyone disturb us."

"Yes."

Qin Xuanzhou glanced at Li Yuan thoughtfully.

Then he exited the bedroom.

Seeing him leave.

Qin Jiu spoke up: "The situation is urgent; Xuanzhou has already told you everything, right? If Hall Master Li can help me save Steward Wang, I will gladly hand over the Qin Family's secret recipe for raising spirit beasts."

"Let's not be in such a hurry to talk about that."

Li Yuan waved his hand: "I need to see his condition first to know what can be done."

"Please, go ahead."

Qin Jiu said, stepping aside.

Li Yuan nodded, came to Wang Yue's side, and reached out to probe him while lost in thought. After only a moment, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

"One strand of true qi, two strands of internal energy..."

"To be able to hold onto his life like this, Wang Yue is no simple character. It is no wonder that after Qin Guihong died, his reputation as the Sick Tiger alone was enough to keep various Internal Strengthening experts from acting rashly. Truly... eh?"

"The several strands of energy in his body are in a stalemate."

"But his organs..."

He was suddenly startled.

Then he slowly closed his eyes, his expression turning grave.

"This pure, dark Sha lingering in his body..."

Li Yuan investigated for a moment.

Then he opened his eyes and swept his gaze over Qin Jiu. When he saw the fine beads of sweat on the latter's forehead.

His expression immediately became meaningful.

"Hall Master Li, how is it?"

Seeing him look at him, Qin Jiu immediately asked.

Li Yuan pondered: "The three strands of energy in Wang Yue's body are entangled, and one of them is true qi. Although it is very weak, for Internal Strengthening martial artists like us, clearing it is not simple. However..."

"It is not impossible to save him."

"Do you really want to use that secret recipe as the condition for saving Wang Yue?"

Qin Jiu said indifferently: "A mere scrap of paper with a recipe is not worth more than a life to me. Hall Master Li, please proceed; the Qin Family will certainly hand over the item afterward."

"What courage."

Li Yuan smiled slightly.

He immediately took a bottle of pills from his robe.

He first poured one into Wang Yue's mouth, then helped Wang Yue sit up and pressed his palms against his back, circulating his internal energy.

"I must say, Master Qin has made a very correct choice." Li Yuan spoke up again, his words carrying an inexplicable tone: "In fact, from the moment the County Magistrate and the others left the city, even if you handed over the secret recipe, I would not have been able to let you leave this place safely."

"However... I am willing to form a good connection with the Qin Family and give you a piece of information for free."

"People from a major sect will be arriving in Ning'an Prefecture soon. If you can seize the opportunity, you can take the Qin Family and leave this place when the catastrophe arrives. I believe that with your current cultivation at the peak of the Second Refining, it should not be difficult."