Old Man Heaven Poison

"We found him! All right, you go and... never mind. I'll go up the mountain and invite him myself!"

After spending another peaceful month at the sect, Yun Zimo received a message from their informant in the Chu Yun Empire. He immediately sought out Yun Shan, and the two of them raced to the Chu Yun Empire at full speed.

The Chu Yun Empire was a nation in utter chaos, riddled with large and small factions. Without exception, their members were all Poison Masters skilled in the art of poison.

"Why would you seek out that old madman? Even I wouldn't dare provoke his poisons!"

Yun Shan asked, somewhat confused.

"Because even you wouldn't dare provoke him. I heard he's been researching all kinds of poison bodies, even experimenting on himself. He probably doesn't have long to live."

"When he was young, he was a madman. He was convinced he could create some kind of Myriad Poison Body. He was extremely reclusive and constantly on the move. The Chu Yun Empire's factions tried to recruit him and surround and kill him countless times, but he always came through unharmed."

Thinking of this "old friend," Yun Shan couldn't help but sigh.

"I'm sure he'll be interested in the terms we offer!"

"Oh?"

Yun Shan was curious, but since Yun Zimo didn't elaborate, he naturally didn't ask.

"Senior Heavenly Poison! Senior Heavenly Poison, are you home?"

Walking through the mountain mist, Yun Zimo approached a thatched hut and called out softly and politely. Yun Shan stood nearby with his hands clasped behind his back, ready to step in if anything unexpected happened.

"Puff!"

A cloud of light smoke puffed through the crack beneath the door. Yun Zimo darted aside, but some of the gray vapor still touched him.

"Where did this brat come from, shouting at my door?"

An old, eerie voice came from behind the door. A stooped old woman in hemp clothes emerged slowly, leaning on a staff of gray-purple deadwood and panting with every step.

"Senior Heavenly Poison truly is formidable. If I hadn't been prepared, I'd have fallen victim to such a deadly poison."

Yun Zimo smiled lightly. Fortunately, he had kept the Dou Qi veil around his body circulating, or he would have been caught off guard.

"Oh?"

The old woman chuckled and coughed, then lightly tapped her deadwood staff against the ground.

"Who said I can only use my poison by scattering it?"

"Not good..."

A wave of dizziness swept through Yun Zimo's mind, and the old woman's soft chuckle drifted toward him.

"This old woman's Poison Mountain isn't a place just anyone can enter..."

"The mist!"

Only then did Yun Zimo realize his mistake. Though he'd taken an antidote in advance and kept his Dou Qi veil up to prevent the poison from touching him, he'd still breathed in a little of the mountain mist...

"Heavenly Poison, after all these years, you're still as cautious as ever!"

Yun Shan appeared and caught Yun Zimo as he staggered. He smiled at the old woman as he spoke.

"Yun Shan, you climbed the mountain without even announcing yourself. You can hardly blame me. This junior hasn't really been poisoned; I merely helped him relax and get a good night's sleep."

Heavenly Poison's voice was hoarse. She turned and invited Yun Shan inside.

"Come in and sit. It's been a long time, old friend. I imagine you've come for a reason."

"Uh, ah..."

Yun Zimo shook his foggy head. He'd been so careful and still got caught. Truly, he couldn't underestimate the experts of the world!

"Awake?"

"Come, try this local specialty of the Chu Yun Empire."

Yun Shan picked up a plate of fried centipedes and handed it to Yun Zimo without a care, all the while chewing away himself.

"No, no, I'm fine."

Yun Zimo declined repeatedly, his heart filled with dread.

"Please, you two enjoy."

The table was covered in all kinds of poisonous insects and creatures. Colorful bottles and jars filled the room, while human-shaped models—some with missing parts, others riddled with needles—stood plainly against the wall. Yun Zimo's impression of Old Man Heaven Poison only deepened.

"This old woman doesn't have much time left. What brings you two here?"

Heavenly Poison raised her slightly clouded eyes. Her voice was utterly calm, as if she had already put life and death behind her.

"Do you know about the Woe Poison Body?"

Yun Zimo got straight to the point.

"The Woe Poison Body!"

Heavenly Poison's voice rose slightly.

"How could I not know? Just look at this room. This old woman has spent her whole life studying it..."

"What if I told you I'd found someone with the Woe Poison Body, and she'd lived past ten?"

Yun Zimo spoke again.

"What?"

Heavenly Poison's eyes gradually brightened, but she murmured, "Impossible. The Woe Poison Body erupts every few years at most. If no one knows about it, the victim will surely die as myriad poisons devour her body..."

"Senior Heavenly Poison, if there really is someone with the Woe Poison Body who miraculously survived, would you be interested in teaching her—or even taking her as your disciple?"

Yun Zimo finally revealed his purpose. Disbelief welled in Heavenly Poison's eyes, while Yun Shan furrowed his brows.

"If—if there really is... then this old woman... won't be without an heir. There'll be someone to carry on my legacy..."

Heavenly Poison murmured as she rose and rummaged through the shelves. At last, she threw her head back and laughed.

"Bring the child here. If she's a good fit, I'll use what little time I have left..."

"Won't you come back with us?"

"No. If the Woe Poison Body erupts, your Misty Cloud Mountain will become another Poison Mountain. Here, this old woman can at least do something about it."

"The Woe Poison Body..."

Two silent figures swept through the forest. Yun Shan suddenly murmured and turned to look at Yun Zimo.

"Could it be that girl called Xiao Yi Xian?"

Yun Zimo nodded slightly, but Yun Shan's brows drew together.

"Do you know about the calamity from over a hundred years ago?"

"I do. The Woe Poison Body brings calamity in its wake, leaving a thousand miles of barren land and no life behind."

"Then how can you still..."

Yun Shan trailed off. In the end, he only sighed. These children had all grown up...

Yun Zimo said nothing. He knew he might be playing with fire, but he couldn't stand by and watch Xiao Yi Xian die in agony. He just couldn't!

"I'll bring Xiao Yi Xian to Heavenly Poison Mountain. The Chu Yun Empire may be more suitable for her..."

Yun Zimo said softly.

"Let Yun Xia come to the Chu Yun Empire too. This place is far too chaotic!"

In the end, Yun Shan couldn't bear it either.

"Thank you, Teacher Yun Shan."

Yun Zimo felt a little moved. At last, he had called Yun Shan "Teacher."

"I'll have people in the Chu Yun Empire help Elder Yun Xia. The Misty Cloud Sect needs a few branch factions, too."

"How you develop the Misty Cloud Sect is your business. My duty now is simply to ensure the sect's teachings never die out."

"If you don't want to go, then you don't have to. I'll explain things to Senior Heavenly Poison."

In the end, Yun Zimo couldn't bear to send Xiao Yi Xian to a distant foreign land. Just as they were about to leave, he suddenly changed his mind.

"The Illusion Butterfly only lives for a few months, yet this little creature still struggles so stubbornly to survive."

Xiao Yi Xian held the colorful butterfly in her hands and gazed at the sun through its faintly translucent wings as she spoke softly. Yun Zimo stood beside her, momentarily stunned, then gently embraced the curled-up Xiao Yi Xian.

Yun Zimo watched Xiao Yi Xian walk alone up Heavenly Poison Mountain until she disappeared into the layers of mist. Behind him, Elder Yun Xia stood draped in a Black Robe, concealed in the darkness and saying nothing.

"Elder Yun Xia, I'll leave the Misty Cloud Sect's Chu Yun branch in your hands."

"You flatter me, Hall Master. It's all for the sect. I only wonder what we should name the branch."

"..."

"Let's call it Butterfly Medical Valley!"