Discussing Countermeasures

Wei Luo's meaning was clear: he was willing to stand with the Zhao Family.

Hearing this, a flicker of joy rose between Zhao Xiu's brows, but when he thought of Yang Xian's strength, he sighed softly.

"Wei Luo, I'm deeply grateful that you have such intentions, but Yang Xian is at Three Refinements. Opposing him truly means gambling with our lives."

Wei Luo could sense the sincerity in his words.

Yang Xian was like a butcher's blade hanging over the Zhao Clan's head.

The last time Yang Xian had stormed into Zhao Residence, he had killed dozens of Zhao Clan members in one breath and forced the Zhao Family to refine Bone Sculpting Pills.

But the Bone Sculpting Pill was no ordinary medicine. It was a special pill capable of improving a martial artist's innate bone structure. If it could truly be refined at will, the Zhao Family would have dominated Ping River long ago.

Thus, the Zhao Family had faced death no matter which way they turned. They could only stabilize Yang Xian for the moment and buy time.

Zhao Xiu's father had escaped Yang Xian's venomous hand, but after enduring such an ordeal, he had become bedridden with illness.

Every burden of the Zhao Family had fallen onto Zhao Xiu's shoulders. No one knew just how much pressure he had borne during this time.

After being rejected by the Sun Family today, Zhao Xiu had already resolved himself to die. He was prepared to let the fish die and the net break.

After explaining the Zhao Family's current situation, Zhao Xiu lowered his eyes again, his expression unreadable.

But upon learning all this, Wei Luo merely smiled.

"Then let's gamble with our lives! Let's see whether his life is tougher, or my fists are harder!"

[Probability of Yang Xian sparing me]

[Time required: half a shichen]

[Twenty percent]

The moment Yang Xian left, Wei Luo had already begun the deduction.

In truth, he had long known the answer. If he were Yang Xian, he too would eliminate every unstable factor. The deduction had merely confirmed his guess.

Hearing Wei Luo's resolute words, Zhao Xiu finally raised his head.

His eyes were already faintly red as he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Well said! Just as expected of the brother I chose. We'll gamble with our lives against him!"

For some reason, Zhao Xiu felt that the pressure weighing on him for days had been swept away in that instant.

Seeing this, Cheng Ming shook his head with a light smile and regarded Wei Luo even more highly.

Back when Zhao Xiu had many friends, they could fill the courtyard of Zhao Residence, but now, someone like Wei Luo...

Cheng Ming had yet to see even one.

"Someone, bring me wine! Tonight, I'm going to drink to my heart's content with Wei Luo!"

Zhao Xiu no longer hung his head. He had regained his usual boldness and shouted loudly.

But at this moment, Cheng Ming gave two soft coughs and spoke.

"Young Master, we found an ally. We haven't solved the problem of Yang Xian.

Shouldn't we discuss a countermeasure first?"

At Cheng Ming's reminder, Zhao Xiu realized that he had lost his composure and hurriedly said they would drink celebratory wine after dealing with Yang Xian.

Thus, the wine was replaced with refreshing tea. The three sat facing one another, all deep in thought.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Xiu rubbed his chin and suddenly asked.

"Say... how exactly should we devise a countermeasure?"

At those words, Cheng Ming nearly tore out his beard, the corners of his eyes twitching.

Considering that Zhao Xiu had only just taken over as family head, Cheng Ming did not mock him. He spoke leisurely instead.

"There are two problems before us:

"First: the poison in our bodies.

"Second: Yang Xian is at Three Refinements. How do we subdue him?"

Wei Luo nodded. Cheng Ming was right. So long as they solved those two problems, the Zhao Family would naturally be safe.

But Zhao Xiu wore a bitter expression.

"Uncle Cheng, the problem is that after all these days, we still have no way to deal with the poison, and we haven't managed to hire any experts..."

"Nonsense, of course I know that. Otherwise, what are we sitting here discussing for?

"As the ancients said, three cobblers can match Zhuge Liang. We'll surely think of something."

Cheng Ming slapped the table as he spoke, while his eyes frantically signaled Zhao Xiu.

Zhao Xiu immediately understood. He turned to Wei Luo and said,

"Wei Luo, aren't you Master Qin's disciple now..."

Before he could finish, Wei Luo had already understood what Zhao Xiu meant.

Master Qin was a Three Refinements expert. Moreover, Wei Luo had a feeling that although Qin Changfeng had never displayed his true strength, he should be stronger than Yang Xian.

Wei Luo immediately nodded in agreement, saying that once they returned to the estate, he would speak to Master Qin about it.

However, Wei Luo had even greater confidence in another matter.

"Brother Zhao, how about letting me try dealing with the poison Yang Xian gave you?"

Both men were stunned, their gazes turning strange as they looked at Wei Luo.

"Don't tell me you can refine antidotes too?"

Cheng Ming could not help asking, his eyes full of doubt.

Wei Luo's talent for pill refinement had already been enough to astonish him. Could there be another surprise?

"I know a little. Give me some time, and I should be able to solve it."

"Good. Then we'll trust you."

Cheng Ming let out a long breath. He had already done everything he could. At this point, the Zhao Family could only gamble that Wei Luo's astonishing talent would resolve this matter.

A few minutes later, Zhao Xiu bashfully undid his clothes, leaving only a pair of shorts on his body.

Large black patches covered the joints of Zhao Xiu's limbs. Wherever the patches appeared, the flesh looked necrotic, a horrifying sight.

"I've considered countless methods of detoxification for this poison, but its toxic source is simply too chaotic..."

As he spoke, helplessness gradually spread across Cheng Ming's face.

He had dealt with medicinal pills for half his life, yet he could not undo Yang Xian's poison.

After Cheng Ming's explanation, Wei Luo gradually came to understand the poison as well.

This poison was called Ten Strings. It was a mixture of ten toxins, with the amount of each measured down to the finest fraction. So long as the corresponding remedy was even slightly wrong, it would trigger the virulent poison.

Moreover, the poison was effective even against martial artists. Once afflicted, one's qi and blood would be obstructed by the toxins, leaving more than half of one's strength lost.

That was why Zhao Xiu had been unable to fight back earlier and could only let others manipulate him at will.

To this day, Cheng Ming had only identified three of the toxins. He knew nothing at all about the rest.

Wei Luo listened carefully while secretly summoning the Great Thousand Revelation.

[Ten-String Antidote Deduction]

[Time required: two months]

Inside the hall, the three continued discussing without pause.

Outside, the sky gradually brightened.

At dawn, a carriage carrying Wei Luo and Zhao Xiu headed toward the Sun Family Estate.

The carriage swayed slightly, making the gold-threaded wooden box beside Zhao Xiu clatter.

Hearing the sound, Zhao Xiu opened the wooden box and neatly rearranged the gold ingots that had shifted inside.

He arranged them carefully, though there was tension in his movements.

Their main purpose in visiting the estate was to ask Qin Changfeng to lend a hand. These were the Zhao Family's gifts for calling on him.

Zhao Xiu had also prepared two Treasure Fish, but even so, he still felt uncertain.

"Wei Luo, do you think Master Qin will help my Zhao Family?"

After closing the gold-threaded wooden box, Zhao Xiu asked again.

Wei Luo was holding a book on medicinal theory and studying it intently. Though he did not fully understand the book, that did not prevent the knowledge he gained from shortening the deduction time.

Hearing the question, he answered truthfully.

"I don't know."

Although Wei Luo was now Qin Changfeng's disciple, he understood clearly in his heart.

Their bond as master and disciple had not reached the point of being both teacher and father. Qin Changfeng had only accepted three disciples out of consideration for the Sun Family.

And among those three disciples, Qin Changfeng thought most highly of Shen Wu.

As for Wei Luo and Liang Jun, the two of them always felt like extras added on the side.

Whether Zhao Xiu could persuade Qin Changfeng to help depended solely on luck. All Wei Luo could do was introduce Zhao Xiu to him.

"Don't forget, Shen Wu is also at Three Refinements. If we can get him to help, that should work too."

Wei Luo offered a reminder, but Zhao Xiu merely gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"You've got that wrong. Though they're both at Three Refinements, the gap between them isn't the slightest bit small.

"If Shen Wu can withstand ten moves from Master Qin, I'll kneel and call him Grandpa."

Wei Luo was stunned. Was the difference really that great?

He had only been at the estate for a short time and had never truly seen Master Qin fight with his full strength.