Beyond Reach

Luo Gang led the three of them deeper into the courtyard. Before long, the four arrived at a side hall.

The moment they entered, before Luo Gang could speak, Chen Fan rushed toward one direction. A bed stood there, and through the thin curtains, they could see someone lying upon it. Chen Fan paid no heed to anything else and lifted the curtain directly. A frail young boy lay on the bed, seemingly a few years younger than Chen Fan. His eyes were tightly shut. Perhaps from prolonged starvation combined with his bloodline being sealed, faint black markings had already begun to emerge across his skin.

This was bad. His condition was even worse than Ye Yun's had been. He truly had only one breath left. If the God-Sealing Needles were pulled out now, he might die on the spot. Never mind whether he could be saved—even if he was, severe aftereffects would likely remain.

While Chen Fan pondered, the other three arrived behind him. Seeing Chen Fan's grave expression, Luo Gang's heart immediately sank halfway into an icy abyss.

The two women also frowned deeply at the sight of the person on the bed. Ye Wan immediately thought of her younger sister. She knew full well how extraordinary this poison was. Was Chen Fan going to feed someone his blood again? This time, she absolutely could not let him act recklessly.

Of course, Chen Fan had no intention of feeding blood again. Now that he knew how precious his blood was, he would not squander it. Besides, this situation was even more perilous. Even if he tried to feed blood to the boy, it probably would not go in.

Chen Fan had already formed a plan. He said to Luo Gang, "Senior Luo, I trust you understand your son's current condition. If you can trust this junior, I will do everything in my power to try. But if the result proves less than ideal, I ask that you do not blame me."

"Of course. Please rest assured, Black Dragon Envoy," Luo Gang replied at once. What other choice did he have? "If you need anything during the treatment, please do not hesitate to ask."

Chen Fan nodded. Then, on the grounds that he needed to concentrate on casting his art, he invited Luo Gang and the two women, Qin and Ye, outside the hall. Luo Gang and Qin Ziyan did not think much of it, but Ye Wan frantically signaled Chen Fan with her eyes. She truly feared he would bleed himself again. Understanding her feelings, Chen Fan gestured for her not to worry.

After the three were ushered out, Chen Fan returned to the bedside and examined the boy carefully once more. From head to toe, there were six slender silver needles inserted into his body: one on each side of his neck, one in each wrist, and one on the outer side of each thigh. Half of each needle remained exposed, making them easy enough to remove.

Chen Fan secretly shook his head. It seemed the contents left behind in the Treasure Record by that senior from Black Dragon Pool were incomplete. Chen Fan had long memorized the Treasure Record. For a method like using God-Sealing Needles to seal acupoints, the most effective approach was to insert only two needles at the poisoned person's heart meridian in the chest—one to lock in, one to lock out. Plunging in six needles as before did delay the poison's effects, but it also locked away the body's vitality. Even if the boy survived, endless troubles would surely follow.

Chen Fan hesitated no longer. He pulled out the two needles from the boy's legs, then inserted them into two spots on his chest. Afterward, he sensed the boy's breathing again. He was still alive. It seemed Black Dragon Pool had spared no expense; they had likely fed him a great deal of spiritual medicine beforehand.

Chen Fan then reached out and grasped the boy's arm. Something slipped out from his sleeve—it was Little West. Little West extended its snake head and actually bit directly into the boy's arm. Chen Fan had no other choice. If he fed blood again, not only would it be extremely dangerous, but in the boy's current state, he likely could not swallow it at all. Fortunately, Chen Fan had two venomous snakes with him, and their venom was not weak. Letting snake venom enter the boy's body to fight poison with poison was the only method Chen Fan could think of at the moment. As long as the poison of the Spirit-Mystifying Incense could be exhausted, there would still be a sliver of hope.

But this could not be rushed; it had to be done gradually. Chen Fan removed the remaining four God-Sealing Needles from the boy's neck and wrists. Holding them in his hand, he examined them and found that these four differed slightly from the two God-Sealing Needles he still possessed. His own were clearly longer and thinner. He recalled how interested Liu Wushuang had been in his Venomheart Dart. It seemed those hidden weapons of his truly had extraordinary origins. He did not stand on ceremony and pocketed all four God-Sealing Needles. He had come all this way specifically to save Luo Gang's son—could Luo Gang really quibble over such things?

Outside, the three had already waited anxiously for a long while. To distract himself from his worry, Luo Gang actually began chatting with Qin Ziyan. When he learned she was the granddaughter of the famed Qin Jian, he was secretly astonished. Was the Black Dragon Envoy really doing this well within Swordcry Mountain? Was he not afraid of exposing himself? Still, the two seemed to converse pleasantly enough.

Did this little devil possess an inborn attraction to old men? Ye Wan dismissed the matter with disdain. She was worried about Chen Fan—would this fellow do something outrageous again?

Suddenly, the door opened, and Chen Fan emerged. The three immediately went to meet him. Seeing Luo Gang's face suddenly turn bluish, as though he did not even dare ask, Chen Fan spoke first. "Senior Luo, this junior has provided your son with some preliminary treatment. However, his constitution is still far too weak, so he cannot endure excessive disturbance. It will take another seven days to gradually detoxify him. I must trouble you to arrange lodging for us for several days."

Chen Fan did not actually have much confidence. Whether the snake venom would work remained uncertain, and he could not inject too much at once. He could only try a little each day and see whether a miracle might occur. Fortunately, when he had just checked Young Master Luo's breathing, it had not weakened.

Luo Gang was overjoyed. So long as there was a thread of hope, there was a chance to find life in a desperate situation.

"No problem. You may stay as long as you wish," Luo Gang agreed, then went to make arrangements.

Late that night, Chen Fan was alone in his room. This was the residence Luo Gang had arranged for them, also located within the estate. Perhaps he feared Young Master Luo might need urgent treatment, so Chen Fan had been placed nearby for convenience. Ye Wan and Qin Ziyan were in the two side rooms next door.

At that moment, someone knocked lightly on the door. The instant Chen Fan opened it, Ye Wan slipped inside with a whoosh. Chen Fan jumped in fright and hurriedly shut the door, terrified someone else might see them. What was this? Was she throwing herself into his arms? This was far too thrilling.

Once inside, Ye Wan asked anxiously, "What exactly happened today? Can you really save that child?" As she spoke, she grabbed both of Chen Fan's wrists to inspect them. "Ah! Why is there another wound here?!" Ye Wan cried out. She had wanted to confirm whether Chen Fan had bled himself again today, but she had unexpectedly found a scar. It seemed to be an old wound, though it must have appeared after he saved Ye Yun.

"It is nothing. I ran into some trouble while cultivating some time ago." Not wanting Ye Wan to worry, Chen Fan hurriedly changed the subject. "Young Master Luo's poison can only be removed slowly. I do not have absolute confidence either. Wan'er, what are you trying to do to me?"

Hearing this, Ye Wan suddenly realized she was still tightly holding both of Chen Fan's hands. Her actions did look somewhat... improper. Her face immediately flushed scarlet.

At that moment, Chen Fan suddenly pecked Ye Wan's lips like a chicken pecking rice. Ye Wan immediately released his hands. Seeing that she did not resist, Chen Fan grew bolder and reached out to pull her into his embrace. Then the situation spiraled out of control in an instant...

The two had been separated for a long time, and now was the moment to make up for their aching longing. Still, they did not make much noise. This was not some desolate wilderness—any sound could be heard by those in the neighboring rooms. Even so, the two lingered together affectionately for quite a while.

Qin Ziyan had truly suffered this journey, serving as both bodyguard and third wheel the entire way. Who knew what she would think if she discovered their relationship? Let her think whatever she wanted. The two were now cheek to cheek and ear to ear, unable to pull themselves free from this gentle haven.

In the end, Ye Wan was the one who broke free from her muddled passion. After saying goodbye, she left the room. She could not possibly spend the night here; that would be far too improper.

Over the following days, aside from treating Young Master Luo's poison wounds, Chen Fan and the two women toured the various lake islands of Black Dragon Pool under Luo Gang's arrangements. They did not alarm too many people, since Chen Fan's identity was special.

Young Master Luo's poison was also more than half neutralized through the gradual injections of snake venom. Yet snake venom was not some universal antidote. The remaining poison in his body would have to wait until his constitution improved, after which a high-level cultivator could help disperse it through circulating spiritual power. In truth, if Chen Fan could pour some of his blood into the boy now, the poison should be completely removed. But Chen Fan did not wish to do so. Young Master Luo was neither family nor friend, and how could he expose his secret here? Though Luo Gang currently bore him no ill will, if he discovered Chen Fan's secret, who could say whether he might cross the river and tear down the bridge, repaying kindness with enmity afterward?

On the seventh day, Chen Fan and the two women arrived at the hall where Young Master Luo resided. Luo Gang had long been waiting there. Over the past several days, he had carefully observed his son's condition and discovered that it had indeed improved. At the very least, much of that inexplicable poison within his body had been neutralized, and the flow of blood and vitality was no longer on the brink of severing as before. He had also seen the two needles Chen Fan had inserted into his son's chest. This was clearly a more brilliant method. As expected of the Black Dragon Envoy, Luo Gang recalled some of the rumors surrounding him. In his heart, he already regarded Chen Fan as an equal.

Chen Fan once again had Little West bite Young Master Luo's hand and inject a trace of snake venom. But the motion was extremely concealed, hidden beneath his sleeve throughout the entire process, and neither woman noticed. Luo Gang, however, could not miss it. In recent days, he had seen several tiny bite marks on his son's arm. With his experience, he quickly understood the general idea. Fighting poison with poison was not something he had never considered, but he had neither dared to try it nor found a suitable method before. He secretly admired Chen Fan. The Black Dragon Envoy appeared only two or three years older than his own son, yet in temperament and courage, his son was left eating dust in the distance. But now, his only wish was for his son to survive. Cultivation, strength, and everything else were merely floating clouds.

"All right. This junior has done all he can. For what remains, I ask Senior to continue observing him and help him recover slowly. Your son may be unable to awaken for a long time, and even if he does awaken, unforeseen aftereffects may arise. There is nothing to be done but leave it to heaven's will. I hope Senior will prepare yourself." Chen Fan casually removed the two needles from Young Master Luo's chest and openly pocketed them.

Luo Gang raised no objection. On the contrary, he took out a wooden box and presented it to Chen Fan. "I truly must thank Lord Black Dragon Envoy for lending a hand this time. My son's life has finally been preserved. So long as he lives, there is always a thread of hope. Please accept this small token of my appreciation. And if you have any other requests, please speak freely. So long as I can accomplish them, I will certainly satisfy them!"

Chen Fan accepted the wooden box and opened it. Inside were ten Venomheart Darts. They looked little different from the ones he possessed, though their quality was likely inferior. Black Dragon Pool was unexpectedly generous.

"I assume Lord Black Dragon Envoy is no stranger to these. However, the crafting process and equipment required for these poison darts are rather complicated. To my knowledge, only Black Dragon Pool is capable of producing them," Luo Gang added.

Chen Fan nodded and thanked him. He did not really have the nerve to make further demands. It was already good enough that Luo Gang owed him a favor. Luo Gang then personally escorted the three from the lake island to the shore of Black Dragon Pool. The disciples guarding the area were far fewer than when they had arrived. Presumably, Luo Gang had deliberately sent them away, unwilling to let too many people learn of Chen Fan.

Luo Gang bade the three farewell one by one before finally asking Chen Fan, "By the way, I still do not know Lord Black Dragon Envoy's honored name. Might you tell me?"

Chen Fan smiled and put on an air of mystery. "No hurry, no hurry. We will naturally meet again someday." He then cupped his hands. "Senior, please stay. We shall take our leave."

The three then entered the forest once more...