Mo Juren

Mo Juren had once been a renowned figure in Lan Prefecture of the Yue Kingdom, the founder of the Startling Flood Dragon Society, one of the prefecture's three dominant powers.

At the time, he had been barely past thirty, yet with his strength and intelligence, he had carved out a vast domain with his bare hands.

Handsome and imposing, he wielded the Demonic Silver Hand and Dragon-Trapping Skill with supernatural mastery. In the martial world, he was known as Mo Juren, the "Ghost Hand."

His glory had known no bounds. He had five wives of peerless beauty and three daughters lovely enough to topple kingdoms. His family commanded great power and untold wealth, and he held a position of immense influence in Lan Prefecture's martial world.

Yet the turning points of fate always came without warning.

During a journey away from home, Mo Juren had been betrayed and ambushed by a trusted subordinate, leaving him gravely poisoned.

That sudden calamity had sent his life into a steep downward spiral.

To find a cure, he had been forced to leave behind the power he had painstakingly built and the family he loved, embarking on a long, arduous search for medicine.

By chance, Mo Juren had encountered the immortal cultivator Yu Zitong.

At the time, Yu Zitong had been severely wounded in a magical battle over a spirit herb.

Hearing that Yu Zitong possessed a spirit medicine that could heal his injuries, Mo Juren had asked him for it, but Yu Zitong had refused.

His hopes dashed, Mo Juren had seethed with resentment and conceived the idea of killing him for the medicine.

He had secretly followed Yu Zitong and, catching him off guard, fired a specially prepared poisoned arrow.

Before dying, however, Yu Zitong had cast the Blood Arrow Yin Soul Curse, hiding his primordial spirit inside Mo Juren's body and afflicting him with the Yin Soul Curse.

As the curse took effect, Mo Juren's body had aged rapidly. In a short time, he had gone from a handsome man in his prime to a sickly old man.

Although Yu Zitong's actions had driven Mo Juren into a desperate corner, the two had reached an agreement in order to survive.

Yu Zitong had taught Mo Juren secret arts to slow his aging and told him of a heaven-defying method of rebirth through possessing another body.

To find a boy who could cultivate the Evergreen Technique and serve as his vessel, Mo Juren had assumed the name Doctor Mo. Relying on his exceptional medical skills, he had joined the Seven Mysteries Sect as a resident expert.

Within the Seven Mysteries Sect, his superb medical skills had allowed him to refine pills for its disciples and treat the wounded, earning everyone's respect.

During one of the sect's disciple selections, Doctor Mo had accepted Han Li and Zhang Tie as nominal disciples.

Zhang Tie was honest and straightforward, but although he possessed three spiritual roots, he lacked a wood spiritual root and could not cultivate the Evergreen Technique. Doctor Mo had therefore taught him the Elephant Armor Skill.

Han Li, on the other hand, possessed four spiritual roots, lacking only the metal attribute, and met the requirements for cultivating the Evergreen Technique.

To help Han Li reach the fourth layer of the Evergreen Technique as soon as possible, Doctor Mo had brought out precious spirit herbs he had treasured for years and traveled far and wide in search of heavenly treasures for him.

In late autumn, the maple leaves in Divine Hand Valley blazed like fire, painting the valley into a scene fit for poetry.

Just as Han Li had begun to grasp the mysteries of his cultivation method and was immersed in the joy of his progress, a familiar, sickly cough sounded in the distance.

Han Li's heart stirred. He knew his master in name, Doctor Mo, had returned.

Not only that, Doctor Mo had brought back a mysterious figure.

At the time, Han Li had been practicing in his room. What he was cultivating was naturally not the nameless formula Doctor Mo had taught him, but the mortal martial arts he had obtained from Li Feiyu.

Upon hearing Doctor Mo, he swiftly circulated his qi to conclude his practice, strode out of the stone chamber, and headed toward the valley entrance.

When Han Li caught sight of Doctor Mo in the distance, he was startled.

Though Doctor Mo's build remained unchanged, his face was ashen and lifeless. Compared with a year ago, he seemed an entirely different man.

Already sickly before, he now looked as though his final hour was approaching.

What surprised Han Li even more was the mysterious figure following Doctor Mo, his head shrouded beneath a black cloak.

The man was unusually tall and powerfully built, standing a full two heads taller than Han Li, like a mighty spirit god descended to earth.

A loose green robe wrapped him from head to toe, leaving not a sliver of skin exposed.

Han Li privately suspected that the man's face must be hideous and frightening.

Suppressing his questions, Han Li hurried forward and bowed respectfully to Doctor Mo, then stood to one side to await his questions.

He knew that Doctor Mo might not care whether he showed respect, but as a disciple, he could not neglect the courtesies due to his master. He must not leave the impression that he was arrogant and unruly.

Sure enough, Doctor Mo paused slightly when he saw Han Li come out to greet him. After coughing twice, he asked weakly, "How is your practice of the formula coming along? Have you made any progress?" His face was filled with anxiety and expectation.

Han Li had prepared his answer long ago. "It's the same as before. There hasn't been much change," he replied calmly.

He had no intention of revealing his true progress. After all, suddenly leaping from the early stage of the third layer to the fourth layer was too astonishing a change to explain.

"Hold out your hand." Doctor Mo's expression darkened, and his tone grew harsh. Han Li's heart tightened, but he was not afraid to have his pulse examined.

After reaching the fourth layer, he had discovered that he could control the strength of the true qi within his body at will, enough to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.

Expressionless, his eyes half closed, Doctor Mo rested a hand on Han Li's wrist and concentrated fully on sensing the state of the true qi within him.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Doctor Mo sighed deeply. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes, and his expression grew even darker.

Though he did not scold Han Li, he waved coldly for him to follow.

Han Li obediently followed behind. Despite his curiosity about the mysterious man, he knew this was not the time for questions.

After entering the room, Doctor Mo sank wearily into a grand armchair, half sitting and half reclining.

The mysterious man followed close behind and stood motionless behind the chair.

Knowing Doctor Mo was in a foul mood, Han Li did not dare speak first. He stood in the middle of the room with his head lowered, waiting to be questioned.

A long time passed in silence. Unable to help himself, Han Li quietly raised his head to steal a glance at Doctor Mo.

"If you want to look, then look. Why sneak about?" Doctor Mo's cold, stern voice suddenly rang out.

Han Li stiffened and could only lift his head.

What he saw sent towering waves of shock crashing through his heart.

A faint layer of black vapor shrouded Doctor Mo's face. As if alive, it extended countless tiny tendrils that writhed with claws and fangs bared.

Moreover, Doctor Mo's usual wooden expression had vanished. His face was full of ruthless resolve as he stared at Han Li with ill intent, a mocking sneer hanging at the corners of his mouth.

Han Li immediately sensed that something was wrong. Unease welled up within him, and an air of danger spread through the room.

He warily retreated half a step and slipped his hand into his sleeve, gripping the iron tube tightly. Only then did his taut nerves ease a little.

Just then, Doctor Mo murmured mockingly, "A few petty tricks, and you dare flaunt them before me?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Doctor Mo moved with uncanny speed, rising from his reclined position in an instant. With a sinister smile, he appeared beside Han Li like a ghost, chuckling coldly.

Han Li's expression changed drastically. He tried to raise his arm to fight back, only to feel his body suddenly go numb, leaving him unable to move.

Only then did he notice Doctor Mo withdrawing his fingers from an acupoint on his chest. He had moved so swiftly that Han Li had not sensed a thing.

"Doctor Mo, what are you doing? If your disciple has done something wrong, please just tell me. Why seal my acupoints?" Han Li forced himself to remain composed and spoke with a smile.

Doctor Mo ignored him. He merely thumped his lower back a few times and gave a light cough, resuming his sickly appearance.

But having just witnessed the swiftness of his attack, how could Han Li still regard him as an ordinary, gravely ill old man? This display only made him more wary.

"Doctor Mo, why lower yourself to quarrel with your disciple? Release my acupoints. Whatever punishment you have in mind, I will bear it." Han Li added a few flattering remarks, trying to sway him.

Doctor Mo remained unmoved. He reached into Han Li's sleeve and took out the iron tube, regarding him with mockery and contempt.

Han Li's heart sank. He knew there was no longer any hope of persuading him with words.

He slowly fell silent, his face regaining its calm as he met Doctor Mo's gaze without emotion.

For a moment, the room seemed frozen, silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"Good! Good! Good!" Doctor Mo suddenly exclaimed three times. "You truly are the man I, Mo Juren, chose. Calm in the face of danger! All the resources I poured into you weren't wasted."

Han Li did not respond to that. Instead, he asked directly, "What exactly do you intend to do with me?"

Doctor Mo sneered. "What I do with you will depend on how you behave."

"What do you mean?" Han Li frowned, vaguely beginning to guess at some of Doctor Mo's plans.

Rather than answer directly, Doctor Mo asked, "How old do you think I am?"

Though surprised, Han Li replied calmly, "Judging by your appearance, somewhere in your sixties. But since you're asking, your age must not match your looks. Are you older, or younger?"

Doctor Mo clicked his tongue in wonder. "You guessed correctly. I'm only thirty-seven this year."

Han Li could scarcely believe it. "Impossible!"

Doctor Mo gave a bitter smile. "Indeed, it seems impossible. Anyone who sees me would believe I was sixty. Even if I claimed to be seventy, no one would doubt it."

Then Doctor Mo slowly began recounting his past.

In his younger years, he had been renowned in the martial world of Lan Prefecture in the Yue Kingdom. Known as "Ghost Hand," he was famous among both the righteous and the criminal factions.

However, in middle age, he had been ambushed by a villain. Though his superior medical skills had kept his injuries under control, he could not fully recover, and his martial prowess had been greatly diminished. He had been forced to abandon his foundations and family to search far and wide for a cure.

Fortunately, he had obtained an extraordinary book in a mysterious place.

To restore his strength, he had practiced according to the methods in the book. His strength had returned, but he had aged rapidly, ending up as he was now.

After studying the matter, he had discovered that the solution was the "Evergreen Technique" Han Li was cultivating. As long as someone who had reached its fourth layer helped him through qi circulation and massage, he could escape his predicament and regain his vital essence.

"Why did it have to be me? Couldn't you find anyone else to cultivate this formula?" Han Li asked after a moment's thought.

Doctor Mo snorted coldly. "Do you think just any stray cat or dog can learn the Evergreen Technique? This formula not only requires someone young to begin cultivating it from scratch, but also demands that the practitioner possess a 'spiritual root' constitution.

"I tried hundreds of boys before, and none of them could cultivate it."

Doctor Mo went on to say that he had thought he would never find anyone capable of cultivating the formula, so he had disguised himself as an itinerant physician and wandered from place to place.

Later, he had saved Sect Master Wang of the Seven Mysteries Sect and accepted his invitation to become a resident expert.

At first, he had only intended to take Han Li as a disciple and teach him medicine and martial arts. On a strange impulse, he had made them try the "Evergreen Technique," never expecting Han Li to show a response.

"I haven't reached the fourth layer of the Evergreen Technique yet. Why restrain me and lay all this out now?" Han Li asked the question that concerned him most.

Doctor Mo's face darkened. "You have only yourself to blame. I poured so much effort into you, yet you still refused to advance another layer. Originally, I could have waited another two years, but while I was away this time, an enemy recognized me. After a bitter battle, I killed him, but exhausted my vitality in the process. My remaining lifespan has been greatly shortened. I have a year at most. How could I keep waiting?"

Waves churned within Han Li's heart. Though he had anticipated that Doctor Mo had designs on him, he had never imagined such a vast hidden story behind them.

Doctor Mo then accused Han Li of deliberately delaying his progress. "You only took three years to master the first three layers. Even if the fourth layer is difficult, and even without medicinal help, you shouldn't have gone two years without the slightest progress."

Han Li smiled bitterly. He had never expected that concealing his progress would become the fuse that ignited his present predicament.

Doctor Mo sneered. "Now I'll ask you just one question. If I give you another year, can you reach the fourth layer of the Evergreen Technique?"

Knowing that his answer would decide whether he lived or died, Han Li replied calmly, "You should know perfectly well that I can't give you any other answer. Come, release my acupoints first."

Doctor Mo's expression softened, and appreciation appeared in his eyes. But instead of releasing him immediately, he took an exquisitely carved sandalwood box from his robes.

"Your word alone won't put my mind at ease. For the sake of both our lives, we need another safeguard." As he spoke, he opened the lid. A white pill lay quietly inside.

Doctor Mo released Han Li's acupoints and held the box before him. "You're a clever man. You know what to do."

Han Li moved his numb limbs, then took the sandalwood box without a word, picked out the pill, and swallowed it.

Doctor Mo said with satisfaction, "A wise man knows which way the wind blows. As long as you help me return to normal, you'll be well rewarded. I'll guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and glory."

Expressionless, Han Li asked, "You should tell me what the pill does now, lest I unknowingly break some taboo and lose my life."

Doctor Mo smiled sinisterly. "This medicine is called the 'Corpse Worm Pill.' In truth, it's an insect egg prepared through a secret method.

"Once swallowed, it will lie dormant inside your body for a year. During that year, it won't affect you.

"After a year, it will dissolve as long as you take the specially prepared antidote. Otherwise, the egg will hatch and devour your internal organs, leaving you in agony so terrible you'll wish you were dead."

Han Li trembled slightly upon hearing this, his expression turning utterly grim.

Yet Doctor Mo's trump card was still to come.

"Oh, right. I hear you have quite a few relatives at home, including your parents. Is the silver you send home each month enough for them? If not, just ask me. I'm very concerned about them."

Han Li's face instantly turned livid. He understood that Doctor Mo had seized his fatal weakness.

"Rest assured. Within one year, I will reach the fourth layer." Han Li clenched his teeth and spoke each word distinctly, making no attempt to hide his hatred for Doctor Mo.

Under such naked threats, he could only submit for the time being.