The Antidote

The sun hung high in the sky. Even though it was already early autumn, there was still a trace of heat in the air.

Doctor Mo was restless in his room. Although he had great confidence in his method of coercing Han Li, now that the moment had come, he could not help worrying about the outcome.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the distance, gradually drawing closer to the room.

At the sound of those familiar footsteps, Doctor Mo was overjoyed. He rushed to the door in a single stride and pushed it open.

A figure was slowly approaching from not far away. It was the person he had been waiting for: Han Li.

As Han Li drew closer, Doctor Mo suppressed his excitement and forced a smile onto his face.

"Good. You're right on time. I'm glad to see you didn't try to run away. That shows you're wise. Come inside first. We have much to discuss."

Doctor Mo looked as kindly as an elder from a neighboring family, his face radiant as a flower in full bloom.

"Don't worry. I haven't tampered with anything inside. It's no dragon's pool or tiger's den." Seeing Han Li cast a wary glance at the room, Doctor Mo hurried to explain, using a little provocation as well.

"Hmph! Since I've already come, would I be afraid to enter your room?" Han Li gave a soft snort as he spoke, seemingly unable to resist the provocation.

Then he took the lead and walked inside.

Doctor Mo hurriedly stepped aside with a beaming smile, clearing the way into the room. Once Han Li had entered, he reached out to close the door, only to hear Han Li say abruptly, without looking back:

"If you dare close that door, I'll take it as a sign that you're trying to trap a turtle in a jar, and I won't discuss anything more with you."

Doctor Mo was taken aback. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped away from the door and said nonchalantly:

"I'm sincere about discussing this with you. I won't do anything to harm you. If you don't want the door closed, then it can stay open."

Doctor Mo then reclined in the grand preceptor's chair as usual. Han Li made himself at home too, pulling over a stool and sitting down across from him with an air of ease. The two had not seen each other in nearly half a year, and they studied each other for a while.

Han Li saw that Doctor Mo had aged considerably and was now no different from a man of seventy. He could not help muttering inwardly, Could what he said before have been true? Did he really just want me to restore his vital essence, without any ulterior motives? Was I overthinking things?

Han Li glanced around, and his pupils suddenly contracted. The tall, mysterious man stood silently in the corner, as still as a lifeless object. Unless one deliberately looked for him, there was no way to detect his presence.

By then, Doctor Mo had finished looking Han Li over as well. Seemingly quite satisfied with his condition, he spoke gently:

"Seeing you as you are now reminds me of when you first came through my door. You were only a child of ten or so then, only this tall. But now, you've grown so tall and strong. Age spares no one!"

The casual, homely manner of the conversation left Han Li baffled; he had no idea what Doctor Mo intended. But he immediately became more guarded, reminding himself that the man was an old fox who had eaten more salt than he had eaten rice. He had to be careful not to stumble into his trap.

"Elder Mo, I've always kept your care for me in my heart and would never dare forget it. If there's anything you need, please just give the order." Han Li's expression softened, and he used an honorific, seemingly becoming the obedient disciple of old once more.

"Good! Good! With those words, all the effort I poured into you wasn't wasted. Come, let me first see how far you've progressed in the Eternal Spring Art." Doctor Mo seemed to have truly assumed the role of a kindly master. He rose and walked over, intending to take Han Li's pulse.

Old fox! He's really trading on his age and brazenly pressing ahead, Han Li cursed inwardly, hastily stepping aside to avoid his grasp.

"Elder Mo, don't be in such a hurry. I can tell you plainly that I have indeed mastered the fourth layer of the Eternal Spring Art. But shouldn't you first grant me the antidote to the Corpse Worm Pill? Once I'm free of that worry, I can let you examine my cultivation with peace of mind." Han Li smiled and spoke in a very sincere tone.

"Oh! Goodness, look at me. My memory is failing as I grow old. I meant to give you the antidote as soon as you came in." Doctor Mo looked as though he had just remembered.

He fished a silver bottle out of his sleeve, poured a black pill from it, and tossed it to Han Li.

Han Li pretended to fumble, barely managing to catch the pill. He held it under his nose and sniffed, and a pungent odor rushed up at him. He looked up at Doctor Mo, who was watching him with a faint smile.

He hesitated for a moment, somewhat doubtful whether the medicine was genuine.

But he had no choice but to take it. The day the Corpse Worm Pill would take effect was almost upon him, and if he did not take it, he really would lose his life! He reasoned that Doctor Mo still had a use for him, so the medicine probably was not fake. With a solemn expression, he swallowed the pill and waited quietly for it to take effect.

Doctor Mo, on the other hand, was no longer in a hurry. He slowly reclined in his chair again and chatted with Han Li on and off, seemingly having forgotten his ultimate purpose in summoning him.

Before long, Han Li felt a momentary pain in his belly, but it quickly passed. He hurriedly examined his body and found that the Corpse Worm Pill had dissolved without a trace. He was overjoyed, and a hint of it showed on his face.

These changes naturally did not escape Doctor Mo, who had been facing him the whole time. Once Han Li had finished checking the medicine's effects, Doctor Mo smiled at him and said:

"Han Li, I had no choice but to make you take the Corpse Worm Pill. Without it spurring you on, I'm afraid it wouldn't have been so easy for you to master the fourth layer!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Mo. But next time, it would be best not to bestow such a good thing on me." With one major worry resolved, Han Li was in a much better mood. He believed in Doctor Mo's sincerity a little more and no longer met his hypocrisy with pointed opposition.

"Now, will you let this old man take your pulse?"

Doctor Mo had still said the very words that put Han Li in a difficult position. Who knew whether he would use the opportunity to subdue him?