Situ Kong, a shadow guard, appeared out of thin air beside Nan Shiying, feeling fortunate that his mind was clear and he hadn't done anything foolish while alone with Qing Yuan and Xiao Man.
"Brother, Yuan Yuan has a fever!"
Xiao Man hurried towards Nan Shiying. Qing Yuan had been sleeping restlessly since they left, and she developed a fever in the latter half of the night. Although Xiao Man had studied under the Poison Elder for a period, she only learned how to make and administer poisons, not medicine. Situ Kong was even more clueless. The two could only use physical methods to cool Qing Yuan's temperature, stabilizing it and preventing it from worsening.
Qing Zhu ran to Qing Yuan's side, wanting to take her pulse. His hand stopped a few centimeters from Qing Yuan's wrist. He turned, looking at Nan Shiying with a pleading expression.
Nan Shiying sighed. In fact, even if Qing Zhu hadn't asked, she would have intervened.
She walked to Qing Yuan's side, took her pulse, and then drew out her acupuncture kit. As she inserted needles into acupoints, she said to Qing Zhu, "The Small Heavenly Cycle acupuncture technique you learned before originates from the long needle technique. Long needles have light force and strong energy. When inserted into acupoints, they are like dragons entering the vast sky, emphasizing momentum. You might not be able to grasp it now, but once you master the Small Heavenly Cycle technique, you can get a glimpse of the long needle method."
"Now, watch carefully!"
Nan Shiying withdrew a long needle from her kit, which she had never used before, and inserted it into Qing Yuan's acupoints.
As the long needle entered Qing Yuan's body, her sweating slowed, and her furrowed brow relaxed.
"Remove the needles in a quarter of an hour."
Nan Shiying instructed Qing Zhu to look after Qing Yuan, then walked to the side, leaned against the stone wall, and closed her eyes.
A wisp of smoke gradually spread through the mountain.
...
Nan Shiying was awakened by a scent lingering in her nostrils. She opened her eyes and walked out of the cave. The scene before her was shrouded in thick fog, and a strange fragrance wafted from within the mist.
Nan Shiying covered her nose and mouth and retreated back into the cave.
On the Liao Jiang side, the mountains were not foggy. Now it seemed this fog was the work of those black-clothed figures, intending to trap all witnesses in the mountains.
Her earlier suspicion was correct; there must be a heavy ambush on the path from Linyuan to Changming Mountain.
Xiao Man woke up groggily, finding it difficult to breathe. In her confusion, she felt something blocking her nose and mouth and instinctively tried to retaliate. Nan Shiying grabbed Xiao Man's hand and whispered into her ear, "Cover your nose and mouth!"
As Nan Shiying spoke, she moved her hand away, and Xiao Man's breathing immediately became smoother. However, remembering her mistress's instructions, she quickly covered her nose and mouth and asked nervously, "Lit... Little Brother, what's wrong?"
In her haste, Xiao Man almost misspoke but managed to correct herself.
"The fog is poisonous!"
Nan Shiying's expression was cold, with a hint of ferocity in the corners of her eyes.
Although she was skilled in poisons, she couldn't formulate an antidote just by smelling the toxic gas. Therefore, she could only try to minimize the inhalation of the poison.
Qing Zhu's symptoms were not as severe as Qing Yuan's because he inhaled less of the toxic gas. Qing Yuan's vital signs had stabilized, her fever had broken, and she had been snatched back from the brink of death.
Nan Shiying checked Qing Yuan's pulse again and observed the toxins in her body. The poison in the fog was a substance that affected human sensory nerves. It was not immediately fatal but was deadly. Fortunately, the people of Medicine King Valley had been companions with medicine since childhood and had a strong foundation. If it were ordinary people, they would commit suicide or kill each other due to hallucinations after staying in the mountains for a day.
Although Nan Shiying had not yet seen any Langhuan Army soldiers, she surmised that they were likely all dead.
Nan Shiying took out a bottle of medicine from her embrace. Before leaving, the old man had given her a bottle of pills that could detoxify a hundred poisons. Even if it couldn't completely eliminate the poison in the fog, it could temporarily alleviate its effects.
Nan Shiying did not give it to Qing Yuan directly but first handed it to Qing Zhu.
Qing Zhu took the pill and put it into his mouth.
Nan Shiying then gave the medicine to Xiao Man and the others in turn, instructing, "Do not take it yet. Wait until you experience auditory or visual hallucinations, then take the medicine!"
She then turned to Qing Zhu and said, "If your symptoms lessen in an hour, give the medicine to Qing Yuan."
"Okay!"
Qing Zhu nodded, completely unfazed by being used as a test subject.
He looked at Nan Shiying, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Say whatever you want to say!"
Qing Zhu said, "Shishu, my master and all my fellow disciples, I believe they must have... must not have met with misfortune. I know I shouldn't say this in this situation, but Shishu, I, I..."
Qing Zhu had watched Yuan Yuan grow up since childhood and had a deep affection for her. But hadn't he grown up with his other fellow disciples, or watched them grow? Qing Zhu truly couldn't give up on them, even if there was only a sliver of hope, even if... he only found their bodies.
He wanted to bring them back.
"I can only say I will do my best, but if..."
"I understand, I understand. I am already very grateful for this."
Qing Zhu interrupted Nan Shiying. Although Feng Luan was their Shishu, their relationship was not yet at the point of sacrificing their lives to save others. In this situation, with poisonous gas filling the air and enemies lurking in the shadows, Nan Shiying was willing to pay attention and provide aid. Qing Zhu dared not ask for more; she had already shown them utmost benevolence.
Seeing that Qing Zhu was a sensible and intelligent person, Nan Shiying patted his shoulder and promised, "If they are not dead, I will find them. If they have unfortunately perished, I will make the murderers pay in blood... As for their remains, I will have the Langhuan Army enter the mountains to collect the bodies. No matter what, I will ensure they are returned to their roots!"
Qing Zhu nodded, choked with emotion, and wanted to prostrate himself in thanks. Nan Shiying grabbed him by the collar, unable to stand his habit of kneeling at every opportunity. "A man's knees are made of gold. If you want to thank me, come to the imperial palace and serve as a physician for a few years."
Qing Zhu's expression changed dramatically.
Enter the palace?
Was Shishu preparing for the Regent's future usurpation?
Their Medicine King Valley had always stayed out of politics. If he were to become an official, he would be breaking the rules of Medicine King Valley. He would not only be expelled from the sect but also have his medical skills crippled.
However, Shishu had shown him immense kindness, and he felt unable to repay it. If this was what Shishu wished, he was willing.
"Okay!"
Qing Zhu put away all his thoughts and replied decisively.
Nan Shiying was slightly taken aback. Seeing his expression, she suddenly understood his thoughts and felt a mix of amusement and helplessness. He probably thought she was asking him to join the imperial hospital to poison Ji Hong!
However, Nan Shiying couldn't elaborate on this matter, so she didn't explain. She simply changed her words, "Never mind, you should join the Prince's mansion."
"Okay!"
Qing Zhu didn't ask for reasons, appearing as though he would follow Nan Shiying's every command.
Nan Shiying: "..."
Xiao Man looked at Qing Zhu and, for some reason, felt that Qing Zhu's current demeanor was very much like a little puppy obediently following its master!
She narrowed her eyes.
Bah, vying for favor, were they?