"…we may need to observe for a few more days. This pulse is truly rare, occurring perhaps once in a century. I need to consult with others…"
"Fine. I'll give you three days. If you still haven't figured it out by then…"
The latter words were left unsaid, but the chilling killing intent in his gaze made everything clear.
The demon physician dared not say anything more. He feared that another word and his head would roll. He could only stammer his agreement.
—
Shen Yue remained unconscious for a long time. Demon physicians were replaced one after another, but the dragon poison in Shen Yue's body had already infiltrated her blood and bone marrow. Unlike other poisons, the dragon poison's insidious nature lay in its undetectable presence when inactive. Even the most skilled physicians could not detect it until it flared up.
After nearly five days of unconsciousness, the dragon poison struck without any prior warning.
Bi Lian, as usual, cautiously fed Shen Yue water. Her lips were a vibrant red, but they had lost their softness, becoming dry and cracked. The feeding process was not smooth; Shen Yue was unconscious and could not swallow, causing much of the water to spill.
He directly fed her mouth-to-mouth. After administering the water, he did not immediately withdraw but repeatedly caressed her lips until they were as red as blood and her dry lips became soft.
The palace hall was empty, with a faint scent of incense gently rising.
As time passed, Bi Lian's emotions grew increasingly volatile and erratic. The demon physicians had no idea how many had already died.
Yet, they still could not ascertain the cause of Shen Yue's unconsciousness.
The person on the bed suddenly stirred, and Bi Lian immediately noticed. He eagerly lunged forward.
The white-robed immortal lying on the couch did not open her eyes. She was not moving, but trembling, with dense white mist escaping with every breath.
Bi Lian's eyes turned red with anxiety. "Shen Yue? Shen Yue? Are you cold?"
He grasped Shen Yue's wrist and channeled his demonic energy into her, attempting to warm her body.
However, it was all in vain. Not only was she exhaling white mist, but a layer of frost had even formed on her white eyebrows.
In a panic, he shouted towards the door, "Demon Physician! Demon Physician!"
The demon physicians who had been kneeling outside rushed in like a receding tide.
They saw the man sitting on the couch, holding the white-robed immortal. His eyes were slightly red, his demeanor violently agitated, and his crimson eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. His imposing presence was like a raging storm.
"Get over here, quickly!"
The demon physicians, suppressing their fear, swiftly approached. They first glanced at the frost on Shen Yue's face, then checked her pulse, their expressions changing drastically.
"This, this Immortal Lord has been poisoned by dragon poison!"
"Is there a way to save her?" Bi Lian asked urgently.
The demon physicians did not provide a definitive answer. "I can suppress the toxicity for now. Please, Demon Lord, wait outside."
Bi Lian refused to leave, but the demon physician insisted that his presence would disrupt their treatment. Reluctantly, he stepped outside.
Approximately two hours later, the palace doors were pushed open.
After the demon physicians closed the doors, Bi Lian asked coldly, "Is there a cure for the dragon poison?"
The demon physician frowned and replied without hesitation, "There is a cure, but it cannot be cured now."
Relieved by the first part of the sentence, the latter half made his heart, which had just settled, leap back into his throat.
He tried to disregard himself, a pervasive sense of panic inexplicably filling him. "What do you mean?"
A flicker of pity and melancholy flashed in the demon physician's eyes. "Dragon poison is a potent venom. If treated properly from the start, there was a chance to eradicate it completely. But now…"
Bi Lian's lips turned deathly pale. His complexion instantly became ashen as a corpse, the muscles from his jaw to his neck taut.
His voice was hoarse, with a strange calmness.
"You mean she's going to die?"
The demon physician shook his head. "She won't die, but she will wish she were dead. Those afflicted with dragon poison, no matter how powerful their cultivation, endure pain akin to having their hearts ripped out and livers dissected. Whenever the poison flares, their entire body feels as if plunged into an ice cellar in the deepest reaches of the extreme cold, potentially turning them into ice sculptures. Their internal organs will freeze, making it impossible to breathe, yet their hearts will continue to beat. As time progresses, the poison's attacks will become more frequent. The venom has already rooted itself within her spiritual meridians, becoming one with her, making it impossible to eradicate."
"As a Mahayana stage Venerable, the greater the cultivator's power, the longer the backlash. There are indeed prescriptions that can slightly suppress her toxicity, but they have no significant effect. Ultimately, she will have to endure it herself. Furthermore… her body will grow increasingly frail, her spiritual energy will gradually deplete, until she is rendered a cripple."
"Actually, ordinary dragon poison is not this severe. Immortal Lord Shen Yue has an old ailment, which allowed the dragon poison to exploit her weakness. Perhaps at that time, the dragon poison spread throughout her entire body."
"A top-tier Mahayana stage expert can only watch as their spiritual energy slowly dissipates, their body gradually deteriorates, dragging this broken vessel through life, suffering from illness. If the physical pain can be endured, what about the mental torment?"
"For someone like Immortal Lord Shen Yue, it is likely a fate worse than death."
The man, with his tall and robust physique, standing rigidly, suddenly swayed. His expression went blank for a moment, then he suddenly laughed. He was exquisitely handsome, and in the past, his laughter carried an air of arrogance and flirtatiousness. But now, it was filled with violent, dark malevolence, making one shiver at the mere glance.
Despite smiling, his eyes were coldly fixed on the demon physician. Veins bulged beneath his pale skin, his eyes bloodshot, like a vengeful specter.
He said with certainty, "You're lying to me!"
Fine beads of sweat appeared on the demon physician's forehead. He didn't dare to wipe them away, allowing the sweat to sting his eyes. He dared not even blink, his head bowed, his voice filled with terror: "Your Excellency, how could I dare lie to you? Every word I speak is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can ask the other demon physicians…"
Bi Lian's demonic energy surged violently, radiating immense ferocity, appearing completely devoid of reason. His eyes were red, and his entire being exuded a chilling, bloodthirsty aura.
He gritted his teeth and said each word deliberately: "She was always fine. She's so powerful, how could she be poisoned so easily, injured so readily? Who in this world could harm her?"
How powerful was the Xi Yu Immortal Venerable? She single-handedly slew demon gods, the foremost figure in the cultivation world. No one could match her. In the cultivation world, who did not revere and admire her?
Who could possibly touch her, who could harm her?
How could she have been poisoned out of the blue? How could she have an old ailment?
How could she suddenly become… incurable?
Even more infuriating, wasn't this exactly what he wanted to see? He wanted Shen Yue to suffer a fate worse than death. Wasn't this situation exactly as he desired?
But why did he still feel… such heartache?
It must be… it must be that Shen Yue is not suffering in his hands!
He hadn't done anything yet, and Shen Yue was already like this. There was no point, no pleasure at all. He wanted to make Shen Yue wish she were dead in his own way!
Therefore, Shen Yue could not die now!
If she were to die, it must be by his hand!
Bi Lian's face was devoid of any expression, as if the madness and ferocity from moments ago were mere illusions. He regained his composure, but it was more akin to the calm before a storm.
The fingers hanging by his sides trembled slightly. He clenched his fingertips tightly, his expression blank. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "She does not need to die. I want her to be well. Not a single strand of her hair must fall."
He calmly tidied his clothes, as if the loss of control had never occurred.
The demon physician did not feel relieved by his composed demeanor. Instead, he found it even more terrifying.
However, the request made by the Demon Lord was truly too difficult. After all, he could not contend with death itself. Moreover, the situation was already so severe that nothing could be salvaged.
But he dared not say so, fearing he might provoke the Demon Lord. It was strange, though; the Demon Lord's feelings for the Immortal Lord within were truly inexplicable. It wasn't hatred, yet it wasn't love either.
He dared not speculate on the Demon Lord's thoughts and quietly wiped the sweat from his brow. "Your Excellency, I will do my utmost."
He could only try his best, not guarantee anything.
Bi Lian appeared outwardly normal, but in his dark, icy eyes, there was a palpable gloom. Looking at the demon physician, his eyes were completely devoid of light.
It was as if the demon physician's words had shattered his soul, leaving behind only a walking, hollow shell.
He offered a smile that was neither a smile nor not a smile. "If anything happens to her, all of you will accompany her in death."
Saying this, he didn't wait for the demon physician's reply.
Bi Lian turned coldly and walked out of the palace hall.
—
When Shen Yue woke up, Bi Lian was still in the library, searching for any information about the dragon poison.
She felt fragmented images flash through her mind, disappearing too quickly for her to grasp. All she felt was a suffocating pain in her chest.
He spent three days in the library. A maid rushed over, anxiously and excitedly speaking from outside the door.
"Your Excellency, Immortal Lord Shen Yue has woken up!"
As soon as the words were uttered, in the blink of an eye, before the maid could even recover, she felt a gust of wind sweep past. When she turned to look, all she could see was the hem of dark robes.
Shen Yue sat on a soft couch, her head bowed as she tidied the sleeves of her robes. Her long, frost-white eyelashes drooped. Her white robes fell upon her fair, jade-like hands.
Her vision was black; she could see nothing, but her hearing was exceptionally sharp. She heard hurried, urgent footsteps approaching. Within moments, the door was flung open.
Someone entered. His footsteps were slightly heavy, indicating he was a man.
The gloom and ferocity that had clouded Bi Lian's features lessened slightly. Upon seeing the white figure seated on the soft couch, his sinister eyes turned slightly red.
Shen Yue had grown thin. She had felt as light as a feather when held before; now, she was even more emaciated, evoking pity.
Her exposed wrists were slender and delicate, appearing as if they could break with the slightest touch.
Her internal organs were frozen by frost, rendering her unable to breathe, causing a pain that tore at her heart and liver.
Even though it was Shen Yue who was poisoned, he felt more unbearable pain than if he himself were severely poisoned.
"Do… do you still hurt anywhere?"
His voice was hoarse, decidedly unpleasant, like the grating of sharp stones.
After uttering this question, he could not speak another word.
He closed his eyes soundlessly, his jaw taut, his chest heaving violently. After a long period of silence, he finally choked out to his attendant,
"Everyone, withdraw."
The attendants, as if granted absolution, immediately retreated, gently closing the door behind them.
Shen Yue sat there quietly, her features serene and noble. Beneath her frost-white eyelashes were a pair of pale red eyes, clear as lake water.
She paused for a moment and then, surprisingly, answered obediently.
"No."
She had already endured the most painful period. It no longer hurt, but she felt cold. The chill emanated from her bones, impossible to stop.
Shen Yue's silence was more impactful than her words. As soon as she spoke, Bi Lian felt the calm he had maintained for days shatter. His throat felt constricted, rendering him speechless.
He stared blankly at Shen Yue, his face displaying an innocent and confused expression, like that of a child. His eyes were red, reminiscent of his youth.
When he suffered grievances outside, he would run to Shen Yue's lap and cry out his inner turmoil.
"How could it not hurt?"
The demon physician had said that even the most powerful individuals would be in unbearable pain, wishing for death.
So how could it not hurt?
Bi Lian stepped forward and silently embraced the slender figure, burying his face in her neck, concealing his reddened eye corners. His dark hair cascaded down, tangling with the frost-white strands on her shoulders.
Shen Yue allowed him to embrace her, her expression placid, showing no resistance.
In his state of extreme emotional turmoil, Bi Lian failed to notice anything amiss with Shen Yue.
It wasn't until he heard a slightly questioning voice by his ear. She asked softly,
"Who are you?"
Bi Lian froze completely. His blood felt as if it had turned cold from his head to his toes. His breathing hitched for an instant. His pupils contracted and dilated, and then his body slowly drew back as he looked at the expression on Shen Yue's face.
Shen Yue's features were serene and detached, clear and flowing like a babbling brook.
While also cold, her coldness was not piercing. Instead, it was a captivating coldness, her expression honest and innocent.
Her previous coldness made one dare not approach, not even daring to harbor any disrespectful thoughts, only able to kneel and beg for mercy.
But her current coldness seemed enveloped by a faint, gentle water, inviting one to touch, to defile, to possess.
Bi Lian stared blankly for a long time before he finally reacted. He forced a stiff, awkward smile. "Shen Yue… you, you're still angry with me, aren't you?"
Shen Yue tilted her head slightly. "Why should I be angry with you?"
She appeared somewhat obedient, sitting very upright. It was an ingrained etiquette. Her white robes were like snow, her silver hair lazily draped over her shoulders. The window was open, and as a gentle breeze wafted in, the stray hairs on her forehead fluttered, and strands of golden light fell, illuminating her pale, translucent face like a divine radiance. Her features were pure and clear, as if capable of reflecting all the world's evil.