“What, poisoned?”
Wu Weizi’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Wan Yunting.
Elder Chang Wude’s old eyes bulged with anger, his face ashen and terrifying.
Yang Jingyi’s expression was less dramatic, but her body trembled slightly, her fists clenching involuntarily…
Wan Yunting’s expression was serious. He nodded gravely and said, “That’s right, it was poisoning that triggered the resurgence of the Watch Master’s old ailment!”
“Impossible!”
Yang Jingyi’s face darkened. She was trying hard to suppress her emotions, but her sharp eyes fixed on Wan Yunting, saying, “Even if it was poisoning, I would have recognized it.”
But Wan Yunting shook his head, his gaze direct on Yang Jingyi, and asked, “Mistress, has the Watch Master been drinking Chinese medicine all these years?”
“Yes.”
Yang Jingyi nodded. “For the past two years, his health hasn’t been good due to his old ailment, so he’s been consistently taking Chinese medicine.”
“Who prescribed the medicine for the Watch Master?” Wan Yunting asked.
Yang Jingyi frowned. Chang Wude, sitting beside her, said, “Isn’t it Sima Boyong?”
Wu Weizi nodded. “It is indeed Senior Brother Boyong. He treated Senior Brother’s old ailment before, so it must be the medicine prescribed back then.”
Wan Yunting continued, “Was there a herb called *Leigong Teng* in the medicine?”
This time, Yang Jingyi looked up at Wan Yunting and nodded, saying, “There was *Leigong Teng*. Is there something wrong with that?”
Wan Yunting said, “This *Leigong Teng* is a herb with inherent toxicity. Its medicinal properties can treat symptoms like dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, unblocking meridians, reducing swelling, and relieving pain.”
“However, it carries its own toxicity. It can act as a subordinate herb, suppressed by the monarch herb to achieve a balance, so people taking it wouldn’t show signs of poisoning.”
“But, if in a dose of medicine, *Leigong Teng* is increased by even a fraction of an ounce, its toxicity will become apparent. This toxicity can cause congestion, edema, and necrosis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and even lead to organ failure in the liver, kidneys, and heart!”
“The Watch Master’s old ailment, due to nearly suffering a qi deviation while practicing cultivation years ago, resulted in internal injuries to his organs. Therefore, even a small amount of *Leigong Teng* was enough to accumulate over the years within his internal organs. Normally, he would appear no different from a healthy person.”
“But once this toxicity accumulates to a certain point, it will gradually erupt, which is the fuse that ignited the Watch Master’s old ailment’s relapse!”
“So, this wasn’t a one-time poisoning, but a result of long-term poisoning, correct?” Chang Wude asked.
“That’s correct.”
Wan Yunting nodded, looking at Yang Jingyi whose face had turned completely grim, and said, “Every bowl of medicinal soup the Watch Master drank contained a small amount of *Leigong Teng* poison. Accumulated over time, a large amount of toxins built up in his body.”
“So, Mistress, with this method, you would never be able to detect the problem!”
*Bang!*
Finally, Yang Jingyi couldn’t sit still. She slammed the table in anger and stood up. Her sharp gaze fixed on Wan Yunting and Chang Wude, she sternly demanded, “But how do I know what you’re saying is true? How can I believe you?”
Facing Yang Jingyi’s sudden outburst, Wan Yunting remained unhurried, calmly saying, “Mistress, if you don’t believe me, you can find a doctor knowledgeable in Traditional Chinese Medicine to examine the Watch Master’s pulse for a definitive diagnosis. Also, you can try to prick the *Zigong* acupoint on the Watch Master’s chest with a silver needle; the needle will reveal the result!”
Yang Jingyi’s gaze was cold. She glared at Wan Yunting, then without a word, she brushed past him, pushed open the wooden door, lifted the curtain, and walked out.
Wu Weizi and Chang Wude also stood up. Looking at their departing senior sister-in-law, Wu Weizi asked Wan Yunting, “Is everything you said true?”
Wan Yunting’s expression was solemn. He nodded and said, “Uncle-Master, how could I dare to lie about something like this?”
“Unbelievable, truly unbelievable, that Senior Brother Boyong would do such a thing…”
Wu Weizi’s face was filled with grief and anger. He took two steps back and slumped onto the stool, his right fist pounding the table, seemingly unable to accept the reality.
“Kid, if it were you, could you cure your Uncle-Master?” Chang Wude asked.
Wan Yunting frowned. “To detoxify from *Leigong Teng*, one herb is needed!”
“Quickly, tell us,” Chang Wude said impatiently.
Wan Yunting gave him a sidelong glance and said, “Phoenix Tail Grass!”
“Phoenix Tail Grass? What kind of herb is that?” Chang Wude naturally didn’t know.
“It’s a medicinal herb that resembles a phoenix’s tail and can detoxify.”
Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow again. “But this *Phoenix Tail Grass* is extremely rare. Due to its extremely demanding growing environment, it cannot be cultivated artificially to this day, making it very uncommon in the market.”
“Phoenix Tail Grass, it grows in the Kunlun Mountains!” Wu Weizi suddenly said.
“Does it?”
Chang Wude turned to look at him. Wu Weizi said, “Have you forgotten? When Senior Uncle Ren was around, he took us to the Kunlun Mountains to gather herbs, and he specifically mentioned this *Phoenix Tail Grass*!”
Chang Wude rolled his eyes, still unable to recall it.
“Uncle-Master Wu, do you remember where in the Kunlun Mountains it was found?” Wan Yunting asked.
Wu Weizi frowned, shook his head, and sighed, “This was decades ago. I can’t recall the general direction, but we found it in the Kunlun mountain range behind our Wuliang Mountain.”
“Regardless, the most important thing now is to cure Senior Brother’s illness!”
Chang Wude’s old eyes widened, and he snorted coldly, “We’ll see how Sima Boyong explains himself then!”
“Can we use internal energy to force the toxins out of Senior Brother’s body?” Wu Weizi asked next.
“No.”
Wan Yunting shook his head and explained seriously, “Firstly, the *Leigong Teng* poison has already deeply penetrated the Watch Master’s internal organs. Trying to force it out with internal energy would not be able to clear it completely.”
“Secondly, the Watch Master’s body is currently weak. If internal energy is channeled into his body to expel the toxins, it could backfire, causing further injury to the Watch Master’s internal organs. This would be very dangerous!”
Chang Wude and Wu Weizi understood, saying, “So, only the *Phoenix Tail Grass* you mentioned can save him now.”
Wan Yunting nodded. “This is the best and safest method.”
Chang Wude asked, “Tell us, how much longer can your Uncle-Master hold on?”
Wan Yunting sighed. “The Watch Master’s internal organs are severely damaged. In his current state, he can last for at most ten days!”
“No, we must go find the *Phoenix Tail Grass* tomorrow.”
Upon hearing that his senior brother only had ten days left, Wu Weizi was extremely anxious, wishing he could go to the Kunlun Mountains immediately to find the *Phoenix Tail Grass*.
“Junior Brother, don’t be anxious yet.”
Chang Wude raised his hand to stop him, saying, “At times like this, we must remain calm. This is not just about curing Senior Brother’s illness; I must completely sever Sima Boyong’s sinister intentions!”
Wu Weizi’s old eyes widened as he looked at him and said, “Senior Brother Chang, what do you intend to do?”
Chang Wude asked Wan Yunting, “When you went to see your Uncle-Master, did Sima Boyong’s men discover you?”
Wan Yunting scratched his head. “His disciple Zhu Yangyu was guarding. So I ambushed them and sealed their acupoints. However, they should have woken up by now and probably suspect it was me.”
Chang Wude’s old eyes widened. “So, they discovered you treated your Uncle-Master!”
“Yes, they should know by now.” Wan Yunting nodded.
Indeed, less than half an hour later, Zhu Yangyu had already unblocked his acupoints and removed the silver needle from his left chest. His face darkened, realizing it must have been Chang Wude and Wan Yunting’s doing. He immediately ran to his master’s residence to report.
“In that case, Junior Brother, you will take him to the Kunlun Mountains tomorrow to find the *Phoenix Tail Grass*. I will stay behind to stall Sima Boyong!”
Chang Wude pointed at Wu Weizi and Wan Yunting. His face was grim, and he said anxiously, “From now on, Sima Boyong will surely try various ways to harm Senior Brother, so we must seek the assistance of Senior Uncle Zong!”
“Kid, come with me now.”
Thinking of the urgent situation, Chang Wude grabbed Wan Yunting by the arm and pulled him out. Wu Weizi quickly followed. “Senior Brother Chang, are we going to find Senior Uncle Zong now?”
“Junior Brother, you go find Senior Brother now, and make sure Sima Boyong doesn’t get close to him, understand?” Chang Wude, who had already run out of the courtyard gate, turned back to Wu Weizi and said sternly.
“I understand.”
Wu Weizi nodded. “Then you two should hurry and bring Senior Uncle Zong down the mountain.”
“Don’t worry, I will persuade Senior Uncle Zong.”
Chang Wude nodded and then led Wan Yunting rapidly towards the back mountain through the night…
Wu Weizi also hurried towards his senior brother’s residence…
Ten minutes earlier, Yang Jingyi had returned home. As soon as she opened the door, Duan Yingying’s acupoints were automatically unblocked. Her eyes widened, and with a surge of anger, she was about to go find Wan Yunting to settle the score when she saw her mother return. “Mom, you’re back. Just in time, that disciple of Uncle-Master Chang came earlier. He also acupointed me, and even went to the bed to make advances towards Dad. I suspect he’s trying to harm Dad. I’m going out now to call for help and find that scoundrel to settle the score…”
“Stop talking, I know about this.”
Yang Jingyi’s face was grim. She raised her hand to stop Duan Yingying and quickly walked to the bedside. She saw Duan Wuyu slowly open his dull, lifeless eyes and say weakly, “You’re back…”
“Wuyu, you know?” Yang Jingyi asked him.
Duan Wuyu weakly nodded slightly, sighed, and said, “That young man is a disciple of Junior Brother Xiuliang.”
This time, Yang Jingyi’s heart was shaken. It was true!
From the first time she saw Wan Yunting, she knew his identity was not simple. It turned out he was the disciple of her husband’s beloved Junior Brother Gongsun Xiuliang, whom her husband often mentioned!
“He said you were poisoned, which triggered the relapse of your old ailment, and he asked me to prick your *Zigong* acupoint with a silver needle to tell the truth…” Yang Jingyi looked at her husband and gestured for Duan Yingying behind her to get the silver needles.
“No need…”
Duan Wuyu weakly shook his head. His pale old face, purplish lips, and emaciated appearance, his dull eyes now filled with tears, he coughed twice and said weakly, “Actually, from that day on, I… I had already suspected my physical condition…”
Hearing this, Yang Jingyi’s heart trembled. She held his withered right hand and looked at her husband. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Duan Wuyu sighed and said, “Because I also couldn’t believe that Junior Brother Boyong would harm me…”
“Dad, what are you talking about? How could Uncle-Master Boyong harm you?”
Duan Yingying, standing behind Yang Jingyi, heard this and her eyes widened in shock, as if she couldn’t believe it.
Yang Jingyi turned her head and glared at her daughter, lowering her voice and sternly saying, “Do you really think that Uncle-Master Boyong, who gave you money and took you to the capital, is a good person?”
“I…”
Duan Yingying’s eyes widened, seemingly her perception of reality completely overturned by her mother’s words. She still couldn’t believe that Uncle-Master Boyong would harm her father…