"Lü'er, Lü'er, how are you?" the old man asked, knocking on the door.
However, there was no reply from inside, not even from Xiao Man. The old man felt deeply uneasy. He wanted to break in, but he worried about disturbing Xiao Man's treatment, which could endanger Shui Lü's life. Not going in, he feared something might have happened.
"Little scamp, how are you?"
The old man waited for a long time, still hearing no answer. His unease grew. After a moment of silence, he was about to break down the door when it swung open.
The old man looked at the person standing at the doorway, his eyes filled with shock. "Lü'er, are you alright?"
Shui Lü dodged the old man's outstretched hand. "Grandfather, you can't touch me."
The old man then realized. If Shui Lü had truly been saved, he was now a poison person, untouchable!
"Are you alright now?"
Shui Lü reached out and touched a orchid on the windowsill. The orchid instantly withered!
The old man swallowed hard. "Where is the little scamp?"
"He's fainted."
The old man hurried inside and indeed saw Xiao Man collapsed on the floor, unconscious. "Please, Grandfather, help her to the bed to rest."
"Alright." The old man helped Xiao Man to the bed and felt her pulse. Assured that Xiao Man had merely fainted from exhaustion, he finally relaxed. At the same time, he cursed himself for his petty suspicion; he had thought Xiao Man had failed the treatment and fled!
Shui Lü found a pair of gloves and put them on, allowing him to touch living things normally. From now on, he was a complete poison person, unable to touch any living creature with his bare hands – be it people, animals, or even plants and trees. Everything alive was excluded from him.
The old man wanted to take Shui Lü's pulse, but with thick gloves, it was impossible to feel it accurately. "Lü'er, do you feel unwell anywhere?"
"No," Shui Lü's voice remained gentle. "On the contrary, I've never felt so at ease."
"Do you still feel the sensation of ice and fire in your body?"
Shui Lü shook his head. "No, all the past ailments that tormented me are gone. I feel incredibly light now, as if a stone weighing down on my chest has been completely removed. Grandfather, I feel good, better than ever before."
When Xiao Man woke up, she saw the old man sitting by the bedside. As soon as she stirred, he leaned closer.
"Little scamp, you're finally awake. Lü'er he..."
"Is dead?" Xiao Man asked slowly.
"Nonsense!" The old man flicked his fingers, wanting to give Xiao Man a tap on the head, but remembering that Xiao Man had exhausted her true qi to save Shui Lü, he restrained himself. "But he can't touch anything now. Whatever he touches dies."
"Didn't I tell you this a long time ago?" Xiao Man replied matter-of-factly. "Or can't a senior understand what a poison person is?"
"You little scamp, you have no respect for your elders!" The old man couldn't help but tap Xiao Man. "Of course, I understand what a poison person is. I just didn't expect it to be so potent!"
"He consumed incredibly potent medicinal herbs, coupled with the properties of the Yellow Springs Flower. Now, without even lifting a finger, he can take down a Nascent Soul stage cultivator with his bare hands."
The old man gasped. "Take down a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Xiao Man nodded slowly. "His cultivation is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but the poison he carries is comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator. However, he also needs to control this poison to avoid harming innocents."
"That is a problem indeed. How can this poison be controlled?"
Xiao Man took out a book and handed it to the old man. "This is a poison scripture, very suitable for his cultivation. I obtained it by chance, so I'll see this through. This poison scripture is for him."
"You little scamp, you're quite loyal!" The old man quickly took the book and flipped through it. Indeed, it was a poison scripture and cultivation method, very suitable for the current Shui Lü. "You can take any herbs you fancy from my courtyard. The Soul Locking Nine-Leaf Orchid is my long-cherished treasure, it's all yours."
Xiao Man looked at the two boxes the old man stuffed into her arms and couldn't help but smile. She opened the Soul Locking Nine-Leaf Orchid, which was lifelike and should be plantable. As for the other box, it contained a white lotus. Its petals had vein-like patterns, and at the center of the lotus was a stone like a heart, blood-red, as if it were a living person's heart. She could even feel it beating.
"This is..."
"Buddha Heart Lotus."
Xiao Man quickly closed the box. "Senior, this is too precious. I cannot accept it!"
"No matter how precious the Buddha Heart Lotus is, it is not as valuable as Lü'er's life in my eyes," the old man said gently. "For years, I've racked my brains to keep him alive. As his time neared, I was helpless. Fortunately, heaven was kind enough to let me meet you, otherwise, I would have no face to meet his mother in the underworld."
"Senior, this Buddha Heart Lotus is equivalent to a life!"
"I know!" the old man said lazily. "You saved Lü'er's life. As agreed, I will give you my prized possession. Moreover, I have a feeling that the Buddha Heart Lotus will be more useful in your hands than in mine. So, don't refuse."
"Then I shall accept it ungraciously."
"Also, this is a letter of recommendation from the Alchemist Association," the old man handed a letter to Xiao Man. "With this letter, go to the Alchemist Association in Spiritual Medicine City and find Lü Shi. If you need any help, ask him. He will do his best to assist you."
"Thank you, Senior."
The old man stood up and walked towards the door. "Rest well. I'll go check on Lü'er."
"Alright."
The old man stopped at the doorway. "Lan Xiao is not your real name, is it, little scamp?"
Xiao Man's expression remained calm, not showing any guilt at being discovered.
"I have offended too many people, so for my own safety, I have to use an alias. Please forgive me, Senior."
The old man smiled. "What are you going to do?"
"Look for someone, a friend of mine."
"How long will it take you to return?"
"Return?" Xiao Man asked, confused. Return where?
"How about this: my grandson and I will stay here for another six months. If you find your friend within these six months, come back here once." The old man tossed something to Xiao Man, who quickly caught it. It was a badge. "With this, you can walk freely in Spiritual Medicine City."
"Aren't you afraid I'll misuse your name to do evil?" Xiao Man, though suspecting the old man's identity was not simple, had not expected him to be the Vice President of the Alchemist Association!
"When I was young, I did my fair share of mischief. If someone inherits my mantle, it would be a good thing," the old man said with a hearty laugh as he left. "If my apprentice had even half your talent, I could die with a smile."