Why do I have so many masters?

The Poison of the Medicine Man is a taboo of the medical family.

Ordinary medicines are simply cultivated with the Five-Colored Soil, nourished by the light of the sun and the dew, as well as the radiance of the stars and moon, growing naturally within Heaven and Earth. However, the Art of the Medicine Man does the opposite, claiming that humans are the leaders of all creatures under Heaven and Earth, with their five internal organs forming a world unto themselves.

Thus, by using human life as nutrients to nurture Miracle Medicines, those poisoned have their entire cultivation and vital energies devoured by the drug within their bodies, until at last, their essence, qi, and spirit are all dissipated, they wither and become as lifeless as wood, deformed and unrecognizable, yet that Miracle Medicine will gradually approach maturity under nourishment.

Once it emerges, within just a few days, it will rapidly mature from a single seed, and because it is watered by human life, its potency is often extraordinary. Regardless of whether its function is to regulate and nurture qi or to replenish vital energies, it is considered a rare and precious medicine in Jianghu.

Looking at Chuan Lian's current condition, the medicine within him is probably already mature.

Wang Anfeng had been studying medical techniques under Master Wu Changqing for several years. The latter, being a Divine Doctor renowned in Jianghu, had allowed Anfeng's vision to become extraordinary under his lofty guidance. Although the symptoms on Chuan Lian's body were peculiar, they were not entirely imperceptible, yet he was reluctant to speak out, and this was the reason.

The reason this young man is still alive is probably that, for the past two years, Meng Yuexue has been searching for various medicines to contain the spread of that Miracle Medicine within him, but ultimately, this is only a temporary measure.

The time of Chuan Lian's soul dispersing is probably not far off.

Upon hearing this, Wu Changqing's voice paused slightly, understanding the implication behind Wang Anfeng's words. He fell silent, then sighed,

"But whether you say it or not, this matter cannot be reversed."

Wang Anfeng fell silent for a moment, shook his head, and said,

"It is different."

"The Master once said to treat others with sincerity, but compared to the truth, I still feel it's more important to maintain Miss Meng's current state of mind... Perhaps this is a bit unfair to Brother Chuan, but I think if Brother Chuan knew, he would probably agree with my approach and choose to conceal it."

"To treat others with sincerity, especially friends, there should be no lies or deceit." Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"But sometimes, telling the truth is the cruelest act. It is precisely because I regard Miss Meng and Brother Chuan as friends and treat them with sincerity that I cannot bring myself to disclose it."

The aged voice by his ear fell silent.

Over two years, both Wu Changqing and Wang Anfeng could fully imagine how Meng Yuexue had persisted until now: Pharmacist Valley was destroyed, blood relatives all lost their lives, and in Jianghu, everyone sought to kill her, either for fame or for profit.

Almost overnight, the most perilous aspect of Jianghu was fully exposed before her. Even martial artists accustomed to navigating Jianghu might not be able to withstand it, let alone a fourteen-year-old girl?

Probably the only thing sustaining her, preventing her from falling into the path of evil, was her senior brother, Chuan Lian's, life. If she were to be told now that Chuan Lian's death was inevitable...

Wang Anfeng didn't know what immense blow it would deal to her.

The youth leaned back against the bamboo chair, looking up at the decor of the room, feeling a heavy melancholy in his heart that made it hard to relax. Wu Changqing was very familiar with Wang Anfeng, and even within the confines of Shaolin Temple, he could clearly perceive the fluctuations in the youth's aura.

The Art of the Medicine Man was not a new encounter for Wang Anfeng.

Two years ago, the Great Elder of Pharmacist Valley had been involved with this wicked practice, which led to the catastrophe that decimated their sect. Two years later, this method reemerged in Jianghu, and through other means, once again involved Pharmacist Valley.

There was definitely a problem...

Wang Anfeng's brow furrowed slightly as he contemplated the potential causes and consequences behind this matter in his heart.

He was no longer the same as two years ago; whether in terms of martial arts or mental fortitude, he was fully capable of involving himself in the affairs of Jianghu. Without claiming to roam the world indulging in passionate enmities, at the very least, he was capable of self-preservation, avoiding the frequent dangers he once faced.

Just then, a soft rustling came from the inner chamber. Wang Anfeng regained his composure, returning to calmness, and sighed inwardly, setting aside his thoughts for the moment.

No matter what, he should prioritize getting Brother Chuan and Miss Meng away from this place first.

Within Shaolin Temple, Wu Changqing also let out a faint sigh, sensing the composure between the youth's eyebrows. He 'looked' at him behaving normally in front of Meng Yuexue, without showing any flaws, and for a moment felt a sense of unreality.

When had it all begun?

The young man with the tender features, who used to treat me with utmost respect, has gradually developed his own principles for action. He is no longer the obedient disciple who would listen to everything his master said.

"A gentleman treats others with sincerity."

He no longer strictly adheres to the teachings from books, yet he has never strayed from their wisdom.

Wu Changqing felt a complex mix of emotions.

There was much gratification, much admiration, but beyond these feelings, there was also a faint sense of loss that lingered, unable to be dispelled.

After sitting in a daze for a moment, the old man shook his head, suppressed these emotions at the bottom of his heart, and once again focused on contemplating Chuan Lian's condition.

His medical skills were almost godlike, with the ability to reach the heavens and penetrate the earth. Unfortunately, the medical principles of Great Qin's jianghu were different, and the Art of the Medicine Man that Chuan Lian suffered from was even more different from what he knew.

If only he could have arrived two months earlier. With his proficient medical skills, even if he did not understand the principles of this Art of the Medicine Man, he could have used other methods to break through the Poison of the Drug Man in Chuan Lian and save his life, using just the fundamental principles of medicine.

But now, Chuan Lian's body was extremely weak, unable to withstand such a domineering approach. It was feared that before the poison could be removed, his life force would cease, and he would die on the spot. Furthermore, from the pulse condition he had observed just now, Wu Changqing realized that Chuan Lian's life was closely linked to that miracle medicine, forming a situation akin to a twin life within one body.

Breaking the Poison of the Drug Man was almost equivalent to personally killing Chuan Lian.

Even for him, facing this unfamiliar realm, he was deeply troubled for a moment.

Meanwhile, outside.

Meng Yuexue put the medicinal herbs into the pot to simmer and brewed another pot of tea. She then poured a cup and handed it to Wang Anfeng. The tea fragrance was curling up, and the light tea soup contained some old tea leaves stretching out.

Wang Anfeng lifted the teacup.

When he was in Great Liang Village, he had learned the art of tea from his master's wife, acquiring the skill of judging people through tea. At this moment, the cup of tea in his hand, not devoid of dryness, clearly revealed Meng Yuexue's state of mind.

Yet the young girl before him was still smiling.

Wang Anfeng sighed silently in his heart, raised his hand to drink the tea, but at that moment, the Mixed Yuan Body capable of warding off all poisons suddenly accelerated, generating a surging heat towards his Dantian. The flow of his Golden Bell Inner Strength, normally calm, suddenly sped up.

Wang Anfeng's expression changed slightly.

Poison?!

He put down the teacup heavily on the table, stood up swiftly, and raised his left hand to grip the hilt of the Heavy Blade behind him. His expression was alert as he looked outside and said in a deep voice:

"Miss Meng, be careful."

"It appears that someone from Immortal Pavilion has made a move..."

Meng Yuexue was momentarily stunned, then her complexion suddenly changed, showing panic. She whirled around and dashed to the bedside. Indeed, she saw Chuan Lian, who had previously had a calm complexion, now furrowing his brows and showing signs of pain, moaning in a low voice. His already very faint breath was even more unstable, as if it might stop at any moment, prompting her to exclaim:

"Elder brother!!"

Upon hearing her cry, Wang Anfeng's heart skipped a beat. He turned around abruptly, but at the same time, he heard a rustling sound behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw someone not far down the street, half-kneeling, clutching their face, their body shaking, letting out low growls of pain.

As they slowly pulled their hands down, their not overly long fingernails scraped across their face, leaving several bloody marks. Their eyes were wide, tinged with blood, conveying an expression of agony. Just as their fingers were about to touch their own eyes, Wang Anfeng had already appeared beside them, swiftly pressing several points to immobilize their acupoints, causing them to faint.

Just as he was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the sound of screams. Almost simultaneously, they erupted in several places throughout the village, one after another, without pause.

PS: Thank you to the beautiful madam "you know who" for being a league leader (gratefully in tears, beyond words).

Also, thanks to orchast for the generous gift, and heartfelt thanks to everyone for your encouragement.