Blackwood Mountain Range, Grandwake Clan.
The Next Day.
With the sunrise, its golden rays shone across the peaks of Blackwood Mountain, piercing the cold mist that draped over the region like a silken shroud, gradually revealing the buildings of the Grandwake Clan, which appeared as though carved into the mountain's very breast. The mountain birds chirped in faint melodies, as if afraid to wake something older than time itself.
The inner courtyard was full of life. Servants moved in silence, disciples arranged their weapons, and an elderly clan elder arranged ritual protective incantations on the gate of the grand hall, where an important meeting would be held this morning.
Inside his meditation chamber, Xichen had already finished his spiritual session. His closed eyes opened slowly, revealing a gleam that hadn't been there yesterday. It wasn't just a gleam of power, but a gleam of clarity… certainty.
Faint traces of spiritual energy were etched into his skin, as if yesterday's breakthrough wasn't merely physical, but had also inscribed something into his very soul.
A soft knock on the door was followed by a calm voice:
"Your Highness, the Medical Saint has arrived at the palace. They await you in the eastern square."
"Understood," Xichen replied, then stood. He moved with quiet steps, but each step caused a slight ripple in the air, as if space itself acknowledged his newfound power.
He wore a black robe embroidered with silver threads, trailing behind him like a still flame. His long hair was tied with a green jade cord, and his eyes, gleaming with an inner light, watched everything calmly.
Xichen exited his room and was greeted by the servants with politeness, respect, and something akin to reverence, for he was the one who had saved them from certain death at the hands of the traitor Su Haoran.
"…" Xichen gazed at the servants with his golden eyes for a moment, nodded to them in acknowledgment, and continued on his way to the eastern square.
Although he didn't know exactly where the eastern square was, he headed east while detecting Su Huiyin's presence with his senses; she should be receiving Yun Gu, also known as the Medical Saint.
The Eastern Square.
Su Huiyin sat with Su Ling'er in her lap, and before them stood an old man with white hair, a white beard, and gray eyes. His face radiated kindness and compassion. Anyone who saw him would liken him to a gentle old neighbor.
"Did you like the tea, Mr. Medical Saint?" Huiyin asked with a polite smile, her tone full of warmth and respect.
Yun Gu raised his teacup to his lips once more, took a small sip, then nodded slowly, a gentle smile appearing on his wrinkled face:
"Mmm… the flavor is very pure, it reminds me of the tea from the western valleys in their first spring. It's rare to find tea made with such care in a remote place like this." He looked at Su Huiyin with appreciative eyes. "You must have grown the herbs yourself, haven't you?"
Huiyin's cheeks flushed slightly, but she maintained her smile and said softly:
"I merely used what I learned from my mother… It's the least we could offer to one of your esteemed standing."
Yun Gu let out a soft, yet resonant laugh:
"Esteemed standing? Haha… I'm just an old man who wanders and helps where he can, but your kindness is appreciated."
"You really do like to joke," rang a deep, regal voice as Xichen arrived at the eastern square where everyone was gathered. "If you're just an ordinary old man, then what does that make everyone else?"
Yun Gu smiled as he slowly turned his head toward the source of the voice, his gray eyes meeting Xichen's golden ones, and for a moment, a silent pause seemed to freeze the air between them.
"This old man is grateful for Your Highness's regard," Yun Gu said with a gentle smile, stroking his long white beard. "But this old man truly is not a special person. I only know a little about medicine."
"Very well, we'll leave it as you wish, old man," Xichen said as he took his seat, crossing one leg over the other, raising his hand to stop Huiyin, who had been about to stand to greet him.
"I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll get straight to the point," Xichen said, his eyes meeting Yun Gu's. "I want you to hand over the Sky Poison Pearl and the Heavenly Medicine Manual. These are things that an ordinary mortal like you should not possess, especially since they will bring you ruin in the near future."
A heavy silence fell over the eastern square.
Even the breeze that had been stirring the leaves of the green tree stopped for a moment, as if the world itself was waiting for Yun Gu's response.
Su Huiyin stared at Xichen in stunned silence, while Su Ling'er unconsciously shrank into her lap, sensing that something incomprehensible was about to change.
Yet, no fear or displeasure appeared on Yun Gu's face. Instead, he smiled calmly, the same smile he had shown to thousands of sick and broken souls before.
"Hmm…" he murmured, precisely returning the teacup to its tray. "It's been a long time since anyone spoke to me with such directness."
Then he looked directly at Xichen, and something ancient and faint flickered in his gray eyes, like the flash of a star that had fallen eons ago.
"So… you know of the existence of the Sky Poison Pearl and the Heavenly Medicine Manual?" he said in a low voice, not without surprise. "Even in this era, there are still those who know those forbidden names."
Xichen replied in a calm but sharp tone:
"I not only know of them… I understand their value and their danger. Those treasures remaining in your hands is like placing a heavenly dragon's heart in a child's hands… sooner or later, it will draw the eyes of those whom neither heaven nor earth show mercy."
Yun Gu laughed a short laugh, but this time his laughter was devoid of amusement. It was rather sad.
"You are not wrong… some have already begun to move. And there are signs in the wind… warnings of something returning from the shadows."
Then he paused for a moment, looking at his left hand, where a faint green light flickered from an old wooden ring on his middle finger.
"The Sky Poison Pearl… it was never mine to begin with. Rather, it chose me. And I always knew that one day, it would leave with someone more deserving." He stared at Xichen for a long while. "Perhaps you are that person. Or perhaps not."
Xichen replied with a confident, unwavering tone:
"Once you give it to me, you'll know whether I am that person or not."
"You're right," Yun Gu nodded in acknowledgment and took out an emerald-green crystal ball from his spatial ring, along with an almost indecipherable ancient-looking book. "Even though this is our first meeting, you didn't try to use your overwhelming power to force me or try to kill me to take them. Therefore, this old man will place his trust in you."
'System, sever the connection between this half of the Sky Poison Pearl and Yun Che, and bind it to me,' Xichen commanded in his mind, having done the same thing with the Mirror of Samsara.
[Ding! 10,000 Destiny Points have been consumed to sever the connection between the Sky Poison Pearl and Yun Che.]
[Binding Sky Poison Pearl to the host...]
[1%... 3%... 7%... 14%... 19%... 25%...]
[30%... 40%... 55%... 75%... 88%... 99%... 100%]
[Ding! Sky Poison Pearl successfully bound!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for seizing half of the Sky Poison Pearl from Yun Che. Yun Che has lost 1,500 Fortune Value, and the host has gained 7,500 Destiny Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Miracle of Life before Yun Che. Yun Che has lost 2,000 Fortune Value, and the host has gained 10,000 Destiny Points.]
...
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