Chapter 47: Prepare for What Lies Ahead

“I cannot be certain of what you say.”

Duan Yanqing wore a solemn expression—as if he could wear no other—“That brat Duan Yu…”

“Previously, it was also at the Mantou Villa.”

Has the protagonist died?

Zhang Chengyi was somewhat surprised. After some thought, he considered that Duan Yu might theoretically have a chance to turn the tables on Ding Chunqiu. After all, with the Misty Step, Six Meridian Sword, and immunity to all poisons, it was plausible.

But in practice, considering the influence of Li Qingluo and her daughter, and Duan Yu’s operational skill rivaling that of a micro-control master,

he would either have been captured or killed.

He found himself surprisingly able to accept this possibility. Reality is not a novel; one misstep can mean death for anyone.

But what on earth was Jiumozhi doing? How could he allow the Living Sword Manual to be taken away or destroyed?

The trouble lay in this: if Duan Yu was dead or captured by Ding Chunqiu, then trying to bring Duan Yanqing away through spoilers seemed rather complicated.

Could they boast that martial breakthroughs allowed severed limbs to regenerate or faces to be changed?

It would be better just to use force, threatening like the Murong father and son did—after all, none of them were truly good men.

While Zhang Chengyi pondered this, he heard the sound of water splashing. Looking over, he saw Su Xinghe and his disciples arriving.

“Master Zhang.”

Duan Yanqing, the Murong father and son, and a group of Western Xia warriors watched as seven figures gracefully stepped across the water. They radiated an elegant demeanor, cloaked in shimmering moonlight, like celestial beings.

“Old Su, Ding Chunqiu fled. He left behind some very potent poison inside. Go check it out, be careful.”

Zhang Chengyi paused, then instructed, “Bring them all back. Leave these Western Xia men to Old Qiao to handle.”

Su Xinghe nodded in acknowledgment and floated into the villa. The other six friends of Hangu also picked a boat at random and hurried everyone aboard.

Duan Yanqing said nothing further, obediently boarding the ship. Whether or not he had a son could be discussed later; right now, disobedience might well lead to death.

By the standard of the Golden Mountain Ranger, who had just taken down Ye Erniang and Yun Zhonghe, he was definitely the type who could be eliminated, though he still held some utilitarian value.

Until the throne was reclaimed, he could not die.

Soon, Su Xinghe returned with a grave expression and whispered a few words to Xue Muhua. Together, they brought medicine chests and several live fish onboard.

---

After waiting another ten minutes, they returned with their report.

“How is it?” Zhang Chengyi asked.

“Master Zhang, it’s a mixed toxin inside, and we cannot dissolve it,” Su Xinghe answered calmly. “Once catalyzed within the body, the poison becomes extremely violent; even a touch of flesh turns to pus and blood.”

“From what I know of Ding Chunqiu, he must have found some kind of lethal toxin, blending it with many others to create this mixture. It can lurk inside the body and, with repeated catalysis, reach such a violent state.”

“However, rest assured, Master Zhang, those with Beiming True Qi can resist this mixed poison,” he promised.

That was reassuring.

Hearing that Beiming True Qi could block the venom, Zhang Chengyi relaxed and yawned, “Let’s go, take the boat back.”

After boarding, before he could find a place to rest, he saw Su Xinghe frown at Murong Fu and silently approach him.

“Bang!”

Murong Bo tried to block Su Xinghe from approaching his son but was brushed aside with a sleeve, rolling and hitting the ship’s cabin. The force was gentle, yet he had no strength to resist.

Su Xinghe pressed multiple acupuncture points on Murong Fu’s body, rolled up his sleeve, and pressed his pulse gate, causing a black-green line to appear from his wrist to elbow.

“You’re poisoned.”

Xue Muhua stepped forward, checked Murong Fu, opening his eyelids and mouth, performing diagnosis, then exchanged a glance with his master. “It must be the poison from the villa.”

The pair casually manipulated the renowned Southern Murong before releasing him.

“At most, seven days.”

They shook their heads together—there was no cure.

This mixed poison evolved constantly inside the body; without knowing the exact toxin’s root, no antidote could be formulated. Even with profound internal skill, one could only survive seven days.

“That green line extends to the chest; you won’t survive,” Xue Muhua kindly advised. “In these seven days, eat well, drink well, and prepare for the end.”

Murong Bo stepped forward, took his son’s pulse, then immediately withdrew his hand upon sensing the hidden poison. His face turned a sickly greenish-blue. He collapsed, sitting on the ground to practice internal energy, expelling the toxin tainting his force. Looking grim, he rose and bowed before Xue Muhua and Su Xinghe. “I implore you both to save my son.”

Murong Fu stood dazed in place.

“It’s not unwillingness but inability,” Su Xinghe replied. “Your son was poisoned by Ding Chunqiu’s mixed toxin. To cure it, we must know the formula and counteract it step by step, preparing antidotes. If it’s an unprecedented poison, someone must test the antidote on themselves…”

He shook his head. “Prepare for your son’s final affairs.”

---

Murong Bo was stunned, silent for a long while.

If I were to transmit my energy to him…

Zhang Chengyi gave Su Xinghe a puzzled look.

Su Xinghe gently shook his head: mixed toxin is mixed toxin. Before poisoning, those with Beiming True Qi are naturally unharmed. But once the poison evolves inside, sinking deep into the marrow, it becomes impossible to remove.

Either obtain the antidote or await death.

The detox method sounded complicated; Beiming True Qi was much more convenient.

Zhang Chengyi smacked his lips, found a corner to lean against and sat down. Listening to the gentle sound of water outside, he slowly drifted into sleep.

---

In a courtyard in Suzhou City.

“Never thought someone could swallow that King of Ten Thousand Poisons, the Manggu Toad, and survive.”

“If only, if only I had met you ten years earlier, no, five years earlier, perhaps…”

Ding Chunqiu stroked Duan Yu’s cheek. His eyes were filled with a complex gaze, as if admiring a rare treasure.

“Alas, alas, it’s all too late now.”

As he spoke, his body trembled. It was midnight; the True Qi from his old master Wuyazi surged through his meridians, alternating between scorching heat and icy chill. His internal organs felt like they were being twisted by knives. He lay back, convulsing uncontrollably.

“Father,” Li Qingluo watched nearby, worried but afraid to approach.

At this moment, Ding Chunqiu’s body alternated between burning hot enough to cook eggs and freezing cold enough to chill ice cream. His skin turned crimson and pale intermittently, sweat froze into thin ice only to melt again, presenting a terrifying sight.

Just as Beiming True Qi later could not overcome his newly concocted mixed poison, his new toxin also could not dispel the deeply rooted Beiming True Qi within him.

Nearby, Duan Yu, immobilized by acupuncture points and unable to speak, showed a hint of satisfaction. The torment he had endured recently was beyond words.

After a long while, as midnight passed, Ding Chunqiu slowly got to his feet, a strange smile on his face as the thin ice around his eyebrows fell with the twitching of his cheeks.

“I have been waiting for you all for a long time…”