Chapter 5: Even the King of Hell Bows His Head Before Me

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"My diagnosis was not wrong, the Heavenly Fragrant Jade Dew Pill was not wrong, so why couldn't the poison be cured?"
"I don't believe it, this must be fake!"
Master Wu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
He had great confidence in his alchemy skills and had thoroughly investigated the old man's illness.
In his mind, once the patient took the Heavenly Fragrant Jade Dew Pill, the cure would be swift and certain.
Yet at this moment, not only did the old man's condition fail to improve, it worsened instantly, growing dire by the second.
How could this possibly be?
Unable to accept it, Master Wu rushed to the old man's side, desperately trying again—his hands moved rapidly, he produced silver needles for acupuncture, employing every method he knew to save the old man.
Suddenly, the old man spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood, staining Master Wu's splendid alchemist robe.
But Master Wu paid no mind to his soiled garment, for the old man's breath had ceased.
"Dead?"
Master Wu froze, his pupils contracting, staring at the old man before him in disbelief.
The old man's breathing was gone, his heart had stopped, all sign of life extinguished—he was now thoroughly, unequivocally dead.
Not only had he failed to save him, he had actually killed him?
A thunderous roar filled Master Wu's mind, as if struck by a heavy blow.
"You quack! How dare you kill my grandfather!"
The woman's emotions surged, her beautiful eyes reddened, her voice resonating with rage.
"I'm telling you, if my grandfather is dead, the entire city of Jiangning will pay the price."
It was hard to imagine such words coming from a woman of such gentle bearing, yet her fury was unmistakable.
Her threat sent a chill through every person present.
It was clear the old man was someone of wealth and influence—if he truly died here, not only Master Wu, but everyone would be in trouble.
"Did Master Wu fail?"
"The old man's condition worsened and he died just like that?"
"What on earth happened?"
The crowd was shaken, unable to accept this sudden turn of events.
Just moments ago, Master Wu was full of confidence, and everyone believed the cure would be easy.
But in the next instant, the illness worsened, life was snuffed out, and the old man died outright.
Heaven one second.
Hell the next.
The crowd, like Master Wu, was filled with shock and confusion.
They simply couldn’t understand how things could turn out this way.
"Master Wu, your lack of skill led to this calamity."
"We agreed to wager—where is my Yang Spirit Grass?"
Jun Wushuang stared directly into Master Wu's eyes, demanding the stake.
He needed the Yang Spirit Grass to refine the Three Yang Spirit Pill, so he could save his father from poison.
Thus, the Yang Spirit Grass was his for the taking.
Jun Wushuang's words snapped Master Wu out of his daze.

He gazed blankly at Jun Wushuang, unable to accept his failure.
"How did you know?"
Master Wu fixed his stare on Jun Wushuang, desperate for the truth.
He refused to believe his diagnosis and treatment were wrong, yet the result was a dead patient.
Unable to accept this outcome, he wanted to hear the reason from Jun Wushuang himself.
"I guessed."
Jun Wushuang answered calmly, offering no explanation.
Master Wu’s expression shifted from pale to flushed.
He stared at Jun Wushuang for a long time before steeling his resolve.
"I can give you the Yang Spirit Grass, but I want to wager with you again."
"If you can cure him, not only will I give you the Yang Spirit Grass, I will acknowledge you as my master."
"But if you were merely guessing, I will take your life."
Master Wu refused to admit defeat so easily.
Three stalks of Yang Spirit Grass meant little to him.
But if word of today’s events spread, his reputation would be ruined.
Moreover, the woman and the old man were clearly people of status—if he killed the old man, he would have to give an account, or trouble would find him.
He wanted Jun Wushuang to take the blame.
"Someone like you is unworthy to be my disciple!"
Jun Wushuang sneered, dismissing Master Wu.
What?
Unworthy?
At Jun Wushuang’s words, the crowd’s shock turned to fury.
"Jun Wushuang, who do you think you are, daring to put on airs before Master Wu?"
"Exactly! You just happened to stumble onto the right answer, and now you dare to act up in front of Master Wu?"
"Such reckless arrogance, do you really think you're someone important? You're nothing but the useless son of the Jun family!"
The crowd jeered relentlessly.
Though Master Wu had failed, his status and power commanded countless admirers.
Jun Wushuang ignored the barking of dogs.
He fixed his gaze on Master Wu, a cold smile on his lips.
"If I cure him, I want you to acknowledge me as your master."
"Do you dare accept?"
To others, Master Wu was a third-tier alchemist and the manager of the Wanbao Pavilion branch, a figure of great prestige and authority.
But to Jun Wushuang, he was unfit even to serve as a shoe bearer.
Letting him become his servant was already magnanimous.
"Audacious!"
"Insolent!"
"Arrogant!"
Jun Wushuang’s words sent a wave of outrage through the crowd, their voices harsh and condemning.
Master Wu’s face darkened; the condition was humiliating.
But he needed someone to take the blame, or his troubles would deepen.
With this in mind, Master Wu gritted his teeth.
"Very well, I promise you—if you cure him, I will acknowledge you as my master."

"But if you fail, do not blame me for being ruthless!"
Master Wu resolved that should Jun Wushuang fail, he would make him the scapegoat.
The wager was renewed.
Jun Wushuang, hands behind his back, approached the old man.
"Watch carefully, and learn well!"
Jun Wushuang’s arrogance infuriated the crowd, but they held back, waiting for his inevitable failure before they unleashed their wrath.
Even Master Wu had failed.
They refused to believe Jun Wushuang could succeed.
Besides, the old man was already lifeless, dead.
Could Jun Wushuang really bring him back from the dead?
"If you can save my grandfather, I will agree to anything you ask!"
The woman heard the wager between Jun Wushuang and Master Wu, her beautiful eyes now shining with hope.
No matter what, her grandfather could not die.
Otherwise, the entire Great Qian Empire would be thrown into upheaval!
"Your grandfather's poison is beyond the reach of gods."
"But I am different."
"Even the King of Hell bows before me!"
Jun Wushuang’s eyes gleamed with absolute confidence.
This poison was beyond Master Wu’s ability.
But to him, it posed no challenge.
Even if the old man had a foot in the grave, Jun Wushuang was certain he could restore him to life.
Jun Wushuang stepped before the old man.
The old man’s body was pitch black, the poison rampant, the stench overwhelming, as if he were a rotting corpse.
Yet Jun Wushuang was unfazed.
He extended his right hand, placing it on the old man.
"Heaven-Devouring Demon Art!"
Jun Wushuang activated the Heaven-Devouring Demon Art, and a peculiar force of absorption burst forth, devouring all the poisonous death energy within the old man.
The Heaven-Devouring Demon Art could devour all things under heaven and earth.
Before the astonished eyes of the crowd, the black spots receded, the old man returned to his normal appearance, and vitality surged once more.
A powerful aura radiated from the old man, imposing and heavy upon their hearts.
"It’s done!"
Jun Wushuang withdrew his hand and stood.
"Where am I?"
The old man's complexion grew rosy, and before the shocked eyes of those present, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Grandfather, I thought I’d never see you again!"
Seeing her grandfather awaken, the woman leapt forward, weeping tears of joy.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd was stupefied.
He was truly cured?
How could this be possible?