Chapter 124: Feng Nuan’s Poison

When Liu Li hurried over, the Jianqiu Pavilion was still in an uproar. Feng Xing, having learned that Feng Nuan did not have long to live, wanted to take her out of the palace, while Heyu insisted on keeping her there.

"Your Majesty, you've come!"

Liu Li looked at the group, then at the unconscious Feng Nuan, his heart heavy with distress. "How is Feng Nuan?"

"Your Majesty, Feng Nuan just fainted from the pain. Please, allow your subject to take her out of the palace!"

"Where do you intend to take her?"

Heyu answered for Feng Xing, "The General wishes to take Feng Nuan back to Mount Heaven, but there is an expert from Mount Heaven right here. Why not wait until she returns? Furthermore, no physician in the world is as skilled as the Xihai Manor. General, why do you not trust me?"

"The Noble Lady is certainly skilled, but you haven't found a cure yet. Feng Nuan is still young and frequently falls ill; I fear she cannot wait that long!"

Heyu paused, then retorted with displeasure, "General, you are clearly doubting my medical expertise. I believe no one in this world has treated more difficult and strange illnesses than I, nor does anyone know more about medicinal herbs. I have already acquired several supreme spiritual medicines that can delay Feng Nuan's pain and decline, which is more than enough time for me to find a cure!"

Before Liu Li could speak, anger flared in Feng Xing’s eyes, though he restrained and masked it due to Liu Li’s presence.

"In your eyes, Feng Nuan’s strange affliction is a medical challenge, but in my eyes, it is a human life—it is family. The disparity between the two is too great. Forgive me, but I cannot comply with your wishes, Noble Lady!"

"You!" Heyu shot a glance at Feng Xing. "You only know how to panic when things get serious. Do you understand the mechanics of medicine? You refuse to let go of the patient while blaming the healer for not being empathetic. Is this your idea of being responsible for Feng Nuan?"

"At the very least, I will not let her become a test subject!"

Liu Li intervened to halt their argument, saying soothingly, "Both of you, take a step back. A life is at stake, but we must not be rash. Let us wait for the Mount Heaven expert Heyu mentioned to return, and we shall ask her if a cure is possible."

"Did I not already say? I cannot save her!"

A light breeze drifted in, carrying a cool, crisp female voice. The group looked toward the sound in surprise and saw someone sitting by the window. Although she sat with her back to them, Liu Li knew that this cold, proud figure who treated human life with such indifference was not the woman he longed for.

"May I ask what you mean, Miss?"

"When I saw this girl, I knew that this Gu poison was extraordinary and not something ordinary people could treat. I had already explained this to your Xihai Noble Lady, yet she insisted on finding a way. You cannot blame me for this!"

Heyu was incensed and replied indignantly, "Even so, a healer should have a heart of compassion. Are you willing to watch me give up on her? The world is full of strange diseases and thousands of types of Gu poison; if one does not put their heart into the treatment, how can a solution be found?"

Feng Xing ignored this and asked directly, "May I ask, Miss, can the Gu poison in Feng Nuan be cured on Mount Heaven?"

The woman in green shook her head. "This is a Gu poison developed by mortals. I tried to save her, but I found it clashes with the arts of Mount Heaven. Could it be that you have angered that demon? This ruthless technique bears the mark of his style!"

Liu Li was startled, realizing that this person was also investigating the matter, and stepped forward. "Since you are also here on a mission, perhaps you could reveal something about the origins of this demon; it might be helpful. We only have political differences with others; we have never vented our anger on practitioners. Why would they target a general's sister?"

"I am curious about that myself and am currently investigating. I suppose your royal family is in such chaos that someone must be colluding with him! This is your internal affair; I should not interfere, and I am not at liberty to disclose the demon's origins. You only need to know that he is powerful and vicious—that is enough! Should the day come when he must be eliminated, that will be a matter for Mount Heaven. You may rest assured!"

"Then... is there truly no cure for Feng Nuan?"

Bai Yu paused, then smiled. "Actually, there is one more way! However, you may not have the luck for it!"

"What way?"

They all looked at Bai Yu in unison. She had already formed a plan in her mind, and this time, she might just be able to drag someone down with her! Bai Yu feigned arrogance and shifted the conversation to make her scheme seem less abrupt and awkward.

"You mentioned you have a way, Miss? Could you tell us?"

"Wait. I was tasked to investigate who in the palace possesses a Pure Yang constitution, and I have my results." Bai Yu deliberately glanced at Heyu before saying to Liu Li, "The Second Prince, Liu Zhong, has a birth date and horoscope even more 'Yang' than yours, and his destiny carries more weight. You may place the Blood Moon Divine Pearl on him."

Liu Li looked at Heyu and said hesitantly, "This requires planning. Please, Miss, tell us the method to save her first!"

"Do you think you have a choice in this matter? This concerns the peace of the world; refrain from acting on your own!" Bai Yu smiled and tossed a red bead to Liu Li. "This is a red bead the Heavenly Venerable had me bring down. It is very similar to the Blood Moon Divine Pearl and possesses the same effects; it will not be discovered. Place it on Liu Zhong before dark, and this matter shall be settled!"

Liu Li was shocked. "If we act this way, are we not afraid that the Second Prince will discover it?"

"Fine, since you have no better ideas, then trouble me to do it for you! Miss Heyu, is the favor of these past few days settled now?"

Heyu smiled faintly, suppressing her intense emotions, fearing that Liu Li might perceive the malice and resolve within her.

"Naturally. I thank you for your trouble. Please ensure this matter is handled properly and leave no traces; it is for the best for both you and us!"

"Hahaha, of course! The Second Prince is so greedy for power, how could he possibly refuse such a wondrous divine bead?"

Liu Li sighed, feeling that Feng Nuan was the only normal person in the room. "We shall do as you say, and I will hide the Blood Moon Divine Pearl well. Now, can you tell us how to save her?"

"Very well. Since I am about to leave, I will help you one more time!" Bai Yu smiled and cast a spell on Feng Nuan, leaving a mark on her forehead. "I have sealed her blood vessels; the Gu poison will not threaten her life for the time being. If you wish to save her, take her to the Blue Lake on Mount Heaven. If a disciple of Mount Heaven is willing to help her, the Gu poison can be purified by the Blue Lake!"

"How can they help her?"

Bai Yu sighed softly. "This is the troublesome part. I doubt any of them would be willing to destroy their own spiritual roots for the sake of a mortal! Helping an outsider is a taboo, and to use the Blue Lake as a conduit would mean suffering the lake's thousand-fold erosion—it would lead to death or severe injury!"

Feng Xing was stunned and exclaimed, "Is there no other way? Who would be willing to save my sister?"

Seeing this, Liu Li comforted Feng Xing, "Do not worry, there will be a way. We shall search for other solutions!"

"Indeed, General, you should still trust Heyu! I can find a prescription to relieve the pain, and naturally, I will find a way to save her!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Bai Yu gave a cold laugh. "Forgive my bluntness, but this is a magical Gu poison; only a practitioner can cure it. Mortal methods only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. Rather than letting her suffer from a lingering illness that repeatedly flares up, you might as well grant her a quick release!"

Heyu was consumed by rage and wanted to lash out, but she held it back, only asking discontentedly, "If that is the case, why didn't you say so sooner? Why make me run about with false hope?"

Bai Yu snorted coldly and replied calmly, "Who told you not to treat me with courtesy first? I asked you about the collusion between Xihai Manor and the royal family; why did you know it but stay silent, forcing me to investigate it myself?"

Heyu was momentarily speechless, standing frozen in place, filled with resentment: You people of Mount Heaven are truly all cold and arrogant. Not only have you stolen the medical myth of my Xihai Manor, but you also trample on our dignity. One day, I will wash away this shame! When mortals suffer from great illnesses, they either pray to the gods or seek out Mount Heaven—has no one heard of the medical women of Xihai Manor?