Eradicating demons and protecting the Way is the duty and obligation of every Spiritual Cultivator.
The Human Sovereign once said, “Those who view demons as evil yet do nothing are worse than the demons themselves; their crime is punishable by death!”
Later, this sentence became the consensus of the world.
It was written into the “Human Sovereign Code” and became an ironclad law for Spiritual Cultivators.
“To view demons as evil and do nothing is to allow them to commit atrocities. If this continues, the demonic flames will only grow stronger while morality perishes!”
Cui Jinnian fanned himself with his folding fan, his face filled with a mix of sighing and awe.
“The emergence of this ironclad law laid the foundation for the final victory of the Great Demon Slaying War.”
Wang Yunteng smiled and nodded, saying, “You are right. This rule is very important. However, I believe the fundamental reason Spiritual Cultivators were finally able to turn defeat into victory is that a lone tiger is hard to subdue, but a wolf pack is easy to kill.”
Cui Jinnian asked, “How so?”
“To a lone tiger, the entire world is an enemy. It only needs to keep biting, and it becomes very difficult to tame. For a pack of wolves, there are not only enemies around them, but also comrades. And those comrades might also be enemies. The larger the pack, the harder it is to distinguish friend from foe.”
Cui Jinnian was stunned for a moment before saying, “Eh, if you put it that way… it seems correct. Tsk, Little Miss Wang, what do you think…”
As he spoke, he turned his head, only to realize that Wang Sandong had actually fallen asleep.
The two men, who had been talking loudly and discussing the state of the world, stopped talking in unison.
They silently watched the beautiful youth who had fallen into a deep sleep.
The youth’s face was fair and supple, like that of an infant.
The eyelashes under his willow-leaf brows were long, his nose was dainty and upturned, and his red lips were moist.
A lock of black hair was lifted by the wind, resting against his delicate cheek.
It was unknown what delicious food he was dreaming of, as he actually stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
“Ahem.”
Wang Yunteng coughed lightly and whispered, “Stop staring. Is something wrong with you?”
Cui Jinnian snapped out of it, but he didn’t feel embarrassed.
He even sighed frankly, “Sigh, I’ve found that Little Miss Wang is getting more and more beautiful. Tsk, truly a peerless beauty of the human world.”
Wang Yunteng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He said, “In order to prolong his life, my third brother has eaten various heavenly materials and earthly treasures since he was a child. Those things are nourishing. Combined with the fact that he was born without a Spiritual Root and has a weak body, it adds a bit of feminine tenderness to his appearance.”
“Yes, he really is too delicate,” Cui Jinnian said, half-joking and half-seriously.
“Looking at him like this, I feel that if I were to hold him in my arms and use even a little strength, I might break him.”
Wang Yunteng noticed that Cui Jinnian glanced at Wang Sandong again.
He smiled bitterly and reminded him, “You are someone who is about to get married.”
Cui Jinnian was taken aback when he heard this and said sheepishly, “Hah! Everyone loves beauty. I just find him pleasing to the eye, so I looked a few more times. There are no other stray thoughts. Don’t overthink it.”
“Humph, it better be as you say.”
Wang Yunteng looked at the soundly sleeping Wang Sandong and said softly, “It’s not that I have a filthy mind. It’s just that… there are many foul rumors in the streets saying that my third brother prefers the company of men. Sigh, if you don’t want to be implicated, pay more attention.”
“Psh, it’s too late,” Cui Jinnian said with a bitter smile.
“The rumors that Little Miss Wang and I are having an affair have long since spread everywhere.”
He took a deep breath, shook his folding fan, and laughed.
“It doesn’t matter. A clean person is naturally clean.”
“Public opinion is a fearsome thing.”
Wang Yunteng frowned, then looked at Wang Sandong with eyes full of pity.
“Third Brother often goes to Fengyue Tower probably because he dislikes those rumors and is deliberately putting on a show.”
“It can only be putting on a show,” Cui Jinnian sighed.
“After all, with his body, he could easily be tossed to death. Sigh, for a man to be unable to touch a woman until he dies… it’s truly tragic.”
Wang Yunteng sighed and remained silent.
The two fell into silence, guarding the sleeping Wang Sandong and staring blankly at the azure sky.
After a long time, Wang Sandong yawned and slowly woke up.
“Oh, I fell asleep.”
As he spoke, he sat up straight and looked at Wang Yunteng and Cui Jinnian.
“Why didn’t you two wake me up?”
“Why should we wake you?”
Cui Jinnian laughed.
“You can’t join in on topics between men anyway.”
After saying that, he spoke to Wang Yunteng again, “It’s truly strange. Your family is a prestigious clan. Who did he learn such coarse language from?”
Wang Sandong gave Cui Jinnian the middle finger, still feeling like he hadn’t fully woken up.
“I’m going back to sleep for a while.”
After saying that, he stood up and left.
Looking at Wang Sandong’s back, Cui Jinnian raised his hand and mirrored the middle finger toward Wang Yunteng, asking, “What does this mean?”
Wang Yunteng swatted his hand away and said, “I don’t know, but it’s certainly not a friendly gesture.”
After saying that, he also looked at Wang Sandong’s back and frowned, saying worriedly, “In broad daylight, to be so lethargic…”
In his view, Wang Sandong was already weak, and now adding a lack of spirit was likely not a good omen.
Cui Jinnian comforted him, “Maybe he just didn’t rest well last night.”
In fact, both of them were wrong.
Wang Sandong had neither slept poorly last night nor was he lacking in spirit.
In fact, he wasn’t sleepy at all.
When he was napping just now, he had ‘dreamed’ of the past when he treated the head of the Zheng Clan.
He ‘remembered’ clearly that the prescription he gave to the patient who had pretended to be an outsider to seek treatment was: nourish the meridians with Water Essence…
There is no other way…
Thinking about it now…
Perhaps he was wrong.
At least, the four words ‘there is no other way’ were wrong.
Mr. Yi’s medical skills were very profound, and nourishing the meridians with Water Essence could indeed radically cure the Zheng Clan head’s injuries.
However, Mr. Yi did not understand the Noble Spirit Art.
It was like being bitten by a poisonous snake; using a pill that could detoxify a hundred poisons would work, of course.
But if one knew what species the snake was, using a pill specifically for that venom would naturally work as well.
Compared to Mr. Yi, the current Wang Sandong not only possessed decades of medical experience but was also familiar with the heart cultivation method of the Noble Spirit Art!
Perhaps he could make a deal with Zheng Xiao—cure her brother in exchange for her killing Chen Youde!
Letting the evil-hating Zheng Xiao kill a ‘lecher’ while also being able to treat her own brother…
She should accept this deal.
No one would refuse a good thing that brought both profit and fame—not even Zheng Xiao, one of the nine Surnamed Kings.
As soon as this thought popped up, Wang Sandong walked even faster.
Because he was walking too quickly, his breathing became heavy, and a flush appeared on his small face.
Sensing something wrong with his body, Wang Sandong quickly slowed his pace and slowly adjusted his breathing.
This body really is…
Sigh.
Wang Sandong was extremely disgusted with his own sickly body.
“Young Master.”
Wang Tong, who was following beside him, saw that the path was wrong and spoke up to remind him, “Aren’t we going back to rest?”
Wang Sandong chuckled and didn’t explain, but said, “Prepare the carriage.”
“Where are we going?”
“Dan Alley.”
Dan Alley was a street full of medicinal herbs and pills.
The entire street was lined with herb shops and pill shops.
Everything in the world related to medicinal herbs and alchemy could be found there.
Mr. Yi used to be a frequent visitor here.
The old gentleman’s reputation was not simple.
Many shops would rather give away the herbs Mr. Yi selected for free.
Herbs that ‘even Mr. Yi says are good’ could be sold to others for double the price.
Wang Sandong entered a medicine shop that Mr. Yi frequent visited.
The medicinal herbs in this “Renxin Hall” were of the best quality and the varieties were complete.
The price was just a bit expensive.
“This young master, are you here to get medicine?”
The shopkeeper stood behind the counter and greeted him with a kind face.
Wang Sandong nodded and said, “I’ll speak, you record. Five mace of Qingyan, one tael of Ice Seed, fifty seeds of Worry Grass, fifteen petals of Dream-Fragment Flower, one mace of Li Fire…”
The shopkeeper quickly took note and asked, “Do you need it brewed?”
“No need,” Wang Sandong said.
“Do you have an alchemy furnace?”
“We do. What quality do you require?”
“A common one will do. Also, some Black Wood for starting a fire. A medicine mortar, medicine scales, pill trays, pill cloths… Hmm, that should be all. I’ll take this much for now. I’ll come back if I’m missing anything.”
The shopkeeper smiled and said, “Is the young master a beginner in alchemy? If you have any needs, feel free to come over. We have almost everything here.”
While he was talking, his hands didn’t stop moving the abacus.
By the time he finished speaking, the bill was also calculated.
Wang Sandong didn’t haggle and paid the money directly.
Soon, all the items were prepared, and the miscellaneous things actually filled the carriage.
Wang Tong settled the items and made sure they were secure before asking Wang Sandong with some curiosity, “Young Master, are you really going to perform alchemy?”
“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”
Although it was theoretically feasible, he had never refined it before, so it was hard to say whether it would result in a pill.
Moreover, the prescription he just prepared was one that even Mr. Yi had never refined.
Therefore, even if a pill was formed, its effect remained unknown.
Back at Anzhi Courtyard, Wang Sandong had Wang Tong clean out an empty room to serve as an alchemy room.
“Crush these medicinal herbs… Soak these few in water…”
Wang Sandong directed Wang Tong to work, while he himself sat down on a soft couch.
It wasn’t because he was lazy, but because his body was too weak.
After tossing and turning for a day, he was truly exhausted.
However, he wasn’t idle.
He stuffed those fifteen petals of Dream-Fragment Flower into his mouth and began to chew.
Wang Tong was a bit curious.
“Young Master, is that thing meant to be eaten?”
“Of course not,” Wang Sandong said.
“It needs to be chewed and mixed with saliva for medicinal use.”
“Saliva can also be a medicinal ingredient?”
“Everything in the world is a medicinal ingredient.”
As Wang Sandong spoke, his mouth twisted, and his small face was full of bitterness.
“Damn, it’s so bitter!”
The Dream-Fragment Flower was indeed exceptionally bitter.
Wang Tong said, “How about I do it?”
“No need, I’ve already chewed them.”
“It’s no trouble.”
Wang Sandong was stunned for a moment.
He looked at Wang Tong and didn’t see any trace of lewdness on his face before replying, “No need.”
Seeing this, Wang Tong didn’t persist but focused on grinding the medicine.
When the various preceding processes were complete, the fire was started, and the refining began.
Soon, a curl of blue smoke rose from the alchemy furnace, and a faint scent of herbs permeated the air.
“Keep the fire a bit smaller,” Wang Sandong instructed.
Wang Tong complied and asked curiously, “Young Master, what is the function of this pill?”
“We’ll talk once it’s refined.”
“Uh.”
Wang Tong smiled and asked again, “I often hear people say that alchemy requires the use of spiritual power. You don’t have any spiritual power, Young Master, so how can you perform alchemy?”
“The type that requires spiritual power to force a fusion is the ‘Spirit Pill’ refining method, used to seek speed and success.”
Wang Sandong stared at the furnace fire, a glint of light flashing in his eyes—he looked as focused as Mr. Yi when he refined pills.
However, his voice was slightly ethereal due to exhaustion.
“The way of the Mortal Pill lies in following nature.
Ice Seed naturally turns into cold mist when it meets heat, and Li Fire produces blue flames when it meets moisture.
The two are naturally able to balance each other.
I only need to use the mucus of the Dream-Fragment Flower as a guide to find that ‘balance point,’ and there’s no need for spiritual power to overcomplicate things.”
He paused, a bitter smile appearing on his pale face.
“Of course, having spiritual power to control the heat and temper the medicinal properties would certainly be better. Unfortunately, I don’t have spiritual power, only Demonic Qi…”
After saying that, he pinched his nose.
“The smell is so pungent. I’m going out for some fresh air. You stay here.”
As the blue smoke grew thicker, the smell of the medicinal herbs became more piercing.
Alchemy was hard work.
Wang Sandong’s body could not endure hardship.
He dragged his tired body out of the alchemy room, took deep breaths, and smacked his lips.
It was only a dozen or so Dream-Fragment Flower petals, but his mouth was still somewhat bitter even now.
He couldn’t quite stand it and needed to deal with it.
After thinking for a moment, Wang Sandong thought of “Woman’s Fragrance.”
“Woman’s Fragrance” was a type of tea that left the mouth filled with an unusual fragrance after drinking it.
Rumor had it that if one drank “Woman’s Fragrance” year-round, all their bodily fluids would be fragrant.
It was just a rumor; Tianxiang had been drinking “Woman’s Fragrance” for over ten years, and he hadn’t smelled any unusual fragrance on her.
“Wang Tong, go to Tianxiang’s… forget it, you’d better guard the furnace.”
Although he was very tired, compared to guarding the furnace and smelling the pungent medicinal scent, Wang Sandong would rather make the trip himself.
“I’ll go myself.”
After saying that, he left Anzhi Courtyard directly to find Tianxiang.
Halfway there, he was actually bumped into by a servant.
The servant quickly apologized, repeatedly saying he deserved death.
While speaking, he cupped his hands, and a ball of black Demonic Qi surged in his palm.
Although it was just a light bump, the weak Wang Sandong almost fell.
Glaring fiercely at the servant, Wang Sandong cursed, “You reckless thing, what’s the rush?”
He didn’t notice that at this moment, a wisp of Demonic Qi seeped into his clothes, quickly moved past his collar to the back of his head, and then disappeared into his black hair.
He was a kind-hearted person.
Although angry, he didn’t intend to punish the servant.
He ignored the servant and continued forward.
After taking two steps, he stopped and looked back at the servant.
Feeling that the face was unfamiliar, Wang Sandong asked, “Are you new here?”
After asking, he remembered that he had seen this servant on the Martial Arts Field.
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
Wang Sandong sized up the servant in front of him.
The man looked to be about twenty years old.
Although his features were ordinary, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“Where do you work?”
“In the back garden, tending to the flowers and plants.”
“Oh.”
Wang Sandong gave an answer, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: there was only Wang Tong in his Anzhi Courtyard, and occasionally he couldn’t keep up with the work.
Perhaps he should add a handyman.
However…
Forget it.
‘I am a Demonic Cultivator. If someone finds out, it will be very troublesome.’
At this thought, Wang Sandong didn’t say anything more and turned to leave.
The servant looked at Wang Sandong’s back, his brow twitching.
The wisp of black Demonic Qi hidden in his palm quickly vanished without a trace.
A cold, sinister smile flashed across his lips.
Oftentimes, one only needs to casually plant the seed of a thought and then slowly wait for the seed to sprout.
As his master, the Demon Sovereign, had said: “‘Soul-Seizing’ can turn people into marionettes, but the most sophisticated marionette is the one where the strings cannot be seen.”