Chapter 1

As the autumn wind blew, the air was filled with the scent of medicine.

In the northwest corner of the Han Mountain City herbal market, a low, ancient green brick shop hung a sign as black as ink. Three bold, ancient, and blood-red characters were deeply engraved in the center of the sign: Precious Medicine Shop.

In front of the shop.

A small alley paved with blue stones was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps.

The person who arrived was a thin, pale-faced young man. His steps were unsteady and weak, his whole body swaying as if a gust of wind could knock him down. He tightly clutched a jute bag with his large, dark green hands.

"Huff..."

The young man panted, stopping in front of the Precious Medicine Shop. As he bent over, he placed the jute bag at his feet. With a trembling hand, he took out a black handkerchief embroidered with a pattern of red spider lilies, and with great difficulty, he raised his arm to wipe the thick sweat from his forehead.

He is Ye Tong!

He is the medicine boy of the Precious Medicine Shop and the only current owner of the shop.

Ye Tong clutched the handkerchief, raised his head, and gazed at the sign in front of him. His originally lifeless eyes gradually filled with a complex light. Ye Tong hated this place, yet he was also attached to it. This place was his hell, but it was also his safe haven.

"Young Master is back!"

A low, hoarse voice came from inside the Precious Medicine Shop. An old, hunched man with a dragon-headed cane stepped out, his steps unsteady. From his appearance, it seemed he had only a few years left to live.

"Cough, cough..."

Ye Tong retracted his gaze, and amidst several violent coughs, he subtly wiped the black blood that had seeped from the corner of his mouth. He picked up the jute bag at his feet and nodded, saying, "I'm back."

The hunched old man asked, "Did you find the Blood Spirit Mushroom and the Withered Bone Grass?"

Ye Tong took a step forward, passing by the hunched old man, leaving a faint voice behind, "Ninety-year-old wild Blood Spirit Mushroom, 120-year-old Withered Bone Grass. However, all the Blue Silver left by the old man is spent."

"Spent is spent." Hearing the young man's words, the hunched old man's face relaxed, turning around to follow Ye Tong, smiling contentedly, "Young Master, finding these two main herbs means you can live for two more months."

Ye Tong's unsteady steps did not stop, but his tone turned cold, "Medicine Slave, can you stop saying the same thing every time? I know how long I have left! Go cook the medicine, I can't hold on much longer."

The hunched old man seemed not to notice the change in Ye Tong's tone, still wearing a smiling face, and chuckled, "Young Master probably can't take a medicinal bath yet. There are guests in the shop, and they can't be driven away."

"Hmm?" Ye Tong's body paused, glancing at the luxurious carriage parked at the entrance of the alley, and asked with a frown, "Seeking medicine?"

The hunched old man replied, "Seeking medicine!"

"Let them wait."

Ye Tong's steps quickened slightly, passing through the arched corridor and around the spacious courtyard. He seemed not to notice the three figures sitting cross-legged on cushions in the courtyard, and turned left into the side courtyard archway.

On the ground of the courtyard were several cushions. Currently, three people were sitting cross-legged on them: an old man with silver hair, over seventy years old, wearing a luxurious robe; a middle-aged beauty in a light blue dress; and a stunning young woman who seemed to have fallen from the heavens.

They watched Ye Tong walk into the side courtyard and the hunched old man approach.

"Who is he?"

The middle-aged beauty rose gracefully, staring at the hunched old man and asking.

The hunched old man chuckled, "My Young Master."

The middle-aged beauty's eyebrows furrowed, and her agile figure darted forward, blocking Ye Tong's path before he entered the archway. She coldly snorted, "Since you're back, quickly refine the medicine for us. Our family elder's illness cannot be delayed. If you delay, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

"Leave if you can't wait." Ye Tong stopped, his eyes flashing with a cold light, like a fierce beast staring at the woman in front of him.

Ye Tong...

He felt his soul swelling.

He couldn't hold on much longer!

The middle-aged beauty was stunned, looking at Ye Tong in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

How many years?

How many years had it been since she heard such arrogant words? How many years had it been since she encountered such a presumptuous person?

It seemed that since she took over the Zhang family business over a decade ago, no one had dared to speak to her so arrogantly and presumptuously. This young man, how dare he...

"My Young Master said, leave if you can't wait."

The hunched old man, leaning on his dragon-headed cane, slowly walked to the side of the middle-aged beauty. His expression was no longer smiling but cold and frosty.

The middle-aged beauty, enraged, burst with a domineering aura, shouting, "We gave you the face to entrust you with the task of refining the medicine. Don't be ungrateful. Quickly refine the medicine for us, or else..."

"Hmph, or else what?"

The hunched old man straightened his back, and a surging, overwhelming aura erupted from him, revealing a domineering presence. "Face is earned, not given. Although the old master... it's not your turn to show off. Leave..."

"Hiss..."

The middle-aged beauty's pupils contracted, and her body trembled as she instantly retreated several steps.

She never dreamed that the old, hunched man in front of her could unleash such a powerful aura. She felt as if she was no longer facing an old man but a terrifying and ferocious prehistoric beast, an unparalleled monster.

"Zhong Ying, be respectful."

The silver-haired old man in the luxurious robe sternly reprimanded the middle-aged beauty. Approaching her, his eyes showed a mix of caution and apology, and he clasped his hands, saying, "My daughter was disrespectful, please forgive her. Since your Young Master is temporarily unavailable, we will wait. As an apology, we will double the price for the medicine."

"Your Young Master?" The hunched old man turned to look at Ye Tong.

Ye Tong's body trembled slightly, his face even paler. With a sweet taste in his throat, he swallowed the blood that had risen, but a trace of blood still seeped from the corner of his mouth.

He struggled to raise his arm, wiping the blood from his mouth, and his voice came through his teeth, "Ten times."

After speaking,

Ye Tong struggled to lift his foot and step into the side courtyard archway. However, his steps were even more unsteady, and his body trembled more noticeably, like an old man on the verge of death.

Zhang Zhong Ying opened her mouth but did not speak. Despite the anger on her face, she keenly noticed the blood seeping from the corner of Ye Tong's mouth.

And...

The current state of the young man.

She suddenly felt that the one leaving did not seem like a young man but an old man on the verge of death. Not only did she have this feeling, but her father, Zhang Pinsou, and the stunning young woman also felt the same.

"Can he... make it..."

The stunning young woman's eyes flashed with a strange light, turning to look at the hunched old man.

The hunched old man waved his hand to interrupt the young woman, his wrinkled face showing a hint of worry. After hesitating for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "If you want the medicine, wait outside."

After speaking,

The hunched old man stepped into the side courtyard archway without hesitation.

At this moment, his steps even became lighter, catching up to Ye Tong and whispering, "Young Master, please wait. The old slave will prepare the medicine for you today."

"Cough, cough..."

Ye Tong stopped, handing over the jute bag and taking out the black handkerchief embroidered with a pattern of red spider lilies.

A gentle breeze blew, and yellow leaves fluttered like butterflies. The blue stone ground seemed to be covered in a golden sea. In the side house, sandalwood incense burned, and a faint scent gradually filled the room, permeating every corner.

The walls were black, and the small windows were tightly closed.

In the room, a glaring blood-red Eight Immortals table was placed in the main hall. On the table stood a tripod, half a meter high, with a dark, lustrous body. Eight lifelike dragons were intricately carved, a masterpiece of art. Above the center of the room hung a dark purple coffin, adding a chill to the atmosphere.

Below the purple coffin,

Steam rose from a stone tub, creating a misty aura.

The hunched old man stood beside the stone tub, looking at Ye Tong, whose body was slightly trembling, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, the Poison Liquid is ready. Please get into the tub quickly."

Ye Tong nodded slightly, watching the hunched old man leave and close the door from the outside. Only then did he tremble and take off his clothes one by one.

His body was streamlined with muscles, and his skin was fair.

However!

On this smooth, white skin, there were numerous scars of varying lengths, crisscrossing and shocking to see.

"Hmm..."

Ye Tong stepped into the stone tub, immersing himself in the dark green, viscous liquid. Instantly, a pain like needles pricked his entire body, and a low roar echoed from his throat.

Pain!

Heart-wrenching pain!

Bone-deep pain!

Ye Tong had experienced this pain countless times from childhood, even more severe, like being cut into a thousand pieces, and he had even tasted the feeling of walking through hell.

After a muffled groan, he immediately sat cross-legged in the stone tub, focusing his mind and silently activating the "Bone Marrow Cleansing Poison Sutra." Over the years, if it weren't for his cultivation of the "Bone Marrow Cleansing Poison Sutra," the supreme technique of the Poison Meridian, he would have died countless times. Not to mention, he had to constantly suppress that divine soul...

Medicine is poison.

He is also poison.

His body needs to use poison to counteract poison to prolong his life.

In the main courtyard.

The hunched old man slowly stepped out of the side courtyard gate. His hunched body suddenly trembled slightly, and his spine straightened. His deep gaze swept over the three people in the courtyard, lingering on the gate, with a hint of killing intent.

After a moment, the hunched old man's dragon-headed cane tapped the ground, and he said without looking at the three, "I advise the three of you to leave immediately. Otherwise, you will bring disaster to the Central Pool and suffer a bloody calamity. Don't blame the old slave for not warning you."

Zhang Pinsou frowned, remaining silent, while the stunning young woman showed a hint of surprise, glancing at the gate.

However,

Zhang Zhong Ying's beautiful face showed a hint of anger, staring directly at the hunched old man and snorting, "We will leave immediately after we get the medicine. Otherwise, your threats won't achieve your goal of making us leave."

"Unwilling to leave?"

The killing intent in the hunched old man's eyes did not fade, but a strange smile appeared on his aged face. "In that case, even if we meet, it won't affect my Young Master. Do as you please."

Whoosh!

Three ghostly figures suddenly appeared on the wall, their voices filled with heavy sarcasm, like waves of sound: "The old dog by the side of the Poison Demon Huo Lanqiu is quite benevolent! The lives of three ants can actually stir your pitiful kindness..."

The hunched old man's eyes were sharp, staring intently at the bald old man leading the group, and he said in a cold voice, "Yin-Yang Old Monster... Mu Wutian!"