Chapter 17: No Schemes Against My Mother

"What are the conditions?" Mrs. Hu asked anxiously, her heart secretly thinking that for her son, she could agree to any condition.

"I want him to become my disciple," Poison Hand Medicine King pointed at Hu Fei, sighing inwardly. With his advancing age, relying solely on Ling Su in the future might not be enough to control that rebellious disciple.

Mrs. Hu and Song Qingshu exchanged a glance, secretly relieved. They hadn't expected such a simple condition. However, Hu Fei suddenly said, "Before I become your disciple, there is one thing I must clarify."

"What is it?" Poison Hand Medicine King looked at him in surprise.

"Is Black Frost Cold Ice yours?" Hu Fei asked, emphasizing each word.

"Yes, it is something I refined in my early years, but given its extreme toxicity, I have never used it," Poison Hand Medicine King thought for a moment and gave his answer.

"Then why did my father die from Black Frost Cold Ice?" Hu Fei asked angrily, his mother's heart filled with mixed emotions, wondering if he really was the murderer, what would happen to Fei's life...

Poison Hand Medicine King's face showed regret: "In my early years, I chose disciples without considering their character, leading to the betrayal of my first three disciples. The one you just saw is my eldest disciple, Murong Jingyue. I once gave him a portion of Black Frost Cold Ice."

"What?" Mrs. Hu clenched her teeth, thinking that this long-standing mystery finally had a clue. "Fei, follow the Medicine King and learn well. With your father's family martial arts, you will be invincible. I will go and find Murong Jingyue to investigate the real culprit, and we will take revenge together in the future."

Hu Fei nodded vigorously. Seeing her about to set off, Song Qingshu hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, you are still recovering from your injuries, and your opponent is highly skilled and adept at using poison. I will go with you to provide support."

Recently, Mrs. Hu had felt uneasy around Song Qingshu, always sensing that his gaze held some other thoughts. However, he had indeed helped her and her son a lot, and he was also Hu's sworn brother, so she couldn't directly refuse him. Suddenly, an idea struck her, a way to refuse his company without hurting his feelings.

"Senior Medicine King, my brother was severely injured, causing his meridians to be severed. He believes that perhaps only the Poison Hand Medicine King can cure him, which is why he has traveled far and wide to seek you out. I hope you can lend a hand," Mrs. Hu bowed slightly and pushed Song Qingshu in front of Poison Hand Medicine King.

"Ah, the last disciple of the Butterfly Valley Medical Immortal Hu Qingniu, who has received his true teachings, once diagnosed me, but he was also helpless. After much thought, I believe only Senior Medicine King might be able to restore my meridians," Song Qingshu was now anxious, thinking that if even he couldn't help, he would be a cripple for life.

"Master Zhang of the Ming Sect's medical skills have always been admired by me," Poison Hand Medicine King felt his pulse and examined him thoroughly, then shook his head slightly: "Your meridians are completely severed, beyond the reach of even the most skilled physician."

Mrs. Hu's face changed, looking at Song Qingshu with concern. To her surprise, Song Qingshu smiled calmly: "Before, I was anxious because I still had hope. Now that Senior Medicine King says this, I no longer need to worry. A man who walks the earth, what does it matter if he has no martial arts?"

"Sir, what a noble spirit!" Poison Hand Medicine King praised, "However, there's no need to despair. Although it's impossible to restore your meridians through medical skills, have you considered cultivating divine techniques to heal yourself?"

Song Qingshu looked at him in confusion: "With my meridians severed, even the most advanced martial arts manuals would be useless to me." He thought of the top-notch martial arts in his mind, the Nine Yin Manual and the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, but with his meridians severed, he couldn't practice them.

Poison Hand Medicine King fell into a reverie and slowly said: "Although there are many martial arts in the world today, most are ordinary. However, the Sunflower Manual of the Blackwood Cliff, the Star Shift Technique of the Murong Family, and the White-Haired Supreme Scripture of the South China Sea, or perhaps some martial arts unknown to me, these skills have transcended the realm of martial arts and are closer to ancient cultivation methods. You might find a way to heal your meridians within them."

"I've heard of these martial arts, but I didn't know they were so powerful. May I ask how you know this..." Song Qingshu subconsciously doubted.

"To be honest, it's embarrassing," Poison Hand Medicine King smiled bitterly, "My rebellious disciple, Murong Jingyue, is a collateral descendant of the Murong Family. Due to his illegitimate status, he was not qualified to practice the Star Shift Technique. He went to great lengths to learn various martial arts and coveted my 'Medicine King Scripture,' hoping to one day take over the Yanziwu and lead the Murong Family, to uncover the secrets of the Star Shift Technique. A few years ago, he complained to me that his ancestor, Kunlun Sword Immortal Murong Ziyi, could move the stars with the Star Shift Technique, but by the time of Murong Fu, he couldn't even defeat Qiao Feng, constantly cursing Murong Fu for his poor talent."

"Oh~ So powerful?" Song Qingshu was intrigued.

Poison Hand Medicine King said to Mrs. Hu: "Murong Jingyue is highly skilled and elusive. It won't be easy for you to find him. I suggest you accompany Young Master Song to Yanziwu in Suzhou. First, you can use the power of the Murong Family to clean up the family, and second, see if there's a chance to treat Young Master Song's meridians."

Song Qingshu was so excited he wanted to kiss Poison Hand Medicine King. Truly a matchmaker reborn!

Mrs. Hu thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, I'll go to Yanziwu with Uncle."

In the following days, Mrs. Hu waited until Hu Fei's condition stabilized before preparing to set off. During these days, Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu, the two children, were like a pair of bickering lovers, one calling the other ugly, the other calling the other stupid. Hu Fei couldn't resist giving the other a beating, but was then poisoned by Cheng Lingsu's Red Scorpion Powder, causing him to cry out in pain...

Mrs. Hu sat on a stool, smiling warmly at the scene, her heart filled with warmth. Song Qingshu approached and teased, "Your eyes look like you're sizing up your future daughter-in-law."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Mrs. Hu shot him an annoyed glance. The two had become more familiar and natural with each other.

"Seems you find the girl ugly," Song Qingshu chuckled.

"Phew!" Mrs. Hu spat, "Cheng Lingsu isn't very pretty, but she is full of vitality. Sometimes, when she smiles unintentionally, she exudes a charming allure..." Her face turned red as she spoke, unwilling to continue, but clearly quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law.

...

The next day, the two bid farewell to the Medicine King's residence. On the road, Song Qingshu thought of Hu Fei's strange expression when he pulled him aside and said, "Brother Song, take care of my mother, but don't have any bad intentions towards her." He couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing about, Uncle?" Mrs. Hu looked at him curiously.

"Nothing," Song Qingshu didn't have the courage to tell her, changing the subject, "Sister-in-law, when you fought Murong Jingyue, he mentioned that you seemed to be from the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Mrs. Hu nodded lightly, "By chance, I met my master when I was young. She stayed at my house for half a year and taught me a lot."

"Do you know her name? Is it Lin Chaoying?" Song Qingshu asked eagerly.

Mrs. Hu shook her head, wondering why her brother-in-law knew so much about the Ancient Tomb Sect, "Lin Chaoying is my great-grandmaster. I don't know my master's name."

Song Qingshu's face became very interesting, thinking about how Little Dragon Maiden and Li Mochou would react if they knew they had such a senior sister.

The two traveled tirelessly, and as they approached Suzhou, they decided to rest for the night in a small town outside the city, planning to go to Yanziwu the next morning.

"Boss, two rooms," Song Qingshu called out. The innkeeper looked at them, smiled, and said, "I'm really sorry, but we only have one room left. Would you two like to make do?"

Mrs. Hu frowned and shook her head, "No, we'll go to another inn."

"Madam, this is the only inn in town. The Suzhou city gates are closed, and the next inn is a hundred miles away in the neighboring town," the innkeeper smiled sweetly.

"We'll look around," Song Qingshu felt the innkeeper's words were not entirely honest and became suspicious.

"Alright, let's stay here," Mrs. Hu said absentmindedly.

"Waiter, take this lady upstairs first," the innkeeper held back Song Qingshu and whispered, "Sir, please stay a moment, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Mrs. Hu disappear down the corridor, the innkeeper spread his hands and smiled, "Sir, ten taels of silver for the room, thank you."

Song Qingshu's eyes widened, "You're robbing us! It clearly says one tael per room."

The innkeeper didn't get angry, just smiled, "Sir, do you really think a large inn like this has only one guest room? We saw you two traveling together, a man and a woman, and thought we'd create an opportunity for you. Whether you can seize it is up to you."

"Is that allowed?" Song Qingshu was shocked.

"Hehe," the innkeeper smiled mysteriously, "Or do you think why, in the martial world, so many inns always have only one room left when a man and a woman come to stay? It's our rule, sir. Money can be earned again, but a good woman is hard to come by."

Song Qingshu was so impressed he willingly handed over ten taels of silver, "The person who came up with this marketing strategy is a genius!"

"What did the innkeeper say to you just now?" Mrs. Hu asked curiously when Song Qingshu returned to the room.

"Nothing," Song Qingshu didn't have the courage to tell her, changing the subject, "Sister-in-law, when you fought Murong Jingyue, he mentioned that you seemed to be from the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Mrs. Hu nodded lightly, "By chance, I met my master when I was young. She stayed at my house for half a year and taught me a lot."

"Do you know her name? Is it Lin Chaoying?" Song Qingshu asked eagerly.

Mrs. Hu shook her head, wondering why her brother-in-law knew so much about the Ancient Tomb Sect, "Lin Chaoying is my great-grandmaster. I don't know my master's name."

Song Qingshu's face became very interesting, thinking about how Little Dragon Maiden and Li Mochou would react if they knew they had such a senior sister.

The two traveled tirelessly, and as they approached Suzhou, they decided to rest for the night in a small town outside the city, planning to go to Yanziwu the next morning.

"Boss, two rooms," Song Qingshu called out. The innkeeper looked at them, smiled, and said, "I'm really sorry, but we only have one room left. Would you two like to make do?"

Mrs. Hu frowned and shook her head, "No, we'll go to another inn."

"Madam, this is the only inn in town. The Suzhou city gates are closed, and the next inn is a hundred miles away in the neighboring town," the innkeeper smiled sweetly.

"We'll look around," Song Qingshu felt the innkeeper's words were not entirely honest and became suspicious.

"Alright, let's stay here," Mrs. Hu said absentmindedly.

"Waiter, take this lady upstairs first," the innkeeper held back Song Qingshu and whispered, "Sir, please stay a moment, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Mrs. Hu disappear down the corridor, the innkeeper spread his hands and smiled, "Sir, ten taels of silver for the room, thank you."

Song Qingshu's eyes widened, "You're robbing us! It clearly says one tael per room."

The innkeeper didn't get angry, just smiled, "Sir, do you really think a large inn like this has only one guest room? We saw you two traveling together, a man and a woman, and thought we'd create an opportunity for you. Whether you can seize it is up to you."

"Is that allowed?" Song Qingshu was shocked.

"Hehe," the innkeeper smiled mysteriously, "Or do you think why, in the martial world, so many inns always have only one room left when a man and a woman come to stay? It's our rule, sir. Money can be earned again, but a good woman is hard to come by."

Song Qingshu was so impressed he willingly handed over ten taels of silver, "The person who came up with this marketing strategy is a genius!"

"What did the innkeeper say to you just now?" Mrs. Hu asked curiously when Song Qingshu returned to the room.

"Nothing," Song Qingshu didn't have the courage to tell her, changing the subject, "Sister-in-law, when you fought Murong Jingyue, he mentioned that you seemed to be from the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Mrs. Hu nodded lightly, "By chance, I met my master when I was young. She stayed at my house for half a year and taught me a lot."

"Do you know her name? Is it Lin Chaoying?" Song Qingshu asked eagerly.

Mrs. Hu shook her head, wondering why her brother-in-law knew so much about the Ancient Tomb Sect, "Lin Chaoying is my great-grandmaster. I don't know my master's name."

Song Qingshu's face became very interesting, thinking about how Little Dragon Maiden and Li Mochou would react if they knew they had such a senior sister.

The two traveled tirelessly, and as they approached Suzhou, they decided to rest for the night in a small town outside the city, planning to go to Yanziwu the next morning.

"Boss, two rooms," Song Qingshu called out. The innkeeper looked at them, smiled, and said, "I'm really sorry, but we only have one room left. Would you two like to make do?"

Mrs. Hu frowned and shook her head, "No, we'll go to another inn."

"Madam, this is the only inn in town. The Suzhou city gates are closed, and the next inn is a hundred miles away in the neighboring town," the innkeeper smiled sweetly.

"We'll look around," Song Qingshu felt the innkeeper's words were not entirely honest and became suspicious.

"Alright, let's stay here," Mrs. Hu said absentmindedly.

"Waiter, take this lady upstairs first," the innkeeper held back Song Qingshu and whispered, "Sir, please stay a moment, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Mrs. Hu disappear down the corridor, the innkeeper spread his hands and smiled, "Sir, ten taels of silver for the room, thank you."

Song Qingshu's eyes widened, "You're robbing us! It clearly says one tael per room."

The innkeeper didn't get angry, just smiled, "Sir, do you really think a large inn like this has only one guest room? We saw you two traveling together, a man and a woman, and thought we'd create an opportunity for you. Whether you can seize it is up to you."

"Is that allowed?" Song Qingshu was shocked.

"Hehe," the innkeeper smiled mysteriously, "Or do you think why, in the martial world, so many inns always have only one room left when a man and a woman come to stay? It's our rule, sir. Money can be earned again, but a good woman is hard to come by."

Song Qingshu was so impressed he willingly handed over ten taels of silver, "The person who came up with this marketing strategy is a genius!"

"What did the innkeeper say to you just now?" Mrs. Hu asked curiously when Song Qingshu returned to the room.

"Nothing," Song Qingshu didn't have the courage to tell her, changing the subject, "Sister-in-law, when you fought Murong Jingyue, he mentioned that you seemed to be from the Ancient Tomb Sect?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Mrs. Hu nodded lightly, "By chance, I met my master when I was young. She stayed at my house for half a year and taught me a lot."

"Do you know her name? Is it Lin Chaoying?" Song Qingshu asked eagerly.

Mrs. Hu shook her head, wondering why her brother-in-law knew so much about the Ancient Tomb Sect, "Lin Chaoying is my great-grandmaster. I don't know my master's name."

Song Qingshu's face became very interesting, thinking about how Little Dragon Maiden and Li Mochou would react if they knew they had such a senior sister.

The two