Chapter 78

How could he know that Xuan Kong’s aspirations were higher than the sky, with a heart set on repaying the old Taoist master and making the Laoshan Sect the greatest cultivation sect of all time?

Wang Qi diligently refilled his senior brother’s wine, his voice trembling as he said, "My old father has always been a merchant, doing good deeds all his life, and has never had any conflicts with others. Apart from a bit of tension with the Zhang brothers over the years, there are no enemies in the entire Ninghai County."

"But now, his life is about to end. Despite learning Daoist arts on Laoshan, I can’t even see what’s wrong. I truly feel unworthy as a son..."

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sob, large tears rolling down from the corners of his eyes.

In the end, he even leaned on Xuan Kong’s arm and burst into tears.

In this era, people believed in raising children to support them in old age and in the virtue of filial piety. Although Old Master Wang was somewhat strict, he always treated his children well.

This was why Wang Qi was willing to stand up for his family, traveling a thousand miles and enduring countless hardships to come to Laoshan to learn Daoist arts.

He never expected that after bowing to his master and learning Daoist arts, he would return home to find his old father with a deathly aura on his face, not long for this world. How could this not make Wang Qi heartbroken?

Xuan Kong watched Wang Qi cry and felt a lump in his own throat.

He had forgotten most of his past, but he still remembered his not-so-great origins. In this life, he was also born without parents, growing up with the old Taoist master.

If he knew that the old Taoist master had been killed by evil methods, he would have been so enraged that he would have torn a hole in the sky!

He held back his tears, lifted Wang Qi, and scolded, "Say what you have to say properly. Don’t cry, or you’ll become a wimp!"

Wang Jun also consoled him, "That’s right. Master didn’t attend the banquet; he went out to investigate this matter."

He remembered that when they pushed open the door, Xuan Kong was sitting cross-legged on the cloud bed, slowly performing the movements to regulate his qi. Xuan Kong had taught him that this was a necessary step after the return of the spirit to the body, to harmonize the dragon and tiger and nourish the spirit.

Xuan Kong nodded and repeated what he had said to his disciples in the afternoon. Wang Qi asked curiously, "What is a 'gu' technique?"

Xuan Kong gestured for his disciple to bring out the bamboo slip recording the 'gu' technique. Wang Qi bit his finger and asked, "Why haven’t I heard of such a technique in the sect?" Wang Jun was also puzzled and looked at Xuan Kong.

Seeing that he couldn’t hide it, Xuan Kong laughed and said, "This is my accumulated knowledge from years of cultivation, and I’m planning to use it to supplement the sect’s teachings."

Wang Qi asked, "Why don’t you give this to Master to teach the other senior brothers?"

Xuan Kong laughed, but his eyes were serious as he looked at Wang Qi and his disciples. After a moment, he said, "That’s because the people in the sect now lack the temperament and nature of a cultivator. No matter how Master sees them, to me, they are just fleeting clouds."

"How can they have the qualifications to see the immortal techniques I have written?" This wasn’t Xuan Kong being stingy; some techniques were simply too esoteric and dangerous.

These were techniques he had learned from novels in his previous life, which had never appeared in this world or would only appear in the future. No one but Xuan Kong could master them.

Moreover, the people in the sect all had the idea of learning some Daoist arts and then going down the mountain to make a name for themselves. Xuan Kong didn’t trust them with these techniques.

Wang Qi, under Xuan Kong’s gaze, felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

He thought to himself, "So, in Senior Brother’s eyes, he and the other senior brothers are not on the same path. I wonder what Senior Brother has in mind?"

Xuan Kong saw through Wang Qi’s thoughts and comforted him, "Don’t worry too much, Junior Brother. As long as you work hard, you will naturally have the chance to become an immortal in a hundred years."

He looked at Wang Qi and smiled, "We are brothers in the Dao..."

Wang Qi smiled back, "For life!"

Both of them laughed. After the laughter, Xuan Kong continued, "This 'gu' technique, though esoteric, is actually not mysterious once you understand it. Old Master Wang has been affected by a 'gu,' which itself is not poisonous but makes him crave snakes."

Wang Jun asked, "Not poisonous?"

Wang Qi replied, "That’s right! My family has lived by the northern sea for generations and has dealings with some sea spirits. We have several methods to test poisons." No wonder Old Master Wang was affected without even realizing it.

Xuan Kong said, "The 'gu' itself is not poisonous, but the snakes are!"

Wang Qi frowned, "I asked the servants, and they have already removed the venom sacs from the vipers."

Xuan Kong shook his head, "Even though you removed the venom sacs, the venom has already accumulated in the snakes’ bodies. The amount is very small, almost undetectable, but it can’t withstand the daily craving for snakes over the years."

This accumulation, from small to large, from quantitative to qualitative change, was something Xuan Kong understood best.

He explained the principle, and Wang Qi suddenly understood, clenching his fist, "So that’s it!" No one had poisoned Old Master Wang; the snake venom had accumulated in his body over the years. Over the years, Old Master Wang had eaten countless snakes of various kinds.

The accumulated snake venom in his body was difficult to cure. Wang Qi’s face fell when he thought about this.

Xuan Kong smiled and said, "This poison is easy to cure!"

Wang Qi quickly asked, "How can it be cured? What treasures are needed?"

Xuan Kong scanned the room and noticed the little fox was gone. He asked curiously, "Jun, where is the little fox?" Wang Jun replied, "She was just on my shoulder, but she disappeared in the blink of an eye."

Wang Qi looked around the room and indeed found no trace of the little fox. He asked, "Senior Brother, could the cure involve the little fox?"

Xuan Kong nodded, "Exactly. All things in heaven and earth have a counterbalance."

Foxes love to eat snakes, so the inner core of a fox spirit is the counter to snake venom. Borrowing the inner core from the little fox would solve Old Master Wang’s problem. However, the little fox seemed to have seen through Xuan Kong’s plan and fled.

Wang Qi gritted his teeth, "I will find her. Even if I offer all my wealth, I will ask her to lend the inner core!"

Xuan Kong smiled and stopped him, "There’s no need for all your wealth. There are other fox spirits in Ninghai County. I will help you solve this problem."

Although he didn’t know why the little fox was unwilling to give up her inner core, Xuan Kong was confident. The Zhang family’s fox spirits had just moved to Ninghai County and were in need of money. A little silver would be enough to borrow an inner core.

Moreover, a thousand-year-old fox spirit’s inner core was much purer and more suitable than the little fox’s.