Chapter 108: Life And Death Medicine In A Single Thought
“Seek justice and revenge?”
The Dojo Master listened to Xiao Li Li’s sobbing from below the hall, a light smile appearing on her face, and said:
“I’m afraid your father sent you out not to seek revenge. If you don’t seek revenge, you can live a bit longer.”
Seeing that she had been seen through by the Dojo Master, Xiao Li Li said nothing more, merely kowtowing her forehead on the floor tiles with loud thuds, pleading endlessly.
Witnessing this scene, the Dojo Master sighed lightly on her face.
The old woman flicked her finger, and a burst of qi energy flew out, landing on Xiao Li Li’s body, stopping her kowtowing.
She said indifferently: “Your life is already hanging by a thread; if you get this agitated, you might drop dead in this old woman’s dojo today.”
With her body fixed in place and unable to kowtow, Xiao Li Li could only say in a low voice:
“My father sought death for me; as his daughter, since I couldn’t stop him, I must avenge him. If I can’t, dying together is fine.”
The Dojo Master squinted at the woman below the hall, pondering silently for a moment.
Instead, Du Yu Er standing beside her looked increasingly reluctant; she wanted to say something, but since the matter was still unclear, Du Yu Er merely said in a low voice:
“Li Li, this matter is not urgent; nourish your body first and then talk.”
At that moment, the Dojo Master tilted her body slightly, and a small insect flew to her ear, burrowing into it.
The old woman tilted her head, as if listening carefully to someone speaking, and listened for quite a while.
After listening to the voice, the Dojo Master’s gaze toward Xiao Li Li became even more pitying.
A mocking smile appeared on her face:
“Tsk! Shao Wei Guan’s door customs are not bad.
Even now, there are still people saying your father was foolish; he should have taken the medicine from your body and eaten it himself—what was the point of overreaching and seeking death.”
But the Dojo Master did not agree to the “revenge” that Xiao Li Li mentioned; instead, she muttered to herself:
“If this old woman guesses correctly, the medicine in your body was planted using the medicine ginseng method; it absorbs a person’s cultivation and flesh to nurture a precious ginseng.
By rights, you should have long been drained of blood and marrow, and the precious ginseng in your body should have ripen and fall.
But now, your cultivation is not exhausted; clearly, your father Xiao Hu spent countless precious medicines and effort to sustain your life and suppress the precious ginseng, leaving you with one tribulation cultivation to barely hang on.”
The Dojo Master continued: “With such medicine, do you really want it to end up in this old woman’s dojo, instead of trying your luck elsewhere?”
She fixed her gaze on Xiao Li Li:
“Perhaps you could return to Shao Wei Guan. That Old Man Ling is a bit eccentric, but he wouldn’t covet this thing.
Plus, with your father’s actions today, Old Man Ling might soften and help you seek medicine; at worst, he could make you comfortable for a while.”
But hearing this, Xiao Li Li’s expression did not change; more tears merely flowed down her face as she said miserably:
“My father and I sought help many times, but only Du Gu Guan accepted me as a disciple; this junior would rather die here than return to that filthy place.”
After hesitating a few times, Xiao Li Li said gloomily:
“If Grandma Du finds it difficult, after this junior dies, please take the ginseng medicine from my body. If someone avenges my father in the future, Grandma can privately give this medicine to that person.”
After these words, the hall fell silent; Xiao Li Li’s determination to die was now fully exposed.
This made the Dojo Master ponder for a long time before finally speaking: “Very well, this old woman will give you a chance, but whether it succeeds depends on your good fortune.”
Xiao Li Li was overjoyed and hurriedly tried to kowtow again, but still could not.
“Yu Er, summon Fang Shu over.”
Not long after, another figure appeared in the hall.
“Greetings, Master.” Fang Shu entered the hall and paid respects.
Then he looked in surprise at Xiao Li Li kneeling on the ground, unable to recognize her for a moment.
This was not because he was face-blind; it was simply that Xiao Li Li now was skin and bones like a skeleton, with no flesh on her face or hands, thin limbs, sunken cheeks, and only a greatly bulging abdomen—extremely bizarre.
The Dojo Master did not waste words; she straightforwardly explained how Xiao Li Li was using the medicine in her body to offer a reward for avenging her father.
The old woman even chuckled:
“Who would have thought that Xiao Hu, at the end, showed some ruthlessness for his daughter, even thwarting Ling Bai Quan’s plans. And his daughter, for her father, has some spirit.”
The Dojo Master looked at Fang Shu: “Shu Er, what do you think?”
But hearing these words, Fang Shu’s eyes merely flickered a few times; his face showed no emotion, and instead his brows furrowed slightly.
He did not answer the Dojo Master’s words but directly cupped his hands and asked:
“May I ask Master, do you mean for this disciple to take on this matter and deal with Ling Bai Quan during the Spring Examination?”
Nearby, Xiao Li Li, hearing this, showed expectation on her face.
The Dojo Master, hearing it, had a half-smiling expression.
Just as Fang Shu was pondering how to refuse, he heard the old woman speak:
“No, no.”
He looked up in surprise.
Beside him, Xiao Li Li’s face immediately froze.
The Dojo Master pointed at Xiao Li Li below the hall and said to Fang Shu:
“This medicine ginseng is nurtured in a female body, its medicinal nature is yin, while Bao Er and Yu Er are both women and cannot help this girl cut open her abdomen to extract the medicine.
I called you today because your comprehension is outstanding and you learn quickly; you can guide her a bit. Moreover, you can transfer some yang qi and blood to balance the yin and yang of the medicine ginseng in her body, making it mature rapidly.
That way, she can extract the medicine ginseng within a day and consume it herself, perhaps finding a slim chance of survival.”
These words surprised everyone present.
Especially Fang Shu; he had just been about to righteously refuse the Dojo Master, as he did not want to get involved in such troublesome revenge that could hinder his immortal path.
“Grandma Du…” Xiao Li Li’s expression was urgent; she wanted to say something.
But the Dojo Master raised her hand to stop her and looked at her calmly:
“Xiao Li Li, the ginseng medicine in your body has roots entering your organs, marrow, and brain; even if a Refining Qi Immortal extracts it, you would face a hundred deaths for one survival.
But precisely because of Xiao Hu’s care over the past half year, it has become one with you, inseparable; if you extract and consume it yourself, refining it with poison to suppress it, you and this medicine might coexist.”
The Dojo Master paused: “At that time, though your chance of survival would still be faint, it could be nine deaths for one life, with perhaps a small good fortune.”
Hearing this, Xiao Li Li’s gaze wavered; she showed a bitter smile and wanted to say something.
But the Dojo Master stared at her with a half-smile and said:
“Girl, those who help themselves get help from heaven. If you truly want revenge, instead of leaving it to others, why not fight for a path to live yourself.
Besides, you are your father’s daughter; how are others not this old woman’s disciples?”
With that said.
The Dojo Master slightly closed her eyes; she said no more and released the suppression on Xiao Li Li.
If this girl was unwilling, even if she kowtowed to death here, she would let her.
For a moment, the hall was extremely quiet.
Xiao Li Li’s expression shifted uncertainly; her breathing quickened, and slowly, her face finally became resolute, no longer showing tears.
“Thank you, Grandma, for your guidance.”
The girl paid respects to the Dojo Master, then turned and deeply bowed to Fang Shu beside her.
With a hoarse voice, she said:
“Please help me, Fellow Daoist Fang; regardless of life or death this time, Li Li will remember Fellow Daoist’s great kindness and wishes she could be your slave or servant!”
Receiving the girl’s kowtow, Fang Shu pondered for a few breaths and sighed on his face.
Helping this girl with revenge would invite trouble and possibly delay his own immortal path, which he was unwilling to do—even if it was a master’s order.
But casually helping her extract and consume the medicine herself was something he could do.
Thus, he cupped his hands in return and nodded.
With the matter settled.
The Dojo Master, in the hall, carefully instructed the two while having Du Yu Er quickly prepare a quiet room.
The room needed a water bucket large enough for two to sit cross-legged, two golden knives and two silver scissors, seven feet of white cloth, thirty-six copper needles, one coil of silk thread, and so on—quite elaborate.
After giving the instructions, just as Fang Shu and Xiao Li Li were about to withdraw, a voice transmission suddenly appeared in Fang Shu’s ear:
“Shu Er, the ginseng medicine in this girl’s body already has spiritual essence. For a Refining Qi Immortal, it’s ordinary, but for an Essence Refining Immortal, it’s a great supplement that aids in nourishing the spirit and opening the apertures.
If her life is fated to end, don’t waste this spiritual medicine; just give her a proper burial.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu’s gaze flickered involuntarily.
He casually looked up and glanced at the Dojo Master in the hall.
The old woman sat upright in the grand master’s chair, with wrinkled skin, white hair like a crane, drooping eyelids, sipping tea with her head down, her face expressionless.
This chapter was written with some deliberation and is late. Sorry, sorry.
