Medicine Man

It was only after Sun Yuanjie arrived at the Ming Cult and met Wu Hai that he realized the seemingly jolly old man was actually the legendary Poison Emperor, a man who slaughtered without mercy, was ruthless and cold-blooded, and even used living people to concoct poisons!

At the time, Sun Yuanjie felt fortunate that his target was Xiao Feng, and also fortunate that he had successfully reached Xiao Feng's side.

But now, Shi Wenjie had inexplicably brought up Wu Hai to him, and a bad thought immediately formed in Sun Yuanjie's mind.

"Of course I've heard of him. How could I have not heard of the Poison Emperor's illustrious reputation! His presence is truly imposing!" Sun Yuanjie forced down the fear in his heart and began to flatter Wu Hai.

"I've heard that our Poison Emperor has been a bit strange lately. It seems there is an extra Medicine Man by his side, and this Medicine Man has been with him for quite a while now. It is truly resistant to poison!"

Shi Wenjie spoke with a tone of amazement, but Sun Yuanjie's heart had already turned cold.

It couldn't be what he was imagining, could it?

"You mean to say that the Young Sect Leader of the Tianyi Sect has likely become a Medicine Man for our Poison Emperor?" Sun Yuanjie subconsciously lowered his voice.

Shi Wenjie immediately replied, "I didn't say that. Don't spout nonsense. I only said there was an extra, strange Medicine Man by his side. Weren't you curious? I was just saying it casually, so just listen to it casually."

Sun Yuanjie dared not inquire any further, fearing it would arouse Shi Wenjie's suspicion, so he could only laugh and talk to Shi Wenjie about other matters.

However, Sun Yuanjie knew in his heart that the gossip Shi Wenjie shared was likely true nine times out of ten.

Since he had specifically mentioned the Poison Emperor and this Medicine Man, it was highly probable that this Medicine Man was the very person he was looking for: Xuanyuan Jian.

"It's over, it's over, it's completely over! If the Sect Master finds out that Xuanyuan Jian has actually been treated as a Medicine Man... then won't I be dead?!"

At this moment, Sun Yuanjie even felt that it would have been better for Xuanyuan Jian to have died at the hands of the Ming Cult than to become a Medicine Man.

Becoming a Medicine Man is a fate worse than death.

Yet, no matter how afraid Sun Yuanjie was, the mark on his hand reminded him that if he could not rescue Xuanyuan Jian within a month, he would surely die.

Furthermore, Shi Wenjie had not directly told him that the Medicine Man was definitely Xuanyuan Jian.

In order to complete his mission, Sun Yuanjie summoned his courage, intending to find an opportunity to investigate the situation on Wu Hai's side.

On the third day after Sun Yuanjie returned, he finally used Shi Wenjie's connections to find a chance to go with him to deliver a batch of poisonous herbs that Wu Hai had asked them to find.

He was thus able to follow Shi Wenjie to Wu Hai's side to help move the medicine temporarily.

On the way there, because Sun Yuanjie was a newcomer, the other Ming Cult Disciples kept asking him why he had come to do such a job that could cost him his life at any moment.

As soon as these words were spoken, Sun Yuanjie was scared out of his wits.

Shi Wenjie, who was accompanying him, immediately spoke up, "Don't spout nonsense. This is my good brother, and he is here today to help me out. If this batch of herbs isn't delivered on time and the Poison Emperor's Life Qi is disturbed, we'll all be in big trouble."

The Disciple who had just deliberately scared Sun Yuanjie instantly smiled and said, "I was just joking with you. Our Poison Emperor is actually quite reasonable."

"As long as you don't make mistakes, it's fine. However, if you hear any strange noises in the palace later, you must absolutely not be afraid."

Just as Sun Yuanjie was about to ask what kind of strange noises, a shrill, miserable scream filled with despair, pain, and a desire for death pierced through the sky.

Except for Sun Yuanjie, the other Disciples seemed accustomed to it; they merely paused for a moment before continuing on as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing as they headed toward Wu Hai's palace.

Only Sun Yuanjie was scared pale, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

The herbs he was holding in his arms collided with each other, making a rustling sound.

"I told you already, if you don't have the guts, don't come with me to move herbs. You insisted on not listening, claiming you wanted to see the Poison Emperor's heroic stature. If you can't even handle this, what heroic stature are you going to see?"

Shi Wenjie moved half of the herbs from Sun Yuanjie's arms to his own, teasing him.

"Isn't this my first time here? Do you hear this sound often?"

Seeing the surrounding Disciples looking at him with strange expressions, Sun Yuanjie hurriedly made an excuse.

"We often come to deliver herbs to the Poison Emperor. Rest assured, this is just the scream of the Medicine Man when it takes medicine and cannot bear the pain."

"The Poison Emperor doesn't use us Disciples to test medicines, unless we are Disciples who have made a mistake. But I've heard that if the Medicine Man can withstand the herbs being tested, it might even develop a Physique that is immune to all poisons!"

A Disciple standing next to Shi Wenjie said mysteriously.

The others nodded immediately.

But listening to the faint, intermittent screams coming from the palace, Sun Yuanjie dared not imagine what kind of purgatory scene was inside.

The other Disciples didn't have the time to comfort Sun Yuanjie; after saying a few words, they asked him if he dared to continue inside with them.

If he didn't dare, he could just give them the herbs and go back.

If he did dare, then he shouldn't waste time here.

Furthermore, this kind of thing happened often at the Poison Emperor's place.

Sun Yuanjie desperately suppressed his wildly beating heart and followed behind the others into the main hall.

But as soon as the door was pushed open, Sun Yuanjie saw a person with disheveled hair and black blood oozing all over his body, twisting and lunging toward them.

Before it reached them, its body suddenly stiffened in place, and then its limbs bent in an unnatural way.

The whole person seemed to be enduring immense pain, falling directly to the ground and rolling around.

While rolling, it tore at its own clothes and scratched at its own flesh.

Everyone could see that there seemed to be something constantly burrowing back and forth under that person's skin.

Sometimes, a large lump would even bulge directly on its body.

Under the nearly transparent skin, one could see what looked like insects swirling in that area, stretching its skin open.

Except for Sun Yuanjie, the others acted as if they hadn't seen anything, walking around that person.

Sun Yuanjie could only follow behind them, trying his best not to focus his attention on that person.

The person's roaring gradually grew weaker.

Just as Sun Yuanjie was about to pass by, the person suddenly reached out a pitch-black claw, nearly grabbing Sun Yuanjie's ankle.

Sun Yuanjie was startled and hurriedly stepped back two paces.

The person suddenly looked up, and a familiar face was reflected directly in Sun Yuanjie's pupils.

Sun Yuanjie couldn't help but gasp.

So what Shi Wenjie said was true; this Medicine Man was indeed Xuanyuan Jian.

Seeing Xuanyuan Jian in this state, it was as if a muffled thunderclap had suddenly exploded in Sun Yuanjie's mind.

His mind went completely blank, and he had no idea how to react.

It wasn't until Shi Wenjie, who was beside him, pulled him that he noticed everyone had stopped what they were doing and were looking at him.

Sun Yuanjie bit the tip of his tongue, using the pain to force himself to sober up.

He quickly retreated, putting distance between himself and Xuanyuan Jian, and knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

"This Disciple... is here for the first time and does not understand the rules here. I ask the Poison Emperor to forgive this Disciple."

A low voice came from the distance: "Get up."