Chapter 1415: Consort Yuan Refuses

Niu Youdao walked over and circled Yuan Gang once, finding no difference in skin tone anywhere across his bare upper body.

Calling the color pale gold did not seem quite right, but bronze was not right either. It lacked the aged depth of bronze and looked more like newly cast copper.

“Chi You Wufang...” Niu Youdao muttered. Yuan Gang’s hard qigong had already exceeded his imagination time and again. He reached out, took hold of Yuan Gang’s newly regrown arm, and squeezed it repeatedly.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong with it, Niu Youdao noticed something odd about Yuan Gang’s reaction. He was staring fixedly at Yun Ji.

Yun Ji had already begun to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

Once Niu Youdao released his arm, Yuan Gang stepped forward until he stood in front of her, looking at her with complete sincerity.

Yun Ji shifted uneasily. “What?”

Yuan Gang raised both fists. “I want to test myself against you.”

Yun Ji immediately became wary. “Test what?”

“Spar with me.”

Yuan Gang was one of the few people who knew how strong Yun Ji really was. The fact that he knew and still made such a request left both Niu Youdao and Yun Ji exchanging looks.

...

The constant clinking and hammering of excavation echoed through Tianmo Palace.

Hei Shi, just returned from outside, came straight back to report. He bowed toward Wu Chang, who was sweating as he worked atop a scaffold. “Sacred Venerable!”

Wu Chang’s voice seemed to reflect back from the stone wall in front of him. “Lü Wushuang still hasn’t returned?”

Hei Shi replied, “We’ve confirmed it repeatedly. Our people at the entrance to the Sacred Realm have recently checked even those entering and leaving in disguise. We can be certain Lü Wushuang has not returned.”

Wu Chang stopped what he was doing. “And Yuan Gang still hasn’t returned to Demon Ridge?”

“The Demonic Sect is still searching for him. Our spies at Maolu Villa report that Maolu Villa is also secretly looking for Yuan Gang.”

Wu Chang flashed down from the scaffold and stared at Hei Shi. “It seems Lü Wushuang really did know about the Fifth Domain.”

Hei Shi found that strange. “How could Lü Wushuang know that secret? Could someone have leaked the secrets recorded in the Demon Canon?”

Wu Chang shook his head slightly. “That can probably be ruled out. If Lü Wushuang knew the Demon Canon’s secrets, she wouldn’t have waited until now to look for Yuan Gang. She would have acted according to its secret methods long ago. I find this strange as well. How did Lü Wushuang know the Scorpion Emperor could enter and leave the Fifth Domain?”

Hei Shi asked, “Sacred Venerable, if Lü Wushuang entered the Fifth Domain, could she do something there that would be harmful to you?”

“You’re overthinking it. I’ve already inspected the Fifth Domain once. There’s nothing much there. I already understand its true secret, and it would be of no use to Lü Wushuang. Otherwise, why would I have allowed her to take Yuan Gang away so easily? What puzzles me now is that Lü Wushuang has been missing for more than half a month without showing herself. Even if she entered the Fifth Domain, with her cultivation, would she really need to remain there this long?”

“That Yuan Gang is hardheaded to the extreme. The last time he fell into Lü Wushuang’s hands, he refused to submit no matter what she did. She may still have failed to make him yield this time, which could explain the delay.”

“If that were the reason, Lü Wushuang would not remain completely out of sight. Wouldn’t she worry that the others might seize the opportunity to move against her forces?”

Hei Shi thought about it and agreed. After hesitating, he said, “Could Yuan Gang have taken her inside but refused to bring her back out?”

Wu Chang looked doubtful. “Would she dare enter the Fifth Domain so casually if she couldn’t control Yuan Gang and knew getting back out would be troublesome? What worries me now is that Lü Wushuang must have had some purpose in entering the Fifth Domain. Does she know some secret that isn’t recorded in the Demon Canon? If so, what kind of secret could be important enough for her to disregard the fate of the forces beneath her?”

He turned his head. “Release a rumor. Test the waters.”

Hei Shi asked for clarification. “What rumor?”

“Say that Lü Wushuang died at the hands of the Scorpion Emperor.”

Understanding dawned on Hei Shi. He immediately grasped Wu Chang’s intent. If Lü Wushuang had not yet entered the Fifth Domain, hearing such a rumor would certainly force her to appear and set the record straight.

If she had gone inside and still had not emerged, then regardless of what secret she was looking for or whether she could find it, once the other factions saw that even a rumor like this failed to draw her out, they would probably be unable to restrain themselves. Joining forces to wipe out Lü Wushuang’s faction first would hardly be a bad thing.

“Sacred Venerable is wise. Very well, I’ll arrange it immediately.” Hei Shi cupped his hands, then suddenly remembered something. “Right, Sacred Venerable. We just received word that Ghost Doctor Hei Li and his two disciples have been taken to Dayuan Sacred Land by Yuan Se’s people.”

Wu Chang snorted disdainfully. “Nothing more than him fussing over that dog eye of his.”

...

Inside Dayuan Sacred Hall, Wuxiang had been forced to remove his conical hat, revealing his true appearance. Once he entered a place like this, there was no question of allowing him to skulk about without showing his face.

The one-eyed Yuan Se’s expression stiffened. He gave a dry laugh and waved a hand. “Put it back on. Better put it back on.”

Wuxiang’s appearance really was too unpleasant to look at.

He obeyed silently and put the conical hat with its hanging black veil back on.

Yuan Se then turned his attention to the Ghost Doctor and asked with a smile, “Hei Li, I hear you want to search among my disciples?”

The Ghost Doctor sighed. “I spent quite some time before this examining many people, but never found a suitable match. Sacred Venerable has been urging me to hurry, and I’m also afraid I can’t afford any further delay. After reconsidering the matter, I began to suspect my original approach was mistaken.” He deliberately stopped there.

As expected, Yuan Se immediately asked, “Mistaken how?”

“If this were an ordinary patient, I could find something passable and perform the transplant. With Sacred Venerable, I would never dare be so perfunctory. But after expending so much time and effort, I discovered that finding a completely compatible match is almost impossible. After thinking it over, I realized I may have been looking at the wrong people. There is still some difference between the bodies of cultivators and ordinary mortals. It may be most appropriate to search among cultivators.”

Yuan Se asked, “And what does that have to do with my disciples?”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of Sacred Venerable’s disciples. Searching among cultivators should certainly yield a better match than searching among ordinary mortals. It is simply that, if we want the highest possible compatibility, someone who cultivates an art similar to Sacred Venerable’s may be an even better fit. To give an example, someone who cultivates a fire-aligned art and someone who cultivates a water-aligned art would naturally be difficult to match. Someone who likewise cultivates a fire-aligned art would be more suitable.”

Yuan Se listened and nodded slightly. “That makes sense. According to you, what should we do now?”

“If we search among cultivators, it is not the same as laying hands on ordinary mortals. Medicine Valley has limited reach. I’m afraid Sacred Venerable will have to arrange for cultivators beneath Heaven to undergo compatibility checks one by one.”

Yuan Se frowned slightly. Arranging for cultivators throughout the realm to submit to examination seemed troublesome even for him, never mind the Ghost Doctor. He asked, “Didn’t you say it would be easier to find a better match among my disciples?”

“Well...” The Ghost Doctor appeared hesitant. “They are Sacred Venerable’s disciples. I truly would not dare.”

Yuan Se chuckled. “You’ve already come all this way. There’s no harm in examining them. Besides, there may not be anyone compatible among them, right?”

He turned to Consort Yuan and the others standing nearby. “Let Hei Li try. We can see whether his treatment theory is correct, then decide how to proceed from there. Isn’t that reasonable?”

Consort Yuan’s heart was already pounding. She forced out a smile. “Sacred Venerable speaks wisely.”

She was one of the people who had inherited Yuan Se’s cultivation art.

Yuan Se said, “Then let’s do it this way. Make the arrangements and have the relevant people undergo examination.”

“Yes!” Consort Yuan accepted the order, then turned to the Ghost Doctor and his disciples with a warm smile and extended a hand. “Sir, please come with me.”

Compared with the attitude she had shown them back in Medicine Valley, she was almost unbelievably cordial now. There was nothing she could do about it. She too was one of those who had inherited Yuan Se’s cultivation method.

Before, she had dared reprimand the Ghost Doctor however she pleased. Now she did not dare. She was afraid.

The master and his two disciples took their leave of Yuan Se and followed Consort Yuan away.

After settling the three of them in, Consort Yuan originally intended to let them rest until she had gathered all the relevant people together.

Unexpectedly, the Ghost Doctor said, “I dare not delay Sacred Venerable’s affairs. Even after everyone gathers, we may not be able to handle them all at once. Those currently in the Sacred Land can be examined first. We can do as many as possible while we wait. What do you think?”

Consort Yuan smiled. “Very well. We’ll do as you say. I’ll summon everyone in the Sacred Land at once.”

The Ghost Doctor’s next words were so direct they were almost frightening. “Then we’ll start with you.”

“Me?” Consort Yuan jumped in alarm. The thing she feared had come after all. She forced a smile. “I’m a woman. Wouldn’t that be unsuitable?”

“It’s only an eyeball. Male or female makes no difference.”

A trace of coldness entered Consort Yuan’s voice. “Hei Li, do you think I need to undergo an examination?”

The Ghost Doctor replied, “Everything is at Consort Yuan’s discretion. If Consort Yuan believes she should be an exception, this old man cannot force you.”

Wuxiang and Wuxin both tensed at once. Wuxin especially had not expected his master to be so direct. He had gone straight for the target without circling around at all.

Under Consort Yuan’s fixed stare, the Ghost Doctor added, “Consort Yuan, do not misunderstand. This old man is a physician. I care only about the effectiveness of the treatment, nothing else.”

Consort Yuan did not accept the explanation at all. “There is no need to examine me. I’ll arrange for the others to come. Wait here.”

With that, she turned and left.

Once no outsiders remained, Wuxin moved close to the Ghost Doctor and said quietly, “This is all Disciple’s fault. I’ve implicated Master. Disciple...”

The Ghost Doctor raised a hand to stop him. “Things have already reached this point. Talking about right and wrong now will not turn back the road we’ve taken. We are already here, and things that should never have been said have already been said. The moment Lan Ming exposes us, all three of us, master and disciples, will die without even a place to be buried. Are you going along with this or not? I told you before that the affairs of certain people are not something we can afford to provoke. They are not as simple as you imagined, but you refused to listen and insisted on getting involved. Now that matters have come this far, all we can do is take one step at a time.”

Wuxin lowered his eyes in grief.

They did not have to wait long before Consort Yuan brought over a group of people.

The master and his two disciples set out their bottles and jars and got to work. The testing method was simple enough. They did not put anyone through serious suffering; they merely took a tiny sample of flesh and blood from each person.

At first, none of those summoned knew why they had been called. Once they saw the Ghost Doctor, however, most could make a rough guess. Nearly everyone knew something about the Ghost Doctor’s strange and unconventional methods of treatment, and inwardly the whole group grew uneasy.

After those people withdrew, the master and his disciples continued busily putting on a convincing show, carefully examining every human tissue sample they had collected.

Wuxiang merely assisted. In all of Medicine Valley, the only person who could truly be called the Ghost Doctor’s inheriting disciple was Wuxin.

[End of Chapter 1415]