Chapter Fifty-four: Medicine and Poison

On the third day of the Wudang Gathering, Hu Qingniu arrived at Mount Wudang, brought by Liu Xingwu, the disciple whom Fate had cheaply bestowed on Yuanye.

The moment he saw Yuanye, Hu Qingniu fell to his knees, expressing his deep gratitude for Yuanye’s help in avenging his great enmity. Meanwhile, Liu Xingwu gleefully went off to spar in martial arts with Xiong Ba and Xiong Wu.

Inside Yu Daiyan’s room, it was crowded to the brim. Zhang Sanfeng and the heroes of Wudang all watched Hu Qingniu’s actions with tense anticipation.

Hu Qingniu was around forty years old, his features clear and elegant, befitting his reputation as the “Divine Healer.”

“Well then, Divine Healer Hu, can my disciple’s injuries be cured?” Though Zhang Sanfeng was now a centenarian, whenever it concerned the injuries of his third disciple Yu Daiyan, his heart could not help but be anxious.

Hu Qingniu pondered briefly, then folded his hands and said, “Master Zhang, Master Yuan, I have already examined both the Black Jade Bone-Repair Ointment and Third Hero Yu’s old wounds. Indeed, I can heal him, but the treatment method is rather difficult.”

“Divine Healer, please speak plainly. For the past decade I have lain bedridden, living a life worse than death. Go ahead and do whatever is necessary,” Yu Daiyan interjected resolutely before Zhang Sanfeng could respond.

Hu Qingniu sighed. “Third Hero Yu, your old wounds have healed, but to treat you now, your arms and legs must have their bones broken and reset. I hope you can endure this brief agony.”

Yu Daiyan had been confined to bed for ten years and did not truly believe his twenty years of disability could be undone. Yet he reasoned that the worst outcome was that the treatment would fail. Over the past decade, he had become indifferent to all things. He merely thought, “My younger brother has run himself ragged for my sake, even venturing into the perilous royal palace in the capital. Since he has given his all, what is a moment’s pain to me?” He said nothing more, only offered a faint smile, and replied, “Divine Healer, do as you must. What pain could possibly compare to these ten years?”

“Master, let me do it.” Yuanye spoke up. Zhang Sanfeng immediately understood that his youngest disciple wished to spare his master the burden.

Atop the mountain, only Zhang Sanfeng and Yuanye possessed the internal strength to break and reset Yu Daiyan’s bones so precisely, without damaging his meridians. Otherwise, even if Yu Daiyan could walk again, he would be reduced to the life of an ordinary man—a fate as bad as death for someone of the martial world.

But how could Zhang Sanfeng bring himself to break all of Yu Daiyan’s bones and subject him to such pain again?

After Zhang Sanfeng and Song Yuanqiao left the room, only Yu Daiyan, Hu Qingniu, and Yuanye remained.

Yuanye first removed all of Yu Daiyan’s clothing and carefully located every site of his previous fractures. He then pressed on his sleep acupoint, and with a surge of energy in his ten fingers, a series of sharp cracking sounds echoed through the room, as he broke and reset each of the previously healed bones.

Despite his pressure points being sealed, Yu Daiyan was roused by the pain. He clenched his teeth fiercely, refusing to let out a scream.

Yuanye’s hands moved like the wind. As soon as each bone was broken, he immediately set it in the correct position.

Just as swiftly, Hu Qingniu applied the Black Jade Bone-Repair Ointment to each site, wrapped the bones with bandages, fastened them with splints, and used golden needles to alleviate the pain.

Their cooperation was seamless. In less than half an hour, the procedure was complete.

When the two emerged from the room, they were met by a row of anxious faces. Hu Qingniu saluted and announced, “Master Zhang, I have not failed you. Now, Third Hero Yu needs only half a year of quiet recuperation to be fully restored.”

The Wudang disciples broke into jubilant cheers. Zhang Cuishan, however, walked over and gripped Yuanye’s hand, silently shedding tears. Since the various martial factions had descended the mountain two days prior, Yin Susu had confided in him about the events of the past.

Over these two days, he had stood outside Yu Daiyan’s room countless times, weeping quietly, feeling unworthy to face his third brother.

Now that Yu Daiyan finally had a chance at recovery, Zhang Cuishan felt he could somewhat atone for his wife Yin Susu’s past mistakes. Otherwise, he would never have peace.

Song Yuanqiao arranged for the third-generation disciples of Wudang to guard Yu Daiyan’s room day and night. After several painful days, Yu Daiyan’s complexion improved visibly. Hu Qingniu confirmed that his injuries were no longer deteriorating. All that remained was for the bones to heal, after which he could move and live like a normal person. The Wudang disciples were overjoyed.

Half a month later, when Yu Daiyan could eat normally, Zhang Cuishan finally brought his wife Yin Susu and their son Zhang Wuji to visit him in his room.

No one in Wudang pried into what was said inside. When the three emerged, their eyes were red with tears.

Yet on their faces, Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu wore an unprecedented lightness, as though a great weight had been lifted.

From then on, young Zhang Wuji gained another godfather. Zhang Cuishan dismissed the two young novices who had been attending Yu Daiyan.

Zhang Wuji now had the responsibility of caring for Yu Daiyan’s daily needs. Though still a child, he was clever, honest, and attentive, and took excellent care of Yu Daiyan.

Seeing Yu Daiyan’s smile grow day by day, Zhang Cuishan and his wife were finally at ease, no longer burdened with sorrow.

As for Yuanye, after in-depth discussions with Hu Qingniu, he became fascinated by the art of healing. Once Yu Daiyan was out of danger, Hu Qingniu had intended to return to Butterfly Valley by the lake of Lady Mountain in northern Anhui, near the Bright Summit of Kunlun.

But Yuanye persuaded him to stay, expressing a desire to learn medicine from him. As Yuanye’s martial arts grew, he realized how intricate the human body was, and that studying medicine was the best way to understand himself.

With a master healer at his side, Yuanye would not let the opportunity slip by. Grateful for Yuanye’s help, Hu Qingniu taught him everything he knew. From then on, Yuanye devoted himself to studying medicine with Hu Qingniu on Mount Wudang.

Not long afterwards, the brothers Xiong Ba and Xiong Wu went down the mountain to seek out Xu Da, accompanied by Zhang Songxi and Mo Shenggu—though Mo Shenggu rather shamelessly insisted on coming along.

He claimed he was going to help Zhang Songxi manage the Jiuzhou Trading Company for Yuanye, but Yuanye suspected his true motivation was the immortal wine at the distinguished guesthouse.

Soon after their departure, some of Wudang’s third-generation disciples noticed that Fifth Uncle Zhang Cuishan and his wife had also disappeared, leaving only Zhang Wuji on the mountain to care for Yu Daiyan as usual.

After they left, Yin Liting too departed the mountain. Ever since seeing Ji Xiaofu at Zhang Sanfeng’s hundredth birthday banquet, he had been lovesick, yearning day and night to spend his life with her.

Concerned for Yu Daiyan’s condition, he had resisted escorting the Emei disciples back to Sichuan, waiting on the mountain for Hu Qingniu’s arrival.

Now that Yu Daiyan’s health was greatly improved, Yin Liting could no longer suppress his longing. He hurried off to Emei Mountain in Sichuan.

With his departure, the once lively Mount Wudang fell into a deep silence. Now, only the founder Zhang Sanfeng, eldest brother Song Yuanqiao, the bedridden Yu Daiyan, and Yuanye remained on the mountain.

Though advanced in years, Zhang Sanfeng retained a playful spirit, often teasing Wuji, Song Qingshu, and the other grandchildren.

Song Yuanqiao, being strict and serious, had little to discuss with Yuanye. So Yuanye arranged a room for Hu Qingniu in his own courtyard, and the two spent their days leisurely exploring the mysteries of medicine.

In his free time, Yuanye sometimes discussed martial arts with his master, visited his third brother Yu Daiyan, or guided Wuji in basic martial skills, just as his master once trained him.

As for the Nine Yang Divine Skill destined for Wuji, Yuanye did not rush to teach it—the time was not yet right.

Unexpectedly, after half a year, Liu Xingwu returned to Mount Wudang with a beautiful middle-aged woman. Upon introduction, Yuanye learned she was Hu Qingniu’s wife, Lady Wang Nangu, known in the martial world as the “Poison Immortal.”

From then on, Yuanye gained another subject to study—poison. Lady Wang, knowing of Yuanye’s great kindness to her husband and the threats that loomed over them, was eager to teach him all she knew, hoping that Yuanye would protect them in the future.

Yuanye had long understood that learning was the ladder of human progress. In his previous life he had lacked the means, but now, with the opportunity before him, he was determined to master as many skills as possible.

While Yuanye immersed himself in the joys of study on Mount Wudang, in the heartland of the Central Plains, subtle changes were quietly unfolding under the efforts of Xu Da, Zhang Songxi, Liu Xingtang, and others. All was repressed for the moment.

But it was clear that when the time came for these forces to erupt, it would be a cataclysmic upheaval, capable of crushing anything in its path.