Poison of the Human Panacea

药人毒- Poison of the Human Panacea (Chapter 1)

"When you love, you will worry. When you love, you will also fear; if you do not love, you will not worry and have no fear."

< The Dharma >

The ancient metal door opened with a clang, and the foul smell of putrid water gusted outwards, seeking release. The man who opened the door turned to a youth in white and bows respectfully, inviting him in. "Sect leader, this way please."

Bai Tan glanced at the moss on the floor and frowned in disgust. "You said that the best yao ren(1) Wu Yan Fu raised is hidden in this water dungeon?"

"Do look in that direction."

As he finished his sentence, a blue flame appeared abruptly, glowing faintly from deep within the dungeon. It came from the lamp of an eternal flame(2). In the dark room, it looked like the eyes of a predator that is about to pounce on its unsuspecting prey, giving off an eerie feeling.

Having descended a flight of cobbled stairs, Bai Tan found his feet soaking in ankle-high water. As they proceeded into the water dungeon, lamps, on either side, lit up with the same blue flame, illuminating the mysterious ancient murals on the walls.

In the middle of the water dungeon stood a peculiar boulder. Veins grew from cracks on the boulder, tightly bounding a person to the boulder. Some of the thinner, sprouting veins even took root on the person's neck. The person has white hair and is very pale. From the man's drooping head and motionless body, he looked like the victim of a drowning. If not for the minute movements of his chest, Bai Tan would have thought the man dead.

Considering the environment, it's a wonder he's still alive.

The yao ren had been bound to the boulder for many years without anyone to bring him food and water. Furthermore, the demonic veins that bound him has the ability to bring the dead back to life, but also has the ability to lethally poison a healthy person. The fact he survived showed that he has completely absorbed the medical properties of the veins and has turned into a human Lingzhi(3).

Bai Tan smiled with satisfaction at the thought of it. It seemed like all his injuries, new or old, can be cured.

As though he had read Bai Tan's thoughts, the yao ren gradually raised his head.

The revealed face was identical to Bai Tan's worst nightmare.

"Wu Yanfu!" Bai Tan retreated in shock.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Tan's wrists were bound by shackles. The length of the shackle's chain was in the yao ren's grasp!

"Ah!" Bai Tan woke from his dream, chills running down his spine in cold sweat. He looked at the cozy, white tiger fur he was sleeping on and the incense burner by his feet, not understanding why he felt cold.

The stone carving on the wall caught his eyes as he turned his head and he immediately remembered. It was Wu Yanfu's death anniversary.

With jumbled thoughts, Bai Tan wrapped his outer coat tightly around himself and saw a bowl of blood red medicine sitting on the table. It was blood, extracted from the yao ren.

"Sect leader, the medicine is turning cold. You should drink it soon." Yin Tuo, Bai Tan's subordinate, reminded softly by Bai Tan's ear.

Suppressing the unexplained anxiety, Bai Tan finished the medicine in a gulp.

The bronze mirror facing the bed reflected the beautiful face of a youth. The blood red medicine dyed his lips ardent red, and the mark on his forehead looked ever more enchanting.

Feeling annoyed and weary, Bai Tan closed his eyes.

He was turning 20 years old soon, yet he still retained his childish appearances and looked as though he was no more than 15 years old. It was not just his face, his body remained at his early teens too. He had originally been smaller than other children of his age, but, ever since he took the blood relic(4), which was extracted from Wu Yanfu's body, he stopped growing. Till date, he has not ejaculated. As such, he is unable to find his "Concubine Ming" for double cultivation(5), and his skill level has stagnated at the Fourth Level of the Sky of Six Desires(6).