Chapter 320: Curing the Disease, the Gourd of Plague

Chapter 320: Curing the Disease, the Gourd of Plague

Inside the thatched cottage, Ji San Gongzi lay on a wooden plank bed. His body was wrapped in a gray mist, and his face was ashen and lifeless.

Most alarmingly, his left side, including his face and exposed left hand, was covered in poisonous sores, giving him a terrifying appearance.

Seeing Ji San Gongzi in such a frail and weak state, Hu Laosan could hardly believe his eyes. Was this really the same young master from a prominent family who, not long ago, had been handsome and exuded an air of nobility?

Ji San Gongzi's consciousness remained clear, but he paused momentarily upon seeing Lu Qing and the others.

"San Gongzi, how are you feeling?" Hu Laosan asked with concern.

"I'm not dead yet," Ji San Gongzi replied weakly. "Uncle Hu, who are these people?"

"This is Lu Qing and Chen Lao," Hu Laosan explained. "You've met them before at the city gate some time ago."

Ji San Gongzi looked at Lu Qing's face, trying to recall, and finally, a glimmer of recognition flashed in his eyes.

However, he still didn't understand why Hu Laosan had brought them here.

"Didn't I send a message to you, asking you to inform the Ji family?" Ji San Gongzi asked.

Lu Qing didn't rush to speak; instead, he wore an expression of surprise. He had noticed that the plague mark within Ji San Gongzi's body had already started to act up. The sores on his hand and face were a clear indication of this.

But strangely, the mark had only activated partially and was being suppressed.

According to reason, Ji San Gongzi, who was only at the Internal Organs Realm of cultivation, shouldn't have had the ability to do this.

Lu Qing activated his ability and quietly observed Ji San Gongzi's body. Soon, several floating phrases appeared before him.

Ji Fei: Third Young Master of the Ji family of Qinglong City, upright and kind-hearted.

Cultivation: Later stage of the Internal Organs Realm.

Infected by the plague mark of an evil cultivator, the plague has penetrated deep into his bones.

Has consumed the Yunmeng White Fruit, resulting in a unique body constitution that far surpasses ordinary people.

...

So that was it.

After assessing Ji San Gongzi's condition, Lu Qing's face showed a look of understanding. It turned out that Ji San Gongzi had once had a fortuitous encounter and consumed a strange fruit called the Yunmeng White Fruit, which gave him an unusual body constitution that allowed him to withstand the outbreak of the plague mark.

Noticing the confusion in Ji San Gongzi's eyes, Lu Qing smiled and explained, "Ji San Gongzi, you've been infected by the plague mark. Now, the mark is deeply embedded in your bones, and it aims to use your body as a vessel to breed the plague.

We must suppress and eradicate the mark completely. Otherwise, once it fully erupts and the plague matures, this place will become a land of plague."

Hearing Lu Qing's words, a glimmer of hope flashed in Ji San Gongzi's dull eyes. "Do you have a way to remove the plague mark from my body, Young Master Lu?"

"I'm fairly confident, but I'll need your cooperation, San Gongzi," Lu Qing nodded.

"What do you need me to do, Young Master Lu? As long as it can get rid of this mark and prevent it from erupting, I'm willing to do anything, even if it costs my life." Ji San Gongzi's face showed determination.

Seeing his resolve, Lu Qing gave him an approving look. "There's no need for anything drastic. Just trust me and relax your mind, and don't resist my treatment."

"That's all?" Ji San Gongzi was taken aback.

"That's all," Lu Qing assured him.

Lu Qing turned to the old doctor and said, "Master, I'm going to suppress and eliminate San Gongzi's mark. During the process, I might not be able to pay attention to the surroundings. Just in case something happens, I'd appreciate it if you could keep an eye out."

"Are you expecting someone to show up, Lu Qing?" The old doctor understood the underlying meaning of his words.

"I can't guarantee it, but this plague mark is connected to the person who imprinted it. If they are nearby, they will likely sense it when I start suppressing the mark," Lu Qing explained.

"I understand. Go ahead and help San Gongzi without worry," the old doctor said solemnly.

While he could treat ordinary plagues, when it came to the path of cultivation, his current abilities fell short.

"Uncle Hu, please help me move San Gongzi outside. The sunlight can help suppress the plague to some extent, but be careful not to touch the gray mist on his body," Lu Qing instructed.

With Hu Laosan's assistance, Lu Qing carried Ji San Gongzi, bed and all, out of the cottage. The young girl followed them, holding her wooden stick and standing guard nearby.

It was then that everyone noticed the girl's face was scarred with pits and craters—evidence of her past struggle with leprosy.

In fact, most of the villagers who had surrounded Lu Qing earlier also had scars on their faces and hands, indicating that they were survivors of leprosy from this village.

"Little sister, I'm going to treat this young master's illness. Could you please step aside a little? Rest assured, I won't hurt him." Lu Qing said with a smile, noticing the wariness in the young girl's eyes.

The girl didn't move.

"Xiao Rou, it's okay. They're my friends, they won't harm me," Ji San Gongzi slowly spoke up.

Having overheard the conversation between Lu Qing and the old doctor, he understood that Lu Qing truly had a way to save him, and a glimmer of hope ignited within him.

Though he wasn't afraid of death, if he could live, that would undoubtedly be for the best.

The girl glanced at Ji San Gongzi and slowly stepped aside.

However, she continued to watch Lu Qing and the others, seemingly still not entirely at ease.

Seeing her demeanor, Lu Qing understood.

It seemed that there was a story between Ji San Gongzi and this young girl.

After she stepped aside, Lu Qing picked up a piece of firewood from the side and began to draw on the ground around Ji San Gongzi, creating a complex array.

His speed was swift, and soon, a mysterious formation took shape.

The wooden bed on which Ji San Gongzi lay was right at the center of the array.

Once the formation was complete, Lu Qing casually threw several jade talismans into the ground, allowing them to connect with the earth's energy.

In the next moment, a hazy light shone, forming a spherical canopy that enveloped both Lu Qing and Ji San Gongzi within.

This miraculous scene left Hu Laosan and the others, who had never witnessed Lu Qing's mystical abilities before, utterly stunned.

The villagers, in particular, believed they were witnessing a divine miracle and immediately knelt down in worship.

Ji San Gongzi's eyes reflected his shock as well, and his hope grew stronger.

The more extraordinary Lu Qing's abilities were, the higher the chances of curing him.

His chances of survival increased as well.

Lu Qing paid no heed to their reactions and instead, with a solemn expression, turned to face Ji San Gongzi.

Perhaps stimulated by the power of the formation, as the light screen rose, the gray mist surrounding Ji San Gongzi began to stir and gradually crept towards the other half of his body.

Upon seeing this, Lu Qing immediately stepped forward, his fingers forming intricate seals. He swiftly condensed a spiritual talisman and imprinted it onto Ji San Gongzi's body.

As the talisman landed on Ji San Gongzi's chest, the gray mist seemed to want to resist.

However, after the talisman emitted a soft white light, the mist retreated as if avoiding a snake or scorpion, desperately moving to the sides to allow it to enter Ji San Gongzi's chest.

With the talisman inside his body, changes immediately occurred.

The gray mist floating outside his body momentarily froze, then quickly retracted into Ji San Gongzi's body, occupying the left side.

Lu Qing smiled at this, his fingers continuing to form intricate seals as he condensed another talisman, this time aiming for Ji San Gongzi's head.

The talisman entered Ji San Gongzi's forehead, and the gray mist on his left face quickly retreated, escaping towards his neck.

Lu Qing maintained his hand seals and continued to condense more talismans.

In this manner, after he had struck Ji San Gongzi's body with five talismans, the gray mist was finally forced out completely.

Ultimately, it formed a bizarre gray imprint on his heart.

At the same time, several dozen miles away from the village, within a mountain cave, a figure sitting cross-legged abruptly opened his eyes.

"Someone is trying to remove the plague mark I planted on that Ji family brat?"

This person was enveloped in gray mist, with a large gray gourd on his back.

"Who is it? Who dares to remove the plague mark I planted?"

A look of astonishment and suspicion appeared on the face of the gourd-bearing strange man.

The plague mark on the Ji family youngster had been planted by him using his own Plague Gourd.

Even a cultivator at the Innate Full Circle stage shouldn't have been able to remove it.

Yet now, it had somehow been triggered. Who could possibly possess such ability?

Hesitation filled the strange man's face.

Whoever could affect the plague mark was definitely no ordinary person.

Perhaps they were like him, a cultivator who had obtained the ancient inheritance by chance.

If that were the case, things would become much more complicated.

After some internal struggle, the strange man still decided to go and check out the situation.

The Ji family youngster had a unique body constitution, which would be of great use to him.

Once successfully refined into a Poison Mist Puppet, he would become a great asset in the strange man's future cultivation.

He couldn't afford any mishaps.

Moreover, he had already preliminarily refined the Plague Gourd, greatly increasing his strength.

Even a cultivator at the Innate Full Circle stage might not be his match.

If anything unexpected happened, he believed no one under the heavens could stop him from leaving.

The strange man immediately formed seals with his hands, gathering the surrounding gray mist and retracting it into his gourd. His ashen-white face was revealed, and he declared, "I want to see who dares to touch the cauldron I've marked!"

A fierce glint appeared in the stranger's eyes as he discerned the direction and vanished from the cave.

As the stranger rushed towards the village, following his senses, an unexpected development occurred with Lu Qing.

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from outside the village, "Fei'er, where are you? Father is here to take you home!"

Immediately after, several powerful auras appeared outside.

"Lord Ji, please hold!"

At that moment, Magu's voice also sounded from outside.

Lord Ji's aura stagnated as he recognized Magu as the carriage driver who even the City Lord of Qinglong feared—the one they called Young Master Lu.

The few Ji family members with him also trembled.

Magu's presence here indicated that Young Master Lu was nearby as well.

Recalling the terrifying display of power in the city, they quickly restrained their auras, not daring to act rashly.

Lord Ji cupped his hands and said, "May I ask if Young Master Lu is also present?"

"Indeed, my young master is currently inside, treating San Gongzi's illness. Please refrain from causing a disturbance, lest you interrupt my young master," Magu replied.

Hearing this response, Lord Ji's heart relaxed as he knew his son was still alive.

He continued politely, "I never expected my son to have such fortune to receive Young Master Lu's compassion. Ji expresses his gratitude."

"Is it possible for me to enter the village, as I am deeply concerned for my son?" Lord Ji asked anxiously.

"This..."

As Magu hesitated, the old doctor spoke up, "Let them in."

"As you've heard, my master invites you to come in," Magu said.

"Thank you," Lord Ji said.

Although Magu and Weizan were only at the Houtian realm, Lord Ji still showed them the utmost courtesy.

He bowed once more before leading his people into the village.

When they arrived and saw the mystical light screen enveloping Lu Qing and San Gongzi, they were all astonished.

On the one hand, they were amazed by the light screen's ethereal appearance, and on the other, they were shocked by San Gongzi's state.

Lord Ji, in particular, was grief-stricken at the sight of his son, who now resembled neither a human nor a ghost.

He couldn't imagine the pain his son had endured to end up in such a state.

However, he maintained his composure, noticing that Lu Qing was doing his best to treat his son, and refrained from making a sound.

He quietly greeted the old doctor with a slight bow, "Greetings, Elder."

"No need for formalities," the old doctor returned the bow. "Qing is in the process of removing the plague mark from your son, and it seems to be going well. There's no need to worry, Lord Ji."

Although Lord Ji didn't understand what the plague mark was, he could tell that the situation was improving, and he felt a sense of relief. He began to gaze at the scene within the light screen.

Inside, Lu Qing had forced all the gray mist out of San Gongzi's body, condensing it into a mark.

But that wasn't enough.

The plague mark was located near San Gongzi's heart, almost fused with his heart meridian.

Thus, Lu Qing still needed to do more to completely expel the plague mark.

With that in mind, Lu Qing took out a needle pouch from his pocket.

Channeling his spiritual energy, he quickly inserted eighteen silver needles around San Gongzi's heart, sealing his heart meridian and the plague mark together to prevent them from escaping again.

Cornered, the plague mark seemed to sense the impending crisis and began to struggle violently.

The excruciating pain caused San Gongzi to grunt in agony.

Beads of sweat the size of beans formed on his face, adding to the horror of the poisonous sores.

The eerie gray mark on San Gongzi's heart twitched and writhed like a living creature, sending shivers down the spines of those who witnessed it.

Lord Ji, in particular, felt his heart wrenching in pain, wishing he could take his son's place.

Lu Qing, however, remained unaffected by San Gongzi's suffering, his eyes fixed intently on the plague mark that pulsated like a heart.

His hands began to form intricate seals, rapidly condensing spiritual talismans.

As a talisman emitting a faint golden light took form in his hand, a sense of peace began to wash over everyone present.

Conversely, the plague mark on San Gongzi's body struggled even more fiercely.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end