Uncle Xiang dared not ask more, showing great respect. Wen Caishang used her inner vision on herself; the Qi-Eating Gu was crawling up the Qi Lake. She needed to act immediately and said, "Uncle Xiang, you must help me prepare âYang Fire Stone,â âMoon Falling Silverâ..." She listed eighteen miracle minerals continuously.
Then she detailed nineteen rare herbs, priceless in value, varied in properties. Wen Caishang, mastering pharmacology, made extraordinary formulations.
The manor held countless treasures. Uncle Xiang dared not delay and fetched them one by one. Wen Caishang dismissed Uncle Xiang, arranging the miracle minerals into a formation.
Next, she formulated and boiled the medicines, creating a medicated bath for herself. She took off her clothing, suddenly showing a drifting expression.
She thought, "My Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique has not been practiced for a long time. Now with my relationship with Mr. Li La like this, if I cannot move, wouldnât it be... wouldnât it let him do as he pleases? I..."
Her pretty face flushed slightly, feeling bashful yet unable to articulate the anticipation. In matters of joy between men and women, she wished to explore their wonders one by one.
She comprehended from the âYin Yang Baptismâ why the âQi-Eating Guâ was powerful. The Martial Artistâs body is like heaven and earth, the inner qi originating mysteriously, with various theories.
On that day of the Yin Yang baptism. The Qi-Eating Gu drank and ate qi very slowly, leaving a strand of inner qi lingering in Wen Caishangâs Qi Lake. After the baptism, the Qi-Eating Gu returned to normal, and completely consumed that strand of inner qi.
Wen Caishang had known the âQi-Eating Guâ was related to Yin Yang and the Five Elements. The âQi-Eating Guâ was renamed to âTransforming Qi Guâ. Wen Caishangâs inner qi surged, having undergone several transformations.
By relying on a Gu worm, continuously drinking, it should have been ruptured long ago. The Qi-Eating Gu was small in body yet had five legs and two heads.
Two heads represented Yin Yang, five legs the Five Elements. It attached to the Qi Lake, secretly following the principles of Yin Yang and the Five Elements, dissolving and resolving inner qi. Others affected by the Gu wouldnât know its true nature, only thinking it eats oneâs inner qi.
Therefore, it was called âQi-Eating Guâ.
On the day of the Yin Yang confusion, the Qi-Eating Gu was contaminated, slowing down the transformation speed. This made Wen Caishang sharply detect the opportunity. On the journey, she had already contemplated how to resolve it.
This attempt was truly effective.
The Qi-Eating Gu gradually subdued, a small pool began accumulating in Wen Caishangâs Qi Lake. Wen Caishang was delighted and said, "Old scoundrel, even if you threaten with your life, this evil Gu was unraveled by me!"
The Qi-Eating Gu was extremely stubborn. It clung to the Qi Lake, persistently consuming inner qi. But Wen Caishang understood its principles; the manor held ample treasure, enough to handle the Gu worm.
She delved into research, leveraging heavenly and earthly treasures, engaging in a fierce battle with the Gu worm.
...
...
Li Xian rode a carriage, departing from the manor. He sighed with relief, feeling mixed emotions that were hard to pin down.
"Last night I left stealthily, considering it the safest plan. But I... lingered till today, accompanying the Lady on the final leg."
"Of course... to see things through, as one should. Deliver Buddha to the West, escort the Lady to her home. Yet this journey of dozens of miles might still encounter obstacles."
"But... ultimately in my heart, the Lady is unlike others to me. I respect her knowledge, fear her power, love her tenderness, desire her body... Ah, the affairs of the world are hard to understand. That I left like this, the Lady... the Lady should pursue me."
"Iâm hardly out of the tigerâs mouth, now into the wolfâs den. I only hope the Ladyâs inner qi is completely gone, requiring several more days to manage. I also hope Iâm not worthy the Ladyâs personal pursuit."
Li Xian leaned against the side of the carriage, gazing afar, the sky washed clear, cloudless. He caught the remaining scent on his clothing and lifted the curtain of the carriage, noticing slight stagnation of water within.
Several hours later.
The sky had gradually darkened.
Li Xian returned to Huangshan Town, visiting the inn he stayed at the previous night. Spending several taels of silver, he rented the room from last night.
Placing a letter on the table. Then left under the cover of night.
...
...
Wen Caishang concentrated on healing her injuries and managing the Qi-Eating Gu. Within her body, Thunder Injury and Vajra Palm Injury, combined into the Brahma Sound Injury, along with Li Quanâs Bone Marrow Stabilizing Finger Injury, consolidated internally.
She had become accustomed to fleeing throughout the journey.
Now the situation had stabilized, the wild winds and storms and thunderous tempests had all passed. She examined her body and couldnât help but laugh, "Such complex injuries would doom anyone else. Only with Mr. Li Laâs intelligence and decisiveness... could I be salvaged and escaped."
She couldnât help feeling joyously sweet. Recalling the taste of the journey, dangerous and perilous, as though on the brink of death. But looking back now, it held a unique charm.
The injuries were consolidated and wouldnât recover overnight. Her knowledge was deep, knowing well how to handle them. Li Quanâs Bone Marrow Stabilizing Finger was the easiest to resolve by selecting a few extraordinary medicinal treasures for complete recovery.
However, the âVajra Mantraâ was quite troublesome. The fusion of human strength and divine power. Wen Caishang instructed Uncle Xiang to bring a sheet of musical score.
During the Nanyang Period, a famous scholar composed the "Song of Eternal Joy for Heaven." This piece could be played on the pipa, resonating in the sky during its climax, as if accompanying.
It also belonged to the âImmortal Sound Melody.â Could be played with immortal sounds. Wen Caishang didnât specialize in immortal sound skills, but only relatively speaking. She knew of this score but hadnât practiced it.
At this moment, it sounded, immortal sound lingering, resonating for a long time. Within the inner courtyard, there was a babbling stream, blooming flowers and red leaves... the melodies drifted, the stream rising with rosy clouds, flowers blooming in halos.
Indescribably beautiful.
Wen Caishang played the immortal sound, her long hair slightly hanging. Ethereal as a fairy in the mist, the âVajra Mantraâ within her body was gradually decomposed, reverting back to Vajra Palm Power and thunderous destructive force.
She immediately employed methods, weakening palm power, reducing thunderous destructive force. In this way, the entangling injuries were broken through one by one.
Qi-Eating Gu, Bone Marrow Stabilizing Finger, Vajra Palm, and thunderous destructive force... all were greatly reduced. In a few more days, they would no longer pose a threat. Wen Caishang was about to return to her peak.
Upon regaining awareness, it was already evening.
Wen Caishang called Uncle Xiang, saying gravely, "Didnât I say, if Li Xian returns, you must let him see me, do not stop him."
Uncle Xiang responded blankly, "But... but Madam, Li Xian hasnât returned."
Wen Caishang was taken aback; she glanced at the sky, realizing the back and forth would take time. But now it was evening, which seemed a bit prolonged.
She thought, "Could it be... Mr. Li La is in danger?" She should easily suspect Li Xian might have fled. But she had been tender each day, throughout severe and perilous journeys, yet Li Xian was reluctant to abandon her.
Now after barely returning to the manor, how could she anticipate Li Xian would leave? Her sentimentality was beyond control, believing Li Xian likewise. Yet the obvious reasoning was hard to see clearly.
Wen Caishangâs injuries had recovered by one-tenth. The Qi-Eating Gu was subdued, its transformation speed drastically reduced. Her Qi Lake had amassed one-tenth inner qi, leaving her feeling uneasy:
"No, I need to find him."
Unable to sit still, she immediately prepared a horse and set off at night.