(33) Curing Wu QiaoHua's Poison

A gentle-looking girl with a distinct mole under her lips, dressed in green robes, was sitting under a tree and admiring the moving clouds with a smile. She was chatting with her maid when she noticed a male cultivator from a distance staring at her. She showed an alluring smile and he blushed, quickly looking away. She chuckled.

The maid beside Han YanLing sighed inside. It seems her mistress has gotten more attractive as she matured throughout the years. It was only a few years ago that her mistress suddenly changed from a naïve and pure girl into a lady who had to scheme and harden her heart to defeat her enemies.

"Who are you looking at?"

Han YanLing turned her face and smiled at the man in red robes, who had just reached where they were sitting.

"I'm just returning a smile."

Kang WangYong nodded as he sat next to her, taking out a few plates and snacks. He glared domineeringly at the young lad who was still glancing at Han YanLing and the young lad quickly turned away nervously.

Han YanLing chuckled and gazed at him, amused. "I thought you said you weren't interested in me. Why do you care?" She raised an eyebrow.

Kang WangYong coughed and said with his stoic face, "It's not polite to stare at someone."

Han YanLing giggled inside. He was cute. Then her gaze turned dark. "Five years has already passed. When do you think I can get rid of those flies that are still sending assassins from time to time?"

"Soon," he said. "You've prepared for so long. And I'm here to help you, so don't worry."

Han YanLing stared at Kang WangYong with a smile and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, taking him by surprise.

Kan WangYong froze. And then frowned. He looked away as he clenched his hands. "What are you doing?!"

Han YanLing laughed. In the beginning, she only wanted to use him to take revenge since her stepmother was from a big clan, one she cannot deal with easily. They weren't in the top four clans, but they were still considered strong. She needed to grab onto someone with an equally strong background. Saving him was a total coincidence, but she knew it was a god-given gift for all her sufferings.

Due to his sense of justice, she planned to use the fact that he owed her and have him help her. After all, he not only had a hidden identity, but was also the direct disciple of the number one sect. But if he's so cute and treats her so well, how can she not fall for him? It's just… something is holding him back from falling for her completely even after the life and death events they have been through together. She thought that perhaps it was due to that woman, Wu LiJing, from the Moon Sect.

In her past life, no matter how many wrongs Wu LiJing committed, he never abandoned her. That was why she knew his feelings for her were strong. If even he could accept someone so evil, someone who could even bite off the hand who fed her, then wouldn't he be able to accept her also, even when she has turned this scheming and selfish?

But when she tested it out and bad-mouthed Wu LiJing, he didn't really say much as if he really held no affection towards her. So she then realized it was something else. Was it another woman? Did he have another woman before Wu LiJing? If so, how did that Ice Demoness melt his heart so easily in the past? Was it not possible to melt his heart if it wasn't the Ice Demoness who did it?

The truth was, she felt also a little guilty - taking this great man away from Wu LiJing. Since she was taking up Kang WangYong's time, then the time he could have spent falling for Wu LiJing like in the past has probably been altered. Yet she didn't think someone evil like that deserved someone so devoted like Kang WangYong. After thinking so, her guilt quickly vanished.

Han YanLing smiled. She has decided to never give up on the things that she likes in this lifetime, because she has given up on a lot of things before due to her naivety. And unlike her past lifetime, she wasn't raped, she wasn't abandoned, poisoned, or crippled, or thrown off a cliff. In this lifetime, she has already killed those who were going to betray her, have made new friends, and even made strong connections. And unlike the last lifetime, she found someone she loves.

In the last lifetime, the only person she cared for was her master, who taught her all of her pill-making skills, whom she met after she fell off a cliff. Now, she has others she wants to protect. So, since she has fallen for Kang WangYong, she had a plan to seduce him until he admitted his feelings. She could tell that he was also interested in her or else, she wouldn't have fallen for him either.

"If you don't quickly make up your mind, I might just fall for someone else," Han YanLing teased.

Kang WangYong froze once again. "Do what you want," he muttered coldly, and she sighed inside. Why was he so stubborn? Was it this hard for Wu LiJing too in the past lifetime?

Han YanLing suddenly noticed a figure in light purple from far away. She smiled when she saw Wu QiaoHua walking towards them and waved her hand. But she frowned when she noticed Wu QiaoHua's solemn expression.

"QiaoHua, what's wrong?" Han YanLing asked as she sat up straighter.

Wu QiaoHua looked at Han YanLing with puffy eyes and shook her head.

Han YanLing hesitated and asked with a concealing smile, "Is it your cousin again? What did she do this time?" She unconsciously played with her hands.

Kang WangYong frowned when he noticed her small habit.

Wu QiaoHua hesitated and nodded as a tear fell down her face. "Xin Mei is getting punished… I asked Eldest Senior Sister to lessen her punishment, but she refused. I… I'm so useless. I can't even help Xin Mei." Her voice trembled slightly.

Han YanLing smiled and patted Wu QiaoHua on the head. "Did she say what it is Xin Mei did?" Han YanLing found that Wu QiaoHua was just too kind sometimes.

Wu QiaoHua shook her head. "She refused to tell me."

Han YanLing frowned. "Is she taking it out on the people around you?"

Wu QiaoHua's eyes widened. Then she frowned. "No!" She shook her head. "I don't think so…"

Han YanLing sighed. "Are you sure Wu LiJing wasn't the one who poisoned you?" A dark glint appeared in Han YanLing's eyes. "Who else would do so then?"

Wu QiaoHua bit her lips and looked on the ground. She didn't want to believe it was her cousin. She still remembered the Baby Blue Flower Wu LiJing gifted her. If it was true, then… why would she give her that precious spiritual herb? But everyone has been saying that it must be her, even Han YanLing. She looked at Han YanLing. "Eldest Senior Sister… I have been a burden to her, but she has never abandoned me. And she gifted me the Baby Blue Flower before I went on my mission."

Han YanLing sighed. Wu QiaoHua was too naïve. "I don't want to say this, but I just want you to be cautious… What if she just wanted to elevate your power before destroying it?" Wu QiaoHua was one of the people Han YanLing wanted to protect. She befriended Wu QiaoHua at first because she wanted to keep an eye on Wu LiJing. But she knew it was Wu LiJing who poisoned Wu QiaoHua. That's how it was in the past. After all, who else would do it? This would just add on to the horrible things Wu LiJing would continue to commit in the future.

This poison that was in Wu QiaoHua's body was also very hard to obtain, only someone in power could obtain it. Also, the rumors of Wu LiJing's violent kills have started to spread already. She had to get Wu QiaoHua away from someone dangerous like that. To do so, she had to convince her friend that her cousin did not have any good feelings towards her.

Wu QiaoHua bit her lips harder and gripped onto her robes as she sat next to Han YanLing dejectedly.

"Never mind then." Han YanLing smiled and opened the boxes of dumplings that the overbearing lad beside her had brought.

Han YanLing turned to Kang WangYong. "You like pork dumplings so much?"

Kang WangYong looked at her. "I thought it was one of your favorites too?" He didn't know when he started to like eating pork dumplings. But it was probably more than five years ago that he found out he liked the taste of it. He was probably still only in the Second Tier?

Han YanLing grinned. "Second Favorite! My favorite is Lobster!" She turned to Wu QiaoHua and handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Let's forget these depressing topics and eat to our heart's content! I have some good news for you, QiaoHua!"

With a small smile, Wu QiaoHua nodded, "Mm."

After they enjoyed the dumplings, Han YanLing said with a wide smile. "I found a way to cure your poison!"

Wu QiaoHua dropped her chopsticks and her eyes widened. After a moment of staring at her good friend, her lips started to curl up slowly with hope. "Really?!"

Han YanLing nodded. Actually, she knew from the start how to cure it. In the past lifetime, Wu QiaoHua's poison was somehow cured and the cure for the Pinpoint Powder became vastly known after. As a medical practitioner, of course she remembered what the cure was.

But she only befriended Wu QiaoHua in the beginning to make her trust her and report to her Wu LiJing's movements in case it mashes with hers, especially now that she has decided to keep Kang WangYong by her side. But now she likes QiaoHua! So she felt a little guilty and has decided to quickly cure QiaoHua and make up for her devious thoughts. It's just she has been quite busy taking care of the assassinations and preparing her powers for the future before being able to research where the herb necessary for the cure is.

"H-how?"

Han YanLing patted her shoulder. "I found it out by chance when I was reading through my dead master's treasure of medical books." This was obviously a lie. She had no master in this life; her actual master hasn't met her yet.

Wu QiaoHua sniffed and she covered her face with her hands. "T-thank you, YanLing."

Han YanLing sighed and patted her back. "Alright, stop crying so much. Why do you always cry? Didn't I say I don't like it when you cry so much?" She smiled warmly. In this life, those who treat her kindly, she would treat them even better by ten times. But those who betray her and have wronged her, she would repay by one hundred times.

Wu QiaoHua laughed and nodded, wiping her tears quickly as her face brightened. The younger girl looked at the cheerful Han YanLing and smiled. Then her thoughts suddenly recalled the cold eyes of her cousin.

…

Wu LiJing stood at the borders of the Blood Forest, that was plainly displeasing to the eyes. Its borders seemed to contain a red line, making it stand out from the rest of its surroundings, and arrogantly marking itself as one of the deadliest places in the continent, even among the four known dangerous forests.

Everything in the Blood Forest was some shade of red, including the grass, moss, leaves, herbs, and even the insects and beasts. If leaves or parts of the grass wasn't red, then there would at least be a tint of red within the green leaf, whether at the stem or edge of the leaf. Only the tree trunks were a darker shade of gray and brown, making one able to better make out the trees that makes this place a forest. It was in here - the cure for the Pinpoint Powder - and despite the unpleasant stench of blood coming from inside, the female cultivator in purple quickly entered.

She carefully scouted many places while using her Stealth Spell. The beasts within the Blood Forest were extremely dangerous and poisonous. They attack whoever they see as prey and are many times stronger than the beasts in the Disappearing Forest. If the Moon Sect sent their disciples here for the test instead, it would be the same as a death punishment.

Wu LiJing stopped and hid behind a large tree when she felt tremors beneath her feet. Something big was passing by. She peeked and saw a large red toad with multiple dark holes in its back, hopping on its way with obsidian dark eyes. She clenched the silver sword in her hands and held in her breath as the toad stopped, with its deathly eyes moving around like a ball spinning in a cup. After a moment, its eye movements stopped and it hopped forwards again, away from Wu LiJing, who was only one sixth of its size.

Wu LiJing sighed in relief and let go of her sword as it vanished. She could probably defeat that toad, but she has to save her strength to defeat the beast that guards the Inky Red Magnolia. In combination with a few other herbs, this was the only essential spiritual herb that could cure the Pinpoint Powder after all her research. But because it is such a rare and precious flower, something was guarding it, ready to cultivate this flower and eat it for its cultivation. Beasts could also cultivate, and like humans, eating rare herbs could elevate their strength.

A beast can even achieve a god-level cultivation if they are alive for that long. It's extremely hard to do, but when that does happen, they usually already have gained a consciousness and intelligence, and can even speak the human language. Such beasts never usually care about the humans and stay away from interacting with humans in general since they find humans to be annoying and weak.

Wu LiJing didn't know what would be guarding such a rare flower, but the book mentioned that this flower can only grow healthily and strongly because it is being cultivated by a godly beast. Hence, she would technically be stealing it from this mighty beast. However, she felt no remorse since she would have to fight it to meet her goals. Only the strong will win.

She jumped off a tree branch and stopped when her pupils reflected red petals.

There was a red flower, with the color deeper than dried blood. Eight large petals adorned its black core, and its stem was of a black color, growing from the red ground. Wu LiJing's attention went to the huge beast. Curled around the flower was a long midnight red body of a python with small white spots, ten times bigger than a normal human body.

"As expected," she whispered. A magnificent silver sword shined in her right hand. It won't be easy, but that's not going to stop her. She jumped off and still using her Stealth Spell, she sneaked from behind the python and stabbed its body with a great amount of chi concentrated to the edge of her blade to enhance its sharpness to the deepest level.

Hiss!!!

Since Wu LiJing has attacked the python, her spell wore off and the python immediately noticed her with its bright blue eyes that contrasted with its dark body. Wu LiJing took out her sword from within its body and a few of its large transparent scales flew out as it shrieked once more, with blue blood dripping from the wound. She felt its intense killing-intent pressing down on her, but she has killing-intent of her own.

Thus, two large pressures clashed, causing the ground to shake.

Its large body spun, and its fangs protruded out as its head aimed for her small body. Wu LiJing quickly jumped off its body to dodge as she flipped in midair. Then she quickly waved her hand and created a formation as a talisman appeared in her hand. Ten talismans appeared out in the air and formed into bright designs that floated. She pushed them towards the python and the spells attacked.

Then a bright energy suddenly emitted from her fingers when she landed on her feet as the python shook off the attack and aimed for her. She waved her finger and a light beam emerged from her fingertips, aiming for the eyes of the python. The python was able to quickly dodge and the beam of light hit the side of its eye instead, making it cry in pain when it felt like a large needle has pierced its lids. Blood dripped down its cheek as its head flew towards her.

After hissing, it slithered towards her with angry eyes. It has underestimated this human!

"No effect," she muttered. It seems it would have to be up to her sword skills. She also has a few more talismans with her if she needed to use it.

Bam!

A large energy ball was released from the python's large mouth. Wu LiJing was able to dodge by a hairs breadth and released a large sword chi attack, going through its scales and slicing its skin open. However, even with such a large attack, the python's tough skin was barely bleeding. Its large mouth came close to her body, ready to swallow her up, but she jumped backwards. The dirt from the ground jumped as a loud crash was heard. Its head was quickly aiming over and over again, and Wu LiJing managed to avoid it each time.

Bam! Its tail managed to hit her.

Wu LiJing felt every part of her body ache as she crashed into many trees, causing the beautiful leaves to flutter in the sky and fall like a red snowfall around her. She coughed when the snake's tail quickly hit her again and threw her another good distance away. But she quickly tried to control her body movements even as her body was thrown and swung her sword to release a large energy towards the large snake. Its movements were fast, amazingly fast, that it was even hard for her to see it properly. The python had been going easy on her.

After a few exchanges of attacks, Wu LiJing could recognize – this was probably the Godly Maple Python. Cultivators who had entered the Blood Forest have talked about such a python before, and its species were recorded inside a book when she was doing her research.

An exchange of chi attacks was made between both parties as both gained more and more injuries. But it was Wu LiJing who was starting to feel out of breath compared to the larger beast. She must try and end this soon.

She released the handle of her silver sword and a bright light emerged from her sword as she lifted two fingers in front of her.

"One Hundred Light Swords," she muttered, and one hundred silver lights appears in the form of swords. And she said another, "Two hundred," and another one hundred was created on the spot. She has already reached the peak-stage of the Body Enhancing Realm, meaning she was able to summon more lights sword than before. With a wave, a stream of swords stabbed into the python body. Huge blue eyes stared at Wu LiJing like a predator even as its body and head was being attacked. Instead of fending off the swords, it released a chi ball towards her, and she quickly dodged. Yet it did not give up and constantly released energy balls as if they were indispensable spit. In the end, Wu LiJing was hit and she threw up blood.

Finally, the python froze and stopped releasing any attack.

Wu LiJing smiled. It's finally working. Her first attack when she stabbed into its body was a strategic move. She coated her blade with a type of blood toxin, perfect for using in the Blood Forest. Once this toxin was slowly spread within one's body, when one bleeds, their wounds would be in indescribable pain as their blood acts like acid that slowly burns their skin. Every part of its body that she had sliced and only bled a little must be feeling a hundred times worse than before.

The python only froze when it felt an abnormality inside its body. And then it screeched as its injuries had an intensified pain. Tears were rolling down its eyes as it swore to kill this human.

Wu LiJing was out of breath as she side-stepped and jumped onto its body and whispered, "Rhythmic Dance." She was constantly moving on the snake's body, with her purple figure elegantly dancing as her sword became lethal and stabbed and sliced into the python's body. Her one hundred moves were over, but she didn't stop there. She constantly released chi attacks from her sword and her arm moved constantly until she was thrown off the body and rolled on her back as she hit the ground. She propped herself up, breathing heavily as she looked at the damage she did, yet the snake has yet to fall. It was still holding on for dear life, just as Wu LiJing was doing. Her body was bleeding from who knows where and she even coughed up blood. It has been a while since she was so reckless and beat up. It reminded her of the days when she first started going on missions by herself.

Chuk!

Wu LiJing clenched her jaw as she was finally able to stab deeper into the python's body. All of her chi was concentrated into the edge of her blade as she struggled to hold her sword with how much the snake was struggling. According to the book, it's heart should be here. She tried to slice through the body and turned her sword right, but it wasn't able to go through and she had to jump off. The python seemed to have froze again and its body became limp as its body fell to the ground, dead.

"Shit," she swore as she ran towards the python even with her bleeding leg.

It only took a moment before the python's body suddenly wriggled slightly, and it hissed as sudden spikes emerged on the back of its body. Wu LiJing bit her lips and raised her sword. So it's come to this.

She has been trying to prevent it from releasing its hidden spikes on its backs by getting rid of its two hearts. This Godly Maple Python was called godly for a reason. It contained two hearts. Cultivators who didn't know in the past died without knowing why, when they assumed they already defeated this beast. And many who survived have at least been hit by those spikes since they only emerge once one of its heart have been killed. Thus, these survivors ended up dying soon after anyway, as recorded by the records.

It hissed and its fangs protruded as its spikes were released from its back, aiming for the one human in front of it. The spikes were of different sizes, and it was much easier to dodge the bigger ones as she flipped in midair and hit the spikes coming towards her. For what seemed like a thousand times later, Wu LiJing was on her knees and felt her vision blur. She couldn't avoid all of them after all, like she thought.

Out of breath and with one knee on the ground, she felt a sudden burn from her arm where the smaller spike has pierced earlier, and she tried to circulate her chi to get rid of it before it harmed her body. But the python wasn't going to let her rest. It had watched in triumph and was waiting for this moment to eat her! Its head slowly observed her unmoving body, and it hissed lowly before it opened its mouth wide, flinging its head forwards.

No. She cannot die here. Those were her only thoughts as she gripped her silver sword. Then there seemed to be sudden small cracks of sparkles that emerged around her sword. A sudden memory floated in her mind. It was when she was punished by her master – fifteen lightning strikes. Those servants probably thought she was crazy when she asked for five more, even she would think so if she were them. But she wasn't a person who liked to punish herself.

She was just… figuring out how lightning really felt like. In addition to her previous experience of being able to direct lightning, she now has a more thorough understanding and feeling in her soul.

Crackle!

A big line of sparks lit up around her and gathered around her sword as she looked up with the fangs in front of her face.

Zzzttt!

The python was thrown back and what looking like lightning spread through their surroundings, burning everything in its path. When the python came to, one of its eyes were blind and the human who he had prepared as a meal disappeared. It shrieked and slithered everywhere, unsatisfied. It could tell that human was after its flower! When she returns, it would make her pay!

Wu LiJing fell and was coughing blood as she tried to gather her chi but it was of no use as she laid on the ground, with her arm giving her a burning sensation that did not allow her to rest. That attack has sucked her dry.

She was so close. That flower was within her reach when the python was blinded. But her chi was practically gone. If she didn't use the rest of it to escape, when the python came to, she wouldn't stand a chance, and everything would be useless in the end.

She felt her vision blurring as she looked up at the blue sky that was letting down drops of water to clean her bloody body. She gripped her sword. No, she cannot die. She won't die. This isn't enough to kill her. She must gather chi… But Wu LiJing's thoughts came to a halt as her eyelids felt heavier and heavier, with the darkness finally enveloping her.

…

Wu QiaoHua stuck to Han YanLing like glue as she held onto her sleeve and was only one step behind Han YanLing as she glanced at the red leaves, red grass, and noticed the red insects. She trembled lightly. "Is it really here?" she asked quietly.

Han YanLing smiled and nodded. "Yes. I know this place looks… a bit horrid, but the flower is in here."

With a gentle smile, Bai ZhiJun said softly, "Miss YanLing, I don't think you needed to come here yourself."

Han YanLing shook her head. "No, I need to make sure it's the right one for QiaoHua. And besides, don't we have you and WangYong to accompany us?" She smiled apologetically. "It's said that a beast usually guards this flower, so I may have to inconvenience you and WangYong."

Bai ZhiJun shook his head lightly.

Kang WangYong interrupted them, "I should've be enough."

Bai ZhiJun's smiling eyes turned unsmiling. "Oh? Then I hope Sir Kang would show me the ropes."

With a overbearing aura, Kang WangYong ignored him and turned away.

…

When Wu LiJing woke up, her robes were wet but the rain stopped and the sky was dark. She shivered and took out a pill from her space ring, swallowing it quickly. She observed her surroundings with clear eyes before she sighed in relief and stood up, limping slightly.

She checked the condition of her body and realized she cannot go back. She must first heal part of her internal injuries first before she can attack the python again. The python may have two hearts, but it was still heavily injured by her. If she wished to stand a chance, she must recover some of her power first.

The records claim that the Godly Maple Python regains its second heart again once a whole week has passed – it heals that quickly. She jumped onto a thick branch and after making sure it was a safe spot, she crossed her legs and sat in a lotus position, with her hands in front of her chest, moving in a circular motion. She took deep breaths and regulated the small energy left inside her as she absorbed the surrounding chi to slowly heal the inner turmoil from fighting with that beast. Sweat formed on her forehead as she concentrated and stayed in that position for a long time with her eyes closed.

When Wu LiJing opened her eyes again, it was already daylight. She had been sitting for a whole night and day; hence this was technically the third day she was in the Blood Forest. She was wearing a black cloak that she carried in her ring in case she had to camp out in the forest, to keep herself warm. Thus, she didn't look too unkept as she fixed her robes and decided not to change since her robes are bound to get dirty and again. Using the Stealth spell, she flew towards the python's abode.

Wu LiJing's eyes widened when she saw a dead python on the ground with its eyes closed. She ran towards the flower… it was gone as well! She dropped to her knees as she stared at the empty grass, her head empty and her heart thumping so loud she could not hear anything else. No! It can't be! She tried to search for it. Perhaps it just fell somewhere!

But the flower was nowhere to be seen.

Someone came here and defeated the python… She ran towards the python and scanned its body. The blood was fresh. That means the python had just been defeated! She flew as fast as she could as she searched for someone, anyone near-by. Even if she had to beg or steal from them, she was willing.

"Han YanLing, thank you so much!"

Wu LiJing halted in her steps when she heard a familiar voice, one she was used to hearing since they were little girls.