Chapter 33: A Debt of Venom and Loyalty

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The forest was cooling under the breath of evening, and the low orange glow of dusk began to peel the shadows from the tree trunks. Tianzun's steps were quiet but deliberate as he made his return journey toward the Xiao Clan. His robes were marked lightly by the dew of earlier underbrush and the faint residue of crushed herbs he had collected for alchemical study.

As he passed between two cragged rock formations overgrown with moss, a faint sound—almost like a muffled cough—reached his ears. Tianzun paused.

He turned.

A few meters ahead, barely visible between a thicket of low shrubs, was the curled figure of an elderly man. The man's body was trembling violently, and blood was seeping from his lips. His skin, disturbingly, held a bluish tint—a clear sign of poisoning.

Without hesitation, Tianzun approached. His footsteps, light and practiced, nonetheless startled the old man, who jerked his head up in fear, mistaking the sound for a beast's approach.

His eyes were wide with terror, and in them, Tianzun saw regret and resignation.

But then—warmth.

The old man felt a calm, firm hand grasp his shoulder.

"It's not your time yet," Tianzun murmured, crouching beside him.

The old man's eyes fluttered. His lips moved but made no sound. Then, the darkness claimed him.

Tianzun acted quickly. From his storage ring, he withdrew the herbs he had collected earlier in the day—some for refining pills, others for future experimentation. His fingers moved deftly, crushing, mixing, and activating the ingredients into a rudimentary antidote pill.

He placed the pill on the man's tongue, then supported his body with gentle Dou Qi tendrils to ease the flow of medicine into his bloodstream.

> "The poison is deep. It'll take a few hours, maybe more, for the healing to stabilize. He needs shelter."

With a swift glance around the terrain, Tianzun took flight—not high, just enough to keep from disturbing the forest floor—as he cradled the unconscious old man.

His destination? The clearing where he, Xun'er, and Yoru had once fought their friendly duels.

A place that, in his heart, had already begun to earn a title of its own.

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🌲 Unnamed Clearing – Future Training Grounds

Tianzun hovered at the edge of the clearing, surveying the land. It was perfect. Soft earth, natural elevation, nearby water sources, and hidden enough not to invite casual wanderers.

Not far off, concealed behind a curtain of vines and carved into the cliffside, was a small natural cave.

He placed the old man gently onto a bed of dried leaves, quickly weaving a fire barrier and a few low-level defensive formations around the entrance. Then he sat, cross-legged, and entered meditation. His Dou Qi circled slowly as he attuned his senses to the man's condition.

Time passed.

The light dimmed. Crickets began their nightly chorus.

And then—movement.

The old man stirred. His breath hitched. He groaned and opened his eyes.

At first, there was confusion. Then clarity.

Then awe.

Because seated before him, like a statue carved from the twilight, was a boy no older than three years—eyes closed, robe fluttering lightly, aura restrained but vast.

The old man sat up, and then, without hesitation, fell to his knees.

His forehead touched the earth.

"You saved me…" he said, his voice hoarse. "I remember… the pain, the cold… I thought I was finished."

Tianzun opened his eyes. "You were close."

"Who… who are you?"

"That's not important yet," Tianzun replied. "Introduce yourself."

The old man straightened slightly, wincing.

"I am Zhen Mu, the head of Duskshade Village, hidden deep within this forest. I came searching for herbs—an antidote for my people. Days ago, a venom beast died near our water stream. It poisoned the entire flow. My village… the people… all of them are slowly dying."

Tianzun was silent.

Zhen Mu's eyes began to glisten. "I sought an alchemist… but we are poor, and none from Wu Tan City would help us."

He looked at Tianzun with trembling hope. "But… you. You saved me. That means you're an alchemist, aren't you?"

Zhen Mu began to lower himself again, bowing. "Please, I beg you—"

"Silence."

Tianzun's voice cut through the plea like a blade. The old man froze.

"I helped you because I chose to," Tianzun said coldly. "Do not mistake my kindness for charity. If you beg again, I'll end your suffering myself."

There was no malice in the voice—only truth.

Zhen Mu stared.

Then he smiled.

A deep, knowing smile of a man who had seen countless masks in his lifetime.

"You… are dangerous. But not evil."

Tianzun said nothing.

Zhen Mu's voice grew firm. "Then let me give you what I can. My loyalty. Not just mine—my entire village's. We are few, but strong. If you will have us, we shall be yours until death."

Tianzun's eyes narrowed. "And why should I trust that?"

"Because I've seen tyrants. You are not one. You are something else."

Tianzun tilted his head slightly, thoughtful.

> "A village deep in the forest, loyal and hidden. Not bad for early support. And this one isn't a fool."

"Very well," Tianzun said. "But you will obey my laws. There will be no second chances."

Zhen Mu lowered his head again. "Of course. We will follow your word as divine command."

"Then take me to your village."

And with that, Zhen Mu rose slowly, and the two figures vanished into the twilight, bound by venom, healed by flame, and sealed by a pact.

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End of Chapter 33