Noticing Ren Woxingâs exaggerated reaction, Song Qingshu smiled faintly. âFather-in-law, you misunderstand. This antidote isnât for me; itâs to detoxify Miss Zhao.â
âSheâs been poisoned by the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill?â Ren Woxing recalled Zhao Minâs frail appearance. He had assumed she was merely severely injured but hadnât expected her to also be poisoned.
Ren Woxing felt a chill in his heart. After all, the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill wasnât an ordinary poison. Usually, only the leader of the Sun and Moon Sect possessed it. Could it be Dongfang Bubaiâs doing?
Seeing Ren Woxingâs flickering gaze, Song Qingshu understood his thoughts and explained directly, âIt was the so-called âKiller Physician,â Ping Yizhi, who poisoned herâŚâ He then provided a brief account of the incident, even revealing Ping Yizhiâs other identity.
âMurong Jingyue?â Ren Woxingâs expression turned grim as he realized he had been entirely unaware of this hidden figure in the sect. A chill ran down his spine.
âBack then, when I was crafting the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill, I did seek his help. He must have deduced the refining method during that time,â Ren Woxing said, frowning deeply. âThe formula for crafting the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill and its antidote is known only to the successive leaders of the sect. The fact that this secret has leaked is a grave matter.â
Song Qingshu asked the pressing question, âDo you think your antidote could counteract the poison in Miss Zhao?â
Ren Woxing shook his head. âThe Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill is refined using three types of corpse insects. There are countless such insects in the world, and each leader selects three according to personal preference to create their unique version of the pill. Different insects require different antidotes. Since Ping Yizhi is both a medical sage and a disciple of the Poison King, he would naturally use different corpse insects than I did. He might even have innovated further, making the antidote even more complex.â
Song Qingshu sighed deeply. âEven though I was prepared for this outcome before coming to Heimuya, Iâm still disappointed to hear it.â
After a moment of contemplation, Ren Woxing suggested, âLetâs try this: you can give my antidote to Miss Zhao and see if it works. Itâs possible that Ping Yizhi chose the same insects as I did.â
The Sun and Moon Sect had a unique method for testing the toxicity of the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill, which involved mixing the poisoned personâs blood with a special reagent to determine whether the poison was still active or neutralized.
âThank you, Father-in-law,â Song Qingshu said. Though he knew the chances were slim, he couldnât help but hold on to a shred of hope.
Ren Woxing snorted in annoyance. âI never thought the day would come when Iâd have to help my daughterâs romantic rival. This Miss Zhaoâis she the Mongol princess who once swept through the six great sects of the Central Plains?â
Back when they were in the Jin Empire, Ren Yingying hadnât initially known Zhao Minâs identity. However, after encountering various grandmasters from Prince Ruyangâs manor, she had reported back to Ren Woxing, who deduced Zhao Minâs identity.
Seeing Song Qingshu nod, Ren Woxing was momentarily stunned. He glanced at him with a complicated expression. âYou really are something. Not only are all the women around you peerless beauties, but each one of them is powerful enough to shake the world. Itâs a good thing Iâm old now, or Iâd be driven mad by your luck.â
âFather-in-law, you flatter me. Someone as devoted as you would surely disdain a philanderer like me,â Song Qingshu replied, throwing in some flattery of his own. Given Ren Woxingâs status, the fact that he had only one daughter, Ren Yingying, and no other wife after her motherâs passing suggested he wasnât a womanizer.
Ren Woxing, clearly pleased, burst into laughter. âIf Yingyingâs mother were still alive, sheâd never have agreed to let her marry a flirt like you.â
Though Ren Woxing wasnât exactly devoted, he didnât see anything wrong with Song Qingshuâs behavior. As two cunning foxes, they shared an ambiguous smile.
Later, Ren Woxing hosted a grand feast at the Blackwood Cliff to welcome Song Qingshu and his companions. During the banquet, Ren Yingying blushed deeply and avoided meeting Song Qingshuâs gaze. Whenever her eyes landed on Zhao Min, she quickly looked away.
Song Qingshu couldnât help but find it amusing, wondering what Zhao Min might have asked her earlier to make her act like this.
After the feast, Ren Woxing summoned several skilled physicians from the sect to detoxify Zhao Min. However, he didnât hand over the antidote to Song Qingshu, fearing it might be tampered with, which could jeopardize his rule. Song Qingshu understood his concerns and didnât press the matter.
After Zhao Min consumed the antidote, three sticks of incense passed. The physicians tested her blood but eventually shook their heads in unison. Zhao Min turned pale, and Song Qingshuâs brow furrowed deeply.
âTry this,â Song Qingshu said, handing over a box of rouge he had found in Dongfang Muxueâs quarters. The physicians initially dismissed it, but after examining it closely, their expressions turned to shock. âThis⌠this is also an antidote for the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill!â
Ren Woxingâs gaze snapped to Song Qingshu. The only person who could have given him such an antidote was Dongfang Bubai. He couldnât help but feel he had underestimated the relationship between the two. As someone unwilling to give Song Qingshu the antidote, yet knowing Dongfang Bubai had shared it, Ren Woxingâs mind raced with possibilities.
Recalling Dongfang Bubaiâs notorious penchant for male lovers, Ren Woxingâs expression grew even more peculiar as he looked at Song Qingshu.
Focused on whether Dongfang Muxueâs antidote would work, Song Qingshu didnât notice Ren Woxingâs gaze. If he had known he was being compared to Yang Lianting, he might have been thoroughly disgusted.
The physicians tested Zhao Minâs blood again, but after a long while, they shook their heads once more. Zhao Min trembled with despair, but Song Qingshu gently patted her back to comfort her. âThis outcome was within our expectations. Weâll think of another way. With our intelligence and resources, thereâs little in this world we canât achieve.â
Thinking of the insects in her body, Zhao Min felt a surge of fear. However, hearing Song Qingshuâs comforting words, she couldnât help but chuckle. âYour shameless self-praise knows no bounds. I donât have a face as thick as yours.â Yet, beneath her smile, her brows furrowed in worry.
Song Qingshu fell into deep thought. Bing Xueâer had been tracking Murong Jingyueâs whereabouts, and both the Murong family and Ren Woxing were bound to pursue someone who possessed the secrets of the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill. With the forces of Prince Ruyangâs manor and the Golden Serpent Camp also in play, Murong Jingyue would be found no matter where he hid.
Still, Song Qingshu knew he couldnât pin all his hopes on finding Murong Jingyue. After much deliberation, he realized the only others who might be able to resolve this poison were the Poison King and the future medical genius Cheng Lingsu.
Two more chapters incoming!
Goblin: Want to read more? You can become a Flower Stealing Master ($5 per month) member at Patreon for only $5 per month. Member of this tier will get Five or More Advance Chapters immediately, and will stay 5 or more chapters ahead of the regular release for the month! You can become a CN WN Bundle ($10 per month) member and have access to all the CN webnovel advance chapters on goblinslate. You can support me by sponsoring chapters at BuymeaCoffee or Patreon Shop.
Check out my other projects: Dual Cultivation with a Fox Demon, Ask the Mirror (recommended), and Immortal Divine Tribulation, The Way of Restraint