Inside the thatched hut, Young Master Ji lay on a wooden plank bed.
His body was shrouded in gray mist, and his face was ashen.
Most importantly, his left side, face, and exposed left hand were covered with sores, making him look quite gruesome.
Looking at the barely breathing, half-dead Young Master Ji, Old Hu could hardly believe his eyes.
Is this the same young master from a prominent family who was handsome and exuded nobility not long ago?
Young Master Ji was still conscious, but he was stunned when he saw Lu Qing and the others.
"Third Young Master, how are you feeling?"
Hu Laosan asked with concern.
"They won't die for now," Young Master Ji said weakly. "Uncle Hu, who are these people...?"
"These are Young Master Lu and Senior Chen, whom you have met before, at the city gate a few days ago."
Looking at Lu Qing's face, Young Master Ji tried hard to recall, and finally remembered some clues.
However, he still didn't understand why Hu Laosan had brought these people here.
Didn't I send someone to deliver a message to him, asking him to inform the Ji family?
Lu Qing didn't rush to speak; his face showed a hint of surprise.
Because he saw that the miasma mark in Young Master Ji's body had actually begun to take effect.
The boils on his hands and face proved this point.
Strangely, the mark was only half activated before it was suppressed.
Logically speaking, Young Master Ji, who only has the cultivation level of the Inner Organ Realm, should not possess such an ability.
He activated his supernatural ability and quietly looked at Young Master Ji's body.
Soon, several notes floated up.
【Ji Fei: The third young master of the Ji family in Qinglong City, an upright and kind-hearted man.】
【Cultivation Level: Acquired Inner Viscera Realm, Minor Success】
【The body is marked by the miasma of an evil cultivator; the miasma clings to the body and penetrates deep into the bone marrow.】
【Having consumed ginkgo nuts from Yunmeng, his physique underwent a transformation, and his vitality far surpassed that of ordinary people.】
...
I see.
After investigating the situation of Young Master Ji, Lu Qing's face showed a look of understanding.
It turns out that this Young Master Ji had a strange encounter and consumed a rare fruit called Yunmeng Ginkgo, which gave him an extraordinary constitution, allowing him to withstand the outbreak of the miasma mark.
Seeing the doubt in Young Master Ji's eyes, Lu Qing smiled.
"Young Master Ji, you have been afflicted by the miasma mark. Now the mark is deeply etched into your bones, and your body will be used as a vessel to generate miasma and plague."
The mark must now be suppressed and completely removed.
Otherwise, once the mark fully erupts, the miasma and plague will brew, and this place will likely become a plague-stricken area.
Upon hearing Lu Qing's words, a glimmer of light appeared in the dim eyes of the Third Young Master Ji: "Young Master, do you have a way to remove the miasma mark from my body?"
"I'm fairly confident, but I'll need the Third Young Master's cooperation." Lu Qing nodded.
"What does the young master need me to do? As long as I can remove this mark and prevent it from erupting, I'll do anything, even if it costs me my life."
A determined look appeared on Young Master Ji's face.
Seeing his words, Lu Qing gave him an approving look:
"Nothing is needed. Just trust me, Third Young Master, relax your mind, and do not resist my treatment."
"That's all?" Young Master Ji was taken aback.
That's all.
Lu Qing turned to the old doctor and said, "Master, I need to suppress and remove the mark for Young Master Ji, so I'm afraid I can't be distracted later."
In case anything happens, I'll need your help to keep an eye on things.
"Ah Qing, do you mean someone will be coming later?" The old doctor understood the implication in his words.
"I can't guarantee it, but this miasma mark is connected to the person who placed it."
If he's not far away, he'll probably sense it when I suppress the mark later.
"I understand. You can rest assured and help Young Master Ji remove the mark."
The old doctor nodded solemnly.
If it were just ordinary plague or miasma, he could still find a way to treat it.
However, when it comes to the path of cultivating immortality, his current abilities are still insufficient.
"Uncle Hu, could you please help me carry Young Master Ji outside? There's sunlight outside, which can help suppress the miasma. Just be careful not to let him come into contact with the ash on his body."
With Hu Laosan's help, Lu Qing and he together moved Young Master Ji, bed and all, outside.
The girl also came out and stood guard beside him, holding a wooden stick.
It was at this moment that everyone noticed that the girl's face was pockmarked and covered with many scars.
It turns out that this is a girl who once suffered from leprosy.
In fact, most of the villagers who had surrounded Lu Qing and his group earlier also had scars on their faces and hands.
They must all be villagers who survived leprosy in the past.
"Little sister, I need to treat this young master's illness. Could you please step aside a little? Don't worry, I won't hurt him."
Seeing the wariness in the girl's eyes, Lu Qing smiled.
The girl did not move aside.
"Xiaorou, it's okay. They are all my friends. They won't hurt me."
Young Master Ji then slowly began to speak.
He had just overheard the conversation between Lu Qing and the old doctor and realized that Lu Qing really had a way to save him, which gave him a glimmer of hope.
He was not afraid of death, but living would be the best outcome.
The girl glanced at Young Master Ji before slowly backing away.
However, she still kept an eye on Lu Qing and the others, seemingly not entirely at ease.
Seeing her like this, Lu Qing understood.
It seems there's a story between Young Master Ji and this young girl.
After the girl stepped back, Lu Qing picked up a piece of firewood from the side and began to carve around Young Master Ji on the ground.
He was quick; before long, a profound array was created.
The wooden bed where Young Master Ji was lying was in the center of the formation.
After drawing the array, Lu Qing casually threw out several jade talismans and inserted them into the ground, using the power of the jade talismans to connect with the earth's energy.
The next moment, a hazy light appeared, forming a dome that enveloped Lu Qing and Young Master Ji.
This extraordinary scene left Hu Laosan and others, who had never witnessed Lu Qingxian's methods, utterly shocked.
The villagers, in particular, thought they had witnessed a miracle and knelt down in worship.
Young Master Ji was equally shocked, but his hope was even greater.
The more miraculous Lu Qing's methods are, the greater the probability that he can cure himself.
The greater his chances of survival, the better.
Lu Qing had no time to pay attention to these things, and instead looked at Young Master Ji with a solemn expression.
Perhaps stimulated by the power of the formation, the gray aura on Young Master Ji's body began to stir when the light screen rose.
It gradually began to erode into the other half of his body.
Seeing this, Lu Qing immediately stood up, made a hand seal, quickly condensed a talisman, and imprinted it on Young Master Ji.
The talisman landed on Young Master Ji's chest, and the gray mist tried to stop it.
But after the talisman emitted a faint white light, the gray energy immediately dodged away as if avoiding a snake or scorpion, allowing it to successfully enter Young Master Ji's chest.
The talisman entered his body, and immediately changes occurred in Young Master Ji's body.
The gray mist that had been floating around its body froze for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, it quickly shrank into the body of the Third Young Master Ji, taking over his left side.
Upon seeing this, Lu Qing smiled, made a hand seal, and condensed another talisman, which was then struck towards Young Master Ji's body.
This time, he chose the head of Young Master Ji.
The talisman entered Young Master Ji's forehead, and the gray aura on the left side of his face was quickly forced back, fleeing down to his neck.
Lu Qing continued his incantation, condensing spiritual talismans.
And so, after he cast five spirit talismans in succession, the gray aura on Young Master Ji's body was finally forced out completely.
Eventually, a strange gray mark formed and appeared on his heart.
At the same time, in a cave dozens of miles away from the village, a figure sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes.
"Is someone trying to remove the miasma mark I planted on that Ji family boy?"
The man was surrounded by a gray aura, and carried a huge gray gourd on his back.
"Who is it that actually has the ability to remove the miasma mark I planted?"
The strange man carrying the gourd on his back looked on with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
The miasma mark on the young man from the Ji family was planted by him using the plague gourd on his back.
Even if one is born with perfect constitution, there shouldn't be a way to remove it.
Now that it has been touched, who could possibly have such power?
A look of hesitation appeared on the strange man's face.
He wanted to go and check, but he was also hesitant.
Those who can trigger the miasma mark are certainly not ordinary people.
Perhaps he is a cultivator who, like him, was fortunate enough to receive an ancient inheritance.
If that's the case, then things become much more complicated.
After struggling for a while, the strange man decided to go and check out the situation.
That boy from the Ji family has a special physique, which will be of great use to him.
Once successfully refined into a poisonous puppet, it will be a great help to his future cultivation.
We absolutely cannot afford to lose.
Moreover, he has now begun to refine the Plague Gourd, greatly increasing his strength.
Even someone at the peak of the Innate Realm might not be his match.
If the situation changes and he wants to leave, I believe no one in the world can stop him.
Thinking of this, the strange man immediately made a hand seal, drawing the surrounding gray mist into the gourd, revealing his grayish-white face.
"I want to see who is so bold as to dare to touch the furnace I've set my sights on!"
A fierce glint appeared in the strange man's eyes. After determining the direction, his figure disappeared into the cave.
Just as the strange man followed his senses and headed towards the village.
Lu Qing also encountered a slight mishap.
Suddenly, a long shout rang out from outside the village: "Fei'er, where are you? Your father has come to fetch you!"
Immediately afterwards, several powerful auras appeared outside the area.
"Patriarch Ji, please wait."
At that moment, Magu's voice also rang out from outside.
The Ji family patriarch's breath hitched, for he recognized Ma Gu as the coachman of the young master Lu, whom even the Azure Dragon City Lord feared.
The Ji family's innate masters behind him also trembled.
The fact that Magu is here indicates that the other person is also nearby.
Recalling the terrifying methods that person had displayed in the city, the group quickly concealed their auras and dared not act rashly.
The head of the Ji family bowed and asked, "May I ask if Young Master Lu is also here?"
“Indeed, my young master is inside treating Young Master Ji. Please refrain from making noise so as not to disturb him,” Ma Gu replied.
Upon hearing this answer, the Ji family head felt a sense of relief, knowing that his son was still alive.
He continued politely, "I never expected my son to be so fortunate as to receive the favor of Young Master Lu. I thank you on his behalf."
Your Excellency, I am deeply concerned for my son. May I ask if I may enter the village?
"this......"
While Magu was still hesitating, the old doctor's voice rang out: "Let them in."
Magu immediately said, "Patriarch Ji also heard it. My master invites you all in."
"Thank you, sir."
Although Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an were only at the Acquired Realm, the Ji family head still treated them with great courtesy.
After bowing to the two men again, he led his men into the village.
Upon arriving at their destination, they were all taken aback to see Lu Qing and Young Master Ji shrouded in a protective array of light.
On one hand, they were shocked by the miraculous sight of the array light screen, and on the other hand, they were surprised by Ji Fei's appearance.
Especially the head of the Ji family, seeing Ji Fei in this state, showed a look of grief on his face.
He couldn't imagine what kind of pain his son had endured to become so inhuman, neither human nor ghost.
Fortunately, he still has self-control.
Although she was heartbroken, she could see that Lu Qing was doing everything he could to save his son, so she dared not make a sound to disturb him.
He simply bowed quietly to the old doctor and said, "Greetings, senior doctor."
"No need for such formalities." The old doctor returned the greeting. "Aqing is currently removing the miasma mark from your son. It should be almost done. Patriarch Ji, there's no need to worry."
Although the Ji family head did not know what the miasma mark was, he could tell that things were improving, so he relaxed a bit and began to look into the formation.
Within the array's light barrier, Lu Qing had forced all the gray energy on Young Master Ji's body to one place, condensing it into a mark.
But that alone is not enough.
Because the miasma mark is located at the heart of Young Master Ji, it is almost fused with his heart meridian.
Therefore, he still needs to put in some effort to completely force out the miasma mark.
Thinking of this, Lu Qing took out a needle pouch from his bosom.
The spiritual energy within his body surged, and he quickly inserted eighteen silver needles around Young Master Ji's heart.
Their heart meridian, along with the miasma mark, was completely sealed off to prevent them from escaping again.
With their escape route blocked, the miasma mark seemed to sense the danger and immediately began to struggle.
The unbearable pain caused Young Master Ji to groan softly.
Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his face, which, combined with the sores covering his face, made him look even more ferocious.
A strange gray mark, like a living thing, surged and struggled in the heart of Young Master Ji.
The scene was terrifying to those around them.
The head of the Ji family, in particular, was heartbroken and wished he could take his place.
Lu Qing ignored the pain on Young Master Ji's face.
His eyes were fixed on the miasma mark that throbbed like a struggling heart.
His hands began to form hand seals, rapidly condensing a spiritual talisman.
As a talisman emitting a faint golden light condensed in his hand, a sense of peace began to emerge in everyone's hearts.
On the contrary, the miasma mark on Young Master Ji's body struggled even more fiercely.
