Chapter 158: Chapter 151: Cyan Bone Poison Arrow, Han Tong
Chen Che rode the wind and caught up with the group.
Besides Lu Yi, there were seven or eight other Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators—the elites of the valley.
"Tributor Chen!"
Riding his Demon Wolf, Lu Yi heard the whistling wind and turned to see Chen Che.
"What’s the situation?"
Guiding his Little Chick to fly alongside, Chen Che asked.
The details in the letter had been sparse, only giving a brief overview.
Lu Yi explained as they traveled.
The mine was located on the border of Yunzhou. Although it was near the Han Family of Chi State, the territory didn’t belong to them. However, the Han Family had made a secret move, digging a tunnel from an old residence that had been abandoned for nearly sixty years, connecting it directly to the mine.
They brazenly claimed they had been mining this site for hundreds of years.
Over the past few days, several conflicts had erupted between the two sides, and this time, hundreds of Cultivators were involved.
"We’re mining for the Primordial Sect. Isn’t the Primordial Sect going to step in?"
Chen Che asked, noticing that not a single disciple from the Primordial Sect was involved.
"Because no matter who wins, the Wuyin Ore Mine’s output will be sold to the Primordial Sect, so why would they bother meddling? If anything, getting them involved might just result in them taking a thirty percent cut of the profits."
Lu Yi sneered. "It’s better to rely on yourself than on others!"
It must be known.
Major Sects are obsessed with their reputation; they require ’a just cause’ for their actions. Although they also seize things by force or trickery, they usually do so in secret.
Give them an excuse, and they’ll immediately pounce on the opportunity.
"SCREE~"
The cry of a crane echoed from behind.
Everyone looked back to see Meng Qingxuan rushing over on her Fiery Flying Crane, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"Tributor Chen, you are only here to provide medical aid. You will not be asked to fight in this battle."
These words were meant for Meng Qingxuan to hear.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Meng Qingxuan’s expression relaxed considerably.
"Why did you come?"
The Little Chick ascended, flying level with the Fiery Flying Crane. Chen Che turned his head and asked:
"Go back, now!"
"No!"
Meng Qingxuan pressed her lips together, her expression resolute. "I’m at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer; I won’t hold you back. I... I also know about the Han Family’s situation..."
Seeing her determination, Chen Che sighed internally and finally nodded.
"Once we get to the mine, don’t wander off. Stay by my side at all times."
From this, however, he also learned more about the Han Family of Chi State:
They were a Cultivation Clan with a history of nearly two hundred years, rather unremarkable. Families like them were not uncommon in the Cultivation Realm.
Unexpectedly, in the last twenty years, the Han Family had produced two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in succession, gradually making a name for themselves.
It was rumored that they had secretly been engaging in the activities of Tribulation Cultivators.
The journey was a full four hundred li, yet it took them only two hours. They had departed at noon and arrived before dusk.
Soon, the Wuyin Ore Mine came into view.
The mine was buried deep underground, with only a single entrance about ten feet in diameter. A row of simple houses had been built around the entrance. A forest roughly ten li wide separated this place from Chi State.
Beyond the forest seemed to be a village, with thousands of thatched cottages and huts packed together. But it was already afternoon, yet only a few households had smoke rising from their chimneys.
"Last year’s Demon Beast rampage reached that area, so very few villagers are left,"
Meng Qingxuan explained, seeing Chen Che gazing into the distance.
"I see."
Chen Che nodded to himself.
After landing at the mine, disciples who had been waiting for them led the group inside.
In one of the mining tunnels, Chen Che saw the heavily injured Hu Yao.
The man’s face was as pale as paper. A cyan bone arrow pierced his chest, and along its shaft, thin, root-like tendrils extended, seeming to grow into his body. Several disciples beside him were continuously infusing him with True Essence to resist the arrow’s poison.
However, the poison was still spreading slowly, eating away at his heart meridian.
"A few days ago, our fights with the Han Family Cultivators were a stalemate."
Chu Gong, the one with the Jade Flute tucked at his waist, said through gritted teeth that clattered audibly:
"But today, they suddenly started using these arrows. We don’t know what kind of poison is on them, but even Cultivators can’t resist it. Once the poison spreads, this is what happens! More than thirty people died in one go today..."
As he spoke, he pointed to several dozen corpses to the side. Some had fatal wounds, others mere scratches.
But regardless of the severity of their injuries, the dead were all covered in a dense, spiderweb-like pattern of cyan lines, as if roots had burrowed into their limbs and bones.
It was practically death on contact!
"What a vicious arrow!"
Lu Yi’s expression changed drastically. He quickly turned to Chen Che.
"Can you treat it?"
If this poison couldn’t be countered, the enemy could wear them down bit by bit and force them out of the mine.
"Let me take a look first."
Although a Pill Master’s duties included detoxification, he was, after all, only the equivalent of a high school student from an Immortal Sect. Chen Che walked over to a corpse, frowning, and tried to pull out the bone arrow.
But he saw that countless fine roots had sprouted from the bone arrow.
These roots had burrowed into the blood vessels, meridians, and muscles, as if a plant were parasitizing the human body.
If he were to pull it out by force, it would be like ripping up a patch of turf. The sight made everyone around him frown deeply.
After observing for a moment, Chen Che knew what to do. He turned, pinched Hu Yao’s cheeks open, and slapped a pill into his mouth.
In just a few moments.
The cyan pattern on his chest stopped spreading. Not only did it begin to recede rapidly, but his breathing also started to stabilize.
"...This pill?"
Lu Yi stared at the pill bottle in Chen Che’s hand.
"Remove the bone arrow and feed him another Body Nourishing Pill. He’ll wake up in half an incense stick’s time at most."
While directing Chu Gong to remove the bone arrow from Hu Yao’s body, Chen Che casually explained to Lu Yi, "The Five Elements generate and overcome one another. This is a Wood Type Poison, so it can be neutralized with a Gold-element Elixir. It’s just a matter of using the right medicine for the ailment."
To put it bluntly, it was like using antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection.
As long as the right medicine was used, the cure was simple.
This was also because this particular Wood Type Poison was relatively low-grade, allowing for such a simple and direct method of detoxification. Some High Tier poisons would have multiple variations and might even require refining a specific Antitoxic Pill.
With that said, he took out three or four more bottles of pills and handed them to Chu Gong. "If someone gets hit by an arrow, have them take one of these immediately. It will ensure they’ll be fine. After I return, I’ll refine some more and send them over."
Unfortunately, the poison had already seeped into the others’ marrow. They had long since stopped breathing and were beyond saving.
Hearing this, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
As long as there was a cure, the threat of these poison arrows would be minimized. Instantly, the morale of everyone in the mining tunnel soared.
Meng Qingxuan stood to the side, her star-like eyes fixed on Chen Che, shining brightly.
"Master? Fellow Daoist Chen!"
A moment later, Hu Yao’s eyes opened. Seeing the two of them, he instantly understood what had happened and hastily jumped off the bed.
"This disciple was incompetent! I failed to defend the mine, and a section was taken by the Han Family."
"Take me to see it!"
Lu Yi nodded slightly. How could he blame a disciple who had nearly given his life?
The group immediately moved forward in a great procession, with Chen Che following behind.
The mining tunnel wasn’t narrow or cramped; on the contrary, it was quite spacious. The walls were all solid rock, and some protruding stones shone with a silver luster.
"Valley Master Lu is here!"
"Reinforcements from Jinyun Valley have arrived!"
Having just been through a major battle, many miners were sitting around resting, their faces grim. But upon seeing Lu Yi and the other Jinyun Valley disciples, their eyes lit up, and they quickly grabbed their pickaxes and hoes to follow.
One of the tunnels was blocked by a pile of rubble.
"This is the place!"
Hu Yao said, "The Han Family Cultivators dug straight down from above. Using this as their starting point, they’ve occupied thirty percent of the mining tunnels..."
Chen Che tilted his head and listened carefully. He could faintly hear voices from behind the massive rocks.
At the same time, there was the clang of weapons. Evidently, the other side had heard the commotion and were sending people to guard the position.
"Hmph!"
Lu Yi raised his hand and waved. Several boulders half a man’s height were instantly blasted into dust.
SWOOSH!
Almost instantly, dozens of fang-like Cyan Bone Poison Arrows, glowing with a toxic light and carried on a fierce wind, cut through the cloud of dust and whistled toward Lu Yi.
"You’re courting death!"
Lu Yi’s gaze turned cold as he let out a sharp cry.
Chen Che’s eyes widened. He saw the normally refined Vice Valley Master erupt like a fierce tiger. With a single leap, he crossed several dozen yards of the tunnel, and at the same time, a massive, broad-bladed sword swept out with lightning speed.
In that instant, a fierce gale filled the tunnel.
Several sword marks, each several feet deep, appeared on the rock walls, and the bone arrows were simultaneously turned to dust.
CLANG!
Wherever the blade’s edge passed, more than ten Han Family archers were cut in half at the waist before they could even scream.
"Kill!"
The Jinyun Valley disciples and miners roared in unison and surged forward like a tidal wave.
Chen Che didn’t make a move, staying behind the crowd.
Lu Yi had promised, so there was no need for him to steal the show.
Just as the imposing group was about to drive the Han Family Cultivators out of the tunnel, a figure appeared up ahead. The moment he appeared, the flash of a saber cut through the air, stirring up a great wind as it met Lu Yi’s massive broadsword.
CLANG!
The two collided so quickly that most people hadn’t even processed what happened before both sides had rapidly retreated more than ten steps.
’Qi Refining Ninth Layer!’
Chen Che’s eyebrows rose slightly. The one who had drawn the saber was a man in his forties.
His posture was fierce, and his face was a mask of battle-hardened ferocity.
"Good swordsmanship!"
The man retreated step after step, each footfall leaving an imprint several feet deep in the ground. He laughed loudly and said:
"Valley Master Lu is indeed worthy of his reputation. To think you still possess such strength while handling the daily affairs in the Valley."
"Han Tong!"
Lu Yi’s face was grim. "The Han Family has crossed the line..."
"Whether we’ve crossed the line or not isn’t for you to decide. This place is only three hundred li from my Han Family, which is closer than Jinyun Valley. If we go by distance, it should clearly belong to us!"
As Han Tong laughed, a hundred or so family disciples and miners appeared behind him.
"Hm?"
However, when his gaze swept over Hu Yao, his brow twitched, revealing a trace of surprise and doubt.
’This man was clearly hit by an arrow, so how is he still alive?’
His eyes darted about for a moment, and then he said with a smile:
"However, today I’ll give Valley Master Lu some face. You all can mine this section of the tunnel for now. I’ll come back to mine tomorrow."
With that, he spread his hand slightly in a gesture of caution and led his men away.
"Valley Master Lu is mighty!"
"So much for Han Tong! He couldn’t even take a single hit!"
"Hah! Serves him right!"
Instantly, cheers erupted within the mining tunnel.
But Chen Che frowned slightly. The other party had come specifically to seize the mine; to leave so suddenly probably meant they had another plan.
HUFF!
Once Han Tong was gone, Lu Yi also let out a sigh of relief and turned to Chen Che.
"Tributor Chen, Han Tong is a cunning man. I may have driven him back today, but he certainly won’t give up. I must ask you to stay in the mine for a few more days, in case they try to use other poisons."
"...Alright."
Chen Che nodded slightly.
...
「At the same time.」
Chi State, the Han Family’s old residence.
Han Tong sat imposingly at the head seat, a wine jug in one hand, listening to a clansman’s report. Suddenly, his pupils constricted as he looked at the messenger.
"You said you saw someone among the Jinyun Valley reinforcements arriving on a Giant Eagle?"
"Absolutely certain! There was a person standing on that great eagle. If I’m not mistaken, that person must be Jinyun Valley’s Pill Master Tributor. Hu Yao was clearly hit by an arrow but survived. He must have been the one who saved him!"
The Han Family clansman below said repeatedly.
"Chen Che?"
Han Tong’s eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"So that’s how it is!"
